Songwriter Series - Rob Ragosta's Punk Roots & Breakthrough in Songwriting | Salty's Live Music

John Gafford: How to Build Radical Accountability, Escape the Drift and Scale in Business

In this episode we sit down with speaker, author, entrepreneur, and real estate powerhouse John Gafford. Brad and John dive deep into John’s book, "Escaping the Drift," which serves as a practical, no-nonsense instruction manual for taking radical accountability, building self-awareness, and developing a bulletproof business strategy. From his days on NBC’s The Apprentice to building the largest luxury boutique real estate brokerage in Las Vegas, John shares the hilarious failures and hardened frameworks that shaped his path in business and life. Whether you want to master vertical business integration, understand the current shifts in the housing market, or find out why customer-facing AI is facing a massive consumer backlash, this episode is packed with real, actionable wisdom. About John Gafford: John Gafford is an author, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and a dominant force in the luxury real estate market. Known for his raw, direct communication style and practical approach to business, John has built a career defined by massive scaling, radical accountability, and a refusal to coast on past successes. He translated these decades of business wisdom and multi-million dollar missteps into his hit book, "Escaping the Drift", a user's manual centered on breaking free from complacency, practicing radical honesty, and taking absolute control of your trajectory before you crash into an obstacle. Beyond his large-scale real estate operations, John remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of professionals through his rapidly growing weekly newsletter, Wednesday Wake Up. John Gafford Online: thejohngafford.com [http://thejohngafford.com] John Gafford on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejohngafford [https://www.instagram.com/thejohngafford] Grab a copy of 'Escaping the Drift': https://thejohngafford.com/getthebook [https://thejohngafford.com/getthebook] John Gafford’s Newsletter: https://thejohngafford.com/request-membership [https://thejohngafford.com/request-membership]

Levi Foster: Making Funky Country Music, The Independent Artist Life & Recording w/ Shooter Jennings

In this episode, we sit down with independent country and Americana artist Levi Foster to break down his authentic, unique funky country sound. Levi shares the wild story behind his upcoming track "Circle K Sushi," growing up in the Appalachian bluegrass scene, and what it was like recording in LA with legendary producer Shooter Jennings. For independent artists navigating the modern music industry, Levi gives a raw look at surviving the Nashville music scene as an independent artist, the reality of music streaming payouts, and his clever trick for sneaking original songs into cover sets. He also talks about preserving storytelling nuance in an era of shrinking social media attention spans and why keeping humor alive in music matters. About Levi Foster: What happens when you mix a classic country twang with a 1970s funk groove? You get Levi Foster. Levi Foster is an independent country and Americana singer-songwriter who grew up in Rustburg, Virginia, picking up the guitar at age 13 and spending his early years playing in bluegrass jam circles. After performing across his home state and opening for legacy acts like Vince Gill and Trace Adkins, he moved to Nashville in January 2023 and initially lived out of his van to focus completely on his songwriting. His original material quickly earned him a publishing deal, leading to a debut album in 2025 and an opportunity to perform as direct support on Oliver Anthony’s "Out Of The Woods" tour. His sophomore album, Appalachian Funk Tree, was recorded with producer Shooter Jennings at Sunset Sound in Hollywood and is scheduled for release in October 2026. Levi Foster on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4aebUA6 [https://bit.ly/4aebUA6] Levi Foster on Apple Music: https://bit.ly/4wRljaN [https://bit.ly/4wRljaN] Levi Foster on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RvIw25 [https://bit.ly/3RqAaZD] Pre-Save ‘Appalachian Funk Tree’: https://bit.ly/3RqAaZD [https://bit.ly/3RqAaZD] Levi Foster on Band Groupeez: https://bandgroupeez.com/musicians/levi-foster [https://bandgroupeez.com/musicians/levi-foster] #countrymusic #independentartist #artistinterview #musicpodcast

Major Payne’s Alex Stone 30 Years Later: Steven Martini Breaks Down Hollywood, Filmmaking & Life

In this episode, host Brad Banyas sits down with actor, director, screenwriter, and musician Steven Martini to pull back the curtain on his 30-year journey through Hollywood. Steven shares his entrance into the film industry as Cadet Alex Stone in 90s hit movie Major Payne and breaks down his newest, handmade indie film, Bittersweet, which has just been released in Brazil. Brad and Steven take a blunt look at the current state of entertainment, discussing the WGA and SAG strikes , the tedious reality of AI tools like LLMs and Suno , and why the world needs the "rebel mentality" and true human connection now more than ever. About Steven Martini: Steven Martini is a multi-talented actor, screenwriter, director, and musician who first broke into Hollywood in the mid-1990s, starring as Cadet Alex Stone in the cult classic comedy film Major Payne. Following a prominent role as a rookie undercover cop on the NBC prime-time series Prince Street, he pivoted behind the scenes and channeled his industry earnings into writing his own independent scripts. In 2026, he released his latest independent feature, Bittersweet, a raw, poignant, and theatrical film based on a real-life legal nightmare that he wrote, produced, edited, and starred in alongside his family.Driven by a signature "rebel mentality" and a dedication to genuine human storytelling, Martini consistently rejects Hollywood boxes and apathologized labels. Steven Martini on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven_martini/ [https://www.instagram.com/steven_martini/] Steven Martini’s New Film “Bittersweet”: http://bit.ly/4wLqaKE [http://bit.ly/4wLqaKE]

Tommy Dorfman: Live Nation's Monopoly Exposed & What the DOJ Case Reveals

We sat down with Tommy Dorfman, AKA “The Man Who Took On Live Nation,” to discuss the secret tactics Live Nation uses to control the live music industry. We dive deep into the ongoing Live Nation antitrust case and DOJ trial, revealing the predatory fees and rent-splitting that fuels Live Nation's control of ticket pricing.  Tommy also touches on recent whistleblower allegations of fraudulent accounting, wiping out local competition and shares his 16-year battle against Live Nation's shady business practices and the grassroots movement to reclaim a fair, independent music scene. About Tommy Dorfman: Tommy Dorfman is the CEO of Juice Entertainment, bringing over 20 years of experience as a prominent music promoter in the New Jersey and New York club scenes. A pioneer in the EDM space, he was organizing large-scale EDM festivals before shifting his focus to a long-term legal battle challenging monopolistic practices within the live music industry.  Through Juice Entertainment, Dorfman continues his legal battle and advocate for independent artists and venues, utilizing his extensive industry knowledge to fight for a more equitable and transparent entertainment landscape. Timestamps 00:00 Tommy Dorfman's Rise in EDM 04:52 The Battle Against Live Nation 07:53 Understanding the Live Nation Monopoly 10:48 The Impact on Independent Promoters 13:43 The DOJ Case Against Live Nation 16:40 The Future of Live Nation and Ticketmaster 19:42 Empowering Local Music Scenes 23:19 The Impacts on Independent Artists 26:29 How Corporate Greed Impacts Live Music 29:23 Reviving Local Music Scenes 33:17 The Hard Work Behind Promotion 37:44 The Unifying Power of Music #musicindustry #livenation #livemusic

Songwriter Series - Keira King's Rise as a Country Songwriter & Storyteller | Salty's Live Music

We spent some time with emerging songwriter Keira King at the Fernandina Beach Songwriters Festival to hear about her journey from Wisconsin to Nashville’s music scene. Keira weaves us through her country-inspired songwriting process, offers advice for aspiring songwriters, and details how her authentic storytelling craft is shaping her career. About Keira King: Keira King is an emerging songwriter known for her soulful storytelling and captivating live performances. With a sound rooted in authenticity, she has quickly made a name for herself in the independent music scene, performing at intimate venues like The Inkwell Art Bar. Her talent earned her a featured spot at the 2025 & 2026 Fernandina Songwriters Festival, where she shared the stage with other acclaimed artists and songwriters. Beyond the festival circuit, Keira continues to connect with audiences through her original compositions and regular touring schedule. Whether performing solo or in collaborative songwriter rounds, she remains dedicated to the craft of songwriting and the power of a well-told story. Keep up with Keira’s career at the links below: Keira King Online: https://www.keirakingmusic.com/ [https://www.keirakingmusic.com/]Keira King on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keiramking/ [https://www.instagram.com/keiramking/]Keria King’s Links: https://beacons.ai/keiraking [https://beacons.ai/keiraking]