Season 2
Episode 127: Amanda Albini
Episode 126: Chloe Lou
Episode 125: Troy Davis
Episode 124: A Dolly Parton Tribute
Episode 123: Jeff Spiegel
Episode 122: Alex Bergan
Episode 121: Ariel Levine
Episode 120: Sara Petite
Episode 119: Faith Belle
Episode 127: Amanda Albini Dolly's Revenge, drummer Amanda Albini joins Travis Billy Ross and Sweet Kirby for an interview that starts with jazz cats, cajón lies, and "Ashley E. Norton's drummer" — then goes deep on wedding-dress drum solos, Sony spreadsheets, and 2010s pop trivia. Met Ashley at Grant James Winery half-polluted — lied about owning a cajón, nailed the Khoisan gig, and built Dolly's Revenge on a beautiful fib Jazz since age 7 with accordion-dad gigs at 9 — UCLA marching band, Ellen show cymbals, and a Benny Goodman tribute for 1,200 in a synagogue Day job nerd: Sony data analyst by day — Yamaha → Taylor Guitars factory tours ("Buffy the Guitar Slayer") → pew-pew gun noises on stage Played drums at her own wedding in a dress — All the Small Things + Juice by Lizzo, surprise solo, wedding band put her on the sub list Name That Tune: Amanda rigs 2010s pop — scores 10; Travis 5, Kirby 6; finale bone toss to Alan Jackson "Chattahoochee" Special thanks to Ramona Family Naturals, Dean's Outlaw BBQ, Smoking Cannon Brewery, and Ramona Radio
Episode 126: Chloe Lou Returning guest Chloe Lou joins Travis Billy Ross and Sweet Kirbs for a Sunday that starts with Guinness World Record dreams, Malort shots, and a France house-party tour — then goes deep on California sober, Dolly Parton tributes, and a Gen X nostalgia spiral. Chloe Lou’s France mini-tour — British takeover of a French country town, golf course gigs, circus tent at the music school, and dad’s sunflower painting from the exact same angle as her photo three years earlier Oregon Pavilion Labor Day — 3,500 people, Birdie the Australian Shepherd puppy, and Good Mojo’s half-step-down AC/DC set (Mike Avila on drums) California sober, day 11 — calorie logging reveals the booze problem; last hurrah at Sarah Petit’s Belly Up release, then Guinness and Powers at the Old Sod Dolly Parton doubleheader — Whistle Stop Sept 23 + Sarah Petit’s Dolly Day at the Old Sod Sept 25; Honky Tonk Angels and Grand Ole Barbecue on Oct 11 New music block: Chartreuse “Nothing Serves,” album Seven, and an all-Chloe-Lou hour Name That Tune Battle Royale: Eric controls the chaos — Kirby 31, Travis 27; Marty Robbins to Mobb Deep to Gloria Gaynor Donkey Kong rivalry with Yvonne, Rubik’s cubes on a pogo stick, lawn darts, Skip-It shin trauma, Thriller at age six, and when PG-13 was invented Listen weekly on your favorite podcast service; or catch it early, tonight at 6 on Ramona Radio Special thanks to Ramona Family Naturals, Dean’s Outlaw BBQ, Smoking Cannon Brewery, and Ramona Radio
...Troy Davis is a Ramona-based songwriter who went from zero to booked in under five months. Army-brat kid from Killeen who ping-ponged Texas, Honolulu, and California — now ranch help on eight acres with three off-the-track thoroughbreds, and the guy the whole town calls when they want Zach Bryan done right. Army-brat kid born in Killeen — dad was an Army medic, six years in Honolulu, then California, then Texas for high school, then back to Cali after the divorce. New school almost every year; ugly duckling from 5 to 20; now the handsome musician playing in Ramona Six years on just shy of eight acres — first four spent picking the place up, getting it livable, and situating the horses. Wife Danielle keeps three off-the-track thoroughbreds (Carpe and Rari among them); Troy is ranch help: muck, dirty boots, keep the place working Grandpa saw Esteban on a midnight commercial and that was the scales work; dad upgraded him to a nameless blue electric with a belt-clip pocket amp and 3 a.m. sessions. Step-granddad Lance (Takamine, blues) and an Epiphone later. Still can't play a lick to save his life — Marcus King remains the idol Grandma heard the first song and said maybe he should just play guitar. Mom sang with Up with People; dad taught him the moonwalk. First real paid gig: Ramona Family Naturals Sunday brunch. Won Smoking Cannon's open mic on 4/20 — four months and 24 days from that vote to this episode Live in-studio "No Give Without a Take" — someone close, the bottle, the stand that looks like church and is actually last call. "I'm Going Country" — Eric Church's "Drink in My Hand" energy, closed gate, no trespassing, rise and rest with the Texas sun Name That Tune: 90s hip-hop — Travis squeaks it out (11); Kirby the Bone Thugs girl (10); Troy holds his own ( and still thinks they rigged it Special thanks to Ramona Family Naturals, Dean's Outlaw BBQ, Smoking Cannon Brewery, and Ramona Radio
Episode 124 - A tribute to the queeen; Dolly Parton. A little overdue; but we really wanted to pause our upcoming episodes to pay tribute to an absolutely wonderful human being. Join us as we celebrate her music and life. Check it out on your favorite podcast service tomorrow, or catch it early tonight (Ad Free) at 6 on Ramona Radio. Special thanks to Ramona Family Naturals, Dean's Outlaw BBQ, Smoking Cannon Brewery and Ramona Radio.
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Episode 122: Alex Bergan Alex Bergan Folk Singer, Navy Veteran & SDMA Winner ...Alex Bergan is a San Diego–based folk artist and Navy veteran. A multi-time San Diego Music Awards winner and was named 2025 Male Vocalist of the Year by San Diego Magazine. Guest Alex Bergan joins for a show that starts with Charlotte the studio spider, a brand-new motorhome, and a full Walk Hard / Dewey Cox recitation — then goes deep on Yokosuka-to-San-Diego Navy life, a six-month writer's block, and why he won't get on stage unless every word is real. Northern Iowa kid who taught himself piano on grandpa's player piano, wrote his first song at 15, and still answers "what do you play?" with "I'm a sad folk singer" — folk, country, Americana, and the occasional pop-rock curveball In the Navy (aviation ordnance), first duty Yokosuka, medically retired 2020 — played clubs in Japan, Dubai, and Australia on every port visit because the dream was always music, music, music Latest single "North of Somewhere"; Iowa hometown hymn "That Place"; live in-studio "Go Down Swinging" from the 2025 record Undercover — the song that fell out of the sky in an Austin hotel the night before a gig Song for Chief Joshua Cox — talk about it so nobody sitting with it feels that lonely; if you need an ear, reach out... please. Usually six months a year on the road (25–30 tours); Europe pushed to 2027; packing for Tennessee and coming back in February for a Valentine's Day show. Duo The Wellsprings with wife Megan (she can harmonize with a blow dryer); "Stick Around" feat. Lauren Lee; "Hair of the Dog" with Ash Easton (2026 San Diego Music Award) — a love song for best friend Justin John Rodriguez
Episode 121: Ariel Levine
Episode 120: Sara Petite She's Back!! Returning guest Sara Petite brings Ashley E. Norton and Thea the Band and Slyvia along for a Sunday that starts with porch wolf spider Frank, ceiling spider Charlotte, and Sweet Kirbs back on "hey, hey" — then goes deep on Her Story, healing through music, and selling out the Belly Up. Sara Petite's New Album drops September 2 at Belly Up — Honky Tonk Angels opening, Resounding Joy Inc. partnership The cancer-patient edible = eight hours flat on your back Married a year, bonus daughter, musician/bartender husband who "gets up and sings sometimes" Ashley E. Norton on Lilith Fair , Thea the Band on Jericho, Sylvia M on music therapy for veterans & trauma — plus a special Craig Fisher toast Name That Tune team battle: Lilith Fair + 90s R&B + country smorgasbord — Kirby & Travis take it; Sara saved our equipment this time... Bummer.
Episode 119: Faith Bell You have heard her recently at The Barn in Ramona; Singer-songwriter Faith Belle joins Travis Billy Ross and Sweet Kirbs for a Sunday that starts with Fred the porch wolf spider, snake dance battles, and whether aliens are secretly dogs — then goes deep on finance, fate, and finding your voice. From Jersey Shore to Manhattan finance; to quitting her job by email on a California vacation — and getting discovered singing while shopping The story behind "Dear Dad" — last words to her father the night before he passed, and the letter on the beach that became a song Drummer, marching band, piano lessons "against her will" — and training like crazy on a treadmill to sing while running around the stage 2000s pop trivia bloodbath: Faith Bell scores 35.5; Kirby gets 9; Travis gets 3 Fred/Frank the cross-eyed spider, rattlesnakes on 86 acres, shark panic..... Listen weekly on your favorite podcast service; or catch it early, tonight at 6 on Ramona Radio
Episode 118: Ethan Brown – Jimmy's Buffet Legendary keys artist from The Jimmys Buffet joins us! From picking out melodies at age four in Santa Barbara to running an earthquake network by 28 — Ethan Brown pulls up a chair to talk piano, career, and a life spent 30 feet from stardom. Master tuner who'll work with anyone on price — because what matters is that Ramona has pianos worth playing Keys man for Jimmy's Buffet (yes, one "T"), plus Barry Manilow and Toto tributes on the side Coder too — built WheresTheGig.com back in 2000, now used by 700 bands worldwide Travis Billy Ross drops an original song live in studio as well! Special thanks to Ramona Family Naturals, Smoking Cannon Brewery, Dean's Outlaw BBQ, and Ramona Radio