The Real Country Podcast by Nikki in Nashville

Brennan Scott Greene is a freelance cowboy in the truest sense... by day he's working ranches across the Texas Panhandle, and by night he's on stage opening festivals like Dusty Vaquero Days in Gillette, Wyoming with one of the most unforgettable sets in western music. In this episode, I sit down with Brennan right after his performance to talk about what it means to live the cowboy life in 2026, how that life shapes his songwriting, and why his music sounds like a dream you can almost r...

In this episode of Real Country, we sit down with Jack Browning, a British singer-songwriter whose music is deeply influenced by American country, Americana, and the Western way of life, despite being far from Nashville. Jack shares how he first discovered country music in the UK, what drew him to the sounds and stories of the American West, and why authenticity matters more than trends in today’s music industry. We talk songwriting, identity, culture, and what it means to create real country...

This is a Real Country archive episode featuring rising country artist Taylor Austin Dye, recorded before some of her biggest recent milestones, and it’s one worth revisiting. In this conversation, Taylor shares her journey from Kentucky roots to building a fiercely loyal “Ride or Dye” fanbase, her blend of Southern rock and country, and what it meant to step onto the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first time. We talk about carving out her own sound, staying authentic in a changing country musi...

In this episode of The Real Country Podcast, from the archives, I'm showcasing my first artist on The Carter Studio Sessions. I sat down with rising Americana artist Zach Meadows for an honest conversation about songwriting, Nashville, and taking the long road as an independent artist. Zach shares his journey from growing up in Orlando, Florida, to finding his sound in the Carolinas, and ultimately committing fully to music by moving to Nashville. He opens up about his background in musical t...

From the archives. Recorded in early 2024, this conversation captures Aaron Watson in rare, unfiltered form before playing in Indianapolis, reflecting on more than 20 years of building an independent country music career on his own terms. In this episode, Aaron breaks down how country music has changed over the past two decades, why social media creates faster fame but shorter careers, and what it really takes to play the long game as an artist. He shares how staying independent allowed...

Nothing changes until you start. In this episode of Real Country, Nikki sits down with Eddie Marange a country music creator and photographer/videographer, to talk about what it really takes to build a career in country music and social media without connections, shortcuts, or overnight success. Eddie shares his journey from law enforcement to working alongside country artists, how he grew a large platform simply by showing up consistently, and why most people quit long before things begin to...

On this episode of The Real Country Podcast, I’m joined by multi-instrumentalist and viral fiddle sensation Philip Bowen. Known for his electric energy, soulful playing, and mountain roots. We talk about his unconventional path to music, going from a corporate day job to a full-time artist, and what it’s been like building a fanbase from scratch through social media, songwriting, and sheer authenticity. We also dive into his Appalachian upbringing, what inspires his songwriting, and how he’s ...

Country singer-songwriter and Nebraska native, B.J. Jamison, vows to put the twang back in today's country music...and he's just in his early 20s. Being born to rodeo royalty, B.J. has been at it since a very young age, even running into issues while playing at honky tonks while he was under 21! His voice and songs are what country gold is made of, and we discussed the possibility of a new upcoming album. He also just released a recent single, Listen to Hank, which is a MUST listen. In this...