It Must Be Nice

Ep. #9 with Brandon Rhyder: Texas Music, Family, and Building a Life on the Road

Brandon and Drew sit down with Texas country artist Brandon Rhyder to talk about the reality of chasing a music career, the sacrifices that come with life on the road, and what it takes to build something that lasts. Brandon shares stories from moving to Austin in 1999 to pursue music, the early years of grinding through songwriter nights and small venues, and the moment a friend first pushed him to seriously chase music as a career. The conversation also dives into the making of his album “Conviction,” recording in Nashville with Walt Wilkins, and how songs often become tied to some of the biggest moments in people’s lives. They also discuss balancing touring with family life, how success can change your perspective over time, and why giving back through charity events and youth hunts has become one of the most meaningful parts of Brandon’s journey. The episode touches on everything from songwriting and Texas music culture to fatherhood, legacy, burnout, and learning how to stay grounded while pursuing something bigger than yourself. Stay tuned with Brandon Rhyder here: https://www.instagram.com/b_rhyder/https://smithmusic.ffm.to/662582294323_brandonrhyder_underthelightsonfriday

Ep. #8 with Judd Lienhard: Discipline, Longevity, and Training That Actually Works

Brandon and Drew sit down with Judd to break down what actually works when it comes to training, longevity, and building a body that holds up for the long haul. From VO₂ max trends and breathing protocols to sleep, diet, and injury prevention, Judd explains why most people overcomplicate fitness and why the fundamentals still beat every new “cheat code” trend on the internet. The conversation dives into everything from building an aerobic base and fixing posture issues to gut health, alcohol, recovery, and why consistency always beats intensity in the long run. They also get into Judd’s work training athletes and kids, how confidence can change the trajectory of a young athlete’s life, and the responsibility coaches and parents have when it comes to shaping the inner voice of the next generation. Stay tuned with Judd here: https://linktr.ee/juddlienhard https://www.juddlienhard.com/

Ep. #7 with Saine Wong: Craft, Pressure, and Chasing Perfection

Brandon and Drew sit down with chef Saine Wong, the mind behind one of Austin’s most unique dining experiences, an intimate six-seat sushi counter where every detail matters, Toshokan. Saine shares how years of grinding in professional kitchens eventually led him to build a restaurant entirely around his own philosophy of food, conversation, and experience. What started as an idea to create something personal quickly turned into one of Austin’s hardest reservations to get, with seats selling out instantly and guests waiting months just for a chance to sit at the counter. They talk about the pressure that comes with running a restaurant at that level: the constant expectations, the fear that one bad review could impact everything, and the responsibility of keeping a team employed while maintaining standards night after night. The conversation dives into the reality of the restaurant industry, the obsession with details most diners never notice, how fish travels from Japanese markets to American kitchens in under a day, and why the best restaurants are about connection. It’s a conversation about craft, pressure, and building something meaningful one experience at a time. Stay connected with Saine Wong here and book your reservation! Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sainew/ Restaurant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toshokanatx/ Reservations: https://www.toshokanatx.com/

Ep. #6 with Dakota Stilts Albritton: Fans First, Being Different, and Going All In

Brandon sits down with Dakota Stilts Albritton of the Savannah Bananas to talk about one of the wildest rides in modern sports. From pushing concrete and almost quitting baseball to becoming the first-ever “entertainer player” in Banana Ball history, Dakota shares how a $20 tryout, a pair of drywall stilts, and a push from his mom turned into performing in front of 2.3 million fans a year. They break down what it’s really like inside the Savannah Bananas organization — the 5.5 million person waitlist, selling out NFL and MLB stadiums, pitching on stilts at Yankee Stadium on his birthday, and why the culture is so strict that even star players get cut if they don’t live up to “Fans First.” Dakota also opens up about the early camper days, almost running out of gas chasing the dream, and the moment a kid putting on stilts reminded him why he does it. This one is about belief, culture, leadership, and why sometimes the craziest idea in the room is the one that changes everything. Stay tuned on Dakota's Journey below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakota_albritton/ Merch: https://athletelogos.com/collections/stilts

Ep. #5 with Dean Stanfield: Comedy Clubs, Backcountry, and Betting on Yourself

Brandon and Drew sit down with comedian Dean Stanfield for one of the wildest conversations yet. Dean breaks down what it’s really like performing at Just For Laughs in Montreal: seven minutes, 800 seats, no warm-up set, and realizing mid-joke that Canada does not love gun bits. He talks bombing in North Carolina, rebuilding a crowd, and why stand-up is a 10-year grind most people quit before they understand. From opening for Rodney Carrington to grinding road dates alone, Dean shares the realities of chasing comedy full-time: dropout gigs, motel walls, hecklers, crowd work pressure, and why bombing never hurts less… it just lasts longer. The conversation goes off the rails into Alaska hunts, altitude sickness hallucinations, eating squirrels, rally car crashes, and the dream of buying back the family ranch in Paducah. It’s about loyalty to your people, betting on yourself, and building something big enough to bring your friends with you when it works. Stay tuned and catch Dean here: https://www.instagram.com/deanastanfield/ https://comedyworks.com/comedians/dean-stanfield