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Circling The Drain

Circling The Drain

By: John E. Bozeman & Jay Harper
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Circling The Drain is a show about the current state of the music and radio businesses as well as culture in general! Hosted by John E. Bozeman and Jay Harper along with Jim McCarthy as Co-Host/Executive Producer. John has had a storied career in music and talk radio, most notably as the Executive Producer for the late and legendary Phil Valentine. Jay also has has a long career in radio as Announcer, Play-by-Play, Voice and On-Camera Actor. He was also an Artist Rep for MCA records. Jim McCarthy ALSO has had a tremendous career in radio since 1996 and has since brought his consulting/producing skillset to the podcast world. Circling the Drain is produced by ItsYourShow.co2025 Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Politics, Pop Culture, and the Death of Fun :: Ep 46 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Politics, Pop Culture, and the Death of Fun :: Ep 46 Circling the Drain Podcast
    Jul 8 2026
    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 Trump, CMA Fest politics, and how talk radio and cable news are burning people out. It’s part nostalgia, part media critique, and part “can we please just enjoy a show again?”Includes: – Behind-the-scenes stories from talk radio and WTN – How politics hijacked July 4th and the 250th celebration – Country music’s culture war: Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, Beyoncé, CMA/ACM awards – Why conservative talk radio has become an echo chamber – Classic crushes and icons: Linda Ronstadt, Bridget Fonda, Cher, Marilyn Monroe – Film noir, Turner Classic Movies, and Spielberg’s new UFO film – Trace Adkins, Taylor Sheridan, and dream casting for Yellowstone-style showsTimed Highlights: 0:00 Lioness, Linus and dad-joke cold open 0:45 Johnny B, Jay, and Jim check in and bust chops on age and birthdays 2:50 Sharing birthdays with Tom Cruise, Andrew Garfield, Demi Lovato, Amy Adams, Scorsese, and Danny DeVito 4:10 Jim’s last-minute save as a baseball PA announcer and learning the lingo on the fly 7:50 Mercy rules, softball vs baseball pace, and why tournament ball can be brutal 8:45 Rush’s new drummer on tour and pulling off Tom Sawyer live 10:15 Blink-182’s drummer, plane crashes, DJ AM, and guilty-pleasure pop bands 12:10 Boy bands, Backstreet Boys, The Bangles, Go-Go’s, and needing more women drummers and guitarists 14:15 Linda Ronstadt, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Amy Lee, and greatest female rock vocalists 15:59 Linda Ronstadt stories, studios in Nashville, and realizing you’ve been sitting next to a legend 19:10 Aging icons: Linda Ronstadt, Cher turning 80, separating politics from performance 21:14 Trump, De Niro, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp and when politics ruins the art 22:38 Trump’s 250th celebration, Martina McBride and Bret Michaels backing out 25:00 Can we have a non-political patriotic event anymore? Remembering the 1976 Bicentennial 29:30 Covid money printing, tariffs, gas prices, and why voters always come back to their wallets 31:00 Bruce Springsteen, the Black Crowes, and crowds telling artists to “shut up and play” 32:10 CMA Fest, Justin Pearson, and bringing politicians on stage to rant 32:58 Music Row’s political disconnect from the country audience 33:37 Morgan Wallen being ignored by awards shows despite massive popularity 33:58 Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” Columbia courthouse, and outrage over the video 34:51 A billion streams, Congressional recognition, and producing the songwriter podcast 35:58 10–15 years of politics dividing entertainment 36:34 Steve Earle, protest songs, and when stage rants kill the vibe 37:10 Dixie Chicks backlash, Natalie Maines, and radio phones melting down 37:50 Playing Dixie Chicks on classic country formats and the name-change wars (Dixie Chicks, Lady A) 38:33 College indoctrination, Jim Breuer’s bit, and “racist, sexist, gender” on repeat 39:40 Campus politics then vs now, old-school professors who actually debated 40:59 Talk radio turning into an echo chamber and worshipping Trump 41:38 Jim getting heat on WTN for criticizing Trump’s spending 42:21 Audience demanding red meat and nothing but politics 44:16 Burnout from politics on air: filling in at WTN and being exhausted by the news cycle 45:18 Fox News running nonstop in the background and how it shapes older viewers 48:54 Family stories: visiting parents and in-laws who live on cable news and Trump 49:53 Streaming instead of news: Turner Classic Movies, film noir, and great writing 50:47 Classic Hollywood glamor, Bogart and Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, and missing wit in modern movies 52:00 Marvel highs and lows after Endgame and Spielberg’s new disclosure/UFO movie 53:23 Emily Blunt, Monty Python references, and “huge tracts of land” 54:02 Whatever happened to Bridget Fonda and why she left Hollywood 55:00 Privacy, health, car accidents, and what aging looks like in the spotlight 57:17 Growing up a Fonda, Hollywood burnout, and punning about “Fond of Fondas” 57:37 Sound drops, Kelsey Grammer’s legendary stage fall, and physical comedy clips 58:15 Trace Adkins’ accident, almost losing a leg, and that unreal voice in headphones 59:44 Deep-voice envy, timbre, and why Trace belongs in a Taylor Sheridan series 1:00:36 IndyCar in Nashville, Alex Palou, short shorts, and being surrounded by race fans 1:02:06 Hospital ...
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Trace Adkins on Nashville’s Boom, Real Country, and Rowdy Road Stories :: Ep 45 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Trace Adkins on Nashville’s Boom, Real Country, and Rowdy Road Stories :: Ep 45 Circling the Drain Podcast
    Jul 1 2026

    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 onstage and Buck Owens’ brutally honest “low note” advice, Trace tells the kind of stories only a true country legend can.

    He and the guys also riff on Nashville turning into a “clean New Orleans,” soccer vs. hockey, the changing studio scene, in-ear monitors vs. wedges, health food vs. fried catfish, and his dream of opening a catfish joint called “Hot Mamas.” If you love real country, road stories, and unfiltered opinions, this is your episode.

    1:01 How Trace found his dream 100‑acre farm (and paid more later for 30 acres)
    2:55 Nashville’s growth, California money, and $3M homes in former farm fields
    3:35 “Clean New Orleans” vibes: Broadway, CMA week, and 250 people a day moving in
    5:19 Murfreesboro, Franklin, Gallatin: when the outer ring gets just as crowded
    6:07 Getting outside 840 to keep “country living” alive
    7:26 Little League moms, grocery store encounters, and a fan story gone sideways
    8:18 Why Trace hates soccer and loves hockey fights
    10:37 Being a Titans fan, the Music City Miracle, and growing up with the Saints
    12:20 Nashville before the Titans and Predators: massage parlors, Printer’s Alley, and a ghost town downtown
    17:07 What happens to Music Row studios when AI and home recording take over?
    18:39 “Too perfect” records vs. real, messy, live music
    19:46 Cutting with Asleep at the Wheel high and out of tune – and why that’s exactly what Trace wanted
    20:22 Loving rough live albums and records with mistakes and feel
    21:54 Old records recorded by eye and cue, not click tracks and grids
    22:33 Trace refuses to sing to a click in the studio
    23:00 One in‑ear, loud wedges, and missing the days of club monitors ripping his face off
    25:08 Country legends: Merle Haggard in boxers, Waylon fighting bugs, and Hall of Fame grudges
    29:41 Buck Owens puts Trace through his paces and gives him brutal “low note” advice
    33:05 Grand Ole Opry memories and realizing he’s now one of the “old guys” backstage
    36:09 Married to a fitness model: salmon, rice, salads… and disastrous squash brownies
    38:02 “I pay for premium health insurance so I can eat what I want”
    39:30 Bougie Nashville: Sperry’s, Perry’s, Bourbon Steak, truffle and duck‑fat fries
    40:46 Organic fast food and shameless restaurant plugs
    41:38 Trace’s dream restaurant: a catfish joint called “Hot Mamas” with flirtatious 50‑something waitresses
    43:28 Victoria’s “guilt‑free” menu concept and why Trace’s buddies won’t eat there
    44:20 Real pizza talk: New York‑style favorites and local spots
    45:22 Mafia‑vibe Italian joints, Godfather radio bits, and ticking off the real bosses
    46:37 Wrapping up: three hours with Trace, veterans work, 30th anniversary tour, and where to find Circling the Drain


    Follow Johnny B:

    https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

    Follow Jay Harper:

    https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

    Follow Jim:

    www.jmvos.com


    Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

    www.itsyourshow.co
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    50 mins
  • Hit Songs, Phil Valentine Memories, Trump Stories & “Arlington” w/Trace Adkins Pt. 2 :: Ep 44 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Hit Songs, Phil Valentine Memories, Trump Stories & “Arlington” w/Trace Adkins Pt. 2 :: Ep 44 Circling the Drain Podcast
    Jun 24 2026
    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 music business.0:43 – If Trace had to be in a tribute band forever, who would he choose? 1:36 – Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes” and how it inspired Trace’s “Dangerous Man” album cover 3:25 – The grind of album photo shoots and making a real, gritty cover shot 4:12 – The Phil Valentine show, stepdad life, and getting sick of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” 5:44 – Why “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” is cleverly written, not just a novelty hit 6:42 – How the song became the most-played country song in strip club history 7:44 – The backroom label deals behind certain cuts and how “You’re Gonna Miss This” started as a wedding song 9:00 – “I thought it was too sappy” – Trace misjudges a song that becomes a massive number one 10:26 – Ashley Gorley’s hit-making juggernaut and why everyone wants one of his songs 11:04 – Writing “American Made” for the country’s 250th anniversary 11:38 – “Arlington” and “An Empty Chair” – songs that choke him up on stage 12:04 – Performing “Arlington” at Arlington National Cemetery and barely getting through it 12:43 – Why Trace only does “Arlington” for the right audiences (and never for drunks or festivals) 14:04 – The true story behind “Arlington” and Lance Corporal Patrick Nixon 16:26 – Playing “Arlington” on air, Phil Valentine’s reaction, and the emotional weight of the song 17:04 – Remembering Phil Valentine: sparring on-air, sharp wit, and real friendship 18:34 – A hilarious voicemail from Trace and joking about “your little radio show” 19:22 – Rodeo memories, FCC close calls, and the infamous “hot and juicy” weather report 21:18 – Live radio chaos: open mics, cussing and thinking they’d be fired 22:16 – Trace’s new production company “Fifth Rodeo” and its cowboy-with-a-fifth-of-whiskey logo 23:14 – Why Trace doesn’t want the pressure of doing a podcast 24:07 – From tractors to Lululemon and voiceovers: “degradation” of the conversation 24:19 – “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown,” real cowboys and concern for the horses 25:25 – Why some ranch work still has to be done on horseback 26:08 – Trace’s Christmas show: Celtic vibes, stories behind songs and gospel roots 27:32 – Feeling good about the Christmas show vs. “I’m sorry, Lord” after “Badonkadonk” 28:08 – Is memorizing dialog hard? How years on stage made acting easier 28:58 – Directors who demand word-for-word delivery vs. those who allow improvisation 29:46 – Meeting his wife on the set of “The Virginian” in Vancouver 30:21 – How his wife writes, acts and why their dog is named Gary Busey 31:50 – The Christmas parade, a weird looking puppy and the Gary Busey hair and teeth 32:05 – Writing a song for the 250th and the Freedom 250 concert controversy 32:48 – PBS Fourth of July, Trump’s event, and shifting TV schedules 34:02 – The best Trump impressions Trace has heard and how Trump exaggerated his own persona 35:43 – Riding in Trump’s limo and getting asked: “Are you reasonably faithful to your wife?” 36:55 – Trump Jr. explains his job: “I follow him around and put fires out” 37:42 – Wanting to be Ambassador to Australia or the “Office of Hell No” 38:00 – How Trace judges Trump: “He’s a rich old asshole, not evil” 39:11 – New York real estate, DC politics, and why Trump didn’t need to run 40:00 – Meeting Trump on the plane: funny, warm, and totally different from the public caricature 40:31 – Touring Trump’s penthouse and offices: proud of what he’s built 41:04 – Negotiating through hyperbole: Greenland, Canada, and “shooting for the moon” 42:23 – Dave Chappelle’s take on Trump’s debate moment about tax loopholes 43:07 – Rand Paul vs. Trump on stage and how one debate moment flipped opinions 43:54 – Label history: Capitol, Show Dog, Broken Bow, Verge, and coming back “home” to MCA 45:22 – Why this next MCA album might be Trace’s last 45:32 – New artists he likes (Ella Langley) and why she “has every tool” 46:12 – Betting whether Ella Langley will stay country or go pop 46:42 – Not knowing many of today’s artists and thinking “Shaboozy” was a whiskey brand 47:32 – Loving traditional country and hopes for a pendulum ...
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    57 mins
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