Try That in a Small Town Podcast

Will any of today’s hit songs still be sung 50 years from now?
Kurt, Tully, KLo, and Neil look back at the music that shaped them—from Hank Williams Jr., Van Halen, and Def Leppard to John Denver, Glen Campbell, Elvis, Bryan Adams, and Paul Rodgers—and debate whether modern songs are given enough time to become true classics.
They also reveal how Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan’s alternating stadium show works, explain why songwriters don’t really “sell” individual songs, and discuss how streaming and shrinking attention spans have changed the way listeners experience music.
Then things deteriorate—in the best possible way—with exhausted airport stories, Tully’s confrontation on a plane, the dangers of flying with guitars, UPS losing a one-of-a-kind custom bass, Kelley mistaking his treadmill malfunction for an earthquake, and the strangest things fans throw onstage.
Listen all the way through and remember the secret phrase: “Donk Toss.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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.

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.

www.trythatinasmalltowncoffee.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -
For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com
Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hulk Hogan was one of the most recognizable personalities in American entertainment—but behind Hulkamania was a man still searching for peace, purpose and something bigger than fame.
In one of his final long-form interviews, Hulk Hogan joins Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace and Neil Thrasher to share stories from an extraordinary life: sending audition tapes to Metallica and The Rolling Stones, helping transform wrestling entrances into major entertainment moments, building the Hulkamania phenomenon and ultimately rediscovering his Christian faith.
Hogan also speaks candidly about the restlessness that followed him after leaving the ring, the personal battles fame couldn’t solve and the surrender that changed his outlook late in life.
We’re revisiting this conversation as a special Try That in a Small Town REWIND—and as a tribute to an American original we were honored to call our guest.
What is your favorite Hulk Hogan memory? Share it in the comments.
Originally presented as Episode 51 of the Try That in a Small Town Podcast.
Subscribe for honest conversations about music, culture, faith and the stories behind the people who shaped them.
#HulkHogan #Hulkamania #WWE #TryThatInASmallTown #Podcast
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the Patriot Mobile Studios powered by eSpaces, the Try That In A Small Town Podcast crew sits down for a raw, unfiltered hang. Tully, Kurt, Thrash, Kaylo and Neil talk about everything from health scares and terrible sleep to the emotional toll of chasing hits in a “failure business” and wondering if this podcast is actually any good.
They celebrate Jason Aldean’s multi‑week No. 1 with “Try That In A Small Town,” shout out Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, and then pull back the curtain on how little songwriters and session players really make in the streaming era. They debate AI‑written songs, the madness of modern politics, bathroom etiquette, and why a fast‑food combo in a tiny Tennessee town now costs 14 dollars.
If you’ve ever chased a creative dream, wondered why some shows blow up and others stall in “podcast purgatory,” or just love small‑town stories with a heavy dose of honesty and sarcasm, this one’s for you. And yes… they really want to know: are they good, or do they suck? Let them know in the comments.

2:36 Kratom, roadside naps, and realizing the “health food” was killing energy
4:12 Jason Aldean’s multi‑week No.1 and how fast country radio moves now
5:12 “This podcast needs a hit” – joking about number ones vs. struggling growth
6:01 Neil’s hospital scare, liquid diet, cutting alcohol, and finally sleeping great
9:42 Aldean’s charity golf with Luke Bryan – golf game, banter, and sobriety on the course
11:14 Original Glory and Patriot Mobile ads – small towns, veterans, and America‑first talk
13:32 “Are we good?” – the guys get raw about insecurity and podcast “purgatory”
15:12 Explaining “failure businesses” and why so many creatives give up
19:20 Shout‑outs to core listeners (Ed, Birdie Jane, Rhonda K) and plea to spread the word
20:28 Aldean/Jake Lagrone episode “spicy” comments and Jason’s loyalty line
22:24 Do more people listen than watch? Wondering if video is underused
23:11 John Rich’s new D.C. role fighting for farmers and property owners
24:28 DSA, abolish‑everything politics, and pride‑in‑America poll skepticism
26:44 “AI this podcast?” – joking about deepfake episodes vs. real frustration with AI songs
28:03 Using ChatGPT for health vs. AI‑written country songs in Nashville
31:01 CNBC calls Tennessee the worst state to live – the guys roast the list
31:34 Try That In A Small Town Coffee: Raised Up Right, Down The Road, Sucker Punch
32:20 Bus story: small‑town Tennessee truck stop and the $14 Whopper combo
34:25 Inflation vs. songwriters’ frozen pay and awful streaming royalties
38:00 460 dollars for 1M Spotify streams – breaking down how little writers see
40:09 More touring opportunities, but dreams of being a session ace are fading
42:33 Dipshitty It: Burger King cashier with zero greeting vs. Chick‑fil‑A standards
44:22 Forced small talk at Publix and backstage – fans’ curiosity vs. artists’ quiet time
49:38 Teacher fired for “He Is He / She Is She” books and free‑speech double standards
52:05 Neil’s bathroom Dipshitty: guys who don’t wash their hands at Cracker Barrel
54:49 “See, we’re funny – what’s going on?” Still wondering why the show isn’t bigger
55:00 WNBA All‑Star Game, Sophie Cunningham, and wanting her as a guest
56:29 Coffee plug redux – where to buy each roast and why the guys love it
57:14 Final push: like, subscribe, download, comment, and “do it for Tully”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
www.trythatinasmalltowncoffee.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -
For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com
Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jason Aldean and longtime tour manager Jake “Charlie” LaGrone join the Try That In A Small Town podcast for a no-filter look behind the curtain of one of country music’s biggest road operations. From kidney stone chaos and EMT horror stories, to high-stakes bus hockey, stolen putters, and firing disloyal crew, this episode is wall-to-wall backstage gold.
Jake walks through his journey from Lori Morgan, Reba, Rascal Flatts, and Alan Jackson to running Jason Aldean’s 80-person touring machine with 11 semis and 6 buses. The guys talk loyalty, crew culture, why good bus and truck drivers are everything, and how one bad attitude can poison an entire tour. They also dig into touring during COVID, the fallout from “Try That In A Small Town,” AI in music, new artists skipping “club years,” and what true longevity really looks like in country music.
You’ll hear:
• Jake’s first-ever ambulance ride thanks to a vicious kidney stone
• Why a 5mm stone had the whole camp on edge
• The legendary Bahamas bus-hockey game that cost Jake a $640 Scotty Cameron putter
• The New Zealand Maori tribe welcome that ended with Jason singing the Star-Spangled Banner and touching noses with the chief
• Real talk on firing crew who bad-mouth the artist while riding his bus and eating his catering
• How Jason’s camp builds “lifers” and keeps turnover insanely low
• Why stadiums aren’t the money machines people think they are
• The difference between viral success and being able to carry a 90-minute headlining show
Perfect for fans of Jason Aldean, road stories, and anyone curious what it REALLY takes to keep a big-time country tour on the rails.

Timed Highlights (YouTube Chapters / FB Reels Cues):

2:18 Meet Jake “Charlie” LaGrone, Jason Aldean’s tour manager
3:25 Jake’s resume: Lori Morgan, Reba, Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson and more
4:13 Leaving Alan Jackson for Rascal Flatts and triple the money
4:39 Alan Jackson not taking the news well
4:47 “Down a putter and up a stone” – the night everything went sideways
5:00 Jake’s first-ever ambulance ride from a show
5:35 The 450-pound EMT and a long, painful ride to a small-town hospital
6:30 Computer crash, no CAT scan results, and Jake signs himself out
7:16 The pain hits: FaceTiming his granddaughter, then “twins breach” level agony
8:39 The diagnosis: a 5mm kidney stone and a long bus ride home
9:41 “You gotta have a pretty big Willie to pass that” – the guys pile on
10:59 Still hasn’t passed the stone… might need a “C-section”
11:18 Original Glory beer sponsor segment
11:44 Patriot Mobile sponsor segment (PatriotMobile.com/smalltown)
13:17 Why the tour can’t function without “Charlie”
15:11 Jason and the band admit: when Charlie’s down, everyone is lost
17:00 What a tour manager really does: the fireman who puts out problems without anyone knowing
17:42 80 people, 11 semis, 6 buses – Jake explains the operation
18:47 The crew “lifers” who’ve been there 15–20 years
19:57 Delivering bad news: losing songs, losing soundcheck, and weather delays
22:01 High-stakes bus hockey: how $25 games escalate to $200 a night
22:58 The Bahamas trip: tequila, fishing, golf, and late-night hockey
23:37 Jake’s $640 Scotty Cameron putter story
24:44 The all-or-nothing bet: $500 vs the $640 putter at 1 a.m.
26:05 Sudden-death OT: Jason’s “dirty” winning goal and the putter is gone
26:40 Claiming the putter off the golf bag at baggage claim in Nashville
27:22 Jason trolling Jake with couch photos and the “putter that never even posted”
28:02 Who’s the best bus hockey player? Trash talk erupts
29:22 “You will never own this putter again” – it’s in Jason’s will now
29:46 Jake buys the sister putter and trades tickets for a discount
29:53 Tully’s hurt feelings: Jake sending his ugly golf swing pic to Tucker
31:21 Tucker exposes his dad: “My dad sent me that picture of your swing”
31:53 Wrapping the Bahamas trip – great time, bad swing
32:18 Celebrating Jason’s 32nd No.1 and a rare second week at the top
32:45 How this No.1 climbed “organically” without a big radio push
33:09 Jason’s perspective: new album off to a hot start
33:54 Jake on the camaraderie of Jason’s camp and why this crew is unique
34:52 Why watching fans clap, dance, and smile keeps Jake going
35:36 The “lifer” crew – Snapper, stage managers, merch guys, techs and more
36:33 Jason explains why he hates seeing new faces and loves his long-time crew
37:15 Adding front-of-house engineer Chris Leonard – the missing piece
38:32 The NASCAR pit crew of country tours – fixing gear mid-show
39:12 Why each show must feel like someone’s first and only Jason Aldean concert
40:11 Low turnover starts at the top – how Jason and the band lead
41:04 The four-piece beginnings and building the team over 20+ years
42:11 Why the show doesn’t happen if the crew decides to take a day off
42:39 Tear-down in 50 minutes: 11 trucks loaded and gone
43:05 Jake shares a “difficult artist” story in D.C. over White House access
44:31 Firing versus fighting for people – when Jason saves a crew member
48:14 Jake’s loyalty and HR role: one team, respectful, politics off the clock
49:04 Keeping promoters and venues happy so you’re always invited back
50:24 Bus and truck drivers: the most important people on tour
51:00 If you get fired as a driver out here, you really did something
51:45 COVID, masks, and extremism bleeding into the crew culture
56:22 “Try That In A Small Town” backlash and crew disrespect – lines get crossed
57:29 Bad-mouthing the artist while on his bus? “You gotta go.”
58:17 How a few bad seeds can poison an entire tour’s culture
59:09 Jake’s reset meeting: respect, no agendas, one team or you’re out
1:00:44 The toll of road life, kids, and missing milestones
1:01:17 Why this business isn’t for “ordinary citizens”
1:02:23 Jason on touring: travel is the real grind, not just the 90 minutes on stage
1:04:13 New Zealand Maori tribe story – intense welcome ceremony
1:05:12 Choosing the Star-Spangled Banner as their “answer song”
1:07:37 Nose-touching with the chief – sealing the deal
1:08:27 The most awkward moment Jason, Tully, and the guys have ever shared
1:10:02 Proof you never really “see it all” on the road
1:11:01 Jason feels more settled than ever and still cutting some of his best music
1:13:16 Letting go of chasing industry awards and leaning into longevity
1:14:45 Why Jason values 21 years of career over a stack of trophies
1:17:08 How grinding through club years shaped the band and the show
1:19:29 The danger of young, viral acts skipping clubs straight to big tours
1:22:26 Knowing when NOT to headline yet – Jason’s Brooks & Dunn detour
1:23:48 Artists with only 1–2 songs trying to carry 90-minute sets
1:24:49 The streaming mirage: background noise vs real connection
1:25:39 Physical concerts vs AI and virtual “acts”
1:27:14 CMAs’ “human creators only” AI disclaimer
1:27:50 DJ-only arena shows and what’s coming next
1:28:47 Dip Shitty of the Week segment begins
1:29:09 Parking garage etiquette rant – stay on your side
1:30:15 Children’s toy box cutter – why is this even made?
1:32:15 “My current wife” – Neil roasts himself on a podcast slip-up
1:34:17 Jason’s public dipshitty: fans yelling “Aldean!” in grocery stores
1:36:15 Left-lane campers and bad drivers – Jake’s road rage
1:38:15 Bus “serial peer” mystery and bathroom etiquette
1:40:08 Kurt vs chatty cashiers and waiters who don’t write orders down
1:43:30 Ducking familiar voices backstage – social overload
1:45:09 Neil’s birthday surprise and gifts for the crew
1:46:10 Turkey call plugs and Peacemaker “Try That In A Small Town” coffee
1:47:15 Closing: thanks to Jason Aldean and Jake LaGrone, merch, and where to find more
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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.

www.trythatinasmalltowncoffee.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -
For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com
Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the Try That In A Small Town podcast, the guys sit down with hitmaker George Birge to unpack his long road to “overnight success” in Nashville. George talks about grinding for a decade before his first number one, the moment Luke Bryan said “Play that motherfucker” about his song, and how TikTok flipped his career with Beer Beer Truck Truck.
He shares how Clay Walker pushed him back into being an artist, how a Bobby Bones performance turned Mind On You into a life-changing hit, and why Jason Aldean giving that song back was a defining act of class. Along the way you’ll hear wild road stories with SEAL Team Six and Post Malone, getting wrecked by Gary Allan’s weed, the art of building a live set, and how country music’s community creates careers that last decades. They close it out with golf at Augusta, Idiots of the Week, HVAC disasters, fan etiquette and plenty of laughs.

Timed Highlights:
0:03:12 – Four number ones in a row, why Nashville is a “10-year town” and how hard it really is to break
0:04:35 – Building relationships with radio and listeners, and the pressure of chasing every hit
0:05:04 – Luke Bryan mentor story, Chesney’s jet and the “Play that motherfucker” cowboy song moment
0:07:40 – Why country music is a “big happy family” and how fan relationships create 20–40 year careers
0:08:53 – Shouting out Kurt and Tully on a surprise Jason Aldean number one and how labels plan chart runs
0:10:00 – Original Glory beer spot and investing in America’s small towns
0:11:14 – The magic and misery of the grind: why it’s good that success doesn’t come easy
0:12:20 – First number one, confidence, and how belief changes the way you write and perform
0:13:20 – Mike Eli’s tough-love advice: “You just need to go get your ass kicked”
0:15:30 – Sprinter van nightmare in Kentucky, the meth’d-out “mechanic” and character-building on the road
0:17:49 – Moving from one recognizable song to multiple hits and the freedom of building a real setlist
0:18:38 – Covers as a “cheat code,” winning crowds in clubs and finding the sweet spot with 90s country medleys
0:20:19 – Club days: Dwight Yoakam medleys, Sweet Child O’ Mine into Paradise City, and stretching 90 minutes
0:22:40 – Teaching an audience how to listen to your ballad and earning the right to play the slow songs
0:25:26 – Lessons from touring with Toby Keith: zero ego, human jukebox and knowing when to turn it into a honky-tonk cover set
0:28:19 – Tailgating with Toby Keith, SEAL Team Six and Post Malone on the bus in Virginia Beach
0:29:48 – Post Malone’s country roots, respect for the genre and doing it the right way
0:30:09 – Pivoting to “just” being a songwriter, asking out of the duo deal and heading to Clay Walker’s beach house
0:33:33 – Writing Clay Walker’s We All Need A Bar Sometimes and Catching Up With An Old Memory and hearing the band’s take from the studio side
0:36:35 – Refusing to quit, irrational optimism and how things fall into place when you keep showing up
0:37:38 – Clay Walker says “Get on TikTok” and the birth of Beer Beer Truck Truck from a country-music hater’s video
0:39:41 – Going viral overnight, crediting the original TikTok creator and landing on The Bobby Bones Show
0:39:47 – Playing Mind On You live on Bobby Bones, getting a record deal and watching it go number one
0:41:03 – Jason Aldean had Mind On You on hold – and gave it back so George could release it as his debut single
0:45:08 – George’s Mount Rushmore: Aldean, Gary Allan, George Strait and Tracy Lawrence, and how that shaped his sound
0:46:47 – First-hand weed disasters: Gary Allan’s tackle box, the volcano, numb legs and the best pineapple ever
0:52:23 – Willie’s Remedy, tequila pairings and trying to “just sleep” through a THC drink gone wrong
0:54:08 – Tequila on the road, giving up whiskey in the summer and survival strategies under 100-degree stage lights
0:55:16 – Golf talk: college golf background, shooting 75 at Augusta and winning the BMW Celebrity Pro-Am
0:57:31 – John Daly, a 27-minute Knocking on Heaven’s Door and golf-country crossovers
0:58:08 – Weekly segment: Idiots of the Week – ducks on dashboards and Jeep duck culture
0:59:35 – People touching injured shoulders, hugging the sling side and unintentional pain
1:01:16 – HVAC conspiracy: the AC “just happens” to die right after the service check and buying a new unit
1:06:42 – Language rant: the word “literally,” dictionaries caving and when words stop meaning what they mean
1:08:37 – Fan behavior: phones in faces, reading the screen mid-song and completely losing the lyrics
1:10:19 – Fist bumps, picks, Sharpies mid-solo and why some fans think they’re on stage with you
1:12:00 – World Cup tangent, flops, drama and sports rants
1:13:40 – Peacemaker Coffee plug and sending George beans for the bus
1:14:23 – The hosts on why George is great for country music, closing thanks and merch reminders

______________________________________________________________________________________________
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.

www.trythatinasmalltowncoffee.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -
For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com
Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.