1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me. Welcome to Music Saved Me, the podcast 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: where we dive deep into the transformative power of music 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: and the stories behind the artists who inspire us. And 4 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: if you're into stories of inspiration and resilience, which I 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: suspect you might be, please check out our sister podcast, 6 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: Comedy Saved Me, hosted by Yours Truly wherever you get 7 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: your podcasts. I'm your host, Lynn Hoffman, and today's episode 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: is a story of extraordinary resilience, courage, and the pursuit 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: of purpose. Joining us rising country star Scottie Hasting, an 10 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: Army veteran and singer songwriter who is a living testament 11 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 1: to the human spirit. Scotty's journey from active military service 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: on the battlefields of Afghanistan to surviving being shot ten times, 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: surviving and confronting PTSD is nothing short of remarkable, But 14 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: it's what happened after all of that that marks his 15 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: deepest transformation, picking up a guitar during the darkest days 16 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: of the pandemic to combat PTSD and discovering that music 17 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: wouldn't just be a lifeline, it would be a new 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: path forward. Since his first record deal in twenty three, 19 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,639 Speaker 1: he shared the stage with country giants like Tanya Tucker, 20 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: Jelly roll In, Chris Jansen, and he's also become a 21 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 1: proud advocate for organizations like Creative Vets and Guitars for Vets, 22 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: and as a Purple Heart recipient himself. His music carries 23 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: the weight of his story in the hope of his 24 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: message that no matter how tough things get, there's always 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: a light on the other side. Today's conversation, Scotty opens 26 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: up about songwriting, how it became his saving grace, how 27 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: sharing his story helped his fellow veterans, and what it 28 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: feels like to connect with his audiences from stage to stage, 29 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: reminding us all that sometimes music truly does save us. 30 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: So wherever you're listening, settle in for an honest and 31 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: inspiring and unforgettable episode with Scotty hasting right here on 32 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: music Saved Me. Scotty, Welcome to the show. It is 33 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: so wonderful to have you here. 34 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. 35 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me well, first and foremost, thank you 36 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,839 Speaker 1: for your service and for joining us today and your 37 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: incredible journey. I have goosebumps just thinking about it, and 38 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 1: I know we didn't plan this and it's not like 39 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: this won't live on forever, but today just happens to 40 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: be the day I get to talk to you on 41 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: National Purple Heart Day. 42 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 3: Oh wow, did you even know that I even noticed that? 43 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: It's incredible. Well, I can't wait to talk to you 44 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: all about your incredible story, starting with how you survived 45 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: and how that survival shaped your music. But first we 46 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 1: got to take a quick break and have a word 47 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: from our wonderful sponsors who pay for all of this 48 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: to be able to happen. So we'll be right back 49 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: with Scotty Hasting, Music Saved Me. Welcome back to Music 50 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: Save Me, my guest, Scotty Hasting. All right, let's talk 51 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: about your journey from serving in the army to becoming 52 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,679 Speaker 1: a musical artist, a country music artist. Can you describe 53 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: what role music played for you before four year time 54 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: in Afghanistan and then after? 55 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, it's funny. When I was I grew 56 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 3: up listening to music, I grew up singing it. But 57 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 3: music was never a thought as like a career or 58 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 3: something that I ever thought that I could do. 59 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: You know, music was just for me. It was just 60 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 2: a hobby. 61 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 3: I just I sang songs in the car or in 62 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 3: the shower. I'd never let anyone ever hear me sing. 63 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 3: It was just something for me. It was my happy place. 64 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: Did you did you know that you were a good 65 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: singer or was it just in the bathroom in the 66 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: shower like good acoustics. 67 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean my mom told me I was good once, 68 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 3: but no, I mean I would sing like karaoke and 69 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 3: stuff like. As I got older, I started singing karaoke 70 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 3: because my dad was at karaoke DJ for a while. 71 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 3: And and yeah, I mean I was always told that 72 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 3: I was, you know, good, But you know, it's hard 73 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 3: to be like, oh, well thanks, you know, some drunk 74 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 3: guy at a bar I thought I was good at karaoke. 75 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 2: It hard to be like, yeah, I'm good, you know. 76 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 2: But but now it was for me. 77 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 3: It was just it was my happy place. Was what 78 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 3: I did for me? And and yeah, I never thought 79 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 3: in a million years i'd be doing what I'm doing now. 80 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: Wow, it's pretty incredible. And it's only been a few 81 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: short years. I know that you've spoken openly and in 82 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: vivid detail about surviving being shot, and not just shot, 83 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: but like ten times at point blank range. I mean, 84 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: you were looking into your shooter's eyes. And it will 85 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,840 Speaker 1: also deal dealt a lot with PTSD which followed, and 86 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: I'm very familiar with that. My dad was in the 87 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: military as well, so he suffered greatly with that. How 88 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: did those experience shape your musical voice and basically your 89 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: purpose moving forward? 90 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I think it shaped my musical voice 91 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 3: in the sense that it was therapy for me. 92 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: You know, I started all of this as just a 93 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: form of therapy. 94 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 3: Learned how to play the guitar, learned how to write music, 95 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 3: and the music that came out, it was just therapeutic. 96 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 3: It was what I needed before the cover flowed. And 97 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 3: it's amazing because I remember going to my first show 98 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 3: ever and I played the first song I've learned how 99 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 3: to play, which should have been Cowboy. And I was 100 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 3: at an open mic night and Cookeville, Tennessee, out in 101 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 3: the middle of nowhere at Red Salard Brewing Company, and 102 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 3: I was just like, you know, I'm just gonna go 103 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 3: up there and play and see what happens. And I 104 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: and I remember playing that song and I remember feeling 105 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 3: like this is what I need to do forever. It 106 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 3: was like in that moment, like the stage became my sanctuary, 107 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 3: and it was it was my place where I could 108 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,799 Speaker 3: escape and live in a moment away from the PTSD, 109 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 3: the depression, of the anxiety, all of that stuff, and 110 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 3: it was and for me, that's all it was. 111 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: That's all. That's all I wanted music for was to 112 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: be therapy. That was it. 113 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 3: And and then I started writing songs for myself as therapy. 114 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 3: And then I started playing those songs out and I 115 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 3: started realizing that veterans were and other people who were 116 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 3: struggling were connecting with these songs. And I was like, well, 117 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 3: hold on, like I might be able to do some 118 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 3: good with this, Like let me hold on, so. 119 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 2: Like, let me let me do like I remember going. 120 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 3: I played for one of the first shows I ever 121 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 3: played for veteran nonprofit was for Creativets and it was 122 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 3: in Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona before the Super Bowl, when I 123 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 3: was opening for Dave Grohl, and there was like two 124 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 3: hundred veterans in this room and I was like, I 125 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 3: was so scared. 126 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 2: I was nervous. 127 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 3: I wasn't It was like the first time I'd ever 128 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 3: truly been by myself in a big show. And I 129 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 3: remember playing a song about my Survivor's guilt. It's called 130 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 3: how Do You Choose. It's a song about my best 131 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 3: friend being killed, and it's something I struggle with every 132 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 3: day still to this day. It's something I struggle with. 133 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 3: Survivor's guilt is there. It's always going to be there. 134 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 3: And I remember playing it and it was the first 135 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 3: time that I ever played a song and no one 136 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 3: clapped after and I was like, oh my god. 137 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: They hated it. 138 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 3: They hated it, like I just poured my heart, my 139 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 3: soul into this. They hated this song. And then I 140 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 3: looked around the room and I realized that everyone was 141 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 3: kind of consoling each other, and they were consoling each other. 142 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 3: And then after that, I started getting messages from all 143 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 3: these people, and then they came up to me and 144 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 3: they started talking to me and talking about how like 145 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 3: how I was giving them a voice when they didn't 146 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 3: know what to say, and all this sudden and I 147 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 3: was like like, like I like I could I could 148 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 3: help people with what I'm doing, Like I want to 149 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 3: do that, Like I want to help Like this is 150 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 3: like getting the messages that I get and all that stuff, 151 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 3: like that's what this is all about. I never came 152 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: into music, thinking, you know, this is going to be 153 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 3: a career for me, and I'm going to make a 154 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 3: buttload of money and I'm going to be super famous. 155 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: Like no, for me, it was it became a mission, 156 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 3: and it became a way for me to help people. 157 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 3: And that's in a way for me to help myself 158 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 3: honestly as well, and and that's all it will ever 159 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 3: be for me. 160 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: I find it hard to believe that you are scared 161 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: of anything after everything that you went through. 162 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: Well, you know, it's funny. It's funny. 163 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 3: I get a questions all the time about, man, are 164 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 3: you nervous about to go on stage? You're nervous, And 165 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: I'm like, well, no one's shooting at me today, you know, 166 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 3: so right, But. 167 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: But no, I mean I think a little bit of 168 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 2: nerves is good. 169 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 3: I think it means that it means something to you, 170 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: you know, I think that it's important. 171 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: But yeah, it was. 172 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 3: It was the first like big stage I've ever been 173 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 3: on and it was just me by myself with my guitar, 174 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 3: so it was it was definitely nerve wracking for sure. 175 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: I bet it was. You know, I want to I 176 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: want to start this next question off with one of 177 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: your quotes. You were quoted as saying, for me, the 178 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: demons of PTSD knock the loudest when it's quiet, and 179 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: when I have my guitar in my hands, I find peace. 180 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: At what point did you realize that music was more 181 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: than a hobby and therapy? And if you already said that, 182 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: forgive me for asking again. But can you also describe 183 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: that moment when you picked up the guitar during the 184 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: pandemic and how that changed your whole path of existence? 185 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent. 186 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 3: So before the pandemic, I was shooting archery with the 187 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 3: US Paralympic program. I traveled all over the country. I 188 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 3: represented the United States for me shooting archery. Seven seconds 189 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 3: before I released that era, nothing in the world matter 190 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 3: PTSD depression. It all disappeared for those seven seconds. And 191 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 3: I lived for those seven seconds. And then COVID happened 192 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 3: in the world shut down, and my escape in my 193 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 3: way to deal got taken away, and I was struggling. 194 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 3: I was struggling really bad. I started going into a 195 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 3: very dark place. And yeah, and you know, like I said, 196 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 3: the demon's not the loudest when it gets quiet, and 197 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 3: COVID was very quiet, and I needed something. I needed 198 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 3: something to focus on and needed something to get out 199 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:18,839 Speaker 3: of my head. 200 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: And I had a guitar in. 201 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 3: A corner of my room and one day I was like, 202 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna I'm going to learn how to do this, 203 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 3: Like I'm going to figure out how to play this thing. 204 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 3: Like I've you know, ever since Walter Reed, I've never 205 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 3: let anything stop me from doing something, a matter of 206 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 3: my injury or whatever, like I'm just going to try it. 207 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 2: Who knows. 208 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 3: And I jumped on YouTube and I started learning how 209 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 3: to play the guitar, and it was like that escape 210 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 3: was back again, you know. I was able to I 211 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 3: was able to just focus on one thing, and I 212 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 3: spent every day playing that and learning how. 213 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 2: To play the guitar. 214 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 3: And then I went from there to Okay, well, now 215 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 3: I have this escape and I have I have this 216 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 3: ability to get away from everything, but I still have 217 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 3: all these feelings and emotions that are bottled up, like 218 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 3: I need to find a way to get these output 219 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 3: them somewhere. I need to figure out a way to 220 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 3: do this. And so then I started learning how to 221 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 3: write songs. I jumped on YouTube and I started learning 222 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 3: how songs are structured. And I started learning how it 223 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 3: goes from a verse to a chorus to a bridge, 224 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 3: to how. 225 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 2: It all comes together and becomes one thing. 226 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 3: And then I started writing songs for myself, just so 227 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 3: I could get the things that I was dealing with 228 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 3: out of myself and put them somewhere else. And and then, 229 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 3: you know, that's what I did for the longest time 230 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 3: while COVID was happening, that that was my way of 231 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 3: dealing with the demons that I was dealing with. And then, 232 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 3: you know, slowly the world started opening up again. 233 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: And that's when I went. 234 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 3: Out to cook Wiltonnessee, the Red Salad Brewing Company, and 235 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 3: I the moment that I knew that I was that 236 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 3: I wanted to do this was forever. Was that day 237 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 3: I went and I put my name on a list, 238 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 3: and that opened my night, just said why not, it's funny. 239 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: I went out there, I. 240 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 3: Put money on the list, and I was like, man, 241 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 3: I don't know if I want to do this, Like 242 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 3: there's gonna be a lot of people there, whatever. And 243 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 3: I got up on stage and there were four people 244 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 3: up there. There were four people out. 245 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 2: This out in the in the audience. Yeah, I was like, 246 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 2: good for you. 247 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 3: It was during COVID, so like everyone was like six 248 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 3: and I was like, man, I've made a full out 249 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 3: of myself in front of way more than four people, 250 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 3: so like. 251 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 2: Why not, why not going for it? 252 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 4: Yeah? 253 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 2: So I went I played should Have Been a Cowboy? 254 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 2: And in that moment, it was like. 255 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 3: That escape, that that purpose, that that drive, it was there, 256 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 3: but it was magnified a hundred times, and I knew 257 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 3: that that's that, this is what I need to do forever. 258 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 3: In that moment, the stage truly became my sanctuary. And 259 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 3: and you know, for I went from seven seconds at 260 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 3: a time to be able to nothing else matter in 261 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 3: the world, to now three minutes at a time where 262 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 3: nothing else in the world mattered, to then you know, 263 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 3: slowly the world started opening up. 264 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 2: And I went down to Nashville and. 265 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 3: Broadway and learned that you can play three or four 266 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 3: hours at a time while you're down on Broadway. And 267 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 3: I was like, well, you're telling me three or four 268 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 3: hours a day, I can disappear from all of the 269 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 3: stuff that I deal with, Like I want to do that. 270 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: Hell, could you put a can you put an apartment 271 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: in the back of this place, because I'm going to live. 272 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 3: Here, there's anywhere I could stay, like on the roof 273 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 3: or something. 274 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 2: But yeah, so I went, you know, I went and played. 275 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 3: At one point in time, I was playing six nights 276 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 3: a week down on Broadway for three to four hours 277 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 3: a day, and and my vocal cords hated me. But 278 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 3: the therapy that I got from it was more than 279 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 3: anything I've ever experienced. And and you know, it has 280 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 3: since grown into so much more than I ever thought possible. 281 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 2: And now I have a platform where I can try. 282 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 3: To help people find something the way that I was 283 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 3: able to find music. 284 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: Wow, YouTube and focus. Yes, And I guess the only 285 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 1: thing you didn't look up was was how not to 286 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: fry your vocal cords. 287 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: No, no, I didn't. I just went for it. 288 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 1: But that's determination, and that has to come from somewhere 289 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: deep within, and especially when you're going down a dark path. 290 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: I mean, it's a slippery slope. 291 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 3: So yeah, you know, I've just I've lost a lot 292 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: of friends that have and I have kids, and I 293 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 3: didn't want to be I didn't want to be that. 294 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: I didn't want to just leave early. 295 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 3: I wanted to be able to experience my kids and 296 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 3: watch them grow up and. 297 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 2: Be there for them when they needed me. So I 298 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: needed to find something. 299 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: So you became a country superstar. It's just incredible to me. 300 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 2: I just started, I started singing songs started. 301 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, but it all starts somewhere. You know, in this 302 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: songwriting process for you, can you share how writing a 303 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 1: song helps you process these difficult emotions? 304 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 2: Yeah? You know. 305 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 3: When I first started, it was just a way for 306 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 3: me to get emotions and feelings out and put them 307 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 3: somewhere else. 308 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 2: You know, it was it. 309 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 3: Wasn't you know a lot of those songs don't make 310 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: any sense, and they're not even really songs. 311 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 2: It was just like word vomit that I needed to 312 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 2: get out. 313 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 3: And and now they live in this notebook and that 314 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 3: that's where they stay. They live here like that's that's 315 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 3: this is where it belongs now. And you know that 316 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 3: for me, that was that was huge. You know, I 317 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: was able to take to take all the things that 318 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,079 Speaker 3: were eat me alive and put them somewhere else. 319 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 2: And and you know. 320 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 3: Now that I've gotten a little bit better songwriting, I 321 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 3: you know, now I can kind of. 322 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 2: Make sense more of the emotions and. 323 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 3: And honestly, like songwriting has given me the opportunity to 324 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 3: really to really focus on the emotions that I'm feeling 325 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 3: and to really think about them and talk about them. 326 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 3: And you know, before I just put them in a 327 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 3: box and just hope that that box doesn't ever bust open. 328 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 2: And now I'm able. 329 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 3: To talk about them and think about them and put 330 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: them somewhere and find a way to make it connect 331 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 3: with people. And and it's it's it's truly taking you know, 332 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 3: the trauma and the things that I deal with and 333 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 3: flipping it and trying to make it something that means something. 334 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 4: We'll be right back with more of the Music Save 335 00:14:53,800 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 4: Me Podcast. Welcome back to the Music Saved Me Podcast. 336 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: I don't know how deeply you are able to speak 337 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: of the situation you came out of. I have seen 338 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: you speak of it, but I just I can't stress 339 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: enough to our listeners what a turnaround your life is, 340 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: because literally you were pretty much gone, and I was 341 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: wondering if you could, in a short amount of time 342 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: kind of give an example of where you can. And 343 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: then also, can you just tell me did you ever 344 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: find out who that woman was that whispered to you? 345 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 2: And I have no idea. 346 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: Okay, well, no one knows what I'm talking about but 347 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: I figured i'd leave you in wild. 348 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 2: But yeah, I'll talk a little bit for sure. I 349 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 2: have no problem talking about it. 350 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 3: I think it's important for people to hear it because 351 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 3: maybe it can help somebody. Twenty first, twenty eleven, I 352 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 3: was shot ten times in Afghanistan. Everyone always asked, so 353 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 3: I got to say it five times I'm short or 354 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 3: four times and hit once in a. 355 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 2: Thigh and. 356 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 3: I had lost so much blood at one point in 357 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: time that my eyesight shut down. 358 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 2: You know. For me, I think that that's you know, 359 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 2: it was kind of like a white film. 360 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 3: And for me, the way that I think about it 361 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 3: now is like when people say, man. 362 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 2: I see the light, Like that's what I associate with that. 363 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 3: But somehow I pushed and I pushed and I didn't 364 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: give up it. I remember feeling how easy it would 365 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 3: have been to just kind of slip off and just 366 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 3: let go, but I was not going to do that. 367 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 3: I pushed and pushed and fought until I got the 368 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 3: Candahart Airfield. When we got into the can Hear airfield, 369 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 3: that's when they started. They hooked me up to blood 370 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 3: immediately and started pumping blood into my system while they're 371 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 3: trying to patch up holes and stuff like that, and I, yeah, 372 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 3: like you said, my eyes I started coming back and 373 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 3: I heard a lady bend down and say, hey, it's 374 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: okay for you to let go, it's okay for you 375 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 3: to go to sleep. It's okay, it will be fine. 376 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 3: We have you, and I passed out. I woke up 377 00:16:56,120 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 3: a couple of days later, and yeah, you know it, 378 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 3: it's crazy because, like like you said, I mean I 379 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 3: found out a couple of years later that there wasn't 380 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 3: a woman in that room when they were initially doing 381 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 3: the trauma like that, when they were initially doing the 382 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 3: emergency trauma procedures on me, there was not a woman 383 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 3: in that room. 384 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 2: So whoever that was, I. 385 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 3: Have no idea, but it's crazy and it still gives 386 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 3: me goosebumps to think about you. 387 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: When I heard about it the first time, I was like, 388 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: I have to share this because I mean it truly, 389 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: it's you know, to go from that to battle, just 390 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: to get your life normal again, just to walk, And 391 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't even know how you hold a 392 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: guitar being shot that many times in your own. 393 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you know, thank God for guitar straps because 394 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 3: like that. But you know, it was, Yeah, it was hard. 395 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 3: It was a crazy hard ride, and honestly it's still 396 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 3: kind of is. 397 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 2: You know. I mean, it never, you know, it never. 398 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 2: You never stopped trying to heal, you know, And I 399 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 2: think that that's that's the most important part out of 400 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 2: all of it, is that you never stopped trying to heal. 401 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 2: You know. 402 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 3: I feel like when you stop trying, that's when when 403 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 3: the bad things, when that wins. And you know, it was, 404 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 3: you know, learning how to walk again, learning how to 405 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 3: write and do everything left handed because I was originally 406 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 3: right handed. 407 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 2: Like, oh wow, that was that was that was rough. 408 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: You're incredible, Scottie. 409 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 2: Well, thank you, Yeah, it was. 410 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 3: It was so I felt it was crazy in the 411 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 3: moment because I remember my my son at the time 412 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 3: had a children's book where he was learning how to write, 413 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 3: like he had to like outline like letters and stuff, 414 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 3: and I had to do that with my left hand. 415 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 3: So we were both working on the same children's book 416 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 3: trying to learn how to write. 417 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 2: It was crazy. 418 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: That's a great bonding moment though, for sure. 419 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 3: But it was, you know, it was, it was rough, 420 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 3: It was hard, and it still is I mean, I 421 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 3: still have days where, you know, that are so much 422 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 3: harder than others, and and a lot of times that's 423 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 3: where I'm able to just grab a guitar and kind 424 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,360 Speaker 3: of escape for a second. And you know, and I'm 425 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 3: blessed that I have that outlet. You know, I've been 426 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 3: lucky enough and blessed enough my whole time, ever since 427 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 3: getting injured, that I've had some type of outlet. There's 428 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 3: a lot of people who don't, and and and that's 429 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 3: that's terrifying. 430 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,400 Speaker 1: Well, and that's where music comes in, which is why 431 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: we're even talking about this right now, because it is 432 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: so powerful. It allows you to focus, and there's so 433 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: many aspects of why it can be helpful to pull 434 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: us out of those moments where we could just you know, 435 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: hit the check out and say goodbye. And it's you've 436 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 1: become really active al so in supporting fellow veterans dealing 437 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: with mental health struggles, I understand, and I want to 438 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: know why this mission for you is so important and 439 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: so personal. 440 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 3: Obviously, like I said, I've lost too many friends. I've 441 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 3: lost too many of the greatest people I've ever known, 442 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 3: and just with something that you know, with the struggles 443 00:19:57,880 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 3: that we do with here. I've lost more people here 444 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 3: than and I ever did in Afghanistan. And that's that's awful, 445 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 3: Like that is, that's that shouldn't it shouldn't. 446 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: Be that way. 447 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 3: And honestly, my mission of my purpose is to try 448 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 3: to get rid of that number as much as possible. 449 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 3: I mean, if I can, if I can help one 450 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 3: person decide to try tomorrow, then I've done more in. 451 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 2: This industry than I could have ever imagined. Like that's 452 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 2: that's all I care about. 453 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: What message do you hope other veterans and listeners who 454 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 1: are struggling, who aren't veterans, just with with mental health. 455 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: What do you hope that they take away from your 456 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: story and your journey? 457 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 3: You know, I hope that they see that there's hope 458 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 3: that that you don't have to be defined by what happened, 459 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 3: but you don't have to be defined by the bad, 460 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 3: but rather be defined by what you do with it. 461 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 3: You know, I never you know, there's there were so 462 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 3: many times when I could have just given up, and 463 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 3: I could have just said I don't I don't want 464 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 3: to do this. 465 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 2: I could I could be sitting on my cap right 466 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 2: now feeling sorry. 467 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,479 Speaker 3: For myself and and just in a really bad place. 468 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 3: But you know, I think it's in it's important to 469 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 3: push forward and keep going. You know, there's there's so 470 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 3: much to live for, and there's so many incredible things 471 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 3: out here and and yeah, man, and the world is 472 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 3: better with them in it, with you in it. And 473 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 3: and I think that that's hopefully that that's what people 474 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 3: take from me and from my story, is that, you know, 475 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 3: some type of hope, you know. I mean, I never 476 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 3: in a million years thought that I would be where 477 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 3: I am, And I hope that that. 478 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 2: Shows other people that they can literally do anything. 479 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 3: If I can be up there playing guitar and singing 480 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 3: songs and on some of these stages that I'm on, 481 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 3: literally anyone can do anything. There's always you can find 482 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 3: it on YouTube. You can figure it out right. Yeah, 483 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,719 Speaker 3: there's you know, dream to come true every day, and 484 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 3: there's and if you if you work hard enough and 485 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 3: you push hard enough, you can make anything happen. 486 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: You know, considering your journey and your recovery and battling 487 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:57,120 Speaker 1: back all of the issues mentally that come along with it, 488 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,360 Speaker 1: can you describe what it feels like to you when 489 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: you hit the stage performing a sanctuary. What's the like 490 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: a piece or this. 491 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,479 Speaker 3: It's just yeah, it's it's a it's a piece like 492 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 3: it's it's it's insane. So there's only you know, for 493 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 3: someone who suffers from PTSD depression anxiety like it's it's 494 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 3: really hard to live in a moment and not be 495 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 3: over there and not think about my friends that are 496 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 3: that got killed and not think about you know, all 497 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 3: the bad it's it's it's very hard to find a 498 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 3: place where you can just be there. For me, there's 499 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 3: only two places that I can find that when I'm 500 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 3: on my motorcycle and as soon as I step on stage. 501 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 3: The stage has become a sanctuary for me. It is 502 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,159 Speaker 3: the place where I can truly live in a moment 503 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:46,880 Speaker 3: and enjoy that moment and just be there with whoever 504 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 3: else is there. 505 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 2: It is. It is truly one of the most magical. 506 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 3: Most incredible places that I can be, and I live 507 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 3: to for every moment that I get to be on 508 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 3: a stage. 509 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: More grateful that you are. I'm curious, can you share 510 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: a moment that maybe stands out in your mind when 511 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: you've maybe had a conversation with a fellow veteran who's 512 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: told you that your music has helped them. 513 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 3: Oh man, there's been so many, but the one that 514 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 3: really sticks with me is the one that made me 515 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 3: realize that I needed to keep doing what I was doing. 516 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 3: So it was when I opened for Dave Girl in Phoenix, Arizona. 517 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 3: There was a guy who came to the show who 518 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 3: reached out to one of my buddies. 519 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 2: We didn't realize, we didn't know that we knew each other. 520 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 3: But I played how do You Choose, the song about 521 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 3: my survivor's guilt and everything that I'm dealing with, and 522 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 3: he texted one of my buddies and news like He's like, dude, Like, 523 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 3: there's this guy that was in Phoenix. I played and 524 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 3: he played a song called how do You Choose? And 525 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 3: he said, I'm gonna be one hundred percent honest with 526 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 3: you man, Like I was going to this show because 527 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 3: I wanted to see Dave Gold go before I killed myself. 528 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 3: And he's like, but listening to Scottie like I, he 529 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 3: showed me that there's so much more And that song 530 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 3: made me underst that that I'm not. 531 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 2: The only one who suffers from this, but I'm not 532 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 2: the only one who's dealing with this and that that. 533 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 3: Moment will forever, forever live in my heart and in 534 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 3: my soul, and that is That's the one thing that 535 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 3: as soon as I saw that, as soon as I 536 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 3: heard that, I was like, I have to open my 537 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 3: chest and let people see who I am, and I 538 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 3: have to show them that I struggle and that I 539 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 3: am still successful and that I have been through the 540 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 3: worst of the worst and I'm still here and I 541 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 3: have to write music and I have to perform music 542 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 3: that means something to not only myself but other people. 543 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: Well, that that was meant to be. I mean, you 544 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: were supposed to be there that day with Dave Growl, 545 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 1: which after you have that conversation, man. 546 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 3: It was it was insane. That moment will truly live 547 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 3: with me forever. 548 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. 549 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: Wow. Well, you know something that really tickled me was 550 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: that you got to recently work with I mean, this 551 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 1: is incredible to me, your rise, but not incredible because 552 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: if your incredible skill and talent. Sorry I keep using 553 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: the word incredible all the time. But it got to 554 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: work with one of my favorite people on the planet, 555 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: Dolly Parton and Lee Brice for your rendition of that 556 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: song till the last shots fired. I'm curious, what was 557 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: it like working with them, and are there any new 558 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,400 Speaker 1: projects or songs or collaborations like that in the horizon 559 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: that you're excited about. 560 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 2: That song changed my life. That song. The first time 561 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 2: I ever heard that song, I was at Walter. 562 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 3: Reed and we were at an event and the original version, 563 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 3: tray Akins version came on. It was the first time 564 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 3: I'd ever heard that song, and it touched a part 565 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 3: of my soul and it grabbed me and I cried 566 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 3: like a baby for two hours and I couldn't stop. 567 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,399 Speaker 3: And in those two hours, I made the decision I 568 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 3: was going to live my life to the fullest, that 569 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 3: I wasn't going to let my injury. 570 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 2: Dictate my life. 571 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 3: And fast forward ten years and I'm sitting in the 572 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 3: office of one of the guys who wrote the song 573 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:52,360 Speaker 3: talking about signing a record deal, and. 574 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 2: He's like, hey, like, I put out this song with 575 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 2: Trayce Akins. 576 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 3: I don't know if you've ever heard it, like it's 577 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 3: you know, it's a song called Till Last Shots Fired 578 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 3: like and I was like, yeah, I've heard it, Like 579 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 3: I love that song, Like that song changed my life. 580 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 2: And he was like, he said, well, would you want 581 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 2: to do a version of it? 582 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 3: And I was like, yeah, man, absolutely, I want to 583 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 3: do a version of it. So we went into the 584 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 3: studio and we had and I did a version of it. 585 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 3: It was just me on it, and I put every 586 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 3: emotion in every feeling that I originally felt when I 587 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 3: heard the song into that song and I thought it 588 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 3: was perfect. 589 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,359 Speaker 2: I thought it was it was exactly what I needed 590 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:26,239 Speaker 2: when I needed it. 591 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 3: And then Doug Johnson, who was one of the writers 592 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 3: who was also my producer, is friends with Lee Brice, 593 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 3: and he's like, Hey, we're going to reach out to 594 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 3: some other artists and see if they want to be 595 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 3: a part of this, Like what do you think? And 596 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,520 Speaker 3: I said, man, send it to everybody, like let's see 597 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 3: what happened. Yeah, And Lee Brice was the first one 598 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:44,239 Speaker 3: to jump on it. He's a testament to who Lee 599 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 3: Brice is the person. He's an incredible person. He's become 600 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 3: a very dear friend of mine now, which is crazy 601 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 3: to say, but he was like, man, I don't care 602 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:54,160 Speaker 3: what part I play in the song. I just want 603 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 3: to be a part of what you're doing with this, 604 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 3: Like this is incredible. 605 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 2: I want to be a part of this. 606 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 3: And so we then we had me and Lee's version, 607 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 3: and I thought it was perfect. I was like, dude, 608 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 3: this is all I like, this is more than I 609 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 3: could have ever imagined. And then, you know, three weeks later, 610 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 3: I get a call from dougging in with the producer 611 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 3: and he said, Hey, Dolly Parton wants to be on 612 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 3: this song. 613 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 2: What do you think? 614 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 3: And I was like, Dolly, do whatever she wants, Like 615 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 3: what are you talking about? 616 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 2: What do I think? Why are you calling me? Oh? 617 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,360 Speaker 3: But yeah, And you know that that song, that song 618 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 3: changed my life. When I was at well to read it. 619 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 3: It made me decide that I wanted to live my 620 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 3: life to the fullest. It's the reason why I'm doing 621 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,359 Speaker 3: music now. And and you know, a song that changed 622 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 3: my life that I thought was perfect truly became perfect 623 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 3: when I heard Dolly's voice on it. It was It's so 624 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 3: angelic and it's absolutely beautiful. And still I probably listened 625 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 3: to that song thousands of times at this point, and I. 626 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:46,639 Speaker 2: Still get chills every time she comes on. 627 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 3: It's it is unbelievable and it's more than I could 628 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 3: have ever imagined. And as far as stuff in the works, 629 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 3: we have some stuff in the works. I can't really 630 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 3: say too much, but we asked some stuff in the 631 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 3: works with some other artists and stuff. 632 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: So okay, well, I mean, gosh, I have so many 633 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: more questions for you. But I've you know, sitting here 634 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:06,719 Speaker 1: with you thinking that I introduced you as a rising 635 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: country star. I mean, when you're on a song with 636 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: Dolly Parton, you've achieved, you know, success in music. 637 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 2: I still don't know how that happened. 638 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 1: What does success look like to you personally? And beyond? 639 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 2: Success to me is it's not wealth, it's not fame. 640 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:28,199 Speaker 2: Success to me. 641 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:33,159 Speaker 3: Is is making one person decide that they want to 642 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 3: continue tomorrow. 643 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 2: Success to me is being able to make. 644 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 3: Some headway in the twenty two a day for our veterans, 645 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 3: and success to me is being able to help somebody, anybody, 646 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 3: as much as possible. 647 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 2: That is success. 648 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: Well, that's the whole reason why we do this podcast. 649 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: So it makes total sense that we would have you 650 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: on today, and I'm so grateful. I want to let 651 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: you go, but Scottie Hasting, thank you so much for 652 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: your service again to this country, for all of these 653 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: people that you're helping every day with your music, your 654 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: story and your passion to help and inspire others. We're 655 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: so grateful to have the opportunity to have you on today. 656 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Thank you 657 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:17,720 Speaker 2: so much for having me