The Real Country Podcast by Nikki in Nashville
Real Country is a podcast about the people, stories, and culture behind country and Western life; where music is the backbone, but not the whole story. Hosted by Nikki, Real Country goes beyond radio hits and industry hype to explore what it actually takes to build a life, career, or legacy rooted in country and Western values. Each episode features honest conversations with country music artists, creators, ranchers, entrepreneurs, photographers, and cultural voices shaping modern country, from Nashville to rural communities across the West. This show isn’t about chasing trends or overnight success. It’s about the long road: consistency, grit, creativity, and staying true to your way of life in a world that’s changing fast. You’ll hear real stories about breaking into music, building businesses, preserving culture, growing audiences, and creating something meaningful outside the mainstream. Real Country also dives into bigger conversations around culture, creativity, and the future, covering topics like independent artists, Western entrepreneurship, personal brand, content creation, land, work ethic, and the evolving role of technology and AI in music and media. If you care about country music, Western culture, honest work, and the people building something real, this podcast is for you.
Episodes
I sat down with Adam Trenk, attorney turned owner of one of the most iconic saddle brands in the American West, to talk about one of the most remarkable comeback stories I've ever heard.
In 2019, Adam learned that Genuine Billy Cook Saddles, a 70-year-old American institution founded in Greenville, Texas in 1953, was on the verge of shutting down after its founder passed away. With no background in manufacturing and a legal career i...
From Garbage Truck to Grand Ole Opry; Riley Downing's Landfill Poetry
Missouri-raised troubadour Riley Downing stopped by the Real Country Podcast at his album release party at Skinny Dennis in Nashville to talk to me about one of the most unique origin stories in Americana music.
Before joining the Deslondes and landing on John Prine's legendary Oh Boy Records, Riley was riding a trash truck in Holt, Missouri, and writin...
"Hard to Be a Hero in a World That Doesn't Want to Be Saved" | Frank Ray on the Real Country Podcast
Former cop turned country artist Frank Ray sits down with me to talk life on the road, fatherhood, and what it really means to serve.
Frank opens up about his 10 years in law enforcement, the moment Keith Urban changed everything, and the story behind his powerful new song "Hard To Be A Hero", written to memorialize a fallen officer and humanize the men and women who do the job every day.
He also talks about his FRAY init...
Brennan Scott Greene is a freelance cowboy in the truest sense... by day he's working ranches across the Texas Panhandle, and by night he's on stage opening festivals like Dusty Vaquero Days in Gillette, Wyoming with one of the most unforgettable sets in western music.
In this episode, I sit down with Brennan right after his performance to talk about what it means to live the cowboy life in 2026, how that life shapes his songwr...
Y'all, this one was SO good. I got to sit down with Rachel Brooke. the underground country queen from Northern Michigan, and honestly this might be one of my favorite conversations I've had on the Real Country Podcast. Her new album This One's For You dropped April 24th and she came in with zero filter. Love her for it.
We talk about what it actually looks like to do everything yourself as an independent country artist, the booking,...
Alex Miller has been more country than most people twice his age since he was ten years old, and this conversation proves it.
Raised in Lancaster, Kentucky on Merle Haggard records and late nights at honky tonks with his granddaddy, Alex Miller is 22 years old and already has a Grand Ole Opry debut, an American Idol Season 19 run, and a brand new album under his belt. And not just any album, More Country Than You features an unrelea...
On this special episode of The Real Country Podcast, The Real Country Corner, I sit down with T. Graham Brown for a conversation that feels like sitting with a true piece of country music history. With an illustrious career spanning more than 50 years, T. Graham has built a legacy not only through his own music, but through the incredible company he’s kept along the way. We talk about his friendships and experiences with some...
In this episode, I sit down with Brit Taylor for a conversation about Appalachian roots, country music, songwriting, motherhood, heartbreak, and finding your true sound as an artist. We get into Brit’s upbringing in Eastern Kentucky along the Country Music Highway, the deep well of talent and resilience that comes out of Appalachia, and why she believes that region carries a kind of “underlying lonesome” you can h...
In this special edition of the Real Country Podcast, The Real Country Corner, I sit down with Adam Sanders fresh off winning the first season of CBS’s The Road. We talk about what it was really like to win the show, why he had to keep the result quiet for months during filming and post-production, and what it felt like knowing his life was about to change before he could tell the world. Adam was officially announced as the in...
On a special edition of The Real Country Podcast...The Real Country Corner...I sat down with 2000s country star Cyndi Thomson to discuss life after her break from music and the 25th anniversary of her hit song, What I Really Meant to Say.
What I Really Meant To Say topped the US Hot Country Songs chart for three consecutive weeks and was one of 2001's most played songs at country radio, and was part of her My World album.
She's back ...
In a special edition of The Real Country Podcast...The Real Country Corner...Walker Montgomery sat down with me at CRS in Nashville to discuss what's about to be his biggest year yet!
Son of John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Eddie Montgomery, Walker is carving a career and path all his own.
With a new record signing, new music on the way, first headlining tour AND a wedding on the slate for this year, we had a lil bit of fun talk...
In this episode, I’m sitting down with emerging country artist Worth Gibson for a conversation that goes way deeper than music alone. We talk about his roots in ranching and cowboy life, how personal hardship shaped his songwriting, and why authenticity still matters so much in country music. Worth also opens up about his connection to mustang preservation and rescue advocacy, which gives this episode a whole other layer beyo...
Country music had a LOT going on this week. In this video, I’m reacting to Colter Wall stepping away from touring for his mental health, Johnny Blue Skies / Sturgill Simpson dropping Mutiny After Midnight, Gavin Adcock’s new classic country tribute project Country Never Dies, and the new Riley Green + Carly Pearce duet “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.”
If you’re into country music new...
In this episode of the Real Country Podcast, I sit down with Texas singer-songwriter Coleman Jennings for a deep conversation about songwriting, authenticity, and the current state of country music.
Coleman Jennings is part of a new wave of independent country artists bringing raw, honest storytelling back to the genre. In this interview, he talks about growing up in Austin, finding his voice as a songwriter, and why he prefers writ...
The Reeves Brothers join The Real Country Podcast for an honest conversation about building an independent country music career in Nashville...and a hilarious whiskey tasting.
Matt and Cole break down how they grew to 150,000+ monthly Spotify listeners without signing a major record label, why they chose to stay independent, and what it really takes to survive in today’s country music industry.
We talk about:
• Sleeping in...
In this episode of Real Country, we sit down with Jack Browning, a British singer-songwriter whose music is deeply influenced by American country, Americana, and the Western way of life, despite being far from Nashville.
Jack shares how he first discovered country music in the UK, what drew him to the sounds and stories of the American West, and why authenticity matters more than trends in today’s music industry. We talk songw...
In this episode from the Real Country Podcast archives, I sat down with Chancey Williams to talk about a path that looks nothing like the Nashville playbook.
Chancey shares his journey from growing up in Wyoming, earning a rodeo scholarship, and living the cowboy life, to building a successful country music career rooted in authenticity, grit, and real fans. We talk about how rodeo and ranch life shaped his songwriting, why sta...
This is a Real Country archive episode featuring rising country artist Taylor Austin Dye, recorded before some of her biggest recent milestones, and it’s one worth revisiting.
In this conversation, Taylor shares her journey from Kentucky roots to building a fiercely loyal “Ride or Dye” fanbase, her blend of Southern rock and country, and what it meant to step onto the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first time. We tal...
In this episode of The Real Country Podcast from the archives, I'm again live for The Carter Studio Sessions! I sat down with Americana singer-songwriter Sophie Gault for a deeply honest conversation about music, mental health, and writing songs that don’t shy away from uncomfortable truths.
Sophie talks about the long road to releasing her sophomore album, Baltic Street Hotel (out September 20 of 2024), and what it ...
In this episode of The Real Country Podcast, from the archives, I'm showcasing my first artist on The Carter Studio Sessions. I sat down with rising Americana artist Zach Meadows for an honest conversation about songwriting, Nashville, and taking the long road as an independent artist.
Zach shares his journey from growing up in Orlando, Florida, to finding his sound in the Carolinas, and ultimately committing fully to music by movin...
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