Next Rung Radio

What does it take to turn a backyard smoker into one of Nashville’s most recognized barbecue brands? In this episode of Next Rung Radio, Ron Creech sits down with entrepreneur and HoneyFire BBQ founder Ben Claybakerto discuss the real story behind building a thriving restaurant business from the ground up. From working at a small-town barbecue restaurant in Arkansas to opening multiple locations a...

In this heartfelt episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with husband-and-wife country duo Leanne Wise and Derek Allen of October Rose to talk about building a life, family, and music career together through faith, grit, and unwavering commitment. From meeting at a small New Jersey gig to touring across the country with their daughter, the duo opens up about navigating rejection,...

In this heartfelt and entertaining episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with powerhouse musical duo Wendy Newcomer and David Spiker to talk about music, marriage, tradition, and the magic of Nashville’s legendary honky-tonk scene. From performing at the iconic Robert's Western World to building a life together through music, Wendy and David share incredible stories about b...

In this deeply inspiring and wisdom-filled episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with music industry veteran, mentor, entrepreneur, and legacy-builder Steve Goldinger for an unforgettable conversation about life, purpose, resilience, and the power of relationships. From working alongside legendary artists and helping launch careers in the music industry to preserving the teachin...

What if success wasn’t about waiting until 65 to finally enjoy your life? In this powerful episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with financial expert, best-selling author, and founder of Adams Wealth Partners, David Adams, for a deeply inspiring conversation about money, purpose, legacy, and freedom. From helping overwhelmed creatives and entrepreneurs build wealth with intenti...

Some conversations aren’t polished… they’re real. And this one hits deep. Hannah Key shows up with raw honesty, opening up about the intersection of faith and mental health in a way most people are too afraid to. As a model and licensed esthetician, she’s built a life of beauty on the outside—but behind the scenes, she’s faced years of internal battles with ADHD, anxiety, and identity. This episod...

She walked in chasing a dream… and walked out owning her voice. Presley Tennant is not just another rising country artist. She’s a force shaped by discipline, self-awareness, and the courage to pivot when something doesn’t feel real. From her early days balancing competitive soccer and music, to stepping onto the national stage of The Voice, Presley’s journey is a powerful reminder that clarity co...

What if one song could bring you back to the people you miss the most? Robert Eskridge is not just a country artist. He’s a storyteller shaped by real life, hard decisions, and the kind of values that never go out of style. From his Kentucky bluegrass roots to sharing stages with rising legends, Robert built his journey through passion, family, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right...

What happens when a father’s curiosity turns into a world class destination? Jeffrey Gassioni did not just discover kart racing through his son. He saw a bigger vision. What started with loading a few karts into a trailer and exploring tracks around the country became Music City KartPlex, a high level racing experience built from the ground up in Tennessee. In this episode, Jeffrey shares how he w...

What happens when life suddenly forces you to slow down and rebuild everything you thought was certain? Jill Brooks knows that moment well. After years of performing music across the country and building a thriving career, she received a life changing medical diagnosis that completely shifted her daily life. But instead of letting it define her, she chose to keep moving forward one day at a time....

What do you do when life is breaking your heart and the fight feels endless? Brynn Daniels found laughter in the middle of one of the hardest seasons of her life. While walking through a painful custody battle, family stress, and emotional exhaustion, comedy became more than a stage for her. It became a lifeline. What started as a stand up class turned into a powerful outlet for healing, hope, and...

What does it take to write more than 400 songs and still chase the next one? Singer songwriter Olivia Francis has been following her inner voice since she picked up a piano at six years old. From open mic nights in Cincinnati to building a career in Nashville, she has turned courage, discipline, and relentless creativity into a growing catalog of music that blends folk, pop, and the beauty of the...

What if music had colors? Songwriter and artist Ford Cooper experiences music in a way that most people never will. Sounds become colors. Melodies become emotion. Lyrics become pictures in his mind. What some might call neurodivergence, Ford calls a creative superpower. In this fascinating conversation, Ford opens up about how he writes songs by visualizing sound, using color as an emotional compa...

From childhood trauma and losing his mother at 10, to inspiring audiences across 45 states, Dr. Jay Banks proves that faith, humor, and imagination can heal even the deepest scars. He's written for Disney Productions, appeared on Nickelodeon and Hallmark, and created the award-winning “I Am Unafraid” anti-bullying movement. In this conversation, Dr. Jay shares how comedy became survival, why...

Jay Austin’s redemption story moves from addiction, abuse, and years behind bars to a peace he can’t explain without Jesus. In this raw Nashville testimony, Jay shares the moment God “stopped him in his tracks” at a Circle K, how Men of Valor reshaped his identity in Christ, and why community, accountability, and the right voices matter. We talk suicide prevention, transforming shame into wisdom,...

World-class guitarist and storyteller Bill Worrell (America) unpacks how imagination, discipline, and humility shape a sustainable music career. From touring with America and sharing bills with Chicago and the Beach Boys to building a YouTube audience and studying the modern music business at Berklee Online, Bill explains why rhythm and space make solos sing, how classical precision and jazz freed...

Hit songwriter and creative mentor Kirsti Manna shares the real story behind Blake Shelton’s five-week number one Austin, the faith that carried her through a college vocal setback, and the practices that turned resilience into results. We unpack her Songwriter Girl camps, why women in music need safe creative spaces, and how mentorship, goal setting, and music publishing literacy change careers....

Entrepreneur and viral creator Donald Jenkins built a digital empire reaching billions of views without a blueprint—just belief, storytelling, and persistence. In this episode, he breaks down the attention formula, mastering watch time, and how faith fuels consistency when motivation runs dry. Donald shares his journey from Nashville Hits Collecting Dust to social media success and now using his p...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Next Rung Radio , we sit down with Cathy A. Lewis, one of America’s first female executive chefs who’s cooked for NFL, NBA, and NHL teams, music legends, and Indy 500 champions  and now an award‑winning author and speaker whose story of redemption will stir your soul. From the high‑pressure chaos of the restaurant world and the heartbreak of addiction...

his week on Next Rung Radio , we dive into the colorful world of Dean Tomasek, a rare creative who’s lived multiple artistic lifetimes. From painting stage sets for Dolly Parton , Alice Cooper , and KISS , to playing bass on tour and designing murals across the country, Dean’s story is one of true resilience, humility, and raw creative fire. Hear how he shifted from supporting roles to owning his...

In this deeply moving and iconic episode of Next Rung Radio , we sit down with Manuel Cuevas , the 92-year-old master tailor behind the looks of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Dolly Parton, and hundreds of the world’s most celebrated artists. From picking up a needle at age seven to shaping fashion history, Manuel shares how clothing isn't just fabric:  it's identity, storytelling, and legacy. With...

Get ready for an explosive episode, literally. In this week’s Next Rung Radio Podcast , we sit down with pyrotechnics mastermind Randy Bast , the man behind the fire, sparks, and spectacle for rock legends like KISS , AC/DC , Rush , and even NASCAR and HBO . From lighting his first fuse at just 18 to creating jaw-dropping stage effects across 40+ countries, Randy’s journey is one of grit, passion,...

From a Memphis drum kit to Emmy wins and multiple No. 1 hits, Trey Bruce has spent decades shaping songs and artists who shape the culture. In this wide-open conversation, Trey explains how he turns a spark into a song people actually feel, why “vernacular” matters when writing for different voices, and how he can tell fast when someone’s a real artist. We dig into development vs. radio, why great...

Strict rules. Crushing perfectionism. A decade tangled in opioids. A failed marriage. And the day she found her father after an overdose. By every measure, Jamie Creech had reasons to stop climbing. Instead, she chose the hard path...the one with treatment, truth, and rebuilding. In this raw, hope-heavy conversation, Jamie shares how chasing acceptance turned into addiction, why grief first pulled...

He built his first obstacles with his grandpa on weekends, bled on monkey bars he couldn’t cross, and years later placed Top 10 on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior at just 16. Now 20, Nashville native Elijah “Boss Ninja” Browning has competed across 34 states and 4 countries, coaches a podium-stacked youth team, builds full courses, and turns passion into business—from merch to sports-card investing....