Country Outdoors Podcast

By Mary O'NeillSociety & Culture Philosophy

Country Outdoors Podcast episodes

August 26 The Legacy of Nudie Suits: The Man Who Made Country Music Sparkle
What does it take to create a legacy that outlives the spotlight?
In this episode of Country Outdoors, Mary O’Neill Phillips sits down with Jamie Nudie, granddaughter of legendary tailor Nudie Cohn—the visionary behind the rhinestone-studded Western suits that helped define the look of country music, Hollywood cowboys, and rock ’n’ roll.
Jamie shares the family stories behind Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors: from Nudie’s early beginnings and his bold decision to bring sparkle, fringe, and rhinestones to Western wear, to the artists who wore his work—including Roy Rogers, Tex Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Gram Parsons, Marty Robbins, David Lee Roth, and Elvis Presley.
They talk about the making of Elvis’ iconic gold lamé suit, the personal friendship behind the famous clients, the origin of the “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Nudie’s custom cars, and the irreplaceable vintage pieces Jamie now protects and shares with the world.
Jamie also opens up about growing up with her grandfather, his unmatched boots that honored his humble beginnings, the original North Hollywood store, and what it means to preserve a family archive when every suit carries a story.
From country music history to Western fashion, family, craftsmanship, and the American dream—this is the legacy of the man behind the stones.
Visit Nudie’s Honky Tonk at 409 Broadway in Nashville, where vintage suits, historic memorabilia, and Nudie’s final Cadillac are on display.
38 min
August 19 Breaking Benjamin’s Jasen Rauch on Squatters, Metallica, Ozzy & the New Album
@breakingbenjamin Jasen Rauch joins Country Outdoors for a wide-ranging conversation about music, life on the road, fatherhood, the band’s new album—and the unbelievable day he returned to his Nashville home and found squatters inside.
Jasen shares what happened when he walked into the house during a move, discovered the damage and stolen belongings, and had to navigate an incredibly stressful situation while preparing to leave for tour. He also talks about the journey from working in Nashville recording studios and co-founding Red to joining Breaking Benjamin, writing alongside Ben Burnley, and completing the band’s biggest and longest album-production process yet.
We get into some of Jasen’s biggest career moments, including playing with Metallica during the Black Album anniversary celebration and sharing a bill with Ozzy Osbourne. He also opens up about being a dad while living the touring life, raising his daughters to pursue their passions, his love for the outdoors, his interest in hunting and fishing, and using his platform to support veterans and first responders.
This episode was recorded at Scuba Diving International headquarters in Florida while training for a future wounded-veteran dive program.
38 min
August 12 Rookie Cop Chaos, Combat Stories & Pig Latin
Eric Tansey is a former police officer, combat veteran, podcaster, and author of Pig Latin: A Seriously Funny True Story of a Former Police Officer. In this episode, Eric tells the unbelievable story of his first day as a rookie cop—only minutes into the job—when a routine call became absolute chaos.
We dive into the hilarious, outrageous, and sometimes dark real-life police stories that inspired Pig Latin, including what it was like learning law enforcement on one of Raleigh’s toughest beats. Eric shares how writing helped him process the job, how a collection of wild police stories became a book, and why Pig Latin is more than just another “cop book.”
But this conversation goes much deeper than rookie cop chaos.
Eric takes us back to his life as a Saint Augustine beach kid and deep-sea fishing deckhand, the moment he felt called to join the military, his combat deployment to Afghanistan, Green Beret selection, SERE school, leadership lessons, and the complicated transition from military service to police work. We also discuss his personal perspective on the war in Afghanistan and the U.S. withdrawal.
Eric also opens up about being wounded in the line of duty, trauma, faith, marriage, raising five kids, homeschooling, getting rid of screens, building self-reliant children, and learning to put fatherhood ahead of personal ambition. He shares why he recently rededicated his life to Christ and what becoming a spiritual leader in his home means to him.
We begin at Scuba Diving International, where Eric helped create a veteran-focused scuba-diving initiative designed to bring wounded veterans, combat veterans, first responders, Gold Star families, and their loved ones into a healing experience on the water.
This is one of the funniest and most honest conversations we’ve had: from combat stories and police academy pressure to fatherhood, faith, healing, outdoor living, and the wild true stories behind Pig Latin.

1 hr 19 min
August 11 Eric Tansey - "She Pooped On Me!" | Trailer
Former police officer, combat veteran, and Pig Latin author Eric Tansey joins Country Outdoors to share the wild true stories behind his time in law enforcement—from his unbelievable first call as a rookie cop to military service, fatherhood, faith, and the moments that changed his life.
Listen to this preview now, then come back tomorrow for the full conversation.
3 min
August 05 From Farmer Wants a Wife to CMA Fest: Jared Wrigley’s Wild Ride
Mary O’Neill sits down at CMA Fest with Australian farmer and rising country artist Jarrad Wrigley, fresh off winning the Star Maker competition that funded his first-ever trip beyond Australia. They dive into his humble background, how Star Maker changed his life, and what it’s like to perform in Nashville for the 1st time.
Jarrad shares behind-the-scenes stories from Farmer Wants a Wife Australia, from producers living under the same roof to the drama that changed the rules for later seasons. You’ll hear how the show really works when the cameras aren’t rolling, plus why he chose a more respectful approach while other farmers leaned into the chaos.
Mary and Jarrad dig into meeting the American Farmer Wants a Wife cast at CMA Fest, nights out in Nashville, and the differences between country fans in the U.S. and Australia. They swap stories about travel, music, hats and merch, and what Jarrad is dreaming up next for his music career after reality TV.
26 min
July 29 Farmer Wants a Wife: Reality TV Secrets
Ever wondered what really happens behind the cameras on FOX’s Farmer Wants a Wife? In this Country Outdoors episode, Mary O’Neill Phillips sits down with John Sansone and Matt Warren to break down reality TV secrets, life on their ranches, and how the show followed their real feelings more than a scripted storyline. They go deep on avocado wars, cartel‑pressured farming and water control, family tragedy that pushed them into agriculture, and how neighbors in the ag community helped them learn the ropes. Then it’s all about the outdoors: wild pigs in wine country, duck blinds, Osceola turkey hunting on public land, bowhunting with a young family, wild game cooking, faith, unions, and the farm‑law realities of keeping generational land—perfect for fans of Farmer Wants a Wife, The Bachelor, and anyone who loves rural life and hunting.
36 min
July 25Waka Flocka Flame - Re Release
“When I met God, I high‑fived the devil.” — @wakaflocka
In one of the most raw and unfiltered conversations we’ve ever had on Country Outdoors, Waka Flocka Flame sits down with Mary O’Neill Phillips to share his full testimony.
He opens up about losing two younger brothers and carrying the weight of survivor’s guilt, years of numbing pain through ecstasy starting in seventh grade, and facing a 10‑year prison sentence after being caught with a stolen car and a sawed‑off shotgun. From divorce and depression to rebuilding his life, Waka walks through the moments that nearly broke him—and how God met him right in the middle of it all.
Today, his perspective is clear: “If it moves me away from God, I’m not doing it. I don’t care how profitable it is. The devil gets no play in my ride.”
He also shares how that mindset shapes everything—his views on marriage, friendship, forgiveness, and the kind of father he wants to be.
If you only know Waka Flocka Flame from the high-energy anthems, this episode will completely change how you see him.
In this episode, we cover:
The tragic accident that took his younger brother’s life and the guilt that followed

Losing another brother to suicide and questioning God

Years of drug use and the moment he realized he needed change

A life-altering legal scare in Georgia

Divorce, failure, and the growth that came from it

Making decisions rooted in faith, not profit

Fatherhood, boundaries, and still choosing to believe in love
Welcome to the Country Outdoors Podcast—where country music, entertainment, and the outdoor lifestyle meet real conversations about faith, life, and the wild.
43 min
July 22 Michael Ray 2.0: Resetting His Life, Health, and Country Career
Michael Ray is back—and this time it’s on his terms. In this episode of the Country Outdoors Podcast, Michael opens up about burning out in the country music grind, stepping away to get physically and mentally healthy, and why this new chapter of his career feels more honest than ever.
We talk about:
Growing up country and how the industry almost pulled him away from who he really is
Hitting a breaking point and resetting his life, health, and priorities
Getting clear‑eyed again through faith, time outdoors, and real friendships
Lining up his first blacktail hunt, future elk tags, and a Canada bear hunt with UFC legend Chad Mendes
Launching his new show Offstage America and building a lifestyle brand around faith, the outdoors, sports, and real stories
What “Michael Ray 2.0” looks like on stage: more stripped‑down, more present, and more connected
27 min
July 15 Too Country for Country Music? – Shane Profitt, Madden Metcalf & Cole Goodwin
Too Country for Country Music? – Shane Profitt, Madden Metcalf & Cole Goodwin
Live from CMA Fest on the Bottomland‑wrapped pontoon, Mary O’Neill Phillips sits down with Shane Profitt, Madden Metcalf and Cole Goodwin to talk real country music, hunting, fishing, faith and small‑town life. Shane shares stories from his biggest turkey season yet, Osceola hunts in Florida, and the journey of songs like “Long Live Country” and “Comes With the Country” as he heads out on tour with Luke Bryan. Madden dives into his Florida Forgotten Coast commercial‑fishing roots and how working crab boats and Gulf Coast docks turned into saltwater Southern country songs, while Cole brings Pooler, Georgia grit and a roots‑first sound that’s helping lead country music back to its traditional core.
If you’re searching for country music that actually sounds like country—turkey hunting, coastal fishing, bass ponds, faith, family, and small towns—you’ll feel right at home in this episode.
46 min
July 08 Inside CMA Fest: Drew Baldridge, Grace Tyler & Preston Cooper | Farm, Faith & Family
Spend a day at CMA Fest with Country Outdoors as Mary sits down for a fan-fair special with ⁨@DrewBaldridgeMusic⁩ , ⁨@GraceTyler⁩ and ⁨@prestoncoopermusic⁩ diving into the heart of farm, faith and family in country music. To make it happen, the Country Outdoors crew pulled a Mossy Oak Bottomland Veranda pontoon straight into Fan Fair X and turned it into the ultimate country music hangout spot.Drew looks back on the early days before his radio No. 1, including the time Country Outdoors filmed his first-ever turkey hunt and the hunting traditions he now passes on to his boys. Preston shares how he actually learned to hunt from his sister, and how growing up in the woods shaped his songwriting and his first Fan Fair experience. Grace brings the Texas banter with hilarious CMA Fest and hunting-adjacent stories, plus the highs and lows of chasing it in Nashville.If you love country music, hunting camps, pontoon hangs and honest conversations about faith, family, and the grind of being an independent artist, you’ll feel right at home in this episode.
42 min