It Must Be Nice

Brandon

5.0 (2)
Entrepreneurship
Updated Biweekly

It Must Be Nice is a podcast of real conversations about the work, pressure, sacrifice, and chaos behind what people call “must be nice."

May 25

Ep. 10 with Cru Mahoney: Discipline, Identity, and Becoming the Person You Respect

Brandon and Drew sit down with Cru Mahoney to talk about discipline, identity, self-respect, and the mindset behind becoming the person you say you want to be. From waking up at 5 a.m. every day, running daily for nearly eight years straight, and taking ice baths for over 1,200 days in a row, Cru breaks down why discipline isn’t about punishment, it’s about building trust with yourself. The conversation dives into confidence, anxiety, self-talk, consistency, and why most people are constantly battling their own mind instead of working with it. They also discuss loneliness growing up, feeling disconnected from others, learning to tolerate discomfort, and how difficult experiences shape identity over time. Cru explains why he believes confidence is earned through evidence, why authenticity matters more than external validation, and how most people spend their lives chasing someone else’s priorities. The episode explores everything from health, routines, and dopamine to coaching, purpose, social pressure, Austin culture, relationships, and the balance between structure and freedom. Stay tuned with Cru here: https://www.instagram.com/crumahoney/ https://www.youtube.com/@crumahoney https://www.crumahoney.com/

48 min
May 11

Ep. #9 with Brandon Rhyder: Texas Music, Family, and Building a Life on the Road

Brandon and Drew sit down with Texas country artist Brandon Rhyder to talk about the reality of chasing a music career, the sacrifices that come with life on the road, and what it takes to build something that lasts. Brandon shares stories from moving to Austin in 1999 to pursue music, the early years of grinding through songwriter nights and small venues, and the moment a friend first pushed him to seriously chase music as a career. The conversation also dives into the making of his album “Conviction,” recording in Nashville with Walt Wilkins, and how songs often become tied to some of the biggest moments in people’s lives. They also discuss balancing touring with family life, how success can change your perspective over time, and why giving back through charity events and youth hunts has become one of the most meaningful parts of Brandon’s journey. The episode touches on everything from songwriting and Texas music culture to fatherhood, legacy, burnout, and learning how to stay grounded while pursuing something bigger than yourself. Stay tuned with Brandon Rhyder here: https://www.instagram.com/b_rhyder/https://smithmusic.ffm.to/662582294323_brandonrhyder_underthelightsonfriday

1h 55m
Apr 27

Ep. #8 with Judd Lienhard: Discipline, Longevity, and Training That Actually Works

Brandon and Drew sit down with Judd to break down what actually works when it comes to training, longevity, and building a body that holds up for the long haul. From VO₂ max trends and breathing protocols to sleep, diet, and injury prevention, Judd explains why most people overcomplicate fitness and why the fundamentals still beat every new “cheat code” trend on the internet. The conversation dives into everything from building an aerobic base and fixing posture issues to gut health, alcohol, recovery, and why consistency always beats intensity in the long run. They also get into Judd’s work training athletes and kids, how confidence can change the trajectory of a young athlete’s life, and the responsibility coaches and parents have when it comes to shaping the inner voice of the next generation. Stay tuned with Judd here: https://linktr.ee/juddlienhard https://www.juddlienhard.com/

1h 60m
Apr 13

Ep. #7 with Saine Wong: Craft, Pressure, and Chasing Perfection

Brandon and Drew sit down with chef Saine Wong, the mind behind one of Austin’s most unique dining experiences, an intimate six-seat sushi counter where every detail matters, Toshokan. Saine shares how years of grinding in professional kitchens eventually led him to build a restaurant entirely around his own philosophy of food, conversation, and experience. What started as an idea to create something personal quickly turned into one of Austin’s hardest reservations to get, with seats selling out instantly and guests waiting months just for a chance to sit at the counter. They talk about the pressure that comes with running a restaurant at that level: the constant expectations, the fear that one bad review could impact everything, and the responsibility of keeping a team employed while maintaining standards night after night. The conversation dives into the reality of the restaurant industry, the obsession with details most diners never notice, how fish travels from Japanese markets to American kitchens in under a day, and why the best restaurants are about connection. It’s a conversation about craft, pressure, and building something meaningful one experience at a time. Stay connected with Saine Wong here and book your reservation! Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sainew/ Restaurant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toshokanatx/ Reservations: https://www.toshokanatx.com/

2h 6m
Mar 27

Ep. #6 with Dakota Stilts Albritton: Fans First, Being Different, and Going All In

Brandon sits down with Dakota Stilts Albritton of the Savannah Bananas to talk about one of the wildest rides in modern sports. From pushing concrete and almost quitting baseball to becoming the first-ever “entertainer player” in Banana Ball history, Dakota shares how a $20 tryout, a pair of drywall stilts, and a push from his mom turned into performing in front of 2.3 million fans a year. They break down what it’s really like inside the Savannah Bananas organization — the 5.5 million person waitlist, selling out NFL and MLB stadiums, pitching on stilts at Yankee Stadium on his birthday, and why the culture is so strict that even star players get cut if they don’t live up to “Fans First.” Dakota also opens up about the early camper days, almost running out of gas chasing the dream, and the moment a kid putting on stilts reminded him why he does it. This one is about belief, culture, leadership, and why sometimes the craziest idea in the room is the one that changes everything. Stay tuned on Dakota's Journey below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakota_albritton/ Merch: https://athletelogos.com/collections/stilts

1h 2m
Mar 20

Ep. #5 with Dean Stanfield: Comedy Clubs, Backcountry, and Betting on Yourself

Brandon and Drew sit down with comedian Dean Stanfield for one of the wildest conversations yet. Dean breaks down what it’s really like performing at Just For Laughs in Montreal: seven minutes, 800 seats, no warm-up set, and realizing mid-joke that Canada does not love gun bits. He talks bombing in North Carolina, rebuilding a crowd, and why stand-up is a 10-year grind most people quit before they understand. From opening for Rodney Carrington to grinding road dates alone, Dean shares the realities of chasing comedy full-time: dropout gigs, motel walls, hecklers, crowd work pressure, and why bombing never hurts less… it just lasts longer. The conversation goes off the rails into Alaska hunts, altitude sickness hallucinations, eating squirrels, rally car crashes, and the dream of buying back the family ranch in Paducah. It’s about loyalty to your people, betting on yourself, and building something big enough to bring your friends with you when it works. Stay tuned and catch Dean here: https://www.instagram.com/deanastanfield/ https://comedyworks.com/comedians/dean-stanfield

54 min
Mar 13

Ep. #4 with Michael Ray & Josh Phillips: Hits, Holds, and the Truth About Nashville

Brandon and Drew sit down with country artist Michael Ray and Nashville songwriter Josh Phillips for a real conversation about how the music industry actually works once the spotlight turns off. They break down writing hundreds of songs just to land a few cuts, why hit songs sometimes sit on shelves for years, label politics, viral TikTok fame changing careers overnight, and how radio tours can keep artists away from home for months at a time. From Luke Combs early rejections to the story behind Dirt Cheap, the guys talk about betting on yourself, keeping creative control, and why connecting with fans matters more than impressing suits in an office. And of course, it wouldn’t be this show without prank wars, peacocks, and a zebra. Stay up to date with Michael Ray & Josh Phillips below: Follow & Listen to Michael Ray https://www.michaelraymusic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/michaelraymusic Follow & Listen to Josh Phillips https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EFL76uzqz15VQ https://www.instagram.com/imjoshphillips/?hl=en

49 min
Mar 3

Ep. #3 with Zack Telander: Reinvention, Discipline, and Creative Freedom

Brandon and Drew sit down with Zack Telander, musician and former fitness creator, to talk about reinvention, discipline, and creative freedom. What started as lifting videos and strength culture eventually turned into a full pivot into music and a decision to go all-in on something completely different in his 30s. Zack breaks down the reality of building an independent music career from scratch, why traditional record deals aren’t always what they seem, and how “golden handcuffs” quietly trap artists into careers they didn’t actually want. They get into audience capture, the pressure to perform online, and what happens when your identity outgrows the thing that made you successful. It’s about starting over without guarantees, choosing the harder path, and building something that actually feels like yours. Catch Zack’s latest MUSIC ALBUM and Tour dates below: https://www.instagram.com/zack_telander/NEW ALBUM: https://open.spotify.com/album/3rNIGmMBjSk0vqOoQBZWNK?si=7i8kPMG7Ql-fJ-zjQ54KpgTour Dates: https://www.telander.live/

1h 28m
Feb 17

Ep. #2 with Drake Vliem: Survival, Brotherhood, and The “Wing It” Mentality

Brandon sits down with Drew Haas and Drake Vliem, Drew’s teammate from Netflix’s Outlast Season 2, where the two built an unbreakable brotherhood surviving the Alaskan wilderness together. What started as a reality show became a mental and physical war of endurance, trust, and grit.They unpack what Netflix’s Outlast really felt like, from the “no rules” team chaos to the brutal cold, the mental lows, and the weirdest part of winning: going back to normal life like nothing happened. They get into the behind-the-scenes mind games, the survival details you never saw on screen (food, fire, water, injuries), the flood of online hate after the show dropped, and why their whole strategy came down to two words: Wing It. Comment down below your favorite part of the podcast! Follow and stay up to date with Drake Vliem below: https://www.instagram.com/dvliem12/

1h 1m
Feb 3

Ep. #1 with Bart Crow: Success, Stress, and Making Peace With It

It Must Be Nice is an unscripted long-form podcast hosted by Brandon, featuring real conversations with creatives, builders, and operators about the work, pressure, and personal cost behind success. In Episode 1, Brandon is joined by co-host Drew Haas, along with guests Bart Crow of the Bart Crow Band and longtime friend Jason Jeffery, for an honest hangar-table conversation about longevity in music, financial stress, family life on the road, burnout, faith, and what happens after you’ve been grinding for decades. Bart opens up about a 21-year career in music, the mental toll of constant touring, slowing down after years of go-go-go, and the mindset shift that came from gratitude, prayer, and learning to stop comparing his path to everyone else’s. Check out Bart Crow Band! For upcoming tour dates, music, and announcements, visit: https://bartcrowmusic.com/

1h 25m

10 Episodes

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

It Must Be Nice is a podcast of real conversations about the work, pressure, sacrifice, and chaos behind what people call “must be nice."

Creator

Brandon
Years Active

2K
Episodes

10
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Brandon
Show Website

It Must Be Nice