Chelsea Blankinship on Touring with Andy Bell, Finding Authenticity, and Creating Art That Lasts

Kara Frazier on ‘Coming Home,’ Nashville Community, Mental Health, and Finding Your Voice

Kara Frazier on ‘Coming Home,’ Nashville Community, Mental Health, and Finding Your Voice | Just Keep Talking Full Episode Out Now on All Podcast Platforms Please support this show here! https://linktr.ee/brotherloverocks Brother Love welcomes Nashville-based Southern roots singer-songwriter Kara Frazier to discuss storytelling, creativity, and connection through the Just Keep Talking podcast. They celebrate Kara’s recent momentum—hearing her single “Coming Home” with Kenny Sharp on Lightning 100 as Casey’s DJ Pick of the Week, her Local Artist of the Week feature, her runner-up finish in Music City Mayhem, and an Apple Music “New in Rock” editorial placement. Kara reflects on her Jacksonville roots, 11 years in Nashville, genre-blending “gumbo” sound, co-writing process, and the importance of patience, authenticity, and team support. They talk candidly about anxiety, sensitivity, faith, yoga, self-care, and being a 30-year-old woman in music. Kara shares upcoming shows and what’s next, including new singles, an acoustic project, and a full album planned for 2027. #mentalhealthpodcast #yourstorymatters #musicjournalism #lightning100 #singersongwriter #neosoulsinger #bluessinger #jazzsinger #beseen #beheard #belong 00:00 Podcast Mission 01:34 Meet Kara Frazier 02:07 Radio Breakthrough 03:06 How They Met 04:45 Electrified Collab 05:40 Music City Mayhem 08:26 Finding Her Sound 09:18 Co-Writing Flow 13:44 Finding Your Voice 16:04 Songs and Identity 17:11 Roscolusa Homecoming 19:22 Nashville Soul Scene 22:00 Self Care and Fear 23:31 Performance Anxiety Hacks 25:28 Mental Health and Faith 27:06 Overthinking and Self Grace 29:56 Career Origins and Growth 31:44 Age and Identity in Music 33:05 Release Strategy and New Deals 35:38 Playlist Breakthrough Story 37:35 Upcoming Shows and Speed Round 41:28 Wrap Up and Where to Find

Chelsea Blankinship on Touring with Andy Bell, Finding Authenticity, and Creating Art That Lasts

Chelsea Blankinship on Touring with Andy Bell, Finding Authenticity, and Creating Art That Lasts | Just Keep Talking Full episode out now on all podcast platforms! Please support this show here: https://linktr.ee/brotherloverocksBrother Love welcomes Nashville singer-songwriter Chelsea Blankinship (formerly releasing as Chelsea King) to discuss storytelling, mental health, and creativity. Chelsea shares how she landed the Andy Bell (Erasure) touring gig through producer Dave Audé, the intense community and joy of life on the road, and the scariest moment—misconfigured in-ear monitors that threw off her pitch. They talk about post-tour depression, sobriety, boundaries and safety for women in the music industry, and her spiritual journey influenced by Carl Jung’s shadow work. Chelsea honors her Spanish heritage and late grandmother through Spanish-language songs like “La Soledad” and “Amado Mío,” reflects on craftsmanship and making drapes as a metaphor for real art amid fast content and AI, and previews a folk/Americana album in progress with Dave Audé featuring musicians like Sarah Tomek and Jerry Fuentes. #mentalhealthpodcast #yourstorymatters #chelseablankinship #andybell #erasure #musicjournalism #spanishsongs #singersongwriter #sarahtomek #carljung #shadowwork #beseen #joy 00:00 Podcast Mission 02:00 Meet Chelsea Blankinship 03:10 Erasure Tour Memories 05:47 Landing the Andy Bell Gig 08:05 Tour Community Highs 09:43 In Ear Monitor Scare 12:37 Duet and Stage Spotlight 13:40 Legacy Act Pressure 15:34 Road Lessons and Illness 18:16 Women Safety on Tour 21:07 Boundaries and Self Worth 24:06 Spiritual Journey Jung 25:07 Post Tour Depression 26:31 Learning Stillness 27:49 Healing Never Ends 28:18 Spanish Songs Tribute 32:45 Songwriting Alchemy 33:49 Co Write Anxiety 36:57 Craft Over Convenience 39:17 AI And Real Art 41:13 Surrender And Next Steps 44:47 New Album Roots 47:11 Speed Round Spirituality 49:41 Wrap Up And Support

Jimmy Sullivan on Punk Roots, Jazz Culture, Rudy’s Jazz Room & 14 Years Sober

Jimmy Sullivan on Punk Roots, Jazz Culture, Rudy’s Jazz Room & 14 Years Sober | Just Keep Talking Podcast Full Episode Out Now on All Podcast Platforms Please Support this show Here! https://linktr.ee/brotherloverocks Brother Love introduces the Just Keep Talking podcast’s focus on artists’ stories, creativity, connection, and mental health, then interviews Nashville bassist and bandleader Jimmy Sullivan of Jimmy Sullivan’s Swingin’ Scene. Sullivan traces his path from Reston, Virginia—early piano and clarinet, quitting music at 13, then discovering bass through punk and hardcore, winning a battle of the bands, and developing strong ear training—to studying jazz at Northern Virginia Community College under influential teacher Herb Smith, switching to upright, and earning a jazz performance degree at VCU. He moved to New York in 2004, shifted into folk/Americana while bartending, then relocated to Nashville and helped grow the underground jazz community into a thriving scene anchored by Rudy’s Jazz Room, where he became a frequent performer and won the 2018 Nashville Industry Music Award for Best Jazz Instrumentalist. Sullivan discusses loving hard bop and playing behind singers, shares Dolly Parton/Reba video stories filmed at Rudy’s, and speaks candidly about depression, recovery from alcoholism (14 years sober), therapy, and how music can be both escape and presence.#mentalhealthpodcast #yourstorymatters #musicjournalism #bassplayer #rudysjazzroom #nashvillejazz #sober #beseen #beheard #belong #brotherlove 00:00 Why Stories Matter 01:24 Meet Brother Love 01:34 Introducing Jimmy Sullivan 02:23 Growing Up in Virginia 02:52 Early Music and Quitting Clarinet 06:38 Punk Rock Bass Awakening 09:47 First Bands and Ear Training 12:07 Practicing in Your Head 14:19 Herb Smith and Jazz Roots 19:44 Rhythm and Swing Lessons 22:27 From Richmond to New York 26:39 New York Detour and Nashville Reset2 8:10 Nashville Jazz Scene Comes Alive 28:47 Brother Love Nashville Origin Story 29:49 Nashville Jazz Scene 30:10 Jam Sessions Spark 31:51 Rudy’s Jazz Room 32:48 Playing Every Night 34:18 Bebop Roots 36:07 Backing Singers Right 37:52 Country Stars Crossover 38:49 Dolly Video Story 41:27 Depression and Sobriety 47:10 Music as Escape 51:00 Work Ethic and Life 53:02 Speed Round Finale 56:02 Where to Find Jimmy 56:20 Closing and Support

Kristen Rogers on Somatic Singing, Touring with Post Malone, and Setting Boundaries in Nashville

Kristen Rogers on Somatic Singing, Touring with Post Malone, and Setting Boundaries in Nashville | Just Keep Talking Full episode out now on all podcast platforms. Please support this show here! https://linktr.ee/brotherloverocks Brother Love welcomes Nashville vocalist, session singer, touring performer, and teacher Kristen Rogers, who has worked with artists including Zach Bryan, Eric Church, Hozier, The Killers, and is currently touring with Post Malone. They discuss the role of a vocal producer, Kristen’s classical upbringing and early harmony training, and how deep listening shapes doubling, background vocals, and onstage adaptability. Kristen explains somatic singing, how adrenaline and inconsistent monitoring affect performance, and how vocal work can calm the nervous system via vagus nerve stimulation, connecting technique to mental health. She shares how she prepares professionally, embraces the duality of personal hardship and performing, prefers restorative structure at home, and defines “quitting” as a proactive, values-based choice. They also address sexism and harassment in the industry, protecting younger women, and Kristen’s leadership assembling Eric Church’s “Johnny” choir, ending with a playful speed round. #mentalhealthpodcast #yourstorymatters #musicjournalism #singer #backgroundvocalist #postmalone #ericchurch #jakewesleyrogers #hozier #vagusnerve #beseen #beheard #belong 00:00 Podcast Mission 01:02 Meet Kristen Rogers 01:50 Nashville Vocal Matriarch 03:38 Vocal Producer Explained 05:54 Skipping Onstage Story 07:27 Musical Roots and Training 08:05 Hearing Harmony Young 11:09 Cassette Overdub Obsession 13:12 Somatic Singing Method 16:15 Adrenaline and Stage Nerves 18:33 Experience Builds Confidence 21:04 Industry Pressure and Identity 22:25 Vagus Nerve and Anxiety 26:00 Holding Dual Realities 28:50 Home Time and Structure 30:58 Tour Life Versus Friends 32:21 Queen of Quitting 32:48 Quitting Versus Running 33:15 Leaving Gigs Professionally 34:39 Artist Personas And Optics 36:30 Women In The Industry 39:44 Boundaries And Safety 44:35 Eric Church Choir Gig 50:19 Listening Skills For BGVs 53:55 Speed Round Questions 57:50 Where To Find Kristen 58:59 Final Thanks And Sign Off

Katie Cook on Country Music, CMT, Motherhood, the Paranormal & Staying Grounded

Katie Cook on Country Music, CMT, Motherhood, the Paranormal & Staying Grounded | Just Keep Talking Full Episode Out Now on All Podcast Platforms Please Support this Show Here! https://linktr.ee/brotherloverocks Brother Love interviews TV/radio host, author, musician, and painter Katie Cook about her path from a Curb Records deal with her band Reno to a 23-year run at CMT, where she became known for artist interviews and live TV, including a town hall with President Obama. Katie shares how she builds connection with artists, reflects on memorable encounters with Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, George Clooney, and Robert Plant, and describes one difficult interview contrasted with a surprising bond with Charlie Daniels. She discusses co-parenting after divorce, the realities of being a working mother in entertainment, and her approach to aging and self-image. Katie also talks about writing her book series Little Big Benny, her MUFON podcast and lifelong paranormal experiences, her “Alienated” paintings, and how she protects her mental health through grounding, baths, meditation, naps, and managing empathic sensitivity. #mentalhealthpodcast #yourstorymatters #musicjournalism #cmt #tvhost #radiohost #picklejarradioshow #countrymusic #katiecook #presidentobama #mufon #author #mom #womanofsubstance #dollyparton #motherhood #aliens #paranormal 00:00 Why Stories Matter 01:01 Red Carpet Highlights 01:32 Meet Katie Cook 02:43 Marriage and Band Life 04:34 Growing Up Musical 06:26 Reno and Record Deal 08:33 Accidental TV Break 11:23 Interviewing with Heart 12:58 Obama Town Hall Story 14:33 Taylor Swift Up Close 16:43 Choosing Empathy 18:15 Divorce and Co Parenting 22:47 Motherhood in Entertainment 27:38 Dolly and Dream Guests 30:27 Rockstar In Kroger 31:42 Tough Interviews Lesson 33:38 Charlie Daniels Cover 35:26 Little Big Benny 37:45 Mufon And Paranormal 39:32 Alienated Paintings 40:28 Fame Money And Purpose 42:27 Grounding And Energy 46:06 Aging Botox And Honesty 48:46 Pickle Jar Radio Show 50:40 Speed Round Wisdom 56:33 Final Wrap And Support