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Try That in a Small Town Podcast

Try That Podcast
Try That in a Small Town Podcast
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  • Try That in a Small Town Podcast

    S E105: ACM Noms, Morgan’s Snub, and a Small Town Hero :: Ep 105 Try That in a Small Town Podcast

    04/20/2026 | 1h 3 mins.
    From the Patriot Mobile studio powered by E|Spaces, the guys dive into a packed episode of Try That In A Small Town.

    They kick things off by reacting to the latest ACM Award nominations: who belongs, who doesn’t, and why politics still run the game. Entertainer, Group, Duo, New Artist, Album, Song, Single, and Musical Event of the Year all get the TTIAST treatment, with plenty of opinions on names like Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Alabama, Zac Brown Band, Parmalee, and more.

    Kelly shares a huge personal milestone: after interning for Reba’s company back in the 90s, he finally lands his first Reba cut on a song written in 2005. That opens up a conversation about prayer, persistence, and whether Christians should pray about career and business. The guys revisit the backstory of “If I Didn’t Love You” (Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood), from losing a duet slot to writing something ultra-specific on a deadline and watching it connect.

    In the fan-favorite Dip Shitty-its segment, they unload on Masters “pond jumpers,” public bathroom pee etiquette, clapping when servers drop dishes, trash in urinals, rental car abuse, and more everyday behaviors that drive them crazy.

    They close with a powerful Small Town Hero story from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where a principal charged an armed student, took a bullet, and likely saved lives. It’s exactly the kind of “try that in a small town” courage the show was built to highlight.

    If you like country music, songwriting war stories, small town grit, and unfiltered opinions, this one delivers from front to back.

    Timed Highlights (Audio):
    0:00 E|Spaces and Patriot Mobile studio intro
    1:30 New mic arm, setup chatter, and moon-landing clip going viral
    4:00 Moon rocks, Soviets, and joking about “disinformation”
    5:10 The Brad Paisley song that “wouldn’t get cut” in 2026
    6:00 Masculinity, political correctness, and “I’m still a guy” lyrics
    7:30 Origin story: pink cupcakes at school, church culture, and irritation-fueled writing
    10:00 Writing the song with Lee Miller and pitching it to Brad Paisley
    11:30 Paisley’s issue with singing the word “guy” and nearly losing the cut
    13:00 Corporate shows, offended “fancy guys,” and how Kelly softens the bit
    14:00 Why fans love their award show breakdowns
    14:30 Songwriter of the Year nominees and how political awards can be
    15:50 Entertainer of the Year: Luke, Jelly Roll, Cody, Megan, Stapleton, Morgan, Lainey
    16:40 Is Megan Moroney really ready for Entertainer of the Year?
    17:20 Group of the Year confusion: 49 Winchester, Flatland Cavalry, Red Clay Strays, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts
    18:10 Where are Alabama, Zac Brown Band, and Parmalee?
    19:10 Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Thelma and James, Muscadine Bloodline
    20:20 Admitting they haven’t even heard some nominees, despite being in the business
    21:00 New Female Artist: quick thoughts on Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Dasha, Caroline Jones, Emily Ann Roberts
    21:40 New Male Artist: Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason, Shaboozey, Hudson Westbrook, Tucker Webb
    22:30 Album of the Year: Zach Top, Carter Faith, Riley Green, Morgan Wallen, Parker McCollum
    22:55 “If Morgan doesn’t win, call BS on the ACMs”
    23:50 Song of the Year: Miranda/Stapleton, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Zach Top, Lainey Wilson
    24:20 Consensus that “Choosing Texas” is massive
    25:00 Musical Event of the Year: predicting a big night for Riley Green and Ella Langley
    25:40 Single of the Year: Lainey, Cody, Zach Top, Ella, Megan
    26:40 Neil missing a Riley Green writers round and golf event
    27:30 Neil heading out on the road with Jason Aldean (and staying up late on the bus)
    28:40 Original Glory beer and Patriot Mobile spots
    30:20 Kelly’s answered prayer: Reba cuts his song from 2005
    31:10 From Reba intern in the 90s to Reba cut in 2026
    32:00 Co-writers Connie Harrington and Brett Beavers and the power of persistence
    33:00 How one cut boosts morale and the next few writing days
    33:40 Should Christians pray for career and business?
    34:30 Praying for ideas, strength, and perseverance vs specific trophies
    35:20 The “If I Didn’t Love You” story: losing a duet, writing on a mission
    36:30 Late-night demo, quick mix, and Aldean’s instant reaction
    38:00 Lessons in frustration, prayer, and not giving up
    39:10 Neil’s Reba hit that nudged him from artist lane to full-time writer
    40:10 Kelly/Lovelace/Loveless name confusion and growing up with a “girl’s name”
    41:20 Army nameplate abuse and teasing a future long-form story
    42:10 Launching into Dip Shitty-its
    42:40 Masters Par 3 “pond jumpers” at Augusta and tradition vs spectacle
    44:20 Public bathroom pee etiquette: clean your own mess
    46:30 Band life and cleaning up after other people’s bad aim
    47:40 Clapping when a server drops dishes and why it’s mean, not funny
    49:30 Gum and trash in urinals and the “not my problem” mentality
    50:30 Rental car abuse vs taking care of what isn’t yours
    51:20 The slow driver with the “Caution: Mowers Ahead” truck and the perfect podcast job
    52:30 Small Town Hero: Oklahoma principal tackles armed student, takes a bullet
    53:40 “Just do something” instead of filming or running
    54:30 Why that kind of courage fits the show’s theme
    55:30 Bethel Bible Village benefit with John Morgan in Chattanooga
    56:30 Final thoughts on ACM noms and Megan Moroney as Entertainer
    57:30 Listener call-to-action: subscribe, rate, and leave comments (love or hate)
    58:30 Sign-off from TK, Kurt, and K-Low, Patriot Mobile studio powered by E|Spaces

    ______________________________________________________________________________________________
    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.

    https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

    For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

    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.
  • Try That in a Small Town Podcast

    S E104: Bad Days, Pride Nights, and Pajamas on Planes :: Ep 104 Try That In A Small Town Podcast

    04/13/2026 | 1h 12 mins.
    The guys are back in the Patriot Mobile studio and this one goes deep fast. They kick things off with allergies, football withdrawal, and post-season sports, then dive into a raw and candid discussion about Pride Nights in sports, the “Cow Gays” controversy at a Predators game, and what it means to live and let live without having beliefs forced on you.
    From there, the crew shifts gears into whether we really landed on the moon, how they personally handle bad days, why everyone seems to live in sweatpants now, and their ongoing list of “dipshitty” behavior in everyday life.
    Along the way they talk songwriting recognition, plaques, neighborhood pet etiquette, Siri refusing to answer questions while driving, and a powerful moment of gratitude for U.S. special forces rescuing a downed pilot overseas.
    It is funny, tense, honest, and very human.
    Patriot Mobile, Original Glory, E-Spaces, and Peacemaker Coffee all get some love, plus a tease of the new Try That In A Small Town coffee line.

    1:56 Daylight vs early darkness, fall vibes, and intros
    2:39 Neil’s brutal allergies and Sudafed pharmacy hack
    4:47 Old tour days: Cracker Barrel laminate hustle story
    7:44 Correction segment: Aldean 30 number ones plaque drama
    8:31 Do writers get the same plaques as label staff
    9:21 Should plaques highlight the actual songwriters
    10:14 Where to hang the new plaque and Peyton Manning tangent
    10:41 Post-season blues: Masters, WNBA jokes, and NHL playoffs
    12:18 Waiting for football, holidays, and May slump
    12:56 Pride tape in the NHL and league pressure
    13:42 The Cow Gays sing the anthem at Preds Pride Night
    14:30 Why highlight sexuality at a hockey game
    15:05 Are fans cheering for America, the team, or just “being gay”
    16:09 Neil’s frustration: feeling beliefs are being pushed
    17:19 Are team owners really in charge or owned by the league
    17:54 Do leagues force Pride Nights on teams
    18:43 Song topics and the Cow Gays’ first single
    19:26 Are some artists getting chances only because of identity
    20:11 Why the Cow Gays will struggle in mainstream country
    21:01 Indie label reveal and punny “HoZac” moment
    21:26 Talented but niche: why some good artists still may not last
    22:02 Why make sexuality the brand instead of just being a great trio
    23:24 Coming out at award shows and when it gets “too much”
    24:30 Live and let live vs having beliefs pushed on kids
    25:34 Everybody wants to live their life without constant culture wars
    26:32 No one wants to explain every hot topic at a hockey game
    27:02 Honest wrap up: you believe what you believe, we will too
    27:54 Ad break: Original Glory beer spot
    31:22 Back from break: Peacemaker Coffee and new TTIAST blends tease
    33:49 Naming the coffee: Raised Up Right, Down The Road, Sucker Punch
    34:41 Where the coffee will be available and pre order tease
    35:18 Door holding for women and modern social etiquette recap
    35:49 Pajamas in public: flights, stores, and church dress codes
    36:33 High school kids wearing sweats and Uggs everywhere
    37:01 Curt’s daughter trying to wear sweats to a nice NYC dinner
    37:32 Wearing sweats on planes and the comfort debate
    38:02 Slides, sweatpants, tank tops, and belly buttons on flights
    38:24 “You look tired” might be the rudest backhanded compliment
    38:46 Dress codes for restaurants and men showing up like beach bums
    39:43 Wearing sweats to dinner and where to draw the line
    40:09 Church attire: jeans, hats, and old school respect
    41:36 Is dressing up for church tradition or biblical
    43:08 Curt feeling suckered into hobo clothes in public
    43:27 Artemis, looping the moon, and mission timing
    44:17 Do you believe we landed on the moon the first time
    45:27 Neil’s questions: Nixon’s landline to the moon in 1969
    46:31 Who filmed the capsule taking off from the lunar surface
    47:03 Comparing belief in the moon landing versus faith in Scripture
    47:57 Flat Earthers, gravity, and standing upside down in New Zealand
    49:21 Clarifying: asking questions vs outright disbelief
    50:11 Curt and Neil land on: we probably did land, but some stuff is weird
    51:01 The guys want listener feedback on moon landing beliefs
    51:13 Why has it taken so long to go back and build anything on the moon
    51:45 Future moon bases and using lunar resources
    51:50 Transition: Kalo’s bad business day and emotional hole
    52:08 Comfort eating, breaking the seal, and moo bar confessions
    53:21 Food as coping, self awareness, and getting back on track
    54:16 How each guy handles a truly bad day
    56:05 Neil’s approach: prayer, perspective, and not internalizing it
    56:43 Curt’s story of a truly awful March day and going nuclear
    58:04 Channeling anger into phone calls, hard work, and doubling down
    59:05 Music is subjective: one person’s opinion is not your career
    1:00:01 Pizza deep dive: Jets toppings, olives, and cravings
    1:00:40 Writing harder to prove the song and bouncing back
    1:01:19 Using food and alcohol as past and present coping mechanisms
    1:02:02 Honest tension, heavy topics, and feeling “stopped up”
    1:02:27 Dipshitty segment: people who say “you look tired”
    1:03:25 Neighborhood rant: off leash dogs in subdivisions
    1:04:05 Safety, kids, and why leashes matter even for trained dogs
    1:05:13 Kalo vs Siri: she refuses to answer non driving questions
    1:06:44 Arguing with Siri and worrying about AI holding grudges
    1:07:20 Siri’s driving logic vs human frustration
    1:08:15 Neil’s highway rant: on-ramp texters doing 40 into 80 mph traffic
    1:09:28 Dangerous driving and phones: an entire episode worth of material
    1:10:23 Current events: downed U.S. pilot and rescue in Iran
    1:12:29 Massive operation, special forces, and national pride
    1:13:41 Thankful to be an American and awe at what our military does
    1:14:03 Closing sponsor love: Peacemaker, Original Glory, Patriot Mobile, E-Spaces
    1:14:49 Wrap up, thank yous, and website merch reminder
    ______________________________________________________________________________________________
    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.

    https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/try-that-in-a-small-town-coffee
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

    For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

    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.
  • Try That in a Small Town Podcast

    We Lose An Episode, Then Tell The Stories We Couldn’t Recreate :: Ep 103 Try That in a Small Town

    04/06/2026 | 1h 16 mins.
    We hit stop on what felt like a “can’t miss” recording… and then realized it was gone. No dramatic metaphor, no grand lesson at first, just a missing file and that sinking feeling every creator knows. So we start over, and the redo turns into a rawer, funnier, more revealing conversation about what life looks like behind the curtain of the Nashville music scene and the touring grind. 

    We talk songwriter rights and why NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) matters right now, especially as streaming royalties keep shrinking and AI music raises new questions about ownership and fair pay. We also unpack how quickly the industry’s celebration rituals are fading, including the slow disappearance of real number one parties, even for writers who’ve waited decades for a breakthrough. If you care about the country music industry, music publishing, and how songwriters actually make a living, this one gets specific. 

    Then we do what we do best: stories. Garth Brooks being shockingly present with fans and using third-person “Garth” logic to plan a moment, Brian Adams and Bob Seger doing their homework like pros, and the unforgettable Chris Cornell soundcheck where he looks over and says only one word: “Pick.” Add in Nashville etiquette debates, social media birthday cringe, an airport Starbucks wait that turns into self-inflicted misery, and our “dipshittiots” segment that bounces from Tiger Woods to the NBA to space launches and why movies don’t hit like they used to. 

    Subscribe, share the show with a friend, leave a review, and come argue with us in the comments about which part was the most ridiculous.
    ______________________________________________________________________________________________
    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. 

    https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

    For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

    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.
  • Try That in a Small Town Podcast

    Jason Aldean and Thirty Plus Number Ones :: Ep 102 Try That in a Small Town Podcast

    03/30/2026 | 1h 25 mins.
    Thirty number ones sounds like a headline. It feels a lot stranger when you’re sitting in a room full of your friends and heroes, watching them sing your songs while your own band plays behind them and you didn’t even know a party was happening.

    We’re hanging with Jason Aldean and reliving the night they surprised him with a 30 No. 1 celebration, from the writers who’ve been on every album to the surreal moment of hearing another voice in his in-ears. We talk about what changes as a career stretches into decades, why some “hits” don’t age well, and how we try to keep the music believable as life changes. There’s plenty of real Nashville craft talk here too: finding songs that fit an artist brand, avoiding safe cookie-cutter radio, and chasing records you actually want to play for years.

    Then it gets sideways in the best way with a tour story from New Zealand, where a Maori welcome ceremony turns into the most awkward “sing something right now” request imaginable. We also get into band chemistry after 27 years together, vocal stamina on the road, sleep routines, and a few rapid-fire pet peeves from our “people are idiots” segment.

    If you love country music, Jason Aldean stories, Nashville songwriting, touring life, and the behind-the-scenes truth of how long careers really work, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, leave a review, and tell us in the comments: which Aldean song never gets old for you?
    ______________________________________________________________________________________________
    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. 

    https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

    For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

    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.
  • Try That in a Small Town Podcast

    Turning Rough Ideas Into Records :: Ep 101 Try That In a Small Town Podcast

    03/23/2026 | 1h 10 mins.
    A great country song doesn’t start as a “record” it starts as a messy idea, a half-formed hook, and a room full of people willing to grind. We’re fresh off a write and still riding that song high, so we get real about why we keep our circle tight, how we know when something is truly an Aldean pitch, and why we’d rather walk away than finish a song that doesn’t feel like it has a life.

    Then we go full Nashville inside baseball: demo production, track building, mix tweaks, and the pressure of sending a finished demo to an artist who can say yes or kill it in three and a half minutes. We also talk about why production can absolutely change outcomes in publisher meetings, why some modern country ends up sounding like wallpaper, and what it looks like when an artist has a signature sound that cuts through.

    From CRS and radio suites to a new wave of young country guitar slingers bringing shuffles and real playing back, we hit the state of country music today. Plus: a near-miss on the interstate that shook us up, our “idiots” list for airport drop-offs, and the most awkward cold-call guest invite ever when Philip Rivers actually answers the phone. Big news too: we’re teaming up with Crossover Media Group, and we tease a return from the man himself, Jason Aldean.

    If you laughed, learned something, or just like the chaos, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find us.
    ______________________________________________________________________________________________
    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. 

    https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

    For advertising inquiries, email [email protected]

    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.

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About Try That in a Small Town Podcast

In 2023, Jason Aldean's groundbreaking song and video "Try That In A Small Town" resonated with a resurgence of conservative values in America. The writers of the song, Kurt, Neil, Tully, and Kelley, took the opportunity to launch the Try That In A Small Town Podcast. This platform allows them to reveal the true inspiration behind the song and discuss the importance of common-sense values. With a lineup of influential guests, the hosts will entertain you with the stories behind their music, while also addressing challenging topics affecting our communities and country.
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