The CMAs tried to be everything at once: a celebration of country’s roots, a launchpad for rising acts, and a glossy TV moment with crossover appeal. We sat down after watching every minute (twice) and cut through the noise with a blunt, song-first breakdown of what actually worked, what didn’t, and why the fans’ reality isn’t showing up on stage.

We start with Lainey Wilson’s capable hosting and a performance that sparked debate about image and song fit. Then we zero in on the music: Chris Stapleton’s band-first power, Zach Top’s classic-country momentum, Red Clay Strays’ raw charisma, and Stephen Wilson Jr.’s singular style. Kenny Chesney’s thoughtful tribute to Brett James reminded us what sincerity looks like on a big stage, while a disco-styled duet left us wondering how a concept can eclipse the song. We also grapple with the Vince Gill tribute choice—how to honor an icon with the right voices and the right feel.

The conversation keeps coming back to scale and stakes. If Entertainer of the Year is about ticket sales, streaming impact, and cultural reach, fans know who they’re crowning. We talk candidly about the Morgan Wallen-sized gap between stadium reality and awards-night narrative, why certain categories feel hollow, and how the business can champion bands and vocal groups without blurring what those categories mean. Along the way, we call out who likely played live, where production helped or hurt, and which artists have “a thing” that cuts through.

If you want a no-spin tour through the night’s highs, lows, and head-scratchers—plus a grounded take on where country music is actually headed—this episode is your companion piece to the broadcast. Hit play, then tell us what we got right, where we’re nuts, and who your real Entertainer of the Year is. If you’re into honest country talk, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more fans can find the show.

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Pressure teaches. That’s where this conversation with David Cone starts—eighteen years old at Michigan, buried in an eighty-concept playbook while sprinting between meetings and class, finding out what leadership and resilience really mean. From Statesboro championships to the QB room with Chad Henne and Ryan Mallett, David shares inside looks at Bo Schembechler’s final speech, the evolution from pocket passers to dual-threat maestros, and why the quarterback’s eternal pillars—leadership, accuracy, decision-making—outlast every scheme trend.

We go deep on the modern game: how Lamar Jackson and Jaden Daniels weaponize space, why rings don’t always settle greatness debates, and what rookies face in an NFL that no longer lets them learn in the shadows. Then we turn to integrity and the gambling boom—prop bets, player incentives, and the thin line between entertainment and erosion of trust. If you’ve ever wondered how to read odds without getting lost or why some controversies hit harder than box scores, you’ll find straight talk here.

Music is the other half of David’s story. He opens up about the classic country and rock DNA—Hank Jr., Waylon, Marty Robbins, Buddy Holly—that led him to write and record “Richest Man in Town” with producer Kent Wells. We unpack how a play-caller’s discipline feeds a songwriter’s craft, why non-monetary wealth still counts most, and what it’s like to cut tracks with Nashville’s best. We also don’t duck the culture questions: merit in officiating and broadcasting, the cost of softening contact, and how communities choose strength and faith when tested.

Hit play for a thoughtful, fast-moving hour on football, music, and meaning with a former Michigan quarterback who can break down coverages and write the hook. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

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Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
At e|spaces, we offer more than just office space - we provide premium private offices designed for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Music Row, our fully furnished offices, private suites, meeting rooms and podcast studio give you the perfect space to work, create and connect.

Ready to elevate your 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!

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Death tapped him on the shoulder, and Colt Ford answered with grit, gratitude, and a different kind of fire. We sit down with Colt for a raw, unguarded conversation about walking off a Phoenix stage and straight into two heart attacks, waking from an eight-day coma with no memory, and learning to stand again—physically and mentally. What follows is a story about perspective, brotherhood, and the stubborn power of music to pull someone back to life.

We dig into the origin story of Dirt Road Anthem and how that song, first on Colt’s record and later cut by Jason Aldean, didn’t just top charts—it shifted the country landscape. Colt explains the creative risk, the early Nashville resistance, and why starting Average Joes was the only way to get the music out. He shares how millions of sales came without a traditional chart run, why moving the needle matters more than a statistic, and how a single song can become a cultural fuse.

There’s joy here too—golf tales from pro tours to Pebble Beach, the nerve damage that might cost his right leg, and the way he’s already game-planning around it. The Vince Gill golf legend gets its due, equal parts respect and hilarity. Most of all, we celebrate the brotherhood that carried him: Brantley Gilbert getting family to his bedside, pushing for life-saving care, then hauling Colt’s mic onstage every night until he could take it back himself. That mid-set spotlight became a lifeline and a promise.

If you’re here for country music history, songwriting craft, comeback stories, or just need a dose of real talk about what matters, you’ll feel this one. Hit play, share it with a friend who needs strength today, and if it moved you, subscribe and leave a review so more folks can find the show.

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!

Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
At e|spaces, we offer more than just office space - we provide premium private offices designed for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Music Row, our fully furnished offices, private suites, meeting rooms and podcast studio give you the perfect space to work, create and connect.

Ready to elevate your 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

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Original Brands

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The Try That In A Small Town Podcast is produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

Ever felt that slow-burn anxiety when the headlines say “shutdown,” but the real story is families missing checks and plans falling apart? We crack open why these standoffs happen, how add-ons and brinkmanship stall basic governance, and what it means when the fallout hits the people least able to absorb it. Then we do what we do best: veer into the messy middle where culture meets everyday life.

Cigar etiquette turns into a bigger conversation about consent in shared spaces. A simple question—what kind of man do most women prefer—pulls us into modern expectations around provision, safety, ambition, and partnership. We weigh “traditional masculinity” against two-income realities, swap stories about cooking and caregiving, and admit that making someone feel secure and respected still matters more than labels. We even argue over flip-flops, short shorts, and the quiet politics of what you wear.

We’re not afraid to pivot. We marvel at Shohei Ohtani, debate the value of a White House ballroom, and dream up our own additions that would actually host the world well. The gloves come back on for tougher topics: drug-running boats getting blown out of the water, cleaning up cities, and why some leaders say no to help when public safety is on the line. Through it all, we keep it honest—reading a listener’s sharp critique on-air and showing how strong opinions can coexist with real respect.

If you’re here for clear takes, human moments, and conversations that stretch from kitchen-table life to national stakes, you’re in the right place. Hit follow, share this with a friend who loves a good debate, and drop a review so we know what hit and what missed. Your comments shape the next round.

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!

Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
At e|spaces, we offer more than just office space - we provide premium private offices designed for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Music Row, our fully furnished offices, private suites, meeting rooms and podcast studio give you the perfect space to work, create and connect.

Ready to elevate your 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

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

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Browse the merch: https://trythatinasmalltown.com/collections/all -

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The Try That In A Small Town Podcast is produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!

Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
At e|spaces, we offer more than just office space - we provide premium private offices designed for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Music Row, our fully furnished offices, private suites, meeting rooms and podcast studio give you the perfect space to work, create and connect.

Ready to elevate your 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

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

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

Browse the merch: https://trythatinasmalltown.com/collections/all -

For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com

The Try That In A Small Town Podcast is produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

We get started talking coffee. Then a simple road-life chat about interstate numbers flipped into a full-on culture rumble: Taylor Swift as role model or red flag, Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl halftime backlash, and why every big stage now doubles as a battlefield. We don’t tiptoe. We pull apart what “pushing boundaries” means for mainstream pop, whether provocation is smart art or cheap attention, and how much responsibility stars owe to young fans who adopt their style and values.

From there, we tackle the tougher stuff most people feel but rarely say out loud: giving credit to political opponents, wanting cities to feel safe without turning it into a purity test, and the moment TV news drifted from reporting to outrage engines. If you’ve felt worn down by clickbait, AI fakes, and the endless demand to pick a side, you’ll hear your own fatigue in this one—and you’ll pick up practical ways to resist being emotionally farmed, like verifying sources and noticing when a headline is engineered to light you up.

We also argue about who belongs on the biggest stage in American sports. Is the NFL’s global strategy sacrificing the fan base that made it massive? We float a different halftime vision—country and heartland rock that match the audience—while acknowledging the business math behind controversy. And because not everything has to be a fight, we cool things off with tour-bus coffee rituals, an Alabama–Tennessee bet, and whether cold plunges actually help recovery and focus.

If you’re craving honest talk that respects your intelligence, welcomes disagreement, and still feels like friends on a back porch, press play. Then tell us: who should headline the Super Bowl, and what would restore your trust in the news? Subscribe, share with a friend, and drop a review with your halftime pick.

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!

Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
At e|spaces, we offer more than just office space - we provide premium private offices designed for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Music Row, our fully furnished offices, private suites, meeting rooms and podcast studio give you the perfect space to work, create and connect.

Ready to elevate your 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

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

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

Browse the merch: https://trythatinasmalltown.com/collections/all -

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The Try That In A Small Town Podcast is produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

The week’s conversation jumps from living rooms to locker rooms to writing rooms—and the connective tissue is culture moving faster than conscience. We start with the tough part: raising kids in a world where a phone can outtalk a parent, where algorithms dress up confusion as entertainment, and where being “plugged in” feels like the tax for belonging. We don’t offer fear; we offer a plan—clear boundaries, more time together, and the old medicine that still works: muddy shoes, late-night talks, and parents who choose presence over passivity.

Then we head backstage. The Aldean tour felt like four shows wrapped in months, proof that joy compresses time. We celebrate a new single’s massive “most added” week at radio and unpack why it cut through a crowded dial: honest story, melody with backbone, and a voice listeners trust. From there, the debate turns sharp: the NFL’s halftime pick, Roger Goodell’s calculus, and what happens when a brand forgets its center. We don’t blame artists for taking a stage; we challenge institutions to remember the room they’re in. The alt-solution is bold—an independent, live halftime stream led by country heavyweights, built for fans who want music that matches the night.

We dig deep into the “what is country” question. Traditionalists like Zach Topp, crossover juggernauts, and the space in between deserve fair lanes, not a forced fight. When award categories blur, mediocrity sneaks in, and everyone loses—fans, radio, and the songs themselves. Our fix is simple: clearer categories, braver curation, and labels backing artistry over algorithms. We get nerdy about songwriting in a 30-second world—front-loading hooks without dumbing down stories, crafting lines that punch without pandering, and still chasing that “song of the year” feeling that makes a room go quiet.

It all lands on the same point: keep the main thing the main thing. Better songs. Truer brands. Stronger families. If you care about American football, country music’s future, and raising kids with spine and heart, you’ll feel right at home here. Hit play, tell us where you stand on the halftime choice, and share the show with someone who needs a steady voice in the static. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and drop your take—we read every one.

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!

Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
At e|spaces, we offer more than just office space - we provide premium private offices designed for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Music Row, our fully furnished offices, private suites, meeting rooms and podcast studio give you the perfect space to work, create and connect.

Ready to elevate your 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

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

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

Browse the merch: https://trythatinasmalltown.com/collections/all -

For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com

The Try That In A Small Town Podcast is produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

A stranger clowns you on live after your account gets banned—do you spiral or go nuclear on the grind? Justin “Danger” Nunley chose the latter, changing shirts in his driveway and launching a 30-day sprint from 3,000 followers to 3 million. We sit down with the Air Force veteran turned creator-entrepreneur to unpack the mindset, habits, and guardrails behind a 21M+ audience—and why three videos a day for five years was less about algorithms and more about character.

We get into the real mechanics of creator growth: cross-posting strategy, learning from takedowns instead of raging at them, and navigating wildly different community guidelines across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Justin shares why he leaves “just enough” in his famous did-you-know facts to make you look it up yourself, and why safety at home requires firmer boundaries than most people realize. From SkillBridge to retirement, from Harley-Davidson partnerships to Waze Energy’s veteran-first mission, he lays out a playbook any small business can borrow: become your own media company, tell honest stories, and replace legacy ad buys with creator-native content that actually converts.

Of course, it wouldn’t be our show without sports heat. We wrestle with NIL money’s effect on college football, break down Tennessee vs Georgia vs Alabama angst, and celebrate the joy of a snow-filled Bills playoff game with your kid. There’s even a beard-on-the-line rivalry bet and a quick detour into hitting mechanics—why getting the bat on plane early beats chasing launch angle buzzwords—because process scales whether you’re in a cage or on camera.

If you’re building a brand, a podcast, or a one-person media empire, this conversation is your field guide: be relentless, be yourself, and let the work stack. Listen now, then hit follow, leave a review, and share this with a friend who needs a shot of creative momentum.

The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!

Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business
At e|spaces, we offer more than just office space - we provide premium private offices designed for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Music Row, our fully furnished offices, private suites, meeting rooms and podcast studio give you the perfect space to work, create and connect.

Ready to elevate your 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

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

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

Browse the merch: https://trythatinasmalltown.com/collections/all -

For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com

The Try That In A Small Town Podcast is produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co