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Circling The Drain

Circling The Drain

By: John E. Bozeman & Jay Harper
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Summary

 Circling The Drain is a show about the current state of the music and radio businesses as well as culture in general! Hosted by John E. Bozeman and Jay Harper along with Jim McCarthy as Co-Host/Executive Producer. John has had a storied career in music and talk radio, most notably as the Executive Producer for the late and legendary Phil Valentine. Jay also has has a long career in radio as Announcer, Play-by-Play, Voice and On-Camera Actor. He was also an Artist Rep for MCA records. Jim McCarthy ALSO has had a tremendous career in radio since 1996 and has since brought his consulting/producing skillset to the podcast world. Circling the Drain is produced by ItsYourShow.co2025 Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Is AI Killing Real Music? Jared Rogers & John Berry on Faith, Vinyl, Streaming and the New Nashville :: Ep 37 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Is AI Killing Real Music? Jared Rogers & John Berry on Faith, Vinyl, Streaming and the New Nashville :: Ep 37 Circling the Drain Podcast
    May 6 2026
    Circling The Drain welcomes artist and storyteller Jared Rogers, with a special guest drop‑in from country legend John Berry. They dive deep into what’s happened to the magic of music: from growing up around Kenny Rogers and Opryland to the harsh reality of streaming payouts, AI “artists,” and the corporatization of radio and Nashville. Jared shares the story behind his powerful duet with John Berry, “Bridge We All Must Cross,” how faith and real-life struggle shape his writing, and why he’s pushing back against the way DSPs and AI are devaluing human creativity. If you care about real songs, real musicians, vinyl, radio, and the future of music in an AI world, this one hits home. 2:42 Growing up around the business: Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, Lorrie Morgan, Joe Diffie 3:35 Falling in love with storytelling, songwriting and the stage 3:56 John Berry joins the show from the yard in his work shirt 4:32 How the Jared Rogers & John Berry duet came together 5:41 John on choosing “Bridge We All Must Cross” and first hearing Jared’s songs 7:01 John’s Christmas legacy, “O Holy Night,” and being known for faith-based music 8:18 Jared on running sound for John and why he looks up to him as an artist and believer 9:06 Johnny B’s ’80s Athens, GA story and early John Berry interview 10:13 Life in Athens, UGA fans everywhere, and 38 years of marriage 10:51 Kenny Rogers’ classic weekend: music, sports and a young Jared meeting Michael Jordan 12:56 Studio lessons from John Berry – how legends record vocals 15:08 Kenny Rogers’ “first or second take” magic vs. working the song 16:12 Autism benefit show, calling out a reluctant donor from the stage 17:19 Why charity matters after John’s cancer battle and benefit experience 19:39 Music Health Alliance and the power of community in Nashville 20:31 Robin Berry’s role – harmony, touring and doing life together 22:52 Back to Jared – growing up as Kenny Rogers’ nephew and his dad’s voice 25:27 Inside Jim’s studio: Marvel, Jesus, and the “chop shop” joke 27:04 Jared’s musical influences: BB King, David Gilmour, Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Beck, Van Halen 28:47 Meeting Meat Loaf in Vegas and the best advice he gave Jared 30:17 Radio nostalgia: when DJs, records and MTV made music feel magical 31:23 Jared’s favorite part of the business: building songs in the studio 31:57 The spiritual message behind his album “Sinner Man” 33:00 Writing “Bridge We All Must Cross” at 150 mph and finishing in 20 minutes 34:30 Co-writing with Jerry “Papa Bear” Williams and crafting the track 35:00 Why John Berry was the only choice for the duet 37:05 The reality check: streaming platforms are killing songwriters 39:03 Why Jared loves radio and hates what deregulation did to it 40:42 Vinyl vs downloads – what we lost when music left the jacket and liner notes 44:10 The math of streaming: rich platforms, broke creators 45:14 Why Jared wants off DSPs and back to tangible music 46:32 Remembering the needle on vinyl and the drama of dropping the record 47:09 How Broadway and Nashville lost their soul to high-rises and bars 48:31 AmericanaVille in Livingston – intimate listening rooms vs no traffic 50:00 Today’s country: trucks, whiskey, heartbreak and a few standouts 51:18 Social media grind: crowded, loud and hard to convert to real fans 51:49 A better model: direct-to-artist digital sales that actually pay 53:38 The economics of being a working musician in 2020s America 55:00 Life in the shadow of a famous family name and refusing to be a copy 57:46 Hank Jr. as the example of what happens when you finally become yourself 58:19 Why many new artists are still chasing music radio that’s almost out of gas 59:44 Podcasting as the new radio and a path for artists to own their stories 1:03:36 How AI and synthetic “artists” are flooding the market 1:07:15 Entire AI albums, fake singers and charting “artists” that don’t exist 1:09:44 Faith, revelation and what AI disruption might really mean 1:10:14 Terminator, I Robot and why AI isn’t just sci‑fi anymore 1:13:19 Vinyl outsells CDs again and Gen Z brings records back 1:14:26 Why human imperfection and “off” notes are what make records exciting 1:15:00 Old records with energy: Dave Clark Five, Rare Earth and beyond 1:16:47 World premiere spin: “Bridge We All Must Cross” – Jared Rogers & John Berry 1:17:03 First verse – a troubled mind and the path back to the light 1:17:44 Chorus – the bridge we all must cross and the cross we all must bear 1:18:14 John Berry’s vocal enters – voices blend and lift the hook 1:19:39 Jared on watching legends and staying a student in the studio Follow Jared and John:https://www.instagram.com/jaredrogersofficial/https://www.johnberry.com/Follow Johnny B:https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozemanFollow Jay Harper:...
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Dan Mandis: From Dr. Laura To Marconi Winner & The Future Of Talk Radio :: Ep 36 Circling The Drain Podcast

    Dan Mandis: From Dr. Laura To Marconi Winner & The Future Of Talk Radio :: Ep 36 Circling The Drain Podcast
    Apr 29 2026
    On this episode of Circling The Drain, the three J’s sit down with Marconi Award–winning talk host and former WTN program director Dan Mandis for a deep dive into his 30+ years in radio. From cutting his teeth at legendary KFI in Los Angeles with Dr. Laura, to building syndication the hard way, to steering SuperTalk 99.7 WTN through the loss of Phil Valentine, Dan opens up about the highs, lows, and realities of a life behind the mic. You’ll hear how he: - Went from board-op and traffic guy in LA to hosting major-market and national shows - Helped grow Dr. Laura’s show station by station before syndication was “plug-and-play” - Transitioned from producer to host and program director across LA, New York, Dallas, Fort Wayne, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Nashville - Dealt with overnights, early mornings, burnout, and moving his family all over the country - Survived industry cutbacks, never technically got “fired,” and kept landing on his feet - Navigated the aftermath of Phil Valentine’s passing and kept WTN strong - Embraced video, editing, and streaming as an “old radio guy” and why he thinks you must if you’re on air today - Sees podcasting and radio converging and where the next generation of talent will come from Plus: - War stories about unscreened open lines on “America at Night” - A hilariously off-the-rails interview with Van Halen’s former manager Noel Monk - Dr. Laura’s tough-love style, how she sounds exactly the same today, and what Dan learned from her as a broadcaster and as a human - A candid look at conservative talk, Rush, Glenn Beck, and how digging into issues changed Dan’s politics - The power of theater of the mind, why storytelling still wins, and how Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley are doing it in country music today If you love radio, podcasting, broadcasting history, or just great stories from people who’ve “been there and done that,” this episode is loaded. Timed highlights (chapter markers): 3:00 Dan’s favorite market: why a smaller station in Fort Wayne was the most fun 4:05 How Dan actually got his start in radio in Los Angeles 4:55 Early days at KFI: producer, board-op, traffic, and the Dr. Laura connection 6:40 Building Dr. Laura’s syndication station by station, the “old-school” way 7:35 Moving from behind the scenes to PD and host in Colorado Springs, Fort Wayne, Denver, and beyond 9:11 Starting in 1987 and what fascinated Dan about “behind the glass” radio 7:55–9:30 Classic “old days of radio” stories: smoking in studios and nude ballet in the control room 9:44 Why Dan left music radio and embraced talk: “I was a terrible disc jockey” 9:53 Growing up on LA talk radio in the back seat of a smoke-filled car 10:40 Learning production, call screening, and board-op skills at powerhouse KFI 11:59 The rush of live talk, callers, and flying without a net 12:17 Working mornings, spontaneity, and regretting what you said on-air 14:15 Discovering open lines on “America at Night” and the terror of unscreened calls 15:37 Yelling on-air after 30 years of being the “non-yeller” host 15:55 Has Dan ever been fired? Downsizing vs. “real” firing debate 16:43 Radio careers, layoffs, and never being unemployed more than 3 weeks 17:06 Moving markets with a family and the toll it takes at home 18:39 How constant moves impacted Dan’s kids and what they gained from it 19:13 Paying dues and why young would-be hosts need patience 19:41 From radio to podcasting: Dan’s show “Mostly Peaceful with Dan and Chris and Matt” 20:01 Why Dan still believes in radio even while podcasting 20:18 Missing radio so much it hurts: Johnny’s story of stepping away 20:47 Dan on being 58, counting down to retirement, and whether he’d really quit 22:03 Waking up at midnight, prepping for a 5 a.m. show, and the grind behind “just talking” 23:54 Being dragged into video kicking and screaming, then learning to love it 24:55 Teaching himself Premiere Pro and using ChatGPT for vertical content 25:53 Not wanting to be “the old guy who can’t change” and embracing video editing 26:32 Is video hurting radio? Serving stream viewers without abandoning listeners in cars 27:53 Theater of the mind vs. cameras in the studio 28:25 How streaming exposed radio’s wardrobe, and Dan’s wife fixing his on-camera look 29:41 Discovering audiences actually watch radio shows and their passion for live streams 30:44 Why listeners now complain when the video stream goes down 30:44–32:25 How many actual radios do they own now and reception issues even near big signals 33:06 First impressions of WTN, hearing Johnny and Phil and feeling intimidated 34:33 PD stories: “Who are you again?” and live-mic warnings in the hallway 35:30 Intimidation, team-building, and managing big talent without being an a-hole 36:26 Relief at stepping down as ...
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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • Dez Dickerson on Prince, Hendrix, Faith, Talk Radio and Modern Rock :: Ep 35 Circling the Drain Podcast

    Dez Dickerson on Prince, Hendrix, Faith, Talk Radio and Modern Rock :: Ep 35 Circling the Drain Podcast
    Apr 22 2026
    On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper and James Patrick McCarthy sit down with guitarist and broadcaster Dez Dickerson – best known as Prince’s original guitarist from the 1999 and Little Red Corvette era.Dez takes us from his early days in Midwestern cover bands to his legendary audition with Prince, life on the road, opening for the Rolling Stones, his faith journey, leaving the band just as they were about to headline stadiums, and his unexpected path into conservative talk radio.Along the way, the guys dive deep into Jimi Hendrix’s legacy, the darker side of the music business, the opioid epidemic and fentanyl, and why modern rock rarely hits as hard as it used to.What you’ll hear in this episode:- Dez’s wild origin story, starting professional gigs at 14 without even a driver’s license - The real story behind his Prince audition and how “having the vibe” got him the gig - Inside the infamous Rolling Stones opening shows and how Hells Angels changed the narrative - Why he walked away from Prince’s band at the brink of stadium-headliner status - Dez’s conversion to Christianity on the Dirty Mind tour and how it reshaped his choices - Moving to Nashville, discovering the Christian music business and landing an A&R role - How Phil Valentine pushed him toward talk radio – and why the mic felt like home - His unapologetically conservative views, pushback he’s gotten, and “clear thinker” philosophy - Guitar talk: Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Santana, bikers, death metal, and why no one is truly “original” - Dez’s thoughts on today’s rock, podcasts vs radio, and what he wants to do nextHit play for a fast, funny, honest conversation about music, faith, politics and life from someone who’s actually been there, on stage and on the air.Listen, subscribe, and join the Drain Gang at: circlingthedrain.net 2:47 Dez’s first days with Prince and the audition at an empty tire shop 3:36 Growing up in Midwest cover bands and touring before he could drive 4:47 Inside the Prince audition: playing with the band vs trying to “blow them away” 6:38 Seeing Prince’s real personality after joining the band 8:04 Opening for the Rolling Stones, Hells Angels and getting “booed off stage” in the media 10:49 Dez’s conversion to Christianity on the Dirty Mind tour 11:17 Moral discomfort on stage and the moment he knew he had to leave 12:38 Intense years in the band and the image from the 1999 video 13:07 Little Red Corvette solo and Dez’s guitar legacy 13:19 Why and how Dez moved to Nashville and into A&R 15:11 Early days in Nashville and culture shock over a little snow 16:00 How Phil Valentine pushed Dez toward talk radio 18:01 Discovering talk radio feels like “home” and plans to blend radio and podcasting 19:41 The story behind the iconic kamikaze headband 21:27 Fan art, the faceless cartoon band, and Dez as a visual icon 22:03 Prince’s pain, opioids, fentanyl and the tragedy of his death 24:49 The opioid epidemic, fake fentanyl and near-misses with pain meds 26:17 Personal stories of back surgeries, painkillers and dependency 27:08 Dez’s first guitar, outgrowing lessons and early school gigs 29:25 Early career breaks, agents, and being “the kid who plays like Hendrix” 29:53 Guitar heroes: Clapton, Zeppelin, Grand Funk and growing into Hendrix influence 30:54 Winning over biker crowds and the Stones show irony 31:30 How Prince fused Sly Stone, Hendrix and the Stones’ Glimmer Twins 32:17 Hendrix’s unrealized future and his deep influence on guitar players 34:05 Being the only one at school mourning Hendrix and the “players’ player” 35:04 Eddie Van Halen, borrowing from Hendrix and other influences 37:04 Why “best guitarist” debates miss the point 37:31 Practice, grind and scaring your parents with your obsession 38:02 Reading music vs playing by ear and learning the Nashville number system 39:09 Reconnecting with Prince in Nashville and the “show after the show” 40:49 Sharing the stage with Larry Graham and surreal “Forrest Gump” moments 41:54 First Avenue stories, U2 and Minneapolis memories 42:26 Moving from cold Minnesota to too-hot Nashville 43:03 Dez’s conservatism, being “just to the right of Attila the Hun” and industry blowback 45:41 Leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a “clear thinker” 47:16 The problem with political echo chambers, even in conservative talk radio 48:12 Label me an American: political parties vs founding ideals 49:31 Why you cannot recreate Phil Valentine and why listeners still compare 50:09 Radio vs record labels and the business side of both worlds 51:00 Why copying Phil can never work and why he was a true radio rock star 52:32 Inside label culture in Nashville and signing left-of-center artists 53:47 How a meeting with Jimmy Bowen helped shape modern Christian music 55:01 How ...
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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