Tx2Tn Podcast Ep218 Claire Hinkle

Tx2Tn Podcast Ep227 Justin Slinkard

In this episode of Texas to Tennessee, the hosts sit down with Justin Slinkard for a fun, music-heavy conversation that traces his path from growing up on classic country and red dirt music to becoming a songwriter and performer in the Fort Worth scene. Justin shares how rodeos, old cassette tapes, and artists like Pat Green, Ragweed, Dwight Yoakam, and Radney Foster shaped his taste, and how he eventually found his way into writing and performing his own songs.The conversation digs into Justin’s creative process, including how he writes when inspiration hits, why he prefers physical legal pads for full songs, and how co-writing with close friends still plays a role in his work. He also talks about the unique Fort Worth music community—supportive, collaborative, and hustle-driven—and how that scene gave him the confidence to perform originals for the first time.The episode also covers Justin’s song “Tyler Rose,” the milestone of hearing it on the radio, and his goals for the next year: more full-band shows and putting together a record. The hosts wrap with rapid-fire questions, favorite venues, and a few laughs about Buc-ee’s, Little Debbie snacks, and bucket-list rooms like Billy Bob’s, Cain’s Ballroom, Red Rocks, and the Ryman.Key themes: * Growing up on classic country and red dirt * Learning songwriting through repetition and practice * The value of community in the Fort Worth scene * Moving from solo acoustic gigs toward full-band shows * Big venue goals and the next record on the horizon

Tx2Tn Podcast Ep226 Jarret Forrester

This episode features Jarrett Forrester, a country/Americana singer-songwriter from Greenville, South Carolina, talking about his music career, life on the road, and how he built things by working hard and booking his own shows.He shares how he got started, why performing comes naturally to him, how he approaches songwriting, and what it takes to keep a music career moving. The conversation also includes some fun trivia, quick questions, and talk about his favorite songs, influences, and upcoming shows.

Tx2Tn Podcast Ep225 Ashton Naylor

This episode is a conversation with Texas singer-songwriter Ashton Nailer about how he got into music, what shaped his sound, and how he’s building his career the hard way: through live shows, co-writes, and constant gigging. He talks about starting music later than some, leaning into performance as his strongest lane, and learning by playing covers, writing songs, and getting comfortable being on stage. The hosts also dig into his Texas roots with a fun “Why are they famous?” segment centered on San Marcos, which leads into a wider talk about Texas music culture and the people who shape it.Ashton shares how Lubbock, South Plains College, Blue Light, and the Texas scene helped him sharpen his craft, meet the right people, and figure out what kind of artist he wants to be. He also talks about being open to recording other writers’ songs, the role of melody in his writing, and how mentorship from Randy Rogers has helped him open doors and stay grounded.

Tx2Tn Podcast Ep224 Jive Mother Mary

Jive Mother Mary is the kind of band that sounds like they’ve spent years in smoky bars, busted-up vans, and long drives between towns, and they’ve come out the other side still swinging. Mason Keck talks about the band’s 20-year run, starting when he was a teenager, and how they’ve stayed together by keeping the right mix of good songs, good hangs, and a real love for what they do.Their sound is a mashup of southern rock, blues, country, funk, and classic rock—think guitar harmonies, big riffs, and melodies you can actually remember. Mason says they’ve always been about writing songs that feel good to play but still mean something, whether it’s a heartbreak tune about his dog, a stormy “hope this ain’t that bad” kind of song, or a road-weary anthem about life on tour.The episode also gets into their move to Nashville, the chaos of COVID, the value of community, and how much local music scenes and podcasts still matter. Bottom line: Jive Mother Mary is a working band, a real-deal road band, and they’ve built it the hard way—by showing up, playing hard, and staying true to themselves.

Tx2Tn Podcast Ep223 Curtis Grimes

This episode is a straight-up working-man’s story about chasing a dream, getting knocked around a few times, and still showing up with your boots on.Curtis Grimes talks about going from baseball pitcher to country singer, grinding through Texas gigs, getting a break on The Voice, and later playing the Grand Ole Opry. The heart of it is simple: he’s built a life by hustling, staying grounded, and writing songs that actually mean something to real people.