The Real Country Podcast by Nikki in Nashville
Real Country is a podcast about the people, stories, and culture behind country and Western life; where music is the backbone, but not the whole story.
Hosted by Nikki, Real Country goes beyond radio hits and industry hype to explore what it actually takes to build a life, career, or legacy rooted in country and Western values. Each episode features honest conversations with country music artists, creators, ranchers, entrepreneurs, photographers, and cultural voices shaping modern country, from Nashville to rural communities across the West.
This show isn’t about chasing trends or overnight success. It’s about the long road: consistency, grit, creativity, and staying true to your way of life in a world that’s changing fast. You’ll hear real stories about breaking into music, building businesses, preserving culture, growing audiences, and creating something meaningful outside the mainstream.
Real Country also dives into bigger conversations around culture, creativity, and the future, covering topics like independent artists, Western entrepreneurship, personal brand, content creation, land, work ethic, and the evolving role of technology and AI in music and media.
If you care about country music, Western culture, honest work, and the people building something real, this podcast is for you.
The Real Country Podcast by Nikki in Nashville
Latest Episodes
From Bankruptcy to Tornado to NFR: How One Man Saved an American Saddle Legend | Adam Trenk of Billy Cook Saddles | Eps 39
I sat down with Adam Trenk, attorney turned owner of one of the most iconic saddle brands in the American West, to talk about one of the most remarkable comeback stories I've ever heard.In 2019, Adam learned that Genuine Billy Cook Saddl...
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From Garbage Truck to Grand Ole Opry; Riley Downing's Landfill Poetry | Eps 37 of the Real Country Podcast
From Garbage Truck to Grand Ole Opry; Riley Downing's Landfill PoetryMissouri-raised troubadour Riley Downing stopped by the Real Country Podcast at his album release party at Skinny Dennis in Nashville to ta...
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"Hard to Be a Hero in a World That Doesn't Want to Be Saved" | Frank Ray on the Real Country Podcast
Former cop turned country artist Frank Ray sits down with me to talk life on the road, fatherhood, and what it really means to serve. Frank opens up about his 10 years in law enforcement, the moment Keith Urban changed everything, a...
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Freelance Cowboy: Brennan Scott Greene on Day Work, Dream Songs & the Didgeridoo - Real Country Podcast Eps 36
Brennan Scott Greene is a freelance cowboy in the truest sense... by day he's working ranches across the Texas Panhandle, and by night he's on stage opening festivals like Dusty Vaquero Days in Gillette, Wyoming with one of the most...
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Rachel Brooke: The Underground Country Queen on AI in Music, Staying Independent & Why She'll Never Sell Out
Y'all, this one was SO good. I got to sit down with Rachel Brooke. the underground country queen from Northern Michigan, and honestly this might be one of my favorite conversations I've had on the Real Country Podcast. Her new album This On...
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