Try That in a Small Town Podcast

From bar-hopping at CMA Fest with Jason Aldean’s band to scheduled high school fights at 3 pm sharp, this episode of Try That in a Small Town is all about chaos, consequences, and the crazy ways we somehow survive it all.  The guys kick things off with surgery scars, locked-up backs, and near misses in the garage, then pivot into behind-the-scenes CMA Fest stories, in-ear monitor nightmares, and why late-night stadium sets grind down even veteran players. They talk Morgan Wallen flipping pianos and throwing phones, Taylor Swift’s historic new country single tied to Toy Story 5, and how modern country production has become so “perfect” it’s almost personality-free.  Things get heavier when they unpack the Carmelo Anthony/Austin Metcalf stabbing at a track meet, race narratives in the media, and what real self-defense is—and isn’t—when someone pulls a knife. They contrast that with a powerful small-town hero story: a Gwinnett County officer who saves a 7-year-old launched through a windshield.  In classic TTIAST fashion, the crew rounds it out with songwriting pet peeves, delusional DMs from strangers wanting co-writes and video calls, bullying stories that still haunt them, and how golf, TV binges, and pizza reviews are getting them through recovery.  01:30 Surgeries, brutal bruises, allergic reactions to bandages and upcoming product bans in Tennessee  04:40 Locked-up back on the toilet, crawling across the house and day-three recovery status  06:30 Surviving CMA Fest: bar crawl sets, in-ear monitor disasters and playing blind on stage  09:45 Bar energy vs stadium distance and podcast fans popping up at shows  11:15 Late-night stadium headlining slot, fried fans, and what TV does to show times  14:00 Original Glory and Patriot Mobile sponsor segments  15:10 Learning piano one-handed after surgery, Jingle Bells, and mining TV shows for song ideas  17:50 TV recs: Life After Lockup, The Invisible Pilot, and Cape Fear reboot  20:20 NBA and Stanley Cup talk: Knicks’ huge comeback, Wembanyama, and why some tuned out the NBA  22:45 Trump at the Garden, celebrity courtside culture, and politics vs respect for the office  24:40 Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 country single and the business behind her return to the format  29:00 Why modern country records all sound the same and the few acts still using their own bands  31:40 Morgan Wallen: “I Ain’t Coming Back” lyric love, phone toss, piano flip and Billy Joel’s defense  36:30 Wild private plane trip with Morgan Wallen, crass “rich buddies” and what stuck with Kalo  38:20 Post-surgery meds, apologizing to Neil, and the nurse/dong/stripper one-liner  41:10 Group shave before a heart cath and hospital humor  42:00 CMA Fest nights with Luke Bryan at his bar, tequila overload and four-day hangovers  44:10 Dipshits of the week: insane video chat requests, song pitches, and social media entitlement  47:00 Fans demanding co-writes and “brain picking” vs actually earning a seat at the table  50:40 The worst song “idea” ever: Cats in the Cradle… but backwards  55:00 Young writers sliding into DMs, asking for writes and coffees, and basic industry etiquette  58:40 Nearly gassing yourself in a closed garage while checking mixes: calling dipshit on yourself  1:01:40 Drone-rescue story: Apache down, surviving in the water and next-level military tech  1:05:30 Golf injuries, steroids on the road, and fighting to stay in playing shape  1:07:10 The Carmelo Anthony–Austin Metcalf stabbing: facts, sentencing and race narratives  1:12:10 Media framing, self-defense vs murder, and how race gets injected into every case  1:16:00 Scheduled school fights at the park, bus brawls and why nobody brought knives back then  1:19:40 Getting drilled in the face for knocking a kid’s basketball away: lesson learned  1:20:30 One cold jab to the nose and understanding when you’ve gone too far  1:22:10 The bully who made you fast: getting wrecked in pickup football and later asking for tickets  1:24:20 Small Town Big Story: Officer Ariana James saves a 7-year-old thrown from a truck in Gwinnett County  1:26:10 Closing: Peacemaker Coffee, shoutout to listener Ed, scheduled fights and listener call-to-action  ______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs.https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thirty number ones sounds like a headline. It feels a lot stranger when you’re sitting in a room full of your friends and heroes, watching them sing your songs while your own band plays behind them and you didn’t even know a party was happening.We’re hanging with Jason Aldean and reliving the night they surprised him with a 30 No. 1 celebration, from the writers who’ve been on every album to the surreal moment of hearing another voice in his in-ears. We talk about what changes as a career stretches into decades, why some “hits” don’t age well, and how we try to keep the music believable as life changes. There’s plenty of real Nashville craft talk here too: finding songs that fit an artist brand, avoiding safe cookie-cutter radio, and chasing records you actually want to play for years.Then it gets sideways in the best way with a tour story from New Zealand, where a Maori welcome ceremony turns into the most awkward “sing something right now” request imaginable. We also get into band chemistry after 27 years together, vocal stamina on the road, sleep routines, and a few rapid-fire pet peeves from our “people are idiots” segment.If you love country music, Jason Aldean stories, Nashville songwriting, touring life, and the behind-the-scenes truth of how long careers really work, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, leave a review, and tell us in the comments: which Aldean song never gets old for you?______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Only a small slice of podcasts ever makes it to 100 episodes, so we wanted this one to feel like a real toast, not a victory lap. We talk honestly about how Try That in a Small Town started, why it mattered to us, and what it still means when the world tries to turn a simple message into something else. The heart of it is still the same: look out for your neighbor, stand up for people who can’t defend themselves, and don’t forget where you came from.We also rewind through the messy behind-the-scenes stuff that comes with building a weekly show while living in the music business, from our early “phone on the table” pilot to the deals that almost happened and the grind that never really turns off. If you’ve ever felt like your job follows you home, you’ll understand this conversation about sacrifice, pressure, and why a great song can still light you back up.Then we have some fun with a question that instantly exposes every country fan’s bias: the Mount Rushmore of male country singers. Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Randy Travis, Waylon, Hank Jr., Garth, Morgan Wallen and more get name-checked, argued over, and defended like it’s a barroom court case. We wrap by sharing what we’ve learned about each other over 100 episodes, shouting out a listener story of the week, and thanking the people who’ve kept the lights on, including Patriot Mobile, eSpaces, Peacemaker Coffee, and Original Glory. If you enjoy this kind of country music podcast and small town values talk, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review.______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The sky doesn’t just turn; it transforms. We bring on pro storm chaser and tour leader Jason Weingart to take us into the heart of severe weather—where precision, patience, and a healthy fear keep you alive while a rotating monster chews across the Plains. Jason traces his path from third‑grade awe to 40,000‑mile spring seasons, explaining how he scouts targets days out, refines them 24–48 hours before go time, and then uses roads, radar, and drones to put guests right under the structure without losing the exit plan.We dig into the El Reno wake‑up call, the reality of EF5s that look like moving walls, and why “calm before the storm” is both cliché and absolutely true. Jason breaks down terrain friction, river myths, and why population spread and smartphones make tornadoes feel more common than the long record suggests. He’s clear about safety: most events are EF1–EF2, and anchored shelters, interior rooms, and taking warnings seriously beat wishful thinking. Stranded on the road? He shares a last‑resort move that could save your life.Beyond the chase, we talk tour life—Dallas to OKC to Denver as climatology shifts north—plus late nights, batteries on charge, and teaching guests to forecast, shoot, and edit. Jason’s drone work captures structure you can feel, including rare night silhouettes of a modern EF5. When insulation lifts and debris blooms, he shuts filming down and pivots to search and rescue. It’s not about the shot anymore; it’s about people.If you’re curious about the science, the tactics, and the gut‑check moments that define storm chasing—from multi‑vortex stovepipes to why amateurs shouldn’t tail a chase van—this conversation delivers. Follow Jason on Instagram and Facebook for footage that looks impossible and is painfully real. If you enjoyed the show, tap follow, share it with a weather‑nerd friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A 19-year-old drove three hours to sit at our table and lit the room on fire—in the best way. Meet Caroline Joyous: musician, TPUSA ambassador, and relentless voice who found her calling when churches closed and her mom’s salon went dark. She walks us through how a quiet teenager became a public advocate, why she ties pro-life conviction to civic duty, and how she handles daily hate without losing heart.We dig into what Turning Point USA actually does—voter registration, local races, church mobilization, and outreach that targets Gen Z where they live. Caroline shares personal memories of Charlie Kirk’s encouragement and the one word he gave her that stuck: relentless. From there, we tackle the flashpoint everyone’s still arguing about: Super Bowl halftime. We compare the NFL spectacle with TPUSA’s alternative featuring Kid Rock and Gabby Barrett, unpack the family standards debate, and ask why institutions keep ignoring their core audience. It’s a wider conversation about culture, unity, and building alternatives when the mainstream won’t budge.For a change of pace, we vent about small-but-real etiquette fails—movie theater whisperers and biohazard bathrooms—before flipping the mic. Caroline asks for songwriting advice, and we get practical: write from truth, not for approval; let lived moments anchor your lyric; move people before you try to move charts. The through line is courage with kindness—show up, speak clearly, and keep going when it gets loud.If you’re ready for faith, free speech, and a Gen Z perspective with backbone, press play. Then tell us your take on the halftime controversy, the best way to reach young voters, and the songwriting rule you live by. Subscribe, leave a rating, share with a friend, and drop your comments—we’ll read them and keep the conversation going.______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A late-night ride near home. A driver fleeing police. A life cut short. We sit down with Haley Kilman to trace the night her partner, competitive cyclist Blaise Schaeffer, was killed in a hit-and-run—and the relentless search for driver Allen Samir Bautista Milla, who ran on foot and hasn’t been seen since. Haley walks us through the frantic morning calls from another state, the agonizing wait for a warrant and a usable photo, and the grind of canvassing Nashville with updated flyers and a $5,000 reward for a lead that results in arrest.We dig into what’s known: the attempted traffic stop for erratic driving, the crash damage that disabled the car, the companion who helped identify the suspect, and the jurisdictional complexity at the county line. Beyond the case details, we confront a hard truth about public reaction: how quickly outrage fades and how easily blame shifts to cyclists. The evidence at the scene tells a different story—one about speed, disregard, and a danger zone that would have endangered anyone on that stretch of road. This isn’t a bike debate; it’s a call for accountability and safety on streets we all share.We also honor Blaise beyond the headlines. He hit a 12,000-mile goal the night before he died. He was top of his class, on homecoming court, a college soccer player, and the kind of person who made rooms feel welcoming. His family is setting up a scholarship at Luther College to keep his legacy alive. Haley’s focus is both love and public service: get a face and a name in front of the right eyes, move the investigation forward, and keep another family from living this story. Listen, share the BOLO image, and spread the tip line. If you know anything, call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help this reach the people who can make a difference.BOLO: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zEBQRobCPy0hFnfkEnp2wrNLh2KfbK5D/view?usp=drive_link______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The first week back on the road always feels like a high-wire act: new production, cold weather, and the pressure to sound bulletproof while your voice fights the season. We open with the messy truth of touring in winter, a car accident that derailed a day, and how those surprises ripple through rehearsals, buses, and call times. From there, we shift gears into the craft we love—why chorus-first songs win in a short-attention economy, and how a bass line or four-note guitar tag can brand an entire era before the first lyric lands.We pull back the curtain on setlist design and the tricky balance between fan service and show flow. Those DMs asking us to play a deep-cut B-side or announce a birthday? Here’s why that breaks more than it fixes. We nerd out on hooks, pacing, and the math of modern arrangements, with nods to Jelly Roll’s “strongest-line-first” approach and the relentless catchiness of mega-streamers. If you write, produce, or just love dissecting songs, this is a masterclass in how structure, motif, and musical space keep a crowd locked in.Then we zoom out to the business. What happens when artists notch a few hits and seem to vanish? We talk radio vs. hard tickets, corporates, fairs, and the quiet middle class of country performers who build long, profitable careers off recognizable catalogs. Culture doesn’t stay quiet either: we react to protests entering churches, the risks families face when lines blur, and the basic etiquette that keeps public spaces safe—on highways, in arenas, and yes, on airplanes. We lighten the mood with listener stories, a small-town rescue that restores some faith, and a confession about late-night social buys, including a jaw gadget we can’t wait to roast on camera.If you’re here for songwriting insight, touring realities, and the unvarnished truth about fan-artist boundaries, you’ll feel right at home. Hit play, drop your small-town story, and tell us: what’s the most memorable hook you’ve ever heard—and why did it stick? Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more folks can find the show.______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A coffee in hand, a reformer by the couch, and a Zoom link away from the old studio—this one starts cozy and gets loud. We kick off with the simple routines that actually work: a new Pilates-style reformer easing back pain, why “eat real food” outlasts diet fads, and how flipping the old food pyramid toward protein and fiber brings real energy and steadier appetite. Frozen veg in a blender, unexpected beet devotion, and small-town practicality set the tone: less hype, more habits.Then we open the guitar case. Neil pulls back the curtain on a hit that almost went elsewhere, a write that took 45 minutes, and a session kept on the second take. It’s a masterclass in trusting feel over perfection—how a studio band’s personality gets baked into a track and how not overthinking can make a record breathe. A live performance seals it, reminding us why songs stick: groove, grit, and choices you can hear.The mood turns as we take on the Minnesota ICE shooting, the protests, and the politics that stoke them. We talk respect for law enforcement, leadership signals from city halls, and why “comply now, contest later” keeps people alive. You’ll hear frustration with outrage loops, headlines that miss context, and policy talk about “safe spaces” from federal law that can backfire on the street. Whether you agree or push back, the challenge is clear: build trust with consistent standards, not slogans.We wrap with lighter but telling social media gripes—announced “breaks,” birthday-bait posts, and why authenticity beats copy-paste sentiment. From beets to back care, from a tour-naming hit to a city on edge, the throughline is the same: common sense over clout, craft over noise, respect over spectacle.If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your notes help us shape sharper conversations and bring more honest voices to the mic.______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.