Circling The Drain

John E. Bozeman & Jay Harper
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Music Interviews

Circling The Drain is a show about the current state of the music and radio businesses as well as culture in general! Hosted by John E. Bozeman and Jay Harper along with Jim McCarthy as Co-Host/Executive Producer. John has had a storied career in music and talk radio, most notably as the Executive Producer for the late and legendary Phil Valentine. Jay also has has a long career in radio as Announcer, Play-by-Play, Voice and On-Camera Actor. He was also an Artist Rep for MCA records. Jim McCarthy ALSO has had a tremendous career in radio since 1996 and has since brought his consulting/producing skillset to the podcast world. Circling the Drain is produced by ItsYourShow.co

  1. 2d ago

    From Prison Guard to Country Star & Coffee King w/Craig Campbell :: Ep 50 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Traditional country singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and Eagleville city councilman Craig Campbell sits down with the Circling the Drain crew to talk about his wild ride from small-town Georgia to Nashville stages and successful coffeehouse-venue brand Grindstone Cowboy. Craig shares how playing piano in church led to Lower Broadway gigs, touring with Luke Bryan and Tracy Byrd, and eventually landing his first record deal that produced the hit Family Man. He gets honest about financial wake-up calls, label roller coasters, not being allowed to play on his own records, and why he’s now all-in on authenticity, entrepreneurship, and community. The conversation dives into: – Growing up in Lyons/Vidalia, GA and finding music through church and gospel – Working as a correctional officer in a level 5 men’s prison before chasing his Nashville dream – Cutting his teeth as one of the few piano players on Lower Broadway and singing countless demos – The story behind Family Man, its music video, and how his family shaped his songwriting – How a misheard phrase became Grindstone Cowboy, and why COVID pushed him into the coffee/restaurant business – Trace Adkins helping pack the grand opening and literally working behind the bar – Serving on Eagleville city council and protecting the town’s growth while growing his own business – The rapid shift from albums to downloads to streaming, and now AI demos with tools like Suno – His concerns for musicians in the AI era, but also how broke songwriters can use tech to get ideas off the ground – New traditional-leaning artists he believes are the real deal, like Zach Top, Jake Worthington, and Ella Langley If you love real-deal country stories, the hustle behind the music, and the collision of art, business, and technology, this episode is for you. Timed Highlights / Chapters:  01:33 Rain, racing, and an IndyCar weekend that turned into a three-day saga 02:32 Introducing guest Craig Campbell: traditional country singer and entrepreneur 03:10 Grindstone Cowboy origin: the name comes before the business 03:24 Living in Eagleville and serving on city council 03:56 Running for re-election and using Grindstone Cowboy to collect petition signatures 04:10 How the phrase “Grindstone Cowboy” sparked a coffee shop vision 04:21 COVID wipes out shows and forces a contingency plan 04:21–05:16 Convincing his wife it wasn’t a terrible idea and buying the building in 2021 05:16–06:26 Grand opening madness and Trace Adkins working behind the bar and kissing babies 06:36–07:15 Trace showing up “full Trace Adkins” vs. overalls and cap on this podcast 07:35 The viral “my wife shot me” Trace story that hit nearly 4 million views 08:41 Growing up in Lyons/Vidalia, GA and playing piano in church 08:53–10:07 From correctional officer to honky-tonk band leader and the move to Nashville in 2002 10:15–11:30 Influences: early 90s country boom, Travis Tritt, and being “taught by the best” 11:30–14:13 Lower Broadway grind, playing for Luke Bryan and Tracy Byrd, and finally getting noticed at The Stage 14:13–15:16 Signing his first record deal in 2009 and releasing Family Man in 2010 14:21–15:16 Family Man video: his daughters, wife almost being in it, and one big regret 15:18 Kids, family life, and what really shaped his character 15:20–17:16 Coming to Nashville at 23 to raise his game and avoid plateauing in South Georgia 17:23–18:20 Being one of only a couple piano players on Lower Broadway and working 5–6 nights a week 18:20–19:10 Negotiating his record deal around gig money and demo singing 19:10–21:15 Demo singing, Keith Stegall, Lee Brice, and the song All Night to Get There 21:15–22:23 Singing the demo for Randy Owen’s Braid My Hair and what hundreds of demos taught him 21:25–22:23 True Value Country Showdown: getting the stage bug at 15 and winning local twice 22:20–23:28 Nearly crossing paths with the hosts during the Country Showdown years 23:41–25:31 Success of Family Man, Fish, and then the rude awakening of a single stalling at 38 25:31–27:09 Big tax bills, label closures, and career roller coasters that humbled him 27:15–28:48 Being even-keeled, the serenity prayer, and how his wife’s worrying balances him 28:19–29:10 Aspiring to act and asking Trace Adkins to throw him small roles 29:05–30:34 Dreaming of a Taylor Sheridan role in Yellowstone universe shows like Landman 29:31–31:27 Growing up in a broken home, losing his biological father, and why it didn’t shape his music 31:36–32:31 Stepdad as the real father figure and the inspiration behind Outskirts of Heaven lyrics 32:31–33:15 Learning harmony in church by standing beside his mom and soaking up gospel 33:38–35:00 Teaching himself piano, the old upright he still owns, and eventually plateauing 35:00–36:18 Nashville musicians who can’t read standard notation but dominate the scene 36:20–37:30 Formal vs self-taught: Elton John, Eddie Van Halen, and throwing away the rulebook 37:30–39:11 Imposter syndrome, elite players in Nashville, and still feeling like you belong 39:36–40:33 Getting vibed in studios by musicians and one guitarist he’ll never hire again 40:33–43:12 Studio politics when big-name producers walk in and how attitudes suddenly shift 43:24–45:32 Wounded guitar pickers, radio egos, and people who forget basic courtesy 45:32–48:33 Tanning salons, cell phone stores, bad financial moves, and discovering Eagleville 48:33–52:17 Buying and selling houses around the 2008 crash and landing in a farmhouse with acreage 49:00–51:43 Non-music jobs: correctional officer, maintenance man, sprint phones, tanning, then full-time music 49:19–50:26 Life inside men’s prisons, fights, and the cert team response 52:25–53:12 The unicorn employee problem and realities of restaurant staffing 53:17–54:01 Who actually thrives working at Grindstone Cowboy and why 54:01–56:07 Pay, restaurant economics, and the constant balance of wages vs opportunity 56:16–58:00 Shelbyville location, income realities, ticketed concerts, and selling out Pam Tillis 56:26–56:41 New Grindstone Cowboy being built on 30A in Florida 57:41–59:02 Pitching Eagleville as part of a day-trip route: Arrington, Grindstone, Nearest Green, Jack, Dickel 58:31–59:45 Eagleville’s evolution from a dry town to margaritas at Las Fiestas 59:45–1:01:32 Why he ran for city council and wanting a say in Eagleville’s growth 1:01:32–1:03:16 The wild 10-year shift from albums to downloads to streaming to AI 1:03:26–1:05:14 Suno, AI demos, who it helps, and how it might create “fake songwriters” 1:05:14–1:07:10 Big DSPs creating AI music and placing it atop playlists, and why that scares him 1:06:18–1:07:58 Live shows as the best defense against AI and the importance of human performance 1:07:58–1:10:56 Concert prices, fewer kids seeing legends up close, and the future of live inspiration 1:10:28–1:12:06 New traditional artists he loves: Zach Top, Jake Worthington, Ella Langley 1:11:56–1:13:07 Favorite kinds of gigs: songwriter rounds, theaters, and cranking everything to 11 1:12:06–1:12:36 Playing a 45-minute Ryman set opening for Alan Jackson for colorectal cancer charity 1:13:07–1:14:00 Still releasing music, feeling his voice is better than ever, and keeping his foot on the gas 1:13:56–1:15:32 Wrap-up, where to find Craig and ...

    From Prison Guard to Country Star & Coffee King w/Craig Campbell :: Ep 50 Circling the Drain Podcast

  2. Jul 29

    Jesse & Noah Bellamy: Sunshine Shop, Sibling Harmony and Keeping Country Real :: Ep 49 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Circling the Drain welcomes brothers Jesse and Noah Bellamy to talk about their new album Sunshine Shop, the Bellamy family legacy, and why the best songs are “imperfectly perfect.” They dive into growing up on a Florida cattle ranch, watching their dad and uncle (the Bellamy Brothers) build a career, and carving out their own sound rooted in harmony, story songs, and live-band energy instead of over-gridded perfection. The conversation hits everything from AI in music and the future of live performance to Nashville’s changing skyline, vinyl nostalgia, DIY video strategy, and surviving horse-drawn chaos on Broadway. Jesse and Noah also perform two songs live in-studio, showcasing the sibling blend and storytelling that set them apart. Timed highlights  [00:01:36] Introducing Jesse and Noah Bellamy and their new album Sunshine Shop [00:02:28] Growing up on a Florida cattle ranch and the real history of American cowboys [00:03:35] The Bellamy Brothers’ LA era, Let Your Love Flow and returning to Florida/Nashville [00:05:08] How the brother act formed and why only two of the five brothers play publicly [00:07:17] Instruments, overdubs and moving from one-man-band recordings to cutting live [00:08:10] Building a core band, recording Sunshine Shop live and working with Zach Kasik at Wildfeather [00:09:29] Knowing when a track is “right,” re-cutting I Told a Lie after playing it live [00:10:49] Recycling and reviving older songs, the idea of a future live album [00:11:26] Splitting lyrics and melody, trading demos and building a 50-song folder [00:11:44] Why one of the next tracks has to be a Christmas song, and the video/show domino effect [00:12:25] Getting into the Christmas spirit in 90-degree weather and George Strait studio stories [00:12:34] Writing from a young age to avoid cover songs and find their own style [00:13:40] Songwriting influence from their dad David Bellamy and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame [00:14:39] Wordsmithing influences from Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Beatles, Paul Simon, Bob McDill and Don Williams [00:15:21] Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A. and working with Riders in the Sky on “This Old Cowboys” [00:16:21] Deep cowboy music history and why Riders in the Sky are the genre’s custodians [00:17:02] Bringing Tess Frizell in for a duet and the power of second-generation country artists [00:18:36] Handling comparisons to the Bellamy Brothers and why they want people to come hear their songs [00:20:09] The Bellamy last name: blessing, curse or both and the rarity of sibling duos today [00:21:36] The only duo that never broke up and joking about Florida Georgia Line [00:21:43] Brotherly disagreements, hypothetical fights and thrown instruments [00:22:49] Setting up to play in-studio and joking about royalty payments and homemade pickles [00:23:31] Live performance: “Line of Rose” (murder ballad… but not really) [00:27:10] Reacting to the performance: harmonies, picking and evolving arrangements [00:27:48] Re-cutting “Line of Rose” from bluegrass to rock for the new record [00:28:23] Traditional song inspiration from “Rain and Snow” and public domain bluegrass [00:29:10] “This can’t be happening” moments and Noah getting hit by a horse on Broadway [00:30:21] Runaway horse, detached carriage and chaos in downtown Nashville [00:30:36] Click tracks, playing to the grid and why they prefer live band feel [00:31:15] AI, Suno and fake artists that sound great but aren’t real [00:31:44] Why live shows and human feel matter even more in an AI era [00:32:04] Returning full-circle to imperfectly perfect records like Dave Clark Five [00:33:15] Balancing studio vs live, using the road as a laboratory for songs [00:34:49] DIY artist reality: limited budgets, choosing between radio campaigns and social media promotion [00:35:21] Is radio still important and how to split focus between radio, video and streaming [00:36:11] YouTube vs Spotify, AXS TV support and making iPhone-shot videos with Nita [00:37:21] Vinyl as a tactile experience, fans buying records as art and mementos [00:38:24] WMOT, WSM and pockets of Americana and country radio support [00:38:47] How much more complex promo is now than “just radio and TV” [00:39:20] Jesse’s Instagram and social strategy and bringing Nita in as a stealth content creator [00:40:22] Thoughts on social media snippets and giving away song samples on TikTok/Reels [00:41:02] Discovering Jesse and Noah at Deborah Evans Price’s guitar-pull parties [00:42:24] The magic of Deborah’s gatherings, gumbo, community and meeting their drummer there [00:43:51] Artists they listen to now, Megadeth “stealing” their video location and Charlie Rich [00:45:14] Digging deeper into gospel cuts of “Farther Along” for Deborah Allen’s gospel night [00:46:18] Franklin Theatre challenges and weeknight ticket realities [00:46:50] Hair products, beard care and “looks-maxxing” as a musician [00:47:46] Shooting photo sessions in your 40s and the cigar/beard spokesman jokes [00:48:49] Touring realities, regional routing and a potential Mexico trip [00:49:40] Favorite Nashville room: Brown’s Diner, burgers, old beer license and Derby bets [00:50:58] Soccer, non-sports musicians, marching band and early instrument stories [00:52:00] From saxophone to drums and finally making peace with being “a drummer, not a musician” [00:53:22] Motives for becoming a front person and old band war stories [00:55:00] Songwriter community on Music Row and mostly writing for themselves [00:55:35] TikTok, trolls and turning “beer, beer, truck, truck, dirt, dirt” into a hit idea [00:56:28] Why Nashville still works: community, collaboration and creativity [00:57:00] Austin as a sister city and how both scenes have changed [00:57:24] Losing historic studios like Sound Shop and the condo-ization of Music Row [00:58:53] Sunshine Shop cover concept and capturing a building before it disappears [00:59:42] Nashville skyline then vs now and the Ryman’s near-ruin era [01:00:02] Seeing metal and shock rock at the Ryman: Anthrax, Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent [01:01:10] Loudest shows ever and changing approaches to live sound [01:02:01] From wall-of-amps to silent stages and in-ears: feeling vs hearing [01:02:26] Alex Van Halen, ear damage and monitor levels creeping up over a tour [01:02:32] Dream venues: Tampa Theatre, Temple Theater in Portland and more [01:03:38] New venues: Harkin Hall (Madison) and The Truth (Wedgewood-Houston) [01:03:53] Live Nation, AEG, Ryman ownership changes and ticket economics [01:05:06] Wrapping up and defending Nashville’s creative vibe amid rapid growth [01:05:35] Sunshine Shop plug: why every home should have a copy [01:06:21] Setting up one more live song to play out the episode [01:06:40] Live performance: “I Told a Lie” [01:10:14] Everly Brothers vibes, closing thanks and final Sunshine Shop push [01:10:39] Where to find Circling the Drain: Facebook, YouTube, circlingthedrain.net and audio platforms [01:10:48] Where to find Jesse and Noah: website, socials and streaming services  Jesse & Noah: jesseandnoah.com  Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

    Jesse & Noah Bellamy: Sunshine Shop, Sibling Harmony and Keeping Country Real :: Ep 49 Circling the Drain Podcast

  3. Jul 22

    Nashville Politics, Nantucket Sharks and Comedy Wars w/Adam Dread :: Ep 48 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Nashville legend, attorney, former councilman and stand-up comic Adam Dred joins Johnny B and J. Harper from Nantucket to talk about everything from politics and scooters to sharks, data centers, cab laws and comedy wars. Adam walks through his infamous “English-speaking cab drivers” bill, his near-fatal stroke and brain bleed, why he splits time between Nashville and Nantucket, and how he went from radio and stand-up to law and animal advocacy. He also dishes on Trace Adkins, Ralphie May, Steve Harvey, Joe Rogan, Bob Saget, bad Californians in Nashville, and why wind farms and data centers make him crazy. If you love Nashville, comedy, behind-the-scenes radio stories and unfiltered political takes, this episode is packed. Timed Highlights (for chapters/clips) 02:13 Life in Nantucket and buying manfromnantucket.com from Russians03:27 Man From Nantucket merch and fundraising for animal charities03:49 Bonnie Dred, the toilet-trained cat and viral TV coverage04:19 Splitting life and law practice between Nantucket and Tennessee05:09 “Hate months,” gossip season and Nashville heat05:16 Asking if he can swear on the podcast and political correctness06:15 Fourth of July “water fight” becomes “water game” and cultural wimpification06:43 Growing up without helmets, seatbelts and safety culture07:11 The satirical “prenuptial weight agreement” from law school07:37 History with Trace Adkins and the “Giant Painters – Ladders Are For Fags” story09:37 Getting fired for on-air drinking and Lightning 100 “music for angry lesbians”11:18 How Adam fed the entire TV crew via ad deals and earned loyalty12:25 Doing good deeds, karma and his Nantucket country radio show “Cohog Wild”13:05 Declaration of Independence reading controversy and moving it to St. Paul’s14:30 Making outdoor church services pet friendly and doubling attendance15:39 From scooters to taxes: why Adam fought Nashville scooters and the economics16:48 Property tax shock on Lower Broadway and Layla’s honky tonk19:02 Historic entertainment zoning, Zanies, Douglas Corner and losing venues19:44 Fighting Eighth Avenue bike lanes and Nashville’s climate reality20:47 Why free buses beat bike lanes and how Nantucket does transit21:10 Term limits, “community tithing” and what he did on Metro Council22:21 Stroke story: blacking out, the crash and coding twice24:21 Citywide prayer on the air and waking up telling jokes25:13 Second brain bleed, Coumadin, misdiagnosis and changing genetic markers28:08 Allergies changing, bee stings and new ticks that can make you allergic to meat29:07 Great whites, bull sharks, tiger sharks and hammerheads vs humans31:11 Overfishing, baby sharks at New Smyrna and blaming sport fishing33:30 Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard culture and politics34:26 Mr. Rogers on Nantucket and the Fred Rogers Award34:58 Nantucket Clean Team and making kids care about trash35:21 Nashville’s “ladders on the interstate” vs Nantucket’s paper bags36:10 Wind farms, broken blades, beach closures and unseen environmental costs38:30 Data centers by the zoo, water use, contamination and eminent domain problems40:33 How Nashville bungled the data center permits and legal exposure41:48 Megan Barry, mayors’ affairs and why Adam still defends her as a person43:01 Losing children, grief and why some people get a lifelong “hall pass”43:38 Missing old Nashville: Phasins, the Trace, Maud’s Courtyard and Hillsboro Village45:15 “Bad Californians,” fake service dogs and a dog-bite lawsuit story48:38 Payment plans for Bel Meade Californians and serving people by publication48:50 Jim’s severe dander allergy and workplace pets putting him in the hospital49:49 Emotional support animals vs real service dogs in law and travel50:47 Chinese poison pet food case, Phil Valentine’s cat and suing for the owners52:23 Remembering Bart Durham and what people don’t know about him53:23 How contingency-fee firms really pick cases56:16 Abortion question at a forum and Adam’s 16-year “abort your kid” joke57:51 Musica statue complaints, “I posed for it” and renaming the Christmas tree58:14 Holiday tree vs Christmas tree, menorah and being born Jewish in that fight58:52 Circling the Drain as a brand and “circling and stirring”59:32 When Adam is back in Nashville: Vandy tailgate, tents 1 and 2 and open bar1:00:09 Pavia, Heisman, image problems and Pacman Jones comparisons1:01:10 Cheetah 3 strip club in Atlanta and hosting the Battle of the Cheetah Girls1:02:21 Ralphie May, the divorce, TMZ allegations and the stress that killed him1:03:56 How Ralphie was treated, money issues and the banned ex-wife1:04:42 Ralphie’s last phone call and the Vegas shooting1:05:18 Getting into comedy at Vanderbilt, Rights of Spring and Henry Cho1:06:10 First road work, a blown radiator and Steve Harvey saving his hand1:07:06 Co-headlining with Dennis Leary and learning to follow dirty comics1:07:51 Joe Rogan as his opener and Bob Saget’s filthy sets1:08:54 Nantucket comedy festivals and his local Nantucket books1:09:26 Island Cup: Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard, whaling roots and big kids1:10:26 Tuna, sharks, Block Island and fall “shoulder season” on Nantucket1:11:07 Restaurant Week, chamber duties and being “a man of leisure”1:11:45 Faith, obligation to give back and leaving the world better1:12:07 Johnny B calls Adam a hero and they tease live shows from Vandy and the boat1:12:36 Adam’s legal plug: no-charge consults and 888-DUI-ADAM1:13:04 Wrap-up, invitation to future episodes and Circling The Drain plugs Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co

    Nashville Politics, Nantucket Sharks and Comedy Wars w/Adam Dread :: Ep 48 Circling the Drain Podcast

  4. Jul 15

    The Real Lives of David Allan Coe’s Daughters – Tanya Montana & Shelli Coe :: Ep 47 Circling the Drain Podcast

    On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B,  Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy sit down with Tanya Montana and Shelli Coe, daughters of outlaw country legend David Allan Coe. They share what it was really like growing up on the road, clear the air about racist allegations and the infamous X‑rated albums, and explain the truth behind the estate, the will, and why the kids aren’t “silver spoon” heirs. Tanya and Shelli talk about their own musical journeys, the Goodbye Girls Nashville shop, reconnecting with long‑lost siblings, and how their mom Jody quietly held the whole family together. This is one of the most honest, emotional, and human conversations you’ll hear about fame, family, and faith in country music. Timed Highlights / Chapters:  02:00 – Growing up as Coe kids and Tyler’s guitar chops on the road with Blackberry Smoke 05:01 – Shelli’s Texas roots, Dripping Springs, Willie Nelson’s grandkids and writing songs from childhood 06:25 – The family album, Heavenly Father, Holy Mother and 3‑year‑old Shelli on tape 07:26 – Tanya’s childhood on the road, faxes with her dad and discovering songwriting 09:57 – From accounting to artist: opening Goodbye Girls and being thrown on stage at GG Happy Hour 12:10 – Todd Snider discovers Tanya at the shop and offers to record her for free 13:20 – Silver Bullet: DIY iPhone video, political talk show bumper music and fan reactions 15:06 – Why radio and “Billy Sherrill rules” don’t define modern independent artists 16:07 – Billy Sherrill, David Allan Coe’s genre‑bending catalog and embracing creative risk 17:10 – John Lennon comparisons, Hydro Emotion and the power of All Effed Up 18:17 – Shelli’s song I Need My Name and writing out of love for her dad 20:33 – Making a low‑budget but powerful video in a closed furniture/consignment store 22:13 – Life as kids on the road: band members as protectors and the “Willie Nelson family” vibe 23:59 – Growing up between strict Christian schools and a rough, all‑male tour bus world 25:05 – How the band quietly protected the kids from danger and bad situations 25:21 – The X‑rated albums, racist accusations and what the family actually believes 27:33 – “I love black culture and music”: Tanya on reconciling her dad’s catalog with her values 28:10 – Shelli: “The children of David Allan Coe are not racist” and why she’s never listened to those albums 29:29 – Context for the X‑rated records, parody, Red Foxx, Mel Brooks and intent vs misuse 30:14 – Never giving up: years of unanswered texts, trying to reconnect and the pain of estrangement 33:26 – Going to the funeral scared, public viewing and being “breadcrumbed” through each event 34:41 – Shelli’s impromptu eulogy and thanking the fans for loving their dad 36:19 – David Allan Coe’s traumatic childhood and the side most fans never saw 38:16 – Early 80s Nashville radio memories and meeting David at Spence Manor 39:01 – Playing deep cuts on air: Compass Point, Spectrum 7 and late‑night spins 40:39 – Shelli joins the road in the early 90s, first show in Austin and deciding to be a performer 42:08 – Buses, vans, “carnival” convoys and how the big road show eventually went broke 43:23 – Re‑configuring the bus so the kids could live on the road with their dad 45:03 – Why the kids had relatively “normal” lives thanks to their mothers 45:35 – Jody’s crucial role in the family, fan club and giving all the kids a home base 46:26 – Welcoming a newly discovered brother, Josh, and his family into the fold 47:35 – How the siblings are building a united family now, even without controlling the estate 48:19 – Growing up in East Nashville, Goodbye Girls as a community and the “little shop that could” 50:39 – Surviving 16+ years in retail, COVID, Lana Del Rey’s support and small‑business hustle 52:09 – What Goodbye Girls actually sells: vintage western, stagewear, boots and boho fashion 53:38 – Explaining East Nashville’s vibe and the meaning behind Goodbye Girls 54:04 – Re‑releasing David’s “This Is David Allan Coe” book and why prices spiked after his death 55:20 – What Tanny Montana Music really is and what Jody actually owns 57:00 – Clearing up rumors: Tanya doesn’t get royalties from Stand By Your Man or other songs 58:23 – “We’ve been excluded from everything”: reading the will and dealing with that heartbreak 1:00:17 – The kids’ perspective on narrative wars, online attacks and trying to stay classy 1:01:04 – First time publicly going this deep on the record about the will and estate 1:01:33 – Shout‑out to Tyler Coe’s Cocaine & Rhinestones podcast and the siblings’ admiration 1:02:30 – Where to find their music: Bandcamp, Facebook pages and respecting each sibling’s privacy 1:03:58 – How they’re grieving together and keeping the family unit strong 1:04:36 – Where to find Circling The Drain: Facebook, YouTube, iHeart, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn and merch Socials / Links  Tanya’s shop: • Goodbye Girls Nashville – goodbyegirlsnashville.com Music (Bandcamp): • Tanya Montana – “Silver Bullet” (vinyl) and “Hydro Emotion” (CD) available on Bandcamp • Shelli Coe – “A Girl Like Me” available on Bandcamp Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co

    The Real Lives of David Allan Coe’s Daughters – Tanya Montana & Shelli Coe :: Ep 47 Circling the Drain Podcast

  5. Jul 8

    Politics, Pop Culture, and the Death of Fun :: Ep 46 Circling the Drain Podcast

    On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim talk about how political division has seeped into every corner of entertainment and media. They trade stories from talk radio, debate Trump’s influence on patriot events, and unpack why fans are turning on artists who get too political from the stage. The guys also reminisce about women who changed rock (Linda Ronstadt, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Amy Lee), underrated girl and boy bands, and classic film stars and directors. They hit on the Morgan Wallen and Jason Aldean controversies, the 250th celebration tied to Trump, CMA Fest politics, and how talk radio and cable news are burning people out. It’s part nostalgia, part media critique, and part “can we please just enjoy a show again?” Includes: – Behind-the-scenes stories from talk radio and WTN – How politics hijacked July 4th and the 250th celebration – Country music’s culture war: Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, Beyoncé, CMA/ACM awards – Why conservative talk radio has become an echo chamber – Classic crushes and icons: Linda Ronstadt, Bridget Fonda, Cher, Marilyn Monroe – Film noir, Turner Classic Movies, and Spielberg’s new UFO film – Trace Adkins, Taylor Sheridan, and dream casting for Yellowstone-style shows Timed Highlights: 0:00 Lioness, Linus and dad-joke cold open 0:45 Johnny B, Jay, and Jim check in and bust chops on age and birthdays 2:50 Sharing birthdays with Tom Cruise, Andrew Garfield, Demi Lovato, Amy Adams, Scorsese, and Danny DeVito 4:10 Jim’s last-minute save as a baseball PA announcer and learning the lingo on the fly 7:50 Mercy rules, softball vs baseball pace, and why tournament ball can be brutal 8:45 Rush’s new drummer on tour and pulling off Tom Sawyer live 10:15 Blink-182’s drummer, plane crashes, DJ AM, and guilty-pleasure pop bands 12:10 Boy bands, Backstreet Boys, The Bangles, Go-Go’s, and needing more women drummers and guitarists 14:15 Linda Ronstadt, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Amy Lee, and greatest female rock vocalists 15:59 Linda Ronstadt stories, studios in Nashville, and realizing you’ve been sitting next to a legend 19:10 Aging icons: Linda Ronstadt, Cher turning 80, separating politics from performance 21:14 Trump, De Niro, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp and when politics ruins the art 22:38 Trump’s 250th celebration, Martina McBride and Bret Michaels backing out 25:00 Can we have a non-political patriotic event anymore? Remembering the 1976 Bicentennial 29:30 Covid money printing, tariffs, gas prices, and why voters always come back to their wallets 31:00 Bruce Springsteen, the Black Crowes, and crowds telling artists to “shut up and play” 32:10 CMA Fest, Justin Pearson, and bringing politicians on stage to rant 32:58 Music Row’s political disconnect from the country audience 33:37 Morgan Wallen being ignored by awards shows despite massive popularity 33:58 Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” Columbia courthouse, and outrage over the video 34:51 A billion streams, Congressional recognition, and producing the songwriter podcast 35:58 10–15 years of politics dividing entertainment 36:34 Steve Earle, protest songs, and when stage rants kill the vibe 37:10 Dixie Chicks backlash, Natalie Maines, and radio phones melting down 37:50 Playing Dixie Chicks on classic country formats and the name-change wars (Dixie Chicks, Lady A) 38:33 College indoctrination, Jim Breuer’s bit, and “racist, sexist, gender” on repeat 39:40 Campus politics then vs now, old-school professors who actually debated 40:59 Talk radio turning into an echo chamber and worshipping Trump 41:38 Jim getting heat on WTN for criticizing Trump’s spending 42:21 Audience demanding red meat and nothing but politics 44:16 Burnout from politics on air: filling in at WTN and being exhausted by the news cycle 45:18 Fox News running nonstop in the background and how it shapes older viewers 48:54 Family stories: visiting parents and in-laws who live on cable news and Trump 49:53 Streaming instead of news: Turner Classic Movies, film noir, and great writing 50:47 Classic Hollywood glamor, Bogart and Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, and missing wit in modern movies 52:00 Marvel highs and lows after Endgame and Spielberg’s new disclosure/UFO movie 53:23 Emily Blunt, Monty Python references, and “huge tracts of land” 54:02 Whatever happened to Bridget Fonda and why she left Hollywood 55:00 Privacy, health, car accidents, and what aging looks like in the spotlight 57:17 Growing up a Fonda, Hollywood burnout, and punning about “Fond of Fondas” 57:37 Sound drops, Kelsey Grammer’s legendary stage fall, and physical comedy clips 58:15 Trace Adkins’ accident, almost losing a leg, and that unreal voice in headphones 59:44 Deep-voice envy, timbre, and why Trace belongs in a Taylor Sheridan series 1:00:36 IndyCar in Nashville, Alex Palou, short shorts, and being surrounded by race fans 1:02:06 Hospital stories, heart issues, and future guest John with his Muscle Shoals lineage 1:03:26 Why it’s fun but risky to wade into politics on a usually non-political show 1:04:10 Nearing episode 50 and the idea of “drinking before vs after” each podcast 1:05:21 Racing, upcoming events in Nashville, and guests missing the studio driveway 1:08:24 Directions, flagpoles, and the perils of running a hidden hilltop studio 1:09:21 Joking about fans “clogging the drain” and possible spin-off names 1:10:00 Where to find Circling The Drain across platforms and video/audio Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co

    Politics, Pop Culture, and the Death of Fun :: Ep 46 Circling the Drain Podcast

  6. Jul 1

    Trace Adkins on Nashville’s Boom, Real Country, and Rowdy Road Stories :: Ep 45 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Country icon Trace Adkins gets candid about buying his Tennessee farm, Nashville’s explosive growth, and why “perfect” modern records leave him cold. He shares wild stories with Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, and more, plus visions for a catfish joint called Hot Mamas. Trace Adkins is back for part three, and this time he goes deep on life at the farm, Nashville’s real estate explosion, and why old-school, imperfect records still hit harder than today’s polished tracks. From Merle Haggard in boxer shorts with a joint over his ear to Waylon cussing the bugs onstage and Buck Owens’ brutally honest “low note” advice, Trace tells the kind of stories only a true country legend can. He and the guys also riff on Nashville turning into a “clean New Orleans,” soccer vs. hockey, the changing studio scene, in-ear monitors vs. wedges, health food vs. fried catfish, and his dream of opening a catfish joint called “Hot Mamas.” If you love real country, road stories, and unfiltered opinions, this is your episode.  1:01 How Trace found his dream 100‑acre farm (and paid more later for 30 acres) 2:55 Nashville’s growth, California money, and $3M homes in former farm fields 3:35 “Clean New Orleans” vibes: Broadway, CMA week, and 250 people a day moving in 5:19 Murfreesboro, Franklin, Gallatin: when the outer ring gets just as crowded 6:07 Getting outside 840 to keep “country living” alive 7:26 Little League moms, grocery store encounters, and a fan story gone sideways 8:18 Why Trace hates soccer and loves hockey fights 10:37 Being a Titans fan, the Music City Miracle, and growing up with the Saints 12:20 Nashville before the Titans and Predators: massage parlors, Printer’s Alley, and a ghost town downtown 17:07 What happens to Music Row studios when AI and home recording take over? 18:39 “Too perfect” records vs. real, messy, live music 19:46 Cutting with Asleep at the Wheel high and out of tune – and why that’s exactly what Trace wanted 20:22 Loving rough live albums and records with mistakes and feel 21:54 Old records recorded by eye and cue, not click tracks and grids 22:33 Trace refuses to sing to a click in the studio 23:00 One in‑ear, loud wedges, and missing the days of club monitors ripping his face off 25:08 Country legends: Merle Haggard in boxers, Waylon fighting bugs, and Hall of Fame grudges 29:41 Buck Owens puts Trace through his paces and gives him brutal “low note” advice 33:05 Grand Ole Opry memories and realizing he’s now one of the “old guys” backstage 36:09 Married to a fitness model: salmon, rice, salads… and disastrous squash brownies 38:02 “I pay for premium health insurance so I can eat what I want” 39:30 Bougie Nashville: Sperry’s, Perry’s, Bourbon Steak, truffle and duck‑fat fries 40:46 Organic fast food and shameless restaurant plugs 41:38 Trace’s dream restaurant: a catfish joint called “Hot Mamas” with flirtatious 50‑something waitresses 43:28 Victoria’s “guilt‑free” menu concept and why Trace’s buddies won’t eat there 44:20 Real pizza talk: New York‑style favorites and local spots 45:22 Mafia‑vibe Italian joints, Godfather radio bits, and ticking off the real bosses 46:37 Wrapping up: three hours with Trace, veterans work, 30th anniversary tour, and where to find Circling the Drain Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co

    Trace Adkins on Nashville’s Boom, Real Country, and Rowdy Road Stories :: Ep 45 Circling the Drain Podcast

  7. Jun 24

    Hit Songs, Phil Valentine Memories, Trump Stories & “Arlington” w/Trace Adkins Pt. 2 :: Ep 44 Circling the Drain Podcast

    In Part 2 of our deep-dive with country icon Trace Adkins, we get the stories behind his most emotional and controversial songs, from “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” to “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Arlington.” Trace shares powerful memories from Arlington National Cemetery, his candid take on Donald Trump, and the radio days with Phil Valentine that almost got people fired. We also dig into his acting career, how he met his wife on a movie set, the wild origin of his dog “Gary Busey,” and why he believes live shows are now the only truly “real” part of the music business. 0:43 – If Trace had to be in a tribute band forever, who would he choose?  1:36 – Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes” and how it inspired Trace’s “Dangerous Man” album cover   3:25 – The grind of album photo shoots and making a real, gritty cover shot   4:12 – The Phil Valentine show, stepdad life, and getting sick of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”   5:44 – Why “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” is cleverly written, not just a novelty hit   6:42 – How the song became the most-played country song in strip club history   7:44 – The backroom label deals behind certain cuts and how “You’re Gonna Miss This” started as a wedding song   9:00 – “I thought it was too sappy” – Trace misjudges a song that becomes a massive number one   10:26 – Ashley Gorley’s hit-making juggernaut and why everyone wants one of his songs   11:04 – Writing “American Made” for the country’s 250th anniversary   11:38 – “Arlington” and “An Empty Chair” – songs that choke him up on stage   12:04 – Performing “Arlington” at Arlington National Cemetery and barely getting through it   12:43 – Why Trace only does “Arlington” for the right audiences (and never for drunks or festivals)   14:04 – The true story behind “Arlington” and Lance Corporal Patrick Nixon   16:26 – Playing “Arlington” on air, Phil Valentine’s reaction, and the emotional weight of the song   17:04 – Remembering Phil Valentine: sparring on-air, sharp wit, and real friendship   18:34 – A hilarious voicemail from Trace and joking about “your little radio show”   19:22 – Rodeo memories, FCC close calls, and the infamous “hot and juicy” weather report   21:18 – Live radio chaos: open mics, cussing and thinking they’d be fired   22:16 – Trace’s new production company “Fifth Rodeo” and its cowboy-with-a-fifth-of-whiskey logo   23:14 – Why Trace doesn’t want the pressure of doing a podcast   24:07 – From tractors to Lululemon and voiceovers: “degradation” of the conversation   24:19 – “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown,” real cowboys and concern for the horses   25:25 – Why some ranch work still has to be done on horseback   26:08 – Trace’s Christmas show: Celtic vibes, stories behind songs and gospel roots   27:32 – Feeling good about the Christmas show vs. “I’m sorry, Lord” after “Badonkadonk”   28:08 – Is memorizing dialog hard? How years on stage made acting easier   28:58 – Directors who demand word-for-word delivery vs. those who allow improvisation   29:46 – Meeting his wife on the set of “The Virginian” in Vancouver   30:21 – How his wife writes, acts and why their dog is named Gary Busey   31:50 – The Christmas parade, a weird looking puppy and the Gary Busey hair and teeth   32:05 – Writing a song for the 250th and the Freedom 250 concert controversy   32:48 – PBS Fourth of July, Trump’s event, and shifting TV schedules   34:02 – The best Trump impressions Trace has heard and how Trump exaggerated his own persona   35:43 – Riding in Trump’s limo and getting asked: “Are you reasonably faithful to your wife?”   36:55 – Trump Jr. explains his job: “I follow him around and put fires out”   37:42 – Wanting to be Ambassador to Australia or the “Office of Hell No”   38:00 – How Trace judges Trump: “He’s a rich old a*****e, not evil”   39:11 – New York real estate, DC politics, and why Trump didn’t need to run   40:00 – Meeting Trump on the plane: funny, warm, and totally different from the public caricature   40:31 – Touring Trump’s penthouse and offices: proud of what he’s built   41:04 – Negotiating through hyperbole: Greenland, Canada, and “shooting for the moon”   42:23 – Dave Chappelle’s take on Trump’s debate moment about tax loopholes   43:07 – Rand Paul vs. Trump on stage and how one debate moment flipped opinions   43:54 – Label history: Capitol, Show Dog, Broken Bow, Verge, and coming back “home” to MCA   45:22 – Why this next MCA album might be Trace’s last   45:32 – New artists he likes (Ella Langley) and why she “has every tool”   46:12 – Betting whether Ella Langley will stay country or go pop   46:42 – Not knowing many of today’s artists and thinking “Shaboozy” was a whiskey brand   47:32 – Loving traditional country and hopes for a pendulum swing (Zach Topp)   47:57 – Advice for new artists in the AI era and why live shows are the last “real” thing   48:54 – Getting fooled by an AI demo and how hard it is to tell what’s real   49:14 – Why you should never spend your own money if people truly believe in you   50:12 – Writing his book with twin collaborators and building the “roller coaster” story   52:33 – Immigration, politics and realizing parts of the book were prophetic   52:53 – Feeling uneasy before release and calling Charlie Daniels for advice   53:55 – Charlie Daniels’ wisdom: “People who don’t like you now aren’t going to read your book”   54:20 – Singing at Charlie Daniels’ funeral and what Charlie meant to him   54:51 – Why he probably didn’t sell enough books to worry in the first place   55:09 – Why there’s no audiobook yet and how a Trace-voiced edition could revive it   56:00 – Ideas for updating the book with new chapters and addendums   56:17 – Tease: Trace Adkins Part 3 is coming to Circling the Drain   Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co

    Hit Songs, Phil Valentine Memories, Trump Stories & “Arlington” w/Trace Adkins Pt. 2 :: Ep 44 Circling the Drain Podcast

  8. Jun 17

    Trace Adkins: Near-Death Stories, Oil Rigs, And 30 Years In Country Music :: Ep 43 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Country legend Trace Adkins joins Circling the Drain for a raw, funny, and unfiltered conversation about survival, success, and the scars he picked up along the way. Trace opens up about growing up in small-town Louisiana, singing bass in church, working dangerous oil rigs in the Gulf, getting shot by an ex-wife, flipping a tractor, multiple open-heart surgeries, and why he still prefers hard work on the farm to life on the tour bus. He also talks about his breakout in Nashville, label politics, 30 years in country music, and how acting and voiceover work have kept him relevant. Along the way you’ll hear wild stories featuring Gene Simmons, Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Donald Trump, Blake Shelton, and more – plus why the national anthem still makes him nervous every single time. This is Part 1 of our Trace Adkins series on Circling the Drain. 1:56 – Trace walks in like a superstar and why everyone respects him  2:26 – The only “tangible result” of being on stage: applause and then back to the bus  3:03 – Farm life, physical work, and needing something real to show for the day  3:50 – Taking down massive ash trees and chasing a chainsaw voiceover gig  4:30 – Losing a Steel commercial because he didn’t wear gloves  6:09 – 12+ years as the voice of Firestone and other national campaigns  6:42 – KFC, Farmer Boys, and ongoing work with Wounded Warrior Project  7:30 – Five daughters, Lululemon bills, and the idea of Trace voicing an athleisure brand  8:01 – Intimidating the boyfriends: hunting on his land and the “I could bury you here” moment  9:47 – Telling a boyfriend he “wasn’t going to make it” and helping him cut his losses  10:25 – Five daughters, three ex-wives, and being “five times more confused about women”  11:10 – Growing up in church: singing beside his granddad with that rich bass voice  11:40 – Discovering that “chicks dig the bass” in a gospel quartet at 17  12:43 – Hayrides, jamborees, and covering Haggard and Buck Owens  13:20 – Working offshore on a drilling rig and singing in the wheelhouse after 12-hour shifts  14:08 – Winning the Wild Turkey Battle of the Bands and coming to Nashville  15:00 – Club circuits, drugs, booze, and learning “everything you’re not supposed to do”  16:08 – Getting his first guitar at 10 and taking lessons in Spring Hill, Louisiana  16:42 – Why he calls himself a “lazy guitar player” and just plays enough to accompany himself  17:11 – Cutting off a finger and the chords he can’t play anymore  17:40 – The shooting: getting shot by an ex-wife and why he didn’t press charges  18:52 – Bullet through the heart and both lungs, Life Flight, and Vanderbilt saving his life  19:45 – Bleeding on the floor, protecting the new carpet, and passing out in the atrium  21:04 – Being 32, strong, and why that’s the only reason he survived  21:39 – Scars from construction work, broken arms and legs, ribs, and flipped tractors  23:15 – Tractor roll-over, crushed sternum, and calling a neighbor with a backhoe to save him  24:16 – Trauma surgery vs. scheduled open-heart surgery and the pain difference  25:14 – Why he doesn’t write songs about his craziest life events  26:00 – Capitol Records, meeting Scott Hendricks at baggage claim, and getting offered a deal on stage  27:06 – Being a big, striking presence and coming from a tall family  28:21 – Shrinking from 6'6" to 6'5" and feeling it in the joints  28:52 – Label politics after Scott leaves Capitol and refusing to go back into the building  29:29 – Almost throwing an executive out the window and the Patsy Cline “she’s dead” story  31:02 – New leadership, Mike Dungan, and how Tim DuBois helped push Trace’s career forward  32:17 – The Chrome era, bikes, and typecast biker roles in movies  33:00 – Deepwater Horizon, playing a furious parent, and Peter Berg demanding more intensity  35:30 – Manhandling Mark Wahlberg on set and the behind-the-scenes story  35:59 – Meeting Kurt Russell and seeing oilfield authenticity on screen  36:38 – Why that movie got the oilfield details right  37:01 – Taylor Sheridan, Land Man delays, and writers chasing the next “shiny toy”  38:53 – Yellowstone, spinoffs, and the risk of losing momentum between seasons  40:04 – Getting tricked into a faith-based movie (Mom’s Night Out) and only reading his sides  41:23 – Peeing fire as a demon in a field and calling it his greatest scene ever  49:00 – Gene Simmons on Celebrity Apprentice and how he changed the rules of the game  52:01 – Turning hot dogs into $5,000 donations and reshaping the show around charity money  53:07 – The mysterious “go to my room” invitation and the producer’s warning  53:52 – What Trace really thinks of Gene Simmons and his magnetism  54:08 – His take on Donald Trump and how “what you see is what you get”  54:34 – Why the national anthem still makes him nervous, from car lots to the World Series  55:52 – Respecting the anthem, the range of the song, and starting in the basement  56:47 – Land of the Free as the vocal high point and the challenge of the melody  57:16 – Reading music, Nashville number system, and forgetting trombone days  57:58 – Losing music programs in public schools and why that bothers him  58:17 – Country heroes: George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and more  58:48 – Hillbilly Bone with Blake Shelton and why Blake is always chasing the laugh  59:31 – Wrapping Part 1 and teasing more Trace Adkins stories to come  Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co

    Trace Adkins: Near-Death Stories, Oil Rigs, And 30 Years In Country Music :: Ep 43 Circling the Drain Podcast
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About

Circling The Drain is a show about the current state of the music and radio businesses as well as culture in general! Hosted by John E. Bozeman and Jay Harper along with Jim McCarthy as Co-Host/Executive Producer. John has had a storied career in music and talk radio, most notably as the Executive Producer for the late and legendary Phil Valentine. Jay also has has a long career in radio as Announcer, Play-by-Play, Voice and On-Camera Actor. He was also an Artist Rep for MCA records. Jim McCarthy ALSO has had a tremendous career in radio since 1996 and has since brought his consulting/producing skillset to the podcast world. Circling the Drain is produced by ItsYourShow.co

Information

  • Creator
    John E. Bozeman & Jay Harper
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025

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