October 06, 2025

How a Banned Account, a Mullet, and Sheer Grit Built a Social Media Empire w/Justin "Danger" Nunley :: Ep 76 Try That in a Small Town Podcast

1 hour 25 minutes

A stranger clowns you on live after your account gets banned—do you spiral or go nuclear on the grind? Justin “Danger” Nunley chose the latter, changing shirts in his driveway and launching a 30-day sprint from 3,000 followers to 3 million. We sit down with the Air Force veteran turned creator-entrepreneur to unpack the mindset, habits, and guardrails behind a 21M+ audience—and why three videos a day for five years was less about algorithms and more about character.

We get into the real mechanics of creator growth: cross-posting strategy, learning from takedowns instead of raging at them, and navigating wildly different community guidelines across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Justin shares why he leaves “just enough” in his famous did-you-know facts to make you look it up yourself, and why safety at home requires firmer boundaries than most people realize. From SkillBridge to retirement, from Harley-Davidson partnerships to Waze Energy’s veteran-first mission, he lays out a playbook any small business can borrow: become your own media company, tell honest stories, and replace legacy ad buys with creator-native content that actually converts.

Of course, it wouldn’t be our show without sports heat. We wrestle with NIL money’s effect on college football, break down Tennessee vs Georgia vs Alabama angst, and celebrate the joy of a snow-filled Bills playoff game with your kid. There’s even a beard-on-the-line rivalry bet and a quick detour into hitting mechanics—why getting the bat on plane early beats chasing launch angle buzzwords—because process scales whether you’re in a cage or on camera.

If you’re building a brand, a podcast, or a one-person media empire, this conversation is your field guide: be relentless, be yourself, and let the work stack. Listen now, then hit follow, leave a review, and share this with a friend who needs a shot of creative momentum.

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The Try That In A Small Town Podcast is produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co