Circling The Drain

Karen Staley has spent decades on the inside of Nashville’s music business — as a songwriter, performer and background singer — and this week she joins Circling the Drain to tell the stories behind the songs.

Karen takes Johnny Bozeman, Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy back to her early days entering a talent contest at the legendary Wheeling Jamboree, her move to Nashville and the unlikely series of events that eventually put her on the road with Reba McEntire.

She also tells the story behind Tracy Byrd’s “The Keeper of the Stars,” its journey to becoming a n...

Devon O’Day has been part of Nashville radio, music and entertainment for more than four decades — and she has the stories to prove it.

Devon joins Johnny Bozeman, Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy for a hilarious trip through the glory days of Nashville radio, including her years working with the legendary Gerry House and The House Foundation, what made that show work, and what it was like doing truly live morning radio before there was even a dump button.

She also tells the unlikely story of how “Tennessee Whiskey” songwriter Linda Hargrove helped launch her song...

Radio used to be the dream. Now some veteran broadcasters are getting shown the door over Zoom — and one of us was recently offered $14 an hour to get back behind the mic.

Welcome to Episode 51 of Circling the Drain.

Johnny Bozeman, Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy take a look at the current state of radio, including the latest round of iHeart layoffs, longtime personalities suddenly finding themselves out of work, the slow disappearance of AM radio and a question nobody in radio used to want to answer:

How much does this business actually PA...

Traditional country singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and Eagleville city councilman Craig Campbell sits down with the Circling the Drain crew to talk about his wild ride from small-town Georgia to Nashville stages and successful coffeehouse-venue brand Grindstone Cowboy.

Craig shares how playing piano in church led to Lower Broadway gigs, touring with Luke Bryan and Tracy Byrd, and eventually landing his first record deal that produced the hit Family Man. He gets honest about financial wake-up calls, label roller coasters, not being allowed to play on his own records, and why he’s now all-in on authenticity, entrepreneurship, an...

Circling the Drain welcomes brothers Jesse and Noah Bellamy to talk about their new album Sunshine Shop, the Bellamy family legacy, and why the best songs are “imperfectly perfect.” They dive into growing up on a Florida cattle ranch, watching their dad and uncle (the Bellamy Brothers) build a career, and carving out their own sound rooted in harmony, story songs, and live-band energy instead of over-gridded perfection.

The conversation hits everything from AI in music and the future of live performance to Nashville’s changing skyline, vinyl nostalgia, DIY video strategy, and surviving horse-drawn chaos on Broadw...

Nashville legend, attorney, former councilman and stand-up comic Adam Dred joins Johnny B and J. Harper from Nantucket to talk about everything from politics and scooters to sharks, data centers, cab laws and comedy wars.

Adam walks through his infamous “English-speaking cab drivers” bill, his near-fatal stroke and brain bleed, why he splits time between Nashville and Nantucket, and how he went from radio and stand-up to law and animal advocacy. He also dishes on Trace Adkins, Ralphie May, Steve Harvey, Joe Rogan, Bob Saget, bad Californians in Nashville, and why wind farms and data centers make him...

On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B,  Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy sit down with Tanya Montana and Shelli Coe, daughters of outlaw country legend David Allan Coe. They share what it was really like growing up on the road, clear the air about racist allegations and the infamous X‑rated albums, and explain the truth behind the estate, the will, and why the kids aren’t “silver spoon” heirs.

Tanya and Shelli talk about their own musical journeys, the Goodbye Girls Nashville shop, reconnecting with long‑lost siblings, and how their mom Jody quietly held the wh...

On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim talk about how political division has seeped into every corner of entertainment and media. They trade stories from talk radio, debate Trump’s influence on patriot events, and unpack why fans are turning on artists who get too political from the stage.

The guys also reminisce about women who changed rock (Linda Ronstadt, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Amy Lee), underrated girl and boy bands, and classic film stars and directors. They hit on the Morgan Wallen and Jason Aldean controversies, the 250th celebration tied to...

Country icon Trace Adkins gets candid about buying his Tennessee farm, Nashville’s explosive growth, and why “perfect” modern records leave him cold. He shares wild stories with Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, and more, plus visions for a catfish joint called Hot Mamas.

Trace Adkins is back for part three, and this time he goes deep on life at the farm, Nashville’s real estate explosion, and why old-school, imperfect records still hit harder than today’s polished tracks. From Merle Haggard in boxer shorts with a joint over his ear to Waylon cussing the bugs onsta...

In Part 2 of our deep-dive with country icon Trace Adkins, we get the stories behind his most emotional and controversial songs, from “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” to “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Arlington.” Trace shares powerful memories from Arlington National Cemetery, his candid take on Donald Trump, and the radio days with Phil Valentine that almost got people fired.

We also dig into his acting career, how he met his wife on a movie set, the wild origin of his dog “Gary Busey,” and why he believes live shows are now the only truly “real” part of the mu...

Country legend Trace Adkins joins Circling the Drain for a raw, funny, and unfiltered conversation about survival, success, and the scars he picked up along the way.

Trace opens up about growing up in small-town Louisiana, singing bass in church, working dangerous oil rigs in the Gulf, getting shot by an ex-wife, flipping a tractor, multiple open-heart surgeries, and why he still prefers hard work on the farm to life on the tour bus. He also talks about his breakout in Nashville, label politics, 30 years in country music, and how acting and voiceover work have kept him...

Veteran bassist and author Mickey Hayes joins Circling the Drain to pull back the curtain on the wild, brilliant and chaotic world of country legend David Allan Coe. From blacked‑out tour buses and outlaw bikers to wigs, panthers, boats and hit songs, Mickey shares what it was really like to live on the edge with one of country music’s most controversial figures.  

Mickey talks about joining Coe’s band in 1979, surviving the Outlaws MC, refitting buses and boats in the Florida Keys, the truth behind the “death row” myth, and why Coe was the PT...

Sheila Shipley Biddy went from small‑town radio and seven failed interviews to running one of Nashville’s most powerful record labels. In this episode, the first woman to head a major label on Music Row sits down with us to talk about discovering artists, fighting industry sexism, and the stories behind some of country music’s biggest careers.

Sheila shares intimate memories of working with legends like Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Roger Miller, Don Williams, Patty Loveless, Gary Allan, and LeAnn Womack. She opens up about fighting for “difficult” artists, taking career gambles, launching Decca Records, a...

Award-winning artist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Golden joins Johnny B and Jay Harper to swap stories from a lifetime in music. From growing up in the Golden family dynasty (son of Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden), to playing for every living U.S. president, to singing with his kids and racking up 478,000 miles on the road, this episode is loaded with behind-the-scenes tales, faith, family, and a lot of laughs.  

Chris talks about:  

– Growing up on the Alabama–Florida line in a deep musical family  

– The Oaks’ gospel-to-country transition and backlash...

Larry Stewart, the voice of Restless Heart and member of The Frontmen, joins Circling The Drain to talk about breaking through in 80s and 90s country, early resistance from Music Row, touring with Alabama, and how one phone call changed his life. Larry shares the origin stories of Restless Heart and The Frontmen, the realities of road life, raising a family while constantly touring, and why today’s country boom feels bigger than ever.  

The crew also digs into modern country (Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley), how AI is already reshaping the...

Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy dive into how Nashville and Middle Tennessee have changed under the wave of California and out-of-state transplants. From McMansions and roaming dogs to the death of “old” Music Row, they unpack what’s been gained, what’s been lost, and why some newcomers bring their problems with them.  

They also hit on the impact of the Telecommunications Act on radio, the shift in the music and movie industries, old money vs new money, the immigrant work ethic, and how social media turned everyone into a political pundit.  

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Circling The Drain welcomes artist and storyteller Jared Rogers, with a special guest drop‑in from country legend John Berry. They dive deep into what’s happened to the magic of music: from growing up around Kenny Rogers and Opryland to the harsh reality of streaming payouts, AI “artists,” and the corporatization of radio and Nashville.  

Jared shares the story behind his powerful duet with John Berry, “Bridge We All Must Cross,” how faith and real-life struggle shape his writing, and why he’s pushing back against the way DSPs and AI are devaluing human creativit...

On this episode of Circling The Drain, the three J’s sit down with Marconi Award–winning talk host and former WTN program director Dan Mandis for a deep dive into his 30+ years in radio.  

From cutting his teeth at legendary KFI in Los Angeles with Dr. Laura, to building syndication the hard way, to steering SuperTalk 99.7 WTN through the loss of Phil Valentine, Dan opens up about the highs, lows, and realities of a life behind the mic.  

You’ll hear how he:  

- Went from board-op...

On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper and James Patrick McCarthy sit down with guitarist and broadcaster Dez Dickerson – best known as Prince’s original guitarist from the 1999 and Little Red Corvette era.

Dez takes us from his early days in Midwestern cover bands to his legendary audition with Prince, life on the road, opening for the Rolling Stones, his faith journey, leaving the band just as they were about to headline stadiums, and his unexpected path into conservative talk radio.

Along the way, the guys...

In this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy dive deep into the changing world of music and radio from the perspective of insiders who have lived it.  

They start with why some artists get massive tribute concerts while others do not, then slide into a raw, honest look at country radio’s glory days, its corporate-driven decline, and what happens to artists and broadcasters when the industry moves on.  

From Taylor Hawkins and Eddie Van Halen, to Waylon Jennings, Jason Aldean, Kacey Musgraves, and...

In this powerful episode of Circling the Drain, Johnny B and Jay Harper sit down with legendary drummer Zoro (Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, and more) to explore his extraordinary journey from growing up in Compton and rural Oregon poverty to becoming a world‑class musician, author, speaker, and “Minister of Groove.”  

Zoro shares how a humble janitor job unlocked his destiny, why he believes gifts come from God as seeds that must be cultivated, and how a life of service, not self, leads to real joy. He also opens up about his memoir “Maria’s Scarf,” h...

Johnny and Jim talk candidly about the state of radio today, the toll of bad management, and how podcasting has become a lifeline after nearly 50 years on the air. 

They share raw stories about being let go over Zoom, losing close friends and mentors like Phil Valentine and Dave White, and trying to find purpose again in a fractured media landscape. Guest appearance by longtime radio pro John David Wells, who breaks down what every radio company must give its talent to survive: money, opportunity, training, and respect.

From J...

In this episode of Circling The Drain, we sit down with traditional country artist and former radio host Scott Southworth for a funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly deep conversation.  

Scott shares how “bad breaks” in life often led to his biggest blessings, from accidentally landing a radio show on WLAC to stumbling into a thriving traditional country career with fans across Europe. He talks about walking away from chasing radio hits, leaning into hillbilly-with-wit songwriting, and why he refuses to turn his shows into political sermons.  

You’ll hear behind-the-scenes radio st...

What do The Beatles, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees, Queen, Bo Diddley, Jason Aldean, and a random fan named Dave in a backstage doorway all have in common?

Sandy Gennaro.

In this episode of Circling the Drain, John and Jim sit down with veteran rock drummer Sandy Gennaro, a man whose career has taken him from watching The Beatles on TV as a kid to playing arenas around the world and speaking to Fortune 500 companies about leadership, gratitude, and beating the odds.

Sandy...

Longtime Nashville programmer Ron Allen (96.3 Jack FM, Y’all Country) joins Circling The Drain to talk about 20 years of Jack FM, the changing face of radio, and how local personalities still matter in a streaming and AI-driven world.

Ron walks through his journey from Tulsa and Wichita to Nashville, the heyday of big-budget radio, and what has been lost as companies cut costs, shrink staffs, and push more national and digital initiatives. He explains why training grounds for new talent have disappeared, why making a living in radio is harder than ever, and why he still be...

From Civil War battlefields to the legendary Hank Williams house on Franklin Road, this episode of Circling The Drain dives deep into hauntings, strange coincidences, and emotional encounters with the other side.

Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy swap eerie and heartfelt stories, including:  

– Ghostly music in Phil Valentine’s old cabin  

– Cold rooms and strange phenomena in Hank and Audrey Williams’ home  

– A child’s disembodied “Mom” in the middle of the night  

– A ghost cat that still roams a family home  

– A terrifying choking enco...

Radio veteran and voiceover pro Bennie Shipley joins Johnny B, Jay and Jim for a deep dive into the golden age of radio, the rise of country music superstars, and the evolving world of voiceover in the age of AI.

Starting as a 15-year-old kid at WLCK in Scottsville, Kentucky, Benny went on to WCDS, became a hometown celebrity in high school, and eventually made the massive leap to powerhouse Nashville station WSM. Along the way he worked alongside legends like Harold Hensley, Ralph Emery, Marty Robbins, Lefty Frizzell, Alabama, Reba McEntire, and many...

From coked-up sales reps in limos to Dolly Parton impostors and “attributes” pressed against the studio glass, this episode dives deep into the wild world of radio sales and promotions. Johnny B, Jay Harper, and James Patrick McCarthy trade war stories from small-market radio, over-the-top salespeople, unforgettable clients, and the local commercial legends who became stars in their own right.

Timed Highlights  

0:00 Cold open: “She had sales skills… and a certain attribute”  

0:31 Welcome to Circling the Drain  

2:00 Herb Tarlek, WKRP, and the classic radio salesperson stereotype  

3:45 First time see...

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 sma...

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 sca...

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 De...

Legendary keyboardist, writer, and producer Bill Cuomo joins Circling The Drain to share six decades of music-industry stories. From crafting the iconic intros to “Bette Davis Eyes” and “Oh Sherrie” to working with Alabama, Trace Adkins, Herb Alpert, Barbra Streisand, Little River Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd**, and more, Bill walks through the evolution of recording from analog to digital, lawsuits with major brands, and why he prefers the studio over the road.  

He also opens up about surviving Catholic school, building a dome house in the forest, moving from LA to Nashville, and what AI means for...

Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy dive into their most memorable celebrity encounters from decades in radio, records, and concert production.

You’ll hear stories about:

In this episode, country artist and hit songwriter Deborah Allen joins the Three J’s for a warm, funny, and deeply personal conversation.

Deborah shares:

Legendary Nashville broadcaster Shannon McCombs joins Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy for a fast-moving tour through rock and country radio history. From being yelled at by Sebastian Bach and an enraged artist at XM, to co-hosting a Buddy Holly birthday bash at the request of Paul McCartney, Shannon shares candid, funny, and sometimes cringeworthy stories from decades behind the mic.  

She talks about breaking into a male‑dominated Nashville radio scene in the mid‑80s, surviving multiple format flips and firings, building country relationships through XM and Fan Fair/CMA Fest, producing Kix B...

In this deeply personal “Dads Episode,” the guys open up about the fathers who shaped their lives, careers, and love of music. From small-town country radio and booking legends like Roy Clark, to petrochemical plants, phone lines, and woodworking in retirement, each story reveals how complicated, flawed, and unforgettable dads can be.  

The guys trace how certain songs became emotional landmarks—Merle Haggard concerts, Elton John story songs, and country classics about fathers and sons. They share how grief hit them when their dads passed, how music and video tributes helped them heal, and how late-in-life “I’m proud of...

On this episode of Circling the Drain, Johnny B, Jay, and Jim dive deep into Gene Simmons’ push for the American Music Fairness Act and what it could mean for already-struggling terrestrial radio. They unpack who really benefits from new royalty schemes, why small “mom & pop” stations could be crushed, and how streaming and AI are rapidly reshaping the music business.  

From stories of old-school radio logging and payola-era politics to modern streaming, AI-generated hits, and DIY “instant artists,” the guys explore whether Gene is picking the wrong fight—and what the real endgame might be. Alo...

Join the Circling the Drain crew as they dive into the heart of what's gone wrong with modern corporate radio. In this candid episode, Jay, John and Jim reflect on the loss of local flavor, the rise of consultants with little on-air experience, and how cookie-cutter strategies have changed the industry. Through vivid anecdotes—including infamous consultant run-ins, near-misses on Music Row, and heartfelt stories about legends like Ronnie Milsap and Charlie Pride—they explore what made radio great and what's being lost in today's era of homogenized programming. Enjoy behind-the-scenes tales, laughter, and honest debate about the future of r...

Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy dive deep into the controversial world of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, dissecting its questionable inductee choices and glaring omissions.

[0:00-0:10] Intro: Critique of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's misleading title 

[0:10-0:20] Discussion of unexpected inductees like Whitney Houston 

[0:20-0:35] Drummer's perspective on the Hall's exhibit setup 

[0:35-0:50] List of notable rock artists missing from the Hall of Fame 

[0:50-1:05] Comparison with Country Music Hall of Fame 

[1:05-1:20] Radio industry changes and loss of local...

Join the Circling the Drain crew for a festive Thanksgiving episode filled with laughs, nostalgia, and plenty of holiday spirit. From debating the best (and worst) Christmas movies and songs, to trading stories about working long shifts during the holidays, the hosts open up about meaningful traditions, family memories, and radio life’s quirks. Listen in for reflections on "It's a Wonderful Life," holiday music pet peeves, behind-the-scenes radio tales, and some lively debates about whether "Die Hard" is truly a Christmas movie. Whether you love classic holiday films or quirky Christmas songs, this episode brings warmth and wit to...