radio

Aug 25

Brooks and Dunn

Ronnie Dunn was studying to be a preacher while Kix Brooks was already a working Nashville songwriter with hits on the radio. Neither one planned on becoming half of the biggest duo in country music history, and neither one really wanted to be tied to a partner.

This week on Once Around the Country, our host, Gary Scott Thomas, walks through the real story of Brooks & Dunn, from a Nashville meeting neither man asked for, to three straight number one singles to a farewell tour that didn’t stick, and the reunion that proved some partnerships are worth fighting to keep.

Give it a listen today. We think you’ll walk away with a whole new appreciation for the two guys behind “Neon Moon.”

This episode is sponsored by:

Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!) License #: 679261

In this Episode:

How Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks were introduced by producer Tim DuBois
The story behind their first single, “Brand New Man,” and writing three hits in one session
Why Kix Brooks was considered the bigger star when the duo formed
The disagreement over recording “My Maria” and why it became their biggest hit
How “Only in America” ended up as a campaign song for both parties
Brooks & Dunn’s first attempted breakup and the record executive who talked them out of it
The Last Rodeo farewell tour and what changed Ronnie Dunn’s mind
Why Reboot and Reboot 2 brought a new generation of country stars into their catalog
What it’s really like watching Brooks & Dunn open for Morgan Wallen today

Bio:

Brooks and Dunn:

Brooks & Dunn, made up of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, became one of the most successful duos in country music history. They came together in Nashville in the late 1980s and quickly found success with hits like “Brand New Man,” “Neon Moon,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and “My Maria.” Their partnership produced years of awards, chart-topping songs, and unforgettable live performances, even as the two men eventually tried to go their separate ways twice. Somehow, they kept finding their way back to the music that made them one of country’s most beloved duos.

Website: https://www.brooks-dunn.com/

Aug 05

Love27

Dave Jensen

By Chrissy Bernal Podcast No Comments

What happens when two old friends reconnect after more than three decades?

This week on Here’s What We Know, our host Gary Scott Thomas welcomes longtime Colorado radio personality Dave Jensen for a conversation filled with laughter, memories, and honest reflections about a business they both love.

They revisit their days together at TRI 102.5 in Northern Colorado, swap stories that have only gotten better with time, and talk about how a radio career has changed over the years. Gary shares why getting fired became one of the greatest blessings of his life, while Dave reflects on staying in one market long enough to become part of the community’s story.

This conversation is about friendship, resilience, finding joy in your work, and realizing that the people who cross your path often leave a bigger mark than you ever imagined. Listen now.

This episode is sponsored by:

Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!) License #: 679261

In this Episode:

Reconnecting after more than 30 years
Behind-the-scenes stories from Colorado radio
Why local radio still matters
How getting fired changed Gary’s life forever
Funny memories from TRI 102.5
Dave Jensen’s award-winning career
The future of radio and streaming
Why local, human content still beats syndicated content
Why relationships outlast careers

Quotations:

“Now and then, I still go to Runza. It’s weird… but I still get the original.” – Dave Jensen

“I finally got to move from second place to first place. That’s the bottom line.” – Dave Jensen

“Radio is still our core, but now it’s all about digital.” – Dave Jensen

“I try not to take it too seriously.” – Dave Jensen

“Being a better man is showing up for your job.” – Dave Jensen

“I’ve seen people leave, then come right back.” – Dave Jensen

Bio:

Dave Jensen was born in Paterson, New Jersey, but moved to Colorado (in the back window of his parents’ VW 1968) when he was 12 months old and has lived in the area ever since. Dave worked at Runza in Loveland when he was younger and still enjoys stopping now and then for an Original Runza. Dave is currently the longest-tenured employee in the Townsquare Media Northern Colorado office at 600 Main St. in Windsor, having worked here since 1997. Dave was awarded ‘Best Afternoon Show/Major Market’ by the Colorado Broadcasters Association (CBA) in 2025; RETRO 102.5 was awarded ‘Station of the Year’ in 2022. He has family in the area, with his brother living in Fort Collins and a nephew in Eaton. Dave loves movies, disc golf, movies, great TV, the local craft beers around Fort Collins, and all things radio.

Jul 15

Love41

Mark Thompson

By Chrissy Bernal Author, Podcast No Comments

If you grew up falling asleep to the radio under your pillow, hoping your parents wouldn’t catch you, this one’s for you.

This week on Here’s What We Know, we welcome the legendary Mark Thompson of Mark & Brian for a conversation that goes way past the usual radio war stories.

We’ll talk about the moment a program director named Bob Kagan changed Mark’s entire approach to broadcasting with six words. The night in Birmingham that led to the partnership with Brian and how a five-dollar raise pushed Mark straight into the arms of Los Angeles radio.

We’ll also talk about the parts of the journey that don’t usually make it into an interview: Mark’s mother and the words she said to him that carried him through the hardest years, what it costs to build a career while raising a family, and why he still believes credit belongs to whoever earns it.

This one is funny, it’s honest, and by the end, you’ll understand exactly why Mark Thompson is on Gary’s short list of broadcasting legends.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

In this episode:

How a boll weevil statue in Enterprise, Alabama connects two radio careers
The six words from Bob Kagan that changed Mark’s career forever
How Mark and Brian found their way to Los Angeles almost by accident
The life-changing advice Mark received from his mother
Why sharing your real life creates lasting connections with an audience
The story behind Mark’s memoir, Don’t Bump the Record, Kid, and why every dollar he earns from the book supports animal rescue

Quotations:

“I’ve always thought in that way. How can I find content? Because you, me, all personality in radio, they’re looking for content constantly. And so I still do that to this day; I still think in that way. – Mark Thompson

“I did that everywhere I went. I would find people who liked being on a microphone, and as long as they were capable, I’d bring them in and make them a star.” – Mark Thompson

“Words. I will tell you that the fame thing was something that I never aspired to. I wanted to be the best that I could be on the radio. Being famous was not my favorite thing.” – Mark Thompson

“I made a decision in this process of becoming me. And the process was this. I’m going to design a radio show every night that I would want to hear if I were driving around in the car. I don’t care what people who don’t like it think because they’re going to go away, and I’m not going to change for them. I’m looking for people who like it, who thought it was funny, and who enjoyed it. And that was the beginning of creating a fan base.” – Mark Thompson

Bio:

Mark Thompson is a legendary radio personality, author, and storyteller best known as one-half of the iconic Mark & Brian Morning Show. Alongside Brian Phelps, he spent 25 years entertaining millions of listeners on Los Angeles’ KLOS-FM, helping redefine morning radio with unforgettable comedy, creative stunts, and authentic storytelling. The show’s success led to national syndication, television appearances, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.

A native of Florence, Alabama, Thompson began his broadcasting career in the South before making the leap to Los Angeles in 1987. Throughout his career, he became known not only for his quick wit and creativity, but also for his ability to connect with listeners through honest, personal stories that made audiences feel like part of the conversation.

In 2022, Thompson released his acclaimed memoir, Don’t Bump the Record, Kid: My Adventures with Mark & Brian, offering an honest and entertaining look at his remarkable career, the behind-the-scenes realities of one of America’s most successful morning shows, and the personal experiences that shaped his life both on and off the air.

Jan 28

Love24

Hannah Marie Kelley and Gabriel Kelley

By Chrissy Bernal Music, Podcast No Comments

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.

This episode is sponsored by:

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

Quotations:

“I think it’s the one thing in life that I have been confident in my whole life, consistently, is my voice and music. It’s the thing I’ve clung to forever.” ~ Hannah Marie Kelley

“Singing saved me and writing healed me.” ~ Hannah Marie Kelley

“I would connect to them. I would focus on melodies, and it would just take me to a place that was happy and comforting. And I didn’t start writing till way later on, but I always had music.

And it really did. It got me through. It kept me from going insane. It kept me from making bad choices. It was like the mother I did not have.” ~ Hannah Marie Kelley

“I might write a song that means X, Y, and Z, and this is where it’s coming from, and this is what I’m trying to get out, but somebody else might be going through something different in their life and perceive those lyrics as completely different, and it means something completely different to them than the writer intended it. I think that’s the beauty of music.” ~ Hannah Marie Kelley

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.

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.

As an artist, he has released the critically acclaimed album It Don’t Come Easy, with more music continuing to follow. As a producer, he is known for a hands-on approach that prioritizes authenticity and performance over polish, helping artists uncover what makes their music undeniable.