In this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy dive deep into the evolution of media: from old-school radio and movie theaters to long-form podcasts and YouTube creators. They talk Joe Rogan’s three-hour conversations, why podcasts feel more authentic than corporate radio, the rise of independent creators, and how celebrities have lost their monopoly on “cool.”

Along the way, they share classic Nashville industry stories, memorable movie-theater moments, and real talk about niches, sponsors, and the future of podcasting. If you love behind-the-scenes media talk, Music City lore, and smart banter about where content is headed, this one’s for you.

Timed highlights (chapters)

00:00 – Why long-form podcasts work and the Joe Rogan effect

01:00 – Welcome to Circling The Drain and hitting 1,000 Facebook followers

02:15 – Live event plans, swag, and possible dancing “girls”

03:10 – Why podcasts feel more real than corporate radio

05:35 – Borrowing the casual Joe Rogan-style intro for their own show

06:50 – Saving Nashville’s stories so they don’t “circle the drain”

08:50 – Donald Trump, Joe Rogan, Bill Clinton, and the politics of “being cool”

12:00 – How podcasts bypass mainstream media gatekeepers

13:55 – Relaxed rooms, real stories, and uncensored guest moments

14:58 – Sponsors, networks, and the cost of giving up independence

16:40 – Indie podcasters, Casey Anthony, and what you can’t air

18:30 – Releases, legal gray areas, and learning from Howard Stern

21:25 – Does a podcast really need video to succeed?

22:50 – Radio faces, self-deprecating humor, and old radio war stories

24:20 – Too many podcasts? Why niche and interest-based content win

27:15 – The decline of movie theaters and the streaming habit

28:50 – Marvel, Star Wars, and the magic of audience reactions

31:20 – Missing the big moment because you had to hit the bathroom

32:40 – Jaws, The Exorcist, and when movies truly scared people

33:45 – What we lose when we lose the shared theater experience

34:55 – New media vs Hollywood and the Markiplier “Iron Lung” moment

38:00 – How TV shows like “Nashville” reshaped the city’s image

40:20 – Behind-the-scenes Nashville TV stories and diva moments

45:00 – Reese Witherspoon, Music Row, and early film memories

50:20 – Modern TV, Law & Order, and aging into “get off my lawn”

51:40 – Schitt’s Creek, Christopher Guest mockumentaries, and Spinal Tap 2

53:00 – What podcasts the guys actually listen to

55:20 – Interest-based media, Gary V, and why you must aircheck yourself

56:40 – Joe Rogan, business pods, and the power of authenticity

58:00 – Johnny B’s favorite artist podcasts and “jacking around”

58:45 – Launching a niche redfishing podcast: Setting The Hook

1:00:10 – Fly fishing shows, sponsors, and how deep niches can go

1:00:46 – Why most new podcasts never make it past a few episodes

1:02:00 – Insurance, bowhunting, and how to find a money-making niche

1:03:26 – Knowing your audience and just letting proven talent work

1:04:30 – Who actually listens to Circling The Drain

1:06:08 – Why these stories matter and where to find the show

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

Fresh off a nasty Nashville ice storm, Johnny B, Jay, and Jim unpack winter chaos, government blame, and why people still run to live talk radio when things get dangerous. From Phil Valentine tornado stories and Sheryl Crow calling out NES, to THC cookie misadventures, potholes, the Cherokee Nation fixing roads, and the slow death of music radio, this one is equal parts war story and radio therapy.

Highlights:

– Ice storms, tornadoes, and staying on the air when everyone else is stuck

– Sheryl Crow vs NES, cloud-seeding conspiracies, and Trump as scapegoat

– TDOT, busted axles, and how a tribe fixed what a city wouldn’t

– THC cookies, on-air paranoia, and learning your limits

– Being undervalued by management and realizing your leverage in radio

– Why talk radio may be the last moat left in broadcasting

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

What happens when your life flips upside down at 50? Former Oak Ridge Boys insider and Nashville industry pro Brenda Golden joins Circling the Drain to talk about starting over in her golden years.

Brenda shares how a painful divorce, a cross-country move to Austin, and a complete career reboot led to her new book, “Now What?”. Along the way, she pulls back the curtain on life with William Lee Golden, working around Garth Brooks at his peak, the impact of Pam Lewis and Lib Hatcher (Elizabeth Travis), and how a little movie called “God’s Not Dead” became a turning point.

If you’ve ever lost a job, a marriage, or a sense of who you are and thought, “Now what?”, this conversation is for you.

Timed highlights:

1:10 Brenda’s book origin story and turning 50 in chaos

2:40 Moving from Nashville to Austin and finding an arts-first city

3:55 South by Southwest and representing artists at the festival

5:10 Brenda’s early music-business days and Nashville connections

6:40 How she met William Lee Golden and joined the Oak Ridge Boys

8:30 Marriage, family life, and their son Solomon’s path to medicine

9:40 Why Solomon chose EMT/paramedic work over music

11:55 Ongoing ties with the Oak Ridge Boys and concern for Richard Sterban

13:20 Joe Bonsall’s passing and helping him land his first book deal

14:30 Crossing paths with Jay at MCA in the mid-80s

15:10 Becoming William’s personal assistant and the MCA solo record

16:00 Meeting powerhouse publicist/manager Pam Lewis

17:30 Hitting rock bottom financially and asking Pam for a job

19:00 “Do you want a career or a paycheck?” – Pam’s tough-love moment

20:10 Learning PR, marketing, and sponsorships around Garth Brooks

21:35 How that mentorship permanently changed Brenda’s career

22:30 Reinventing at 50 and reaching out to Lib Hatcher (Elizabeth Travis)

24:00 Lib’s advice: “You’re going to have to reinvent yourself”

25:40 The film “God’s Not Dead” and its unexpected impact on Brenda

28:00 Feeling seen by God in the middle of a breakdown

30:30 Lib’s own reinvention and success in film and Pure Flix

32:40 Moving to Austin, turning 62, and what life looks like now

34:10 Meeting and briefly working with Frank Stallone

36:40 Longstanding friendships and business ties back in Nashville

38:30 Why Brenda wrote “Now What?” and who it’s really for

40:40 Finding hope, purpose, and community after major life changes

42:40 Two-stepping in Texas, strong dance partners, and playful banter

43:40 Wrap-up, where to find “Now What?”, and Circling the Drain outro

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