https://www.simonsaysnashville.com/ https://30aroasters.com/ What does “darkness” actually mean when you are living in it, not writing poetry about it? In this episode of The Stephan Hogan Podcast, Canaan Smith opens up about grief, faith, anxiety, and the seasons that make you feel lost. He talks about losing his brother, the pressure that hit after a Number 1, and the day he walked into Mercury Records executive Mike Dungan’s office to ask to be released from his record deal even after th...

What does a Number 1 song in China actually mean in 2026, and how is it different from a U.S. radio “Number 1”? Nashville songwriter and producer Mark Siegel breaks down his real-world experience landing a Billboard China chart-topper with Lay Zhang (EXO), including how China’s music economy is still heavily download and sales-based, how platforms like QQ Music and NetEase function, and why “units sold” can move at a pace that feels impossible in the U.S. We get into the truth about mechanica...

49 Winchester frontman Isaac Gibson joins The Stephan Hogan Podcast for a full 49 Winchester interview covering the band’s current tour schedule, including dates with Tim McGraw and Eric Church. This conversation explores how 49 Winchester grew from an Appalachian garage band to supporting major arena tours across North America. I49 Winchester lead singer Isaac Gibson sits down for an in-depth interview about the band’s rapid rise, authentic songwriting approach, and expanding national tour...

Jelly Roll’s Grammy speech struck a nerve because it spoke about faith, redemption, and telling the truth about where you come from. Those same values run through the music on Beautifully Broken, the album that just won Best Contemporary Country Album. In this episode, I sit down with Steph Jones, the songwriter behind “Born Again” and “Hear Me Out” on Jelly Roll’s Grammy winning album, to talk about who she is and how that kind of honesty and conviction actually gets built long before it sh...

Priscilla Block opens up about the mental, physical, and spiritual “come to Jesus moment” that changed everything. In this conversation, Priscilla shares what burnout really looked like behind the scenes, how nonstop touring and pressure left her feeling empty, and the moment she realized she stopped recognizing herself. Sitting on a beach in New Zealand, exhausted and overwhelmed, she experienced a turning point that led her to reset her life from the inside out. We talk about what rebuild...

Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOjAs5F7-ds In this powerful clip from The Stephan Hogan Podcast, Kip Moore speaks directly to rising country artists about a mistake he believes is hurting new careers. He warns young artists to stop copying the styles of major stars like Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan. He explains why imitation never leads to long term success and why building your own identity is the only path that lasts. Kip Moore talks openly about what he is seeing ins...

In this episode of The Stephan Hogan Podcast, Stephan sits down with Mark Rucker for a deep conversation about royalties, income streams, ownership, and the financial blind spots most people never learn about. Mark Rucker is a senior leader at SoundExchange, the organization responsible for collecting and distributing digital performance royalties to artists and rights holders. His work focuses on helping creators understand where their money actually comes from and how ownership and royaltie...

Today, Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE sits down with me for an honest, unguarded conversation. No talking points. Just heart. We get into: Writing alone vs. co-writing — why some songs need one voice, one story.Art over algorithms — keeping the human edge in an AI world.Faith, therapy, and healing old wounds — rebuilding identity, naming core beliefs, and choosing surrender daily.Sobriety on tour — boredom, balance, and why the show is the easy part.Fatherhood & leadership — raising boys,...

Multi-platinum country artist Kip Moore joins The Stephan Hogan Podcast for an unfiltered conversation about truth, disillusionment, and the pursuit of authenticity in modern music. From his breakout hit “Somethin’ ’Bout a Truck” on Up All Night to his latest single “The Crown” and album Solitary Tracks, Kip opens up about walking away from the industry system — even while bringing in millions for his label, UMG. Ignored by executives and feeling disconnected from the machine he helped fuel,...