Thirty number ones sounds like a headline. It feels a lot stranger when you’re sitting in a room full of your friends and heroes, watching them sing your songs while your own band plays behind them and you didn’t even know a party was happening.

We’re hanging with Jason Aldean and reliving the night they surprised him with a 30 No. 1 celebration, from the writers who’ve been on every album to the surreal moment of hearing another voice in his in-ears. We talk about what changes as a career stretches into decades, why some “hits” don’t age well, and how we try to keep the music believable as life changes. There’s plenty of real Nashville craft talk here too: finding songs that fit an artist brand, avoiding safe cookie-cutter radio, and chasing records you actually want to play for years.

Then it gets sideways in the best way with a tour story from New Zealand, where a Maori welcome ceremony turns into the most awkward “sing something right now” request imaginable. We also get into band chemistry after 27 years together, vocal stamina on the road, sleep routines, and a few rapid-fire pet peeves from our “people are idiots” segment.

If you love country music, Jason Aldean stories, Nashville songwriting, touring life, and the behind-the-scenes truth of how long careers really work, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, leave a review, and tell us in the comments: which Aldean song never gets old for you?

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From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
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Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

A great country song doesn’t start as a “record” it starts as a messy idea, a half-formed hook, and a room full of people willing to grind. We’re fresh off a write and still riding that song high, so we get real about why we keep our circle tight, how we know when something is truly an Aldean pitch, and why we’d rather walk away than finish a song that doesn’t feel like it has a life.

Then we go full Nashville inside baseball: demo production, track building, mix tweaks, and the pressure of sending a finished demo to an artist who can say yes or kill it in three and a half minutes. We also talk about why production can absolutely change outcomes in publisher meetings, why some modern country ends up sounding like wallpaper, and what it looks like when an artist has a signature sound that cuts through.

From CRS and radio suites to a new wave of young country guitar slingers bringing shuffles and real playing back, we hit the state of country music today. Plus: a near-miss on the interstate that shook us up, our “idiots” list for airport drop-offs, and the most awkward cold-call guest invite ever when Philip Rivers actually answers the phone. Big news too: we’re teaming up with Crossover Media Group, and we tease a return from the man himself, Jason Aldean.

If you laughed, learned something, or just like the chaos, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find us.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
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Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

Only a small slice of podcasts ever makes it to 100 episodes, so we wanted this one to feel like a real toast, not a victory lap. We talk honestly about how Try That in a Small Town started, why it mattered to us, and what it still means when the world tries to turn a simple message into something else. The heart of it is still the same: look out for your neighbor, stand up for people who can’t defend themselves, and don’t forget where you came from.

We also rewind through the messy behind-the-scenes stuff that comes with building a weekly show while living in the music business, from our early “phone on the table” pilot to the deals that almost happened and the grind that never really turns off. If you’ve ever felt like your job follows you home, you’ll understand this conversation about sacrifice, pressure, and why a great song can still light you back up.

Then we have some fun with a question that instantly exposes every country fan’s bias: the Mount Rushmore of male country singers. Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Randy Travis, Waylon, Hank Jr., Garth, Morgan Wallen and more get name-checked, argued over, and defended like it’s a barroom court case. We wrap by sharing what we’ve learned about each other over 100 episodes, shouting out a listener story of the week, and thanking the people who’ve kept the lights on, including Patriot Mobile, eSpaces, Peacemaker Coffee, and Original Glory. If you enjoy this kind of country music podcast and small town values talk, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS:

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs.

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

A tour can change your clock, your appetite, and your sense of scale. Ours did all three. We flew across the Pacific in those elusive lie-flat pods, learned how to live inside a tiny sky room, then stepped into cities that start the party early and shut it down by midnight. Auckland turned into a nightly blackjack table with our road crew. Sydney strapped us to the top of the Harbour Bridge where the wind reminds you that steel has a heartbeat. We almost did the shark “dive” until we realized it was an aquarium nurse-shark swim—so we’re saving the real cage for Perth.

Onstage, Australia sang back. That’s the magic of streaming meeting sweat and lights—songs born in Nashville echoing across arenas a hemisphere away. We discovered a cultural twist: seated sections stay seated out of courtesy, even while GA goes wild, so we’re already scheming ways to design spaces that invite everyone to stand without guilt. The food? Fresh. The coffee? Espresso or nothing. Without omnipresent iPad tip prompts, generosity felt like choice, not pressure, and that small shift changed the tone of a day. Yes, we ate kangaroo on a kebab. Yes, it was good.

Between shows, the news cut through: war with Iran. We wrestled with the same mix of dread, resolve, and hope you probably felt. We watched our pilots outfly missiles and felt awe and sorrow at once. It’s messy to hold certainty and doubt in the same breath, but that’s where we lived—on a bridge above Sydney, in a quiet hotel bar in Auckland, and backstage listening to a crowd finish a chorus we started years ago. Also, a 22-hour flight turned into a stand-off over a pod seat, and it became a lesson in boundaries: sometimes keeping your spot is the kindest thing you can do for your sanity.

If you’re here for tour stories, coffee talk, crowd psychology, or a grounded take on a loud headline, you’ll feel at home. Hit play, then tell us: would you have given up your pod seat? Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps this small-town show go big.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

The sky doesn’t just turn; it transforms. We bring on pro storm chaser and tour leader Jason Weingart to take us into the heart of severe weather—where precision, patience, and a healthy fear keep you alive while a rotating monster chews across the Plains. Jason traces his path from third‑grade awe to 40,000‑mile spring seasons, explaining how he scouts targets days out, refines them 24–48 hours before go time, and then uses roads, radar, and drones to put guests right under the structure without losing the exit plan.

We dig into the El Reno wake‑up call, the reality of EF5s that look like moving walls, and why “calm before the storm” is both cliché and absolutely true. Jason breaks down terrain friction, river myths, and why population spread and smartphones make tornadoes feel more common than the long record suggests. He’s clear about safety: most events are EF1–EF2, and anchored shelters, interior rooms, and taking warnings seriously beat wishful thinking. Stranded on the road? He shares a last‑resort move that could save your life.

Beyond the chase, we talk tour life—Dallas to OKC to Denver as climatology shifts north—plus late nights, batteries on charge, and teaching guests to forecast, shoot, and edit. Jason’s drone work captures structure you can feel, including rare night silhouettes of a modern EF5. When insulation lifts and debris blooms, he shuts filming down and pivots to search and rescue. It’s not about the shot anymore; it’s about people.

If you’re curious about the science, the tactics, and the gut‑check moments that define storm chasing—from multi‑vortex stovepipes to why amateurs shouldn’t tail a chase van—this conversation delivers. Follow Jason on Instagram and Facebook for footage that looks impossible and is painfully real. If you enjoyed the show, tap follow, share it with a weather‑nerd friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

A housewife, a shovel, and a chorus you can’t stop chanting—meet the story engine behind Mary Kutter’s breakout. We sit down with the Broken Bow recording artist to trace the wild path from a bootlegger’s legacy in “Devil’s Money” to the hard truth of “Lab Coat,” and the darkly funny new single “Bed of Roses.” What emerges is a masterclass in doing the work that most people only talk about: 5 a.m. runs, 452 writing sessions in a year, and an album‑a‑day habit that sharpened her ear for iconic intros and crowd‑binding post‑chorus chants.

Mary opens up about the moment a simple church‑front video sent “Devil’s Money” into millions of feeds, the flood of industry DMs that followed, and how trusted mentors helped her separate real partners from fast talkers. We dig into the writing room lightning that produced “Lab Coat” in 45 minutes, why fearless lyrics about the opioid crisis resonated nationwide, and how honest storytelling can outpace any ad spend. In the studio, Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy break down the production moves—live band, tone over volume, and the “30 percent less” vocal note—that let Mary’s character lead the record instead of the track.

Then comes “Bed of Roses,” a country thriller with a wink, built on drums, a chant hook, and verses that talk straight. Born from criticism and refined with intent, it’s the kind of song that makes you lean in and then sing along. Along the way we tackle label politics, the art of staying unwatered, building a set that breathes live, and why authenticity still slices through the algorithmic fog. If you care about country music that takes risks and pays them off, this one’s for you.

Hit play, then tell us the line that stuck with you. If you enjoy these deep dives into songwriting, production, and the grind behind the hits, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find us.

Follow Mary: www.marykutter.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

A 19-year-old drove three hours to sit at our table and lit the room on fire—in the best way. Meet Caroline Joyous: musician, TPUSA ambassador, and relentless voice who found her calling when churches closed and her mom’s salon went dark. She walks us through how a quiet teenager became a public advocate, why she ties pro-life conviction to civic duty, and how she handles daily hate without losing heart.

We dig into what Turning Point USA actually does—voter registration, local races, church mobilization, and outreach that targets Gen Z where they live. Caroline shares personal memories of Charlie Kirk’s encouragement and the one word he gave her that stuck: relentless. From there, we tackle the flashpoint everyone’s still arguing about: Super Bowl halftime. We compare the NFL spectacle with TPUSA’s alternative featuring Kid Rock and Gabby Barrett, unpack the family standards debate, and ask why institutions keep ignoring their core audience. It’s a wider conversation about culture, unity, and building alternatives when the mainstream won’t budge.

For a change of pace, we vent about small-but-real etiquette fails—movie theater whisperers and biohazard bathrooms—before flipping the mic. Caroline asks for songwriting advice, and we get practical: write from truth, not for approval; let lived moments anchor your lyric; move people before you try to move charts. The through line is courage with kindness—show up, speak clearly, and keep going when it gets loud.

If you’re ready for faith, free speech, and a Gen Z perspective with backbone, press play. Then tell us your take on the halftime controversy, the best way to reach young voters, and the songwriting rule you live by. Subscribe, leave a rating, share with a friend, and drop your comments—we’ll read them and keep the conversation going.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

What happens when a night meant for music turns into a tug-of-war for the mic? We unpack the Grammys with a clear eye for craft and a low tolerance for noise. From Hardy’s layered storytelling on “MacArthur” to Bruno’s masterclass in musicianship, we weigh what actually moved us—and what was engineered only to trend. Then the room shifts: Jelly Roll’s acceptance speech lands like a testimony, bold and unapologetic. We ask the hard question—can that kind of moment be a “bit”?—and find the answer in the conviction that carried the words.

We dig into country’s slate too. Tyler Childers’ win, Zach Top’s nod to tradition, and Chris Stapleton’s steady excellence show how roots can still surprise. Along the way we peel back the industry habit of turning every podium into a soapbox. There’s a place for politics and a place for songs; when new artists finally get a sliver of airtime, let them own it. That theme echoes in a fan-story from the road: one loud voice yelling “Play The Truth” between every song can sink an entire section’s night. Respect the setlist, respect the room, and the music gets bigger for everyone.

We add a few laugh breaks—on mustaches and throwback looks, drive‑thru indecision, texting etiquette, and even an Australia shark‑cage maybe‑yes from the crew—before closing with Super Bowl predictions and halftime curiosity. Through it all, we stay anchored to what lasts: honest writing, tight performances, and the kind of moments that don’t need a headline to matter. If you’re here for real talk on country music, pop spectacle, and the thin line between art and agenda, you’re in the right place. Subscribe, share with a friend, and drop your take on the most powerful—and most head‑scratching—moment of the night.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

A late-night ride near home. A driver fleeing police. A life cut short. We sit down with Haley Kilman to trace the night her partner, competitive cyclist Blaise Schaeffer, was killed in a hit-and-run—and the relentless search for driver Allen Samir Bautista Milla, who ran on foot and hasn’t been seen since. Haley walks us through the frantic morning calls from another state, the agonizing wait for a warrant and a usable photo, and the grind of canvassing Nashville with updated flyers and a $5,000 reward for a lead that results in arrest.

We dig into what’s known: the attempted traffic stop for erratic driving, the crash damage that disabled the car, the companion who helped identify the suspect, and the jurisdictional complexity at the county line. Beyond the case details, we confront a hard truth about public reaction: how quickly outrage fades and how easily blame shifts to cyclists. The evidence at the scene tells a different story—one about speed, disregard, and a danger zone that would have endangered anyone on that stretch of road. This isn’t a bike debate; it’s a call for accountability and safety on streets we all share.

We also honor Blaise beyond the headlines. He hit a 12,000-mile goal the night before he died. He was top of his class, on homecoming court, a college soccer player, and the kind of person who made rooms feel welcoming. His family is setting up a scholarship at Luther College to keep his legacy alive. Haley’s focus is both love and public service: get a face and a name in front of the right eyes, move the investigation forward, and keep another family from living this story. Listen, share the BOLO image, and spread the tip line. If you know anything, call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help this reach the people who can make a difference.

BOLO: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zEBQRobCPy0hFnfkEnp2wrNLh2KfbK5D/view?usp=drive_link

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

A sheet of ice turned Nashville into a maze of downed lines, frozen driveways, and tough choices—stay put, chase a generator, or brave the roads that turn cars into curling stones. We trade real stories from a chaotic week: the house that became a money pit overnight, the water heater that erupted sediment like a geyser, a dog’s hospital dash, and the neighbor with a torch who became a winter superhero. Along the way, we spotlight a small-town moment that stopped us cold: an 11-year-old lifting a tree trunk off his grandpa’s leg. That’s the kind of grit we’re here to amplify.

From the storm we slide straight into the studio, where hype meets reality. We break down what actually happens when you pitch songs to artists and producers: why credibility disappears when you send five “perfect” tracks that miss; why the fire emoji doesn’t turn a good idea into a great cut; why keys, phrasing, and demo voices can make or break a listen. We talk camps, trust, and the band dynamic—how long relationships shape the sound, why great outside songs still break through, and how an artist’s ear isn’t swayed by sales copy. Honest feedback matters more than comfort, and rejection is often the teacher that sharpens your pen.

There’s heat here too—on selective outrage, on empathy that shouldn’t be partisan, on keeping the temperature down when tensions run high. But we keep coming back to the core: show up for your people, prepare for the next storm, and do the work. Whether it’s clearing ice with a T-square or cutting noise in your inbox, consistency wins. If you’re a songwriter, you’ll leave with hard-earned guidance on pitching, demos, and crafting lyrics and melodies that hold. If you’re here for community and small-town stories, you’ll hear proof that character shows up when the power goes out.

If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who’d appreciate the honesty, and leave a quick review to help more folks find the show. Got a small-town story or a “dipshidiot of the week”? Drop it in the comments—we might feature yours next.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

The first week back on the road always feels like a high-wire act: new production, cold weather, and the pressure to sound bulletproof while your voice fights the season. We open with the messy truth of touring in winter, a car accident that derailed a day, and how those surprises ripple through rehearsals, buses, and call times. From there, we shift gears into the craft we love—why chorus-first songs win in a short-attention economy, and how a bass line or four-note guitar tag can brand an entire era before the first lyric lands.

We pull back the curtain on setlist design and the tricky balance between fan service and show flow. Those DMs asking us to play a deep-cut B-side or announce a birthday? Here’s why that breaks more than it fixes. We nerd out on hooks, pacing, and the math of modern arrangements, with nods to Jelly Roll’s “strongest-line-first” approach and the relentless catchiness of mega-streamers. If you write, produce, or just love dissecting songs, this is a masterclass in how structure, motif, and musical space keep a crowd locked in.

Then we zoom out to the business. What happens when artists notch a few hits and seem to vanish? We talk radio vs. hard tickets, corporates, fairs, and the quiet middle class of country performers who build long, profitable careers off recognizable catalogs. Culture doesn’t stay quiet either: we react to protests entering churches, the risks families face when lines blur, and the basic etiquette that keeps public spaces safe—on highways, in arenas, and yes, on airplanes. We lighten the mood with listener stories, a small-town rescue that restores some faith, and a confession about late-night social buys, including a jaw gadget we can’t wait to roast on camera.

If you’re here for songwriting insight, touring realities, and the unvarnished truth about fan-artist boundaries, you’ll feel right at home. Hit play, drop your small-town story, and tell us: what’s the most memorable hook you’ve ever heard—and why did it stick? Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more folks can find the show.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORS: 

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!
Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
Book a tour today at espaces.com

From the Patriot Mobile studios:
Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!

Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT

Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.

Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!
Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.

Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com

Peacemaker Coffee Company
Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. 

https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
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