Offstage America

Michael Ray & Paul Novielli
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Offstage America is Michael Ray like you’ve never heard him before. No stage lights. No script. This show lives where real life happens, on the road, on the porch, in the woods, at the table. Michael sits down for honest conversations about the things that actually matter: family, faith, the outdoors, sports, music, mental health, giving back, and what it means to build a life you’re proud of. Guests range from fellow artists, athletes, celebrities and veterans to everyday Americans with real stories worth hearing. Some you’ll recognize instantly. Others you’ll be glad you met here first. Michael brings a rare perspective from someone who’s toured nationally, topped charts, lived the highs of success, and still stayed rooted in who he is and where he comes from. That makes the conversations relaxed, unfiltered, and real. The kind of conversations that don’t happen on stage or in interviews. Offstage America isn’t about hype. It’s about real people. It’s about life off the stage and the stories that shape us when no one’s watching.

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Offstage With Miles Burris

    Send a text Miles Burris joins Offstage America — former Oakland Raiders linebacker who went from peewee football to the NFL, became a day-one starter, and lived the full “dream turned pressure cooker” experience: draft day, walking into the facility for the first time, and lining up across from names like Peyton Manning. Miles breaks down the part people don’t see: what it takes mentally and physically to chase the league from childhoodthe reality of playing hurt and how a knee injury ended his career earlier than he ever plannedwhat the NFL feels like from the field (not from your couch)the emotional crash of losing the one identity you built your whole life aroundThen the conversation pivots into the second act: acting. Miles talks about getting pushed into acting by his wife when he was stuck and depressed after football, booking auditions early, then hitting the drought that nobody warns you about. He explains how the traditional acting path is changing fast — and how social media turned into his shortcut, his resume, and the reason he’s now getting offered roles without the same old cattle-call process. They also get into the wild overlap between sports, entertainment, and the creator world, plus the behind-the-scenes story of how Miles and Brady originally crossed paths in the wrestling/acting orbit. It’s funny, it’s honest, and it’s the kind of conversation that actually explains how people rebuild when the first plan dies. Follow Miles Burris: Instagram: @milesjamesburris Other platforms: @milesburristv Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    1h 4m

  2. FEB 24

    Offstage With Filmore

    Send a text Country artist Filmore sits down with Michael & Paul on this episode of Offstage America for a conversation that goes deeper than the highlight reel people usually see. Filmore talks about the road that led to his upcoming album Atypical, what went into writing and producing the project, and why this record feels like a reset for him creatively. He gets into the reality of the music business the grind, the pressure, and the parts of the industry fans rarely see when the cameras are off. They also talk about Filmore’s collaboration with Mr Worldwide, Pitbull, how that relationship started, and what it was like performing “Yeehaw” together on New Year’s Eve on national TV.  Offstage, life is changing too. Filmore shares what it’s been like preparing to welcome his second child, a baby girl, and how becoming a dad shifts the way he looks at the career, the road, and the future. Along the way they swap stories about Nashville, songwriting, the early grind of building a fanbase, and why staying true to who you are matters more than ever in today’s version of the music industry. Filmore’s new album Atypical dropped February 20, 2026 and is available NOW  everywhere you listen to music. Including Spotify, Apple Music, and all major streaming platforms. Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    55 min

  3. FEB 17

    Offstage With Ajay Popoff

    Send a text Before Lit had a hit, they had a Cadillac running on fumes and a steady diet of Del Taco. Michael & Paul hang with Ajay Popoff of Lit and gets into the stuff you don’t always hear — the years of getting passed on, almost running out of gas (literally), and how My Own Worst Enemy ended up becoming one of those songs that still shuts a bar down 25+ years later. They also talk about how different the game is now, from chasing radio adds to just putting music out and why chart spots still matter more than people admit. Ajay teases new Lit music too, including “Anybody Have a Light,” and why they’re done waiting around for the “perfect” moment. Recorded at The Atomic Inn Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    1h 4m

  4. FEB 10

    Offstage With Grayson Russell & Lil'Skinny

    Send a text We brought in two of our guys for a real fun show: Lil’Skinny (if you’ve been in Nashville longer than 10 minutes, he probably knows your cousin) and Grayson Russell — yes, the redheaded kid from Talladega Nights. And somehow, this turns into stories about John Daly, CMA Fest, getting dropped into wild situations with no warning, and how Nashville works when you’re new in town and just willing to meet people. But it’s not all jokes — Grayson talks about the acting road, faith, and what it was like being protected as a kid in Hollywood. Skinny talks about learning life the hard way, why the simple stuff matters, and how the best memories usually aren’t the flashy ones. If you want an episode that feels like you’re sitting at the table with us… this is it. Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    46 min

  5. FEB 3

    Offstage With Drew Baldridge

    Send a text Drew Baldridge came up in the music industry the hard way. Michael & Paul sit down with Drew and talk about the early grind. Tour vans, playing anywhere that would have him and what happened when Drew lost his record deal right before the world shut down. Instead of quitting, he started playing graduations during COVID, then built a backyard tour by DM’ing fans, cold-calling schools, and routing shows himself. Hundreds of backyards later, he had rebuilt his fanbase from the ground up. Drew also tells the real story behind She’s Somebody’s Daughter — how it went viral, still got turned down by Nashville, and why he decided to hire his own radio team and push the song independently, eventually taking it to #1. They get into the pressure of betting on yourself, starting a family while everything’s uncertain, and what it actually takes to keep going when there’s no safety net. Just a real conversation about not quitting everyone needs to hear.  Follow Drew Baldridge Instagram - @drewbaldridgemusic TikTok - @drewbaldridgemusic https://drewbaldridgemusic.com/ Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    57 min

  6. JAN 27

    Offstage With Troy Roker

    Send a text Michael & Paul sit down with Stuntman Troy and gets into how he went from wakeboarding and extreme sports… to getting paid to do stunts for a living. But what makes this episode hit isn’t just the action — it’s the mindset behind it. We talk about: How Troy built his path from the ground upThe importance of community, mentorship, and the right people around youWhat extreme sports looks like in the social media eraFatherhood, family life, and long-distance relationship realitiesThe thrill (and real risk) of stunt workTroy’s experience working on Roadhouse and what it taught himThis episode is equal parts hilarious and inspiring — and it’s one of those conversations that’ll make you want to take a bigger swing in your own life. Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    1h 14m

  7. JAN 22

    Cadillac Creek: Geese, God, and the Boys

    Send a text Michael Ray and Paul take Offstage America on the road to Cadillac Creek Outfitters in Amarillo, Texas where the goose hunting has been an absolute massacre (we’re talking hundreds of birds and nonstop action). But the real reason this episode hits? The table talk. This is the biggest group episode so far: police officers, a pastor, and one guy who may or may not be John Daly’s caddy…all swapping stories, roasting each other, and taking the conversation exactly where hunting camp conversations always go: completely off the rails. Inside the episode: The Cadillac Creek goose hunt recap (pure chaos, crazy numbers)Why the camp hang is sometimes better than the hunt itselfFaith, family, addiction, and the real stuff men don’t say out loud enoughMichael on what hunting gave him in 2025 — clarity, healing, and getting back to centerA moment of perspective that turns into an honest conversation about God, responsibility, and using your platform for something biggerClosing the episode the only way hunting camp should: a prayer and a toastIf you’ve ever been part of a hunting camp… this will feel like home.  If you haven’t… welcome to the madness. Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    1h 11m

  8. JAN 20

    Offstage With Brady Pierce

    Send a text In the first-ever guest episode of Offstage America, Michael Ray brings Brady Pierce into the hot seat. A professional wrestler, stuntman, actor, and one of the real ones on the team. What starts as a laid-back, no-script hang quickly turns into a full breakdown of what it actually takes to make it when you come from nothing, sleep in your car, chase the next opportunity, and refuse to quit. They get into: How Brady went from small-town South Carolina to working major TV and film setsThe brutal reality of the wrestling grind (and getting paid $20 to drive across the country)Getting discovered through AEW, landing Heels, and stepping into Hollywood fastThe WWE “what if” moment that almost happened — and the setback that became the setupWhy most people quit right before they’re about to break throughThe truth about success, failure, confidence, discipline, and staying built for the long gameThis episode is funny, raw, and unexpectedly real — and it’s exactly what Offstage America is about: the story behind the wins, the scars behind the confidence, and the moments that happen when the cameras aren’t supposed to be rolling. If you’re chasing something big… you need this one. Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    1h 14m

  9. JAN 13

    Goodbye 2025, Hello Whatever’s Next

    Send a text In Episode 2, Michael Ray and Paul are back in Michaels living room doing what they do best: shooting from the hip, talking a little trash, and accidentally getting real. As 2025 wraps, the guys recap the year that was...the pressure of rebuilding, and the weird reality that “followers” can matter more than talent in today’s music business. Michael opens up about why he started this show in the first place: God pushing him to let people in, stop being guarded, and get back to who he is when the noise goes away. They hit on: The highs and hard moments of a rebuilding yearKids growing up way too fast (and how that messes with you)The outdoors as therapy — hunting camp tables, fishing in silence, and why that’s holy in its own wayA once-in-a-lifetime hunt: Michael and songwriter Josh Phillips flying their dads out to Texas for the biggest deer they’ve ever taken (and the legendary “Rambo” follow-up shot)Ayahuasca in Costa Rica, healing work, and learning empathy — for himself and everyone around himSports fan glory: Paul’s Panthers Cup run, viral videos, and the chaos of a cracked Stanley Cup2026 goals: new music, writing in January, touring again, taking Offstage America on the road, and building something that feels like a real community — not just contentIt’s funny, it’s unfiltered, and underneath the jokes, it’s two guys saying out loud what most people won’t: life moves fast, stress will kill you, and if you don’t get your mind and body right, nothing else matters. Welcome back to Offstage America. 2025’s done. Now we ride. Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    44 min

  10. JAN 6

    Where Has Michael Been?

    Send a text Michael Ray isn’t here to play a character. In the very first episode of Offstage America, Michael and Paul break down how a “quick whiskey call” turned into a full-blown movement...and why it’s happening at the exact right time. Michael opens up about a year of major transition: his Warner deal ending, rebuilding his team and direction, a real spiritual reset, the self-doubt he’s never said out loud, and the moment he decided he was done keeping people at arm’s length. They also lay out what this show is actually about: faith, the outdoors, real friendship, veterans and first responders, men’s mental health, and shining a light on the small-town heroes who never get their flowers. Plus: what’s next — new music, a January writing camp, and taking Offstage America on the road. Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    50 min

  11. 12/27/2025

    Coming January 6th

    Send a text Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica Follow Michael Instagram - @michaelraymusic TikTok - @michaelrayofficial Follow Paul Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

    25 sec
  • 11 Episodes

About

Offstage America is Michael Ray like you’ve never heard him before. No stage lights. No script. This show lives where real life happens, on the road, on the porch, in the woods, at the table. Michael sits down for honest conversations about the things that actually matter: family, faith, the outdoors, sports, music, mental health, giving back, and what it means to build a life you’re proud of. Guests range from fellow artists, athletes, celebrities and veterans to everyday Americans with real stories worth hearing. Some you’ll recognize instantly. Others you’ll be glad you met here first. Michael brings a rare perspective from someone who’s toured nationally, topped charts, lived the highs of success, and still stayed rooted in who he is and where he comes from. That makes the conversations relaxed, unfiltered, and real. The kind of conversations that don’t happen on stage or in interviews. Offstage America isn’t about hype. It’s about real people. It’s about life off the stage and the stories that shape us when no one’s watching.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Ray & Paul Novielli
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Offstage America
  • Show Website
    Offstage America