James Zimmermann is an American clarinetist and former principal clarinet of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra whose career has become a flashpoint in the debate over DEI in American classical music. Zimmermann spent more than a decade with the Nashville Symphony, performing on major stages and contributing to recordings heard around the world, before his tenure ended amid contested allegations of racial insensitivity and workplace conflict that many supporters call a cancelation.

Just this week Zimmermann returned to national attention after suing the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, alleging he was denied a principal clarinet position after winning a blind audition. According to the lawsuit, the offer was rescinded days later because of his past controversy and his outspoken criticism of DEI policies. Zimmerman claims the decision represents blacklisting and discrimination against musicians who challenge prevailing institutional narratives.

His case has ignited debate across the arts world, with critics framing him as a liability and supporters casting him as a defender of meritocracy and blind auditions. The lawsuit has turned Zimmermann into a controversial figure well beyond classical music, placing him at the center of a much larger cultural and legal battle.

Tune in to EP49 of The Ed Clay Show with James Zimmermann!

Links for James:
https://x.com/jameszimmermann

Show Sponsors:
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https://healthquest365.com/

https://www.edclayshow.com

#jameszimmermann #knoxvillesymphony #dei #nashvillesymphony

Jason Hollis brings over 30 years of high-level artist development, music industry leadership, and creative direction to the table. As the owner and curator of The Eighth Room, Nashville’s iconic listening lounge on 8th Avenue, Hollis has become a central force in shaping the city’s modern music culture.

With a career that spans A-list talent, global brands, and cutting-edge tech firms, Hollis is known for his rare ability to bridge entertainment and business with equal mastery. His résumé includes serving as Music Director for 32 episodes of Netflix’s Motown Magic, a role that showcased his adaptability and creative range.

One of his standout achievements: pioneering YouTube’s first-ever branded music series, Best. Cover. Ever., starring major artists like Katy Perry and Keith Urban. Hollis continues to expand internationally, building influential connections throughout Asian music markets while producing and developing artists across the US, UK, and Australia.

In this episode, we go beyond the music and dive straight into the raw, unfiltered conversations shaping America today. Culture, identity, division, politics, and the growing sense that something fundamental is breaking in our cultural fabric.

Tune in to EP48 of The Ed Clay Show to learn about the legend himself, Jason Hollis!

Links for Jason Hollis:
https://x.com/itshollis
https://www.eighthroom.com/

Show Sponsors:
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https://healthquest365.com/

https://www.edclayshow.com

#jasonhollis #musicindustry #americanculture

Sloe Jack, musician and viral creator, is the newest counter-culture icon on the internet. After moving to American from Australia and falling in love with American culture he started voicing his opinions on Instagram. In 6 month he racked up an impressive 600k followers and has taken the internet by storm. Now he's on a mission to bring conservative values to young Americans through his music.

From sleeping in his car while recording demos to blowing up on social media with raw, rebellious takes on freedom, masculinity, and the music industry, Sloe Jack shares his wild journey. We dive deep into Australia's brutal COVID lockdowns, gun control debates, why conservatism is the new punk rock, and the chaos of modern America as a reality TV show on the brink. If you're into no-holds-barred talks on politics, culture, and chasing the American dream, this episode is a must-watch.

Tune in to EP47 of the Ed Clay Show to learn about the 23 yr old America-loving-Aussie who calls himself SLOE JACK!

Links for Sloe Jack:
https://www.instagram.com/sloejack
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LxNb1YrbYYSpIFQAfxUQ1?si=BjessUfqRRObH1SQVpmvrg

Show Sponsors:
https://www.beatdownbbq.com/
https://healthquest365.com/

https://www.edclayshow.com

#sloejack #edclayshow #americanculture

On Episode 46 of The Ed Clay Show Ed sits down with lifelong friend and fellow Nashvillian Nick Hiter. Nick is a former professional baseball player turned entrepreneur who has engaged in ventures across a wide variety of industries. Nick’s journey began in insurance and he is now the Founder/CEO of HitLab Creative Studios, a creative media agency located in Nashville, TN.

Ed and Nick talk about the journey of entrepreneurship and the countless obstacles one faces in the pursuit of a dream. The conversation touches on the importance of personal accountability, taking responsibility, resilience, and how all of these character traits make or break a person when it comes to being successful. Anyone looking to achieve more in life and wondering what kind of mindset may be needed to bring their visions to life will take away valuable lessons from this podcast between two successful businessmen!

Enjoy EP46 of The Ed Clay Show with Nick Hiter!

Links for Nick:
https://hitlabstudio.com/

Show Sponsors:
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https://healthquest365.com/

https://www.edclayshow.com

#nickhiter #hitlab #entrepreneurship

On Episode 45 of The Ed Clay Show we're joined in the studio by Dr. Lee Howard, a board certified general surgeon who walked away from traditional medicine in an effort to fight back against what healthcare has become and create change in the medical industry. He explains how the system is fundamentally structured around treating sickness rather than promoting long-term health, coining the term "sick care" to describe its current state. Drawing from his personal experiences as a physician, Dr. Howard dives into the flaws of traditional medical training, including the lack of emphasis on diet and lifestyle, which he sees as critical tools for disease prevention and overall wellness.

Dr. Howard and Ed also explore broader systemic issues, such as declining standards in medical education, the role of pharmaceutical and insurance companies in perpetuating inefficiencies, and the lack of access to effective but non-patentable therapies. They discuss how epigenetics and environmental factors outweigh genetics in determining health outcomes and emphasize the need for society to shift its mindset toward personal responsibility in healthcare. With a mix of practical advice, hard-hitting truths, and thought-provoking insights, this podcast challenges us rethink our approach to health and question the very structure of the healthcare system itself.

Enjoy EP45 of ECS with Dr. Lee Howard!

Links for Dr. Howard:
https://www.compasshp.com

Show Sponsors:
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https://healthquest365.com/

https://www.edclayshow.com

#medicalschools #healthcare #medicalindustry #makeamericahealthyagain

Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Starting Compass Human Performance, Truth About Insurance
00:18:25 - Gerson Therapy and Immunotherapy for Cancer, Donating Blood
00:37:46 - The Disease of Mediocrity, Changes in Medical School
00:57:15 - Covid Response, Getting Banned on Google
01:18:41 - Shrinking A Tumor with Coley’s Toxins, Nashville Covid Response Force
01:26:18 - S.H.E.D.S Method, Hormone Replacement Therapy
01:47:30 - Testosterone Levels in America, Toxin Dertox
02:07:07 - Vaccines and Tumors, Upgrade Labs,
02:25:05 - Body Composition Technology, Future of Medical Tech

Deddrick Perry, co-founder of CPI Stem Cells and serial entrepreneur/investor joins Ed for episode 44 of the podcast. In this episode Ed and Deddrick discuss CPI & The TAM Center's unique patient-centered approach, highlighting how it improves outcomes and creates a healing environment that mainstream healthcare often overlooks. Deddrick shares insights on the importance of staying open-minded and rejecting conventional limits, explaining how this mindset drives his work in healthcare and beyond.

Together, Ed and Deddrick examine the challenges in the healthcare industry, from the resistance to innovative treatments like immunotherapy to the struggles of balancing patient care. They reflect on the power of addressing victimhood and fostering accountability, discussing how these principles shape Deddrick’s approach to both patient relationships and broader business ventures. This episode is packed with powerful insights on mindset, healthcare transformation, and what it takes to truly disrupt an industry for the better.

Enjoy EP44 of ECS with CPI Stem Cells Co-Founder Deddrick Perry!

Show Sponsors:
https://www.beatdownbbq.com/
https://healthquest365.com/

https://www.edclayshow.com/

#cpistemcells #entrepreneurship #healthcare

Prime Hall is a former Marine Raider, water survival instructor, and the co-founder of Deep End Fitness and the Underwater Torpedo League (UTL). With over a decade of experience in high-stress military operations and specialized aquatic training, Prime has used his background to create powerful programs that foster both mental and physical resilience.

In Episode 43 of The Ed Clay Show, Ed sits down with Prime for a deep dive into Prime’s remarkable journey from Marine Raider to entrepreneur and emotional intelligence advocate. Prime shares how he confronted the traumas from his military service, detailing the inner battles he faced after leaving the military. He explains how emotional intelligence (EQ) training was a game-changer in his life, helping him break down the walls of self-imposed isolation and “tough it out” mentality that defined his years in the military.

Through EQ work, Prime learned how to rebuild his connection to his emotions, develop healthy communication, and open up to healing. These experiences not only helped him but also inspired him to create Deep End Fitness, where clients use underwater fitness to simulate stress and cultivate mental endurance, combining both physical and emotional strength.

This episode offers profound insights into the intersection of physical training, mental endurance, and emotional intelligence, showing how Prime’s personal healing has become a guiding light for others. Whether you’re interested in mental health, military resilience, or the journey of personal transformation, this episode will resonate deeply, inspiring a renewed understanding of strength, healing, and growth.

Enjoy Episode 43 of The Ed Clay Show with Marine Raider/Entrepreneur Prime Hall!

Link for Prime:
https://www.primehall.com
https://www.deependfitness.com
https://utlnation.com

Show Sponsors:
https://www.beatdownbbq.com/
https://healthquest365.com/

Timestamps:
00:00:38 - Military Service, Emotional Regulation, & Deep End Fitness
00:11:18 - EQ Work, Overcoming Trauma, 5-MEO DMT
00:22:57 - Learning to Surrender, Dominick Cruz
00:34:28 - Breaking Through Emotional Barriers, Insider Attack
00:45:38 - Choice Center Leadership University Courses
00:57:07 - Shadow Work, Coaching, Veteran Suicide
01:23:57 - CPI Stem Cells, Veteran Affairs, Mental Health
01:39:57 - Psychiatric Medication
01:49:50 - Deep End Fitness, Underwater Torpedo League, Future Plans

Glenn Devitt is a U.S. Army veteran with 11 years of service in military intelligence, specializing in Human Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Digital Forensics. As the founder of The Sentinel Foundation, Glenn led over 45 undercover operations in 16+ countries to combat human trafficking worldwide. He later pioneered the Blackbox Project at Stop Soldier Suicide, which uses machine learning to predict and prevent suicides among veterans.

Currently, Glenn is the CEO and Founder of Digital Legacy, a tech company focused on securing and managing digital legacies, and the co-founder of Alcohol Armor, a beverage designed to prevent hangovers. With two issued patents and a long-standing dedication to helping others, Glenn continues to advocate for veterans and children while pushing the limits of innovation and humanitarianism.

In EP42 of The Ed Clay Show, Ed sits down with Glenn to discuss his harrowing experiences as an undercover agent fighting human trafficking. Glenn shares powerful stories from his global missions, including rescuing children from the darkest corners of the world and confronting evil. He talks about the emotional toll of working in child exploitation cases and how his faith has helped him navigate the psychological trauma of such work.

Glenn also dives into his transition from undercover operations to launching Blackbox Project to fight solider suicide, Digital Legacy, a company that protects digital footprints, and Alcohol Armor, which helps prevent hangovers. He explains how his innovative ventures in technology continue to serve his passion for helping veterans and fighting human trafficking.

Listeners will gain insights into Glenn’s mindset, forged through years of intense operations, as he shares the life lessons that have shaped his approach to entrepreneurship, humanitarian work, and personal growth. Whether you're interested in global humanitarian efforts, the power of innovation, or the inner workings of an extraordinary mind, this episode offers a raw and inspiring look at what it takes to battle some of the world’s most heinous crimes—and come out the other side.

Tune in for a deep dive into Glenn Devitt's incredible journey, his reflections on faith, and his relentless fight against human trafficking.

Enjoy EP42 of The Ed Clay Show with Undercover Agent/Entrepreneur Glenn Devitt!

Timestamps:
00:00:00 - International Undercover Child Trafficking Operations
00:10:36 - Government Budgets Protecting Our Kids
00:25:30 - The Emotional Toll, Plant Medicine
00:37:24 - A Higher Power, Operations in Gaza
00:47:40 - Divine Coincidences
01:06:07 - Veteran Suicide Awareness
01:22:45 - CPI Stem Cells
01:32:05 - Black Box Suicide Prevention Project
01:53:28 - Trump Assasination Attempt, Political Subversion
02:12:31 - Cultural Decline and Communism in The US
02:18:47 - Alcohol Armor & Digital Legacy