Ben Chapman joins Whiskey Riff Raff for an honest conversation about making music, raising a family, and the ever-changing landscape of country music.

Ben talks about balancing life as an artist and a parent, why he'd encourage his son to learn a trade, and how Nashville has transformed over the years. He also shares how The Beatles first inspired him to pursue music, the impact Channing Wilson had on his career, and the story behind his latest album—including how he feels about the "funky tonk" label.

The conversation eventually turns to country music itself. Ben explains why he thinks Waylon Jennings was the "bro country" artist of his generation, discusses why too many artists today don't know the genre's history, shares his thoughts on today's "phone-in" records, and wonders what the future of great music might look like.

It's a conversation about authenticity, songwriting, and staying true to what makes country music great.

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On this episode of Whiskey Riff Raff, we head to Myrtle Beach for one of the biggest country music festivals of the summer, Carolina Country Music Fest.

Throughout the weekend, we sat down with an incredible lineup of artists, including Drake White, Cleto Cordero of Flatland Cavalry, Chris Janson, Stella Lefty, Rodney Atkins, Slater Nalley, Myles Morgan, Rut Spence, Ashley Cooke, Chandler Carpenter & The Reckless Souls, Lauren Alaina, The Wilder Blue, Zach John King, and Alexis Wilkins. We talked about new music, life on the road, festival season, songwriting, and everything in between.

We also explored some of what makes Myrtle Beach such a great destination, from the local food and attractions to the atmosphere that makes Carolina Country Music Fest one of the most unique stops on the country music calendar.

Whether you're a longtime country music fan or dreaming about your next beach getaway, this episode is packed with great conversations, behind-the-scenes moments, and a look at everything that made this year's Carolina Country Music Fest so memorable.

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This week on Whiskey Riff Raff, we sit down with Ryan Fox of Dexter and The Moonrocks to talk about the band's rise, the evolution of their signature "Y’allternative" sound, and what it takes to build a band in today's music landscape.

Ryan dives into the reality of being a modern-day artist, from balancing social media content with making music to navigating an industry where everyone seems to be chasing country music's popularity. We also discuss the surprising similarities between grunge and country music, how Dexter and The Moonrocks got their name despite nobody actually being named Dexter, and why they originally started out playing country music.

Plus, Ryan shares updates on the band's long-awaited debut album, explains why they split songwriting credits evenly among all members, reflects on the viral success of “Freaking Out,” and talks about opening for The Red Clay Strays. We also get into why he believes Turnpike Troubadours should be the biggest band in the world and how Dexter and The Moonrocks found their place by embracing the "Y’allternative" movement.

If you're a fan of country, rock, grunge, or anything in between, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Fresh off the release of his new album Handmade Horsepower, Colby Acuff joins the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to talk about winning Whiskey Riff Raff Madness, the viral origins of "Dunk That Shit," why social media is breaking country music, and why some of the most talented artists in the genre still aren't getting the recognition they deserve.

Colby dives into his frustrations with modern country music, explains why he believes Nashville is still the place to be for aspiring artists, and shares why Handmade Horsepower is the record he wants to be remembered for. He also discusses writing every song on the album himself, the short film that accompanies the project, and the impact artists like Sturgill Simpson have had on his career.

Listen now and subscribe for more conversations with the artists shaping country music.

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Elizabeth Nichols joins the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to talk about her unconventional path to country music, going viral on TikTok, and the new music she's working on.

We dive into everything from dropping out of law school and accidentally finding a music career, to reading through the good and bad comments on social media, her love for Toby Keith, and why country music needs more fun songs again.

Elizabeth also shares the story of having Dog The Bounty Hunter show up at her house for Easter, explains how a Talladega Nights star ended up playing in her band, talks about her first-ever headlining show selling out overseas, and gives some hilarious insight into her dating life.

Topics include:

• Going viral with "I Got A New One"

• Reading social media comments

• Toby Keith's influence on her music

• Dog The Bounty Hunter at Easter

• New music and upcoming album plans

• Her sold-out headlining show overseas

• Dating stories and fan reactions

• Moving to Nashville for law school before finding music

Subscribe for more episodes of Whiskey Riff Raff and interviews with your favorite country artists.

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BONUS EPISODE! NASCAR driver Ryan Preece sat down with us on Whiskey Riff Raff to talk about his career, his famously aggressive racing strategy, what it's like to drive a stock car, the preparation that goes into it, and how he feels about his nicknames (like "Flyin' Ryan.")

The driver of the No. 60 car also gave his thoughts on the Nashville Speedway, how great it is to have a race in Music City, balancing his home life and his work life, and described how heartbroken he and the NASCAR community are over the loss of the late, great Kyle Busch.

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Country music and Braves baseball go hand in hand.

In this special collection of interviews from the Whiskey Riff Raff Podcast, Atlanta Braves stars Austin Riley and Kyle Farmer, along with Braves broadcaster Ben Ingram, sit down separately with the Whiskey Riff Raff crew to talk all things country music and baseball.

Austin Riley discusses his favorite country artists, who controls the locker room aux cord, growing up in the South, and why he'd love to spend his entire career with the Atlanta Braves.

Kyle Farmer shares his love for Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, explains why "Still Going Down" became his walkout song, reflects on joining his hometown team, and reveals why the Braves clubhouse is full of "Ella Fellas."

Meanwhile, Braves broadcaster Ben Ingram talks about the crossroads of country music and baseball, critiques the team's music taste, names the most country player on the roster, and tells the story of trying to get Ella Langley in the broadcast booth but ending up with Jason Aldean instead.

From locker room playlists and walkout songs to hunting season and hometown pride, these conversations showcase the strong connection between country music and Braves baseball.

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This episode is sponsored by Carolina Country Music Fest. Get your tickets now: https://carolinacountrymusicfest.com/

Singer songwriter Channing Wilson stops by the podcast to discuss staying true to his influences in today’s Nashville. From writing with Luke Combs and hearing “She Got The Best Of Me” take off, to refusing to write Bro Country songs during that era, Channing opens up about the highs and frustrations of the music industry. He also talks about writing for Yellowstone and Landman, competing on The Road, his upcoming album, and why authentic music still matters more than social media numbers.

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The Creekers join the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast this week sponsored by Rock The Country. Get your tickets now at https://rockthecountry.com/

The guys break down why they don’t really see themselves as a traditional bluegrass band, explain the controversy behind using a cajon in bluegrass music, and tell the unbelievable story of their banjo player suffering a heart attack just minutes before their first show and still performing the entire set.

They also talk about recording their album in the back of a record shop, surviving Nashville’s ice storm with an impromptu hotel concert, dealing with imposter syndrome, and finding out Luke Combs was a fan of “River Rat.”

It’s packed with music stories, chaos, laughs, and a look into what’s next for the band.

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Paul Cauthen dives into his latest album, ‘Book Of Paul,’ why he sees the record as scripture he wrote about himself, and how the project arrived at the perfect moment in his life. He opens up about his relationship with God, his cancer journey, and why he truly believes cancer saved his life.

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Koe Wetzel sits down with Whiskey Riff to talk about the biggest shift of his life. From becoming a dad and naming his daughter Woods, to growing deeper in his faith and stepping into a new version of himself, this is Koe like you’ve never heard him before.

He opens up about how fatherhood changed everything, why he feels like a completely different man, and how that transformation is shaping his upcoming album The Night Champion. Plus, he talks yacht rock, dirty sax, Parker moments, and still keeping that rowdy edge fans love.

It’s honest, unfiltered, and a look into the next era of Koe Wetzel.

This episode is brought to you by Gulf Coast Jam. https://gulfcoastjam.com/tickets/

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