Country Music Hall of Famer Never Won a Single Contest: A Chat with Jimmy Fortune

The Other Carliles: A Chat with Caroline & JayJ of The Carlile Family Band

Carlisle Family Band at AmericanaFest: Teen Siblings, Big Stages, and a Time-Capsule EPHost Jason English interviews teenage siblings Caroline and JJ Carlisle of the Carlisle Family Band in Nashville during AmericanaFest, where they’re attending shows, meeting industry people, and playing their first official showcase. They discuss the realities of touring together as siblings, their grounded approach to balancing family and business, and their love of music as the core motivation beyond fame. JJ shares his admiration for Gregory Alan Isakov and the story of being invited by Aunt Brandi Carlile to play mandolin onstage with Isakov at Red Rocks in front of 10,000 people. They talk about their self-titled five-song EP as a “time capsule” of songs written at 12 and 13, including Caroline’s “Dream Again” and JJ’s “Leftover Sentences,” and end by sharing what they’re currently curious about and a performance of “Tyra’s On Your Side.”00:00 Early Songs Time Capsule00:40 Podcast Welcome Setup00:06 Meet The Carlisle Siblings02:50 AmericanaFest Firsts04:05 Festival Access Milestone04:57 Sibling Band Dynamics05:41 Family Business Balance07:58 Annoying Habits On Tour09:16 What They Admire Most10:52 JJ Multi Instrument Skills11:26 Gregory Alan Isakov Deep Dive13:49 Playing Red Rocks With Gregory15:36 Aunt Brandi And Big Moments17:11 Family and Aunt Brandi17:53 Toy Instrument Prank19:08 Supporter and Origin Story20:20 Why the EP Now22:14 Dream Again Meaning23:03 Leftover Sentences Anxiety24:54 Writing on the Road25:22 Hope and Music Today26:45 Teen Life and Homeschool28:37 Artists Goals and Metrics32:31 Curiosity and New Fixations34:02 Closing and Live Song

Existential Indie Folk: A Chat with Abigayle Oakley

Before The Voice, before three chairs turned, before Team Kelly — we sat down with Abigayle Oakley on the gulf coast at the 30A Songwriters Festival and talked about what it actually feels like to build a life in music when you're still figuring out who you are.Abigayle calls her sound "existential indie folk," and it fits. She writes about not having answers — about being her own worst gaslighter, about the gap between ambition and presence, about writing 100 songs in a year just to stop being precious about the process. We talked co-writing, Julia Cameron, the pressure of social media on her generation, and why a love song about a thrifted Patagonia fleece might be the most honest thing she's written.From Las Vegas, Nevada. Based in Nashville. Currently on NBC's The Voice, Team Kelly Clarkson. This is Abigayle Oakley before the world caught on.00:00 Cold Open 00:38 Podcast Intro 01:11 Guest Introduction 03:33 Interview Begins 04:58 Touring & Venues 07:00 New Music & EP Release 07:35 100 Songs a Year 08:41 Existential Indie Folk 09:37 Worst Gaslighter 11:36 Social Media & Anxiety 12:28 Music as Therapy 14:03 Co-Writing & The Creative Process 16:04 The Artist's Way & Showing Up 17:09 Making the Leap 18:01 Career Goals & Creative Freedom 20:16 Hazel Eyed Lover in Patagonia (Story) 21:53 What Are You Most Curious About? 24:25 Closing & Goodbye 24:44 Song: Hazel Eyed Lover in Patagonia 28:29 Song: Press Three

Country Music Hall of Famer Never Won a Single Contest: A Chat with Jimmy Fortune

Jimmy Fortune on Reinventing After the Statler Brothers, Faith, and Virginia Dreams | Curious GoldfishIn this Curious Goldfish episode, host Jason English interviews Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Fortune, reflecting on his early years playing Holiday Inn and Ramada Inn lounge circuits, including a defining moment when an older man urged him not to quit his dream. Fortune recounts joining the Statler Brothers in 1982, the life-changing opportunities that followed, and the challenge of starting over when the group retired in 2002. He discusses nerves and humility in his solo career, mentorship and advice about moving to Nashville, and his latest “American Dreamer” project—a book, CD, and live, no-overdub DVD created with writer Dave Clark to share a raw, chronological story of faith, forgiveness, and resilience through dark seasons and personal loss. The conversation also highlights Fortune’s enduring connection to Virginia and the inspiration behind “Earl’s Song, Virginia Dreams,” which he performs at the end.00:00 Holiday Inn Dream Advice 01:13 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro 03:42 Meeting Jimmy Fortune 04:46 Statler Brothers Breakthrough 05:22 Retirement and Starting Over 06:24 A Dream From Dad 08:30 Three Career Eras 12:12 Going Solo Reality Check 14:03 Oak Ridge Boys Nerves 16:15 Ramada Inn Circuit Lessons 17:48 Never Quit Your Dream 21:20 American Dreamer Project 22:25 Writing the Book 25:29 Live DVD Rough Edges 27:38 Virginia Roots and Songs 29:26 Virginia Longing 30:04 Earl Song Origins 30:46 Home Memories Everywhere 31:49 Nashville Family 33:10 Go To Nashville Advice 33:38 Phil Vassar Story 35:21 Mentoring The Next 36:43 Purpose Over Money 37:59 Family And Regrets 39:17 God Things And Roots 42:50 Forgiveness And Grace 44:59 Grief And Hope 49:03 Curious About The World 53:13 Faith And Free Will 54:52 Closing Thanks 55:12 Virginia Dreams Performance🎙️ Welcome to Curious Goldfish!Curious Goldfish is a podcast community where music and curiosity come together through meaningful conversations with the music makers of our world. It’s a music podcast about more than music, inspired by Ted Lasso. Hosted by Jason English, each episode dives into the stories, struggles, and inspirations behind some of the most captivating voices in Americana, rock, folk, country, and bluegrass.Whether it’s Grammy winners, rising stars, or undiscovered gems, we explore the creative journey, personal transformation, and the impact of place and purpose on art.📌 Subscribe & Join the Conversation!Hit the subscribe button and don't forget to tap the bell so you never miss an episode.🌐 Website: https://curiousgoldfish.com🪕Redstoolsessions Backyard Listening Room🎧 Listen on Spotify/Apple/All Platforms:📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/curiousgoldfishpodcast📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/thecuriousgoldfish🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Curiosity_Fish📹 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@curiousgoldfishpodcast🌌 Bluesky: https://curiousgoldfishpod.bsky.social💬 Drop a comment below – who would you love to see featured next?📬 Stay curious – subscribe to our newsletter!Don’t miss exclusive artist insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and curated playlists. Sign up for Chords of Curiosity at https://curiousgoldfish.com!💼 Support the Show with Our Favorite Tools🎙️ Podcast Hosting via Captivate: https://fas.st/t/JtdpvPX6🌐 Website Powered by PodcastPage.IO: https://podcastpage.io?via=jason38📱 Social Media Made Simple with OnlySocial: https://onlysocial.io/?ref=curiousgoldfish#CuriousGoldfish #AmericanaMusic #SongwriterStories #Podcast #ChordsOfCuriosity #AffiliateLinks

She's the Fresh New Face of Folk Music: A Chat with

Host Jason English welcomes Stella Prince, hailed as the face of Gen Z folk, for a conversation recorded at AmericanaFest after her first official showcase at Nashville’s female-owned venue, Anzie Blue. Prince reflects on growing up in Woodstock, New York, singing as a child with artists like Pete Seeger, and her early drive to work in music, including being a 12-year-old radio DJ spinning 1930s–40s big band and writing music reviews. She discusses making folk mainstream again, the generational appeal of the genre, and inspirations like Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and Judy Collins, plus contemporaries like Laufey. Prince describes building an all-women team, recording her debut EP in Laurel Canyon, and releasing her first sync—a Hallmark film featuring her reimagined “(They Long to Be) Close to You.” She also shares songwriting shaped by Gen Z anxiety, inflation, and newfound independence, and performs “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and her original “Good Luck Is Hard to Find.”00:00 Folk Across Generations 00:28 Podcast Intro and Guest Setup 02:42 AmericanaFest Milestone 04:38 Why Folk Feels Real Now 05:34 Making Folk Mainstream Again 06:13 Gen Z Jazz Inspiration 08:21 Woodstock Roots and Early Magic 09:27 Radio DJ and Big Band Years 11:00 DIY Hustle to Building a Team 13:04 All Women Team and Industry Gaps 13:45 Women on the Road 14:42 Laurel Canyon Recording Dream 15:23 Career First at 21 16:26 EP Plans and Hallmark Sync 17:57 Songwriting From Independence 18:35 Gen Z Pressure and Anxiety 20:55 Curiosity and Defining Success 23:14 Live Performance Session 26:04 Original Song Closing

She Soars in Song & Film: A Chat with Bird

Bird on AmericanaFest, Accidental Filmmaking, and Storytelling Through Music | Curious Goldfish PodcastHost Jason English welcomes Janie, who performs as Bird, to the Curious Goldfish Podcast in Nashville during AmericanaFest. Bird, half Irish and half English, grew up in London, is based in Italy, and is increasingly working in the U.S. after receiving an O-1 visa. She discusses Irish storytelling roots, her classical cello training from age six, learning drums at 11, and influences ranging from Jacqueline du Pré to Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan that shaped her Americana sound. Bird explains the origin of her stage name, her “accidental filmmaker” path after a cinematic album stalled during COVID, and her short films “Wider Than the Sky” and “You Found a Friend in Elvis,” inspired by a Roy Orbison story. She outlines festival strategy, upcoming full-length film plans, two EPs (“Heads or Tales” and “Strange as Folk”) and a vinyl release, touring via Café Nero, and performs “The Tides” solo on cello for the first time.00:00 Irish Storytelling Roots 00:55 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro 02:56 Meeting at AmericanaFest 03:35 AmericanaFest Buzz and US Plans 04:44 Why the Name Bird 07:22 Accidental Filmmaker Origin 09:12 Elvis and Roy Orbison Mystery 11:15 Festival Strategy and No Money 12:45 Third Film Tease and Timeline 14:13 Back to Music Classical Beginnings 15:13 Drums and Rock Influences 15:56 Irish Storytelling Roots 17:24 Albums and Genre Evolution 17:52 Heads or Tales EP 18:28 Why Two EPs 19:17 Folk Horror Inspiration 21:17 Lockdown Demos in Italy 22:27 Touring and Future Plans 25:19 Curiosity and Connection 27:58 The Tides Closing Song