Ram It, Jam It

This episode features James Spann, chief meteorologist, chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40 and co-host of the podcast “WeatherBrains.” Spann talks about being raised by a single mom in Greenville, Ala., developing a passion for weather during his high school years in Tuscaloosa and learning the meteorological ropes with jobs early in his career in Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Dallas. He also discusses the emerging technological advances in his field, the devastating weather events that shaped his personal feelings about his work, his faith as a Christian and how it applies to his job and what it has taken for him to reach the heights of meteorology and weather broadcasting.

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This episode features Chris Zeiler, drummer for longtime Tuscaloosa indie rock staple Baak Gwai along with another project The Great American Breakdown. Zeiler talks about Baak Gwai’s humble beginnings in the Druid City, how the band formed with a random and mistaken phone call and why the band has remained in its hometown of Tuscaloosa. He also talks about growing up with a rocket scientist for a dad, playing high school sports while getting into punk rock in the South and learning the ups and downs of touring at a young age.

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This episode features Rick Bragg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and University of Alabama writing professor, whose latest book “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story” recently released. Bragg talks about growing up in East Alabama, learning good storytelling from his family, starting his long career in journalism in high school and traveling all over the world while working at The New York Times. He also talks about winning his Pulitzer Prize, leaving the newspaper business for books and teaching, telling his deeply personal family history in bestsellers like “All Over But the Shoutin’,” challenging his students to tell tough stories and getting nervous during a Sports Illustrated interview with Nick Saban.

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This short episode features ESPN Radio and college football media behemoth Paul Finebaum, whose new book “My Conference Can Beat Your Conference: Why the SEC Rules College Football,” from HarperCollins, will go on sale Aug. 12, 2014. Finebaum talks about the newly unveiled book cover, the callers who participated and what readers can expect from a highly anticipated and long-gestating project.

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This episode features Nathan Pitts, guitarist and songwriter for the popular Muscle Shoals band The Bear, whose latest album “Overseas Then Under” released in 2013. Pitts talks about growing up in Sulligent, joining the Air Force and meeting his wife and fellow Bear member Louisa Murray in Florence. He also discusses building The Bear’s unique sound, finding a musical home in the Shoals and writing and recording music on the band’s own terms.

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This episode features Jack Blankenship, best known as the University of Alabama “Face guy,” who recently scored an internship with “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” in New York. He talks about getting the gig, growing the face and moving to the big city.

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This episode features Kevin Waltman, author and English instructor at the University of Alabama. Waltman’s new book “Next” about an inner city high school basketball phenom in Indianapolis is now available. He talks about growing up the son of a basketball coach, working in Indianapolis and getting another young adult novel published.

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This episode features previous guest Adam Morrow, guitarist for Callooh! Callay! and Blane Duncan, and now Della Ray, a new acoustic project with his wife and C!C! bassist Natalie Morrow. Morrow recently joined the Muscle Shoals band Belle Adair, for whom he will play bass. He talks about the new gig and how it will affect his Tuscaloosa projects.

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This episode features Phyllis Perkins, aka “Phyllis from Mulga” from the Paul Finebaum Show. The avid Alabama fan talks about fighting for underdogs everywhere and fighting her own battles with cancer. As fiery a personality as ever on Finebaum’s daily radio show, Perkins remains a cornerstone caller and a bigger Tide fan than ever.

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This episode features Duquette Johnston, the Birmingham musician whose latest album “Rabbit Runs a Destiny” is now available. Johnston talks about growing up on a ranch in Wyoming, forming (and leaving) the successful early 1990s band Verbena, kicking a serious drug habit and fearing he’d never write another song with a looming prison sentence. He also talks about finding rebirth and redemption through his music, faith and family, beginning with the recording of the 2006 album “Etowah.”

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