South of Scruffy with Ben Fields

Pitchwire cofounder Christina Honkonen stops by the shop to talk music, PR, and microexpressions. Christina shares some anecdotes about growing her startup through the pandemic, and how she and her husband Matt are disrupting the worlds of music and podcasting.

Evan Turner, AKA “Headsup” is the reigning Drone Racing League world champion. Evan unpacks his decision to forgo a college education to continue on his already successful career as a professional drone pilot. Evan also founded Five33, a racing drone R&D company that manufactures racing drones and racing drone products.

Tyler Anthony, AKA Cereus Bright, stopped by shop to chat about the rigor of the recording industry in a 2021 climate; and how he is navigating it as a solo artist.

Jandy is a filmmaker and musician who can't help but make viral content. Jandy and Ben recount their pasts together working with their shared mentor, Michael Underwood. The boys share a few stories from their travels together while Jandy drops some wisdom nuggets on how to make content that people can't take their eyes off of.

Jonathan Halley is the owner of the production company Big Slate Media. Jonathan comes by the shop to talk film and TV production with Ben. The boys touch on the disproportionate amount of production work in Knoxville, TN, the first-person drone racing industry, and Jonathan's powered parachute.

Rebecca Ridner returns to the shop to chat television development, Design Therapy and being one more year cult-free. Rebecca and Ben hit on psychics, intuition, and palm reading; while recounting how the pandemic halted what was shaping up to be a very productive year for both of them. After the "Roller coaster ride of vulnerability" that was SOS Episode #2, Rebecca's return to the shop delivers a...

Benny Smith has been at the helm of WUTK the Rock (the University of Tennessee's broadcast radio station) for the past 17 years. Dedicating his life to the station, Benny has made a meaningful impact on the lives of countless musicians, students and artists since he worked at WUTK as a student. Benny and Ben talk through Benny's prolific industry career which has been indelibly interwoven with WUT...

Andy Wood is a world class guitarist with the street cred to prove it. Andy talks Ben through his humble beginnings picking bluegrass with his grandfather, and how that manifested itself in a career playin guitar and other instruments with some of the worlds greatest touring acts. Andy has become a goldmine of knowledge, and a bastion of guitar chops; both of which he shares with his proliferating...

Charlie DeBevoise is a television veteran whose companies have produced thousands of hours of unscripted programming for television's most prominent cable networks. In the year 2000, Charlie started NorthSouth Productions and has been on the climb since. Charlie remembers how starting modestly and grinding it out early, paid off in a huge way with their hit show "Impractical Jokers"; which is in i...

Sammy McAteer has spent a life in music that led him into a career at his dream music venue. As a talent buyer and promoter, Sam's years of musical training and marketing prowess convened at the perfect time at the perfect place; Open Chord Knoxville. Sammy and Ben chat all things music in this episode, while touching on their brief overlapping careers on the High School Lacrosse team.

For the second time, Cornbred comes by the shop to narrow the gap between what we think we know, and the truth. Jon and Ben also chat about Jon's newfound sobriety and it's benefits.

Joseph Nother has spent a lifetime creating. Creating brands, creating television series, and creating opportunities for others. Joseph comes by the shop to tell the story of how he took a web design company started in a college dorm - to an Emmy winning advertising agency and television studio.

Prolific Knoxville blogger Alan Sims stops by the shop for an update on the new comings and goings in downtown Knoxville. Ben and Alan settle some dust on a few development rumblings in downtown Knoxville, while Alan recounts some highlights of Knoxville's revitalization. Alan also identifies some possible pitfalls as the downtown growth continues. Check out Alan's blog at www.insidofknoxville.com...

Mike McGill stops by the shop to talk about his upcoming benefit concert "The Mike McGill Christmas Spectacular" but got sidetracked telling stories about ending up in jail. Visit https://www.facebook.com/mike.mcgill.777 on 12/18/2020 to get involved with the "Mike McGill Christmas Spectacular" live stream from Big Al Braden's Music Warehouse.

Recording artist Garrett Sale has been making noise under the moniker William Wild for years. After a string of personal tragedies, followed by a meteoric rise via Spotify, Garrett has found new purpose in 2020. Garrett stops by the shop to talk to Ben about the state of new William Wild music, and how past personal experiences have indelibly impacted his music career.

Filmmaker and serial-entrepreneur Beau Patton spends an evening in the shop with Ben. Meandering through topics such as private art collecting and podcasting, Beau fills us in on his new business ventures. Beau's alter ego, @honeybeehusband, also talks moonlighting as a "Glorified Furniture Mover" for his wife's styling and design company.

As a U.S. Marine infantryman, Ryan Whitbeck devoted his life to serving his country; now he has turned his attention to serving his community. Ryan comes by the SOS shop to fill Ben in on the multi-layer problem of homelessness, and how he is helping restore lives in his own backyard.

Wes Roach comes by the shop to talk about his journey from being a talented young local golfer, to playing on the PGA tour. Wes and Ben cover everything from "What's it like to choose a caddy?" to the mental toughness it takes to sink a routine putt with a ton of money on the line.

Creative At Large Chris McAdoo spends an hour in the shop updating us on his ever evolving creative journey. After learning the hard way that he is allergic to bees, Chris shares his new perspective on how to focus on what is most important.

Travis Wyrick comes by the shop to recount the rise of his prolific recording career. Travis has spent the better part of the last 3 decades producing chart topping albums and singles. Travis digs in and talks through some of his biggest music moments.

The week before Rusty's inaugural drive-in music festival, Rusty and Ben catch up on a wild year in live music. Rusty has spent his career building big things to enrich his community, and this was Ben's chance to get a peek behind the curtain into Rusty's past and current endeavors.

With A heavy focus on Bonnaroo, Charlie Jennings stops by the shop to outline his savy pivot from concert producer to Covid-19 compliance officer for the film and T.V. industry. After riding the high of a booming concert scene that peaked in 2019, Charlie fills Ben in on the changes that the live music industry is seeing in the pandemic era.

Actor Cylk Cozart darkens the door of the SOS shop to run back through his prolific career in print, film and television. Cylk drops some great anecdotes on his time on set for "White Men Can't Jump" and "Saved by the Bell" while outlining his being discovered by chance on a beach in Miami. Cylk and Ben touch on race issues in 2020 as Cylk provides some perspective on what it's like to grow up as...

With gas station craft brews in tow, Zack brings his buddy Grady Milligan by the shop for a chat and a music showcase. While weaving through anecdotes of Zack's new business venture and Grady's new music, the boys set the stage for an in studio performance of Grady's two newest songs. Grady opens up about his recent personal transformation and how his songwriting helps act as an emotional release.

4 time Grammy Award winning recording engineer Sam Thomas stops by the shop to fill us in on his most recent recording effort with Alicia Keys. Sam lets us in on the nuts and bolts of his producing and writing "Me X 7" for Alicia Keys' latest album "Alicia."