Artist Friendly with Joel Madden

On this week’s episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Paul Walter Hauser.A Michigan native, Hauser spent years waiting tables and working the door at a Burbank comedy club before a two-episode guest spot on the DirecTV series Kingdom turned into a 24-episode run in 2014. From there he became one of Hollywood’s most in-demand character actors, with standout turns in I, Tonya, BlacKkKlansman, and Cruella, plus a breakout performance as the title character in 2019’s Richard Jewell. In 2022 he starred as suspected serial killer Larry Hall in Apple TV’s Black Bird, a role that won him a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award, and an Emmy. These days he’s playing Mole Man in Fantastic Four: First Steps, appearing in the new Resident Evil, and joining the cast of Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo series. He also hosts the satirical web series The Boy Talk Talk Show and has built a second career as a pro wrestler, with more than 30 matches since his 2023 debut and a spot on the Major League Wrestling roster.Paul gets honest about the fears that have driven so many of his career choices, the long journey of learning to trust his gut and say "no" and why being his realest self matters more to him than chasing the next big role. (0:00) – Brunch, Blood, and Standing Firm(8:22) – Faith Without the Label(10:07) – Fear Behind Every Career Decision(10:55) – When a Marvel Role Didn't Go as Planned(23:09) – Wrestling Hurts Less Than Rejection(32:20) – A Message He Wasn't Expecting(35:28) – Passing on a Role Paid Off(38:26) – Chris Farley Biopic in Development(52:06) – Two Episodes Became 24(1:05:26) – A Second Chance at His Own Love Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Warren Zeiders. Growing up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Warren spent his teenage years chasing a lacrosse career rather than a musical one, picking up guitar only as a casual hobby along the way. A string of sports-related injuries ended that path in 2019, and COVID hit the following year. At his sister's suggestion, Warren posted a cover of Chris Stapleton's 'Tennessee Whiskey' to TikTok — and woke up to hundreds of thousands of views. That moment launched a rapid rise: his original song "Ride the Lightning" went platinum, and by 2023 his single "Pretty Little Poison" became his first country radio No. 1, going on to double-platinum certification. Since then, he's built a fanbase behind billions of streams, headlined his first world tour, and earned a CMT Award for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year. Now 27 and fresh off the release of his third studio album, No Brakes, Warren sits down with Joel to talk about the pressure of following up his biggest year yet, learning to separate his self-worth from streaming numbers and radio spins, and why he believes this new chapter of music is the most honest representation of who he really is. (0:00) – Warren Zeiders: The Origin Story(4:13) – How Covers Led to a Record Deal(10:14) – CMT Award: Voted by the Fans(18:04) – No Breaks: Warren's Most Personal Record(24:27) – A Deeply Personal Act of Faith(28:54) – Turning Hate Into Algorithm Fuel(38:07) – Growing Up on Rock and Country(43:23) – From Lacrosse Player to League Investor(45:51) – The '67 Mustang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Carly Pearce. Born in Taylor Mill, Kentucky, Carly Pearce left high school at 16 to take a performing job at Dollywood, then moved to Nashville at 19 to chase a solo career full-time — working odd jobs and driving her own van between shows before her big break finally came. Her 2017 debut single, "Every Little Thing," launched a run that's since brought her a Grammy, three CMA Awards, and four ACM Awards, including CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 2021. That same year, Dolly Parton personally invited her to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, one of the highest honors in country music. Pearce's most acclaimed work, 2021's 29: Written in Stone, turned the pain of her divorce into a Grammy-winning album, and she's continued that streak of raw, unflinching songwriting on 2024's Hummingbird and this year’s Honest Woman. While talking with Joel, Carly opens up about the years of grinding it out before anyone was paying attention, learning to trust her own instincts instead of everyone else's opinions, and why she's finally made peace with even the hardest chapters of her story. (0:00) – High Heels in the Warehouse(1:11) – Dolly Parton Fulfilled a Lifelong Opry Dream(1:59) – Country Grandparents, Southern Rock Parents(6:33) – Quitting School at Age Fourteen(11:25) – Forbes 30 Under 30 & Grand Ole Opry Member(17:10) – Reclaiming Her Artistic Voice(21:14) – Writing Through a Public Divorce(24:53) – Music as a Lifeline(26:46) – Kentucky Bluegrass Roots on Record(35:51) – Six Shows a Day at Dollywood(36:46) – Faith as Her Grounding Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices