The Other 22 Hours

Ray Benson is an absolute pillar of American music, a nine-time GRAMMY winner whose band, Asleep at the Wheel, has defined western swing for over half a century. In this conversation, we talk with Ray about the "geographical imperative," rebuilding his career from a broke-down bus to a musical institution, and the delicate balance between the craft of music and the business of image. This is an exploration of longevity, team building, and the importance of finding a "moral compass" in leadership.
In This Episode:
Ray Benson
Asleep at the Wheel
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Pete Seeger
Woody Guthrie
Van Cliburn
Lester Flatt
Marty Stuart
Marc Copland
Paul Motian
John Abercrombie
George Strait
Vince Gill
Tower Records
“The Letter Johnny Walker Read”
Merle Haggard
Lawrence Wright
Mumford and Sons
Aaron Dessner
T.S. Elliot
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
Chris Scruggs
Molly Tuttle
Ep 86 - Tommy Emmanuel

Go Deeper:
Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:
The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).
More about Aaron’s work.
More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 
Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

As a founding member of the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a three-time Grammy winner, Jeff Hanna has navigated nearly sixty years in the industry, which also includes credits with the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, and many others. In this conversation we explore the geography of inspiration, from the 1970s Troubadour scene to his forty-year anchor in Nashville’s songwriting community. Jeff reflects on the economy of a perfect line, the creative vitality of a "hard reset," and why the bedrock of the work has to begin with the simple intention of having fun.
In This Episode:
Jeff Hanna
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Matraca Berg
Ep 16 - Rodey Crowell
The Troubador
The Station Inn
Vinyl Tap
Jackson Browne
Tim Buckley
Poco
Ep 144 - Suzy Bogguss
Ep 43 - Gretchen Peters
Stephen King - On Writing
Jerry Jeff Walker - Mr Bogangles
The Mavericks
Ringo Starr
Levon Helm
Sheryl Crow
Fred Eltringham

Go Deeper:
Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.
The Hosts:
The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).
More about Aaron’s work.
More about Michaela Anne’s work.
Credits: 
Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

As the architect behind Rolling Stone Country and the host of the Nashville Now podcast, Joe Hudak has spent decades at the center of the industry. Along with Alison Abbey Hudak, a veteran editor who has shaped the narrative of Nashville’s elite lifestyle media, they offer a wealth of experience in creative survival. This conversation dives into the "show business" of art , the moral weight of elevating artists who mismanage their influence, and the courage required to admit when a prestigious career has stifled your creative brain.

In This Episode:
Joe Hudak
Allison Abbey Hudak
Jonathan Bernstein
“People Are Drinking Less Than Ever. What’s Country Music to Do?” - Rolling Stone
Carly Pearce
Keslea Ballerini
Sterling Drake
Marissa Moss
Nashville Lifestyles
Ep 47 Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey
Carl Jung

Go Deeper:
Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.
The Hosts:
The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).
More about Aaron’s work.
More about Michaela Anne’s work.
Credits: 
Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

What happens to the creative spirit when you have been a professional "lifer" since the age of nine? Derek Trucks, widely considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and a veteran of the Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton’s touring lineup, joins us to discuss longevity and leading a 12-piece musical circus. We explore the gradual shift from student to teacher, the grounding force of a musical marriage, and the essential practice of "turning the crops" to stay inspired.
In This Episode:
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Allman Brothers Band
The Beacon Theater
Eric Clapton
Kofi Burbridge
John Lee Hooker
Koko Taylor
Ace Moreland
Colonel Bruce Hampton
Buddy Guy
Joe Walsh
Gregg Allman
Jim Scott
Tom Dowd
A Love Supreme
Krishnamurti
Mad Dogs & Englishman (movie)

Go Deeper:
Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.
The Hosts:
The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).
More about Aaron’s work.
More about Michaela Anne’s work.
Credits: 
Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

How does an artist outlast the industry machine to build a career entirely on her own terms? We sit down with GRAMMY-winner, ACM Vocalist of the year, and CMA Horizon Award recipient Suzy Bogguss to explore the evolution of a 40-year career that spans platinum records and her 2026 induction into the Grand Ole Opry. This conversation is an invitation to reconsider what we value, moving away from the noise of the major label machine and toward a philosophy of quality over quantity, independence, and the deep community.
In This Episode:
Suzy Bogguss
Matraca Berg
Jeff Hanna
Ep 43 - Gretchen Peters
Patty Loveless
Ep 46 - Mary Chapin Carpenter
Capitol Records
CAA
Kathy Mattea
Folk Alliance
Ep 16 - Rodney Crowell
Chet Atkins

Go Deeper:
Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.
The Hosts:
The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).
More about Aaron’s work.
More about Michaela Anne’s work.
Credits: 
Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.