South of Scruffy with Ben Fields

The Durf Daddy brings a bottle of wine to the shop and peels back the layers of his 30 year film career. Dipping in and out of shop-talk, Chris and Ben recount their best moments on set together, while lightly brushing against their shared afinity for the Grateful Dead.

Brad and Ben recount the highlights of their nearly 30 year friendship turned working relationship. Stories of their overlapping stints in L.A. provide some good groundwork as they weave into their current creative partnership.

Jon Worley spends an evening in the shop recounting his music career and his heritage. Jon takes the opportunity to announce the launch of his concert promotion outfit "Mad Monk Entertainment".

Marianne invites Ben over for a safely distanced chat on her front porch. In a rare SOS remote interview, Marianne talks Ben through her rise from unassuming theatre kid- to Executive Prodcer at Discovery Inc.

Josh and Ben have jaunt down memory lane while highlighting Josh's decade and a half with the band "Gamenight". Just as things are winding down, the boys discover that Ben can trace the trajectory of the last 10 years of his life to a chance encounter of filling in for Josh on a family trip to Bonnaroo.

After some booking confusion, Jennie and Ben finally sit down on the mic to romp through Jennie's career as a photographer and content producer for Discovery Inc. Jennie drives home the benefits of always saying "yes", while subtly addressing the importance of constantly reinventing yoursrlf as an artist.

Josh Lay comes by the shop on a warm summer night to talk about his transition from New York City to Nashville. Josh and Ben dig into the NYC Corona Virus exodus, and that time Josh got stuck in France for 5 months due to Covid 19.

New York Times Best Selling illustrator Daniel Wiseman comes by the shop to outline his journey from struggling artist, to NYT best seller. Daniel has illustrated a number of children's books. His most recent work, “The world needs more purple people”, was illustrated alongside actress Kristen Bell.

After an abbreviated session last week, Curtis and Ben finish their romp through Curtis’ rise. Just as the boys hit their stride, a storm kicks up, and a tree falls on Ben’s house - bringing some perspective to the grand finalé of this epic 2 part lip-wag.

Curtis Glover stops by the shop for a cup of coffee on his way to paint yet another mural. Part 1 of 2 of Curtis' residency on SOSpod covers the current state of his prolific mural portfolio and a bit of background on how he landed on outdoor art as his focus and passion. This interview goes abreviated, and Curtis and Ben pledge to tell the rest of this story in a second installment coming soon......

Brigid KO spent a balmy evening in the shop retracing her footsteps from college art student in Vermont; to avant garde fashion designer; to small-batch jewelry maker. Brigid beat up on breast cancer at 36 years old, to then fulfill her purpose to responsibly create wearable art. After seeing success in the fashion industry, Brigid got her hands dirty crafting small batch jewelry from precious met...

Kent Oglesby and Garrett Thomson stop by the shop to chat about the state of live music, the demise of Rythm & Blooms music festival, and the birth of the Born & Raised Podcast. At it's best, this chat touches on the nuts and bolts of booking and promoting a sold out concert; at it's worst, it waxes poetic on the moral compass of the music and film industries. Either way you take it, it's...

Unofficial Mayor of Knoxville's creative community, Jody Collins, comes to the shop to share some fun stories and anecdotes with Ben. Jody has spent years cultivating and nurturing a network of like-minded creatives. Jody and Ben talk about how Jody is currently putting that network to work.

Wes stops by the shop to fill Ben in on the current trajectory of his band Moon Taxi. After playing in a high school rock band together, Wes and Ben come together on South of Scruffy to catch up on what they've each been up to since they played their last gig together 18 years ago. Wes pulls back the curtain a bit to give a peek into the undulating trip that is Moon Taxi.

In the first ever SOS podcast not recorded in Ben's shop, Ryan Stasik from Umphrey's McGee sits with Ben to discuss the state of live music in 2020. Umphrey's McGee has built a huge following over the past 20+ years, and Ryan unloads a few anecdotes from the road in this conversation. Ryan also walks us through how he got started with music, what inspires him musically, and the status of his side...

Everything started off great when Cruz and Ben started their chat. When Cruz's son Cash stopped by and joined them, things got even better. Cruz recounts his time with Robinella and the CC String Band and The Black Lillies. Cruz then talked Ben through what it's like to sign a record deal with a major label; to then take a leap of faith as a solo artist. That only scratches the surface. Cruz's son...

Chris graces Ben with a visit to the shop to talk through Chris' trip on Season 12 of NBC's "The Voice." Growing up the youngest of 7 children, Chris had no shortage of grit and drive. Chris got an opportunity to show that grit to America on primetime television. With Chris now recording a new album, the two talk life after "The Voice" and next steps for Chris' solo career.

Erick Baker spends an evening in the shop catching Ben up on his most recent musical endeavours. Erick Baker has spent his recent years reconciling his love for music and performing, with family balance. After winning an Emmy for his writing on the television show Tennessee Valley Uncharted (which he also hosts), Erick wrote and released his most recent album "Morning Light". Erick and Morning Lig...

Brent makes the short trip to Ben's shop where they discuss the state of the Knoxville arts scene. Brent recounts some of his past artistic endeavours as well as his current efforts working with Sugarlands Distilling Co.

Elizabeth and Ben sit down and discuss their mutual love for working with on-camera talent. Elizabeth recounts her path to becoming a fashion and commercial photographer; and how that led to her building and teaching a photography curriculum alongside some of today's most well known industry photographers.

Lauren comes by the shop to sit for a socially distanced chat with Ben. Lauren and Ben recount their interwoven careers and prior collaborations, as well as Lauren's internship on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. They also come to a consensus on whether or not it is okay to own an inflatable hot tub.

For the first time, Ben is on the hot seat. Zack Roskop stops by with a 6 pack of Craft Beer and grills Ben on his life. From West Knoxville to Los Angeles and back again, Zack uncovers some looming unknowns about Ben.

Edy enlightens Ben on his recent leap from Cinematographer to Director. After immigrating to the United States as a High Schooler, Edy learned a new language and swiftly began a career in the film and television industy. With high-level chops and a solid work ethic, Edy swears his success could happen to anybody who tries as hard as he has.

An hour after filming a music video together, Travis and Ben sit down to talk about their interwoven paths and how Travis' growing career as a touring acoustic act has been impacted by the economic shutdown. Winding their way through personal stories from the old neighborhood, Travis and Ben chronicle Travis' trip from growing up in a trailer park, to being a nationally touring folk artist.

Bryan Allen darkens the shop door to fill Ben in on his path from electrical engineering, to founding a production company that makes emmy award winning T.V. shows and national commercials . Bryan shares the triumphs and perils of owning a business in 2020, as he and Ben struggle to prognosticate about what "new normal" will look like.