1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: Pat it, Welcome to the show, Welcome to the EEE Farm, 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: the EEE Apparel headquarters. This is a crazy time, so 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: many things to talk about. This is gonna be a 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: good show. I've been going through. I set up an 5 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: email a couple of shows ago called Granger Smith Podcast 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: at gmail dot com, and I have been fielding these emails. 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: I'm overwhelmed with how many emails are coming in. So 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: first of all, thank you. If you've emailed me, thank you. 9 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: I'm going to go through some of these randomly because 10 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: there's so many. I'm not really gonna be able to 11 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: pick and choose, but I'm going to go through them 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: randomly and just sit there and scroll on my phone boom, 13 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: pop an email out and talk with you as if 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: you're sitting in the living room or sitting next to 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: me in the shotgun seat of a truck. That's the 16 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: way I want this show to be, not planned, not scripted, 17 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: very raw, and I believe that that's the way that 18 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: I think it should go. And I think that you 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: will enjoy it more if it's more just me and 20 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: you getting to know each other, very conversational, Very grateful 21 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: today that this podcast is brought to you by ship Station. 22 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 1: And with the holiday season right around the corner this year, 23 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: we know that people are going to be buying more 24 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: stuff online than ever before, and if you're an e 25 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: commerce seller, you better be ready to meet those demands 26 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: of a record breaking online shopping season, So you could 27 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: be ready with ship station. That's whether you're selling online 28 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: getting a massive amount of orders out real quick, it 29 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: could be really tough. How do you keep track of 30 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: who does that? Which shipping carrier do you use? Are 31 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: you getting the best rates? And that's why my choice 32 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: and ee Apparel's choice is shipstation dot com. It's the fastest, easiest, 33 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: most affordable way to manage and ship your orders. Just 34 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: takes a few clicks. You could actually do it boom 35 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: right here on your phone. They offer online seller they 36 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: can get their orders out quickly, save money on shipping cost, 37 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: and keep your customers happy. It doesn't matter what you're selling, 38 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: whether it's Amazon or Etsy. You may have your own website. 39 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: Maybe you're you're selling protein to buff dudes or T 40 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: shirts to country dudes. It doesn't matter. Shipstation brings all 41 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 1: your orders into one simple interface and makes them really 42 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: easy to manage from right there in your device, Like 43 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: I said, boom right here on your cell phone. It 44 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: works with all the major carriers like u USPS, FedEx ups, 45 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: even International, and you could get the best rates of 46 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: anyone out there. They have big discounts on shipping cost 47 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: and any business could get the same access to all 48 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: the discounts as even the big boys, even the big 49 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 1: Fortune five hundred companies. You always know you're going to 50 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: you're gonna get the best deal. So right now, Granger 51 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: Smith podcast listeners could drive ship station for free for 52 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: sixty days. Just use the offer code Granger and make 53 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: sure your business is ready to meet demands of a 54 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: massive online shopping season. Get started at ship station today. 55 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: Click on the microphone at the top of the homepage. 56 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: Type in Granger. That's ship station offer code Granger shipstation 57 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: dot com make ship happen. And a lot of people 58 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: have actually speaken enough have asked me how they're going 59 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: to start an e commerce business. I know that with 60 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: its craziness of COVID that a lot of people are 61 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: switching their business model. Maybe they wanted to open little 62 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: shops somewhere in a downtown and then they saw what 63 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: happened with everything shutting down so they decided to stick 64 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: with e commerce, and that's what we do. We have 65 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: plans down the road maybe to have like a ee 66 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: Seed and Feed, maybe some kind of storefront, but right 67 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: now we're sticking with e commerce. We are a mom 68 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: and pop company. Still, We're still a family run business. 69 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: We always will be. We fulfill everything, so we don't 70 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: print our shirts, but we have a lot of people 71 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: that we work with at print them, and then we 72 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: have a design team and then we get everything the 73 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: big bulk boxes mail here and then me and my 74 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: crew will go through personally, sort through them, ship them out, 75 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: which we're really busy because of the fall launch, so 76 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: we got a lot of people in there shipping away 77 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: like crazy, trying to make it happen. If you're one 78 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: of those people waiting on an order, it's going to 79 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: take a few days. Like I said, family run business, 80 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: that's just the way it is. I'm going to get 81 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: to some of these emails next week, next podcast. I 82 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: believe it is going to be done just like the 83 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: old ones were done. Back of my bus, a Wildflower 84 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: on tour at least that's the plan. We are starting 85 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 1: the tour here and there, so check check my website 86 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: Grangersmith dot com to check out that tour. And before 87 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: I get into these questions, there's one question overwhelming above 88 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: all others, and that is will you be in blank city? 89 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: Whether that's Sacramento, or Fayetteville or Charlotte. I'm getting all 90 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: these questions. The answer to all of them is yes, 91 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: we will be. We're not going to skip your city, 92 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: and if we do, we're coming close by to a 93 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: nearby town. We will not skip any of the fifty States. 94 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: We will not skip Europe coming up in the next 95 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: couple of years. So be patient with me. I know 96 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: this is a crazy time, but we will be coming 97 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: to your town. Promise you don't even have to ask 98 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: that question. I want to. I know you need me to, 99 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: and we will. Welcome to the granger Smith Podcast, Episode 100 00:05:27,400 --> 00:06:09,239 Speaker 1: fifty one. Roll that intro d month times and long 101 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: line of us down the back. It's Rangy Cog. I 102 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: guess the most important thing I could say to start 103 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: this this show is that the album is out. I've 104 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: been talking about this. I don't know how many episodes, 105 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: I don't know how many times I've built it up, 106 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: but as we speak right now, it is out. It's 107 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: called Country Things Volume one and it has eight songs 108 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: on it, and then there'll be a Volume two that 109 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: comes out at the end of November, so you'll be 110 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: able to get Volume two collect them. You'll have sixteen 111 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: songs total. Right now, there's eight. It's out wherever you 112 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: find music, whether that's iTunes or Spotify or Apple Music 113 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: or Pandora or YouTube. There's a million ways to hear 114 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: this album. I just hope you pick one of them. 115 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: The only thing you can't do right now is get 116 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: the physical copy the CD, but we will when Volume 117 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: two comes out and they're collected together into sixteen songs. 118 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: You'll be able to get the CD at Walmart or 119 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: wherever you do that, and you'll also be able to 120 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: get the vinyl album. The vinyl album doesn't have all 121 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: of them because you can you're only allowed twenty minutes 122 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: per side on an old timey vinyl record, so I 123 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: had to kind of pick and choose what would sound 124 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: better on vinyl. But oh, in all pretty pumped about it. 125 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: And it's a really important week for you guys to 126 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: check this out because this is the week that first 127 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: seven days is what matters most on if this album 128 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: gets to be ranked as a a top five or 129 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: top ten album on Billboard. I've never personally had a 130 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: number one. That's not to be confused with like an 131 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: iTunes number one. That's different. Billboard is everything combined, whether 132 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: that's iTunes or all the streaming service, all of that 133 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: combined into one. And this is a this is a 134 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: crazy fact that most people don't know. But the way 135 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: that Billboard counts this for units consumed, right, it used 136 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: to be so easy. You're just how many records did 137 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: you sell? Boom, that's it. But now because of streaming, 138 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: it adds this interesting wrinkle. So it takes fifteen hundred 139 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: streams equals one download. So that's either that's a song 140 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: or an album. Same thing. So my album right now, 141 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: if you buy it on iTunes, it costs I believe 142 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: it's seven ninety nine seven dollars and ninety nine cents. 143 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: That if you do that, that equals the equivalent of 144 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: you streaming it. The whole album fifteen hundred times one thousand, 145 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: five hundred times is the same equivalent on Billboard for 146 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: the charting system as you paying seven bucks in ninety 147 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: nine cents. Isn't that wild? Like? Who even comes up 148 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: with these numbers. Who was the one that said it 149 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: needs to be five hundred, No, it needs maybe a thousand, No, 150 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: fifteen hundred, like who came up with that? But that's 151 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: the way it is, and that's the way when you 152 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: get You see some of these plaques on the wall 153 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: from Billboard, and it'll say instead of saying like a 154 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: gold record, for instance, which is five hundred thousand sales. 155 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: It used to be so easy. You sell five hundred 156 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: thousand copies, you get a gold record. But now it'll 157 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: say instead of sales, it says I think I believe 158 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 1: it says equivalent sales, so that that means it's including 159 00:09:55,440 --> 00:10:00,599 Speaker 1: streams fifteen hundred streams per not wild. But this is 160 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: an important time for me. So if you do buy 161 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: the album for seven ninety nine, or if you already 162 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: have a few songs, you complete my album for just 163 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: a few bucks. More so, if you've already paid four bucks, 164 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: then it's you know, you only play three ninety nine. 165 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 1: But this is an important time because that's when those 166 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: numbers really matter. But that being said, ultimately my main 167 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: goal is for y'all just to hear it, hear it 168 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: and like it and connect with it. There's eight songs 169 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: on there, so let me let me be honest with you. 170 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: If there's eight songs, I hope you really I hope 171 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: you like them all, and I hope you really connect 172 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: with three of them. And I hope one of them 173 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: is one of your favorite songs. That would be amazing, 174 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: like that's that's the odds I would like to play. 175 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: I would like you to really deeply connect with three 176 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: of them and go, man, that's my jam, that's about me, 177 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: or or I used to live that song. Yeah, so 178 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: comment below. If you're watching this on YouTube, comment below, 179 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: and subscribe to this channel too, and subscribe. If your whatever, 180 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app that you're listening on, subscribe to 181 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: that and we'll keep this thing rolling. Then I'll start 182 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: previewing volume two. Yeah, I was going to go through, 183 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 1: and I've had this question before. Why don't I go 184 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: and do the old podcast where I it was really 185 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: in depth and the production value was higher and there 186 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: was a lot of cuts and there was music playing. 187 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: I had to cut that out because YouTube and these 188 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: podcast apps don't allow me to play music, even if 189 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: if it's my own music. They will literally, without explanation, 190 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: mute that song. So I could be talking in a 191 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: random podcast and then there's like a dead space where 192 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: a song was playing. So yes, I could go jump 193 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: some hoops and get you know, lawyer's approval on since 194 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: they're my own songs, and get it all cleared. But 195 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: it takes a long time, and the easiest thing is 196 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: just to tell you guys, sorry, I can't play the 197 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 1: songs on this podcast, but you could literally just click 198 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: one click away and listen to anything off Country Things. 199 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: And I have like all the descriptions of these songs 200 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: and how I wrote them and how I recorded them. 201 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,719 Speaker 1: I was going to read it. It might be kind 202 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: of long, so I don't know. In the artist world, 203 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: we call that cut by cuts, and I probably won't 204 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: read them on this podcast. I'll probably get to your questions, 205 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 1: but if you do want me to read these, let 206 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: me know, and I could do that next time. Let 207 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,839 Speaker 1: me know if you want to hear the full stories 208 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: these songs. It's country things. That's why I love dirt Roads, 209 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: Mexico country, and you know it. Heroes, Chevy's, Himmys, Yoda's 210 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: and Fords, hate you like I Love You, and I 211 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: Kill Spiders. Those are the eight songs on volume one. 212 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: Then I'll start revealing volume two soon, very soon. Let's 213 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: get to some of these questions and so this is 214 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: a Grangersmith podcast at gmail dot com. If you have 215 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: a question, if you want me to acknowledge something on 216 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: this podcast type of way, and I have them boom 217 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: right here on my phone. So I'm not I'm not 218 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: gonna go in order, because that then I would just 219 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: be picking either the oldest or the newest. So I'm 220 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: gonna just gonna flip through and go boom. This one 221 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: is from Michael Cannon says, Hey Granger, once again, let 222 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: me let me preface before I read it. I have 223 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: not read these, so this is going to be random. 224 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: I don't know what I'm getting into. I'll do my best. 225 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: Hey Grainger, it's Michael from Indiana and he's actually from Granger, Indiana. 226 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: It says great town name. I wanted to get your 227 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: opinion on what you've done in the past when you're 228 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: working a job that you didn't like or that left 229 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: you unfulfilled. I'm only a few years out of college, 230 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: so don't get me wrong. I'm extremely thankful to be 231 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: working during these crazy times. But my day to day 232 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: typically leaves me feeling discouraged and unsatisfied where I'm at. 233 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: I can't wait to have a job parentheses like you do, 234 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: where it doesn't even feel like work, jumping out of 235 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: bed and excited to take on the day. I can't 236 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: wait to see one of your shows again. Yeeee Michael, 237 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: Where do I start? I think everything you're asking, Michael 238 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: is right when you're right to be thinking this, especially 239 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: you're only a few years out of college and you said, 240 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong, I'm extremely thankful to be working 241 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: during these times, but my day to day typically leaves 242 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: me feeling discouraged and unsatisfied. So I can't wait to 243 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: have a job like you do, where it doesn't even 244 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: feel like work. Well, my first thing, let me talk 245 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: about this first. That I'd be lying to you if 246 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: I said that every single day in my life I 247 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: get out of bed and I go into my job 248 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: and it doesn't even feel like work, Because it does. 249 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: And it doesn't matter what job you have. It doesn't 250 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: matter if you have the ultimate dream job in the world. 251 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: You do it long enough, and we're all human. It 252 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: starts become monotonous at times, it becomes burdensome and discouraging 253 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: at times, and you can't get around that, and I 254 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: can't get around that. A job alone, a career cannot 255 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: fulfill you enough to satisfy you enough to find happiness. Now, 256 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong, it helps. I'm very grateful to 257 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: be doing this instead of something else that I absolutely hate, 258 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: But I don't find my life fulfillment through this job. 259 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: And to answer that question better, you could just look 260 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: back in history and you could see how many people. 261 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: There's documentaries about how many people have lived their life 262 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: working one job. So it's a factory job. They're doing 263 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: one thing, very monotonous, getting the same paycheck, and they're happy, 264 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: way happier than someone else that's doing something that sounds 265 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: much more exotic, because the happiness comes from a different place. 266 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: That joy comes from a different place. So there are 267 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: definitely days when I'm I don't want to go to 268 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: work because I have a ton of radio calls coming 269 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: up or a bunch of interviews and I know it's 270 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: going to wear me out, or maybe I have to 271 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: go shoot a bunch of old nibble stuff and it's 272 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: either really cold or really hot outside, or it's raining, 273 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 1: and I gotta get it done. There's times when I'm 274 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 1: about to hit the road and go on a long tour, 275 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: and I know that my little girl's got a birthday 276 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,680 Speaker 1: coming up. Then I'm gonna have to miss gonna there's 277 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: all kinds of housework and yard work I need to 278 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: take care of. I'm gonna miss it over these next 279 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:18,239 Speaker 1: ten days. And I know that when I look at 280 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: those ten days, I see that we come home for 281 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: one day and then we're back out for another twelve 282 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: days or you know, And I'm just like, oh, I 283 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: hate this. I hate this feeling. And to balance that, 284 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: I have to go back to my old thing. I 285 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: always say, I have to raise up my gratefulness and 286 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: lower my expectations a little bit. Now, keep keep my 287 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: expectations as high as I can. But if I do that, 288 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,959 Speaker 1: I got to keep my gratefulness a little bit higher. 289 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 1: So you're right, Michael in saying that. Don't get me wrong, 290 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 1: I'm extremely thankful to be working during these times. So dude, 291 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: you got a paycheck. That's awesome. All of that being said, 292 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: that was like my preface. All that being said, you're 293 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: a few years out of college and it's not too 294 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: late to change. It's fact that I don't think it's 295 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,439 Speaker 1: ever too late to change and find something you're passionate about. 296 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: Maybe you got to do a trade school thing to 297 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: get something you're more passionate about. Maybe you got to 298 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: go you got to go and intern and work double 299 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: so you're gonna work your job, and then after you 300 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: get off work, you got to go and work for 301 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 1: free to build up a skill or a trade or 302 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: find something you're passionate about. It might take money to 303 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 1: start up a company. Maybe you want to get it. 304 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: You need to invest in some kind of equipment to 305 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: start a new company, and it's going to take a 306 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: few years to build up, you know, slowly saving that 307 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: money for that investment. So none of these answers are easy. 308 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: Nothing's like, oh boom, I want to quit. I'm starting 309 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 1: my dream job. It all takes a lot of sacrifice. 310 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 1: This music business took endless sacrifice for me, and I 311 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: don't ever want to come across as a guy that's 312 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 1: had success or that feels like he's on top of 313 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: the music business. Because my first album came out in 314 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety nine, so that's twenty one years ago, and 315 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: most of those twenty one years were a struggle and 316 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: it felt like life was slapping me in the face. 317 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: It felt like I wasn't going anywhere and nothing was 318 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 1: going to happen. But I kept trying and kept pushing forward, 319 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:33,199 Speaker 1: kept believing, kept working other jobs to help fund it. Ultimately, Michael, 320 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 1: I think the thing to take away from this email 321 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: is you cannot rely on your job to provide you happiness. 322 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: You get that from other places. You get it from 323 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: your family, your either your mom and dad, or your siblings, 324 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: or your wife if you have one girlfriend, kids if 325 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: you have them, could even just be a dog, you know. 326 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: But you get that kind of happiness from that responsibility 327 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: you have taking care of something else, and you find 328 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: that gratefulness and keep cultivating that gratefulness and in the meantime, 329 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:13,160 Speaker 1: keep your eyes open, keep your eyes wide open. Next 330 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: random question goes to Mary Marrieds from Iowa State University, 331 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: the Agricultural Engineering Department, and she says, Hey, Granger, my 332 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: name is Mary. I'm from Lowell, Michigan, but I'm not 333 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: here in Ames, Iowa for school. We have a great 334 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: livestock show arena for a concert. Just saying I'm down 335 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: said I've been wanting to ask a question about the 336 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: music industry, and with your new album coming out, it 337 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: fits perfectly. So how is the song slash album rated 338 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: or ranked? Is it YouTube, streams, Spotify followers, iTunes sales, 339 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 1: and when an album is going platinum? How does that 340 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 1: work and what makes that happen? Another question is what 341 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 1: helps in our just the most, like i e. Making 342 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: money and gaining popularity with iTunes sales, CD sales, watching 343 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: your music videos on YouTube or streaming music. Thank you 344 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: so much for reading my email. I've been a huge 345 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: fan of your music and all your YouTube channels and podcasts, 346 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: also slowly growing my ee apparel collection as well. Thank you, Mary. 347 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:22,360 Speaker 1: Thank you for those kind words. It's ironic that I 348 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: almost answered all of that at the beginning of this 349 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 1: podcast with how an album is ranked and how it's 350 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 1: charted and talking about how one purchase of a song 351 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:41,719 Speaker 1: equals fifteen hundred streams. Now, that doesn't totally answer your 352 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: question because you're asking how what helps an artist the 353 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: most to make money and gain popularity and you said, 354 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: is it iTunes sales, CD sales, watching your music videos 355 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: on YouTube? And the truth the truth is it's it's 356 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: all of it combined. So if I'm not really selling 357 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: any on iTunes, but I'm getting hundreds of millions of 358 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: views on YouTube. That makes up for it. If I'm 359 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 1: not getting any views on YouTube, but I'm selling a 360 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: whole lot of iTunes, that makes up for it. The 361 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: ultimate thing for an artist today right now that probably 362 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: a lot of people don't know is touring. Touring is 363 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,719 Speaker 1: where is really the bread and butter of our lifestyle 364 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 1: right now, I'm making zero on touring, and pretty much 365 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: every other artist is making zero on touring. We are 366 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: going out a little bit, but I was just in 367 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 1: here talking with my tour manager Chris and my lead 368 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: driver Bull, and we're going out on the Northeast run 369 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: and we're going to lose a little bit of money. 370 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: We're going to go into the hole a little bit, 371 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: just because the diesel fuel show, pay for the guys 372 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: making sure everybody has food, the commission I have to 373 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: pay to book an agent, things like that. It adds 374 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: up so fast, and the guarantees of us getting money 375 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: on tour right now during this crazy time is not much. 376 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: So I am going to lose a little bit of money. 377 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: That being said, on a normal year, a normal time, 378 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: when we put out music, it really is an advertisement 379 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 1: for shows, and ticket sales is where any artist really 380 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: makes his income, is able to pay all his guys 381 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: and to continue moving forward. So we hope we sell 382 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 1: a lot on iTunes, we hope we stream a lot, 383 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:38,880 Speaker 1: but as you could imagine, those sales have plummeted over 384 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: the last fifteen years, and streams pay fractions of pennies, 385 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 1: and so do YouTube views. Really it's not much, it's 386 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: not enough. I can't make enough on a YouTube video 387 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: or a stream to put diesel fuel in my bus 388 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,679 Speaker 1: to go on this next run, for example, to the Northeast. 389 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 1: It's going to cost a thirty six hundred dollars of 390 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: just fuel. That's just fuel. That's not including hotels for 391 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: a driver to sleep in, or meals or per diems 392 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:14,959 Speaker 1: or show pay rental gear. It doesn't count for any 393 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: of that. And God forbid, something breaks down, we have 394 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: to fix it. I hope that answers your question. But 395 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: touring is the bread and butter of the music industry 396 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: now today. So the best thing you could do is 397 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 1: look on your calendar, look on the tour dates, see 398 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: when your favorite artist is coming to town, and support 399 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: them in that way. If you can't do it. If 400 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: you can't get out, then I would say the next 401 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: highest ranked thing is probably actually buying the song on iTunes. 402 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 1: And it doesn't necessarily go right into the artists pocket 403 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: because there's a lot of other hungry buzzards that get 404 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: that money, but it really helps with the popularity of 405 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: the artists, which then puts them in a bigger spotlight 406 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 1: for more opportunities down the road. Thank you, Mary. This 407 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: question is going to go from Zach. Zach says, Hey, Granger, 408 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,679 Speaker 1: excuse me, I'm been working. God excuse me. I've been 409 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: wanting to ask this for a while now. Longtime listener, 410 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: first time contacting you. So, I graduated college with a 411 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: business degree, but I've always had a dream to make 412 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:30,640 Speaker 1: country music and make and that moves people like it's 413 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: affected in me, in my life, in me too. I'm 414 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: from North Carolina and I have made trips to Nashville 415 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 1: to try networks some folks. My question is, what would 416 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: you say to a new artist trying to make a 417 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: living pursuing country music. Any advice has appreciated, Love the 418 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: new music you've put out, Thank you, Zach, and god speed, 419 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: my friend. It's a crazy business. It's especially a crazy time. 420 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: So my first piece of advice something I've given a 421 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: lot of advice on this podcast. This I haven't said 422 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: this chill out for COVID. Chill out right now to 423 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: this because because like I said, I'm losing money right now. 424 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: A new artist doesn't want to get into this mess 425 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: right now. It's not something you want to do. But 426 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,120 Speaker 1: in the meantime, you could definitely be honing your skills. 427 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: Continue writing songs, continue practicing on that guitar and singing. 428 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 1: I always say, learn a recording software like pro Tools. 429 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: I'm running right now recording this podcast. Learn learn pro 430 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 1: Tools and get a little microphone. Record yourself singing, record 431 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: yourself playing guitar, Go back and listen to it. Put 432 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: it on an MP three, put it on your phone, 433 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,640 Speaker 1: stream in in your truck, listen to it over and 434 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 1: over and over and over and over again. And then 435 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: after you do that, listen to it over and over 436 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: and over and over again, and learn those little nuances 437 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: that make you winch You know, it's like ooh, I 438 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: don't I don't like when I don't like when my 439 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 1: voice does that, or man, guitar doesn't sound good on 440 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: that part, or those lyrics are dumb right there, that 441 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 1: that doesn't make any sense. There's all kinds of things 442 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: that you could pick out, and there's of course, then 443 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: at the same time you can go, man, I love, 444 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: I love when this happens in this song, do more 445 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: of that. So Zach right now, during this time, really 446 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: focus on yourself and that aspect, and then when things 447 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: open back up. I've always been the guy that is 448 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: not advocating for trips to Nashville to network with people 449 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: because in my opinion, and there's a lot of opinions, 450 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: but it doesn't really matter. You can go network all 451 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: you want in Nashville and you can meet powerful people, 452 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: and you could sit at a bar next to somebody 453 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,640 Speaker 1: that's powerful, but that powerful person can't do anything for 454 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: you if you don't have a product or something ready 455 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: to go, if you haven't honed your skills, if you 456 00:27:56,800 --> 00:28:02,120 Speaker 1: don't have a hit song in the box, and even 457 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 1: if that person could help you find songs, they're not 458 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 1: going to help you find songs unless you already have 459 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:09,959 Speaker 1: something to play that makes you worthy of them finding 460 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: other songs. Even if you do have those songs, it's 461 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 1: hard for someone to commit anything to you if you 462 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: don't have any tour dates if you don't even have 463 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 1: a place for them to come watch you play. So 464 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,399 Speaker 1: the bottom line Zact is no one is going to 465 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 1: move your career but you. It doesn't matter how powerful, 466 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 1: how popular, how amazing they are in the music business. 467 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: You are more important, the most important thing in your 468 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: career than moving yourself forward. And I cannot give a 469 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,719 Speaker 1: better piece of advice than that, where do you start? 470 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 1: If you don't have a gig, you start with an 471 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 1: open mic night. You're in right there in North Carolina. 472 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: I'll go get an open mic night and start playing 473 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 1: every I did that every Thursday night at a place 474 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: in College Station, Texas, and tried to get a little 475 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: better recorded myself. Put set a video camera up there, 476 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 1: watch yourself. See what you're doing right, see what you're 477 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 1: doing wrong. See if you could start attracting some fans. 478 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: And as that happens, you're building a story that means 479 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: more to those people that you're going to network with 480 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: in Nashville. So that makes sense. Good question, buddy, I'll 481 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: take a break. Be wrote back. This question comes from Beth, 482 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: and she doesn't want to say where she's from. But 483 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: Beth says, thanks for opening this up for us to 484 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: ask you questions. I have so many for you. I'll 485 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 1: try to narrow it down to what or whom do 486 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: you attribute your wisdom? Oh gosh, from what I see, 487 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: your words, thoughts, and actions are well beyond your age. 488 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: Also wondering if you and Amber have ever thought about 489 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: doing a speaking tour or writing a book sharing your 490 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: story faith and wisdom. And on that same track, would 491 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: you ever consider writing and recording any Christian music? And 492 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: I ask these questions knowing you are so busy, and 493 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: I'm saying down the road, I have no idea how 494 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 1: you could accomplish all of these things every day. Thank 495 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: you so much, beth I. It's not the first time. 496 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: Here we go, Wisconsin, best from Wisconsin. It's not the 497 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 1: first time that someone has asked me about will I 498 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: sing Christian music. I had a guy, a friend of 499 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: mine a long time ago, who was ahead of me 500 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: in years, and he had very strong faith, and he 501 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 1: told me that there is a lot of corruption in 502 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 1: the Christian music industry. So that answers that question, do 503 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 1: you want to get into that actual industry and try 504 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: to excel Christian songs? So there's a lot of corruption 505 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: in that gosh, I hate that for those people. But 506 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: he told me, my friend, that he would rather be 507 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 1: try to be a light in a dark place than 508 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 1: to just go straight into the people that are expecting 509 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: you to hear that. I don't really think that's your question, Beth. 510 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: You're asking more me on my platform right now. Will 511 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: I ever sing Christian music and record Christian music? I 512 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: think I would say yes. I would say I can, 513 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: probably more so now in my life I'm more set 514 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 1: up for because writing songs for me has always been 515 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:44,480 Speaker 1: a way to express my feelings, and so now more 516 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: than ever, I think that would be a good way 517 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: to express my feelings. The true, probably the truth to 518 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 1: all this is that I don't know if I feel 519 00:31:53,520 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: worthy of representing a Christian song right now. And you 520 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 1: know I'm I'm a country singer. I love country music 521 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 1: and I have lived the life of a country singer. 522 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'm if I'm worthy yet of 523 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: representing Christian music. I don't even know if that makes 524 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: any sense. But that's that's just coming from my heart, 525 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: the first thing I think of. But all that being said, 526 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: there's no reason why I wouldn't just in my own 527 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: time as I'm writing songs, write something that expresses my 528 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 1: religious beliefs in Christianity. So I can't say when or 529 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: how or next album or is there going to be 530 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 1: a full gospel album. I've heard that question. I don't know, 531 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: But the answer, the true answer is it's not no. 532 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: The answer is not no. I just I just don't 533 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 1: know if it's in my heart to have that much 534 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: confidence in my spirituality to express it in music. But 535 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,959 Speaker 1: I do like the idea of trying my best, and 536 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: I fail constantly. Guys, I fail. I'm a failed human 537 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 1: and I think most of us could admit that. And 538 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: my prayer always is to try to be a servant 539 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: of God, to try to try to get better, to 540 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 1: try to be reborn. Every day, every morning, my prayer 541 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: is that I want to be reborn, and I want 542 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 1: to start new today in my faith and being a 543 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: servant to God. And then throughout the day I start failing, 544 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: and then I have to start over again the next day, 545 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 1: and I'm okay. I'm okay with starting over, but I 546 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:48,480 Speaker 1: just hope that I have a little bit less failures 547 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: each day, if that makes sense. Your first part of 548 00:33:54,640 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: your question, Beth to whom do you attribute attribute your wisdom? 549 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, my parents. I have to start there. I 550 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: was raised in a very I was raised in a 551 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:22,799 Speaker 1: good home parents that I'm very blessed to say that 552 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 1: I have parents that cared about me above their own ambitions. 553 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:34,680 Speaker 1: My dad, to his own detriment, My dad didn't have 554 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 1: any hobbies that didn't include his three boys or his wife. 555 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 1: And we were always like, Dad, you know, save some 556 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:50,880 Speaker 1: money and get like a motorcycle. You know, you always 557 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:53,799 Speaker 1: see these old guys on motorcycles and Harley's like, there's 558 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 1: gotta be something fun of that. Dad, Once you get 559 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 1: like an old Harley and just drive it through the 560 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: Texas hill country and just free your mind. And he 561 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:04,399 Speaker 1: would always be like, why would I do something like that? Oh? 562 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:07,400 Speaker 1: Why would What am I going to do with the motorcycle? Granger? 563 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: Because the truth is he put his family ahead of 564 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:15,040 Speaker 1: himself and ahead of his own wishes and ahead of 565 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:19,879 Speaker 1: his own ambitions or hobbies or whatever. He always put 566 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:24,839 Speaker 1: his family in front of that, and huge blessing that 567 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: was to us. A little bit of I think maybe 568 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 1: I wish I still wish that he would have, you know, 569 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:32,919 Speaker 1: he passed away but I could still wish he would 570 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:35,879 Speaker 1: have gotten some kind of hobby other than his three 571 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 1: boys and wife. But my dad was a very wise man, 572 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: and perhaps what I miss about him the most is 573 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:47,600 Speaker 1: getting his advice on stuff, because I could call him 574 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:51,320 Speaker 1: at any time and just say, Dad, I got problem, 575 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:55,360 Speaker 1: I got a dilemma, or Dad, I got something to celebrate. 576 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 1: But he was always my first call, and I still 577 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 1: feel every once in a while, I still feel that 578 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:05,200 Speaker 1: little two second urge to pull out my phone and 579 00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: call him, and it could be something really good, or 580 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 1: it could be a dilemma I'm in and I feel 581 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:14,840 Speaker 1: that I better call Dad, and I remember he's not 582 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 1: going to answer. But I still have his phone on 583 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 1: my speed dial. It's funny, like on my favorites on 584 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 1: my iPhone, I still have his number. And there have 585 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 1: been a couple of times I accidentally butt dialed him 586 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,440 Speaker 1: and it's of course, it's somebody else now. And I 587 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:33,360 Speaker 1: remember the first time that happened. I realized and I 588 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 1: hung up real quick, and then that person kept calling 589 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 1: me back to see who I was, and so my 590 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 1: phone would light up and it would say Dad, you 591 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 1: know lighting up. I was like, oh, my God's torturing myself. 592 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 1: But I would attribute any wisdom you hear from me, 593 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:52,960 Speaker 1: it goes that comes from him, from long talks I 594 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:57,000 Speaker 1: had with him, endless discussions, And I would like to 595 00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:00,520 Speaker 1: think that now that after he's gone, I would like 596 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:03,759 Speaker 1: to think that I've I got enough questions with him 597 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:08,799 Speaker 1: that even I want to ask him, I know what 598 00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:11,680 Speaker 1: his answer would be. I know him that well that 599 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:15,520 Speaker 1: I already know what he would say whatever I asked him. 600 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,719 Speaker 1: That doesn't make me feel better about it, but that's 601 00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: the truth and the best I could do with all 602 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: this has passed that on that stuff on to Lincoln 603 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:33,120 Speaker 1: in London, and I like to have these deeper conversations 604 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,319 Speaker 1: through life, like for instance, last night, Lincoln and I 605 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:38,879 Speaker 1: were watching We've been watching Rocky. We've watched Rocky one, 606 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 1: Rocky two, and then started watching Rocky three last night, 607 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:48,279 Speaker 1: consecutive nights. I love Rocky, by the way, gosh. But 608 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 1: Lincoln looked at me and he said, Daddy, I don't 609 00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:55,320 Speaker 1: ever want to be a boxer. I said why, He said, 610 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:58,800 Speaker 1: because you get hurt too much. And then there's that moment, 611 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:01,440 Speaker 1: like that dad moment that comes over me and I 612 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:03,600 Speaker 1: think about my dad and I think about this moment. 613 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:06,320 Speaker 1: He's looking at me and he needs he needs something, 614 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 1: because that's the obvious. It's an obvious statement. You know, 615 00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:11,839 Speaker 1: I don't want to be a boxer because I don't 616 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:14,640 Speaker 1: want to get hurt. And so if just like Lincoln, 617 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 1: sometimes in life there's things that are more important than 618 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:25,560 Speaker 1: getting hurt. Pain is temporary, and some things are more 619 00:38:25,600 --> 00:38:31,239 Speaker 1: important that you're passionate about that outweigh getting hurt. And 620 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 1: he's like, yeah, and I'm just thinking, I'll hope that 621 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:38,319 Speaker 1: sings in. I know he's only six years old, but man, 622 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:41,319 Speaker 1: what a what an important thing that he brought up 623 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:45,560 Speaker 1: to me, that he's you have to overcome pain, and 624 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:47,880 Speaker 1: it's not just physical pain. But when you get older. 625 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:49,319 Speaker 1: I didn't tell him this, but when you get older, 626 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:51,480 Speaker 1: there's a lot of there's a lot more pain than 627 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:54,960 Speaker 1: just getting your eyes punched by another boxer, and you 628 00:38:55,040 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 1: got to move on because other things are more important. Question, bet, 629 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:06,399 Speaker 1: thank you, let me do the magic scroll. Here here 630 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 1: we go, Sean Lynch, what's up, buddy, Thank you for 631 00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:16,560 Speaker 1: the email. He says, Hey, y'all, I'm a big fan 632 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:20,000 Speaker 1: of all that you stand for. My name is Sean Lynch. 633 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,799 Speaker 1: I'm from Detroit, Michigan, now living in Alma, Kansas. I'm 634 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:29,440 Speaker 1: a disabled veteran. Thank you for your service, Sean. The 635 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:34,359 Speaker 1: book is The Good Soldiers by David Finkel and a 636 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:36,400 Speaker 1: few more, plus a movie Thank You for Your Service. 637 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:41,680 Speaker 1: It's all my employment. Might excuse me my deployment. I 638 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:45,360 Speaker 1: was also recently baptized at the church that Duck Commander 639 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:48,240 Speaker 1: goes to, and I've been raising both of my kids 640 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:53,320 Speaker 1: Christian values. My wife has been Christian, but a foster 641 00:39:53,480 --> 00:40:00,399 Speaker 1: parent raped her and gosh, so she has PTSD that 642 00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:03,600 Speaker 1: and sees all the pastors and churches as horrible people. 643 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:05,960 Speaker 1: We don't go to church because my views that all 644 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 1: churches here in Kansas hold the hold that the communion 645 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:15,719 Speaker 1: for is for only for members, and I see that 646 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:20,040 Speaker 1: God's I see that it is God's table and anyone 647 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:22,799 Speaker 1: that anyone wants to partake in. Sorry, from my reading 648 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 1: are kind of paraphrasing. Regardless, my wife and I are 649 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:30,640 Speaker 1: not on the same page about faith. She is helping 650 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 1: raise the kids Christian, but we've been through a lot. 651 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:38,520 Speaker 1: She hates my family and I love hers. We're one 652 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:42,720 Speaker 1: thousand miles away from our families. She has no parents. 653 00:40:42,800 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 1: They passed away when she was young. I don't know 654 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:49,000 Speaker 1: how to bring her closer to God to strengthen our relationship. 655 00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:53,080 Speaker 1: I fear she's stealing and looking for an escape from 656 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:58,719 Speaker 1: our marriage. She's just not. She's getting mean and forceful, 657 00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 1: and this is my second and I want to save it. 658 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:07,520 Speaker 1: But she disrespects me and my parents and her step son, 659 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:11,279 Speaker 1: my son and her step son. I desperately need to 660 00:41:11,360 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: save my family as I know, Jesus is coming back 661 00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 1: and I need all of us to be ready every day. 662 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:19,440 Speaker 1: How can I find an avenue to help bring my 663 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 1: wife closer to God? I hope you get this. Thanks 664 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 1: for a little bit of your time. God blessed Sean Lynch. 665 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:33,759 Speaker 1: How did I end up? How did I end up 666 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:36,800 Speaker 1: as a country singer? That gets that kind of question? 667 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:42,359 Speaker 1: But I'm gonna take it because I opened this up. 668 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:44,680 Speaker 1: You know, I open this podcast up for you guys, 669 00:41:45,560 --> 00:41:47,919 Speaker 1: and I will take any question you ever want to ask. 670 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:55,800 Speaker 1: But I wonder, Sean, why you think I'm qualified to 671 00:41:56,200 --> 00:42:06,520 Speaker 1: get into that. Being said, I'm gonna dive in. Sean 672 00:42:07,239 --> 00:42:12,879 Speaker 1: once again, thank you for your service. You're a disabled vet. 673 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:19,319 Speaker 1: You've been through things that I cannot understand. And all 674 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:24,000 Speaker 1: I could say to that is because of people like you, 675 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:29,919 Speaker 1: you allow me to have a job that I love 676 00:42:30,120 --> 00:42:37,120 Speaker 1: in country music and have this podcast, and you represent 677 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:41,279 Speaker 1: the freedom that I get to then exploit and be 678 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:46,640 Speaker 1: protected with my family. I'll start with that, Thank you 679 00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 1: for that. It sounds like you are in a tough, 680 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:56,640 Speaker 1: really tough spot. Not only are you a disabled VET 681 00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:59,680 Speaker 1: who I'm sure is dealing with your own demons. You 682 00:42:59,719 --> 00:43:06,800 Speaker 1: say wife has PTSD from being raped by a foster parent, 683 00:43:09,239 --> 00:43:14,800 Speaker 1: and she now sees pastors and churches as horrible people, 684 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:22,040 Speaker 1: and now you don't go to church, and you believe 685 00:43:22,080 --> 00:43:25,760 Speaker 1: that you should still raise your kids in a Christian household. 686 00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:29,480 Speaker 1: She hates your family, you love hers. You're a thousand 687 00:43:29,520 --> 00:43:33,839 Speaker 1: miles away. She has no real parents, they passed away 688 00:43:33,840 --> 00:43:36,680 Speaker 1: when she was young. You don't know how to bring 689 00:43:36,680 --> 00:43:40,360 Speaker 1: her closer to God, to strengthen your relationship with her together, 690 00:43:40,880 --> 00:43:43,680 Speaker 1: and you fear that she's stealing and looking for an 691 00:43:43,840 --> 00:43:51,360 Speaker 1: escape from marriage. She's getting forceful and mean, and maybe 692 00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:56,840 Speaker 1: the worst part of this whole thing is that she's 693 00:43:56,960 --> 00:44:07,480 Speaker 1: poorly treating your son, her stepson. Man, Dude, I don't 694 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:12,440 Speaker 1: have it. I'm not qualified but here's what I think. 695 00:44:13,520 --> 00:44:25,440 Speaker 1: Your number one priority is your son. You will protect 696 00:44:25,480 --> 00:44:33,560 Speaker 1: him and his upbringing at all costs. And I say 697 00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:38,480 Speaker 1: that because it's not her biological son. If this was both, 698 00:44:38,680 --> 00:44:40,640 Speaker 1: if this was both of y'all's child, that was a 699 00:44:40,680 --> 00:44:46,319 Speaker 1: different story. But this is your son from a different marriage. 700 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:52,400 Speaker 1: And if you feel like this is detrimental to his 701 00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:57,400 Speaker 1: upbringing to be around a woman with PTSD from a 702 00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:00,880 Speaker 1: formal rape former rape that hates churches and hates pastors 703 00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:05,480 Speaker 1: and is possibly stealing and hates your family and is 704 00:45:05,560 --> 00:45:14,120 Speaker 1: disrespecting your son, I believe. And it's hard for me 705 00:45:14,160 --> 00:45:17,080 Speaker 1: to say this kind of stuff because I know that 706 00:45:17,120 --> 00:45:19,760 Speaker 1: I'm because because of this podcast and because I'm a singer, 707 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:21,880 Speaker 1: I have this little platform, and I don't want it 708 00:45:21,920 --> 00:45:25,759 Speaker 1: to be taken like I am the ultimate authority. But 709 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:32,680 Speaker 1: I think I think it's time two with that. Without 710 00:45:32,719 --> 00:45:34,759 Speaker 1: having it, You've got to have a serious conversation with her. 711 00:45:34,840 --> 00:45:39,799 Speaker 1: We'll start with that, and there is an ultimatum that's 712 00:45:39,840 --> 00:45:45,000 Speaker 1: got to be involved, and it goes something like this, Babe, 713 00:45:46,040 --> 00:45:50,000 Speaker 1: I love you. That's why I married you. I see 714 00:45:50,040 --> 00:45:55,120 Speaker 1: the good in you. I believe in marriage. I believe 715 00:45:56,080 --> 00:46:01,880 Speaker 1: from my faith that a couple is united under God, 716 00:46:03,160 --> 00:46:12,279 Speaker 1: that the marriage is sacred, and I love you. I 717 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:16,520 Speaker 1: would want nothing more than this to work out forever 718 00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:20,239 Speaker 1: me and you. That's why I'm with you, That's why 719 00:46:20,280 --> 00:46:26,960 Speaker 1: I've chosen you, and that's why I trust you. But 720 00:46:29,360 --> 00:46:32,200 Speaker 1: I have a limit, and that starts with my son, 721 00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:38,080 Speaker 1: who is my flesh and blood. And I'm here on 722 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:41,799 Speaker 1: this earth to make sure that he is brought up right, 723 00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:46,000 Speaker 1: that he is, that he has brought up with the 724 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:49,360 Speaker 1: values that I believe in with all my heart, and 725 00:46:49,440 --> 00:46:54,600 Speaker 1: a loving home where he's getting the right influence from 726 00:46:54,640 --> 00:47:01,400 Speaker 1: the adults that immediately influence him. And I'm worried that 727 00:47:01,480 --> 00:47:04,759 Speaker 1: this is going in the wrong direction and could possibly 728 00:47:05,920 --> 00:47:09,640 Speaker 1: mess him up. And because of that, I need to 729 00:47:09,680 --> 00:47:13,279 Speaker 1: know from you, right here, right now, if I could 730 00:47:13,280 --> 00:47:19,920 Speaker 1: trust you, if the love is mutual between us, if 731 00:47:19,920 --> 00:47:22,640 Speaker 1: we could work on finding a church that we could 732 00:47:22,640 --> 00:47:25,759 Speaker 1: both be involved in, if I could help you in 733 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:31,239 Speaker 1: any way get over the demons of your past. I 734 00:47:31,239 --> 00:47:34,719 Speaker 1: will drive you all the way across the country to 735 00:47:34,840 --> 00:47:37,719 Speaker 1: find some kind of treatment, to find someone that could 736 00:47:37,719 --> 00:47:41,040 Speaker 1: help talk about this with you. And I'm willing to 737 00:47:41,080 --> 00:47:45,880 Speaker 1: commit everything to getting you better, But if you can't, 738 00:47:46,719 --> 00:47:49,799 Speaker 1: and if you refuse, then me and my son have 739 00:47:49,880 --> 00:47:53,279 Speaker 1: to walk away. And please don't make me do that, 740 00:47:53,280 --> 00:47:56,040 Speaker 1: because I don't want to. But we're going to walk 741 00:47:56,080 --> 00:48:00,640 Speaker 1: away out of love for my son and of love 742 00:48:00,719 --> 00:48:03,239 Speaker 1: for you. That needs to get better and you're obviously 743 00:48:03,320 --> 00:48:06,239 Speaker 1: not getting better with me, and maybe it is me. 744 00:48:06,640 --> 00:48:09,480 Speaker 1: Maybe I'm bringing out the worst in you, and God forbid, 745 00:48:10,040 --> 00:48:11,680 Speaker 1: that's the last thing I want to do is bring 746 00:48:11,719 --> 00:48:17,160 Speaker 1: out the worst in you. So then boom seohn. It's 747 00:48:17,160 --> 00:48:22,920 Speaker 1: in her court and her answer will mean everything. What 748 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:27,040 Speaker 1: she says at that point will mean everything. And here's 749 00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:31,920 Speaker 1: the key. Whatever her answer is, you gotta go with that. 750 00:48:33,400 --> 00:48:38,600 Speaker 1: And if she says I don't think I can, then 751 00:48:38,640 --> 00:48:40,520 Speaker 1: you got to. You gotta take the step, and you 752 00:48:40,520 --> 00:48:45,040 Speaker 1: gotta get out. You gotta walk away for the sake 753 00:48:45,239 --> 00:48:48,680 Speaker 1: of your son. If anything else is for the sake 754 00:48:48,719 --> 00:48:51,960 Speaker 1: of your son. And if that wasn't involved, if you 755 00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:54,640 Speaker 1: didn't even mention that in the last paragraph of your question, 756 00:48:55,560 --> 00:49:00,279 Speaker 1: I probably would have said a different answer. And I 757 00:49:00,320 --> 00:49:05,160 Speaker 1: hate that I'm even advocating divorce here, but but there 758 00:49:05,200 --> 00:49:09,719 Speaker 1: is a limit. And before you take anything I say, 759 00:49:10,520 --> 00:49:14,960 Speaker 1: and before you listen to any of this. You stop 760 00:49:15,040 --> 00:49:18,200 Speaker 1: this podcast right now, and I would hit you. I 761 00:49:18,239 --> 00:49:22,080 Speaker 1: would hit my knees and say, God, here it is 762 00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:27,160 Speaker 1: your God. I'm not I don't know. I didn't want 763 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:29,279 Speaker 1: to be here. I didn't want to end up here. 764 00:49:29,320 --> 00:49:31,920 Speaker 1: I didn't plan on this, But here I am. I'm 765 00:49:31,960 --> 00:49:36,080 Speaker 1: in this moment right now, flesh and blood. I'm breathing 766 00:49:36,280 --> 00:49:38,600 Speaker 1: in this moment. I need to know what to do. 767 00:49:38,680 --> 00:49:41,759 Speaker 1: What's the next step? And before you talk to her, 768 00:49:42,160 --> 00:49:48,320 Speaker 1: you say that, and then you ask God in that prayer, God, 769 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:51,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to I'm going to open up to her. 770 00:49:51,480 --> 00:49:54,760 Speaker 1: I'm going to pour everything out to her, and whatever 771 00:49:54,800 --> 00:49:58,759 Speaker 1: she says back, I pray that you you direct her 772 00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:01,400 Speaker 1: words so that I I could hear them in the 773 00:50:01,400 --> 00:50:04,040 Speaker 1: way that you need me to hear them that way, 774 00:50:04,080 --> 00:50:07,080 Speaker 1: you know. And if she starts crying and says, yes, 775 00:50:07,120 --> 00:50:10,359 Speaker 1: I need help. I love you, I'll do anything. I 776 00:50:10,400 --> 00:50:13,960 Speaker 1: love your son, then you go, okay. Next the next 777 00:50:13,960 --> 00:50:16,160 Speaker 1: step is let's get on the internet and find somebody 778 00:50:16,200 --> 00:50:19,600 Speaker 1: they can help you, and I'll be willing to do anything. 779 00:50:19,840 --> 00:50:23,560 Speaker 1: But if she says Nope, I don't want to. This 780 00:50:23,600 --> 00:50:25,600 Speaker 1: is how I feel. I'm always going to be messed up. 781 00:50:26,680 --> 00:50:29,360 Speaker 1: Then you've got to believe that's God helping you with 782 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:35,480 Speaker 1: that answer, and you got to walk out. Sean. I 783 00:50:35,560 --> 00:50:39,040 Speaker 1: appreciate you trusting me with this, and I for the 784 00:50:39,080 --> 00:50:42,000 Speaker 1: thousandths time, I want to say that I don't feel 785 00:50:42,080 --> 00:50:45,839 Speaker 1: qualified to answer something like that, but I would love 786 00:50:46,120 --> 00:50:47,840 Speaker 1: just as a buddy, me and you, Sean, in the 787 00:50:47,840 --> 00:50:50,520 Speaker 1: same room, when the same truck we're driving on the 788 00:50:50,520 --> 00:50:52,759 Speaker 1: same back road together. This is what I would tell 789 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:56,360 Speaker 1: you if you were my buddy, and because you've opened 790 00:50:56,440 --> 00:50:59,239 Speaker 1: up so much, I feel like we are friends, and 791 00:50:59,320 --> 00:51:00,759 Speaker 1: this is what I would tak I'm a best friend. 792 00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:03,880 Speaker 1: That's all it is. Take it with a grain of salt. 793 00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:09,600 Speaker 1: I don't really want to go into another question after that. 794 00:51:10,360 --> 00:51:12,360 Speaker 1: I want to kind of let that sink in. But 795 00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:14,960 Speaker 1: I have so many more and I'm going to get 796 00:51:14,960 --> 00:51:17,480 Speaker 1: to these. If you didn't hear yours, I probably still 797 00:51:17,480 --> 00:51:19,960 Speaker 1: have it in my queue here on this email, but 798 00:51:20,560 --> 00:51:24,880 Speaker 1: that email is Granger Smith Podcast at gmail dot com. Man, 799 00:51:24,920 --> 00:51:27,479 Speaker 1: I appreciate you guys so much. Thank you for being 800 00:51:27,480 --> 00:51:31,399 Speaker 1: a part of this and for being so engaged. I'm 801 00:51:31,440 --> 00:51:33,279 Speaker 1: just grateful for this platform that we even get an 802 00:51:33,280 --> 00:51:37,919 Speaker 1: opportunity to sit here and talk so many states away, 803 00:51:37,960 --> 00:51:40,160 Speaker 1: so many miles away, and talk like we're in the 804 00:51:40,200 --> 00:51:43,080 Speaker 1: same room, just hanging out as friends. I hope to 805 00:51:43,120 --> 00:51:46,280 Speaker 1: see you guys really soon, whenever this craziness is finally 806 00:51:46,320 --> 00:51:48,200 Speaker 1: over and we're touring everywhere. We're going to be in 807 00:51:48,239 --> 00:51:53,080 Speaker 1: every city, and right now, I want to ask my 808 00:51:53,160 --> 00:51:55,920 Speaker 1: most heartfelt call to action that if you haven't, if 809 00:51:55,960 --> 00:51:58,160 Speaker 1: you haven't taken a look at Country Things, our new album, 810 00:51:58,200 --> 00:52:02,080 Speaker 1: please go check that out. It's seven ninety nine on iTunes. 811 00:52:02,600 --> 00:52:06,040 Speaker 1: That will equal fifteen hundred streams. I mean, if you 812 00:52:06,040 --> 00:52:08,520 Speaker 1: don't have seven ninety nine, you could watch it on 813 00:52:08,560 --> 00:52:10,600 Speaker 1: YouTube and it's free. We're gonna put all these songs 814 00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:13,880 Speaker 1: up on YouTube, so I understand if you don't have 815 00:52:13,880 --> 00:52:16,560 Speaker 1: seven ninety nine to spend on a record, I totally 816 00:52:16,560 --> 00:52:19,160 Speaker 1: get it. Budgets are super tight these days. I just 817 00:52:19,160 --> 00:52:21,400 Speaker 1: hope you listen to it at some point. There's a 818 00:52:21,400 --> 00:52:23,480 Speaker 1: lot of free ways to listen to it too. So 819 00:52:24,160 --> 00:52:27,160 Speaker 1: love you guys. We'll see you next Monday. Thanks for 820 00:52:27,160 --> 00:52:28,879 Speaker 1: listening to the greaterests of the podcast. Ey