S E111: AI vs Songwriters, Trans Sports, Bear Hunt Backlash & Small-Town Honor :: Ep. 111 Try That in a Small Town
S E111: AI vs Songwriters, Trans Sports, Bear Hunt Backlash & Small-Town Honor :: Ep. 111 Try That in a Small Town  
Podcast: Try That in a Small Town Podcast
Published On: Mon Jun 01 2026
Description: From AI-written songs and a controversial commencement speech to trans athletes in girls’ sports, Cody Johnson’s bear hunt backlash, THC drinks, and a powerful small-town funeral story – the guys cover it all in this episode of the Try That In A Small Town Podcast.  They compare Scott Borchetta’s AI-heavy, “deal with it” address to Eric Church’s inspiring guitar analogy, talk about what AI and streaming are really doing to songwriters, roast a school district for a rained-out graduation, tell wild Bahamas golf and gambling stories, and debate THC drinks, hunting, and new “poly” reality TV.  They close with DipShidiot of the Week and a heartfelt look at how small towns still show up for their own.  00:52 Will Levis sex tape rumor and buying stories back from tabloids  02:53 Summer is here, kids out, and notable commencement speeches  03:16 Eric Church’s guitar-and-life commencement speech and why it worked  05:09 Scott Borchetta’s AI commencement: streaming, socials, and production  05:41 Booed by grads, “I know it, deal with it” and delivery vs message  07:12 Is brutal realism better than inspiration for graduates?  08:02 AI as tool vs replacement and why it hits different when you’re already rich  09:18 Comparing AI to Pro Tools, samples, and why fully AI songs lose listeners  11:09 Streaming’s impact on publishing, who actually makes money now  12:25 Big label buildings, tiny publishing floors, and small pub company struggles  13:54 Local high school graduations drenched in rain, no backup venue  14:45 Rain-or-shine policies, lightning concerns, and rushing the ceremony  15:43 What the soaked kids and grandparents went through that night  16:48 Superintendent named Dipshit of the Week for no backup plan  17:34 Road managers, “bad calls,” and transition to Bahamas trip  18:01 Bahamas: golf, fishing, tequila-fueled NHL-on-PS5 money games  19:57 High-dollar putter on the line: live call to Jake for Scotty Cameron details  20:58 Aldean wins the putter in overtime and pulls it from Jake’s bag at the airport  22:10 Telly’s golf swing, overconfidence, and getting mocked online  23:06 Baker’s Bay, Morgan Wallen, and stories that stay behind the paywall  24:36 Charles Barkley’s swing yips and getting a little better over time  25:03 Tax deadlines pushed back again in Tennessee and IRS jokes  25:38 Teasing next guest and Kayla’s upcoming shoulder surgery  26:16 Pain meds, “no days off,” and the idea of a post-op podcast  26:54 The blue bottle “herbal” drink heading toward felony status in Tennessee  27:35 How it became a pre-show hype drink and what it actually looks like  28:26 Why the state is banning it and links to opioid recovery concerns  29:10 If that’s illegal, what about THC drinks and Delta beverages?  29:54 THC drinks as golf “swing juice” and health vs alcohol debate  30:32 Listeners’ THC drink stories and whether it really helps putting  31:20 Prebiotic Pepsi “health” marketing and chemical overload  31:56 Predicting THC drinks at sporting events and stadiums  32:07 Super Bowl 2030 coming to Nashville and halftime show speculation  32:30 Taylor Swift, “real” country, and who should play the big stage  33:40 Titans rebuild, new coach, and does Will Levis really have it?  38:18 Pocket passers vs mobile QBs and what the guys want under center  39:40 Topic wheel spin: California track meet and trans athlete controversy  40:21 “Can’t believe this is still a thing” and fairness for girls in sports  40:58 Parents, boycotts, and refusing to line up against male competitors  41:51 Riley Gaines’ regret about competing and the mental toll  43:08 Zero tolerance stance vs waiting for laws and elections to catch up  44:02 New show “This Is Poly” and modern polyamorous families on TV  45:25 Jealousy, fights, and why some refuse to watch these reality shows  47:34 Kayla’s comedy, being “yourself” on mic, and overthinking funny  49:04 Musicianship, performance anxiety, and freedom when you stop monitoring  50:34 Recording vocals without headphones and trusting feel  51:12 Delta THC drinks: 20 mg misfire and why 5 mg is smarter  52:02 Gummy war stories, Doritos, and not being natural stoners  53:04 On-stage looks vs reality: who seems like the “stoner” in the band  54:03 Dip Shitty of the Week: Cody Johnson’s Alaskan bear hunt haters  54:31 Hunting culture vs online outrage and meat-eating hypocrisy  55:27 “Harvested” vs “killed” and calling hunting what it is  56:02 Liberal sensitivities, offense at everything, and language games  57:07 Public etiquette dipshit: people who just stop in the middle of walkways  58:30 Airport moving walkways: “it’s not a ride, keep walking”  59:20 Backpack chaos on airplanes and basic travel courtesy  1:00:33 Listener callout: submit your Dip Shitty of the Week in the comments  1:01:02 Small-town funeral: honoring a firefighter, veteran, and community pillar  1:01:45 Fire trucks, sirens, last ride, American Legion, and folded flag moment  1:02:20 Food, casseroles, and how small towns show up for grieving families  1:03:22 Why small towns may be what keeps the country united  1:04:36 Going home to a 400-person town and Legion dinners after funerals  1:05:09 How that support gives the family peace and helps them move on  1:05:27 Peacemaker Coffee promo: TTIAST blends, sucker punch dark roast, travel mugs  1:05:58 CTAs: download, comment, send small-town stories and dipshidiots of the week   ______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs.https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com -For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.