I’ve worked in radio since, uh, well, a long time now. And I have hosted my podcast for almost three years. I’ve talked to a lot of people. More than I care to calculate, or to be more honest, can calculate. Stupid math.
One of the coolest aspects of these jobs is I get to interview people. Now in radio, for the most part, it was people in the music industry. It’s easier to list the country singers I haven’t interviewed instead of the ones that I have.
Singers have a unique journey and almost always a fascinating story. Lainey Wilson used to live in a travel trailer by the river in Nashville. Jellyroll thought jail was always his future. Chris Young won Nashville Star. Miranda Lambert didn’t. She came in third.
Carrie Underwood was as close to an overnight success as you’ll get. Meanwhile, Ashley McBryde, Cody Johnson, and Chris Stapleton took the long way around.
Songwriters intrigue me so much. Brett James was in medical school. Bobby Pinson was the house band for KRTY. We played a lot of parking lots together. Bobby’s writing sort of a science fiction book? He read some of it for me in my car, and true to his nature, it was dang good. And I urged him to read the audiobook, because he’s great at that, too.
Shane McAnally talked about the pressures and rewards of being the biggest songwriter in Nashville. He would argue that the title now belongs to Ashley Gorley. Ashley built a pickleball court to go along with his tennis courts. It’s good to be the king.
Most people don’t know what a producer does. I asked Micheal Knox that question. He works with this guy named Jason Aldean. I think the boy has a future. Sal Oliveri, a name you may not know but everyone in the music industry does, explained how he became a producer, and how you have to walk the tightrope of being true to yourself while understanding the desires of the artist. Look up his episode on my podcast, it’s really interesting.
You may have heard the name Scott Borchetta. He was a mentor on American Idol, but his day job is running Big Machine Records. Scott took a chance on this young artist and signed her to his label. Taylor Swift. He continues to sign big names to his label, and he can talk passionately about every single one because he knows them, I mean really knows them. He’s probably the smartest guy in music that I know.
My point is, I’ve talked to a bunch of folks in music, but my podcast has allowed me to expand to so many different fields. Doctors, senators, Olympic athletes, actors, comedians, authors, political experts, politicians, interior designers, investigative journalists, and travel experts. Football players, hockey players, baseball players, even wrestlers. I think if you got to be me for a week you’d enjoy yourself.
I say all this to talk about the other side of the coin. In the last few years, I’ve been asked to be a guest on other people’s shows and podcasts. It’s a completely different mindset. I’ll be honest, it probably is more fun to be the guest.
You don’t just show up when you’re the host. Not if you want to be successful. You do your research. I owe my guest that, I feel like it’s a sign of respect. I tell every guest I have that I’ve done my research, but I’ve got no prepared questions because my goal is to have a conversation.
If you send me a book, I’ll read it. That can be a big task, but man does it help. I can’t tell you how many authors thank me for reading the book. It’s not common to talk to a host who’s actually read the book. That blows my mind. I’m currently reading two books in preparation for interviews. Yes, it is hard. But it’s harder not to if you can wrap your head around that.
But those same rules don’t apply when you’re the guest! It is a bit daunting, you don’t want to suck, you want the host to like you and want you back on. I don’t want to hang the host out to dry with short dull answers however, I don’t want to blather on and on.
My goal is to tell a great story or two and leave plenty of room for the host to interject and share their viewpoints. It’s their show, the audience likes them and wants to hear their take on my stories. I completely understand and value that.
The years in broadcasting have put a never-ending clock in my head. I’m always aware of time and how long I speak. It doesn’t bother me how long a guest speaks (as long as they are focused) but I want to make sure I keep us on time. That’s my job as a host. As a guest, I leave it to the host, and I let them know that if they want a certain end time, please share it with me and I’ll make sure we are out.
How can they miss me if I won’t go away?
If you think you or someone you know would be a good guest on my podcast, please reach out to me! Every one of us has a story, but most think nothing of it because it’s our story. And if you want me as a guest on your podcast, send me a note. I try to find a time to accommodate everyone who asks, and I’m always surprised by some of the questions I get asked. There are a lot of sharp people out there.
I don’t know exactly how many, though. Stupid math.
Thanks for coming on Gary!
Gary - love all you do! Hopefully some golf soon