Episode
Podcasts vs Radio, Nashville Stories, and the New Media Gold Rush :: Ep 25 Circling the Drain Podcast
- Podcast
- Circling The Drain
- Published
- Feb 11, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4041
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://share.transistor.fm/s/e34df95e
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Summary
In this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy dive deep into the evolution of media: from old-school radio and movie theaters to long-form podcasts and YouTube creators. They talk Joe Rogan’s three-hour conversations, why podcasts feel more authentic than corporate radio, the rise of independent creators, and how celebrities have lost their monopoly on “cool.” Along the way, they share classic Nashville industry stories, memorable movie-theater moments, and real talk about niches, sponsors, and the future of podcasting. If you love behind-the-scenes media talk, Music City lore, and smart banter about where content is headed, this one’s for you. Timed highlights (chapters) 00:00 – Why long-form podcasts work and the Joe Rogan effect 01:00 – Welcome to Circling The Drain and hitting 1,000 Facebook followers 02:15 – Live event plans, swag, and possible dancing “girls” 03:10 – Why podcasts feel more real than corporate radio 05:35 – Borrowing the casual Joe Rogan-style intro for their own show 06:50 – Saving Nashville’s stories so they don’t “circle the drain” 08:50 – Donald Trump, Joe Rogan, Bill Clinton, and the politics of “being cool” 12:00 – How podcasts bypass mainstream media gatekeepers 13:55 – Relaxed rooms, real stories, and uncensored guest moments 14:58 – Sponsors, networks, and the cost of giving up independence 16:40 – Indie podcasters, Casey Anthony, and what you can’t air 18:30 – Releases, legal gray areas, and learning from Howard Stern 21:25 – Does a podcast really need video to succeed? 22:50 – Radio faces, self-deprecating humor, and old radio war stories 24:20 – Too many podcasts? Why niche and interest-based content win 27:15 – The decline of movie theaters and the streaming habit 28:50 – Marvel, Star Wars, and the magi…