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Now and then, a conversation reminds you why you love sitting down with people in the first place.

This week on Here’s What We Know, Clayton Johnson stopped by, and what unfolded was more than just an interview but a long, winding talk about music, patience, heartbreak, and paying attention while you’re living your life.

We talked about Nashville, classic country, the importance of learning from people who have lasted, and an unforgettable night Clayton spent watching Metallica up close. Not from the cheap seats, but close enough to notice the discipline, the preparation, and the humility that come with real longevity.

This episode is about the long game and about resisting the urge to rush. It's about trusting that if you stay curious and keep showing up, life has a way of teaching you exactly what you need to know. Listen now!

In This Episode:

• Life in Nashville and finding your footing
• A surprising night with Metallica
• Lessons from artists who last
• Growing up on classic country music
• Playing the long game in music
• Heartbreak, timing, and personal growth
• Living and learning along the way

This episode is sponsored by:

Reed Animal Hospital

Dignity Memorial

Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!

Bio:

Clayton Johnson is a Nashville-based country music artist originally from the farming town of Modesto, California. Raised in the heart of the Central Valley, his passion for music was sparked through songwriting and performing in church, setting the foundation for his career.

Clayton's rise in the industry began with a modeling campaign for Boot Barn, leading to acting and music opportunities. He has since played guitar for notable artists, including American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter.

Along the way, he continued to perfect his craft, writing songs for himself and other artists. His original music has garnered millions of streams.

Country Central has praised Clayton's infectious hooks, calling them "reminiscent of the best of Thomas Rhett."

Clayton is currently signed to UMPG & Audio Chateau Publishing.

Website: https://claytonjohnsoncountry.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claywatch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaytonJohnsonMusic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1LWP6c2LrW1ofkM3e8kmEA

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Every once in a while, after years around country music, you hear a voice that makes you stop and listen.

On this Once Around the Country Edition of Here’s What We Know, we welcome singer and songwriter Hannah Marie Kelley and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer Gabriel Kelley, a real-life country music couple creating music that does more than entertain. It heals.

Hannah shares her powerful story of growing up in poverty, surviving trauma, and finding refuge in music long before she ever imagined a career. What began as survival slowly became purpose, and songwriting became a way to make sense of pain, faith, and resilience.

This is a conversation about music as medicine, finding your voice when life tries to silence it, and recognizing undeniable talent before the rest of the world catches on.

In This Episode:

• Hearing a Voice That Stops You Cold
• Discovering Hannah Marie Kelley
• When Music Becomes Survival
• “Singing Saved Me”
• Music as Medicine
• Faith, Pain, and Finding Purpose
• Learning to Write the Truth
• A Thanksgiving Day Meeting
• Falling in Love Before the Music
• What a Producer Really Does
• Why Simple Singing Matters Most
• The Power of Harmony
• Reimagining a Familiar Song
• Influences That Shape a Voice
• Redefining What Success Means
• Believing in Talent Before It Breaks
• Staying on the Journey
  
  

This episode is sponsored by:

Bison Junk Removal (Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

Bio:

Hannah Marie Kelley is a singer and songwriter whose music blends emotional honesty with a timeless, roots-driven sound. Raised in the Appalachian tradition and shaped by lived experience, her voice carries both vulnerability and quiet strength.

Drawing inspiration from classic folk, country, and Americana, Hannah writes songs that feel intimate and lived-in, often exploring themes of resilience, faith, and healing. Her approach is unforced and sincere, letting melody and storytelling do the heavy lifting.

https://www.instagram.com/hannahmariekelleymusic/

Gabriel Kelley is a singer, songwriter, and producer whose work is guided by a simple belief: find the music that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

Raised on a family farm in rural Georgia, Gabriel’s journey has taken him from music school in Sweden to songwriting rooms in Nashville and from street corners to concert halls across the country. Along the way, he developed a distinctive voice and a songwriting style rooted in honesty, restraint, and emotional connection.

https://www.gabrielkelley.com/

Connect with Gary:

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Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!

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This episode was supposed to be about education.

It turned into a long, winding, honest conversation about growing up Southern, malls as social centers, life without air conditioning, aging bodies, faith, comedy, celebrities, grief, golf, gyms, and the strange moments that make you wonder if the universe is paying attention.

This week on Here’s What We Know, we sit down with Bryan Thomas Wetzel, author, gym owner, former TV host, lifelong entrepreneur, and a guy who somehow shares about 90 percent of my life experiences, just arranged in a slightly different order.

In This Episode:

• Small towns, big heat, and why Chick-fil-A used to only exist in malls
• Playing golf with men in their 90s who can still stripe it
• What happens when celebrities disappoint you (and when they don’t)
• Why radio people are wired differently
• Aging, fitness, and the moment your goals shift from “looking good” to “staying alive”
• Faith, doubt, near-death stories, and moments that don’t fit neat explanations
• Why kindness from strangers sometimes arrives at exactly the right time

No debates, no shouting. Just stories, curiosity, laughter, and the kind of conversation you don’t want to rush. Pull up a chair. This one wanders in the best way. Tune in now!

This episode is sponsored by:

Sterling Oak Cabinetry (Bring your dream cabinet to life!)

Bio:

Bryan Wetzel is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and media professional with more than 30 years of experience launching and leading companies across education, fitness, hospitality, and media. He has founded multiple successful businesses, two of which were acquired by larger enterprises.

He is the author of The Real Problems Destroying Education (2024), inspired by his work with school administrators and district leaders while leading Skubes, an education startup recognized by Dig South as a top education company prior to its acquisition in 2017. His most recent book, A Path to Faith Through Science and Common Sense (2025), explores belief, reason, and lived experience.

Bryan currently owns and operates The Local Gym in Georgia and Texas and previously founded Cedarcrest Grill, which was sold in 2022. Earlier in his career, he built and ran a production company for over two decades, working in television, film, and live events, including projects tied to the 1996 Olympic Games. His work has earned 16 national and international awards.

He now writes on Substack and continues exploring entrepreneurship, faith, health, and creativity through writing and conversation.

Website: https://www.bryanthomaswetzel.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onefourtwo/

Substack: https://bryanwetzel.substack.com/

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• Gary's Website
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Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!