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.
Episodes
35 episodes
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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Alex Miller: More Country Than You (And He Can Prove It) | Real Country Podcast Eps 34
Alex Miller has been more country than most people twice his age since he was ten years old, and this conversation proves it.Raised in Lancaster, Kentucky on Merle Haggard records and late nights at honky tonks with his granddaddy...
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T. Graham Brown on 40+ Years of Marriage, Country Music Legends, and Still Loving the Ride | Eps 33
On this special episode of The Real Country Podcast, The Real Country Corner, I sit down with T. Graham Brown for a conversation that feels like sitting with a true piece of country music history. With an illustrious career spanning more...
Brit Taylor on Real Country Music, Appalachia, and Artistic Resilience | The Real Country Podcast Eps 32
In this episode, I sit down with Brit Taylor for a conversation about Appalachian roots, country music, songwriting, motherhood, heartbreak, and finding your true sound as an artist. We get into Brit’s upbringing in Eastern Ken...
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Adam Sanders on Winning CBS’s The Road, Keeping the Hardest Secret of His Life & What’s Next | The Real Country Podcast Eps 31
In this special edition of the Real Country Podcast, The Real Country Corner, I sit down with Adam Sanders fresh off winning the first season of CBS’s The Road. We talk about what it was really like to win the show, why he ...
The TRUE Story Behind One of the Most Popular Country Songs of the Early 2000s | Cyndi Thomson on The Real Country Podcast Eps 30
On a special edition of The Real Country Podcast...The Real Country Corner...I sat down with 2000s country star Cyndi Thomson to discuss life after her break from music and the 25th anniversary of her hit song, What I Really Meant to Say.
Weddings, New Music, and Ozempic | Walker Montgomery on The Real Country Podcast Eps 29
In a special edition of The Real Country Podcast...The Real Country Corner...Walker Montgomery sat down with me at CRS in Nashville to discuss what's about to be his biggest year yet!Son of John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Eddie Mon...
“Never Waste the Suffering”, Worth Gibson on Pain, Purpose, and Country Music, Eps 28 of the Real Country Podcast
In this episode, I’m sitting down with emerging country artist Worth Gibson for a conversation that goes way deeper than music alone. We talk about his roots in ranching and cowboy life, how personal hardship shaped his songwritin...
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Colter Wall Takes a Break From Live Music, Riley Green's Steamy New Duet, and More | Real Country Podcast Eps 27
Country music had a LOT going on this week. In this video, I’m reacting to Colter Wall stepping away from touring for his mental health, Johnny Blue Skies / Sturgill Simpson dropping Mutiny After Midnight, Gavin Adcock...
Coleman Jennings on Authentic Art, Beauty, Songwriting, and Why Modern Music Feels Fake - Episode 26 of the Real Country Podcast
In this episode of the Real Country Podcast, I sit down with Texas singer-songwriter Coleman Jennings for a deep conversation about songwriting, authenticity, and the current state of country music.Coleman Jennings is part ...
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The Reeves Brothers on Being Independent, 150K Spotify Listeners, & The Craziest Road Stories
The Reeves Brothers join The Real Country Podcast for an honest conversation about building an independent country music career in Nashville...and a hilarious whiskey tasting.Matt and Cole break down how they grew to 150,000+ monthly Spo...
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Western Art, Identity, and Finding Country Music Far From Nashville - The Real Country Podcast Eps 24 with Jack Browning
In this episode of Real Country, we sit down with Jack Browning, a British singer-songwriter whose music is deeply influenced by American country, Americana, and the Western way of life, despite being far from Nashville.Jac...
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Chancey Williams Talks Rodeo, Wyoming, and Making Country Music His Way - The Real Country Podcast, Eps 23
In this episode from the Real Country Podcast archives, I sat down with Chancey Williams to talk about a path that looks nothing like the Nashville playbook.Chancey shares his journey from growing up in Wyoming,...
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(Archive) Taylor Austin Dye on Building the “Ride or Dye” Fanbase & Her Grand Ole Opry Debut - The Real Country Podcast Eps 22
This is a Real Country archive episode featuring rising country artist Taylor Austin Dye, recorded before some of her biggest recent milestones, and it’s one worth revisiting.In this conversation, Taylor shares her journey ...
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(Archive) Sophie Gault on Americana, Mental Health, and Writing the Songs No One Wants to Talk About - The Real Country Podcast Eps 21
In this episode of The Real Country Podcast from the archives, I'm again live for The Carter Studio Sessions! I sat down with Americana singer-songwriter Sophie Gault for a deeply honest conversation about music, menta...
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(Archive) From Orlando to Nashville & the Making of a Modern Americana Artist - Zach Meadows on the Real Country Podcast Eps 20
In this episode of The Real Country Podcast, from the archives, I'm showcasing my first artist on The Carter Studio Sessions. I sat down with rising Americana artist Zach Meadows for an honest conversation about songwriting, Nas...
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(Archive) Willi Carlisle on Folk Music, Belonging, and Why Sincerity Still Matters - The Real Country Podcast Eps 19 with Willi Carlisle
From the archives, recorded during a pivotal moment in his career, this conversation features Willi Carlisle reflecting on folk music, belonging, and what it means to make art for real people, not algorithms.In this episode, Willi talks ...
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(Archive) The 'Underdog' Who Built a 20+ Year Country Music Career - Real Country Podcast Eps 18 With Aaron Watson
From the archives. Recorded in early 2024, this conversation captures Aaron Watson in rare, unfiltered form before playing in Indianapolis, reflecting on more than 20 years of building an independent country music career on his own terms...
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(Archive) Tanner Usrey on Playing the Ryman, Betting Everything on Music, and Letting Songs Be What They Are - Real Country Eps 17 With Tanner Usrey
From the archives: Recorded in November 2023, just hours before his first-ever performance at the Ryman Auditorium, this past conversation captures Tanner Usrey at a true turning point.In this episode, Tanner sits down backstage in Nashv...
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Just Start: How Eddie Marange Built a Career in Country Music by Showing Up - The Real Country Podcast Vol 16
Nothing changes until you start.In this episode of Real Country, Nikki sits down with Eddie Marange a country music creator and photographer/videographer, to talk about what it really takes to build a career in country mu...
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The Real Country Podcast Vol 15 - Lane Smith
Lane Smith is an emerging country music singer-songwriter from Texas who started as a bullfighter! In this episode of the Real Country Podcast, we discuss his inspirations, goals for his career, how he writes songs, and his entire journey from ...
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The Real Country Podcast Vol 14 - Philip Bowen
On this episode of The Real Country Podcast, I’m joined by multi-instrumentalist and viral fiddle sensation Philip Bowen. Known for his electric energy, soulful playing, and mountain roots. We talk about his unconventional path ...
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The Real Country Podcast Volume 13 - Kelsey Waldon
Western Kentucky native and singer‑songwriter Kelsey Waldon has earned a loyal following for her honest, no‑nonsense lyrics and her commitment to real country music. Raised in the farming town of Monkey’s Eyebrow and steeped in blu...
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The Real Country Podcast Vol 12 - With B.J. Jamison
Country singer-songwriter and Nebraska native, B.J. Jamison, vows to put the twang back in today's country music...and he's just in his early 20s.Being born to rodeo royalty, B.J. has been at it since a very young age, even running i...
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The Real Country Podcast Volume 11 - Hayden Redwine
Cowboy and West Texas Native Hayden Redwine has ranching and cowboying in his blood from as far back as he can remember.Growing up in the cowboy lifestyle, working cattle, and competing in rodeos, Hayden blends country and western music...
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