SuperFan Diaries

JR Greene here, coming to you from the podcast booth on Music Row in "Nash-Vegas!" Today, we’ve got a real Bears legend in the house. We’re talking about the man who has played more games in a Chicago Bears uniform than Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, or Mike Ditka. Please welcome the one, the only, Patrick Mannelly!

Patrick spent 16 seasons as the most consistent long snapper in NFL history, and in this episode, we’re diving into the "perfectionist gene" required for the job. We cover everything from his Duke education (and why he almost went to Wall Street instead of the NFL) to the secret of a perfect spiral snap.In this episode, we’re talking:

The specialized life of a Long Snapper: Why you only get noticed when you make a mistake—and how Patrick avoided those for 16 years.

Longsnapper.com: How he snagged the ultimate domain name for just $9 back in 1999!

The Patrick Mannelly Award: Why it’s so important to recognize the unsung heroes of college football.

The "Honey Bears" Curse: We get Patrick's take on the legendary Chicago curse I covered in my last episode.

Desert Fan Island: Patrick reveals his must-have movie (Fletch!), his favorite Soldier Field snack, and which Bears legend he’d want to be stranded with.

Whether you're a die-hard Bears fan or just a student of the game, you don't want to miss Patrick's stories from the sideline and his bond with legends like Jim McMahon and Rex Grossman.

Find Patrick at longsnapper.com and make sure to follow, review, and nominate your favorite superfan at superfandiaries.com.

Remember, if you make one person smile today, you’ve had a great day. If you make ‘em laugh? Even better.

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Good evening, fans! JR Greene here, coming to you from the Superfan Diaries booth in the heart of Music City, Nashville!

Tonight, we’re diving into the strange, the superstitious, and the downright spooky world of Sports Curses. Have you ever wondered why your team just can’t seem to catch a break? Is it bad coaching, or is there a 100-year-old goat to blame?

We’re breaking down the most infamous streaks in history, including:

Whether it’s skyscrapers in Philly or ghosts in San Francisco, we’re exploring why we, as superfans, believe in the impossible. Did putting a tiny statue on top of a skyscraper really save Philadelphia sports in 2008? You be the judge!

Grab a hot dog from the stand outside and settle in. Do you believe in curses, or is it all just luck? Let me know in the comments!

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Today’s episode of Superfan Diaries is a deeply personal one. As many of you know, Nashville, Tennessee, and the entire world recently lost a true legend: Dolly Parton.

I’ve been thinking a lot about her impact lately, and I wanted to share a story that goes back way before I was even born. My family has a unique history with Dolly—my great uncles, the Bailey Brothers, were bluegrass pioneers who gave a young, 9-year-old Dolly one of her very first breaks on the Cas Walker Show when no one else had a slot for her.

Fast forward to my 20s, when I was living in LA and "tinkering" with the idea of becoming a country music star myself. I sent my demo to Dolly through my Uncle Dan, and a few weeks later, I received a letter that I still read with goosebumps to this day.

In this video, I’m sharing the contents of that beautiful, humble letter from 2003 and the "humble reality" it gave me about my own career path. We’ll talk about Dolly’s incredible mentorship, her unmatched grace, and why she remains the ultimate icon for superfans everywhere.

Also, keep an eye out for a little "Where’s Waldo" moment—Dolly actually makes a special appearance in my book, My Magic Tux!

Thank you for everything, Dolly. We’ll miss you.

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Welcome back to the Superfan Diaries! I’m your host JR Greene, and today we have a true American warrior in the studio. You’ve seen the movie Black Hawk Down, but today you’re hearing from a man who was actually on that helicopter on October 3rd, 1993.

We’re sitting down with Keni Thomas—U.S. Army Ranger, Bronze Star recipient, author, and country music artist. Keni takes us inside that 17-hour firefight in Mogadishu and shares the life-changing lessons on leadership and commitment that he brought home with him.

But it’s not all war stories! We talk about:

Plus, stick around for a live performance of Keni’s hilarious original song about a trip to Mexico gone wrong!

Find Keni at: KeniThomas.com
Pick up his book: Get It On (available wherever books are sold)
Follow the show: SuperfanDiaries.com

Remember, if you make one person smile today, you’ve had a great day. Make ‘em laugh? Even better. Go get ‘em!

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It’s your host JR Greene, and today we are coming to you live from the beginning of Music Row in Nashville Vegas for a very special episode of the Superfan Diaries! Today, we’ve got a Kentucky man in the house who’s been singing Bluegrass truth since he was seven years old!

He’s six foot six, more country than you, and he’s taking the world by storm. We’re talking about the one and only Alex Miller! We dive into everything from his incredible journey on American Idol to meeting country legend Tracy Byrd in an elevator! Plus, Alex performs some exclusive tunes like his hit “Give ‘Em the Bird” and a never-before-heard Alan Jackson song!

Grab a cold one, sit back, and get ready for a little Miller Time! Don’t forget to follow Alex at @amillermusic and check out his new album “More Country Than You” on all platforms. If you make one person smile today, you've had a great day. Make 'em laugh even better! See ya on the next one!

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Good afternoon and welcome back to the Superfan Diaries! I’m your host, JR Green, recording live from our studios on Broadway in the heart of downtown Nashville. We talk a lot about passion and glory on this show, but today is different. Today, we’re sitting down with a man who knows exactly what it means to show up when showing up costs everything.

I’m joined by Birmingham’s own Noah Galloway—a U.S. Army veteran, a Dancing with the Stars finalist, and the first-ever amputee to grace the cover of Men’s Health. Noah takes us through the darkest days following that life-altering IED attack in Iraq back in 2005 and shares the exact moment in front of a mirror that changed his mindset forever.

We’re diving deep into his "No Excuses" philosophy, his grueling trek through the Indonesian jungle (complete with a gift you won't believe!), and what it’s really like to go from a military humvee to a ballroom floor. Plus, we’ll hear about his massage-therapist alter ego. This is a story about sacrifice, persistence, and the remarkable rebirth of an American soldier. You don’t want to miss this one.

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Today on the Superfan Diaries, we have a true Georgia man in the house. You might know John Berry for that pure, soulful tenor voice that gave us 'Your Love Amazes Me,' but what you might not know is the absolute mountain this man had to climb to keep that voice singing.

From Aiken to Atlanta to the hallowed grounds of Athens, John has lived a life defined by grit. We’re talking about a guy who played his heart out after Bulldogs home games for anyone who’d listen, then faced down a motorcycle accident that nearly took his legs, brain surgery, and even vocal cord surgery. John opens up about the surreal moment he found out he had the #1 song in the country while lying in a hospital bed, and the incredible 'secret code' his wife, Robin, uses from the audience to make sure he never misses a lyric.

Whether you’re a die-hard Braves fan, a Bulldogs devotee, or just someone who needs a reminder that the 'grind' is worth it, John’s story is going to move you. Grab a Diet Coke, settle in, and let’s get to it.

Be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share your own game day traditions at SuperfanDiaries.com. Let’s go get ‘em!

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Welcome back to the Superfan Diaries! I’m your host, JR Green, and today’s guest is a true architect of the Nashville sound. Pam Rose is a Grammy-nominated songwriter whose hits have been recorded by everyone from Martina McBride and Reba McEntire to Restless Heart and Peter Cetera. But before she was penning #1 records, she was a nine-year-old girl in Florida, obsessed with the "crack of the bat" and the legendary 1961 home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.

In this episode, Pam shares the unbelievable story of how she tucked her long hair under a baseball cap to pass as a boy just to pitch in Little League. We dive deep into the competitive spirit of songwriting, the unique "synergy" of her longtime partnership with Mary Ann Kennedy, and why she believes the best songs are born from competing against yourself.

Plus, we get an exclusive look at her upcoming memoir, Sovereign Witness, and hear why she would choose Albert Einstein as her sole companion on a deserted island.

Whether you're a die-hard Yankees fan or a lover of country music history, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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The kick is up, and we’re going from the big screen to center stage with Nashville’s own Jet Jurgensmeyer!

J.R. Greene here, and on this episode of Superfan Diaries, we’re hanging out with a kid who was born into the bright lights of Music City and never looked back. You might know him as Spanky from The Little Rascals, the young Marty Byrde in Ozark, or Boyd Baxter on Last Man Standing, but today, Jet is back in his hometown to show us he’s much more than a child star—he’s a die-hard Nashville superfan and a rising country music powerhouse.

We’re diving deep into Jet’s incredible 16-year career—starting at age five!—and hearing the behind-the-scenes stories from the sets of American Sniper (where he played cornhole with Bradley Cooper) and Last Man Standing (where Tim Allen taught him the true meaning of kindness). Jet also opens up about the grit it takes to survive in Hollywood, revealing the "game of attrition" that involves over 400 auditions a year and why he’s currently studying Legal Studies in college just to make sure he never signs a bad contract.

But it wouldn't be Superfan Diaries without a little sports talk! We discuss his lifelong loyalty to the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators, his memories of the "Music City Miracle" era, and the electric energy of seeing Messi play right here in Nashville.

Stick around for an exclusive acoustic performance of his latest radio single, "Nothing on You," and find out what an actor-turned-musician takes to "Desert Fan Island."

Hit play to hear how a kid from a Nashville dinner theater became a household name—and why his heart will always belong to the 615. Go Titans, Go Preds, and let's get it!

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The kick is up, and we’re storming the field with the legend of the Big Orange Tux!

J.R. Greene here, and on this episode of Superfan Diaries, I’m taking you back to a moment that defined a generation of Tennessee football—and my own life. We’re traveling back to the 1998 National Championship game in Tempe, Arizona, to revisit the night a white thrift-store suit, 60 orange magic markers, and a little bit of "James Bond" inspiration turned a regular student into the "Big Orange Tux Guy."

From a chance encounter with moon-walker Buzz Aldrin to freezing in front of 30,000 fans while trying to sing "Rocky Top," this story is about more than just a lucky outfit. It’s about the sheer audacity of a fan who just wanted to show the world that Tennessee has class, and ended up leading the undefeated Vols onto the field for the biggest game in school history.

But the magic didn't stop in '98. After a viral ESPN article by Chris Low brought the "Big Orange Tux" legend back into the spotlight 25 years later, the story has found a new life. I am beyond thrilled to announce the release of "My Magic Tux," the very first children’s book ever published by the University of Tennessee! This isn’t just a sports story; it’s a lesson in courage, confidence, and being yourself, even if you’re covered in magic marker.

Hit play to hear how a 30-inch waist (I miss those days!) and a dream led to a national title and a literary legacy. Plus, find out how 100% of my royalties from the book are going back to UT Libraries for literacy and a brand-new foundation for kids.

Be sure to grab your copy of My Magic Tux when it hits shelves July 28th! Because whether you're in the stands or on the field, the magic is in you all along. Go Vols!

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