As the architect behind Rolling Stone Country and the host of the Nashville Now podcast, Joe Hudak has spent decades at the center of the industry. Along with Alison Abbey Hudak, a veteran editor who has shaped the narrative of Nashville’s elite lifestyle media, they offer a wealth of experience in creative survival. This conversation dives into the "show business" of art , the moral weight of elevating artists who mismanage their influence, and the courage required to admit when a prestigious career has stifled your creative brain.

In This Episode:

• Joe Hudak
• Allison Abbey Hudak
• Jonathan Bernstein
• “People Are Drinking Less Than Ever. What’s Country Music to Do?” - Rolling Stone
• Carly Pearce
• Keslea Ballerini
• Sterling Drake
• Marissa Moss
• Nashville Lifestyles
• Ep 47 Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey
• Carl Jung

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron’s work.
• More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

What happens to the creative spirit when you have been a professional "lifer" since the age of nine? Derek Trucks, widely considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and a veteran of the Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton’s touring lineup, joins us to discuss longevity and leading a 12-piece musical circus. We explore the gradual shift from student to teacher, the grounding force of a musical marriage, and the essential practice of "turning the crops" to stay inspired.

In This Episode:

• Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Allman Brothers Band
• The Beacon Theater
• Eric Clapton
• Kofi Burbridge
• John Lee Hooker
• Koko Taylor
• Ace Moreland
• Colonel Bruce Hampton
• Buddy Guy
• Joe Walsh
• Gregg Allman
• Jim Scott
• Tom Dowd
• A Love Supreme
• Krishnamurti
• Mad Dogs & Englishman (movie)

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron’s work.
• More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

How does an artist outlast the industry machine to build a career entirely on her own terms? We sit down with GRAMMY-winner, ACM Vocalist of the year, and CMA Horizon Award recipient Suzy Bogguss to explore the evolution of a 40-year career that spans platinum records and her 2026 induction into the Grand Ole Opry. This conversation is an invitation to reconsider what we value, moving away from the noise of the major label machine and toward a philosophy of quality over quantity, independence, and the deep community.

In This Episode:

• Suzy Bogguss
• Matraca Berg
• Jeff Hanna
• Ep 43 - Gretchen Peters
• Patty Loveless
• Ep 46 - Mary Chapin Carpenter
• Capitol Records
• CAA
• Kathy Mattea
• Folk Alliance
• Ep 16 - Rodney Crowell
• Chet Atkins

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron’s work.
• More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Amythyst Kiah has performed with Moby and Billy Strings and is a member of the supergroup Our Native Daughters. She joins us for a startlingly honest look at the "farce of surface-level success." After a label debut and a whirlwind of global exposure, she found herself "barely hanging on for dear life" amidst the pressure of a rat race industry. We explore her journey to achieve detachment from outcomes, writing for sync licensing (film + TV) as a creative recharge, and the ancient wisdom that helped her trade the self-improvement doom loop for a slower, sustainable creative life.

In This Episode:

• Amaythyst Kiah
• Our Native Daughters
• Brian Eno
• ‘Music for Airports’
• Allison Russell
• ‘Tao Te Ching’
• Marcus Aurelius
• ‘Siddhartha’

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron’s work.
• More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

James Victore is an Emmy Award-winning artist and author whose work is held in the permanent collection of the Louvre and has been exhibited many times at MoMA (NYC). Victore has shaped the visual language of institutions from 'The New York Times' to the City of New York. In this conversation, we explore the spiritual gravity of "staying in the pool" when creativity gets hard, discuss the incubation time of the soul, the environmental and creative toll of our want of ease, and the quiet, daily discipline of living consciously in a world designed to keep us asleep.

In This Episode:

• James Victore
• Museum of Natural History NYC
• Mr Doodle
• Keith Haring
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• ‘A League of Their Own’

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron’s work.
• More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

Singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman has earned critical acclaim, award nominations, and has worked with legends like Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket. In this episode, we discuss the grueling physical and mental requirements of "making it." From working manual labor to stay afloat while not on the road to navigating the complex realities of running a bona fide business, S.G. opens up about scarcity, OCD, and the hard-won wisdom of learning to drive the lawnmower instead of letting it drive you.

In This Episode:

• SG Goodman
• Mas Tacos
• Madison Cunningham
• Jesse Welles

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron’s work.
• More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

5-time GRAMMY-nominee Hunter Hayes has spent his entire life on the national stage, from performing at the White House at age seven to sharing stadium spotlights with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift. Yet, behind the multi-platinum accolades was a realization that his professional development had far outpaced his personal life. In this episode, we explore the vulnerability of "growing up" in the public eye, the paralyzing fear of not being busy, and how a strict routine can actually provide the ultimate freedom to play. And, we chat about how starting from a place of love is the only viable way to build an artistic career that lasts.

In This Episode:

• Hunter Hayes
• Dann Huff
• Ep136 - Chely Wright
• Ep 73 - Edwin McCain

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron’s work.
• More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

Butch Walker has spent decades at the summit of the music industry, producing multi-platinum records for icons like Pink, Katy Perry, and Green Day while fronting his own high-energy solo tours. Yet, despite reaching that peak, he found himself "climbing the hill" so intently that he had forgotten to look at the view, leading to burnout and a desire to step back. In this conversation, we explore the courage required to dismantle an ego-driven path in favor of a soul-driven one, and finding unbridled joy in the simple act of being a "sponge" for new inspiration.

In This Episode:

• Butch Walker
• John Legend
• 'The Real Frank Zappa Book'
• Train
• Taylor Swift
• Bad Bunny
• Kendrick Lamar
• Desmond Child

Go Deeper:

• Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
• Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
• Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Hosts:

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach).

• More about Aaron's work.
• More about Michaela Anne's work.

Credits: 

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

Kathleen Edwards has been releasing records for over 20 years on labels such as Rounder and Dualtone, she is critically acclaimed by NPR, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone, and has worked with Jason Isbell, Bon Iver, John Doe, Marren Morris. We talk to Kathleen about winning the lottery, quitting as an ego reset, why musicians are the bottom of the food chain, finishing on a positive, and a whole lot more.

Get more access and support this show by subscribing to our Patreon, right here.

Links:

• Kathleen Edwards
• Ken Yates
• Allison Russell
• Stephen Wilson Jr
• Ep 126 - Yancey Strickler
• Kahlil Gibran

Click here to watch this conversation on YouTube.

Social Media:

• The Other 22 Hours Instagram
• The Other 22 Hours TikTok
• Michaela Anne Instagram
• Aaron Shafer-Haiss Instagram

All music written, performed, and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Become a subscribing member on our Patreon to gain more inside access including exclusive content, workshops, the chance to have your questions answered by our upcoming guests, and more.

UMAW (the United Musicians and Allied Workers) is a labor organization that 'Aims to organize music workers to fight for a more just music industry and to join with other workers in the struggle for a better society.' Their campaigns include Fair Pay at SXSW, #MyMerch (raising awareness of venues taking an unfair cut), Justice at Spotify, and probably most prominently, The Living Wage For Musicians Act sponsored by Rep Rashida Tlaib in the US Congress currently. We talk with a representative from UMAW - Damon Krukowski (a working musician, and a founder of late 80's indie rocker band Galaxie 500) about who UMAW is, what they are fighting for, and how we can all join the fight.

Get more access and support this show by subscribing to our Patreon, right here.

Links:

• UMAW
• Galaxie 500
• ‘Why Sound Matters’
• Ep 126 - Yancey Strickler
• AFM
• SAG-AFTRA
• Living Wage for Musicians Act

Click here to watch this conversation on YouTube.

Social Media:

• The Other 22 Hours Instagram
• The Other 22 Hours TikTok
• Michaela Anne Instagram
• Aaron Shafer-Haiss Instagram

All music written, performed, and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Become a subscribing member on our Patreon to gain more inside access including exclusive content, workshops, the chance to have your questions answered by our upcoming guests, and more.