TuneHatch Podcast
Season 1
#23 - Madison Hughes + ZG Smith
#22 - Tera Lynne
#21 - Guthrie Brown & Reid Leslie
#20 - Todd Cassetty
#19 - Jabe Burgess
#18 - Sheyna Gee
#17 - Skout
#16 - ZG Smith
#15 - Garrett Thorn
#14 - Grant Edwards
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by TuneHatch
Special guests Madison Hughes and ZG Smith joined the pod this week. Madison Hughes joins the show to talk about finding her voice as an artist, from shy early performances in Florida to getting a confidence boost on The Voice in 2022. Madison and ZG Smith dig into the unglamorous realities of gigging and touring, bad coffeehouse shows, weird venues and how booking agents and relationships can change everything. We also get real about modern music marketing, TikTok “lottery” moments, and the balance between chasing trends and staying authentic while putting work out before it feels perfect. The episode closes with Nashville venue talk, onstage banter tips, and a tease of a new collaboration song (“Worth the Feeling”) coming soon.
Singer-songwriter Tera Lynne joins Nathan Youssef and co-host Blaine Holcomb to talk about her path from Missouri to Nashville, cutting her teeth in the honky-tonk circuit, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable music career today. We get into her early “baptism by fire” years downtown, the long and expensive road to making a true debut album, why streaming pays so poorly, and how touring + merch keep artists afloat. Tera Lynne breaks down her releases (including Flowers From the Ground and its string-only companion Flowers Reimagined), her shift toward a single-by-single strategy, and her goals for 2026: more ticketed shows and more full-band dates. The convo also dives into TuneHatch’s new artist tools for tour routing and gig opportunities, and Tera Lynne shares details on her single “Big Picture” (out Feb 20) and the philosophy behind it.
Special guests Guthrie Brown and Reed join the show to talk about their journeys to Nashville, from Guthrie leaving high school early to chase music full-time to Reed’s path through Belmont and live sound. They share wild road stories, early career risks, and the realities of performing versus working behind the scenes. The conversation covers their new project “Wrapped Up,” collaborating with Avi Kaplan (ex-Pentatonix), and gearing up for a U.S. and Europe tour. Plus, a surprise remix, trivia game, and fan gift stories (including a gallon of sauerkraut).
This week’s episode features Todd Cassetty (@toddcassetty), the visionary behind Song Suffragettes — the all-female singer/songwriter round on a mission to champion women in Nashville. Back in 2013, only 8% of country radio airplay featured female artists. Todd saw the challenge and decided to do something about it. In 2014, he launched Song Suffragettes — not just to showcase women’s songwriting talents, but to give them a real opportunity to be heard in an industry that had historically overlooked them. From working in TV and record promotion to managing artists like Scotty McCreery, Todd’s career has touched every corner of the country music world. And over 50 Song Suffragettes have gone on to land a record deal with notable alumnae including Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce, Megan Moroney and more. Tune in as we talk about building a movement, breaking barriers for women in country, and what’s next for Song Suffragettes in year 11.
Musician Jabe Burgess returns as the first repeat guest on the podcast, discussing his journey over the past year and the evolution of his alter ego, "The Bad Hombre." He shares insights into his songwriting process, testing new material on Broadway before recording, and the challenges of mixing and refining his upcoming album. We get into some personal topics, including anxiety and panic attacks, and how those experiences have shaped his music. Jabe's new album is set for release today, March 7th. Give it a listen!
Special guest Sheyna Gee joins the show to talk about the Broadway music scene, the realities of making it in the industry, and the power of TikTok in building a fanbase. Sheyna shares her journey from California to Nashville, her experiences navigating record deals, and how she turned a 2019 song into a viral hit. We also dive into the challenges of recording, finding the right producer, and the unfiltered truth about life as a working musician. Plus, some hilarious insights into Broadway nightlife and social media success.
Special guests Laura and Connor of the band Skout join the show. They share their journey from a Craigslist connection in NYC to touring and viral success on Spotify. They discuss the highs and lows of indie music, reconnecting with their acoustic roots, and teasing an exciting ten-year anniversary project. Watch it on the TuneHatch Youtube channel to see Skout perform in the podcast's first live recording!
Special Guest Zack Smith joins the show. Known for his work in the band Smooth Hound Smith and his solo project, ZG Smith, he's garnered airplay and attention from musical curators including include Minneapolis’s The Current, NPR’s World Cafe, Nashville’s Lightning 100, PopMatters, The Bluegrass Situation, NashvilleSCENE, UnderTheRadar, and more. Zack shares his journey from playing upright bass in Los Angeles to moving to Nashville, where he started writing his own songs and navigating the music industry. He discusses the highs and lows of touring, the challenges of performing in front of friends versus strangers, and the creative freedom he's found in his recent solo work and collaborations.
🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with songwriter Garrett Thorn, whose music channels the rustic vibes of his northern Wisconsin roots. 🌲 Blending 60s and 70s rock ‘n roll, soul, folk, and a dash of Nashville country, his sound is both nostalgic and fresh. 🌾🎶 Garrett’s approach to his career is just as calculated as it is soulful—he’s got a passion for psychology, a bit of an obsession with numbers, and so much more. Tune in to hear all about it! #GarrettThorn #Podcast #RootsMusic #Nashville #RockNRoll #CreativeJourney #PsychologyAndMusic
Special guest Grant Edwards joins the show. founder of Studio Rats, sound engineer, music producer, DJ, and songwriter. Grant is a true jack-of-all trades in the music industry and works tirelessly to help artists succeed. If you're in Nashville, he's definitely someone you need to know.