🎤 “Music is my life — if you can’t be part of that, I’m not the girl for you.”

In this inspiring episode of The Good Hustle, country singer-songwriter Gillian Smith returns for a powerful update one year later — and wow, what a year it’s been.

From winning Best Female Country Artist at the CPMAs to opening for Cole Swindell and stepping onto the main stages of major country music festivals, Gillian has stayed true to her craft — and herself.

But behind the music is a powerful personal story of setting boundaries in relationships, confronting anxiety and panic attacks, transforming her health, and finding a team that lifts her up including her guitar player/best friend Sarah and her fiancé Sam, who’s been by her side every step of the way.

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🎙️ In this episode, you'll hear about:

✔️ The “local Grammys” Gillian just won 🏆
✔️ Her honest dating ultimatum, and how Sam responded ❤️
✔️ Going from side stage to main stage at major country music festivals 🎶
✔️ Opening for Cole Swindell this summer 🌟
✔️ Her mental and physical health transformation over 2 years 💪
✔️ Why having the right support system can change everything 🙌

Whether you’re chasing a creative dream or trying to stay grounded in the chaos, Gillian’s story will light a fire in you.

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📍 Follow Gillian Smith:
🔗 Instagram: @gilliansmithmusic
🌐 Website: gilliansmithmusic.com

🎸 Guitarist & Maid of Honor: Sarah
💍 Shoutout to Sam: The real MVP behind the scenes
📺 Catch Gillian singing the National Anthem at Big 33 — airing soon!

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🎧 Listen to The Good Hustle Podcast:
✔️ Spotify ➝ The Good Hustle Podcast
✔️ Apple Podcasts ➝ The Good Hustle Podcast

👕 Support the Podcast—Grab Some Merch! ➝ Link

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#TheGoodHustlePodcast #GillianSmith #CountryMusicArtist #WomenInMusic #MentalHealthMatters #ColeSwindell #NationalAnthem #Big33

🎸 What if a guitar could tell the story of New York City?

In this episode of The Good Hustle, John Henry visits the iconic Carmine Street Guitars in NYC’s West Village, where Rick Kelly and Cindy Hulej build world-renowned guitars by hand — no CNC machines, no computers, just raw talent, reclaimed wood, and stories that stretch back over a century.

Rick has been in the game since the 1960s and opened this shop over 45 years ago. Cindy’s been crafting custom guitars for over a decade and just passed her 100th build. Together, they’ve created instruments out of benches from John’s Pizza on Bleecker, wood from the legendary Chelsea Hotel, and beams pulled from the Bowery’s old Suicide Hall — once a Civil War refuge, then a brothel, and now part of musical history.

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🎙️ You'll hear about:

✔️ Their one-of-a-kind process using NYC’s oldest wood 🎸
✔️ The real story behind their infamous “pizza guitar” 🔥
✔️ Building guitars from scratch, shellac by shellac 🪵
✔️ Why reclaimed pine from 1800s buildings makes unmatched soundboards 🏙️
✔️ How a 90-minute documentary, a James Taylor video, and a Viagra commercial made this shop world famous 🎥

Whether you’re into music, craftsmanship, or hidden gems of New York — this episode will move you, inspire you, and make you want to create something with your hands.

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🎙️ Featured Guests:
✔️ Rick Kelly – Founder, Carmine Street Guitars
✔️ Cindy Hulej – Custom Guitar Maker & Wood Burner

🛠️ Real people, real craft, real hustle.

📍 Learn more: CarmineStreetGuitars.com
📍 Visit them in NYC’s West Village

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🎧 Listen to The Good Hustle Podcast:
✔️ Spotify ➝ The Good Hustle Podcast
✔️ Apple Podcasts ➝ The Good Hustle Podcast

👕 Support the Podcast—Grab Some Merch! ➝ Link

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#TheGoodHustlePodcast #CarmineStreetGuitars #HandmadeGuitars #NYCHistory #CustomCraftsmanship

🧠 What if the real solution to mental health struggles isn’t medication alone, but true connection?

In this deeply personal episode, John Henry shares the real story behind addiction, recovery, and why healing only began when he found an authentic community.

From early childhood trauma to overcoming addiction, John opens up about the hard truths of sobriety, mental illness, and the journey toward lasting change. If you or someone you know is facing anxiety, depression, burnout, or addiction, this conversation is for you.

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🎙️ Inside This Episode:

✔️ Why addiction and mental health struggles run deeper than we think
✔️ How real healing happens in community, not isolation
✔️ The power of honesty, vulnerability, and shared experiences
✔️ Why one-size-fits-all recovery doesn’t work for everyone
✔️ How small actions today can save lives tomorrow

💡 “You’re not broken. You’re not alone. Healing is possible, and it begins when you reach out.”

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🌟 If this episode resonates with you, please follow, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Together, we heal stronger. ❤️

🎧 Listen to The Good Hustle Podcast:
✔️ Spotify ➝ The Good Hustle Podcast
✔️ Apple Podcasts ➝ The Good Hustle Podcast

👕 Support the Podcast—Grab Some Merch! ➝ Link

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#TheGoodHustlePodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #AddictionRecovery #CommunityHealing #YouAreNotAlone #SobrietyJourney