Count It Off!

Count It Off Ep 45 - Matt Stell Country hitmaker  Matt Stell  joins the podcast to talk about the road from small-town beginnings to landing  two #1 Billboard hits . He shares the stories behind his biggest songs, playing the Opry , the lessons learned chasing success in Nashville , and what’s next in his evolving music journey. A candid conversation about grit, growth, and staying true to your so...

Count It Off – Episode 44  welcomes acclaimed musician and composer  Tom Lieberman  for an in-depth conversation spanning a remarkable career. Tom reflects on his  ten-year tenure with  A Prairie Home Companion , shares insights from his work on  Disney’s  Bear andthe Big Blue House , and discusses the evolution of his jazz trio  Rio Nido . The episode explores the discipline, creativity, and coll...

Count It Off Ep. 43 - Jeffro checks in Hey everyone, welcome back to the show! With the holidays in full swing, I thought this was the perfect time to do a little check-in. Things are busy, a little chaotic, hopefully cozy—and I'm just taking a moment to slow down and catch up. Whether you’re wrapping gifts, traveling, or hiding out with a warm drink somewhere, we’re really glad you’re here. L...

Ep 42 - Ryan Story: "The artists that thrive can still play live." Today we’re talking with Ryan Story — LA-based pop artist, songwriter, and all-around good vibe generator. Ryan’s got a great story. He grew up on the east coast of Florida, sharpened his craft in Nashville and finally made the big leap to the bright lights of Hollywood. In this episode, we check out some of his great pop s...

EP 41: "Why isn't this guy a major star already?" This week we’re hanging out with Rusty Van Sickle and his 19-year-old son, Whitley—two generations of songwriters cut from classic country cloth. We'll hear a few great songs and explore everything from the legends that shaped Rusty’s sound to the Nashville scene today, with a special nod to Keith Whitley, young Whitley’s namesake....

Count It Off Ep 40 : Russ Pahl - steel guitar master If you’ve listened to country radio anytime in the last 25 years, odds are you’ve heard the unmistakable shimmer of Russ Pahl’s steel guitar—whether you knew it or not. Nashville may be full of pickers, but Russ is the guy other players point to when they talk about tone, taste, and pure musical magic. Raised on the warm hum of the folk era, hoo...

Ep. 39 - Chris talks Garth In this episode, Count It Off sits down with legendary guitarist Chris Leuzinger—the man whose playing you’ve heard on  every Garth Brooks album and across countless miles of tour dates. Chris takes us back to those early days in the studio, sharing how the very first Garth tracks came together, the sparks of creativity that shaped them, and the moments none of them real...

Count It Off — Episode 38: Jake Shimabukuro - ambassador of Hawai'i's signature stringed instrument In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jake Shimabukuro, widely celebrated as the world’s #1 ukulele virtuoso. We'' hear some of his music and follow Jake's shares stories from his upbringing in Hawai‘i, the deep love for practice that shaped his musicianship, and the early...

Episode 37: On the Road with Lee Greenwood In this week's show, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to play in Lee Greenwood’s band. From long bus rides and late-night diners to the goosebumps moment when “God Bless the U.S.A.” kicks in, we’ve seen it all. We’re sharing stories from the stage, memories from the road, and what it’s like working with a true American legend who still...

🎙️  Ep 36 - Key West, Jimmy Buffett, Trop Rock music and the musical side of the southernmost point Join us as we meet the founders of Trop RockN Duval, a week-long festival of beach music. We join artists, songwriters and even a local 5th generation Bahamian Conch. One of the fastest growing genres of music, Trop Rock comes to Key West the last week of October every year and artists from all over...

🎧 Episode 35:  Me, Myself & AI — One Musician’s First Steps into the Hot/Bold/Scary New Technology In this episode, we dive into my first experiences using artificial intelligence as a musician — the tools that sparked new ideas, the challenges that test our industry and the questions that keep me curious. It’s a look at creativity in the age of algorithms: where inspiration meets automation,...

🎙️ Scott Joyce: Road Songs & Honky Tonk Stories Nashville songwriter and touring musician Scott Joyce joins us to share about his life on the road with Blake Shelton , Kenny Chesney , and Tracy Lawrence . From backstage laughs to songwriting magic, Scott brings the journeys, the heart, and the country charm of a Music City career that’s taken him from Texas to the biggest stages anywhere. 🤠🎸...

🎸 Episode 33:   Luc Nyhus: Stories from the Strings This week, we sit down with  Luc Nyhus  — a Nashville guitarist, songwriter, and road warrior whose playing has lit up stages with  Big & Rich, Elle King, Sam Barber and more. Luc opens up about life on the road, the lessons learned between gigs, and how he's learned to put his heart in his songs..His story is one of passion, hustle, and...

🎧  Episode 32:   Phil Solem: Behind the Claps You know the song — the one that made millions of people clap along every Thursday night. But there’s a lot more to the story than just the  Friends  theme. In this episode, we sit down with guitarist Phil Solem , singer, songwriter, and one half of  The Rembrandts , to talk about how  “I’ll Be There for You”  became one of the most recognizable songs...

🎙️  Episode 31: Harmony, Heritage & Heart with Rudy Gatlin In this episode, we sit down with  Rudy Gatlin  of the legendary  Gatlin Brothers  to talk about a lifetime in music, family, and faith. From their early days singing in small Texas churches to becoming Grammy Award–winning artists and Grand Ole Opry members, the Gatlins have left an indelible mark on country and gospel music. Rudy sha...

Count It Off – Episode 30: Joe Soucheray of Garage Logic On this episode of  Count It Off , we’re joined by none other than  Joe Soucheray , the voice behind  Garage Logic, the Mayor of Gumption County and Flashlight King himself. If you’ve ever tuned into GL, you know Joe’s got a knack for mixing common sense, humor, and a little bit of curmudgeonly wisdom into conversations that just stick with...

🎙️ Count It Off – Episode 29 : Erica Sunshine Lee In this episode of  Count It Off , we sit down with the unstoppable  Erica Sunshine Lee  — a powerhouse singer-songwriter known as the  Georgia Gypsy . From her small-town Southern roots to touring across the globe, Erica’s journey is fueled by grit, passion, and a love for telling stories through song. She’s earned #1 chart-topping songs, penned h...

🎹 Count It Off Ep 28: Funk, Faith & Purple Keys with Tommy Barbarella This week we’re hanging out with the one and only Tommy Barbarella — keyboardist, composer, and longtime member of Prince’s legendary New Power Generation. We dig into what it was like holding down the keys for one of the greatest artists of all time, the magic (and madness) of life on tour, and how Tommy found his own soun...

Welcome to  Count It Off , the podcast where we shine a light on the stories behind the music that moves us. Today, we're counting it off with none other than Kensie Coppin — a powerhouse singer-songwriter who made her Grand Ole Opry debut at just 11 years old. With a voice that cuts deep and a rich alto tone that commands every lyric, Kensie has earned three #1 singles on the Texas charts and...

In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Friedman, President of the Trop Rock Music Association (TRMA) — a nationwide network uniting artists, venues, fans, and radio stations passionate about tropical rock. Mark shares his insights into the vibrant world of Trop Rock, its grassroots growth, the passionate fan base, and how the TRMA fosters connection and recognition within the genre. We dive into th...

In this episode, we meet with Billy Alcorn, owner of the Nashville road case company supplying gear for some of the biggest names in music like Metallica, Justin Timberlake, Chris Stapleton and Eric Church. We learn about his roots in Walnut Grove, MN (birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder and home of Little House On the Prairie) , explore his years behind the wheel of Phil Vassar’s tours and we get...

This week, we’re diving deep into the purple legacy with a true pioneer of the Minneapolis Sound: Matt "Dr. Fink" Prince. As the longtime keyboardist for Prince and an original member of The Revolution, Dr. Fink was a key architect of the sonic landscapes behind some of Prince’s most groundbreaking work — from *Dirty Mind* and *1999* to *Purple Rain* and beyond. In this candid conversation...

Scottish-born Callum Kerr has a great double-fisted career going... he's starred in seasons 2-6 of the Netflix series Virgin River and acted in 12 other shows and now, he's making his Grand Ole Opry debut with his soulful, gritty voice and A-list production. We talk about his life in Edinburgh Scotland, his acting career but mostly about his enthusiasm for a debut album, produced by Dann a...

Country station BOB-FM is a rare example of independent playlists and down-home personalities. Neil Freeman joins us to talk about his rise from small market radio to one of the top-rated stations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market. They also are one of the few country stations that love to play homegrown artists. Learn what they look for in submissions and how they give back to the community as w...

Join us as we chat with Andy Peake and hear about his long history as the timekeeper for some of the best artists we've known, from Delbert McClinton to Nicolette Larson, Lee Roy Parnell to Don Williams and more. We cover some of the challenges as an independent recording artist as well. He's got history in Boulder, Gainesville and the past 35 years in Nashville. Hang out with us!