Nashville Drummers Podcast

Welcome, Milo Simpson! Having recently made the move from northeast Iowa to Nashville in 2025, Milo has quickly made a name for himself as a trustworthy, go-to drummer for a variety of up-and-coming country singer-songwriters, most notably touring with 22-year-old Ashley Anne. Milo shares his path through the Visible Music College in Memphis, his early influences (like Twenty One Pilots), and his approach to learning songs quickly under pressure. He shares the story of eventually joining the Ashley Anne camp, from a last-minute stripped-down gig to playing his first arena in Norfolk opening for Zach Top. We chat touring hangs, favorite Nashville local spots, working odd jobs (including Chuck E. Cheese and a cemetery), vintage kits and Facebook Marketplace, and of course, horror movies and Tim Robinson. We hope you enjoy!
 
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:56 Nashville Chow Mein Debate
2:03 Turning 24
4:25 Moving to Music City
5:03 Memphis Music College
8:19 Relationships Open Doors
9:39 Landing the Ashley Anne Gig
15:21 Learning Songs Fast
21:52 Tim Robinson
23:39 Drum Box (Sponsor)
24:20 Vintage Kits and Marketplace Trade
28:08 Chuck E. Cheese Days
31:06 Serving the Artist
32:37 First Arena Show
40:16 Country Music Roots
41:24 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
42:21 Alt Rock Influences
43:22 Tattoo Tour Stories
50:02 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
50:43 Cemetery Job Tales
57:35 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor)
58:39 Hobbies and Walking
1:06:10 Waffle House Lore
1:14:11 Meeting Drum Heroes
1:18:24 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:19:06 Gigs w/ Brooke Lee
1:31:13 Horror Movies and Tattoos
1:32:18 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com


Connect with Milo:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milosimpson_

Music Featured in this Episode:
"paloma" - Ashley Anne
"I Won't" - Justin Schools

Support the show

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Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome our first Canadian guest, Weston Blatz! Weston is the touring drummer for rising country artist Emily Ann Roberts. We dive into Weston's musical upbringing in Canada and the winding road that would eventually land him the gig with Emily, including a milestone-packed year performing at both the Ryman and the Grand Ole Opry. We discuss learning songs exactly like the record, memorizing without charts, plus the mental pressures of touring, and why being a good person and a good hang matters most. We hope you enjoy!
 
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:13 Welcome, Weston! 
4:16 Canada Day and Surviving the Dream 
7:55 Growing Up on Country and Rock 
12:04 Learn the Record 
15:08 Memorizing Without Charts 
18:04 Why Nashville 
22:05 Drum Box (Sponsor) 
22:46 Landing the Gig w/ Emily Ann Roberts
23:11 Meeting Tracy Broussard 
25:49 Losing the Audition 
37:11 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 
38:10 Broadway Grind 
47:18 Burnout and Anxiety 
57:13 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 
57:55 Opry and Ryman Milestones 
1:06:55 Imposter Syndrome 
1:09:55 Goals and Self-Talk 
1:11:25 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor) 
1:12:26 Being A Good Hang 
1:15:02 Confidence vs Ego 
1:16:07 Tracks and Ableton Setup 
1:20:43 K-WAT Drum Co. (Sponsor) 
1:21:31 Tour Cities and Hobbies 
1:24:25 First Drum Kit 
1:26:58 Gear and Endorsements 
1:37:31 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
 
K-WAT Drum Co.
https://www.k-watdrumco.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com


Connect with Westson:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westonjblatzdrums
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westonjakeblatz

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Whipped" - Emily Ann Roberts

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Connect with us:
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Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome North Carolina native, Kyle Wilkerson! Kyle is the touring drummer for multi-platinum, award-winning country artist Jordan Davis. We dive straight into Kyle's career, discussing family life, golf-centered touring routines, and memorable courses and markets like Europe and Australia. Kyle recounts moving to Nashville in 2010 after Appalachian State, leaving education and classical percussion plans to focus on drum set, beginning his Nashville career through radio tour with Maddie & Tae, later joining Michael Ray, and subbing for Jordan Davis in 2020 before joining full-time in 2021. He shares pragmatic advice on evaluating gigs, professionalism, and relationships, plus views on Broadway, changing Nashville, and the importance of learning Ableton/playback. He outlines gear, endorsements, and emphasizes staying healthy, present as a parent, and taking action without waiting. We hope you enjoy!


Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:06 Welcome, Kyle!
1:17 Morning Routines
2:41 Golf and Drumming
5:02 Favorite Courses
6:01 Move to Nashville in 2010
7:46 Jordan Davis Early Years
9:39 COVID-Era Gigs
10:44 "Buy Dirt" Breakthrough
12:19 Maddie & Tae Radio Tour
19:53 Switching Gigs
28:52 Drum Box (Sponsor)
29:34 Touring Europe and Australia
32:10 Linkin Park Night Off
33:05 Band Life and Festival Season
34:03 Playback, Tech, & Ableton
45:24 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
46:05 Early Influences and Jazz
51:11 Finding Your Passion
54:21 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
55:18 Classical Percussion Carryover
59:56 Nashville Then vs Now
1:13:19 Family Doubts and Validation
1:15:08 Raising a Family
1:20:41 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor)
1:21:45 Career Milestones and Venues
1:24:30 Relationships and Rates
1:27:25 Keeping the Show Fresh
1:31:42 Festival Sets & Country Covers
1:34:51 Endorsements
1:40:57 Career Longevity
1:43:40 Rapid Fire Food Talk
1:45:27 Spurs Fandom and Soccer
1:47:29 IG Handle Story
1:49:50 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com


Connect with Kyle:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flatbillionaire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyle.wilkerson.395

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Tucson Too Late" - Jordan Davis & NEEDTOBREATHE (Live at CMT Crossroads)
"Next Thing You Know" - Jordan Davis (Live at CMA Fest 2024)

Support the show

Connect with us:
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Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Arizona native, Mace Santa Maria! We cover Mace's move from Phoenix to Nashville four years ago, following a formative year at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. She discusses learning the drums at age 10, major influences like the Jonas Brothers' drummer Jack Lawless (whom she recently met), and how Broadway demands fast adaptation through cues, band-specific arrangements, and on-the-fly decisions. Mace breaks down her unique Pelican-case rig, Nashville do's and don'ts, and opportunities for live streaming and subscription-based content. She details touring with indie-pop artists Brooke Alexx, 76th Street, and Tornsey, building Ableton show transitions, maintaining health and alone time on the road to avoid burnout, and the importance of LGBTQ+ community and representation in her career. We hope you enjoy!


Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:53 Welcome, Mace! 
4:31 Broadway Connections 
6:48 What's for Breakfast? 
9:52 From Phoenix to Nashville 
12:48 Early Drumming Roots 
16:21 Meeting A Childhood Hero 
19:35 Broadway Survival Skills 
28:49 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor) 
29:53 Broadway Rig Rundown 
37:35 TikTok vs Instagram 
42:07 Drum Box (Sponsor) 
42:49 Queer Pop Tour Scene 
53:50 Ableton Show Builds 
56:29 Staying Healthy On Tour 
1:01:24 Birthday Plans 
1:03:55 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 
1:04:37 Pizza/Candy Debate 
1:10:54 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 
1:11:52 Tour Highlights and Burnout 
1:16:57 Music City Audiology 
1:17:39 Charting and Music Education 
1:29:09 Groove MPL (Sponsor) 
1:30:20 Home Studio and Iron Maiden Mic 
1:35:05 Tattoos and Hobbies 
1:41:09 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com


Connect with Mace:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santamariuhhh
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@santamariuhhh
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@santamariuhhh

Music Featured in this Episode:
"She's My Handsome" - 76th Street

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Attendee and exhibitor interviews from the 2026 Music City Drum Show, July 18-19 in Nashville, TN.

Register for the 2027 Music City Drum Show
https://www.musiccitydrumshow.com

Interviews
0:00 Intro
3:33 Kris Mazzarisi - Story Behind Big Fat Snare Drum 
17:15 Derek Lee (Beat Note) - "Combining Passions" 
24:48 Daniel Hegerle - "Favorite Event of the Year"
28:27 Taylor Morgan - "One Year in Nashville"
30:38 Alex Mortem - "Play Hard, Play Fast"
34:36 Shawn Tracht - "The Great American Drum Shop Road Trip"
57:26 Mace Santa Maria - "Girls Stick Together"
1:03:43 Majo Herrera - "Enjoying the Process"
1:06:17 Christian Gendics - "Welcome to Town"
1:07:38 Ryan Whitt - "Keeping Things Rolling"
1:10:02 Ed Bettinelli - Thumb Thang
1:15:07 Ory Brochet - "Orybon Drums: Sound Different"
1:21:24 Josh Blount - Lucky Drums 
1:24:00 Matt Bover - "Best Pizza in Nashville?" 
1:30:34 Greg Hersey - "Innovation in Percussion Setups" 
1:35:22 Jacob Robinson - "Learning by Doing"

Support the show

Connect with us:
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Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Attendee and exhibitor interviews from the 2026 Music City Drum Show, July 18-19 in Nashville, TN.

Register for the 2027 Music City Drum Show
https://www.musiccitydrumshow.com

Interviews
0:00 Intro
3:34 Tom Stanfill - "Drumming Community is Fantastic" 
5:49 Jacqueline Cloud - "Change, Content, & Fudge" 
11:04 Edgel Groves - "Music Tech & Business" 
15:04 Alexander Hubbard - "Talent Show Rockstar" 
16:15 Lleyton Brainard - "Identity & Lemurian People" 
20:32 Laurie Toscano - "Lobsters & Accordions" 
26:47 Fisher Wilkie - "Drums & Tortellini" 
30:53 Dorothea Taylor - "Rudiments & Stardom"
35:32 Outro

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
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Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Pittsburgh native, Luke Zajdel! Luke is currently the touring drummer for country artist Walker Montgomery. A lifelong Rush fan, Luke shares why Clockwork Angels is his favorite record, memories of seeing Neil Peart play 5x, and his emotional reaction to Rush’s return announcement. He explains adapting the note-for-note prog mindset to Nashville’s more flexible country and session culture, learning charting after a last-minute Whiskey Jam call, and developing stage presence by loosening up. Luke shares how important mentors and teachers have been in his development, specifically studying with Mark Poiesz, who has helped with stage presence, mindset, and meditation. We touch on other influences like David Garibaldi, Morgan Rose, and Danny Carey, touring routines, fitness, meditation, home recording, and of course, Luke's seemingly perfect posture behind the kit. We hope you enjoy!


Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:17 Welcome, Luke! 
2:23 On Tour w/ Walker Montgomery 
5:39 PPG Arena Homecoming 
5:52 Rush Roots and Favorite Album 
12:23 Six Months To Obsess 
13:53 Garibaldi Rabbit Hole 
15:09 Rock Showmanship Chops 
17:24 Seeing Neil Peart Live 
18:25 Nashville Grind and Purpose 
26:38 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor) 
27:38 Looking the Part 30:23 Move to Nashville 
31:52 Early Gigs and First Kit 
34:50 Drum Box (Sponsor) 
38:39 Rush to Country Mindsets 
44:29 Mentorship & Meditation 
49:24 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 
50:06 Touring Habits and Fitness 
54:09 Perfect Posture 
59:58 Lesson Routine and Teachers 
1:00:38 Overqualified For The Gig 
1:03:34 Tour Culture and Temptations 
1:09:36 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 
1:10:33 Home Recording Goals 
1:13:42 Rapid Fire Questions 
1:21:22 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com


Connect with Luke:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lzajdelmusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/2112rushfan1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lzajdelmusic

Music Featured in this Episode:
"All Night Long Left" - Walker Montgomery
"Outlaws & Outsiders" - Cory Marks

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Massachusetts native, Wesley Bourque! Wes is currently the touring drummer for rising country singer/songwriter Logan Crosby. In addition to gigging and recording, he serves as Artist Relations for NY-based distributor/record label United Masters. In this wide-ranging conversation, Wes shares his journey from small-town New England to the move to Nashville in 2014. We dive into his early years working day jobs at well-known coffee shops, building relationships, and his thoughts on navigating perception and identity. He shares lessons from Broadway, prepping for fill-in gigs with and without charts, and high-stress playback realities including redundancy and backup plans. Wes dives into Noble & Cooley’s history and his personal connection to the company, plus touring highlights and challenges with Logan (including a van fire) and why story, narrative, and platform-specific content matter in today’s saturated music landscape. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:51 Welcome, Wes! 
2:17 Broadway Connections 
9:10 Ableton/Playback Stress 
18:24 Noble & Cooley Origins 
29:13 Unexpected Event Planning 
30:14 Full Circle Maddie & Tae 
33:03 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor) 
34:07 Networking & Coffee Shops 
36:08 Breaking Out Of Labels 
39:31 Artist Relations and Marketing 
45:28 Saturation and Storytelling 
50:28 Drum Box (Sponsor) 
51:11 Marketing For Musicians 
55:46 Subbing Prep (Charts vs Memorization) 
1:00:37 Japan Fly-Date Story
1:07:45 Iconic Fills and Pranks
1:09:58 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 
1:11:12 NAMM Lessons and Trade Shows 
1:24:04 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 
1:25:06 Landing Logan Crosby Gig 
1:29:13 Tour Life and Van Fire 
1:37:31 Advice for Younger Drummers 
1:44:48 Whiskey Jam Wobble 
1:48:44 Platform Content Strategy 
2:00:20 Handling Mistakes During a Show 
2:03:34 Music City Audiology (Sponsor) 
2:04:25 Guitar Hero Drum Lore 
2:05:42 Rapid Fire Questions 
2:14:52 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
http://musiccityaudiology.com


Connect with Wes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bourquechop/

Music Featured in this Episode:
"So Damn Free" - Logan Crosby
"A Parking Lot Far Away" - Logan Crosby

Support the show

Connect with us:
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TikTok
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Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome multi‑platinum Nashville session drummer, Aksel Coe! Since moving to Nashville in 2018, Aksel has quickly made a name for himself as one of the city's most sought-after session drummers, having recorded on many of today's top country, pop, and indie tracks. Recent recording credits include Ella Langley (ACM Song of the Year 'Choosin' Texas'), Role Model, Holly Humberstone, Zach Bryan, Sierra Ferrell, Willow Avalon, K. Flay, Margo Price, Orville Peck, Sasha Alex Sloan, Cody Jinks, Sam Barber, Wyatt Flores, and Joshua Bassett, among many others. We dive right into Aksel's diverse musical upbringing and his journey from the West Coast to Nashville. Aksel shares invaluable advice and perspective on the home recording process — from creating efficient workflows on and off the drums, when and when not to cheap out on gear, and how to create and effectively market your own sample or loop pack. We discuss avoiding burnout, Nashville's shifting studio landscape, and of course, his acting debut in the 2025 biopic 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.' We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:45 Welcome, Aksel!
5:25 Breathwork For Drummers 
10:54 Engineer vs Drummer Hat 
14:07 Practice? 
16:55 Early Life and First Kit 
25:46 Buy Cheap Or Buy Twice 
27:52 Too Many Snares? 
28:44 Session Preset Workflow 
29:46 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor) 
30:49 First Drum Kit 
33:23 Mentors and Vintage Pearls 
37:42 Drum Box (Sponsor) 
38:23 Vintage vs Modern Recording 
39:23 Recording Trends 
40:33 Burnout and Identity 
42:10 Tracking 537 Songs 
49:15 Live Band vs Studio Players 
55:32 Free Jazz Influence 
57:35 Recording As Improv 
1:07:53 Session Nightmares 
1:20:42 Splice Packs Strategy 
1:25:26 Sample Packs Explained 
1:34:15 Record Yourself More 
1:35:06 Flaws vs Tendencies 
1:40:40 Overdubbing Cymbals 
1:43:31 Session Communication Skills 
1:47:44 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 
1:48:25 Home Studio vs Commercial Rooms 
1:55:19 Scarlett vs Apollo Debate 
2:02:47 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 
2:03:44 Aksel's Acting Debut (Springsteen Movie) 
2:11:32 Music City Audiology (Sponsor) 
2:12:48 Rapid Fire Questions 
2:20:37 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
http://musiccityaudiology.com


Connect with Aksel:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akselcoedrums
Website: https://www.akselcoe.com

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Chicago drummer, musician, and entertainer, Aaron Paulsen! Amassing over 4.6 million followers across social media platforms, Aaron has taken his generation by storm with his unique video creations that blend extreme musicianship, storytelling, and undeniable humor. We dive into Aaron's upbringing as a classical percussionist from Chicago, dropping out of a percussion performance scholarship during COVID to pursue content full-time, and the eventual move to Nashville. Aaron breaks down the genesis of his one-man-band setup and other rhythmic gag videos, and his shift from short-form to long-form content. The conversation covers mental health and social media trends, martial arts training and other hobbies, skepticism around traditional industry endorsement models, how to be your most creative self, and fulfilling your true purpose. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:51 Welcome, Aaron! 
3:43 Chicago Roots 
8:16 One-Man Band Origins 
10:14 Musical Family and Influences 
14:53 Comedy Influences 
19:53 Martial Arts And Drumming 
31:48 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor) 
33:03 Move To Nashville 
40:18 Nashville vs LA Culture 
49:11 Content Creator Breakdown 
52:19 Authenticity vs Polished Content 
1:05:45 Dropping Out, Mental Health 
1:08:44 Drum Box (Sponsor) 
1:09:36 Social Media Comparison 
1:15:09 Be the Trend 
1:16:15 Skillmaxxing 
1:21:03 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 
1:26:14 Shorts to Long-form Content 
1:30:54 Building a Brand 
1:36:10 Defining Success and Purpose 
1:43:47 PASIC and Percussion Culture 
1:48:40 Navigating Endorsements as a Creator 
2:07:52 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 
2:08:59 Advice for Young Creators 
2:13:22 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com


Connect with Aaron:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronpaulsendrums
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aaronpaulsen
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AaronPaulsen

Music Featured in this Episode:
...from "The Great Lock In Mixtape" - Aaron Paulsen

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART 

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC