Tag

writer

Devon O’Day

By Author, Music, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, Gary sits down with the remarkable Devin O’Day, a beloved voice in country music radio whose career has touched countless lives. Together, they reminisce about their early days in small-town stations, swapping stories filled with humor, resilience, and a genuine love for community connection.

Devon opens up about her journey from aspiring careers to becoming a full-time broadcaster, author, audiobook narrator, and hit songwriter. Tune in and discover what it means to honor your passions, no matter where the road takes you.

This episode is sponsored by:

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In this Episode:

  • Why local radio is a lifeline for so many communities
  • Hear behind-the-scenes stories of radio life and insights into the art of audiobook narration
  • Devon’s songwriting successes with George Strait, Trace Adkins, and Lee Ann Womack
  • The joys (and mishaps) of early broadcasting in Louisiana and Alabama
  • Embracing new media without losing your roots

Quotations:

“I always found that some of the people that I met in country music, where they came from and what they had to overcome, was more inspiring than any song they ever recorded. ” ~ Devon O’Day

“I think the only hope we have in radio right now is the small, independently owned stations.” ~ Devon O’Day

“The whole joy of radio is communication. That’s what we do.” ~ Devon O’Day

“When I was little, people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said, I just don’t want to be bored. And I love a lot of things.” ~ Devon O’Day

“I love books, and I love reading, and then I just started realizing that people didn’t read, and they didn’t read because they can’t focus when they open up a book. But I said, if I can take people and I could read to them and get them into a book, oh, wouldn’t that be fun?” ~ Devon O’Day

“My goal before I left this planet was I wanted to write a book that would be in libraries.” ~ Devon O’Day

“God never forgets a dream that he puts in your heart. God doesn’t forget.” ~ Devon O’Day

“If you go back and look at your little kid list, your little kid is always smarter than your big kid. You’re a kid.” ~ Devon O’Day

“I feel like God has always put somebody in my path. And I don’t think there’s ever any accident. If you notice who’s in your path. There aren’t accidents. Even the people who were not wonderful, fun experiences usually taught you something.” ~ Devon O’Day

“You never know what’s going to happen. I said, some days are diamonds, some days are stone. But for the most part, you just wait for the magic to happen and pay attention.” ~ Devon O’Day

Bio:

Devon O’Day is a storyteller at heart, a seasoned radio personality, speaker, author, voice actor, and champion for creatives. With a career of over 30 years in broadcast, Devon has hosted nationally syndicated shows, voiced thousands of commercials, and written books that inspire and uplift. Beyond the mic, she’s a proud advocate for kindness, purpose-driven living, and the power of faith. Whether sharing her journey or elevating others, Devon brings warmth, grit, and heart to every conversation.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://devonoday.com/

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

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@devonoday

Jason Cole

By Podcast, Professional Athlete, Sports No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we’re thrilled to have Jason Cole with us, author of Shut Up, Your Kid is Not That Great. Jason’s book digs into the realities of parenting young athletes and managing those sometimes sky-high expectations. As a sports writer and a dad, Jason brings unique insights and anecdotes on raising kids to follow their dreams—without all the unnecessary pressure.

This episode is sponsored by:

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In this Episode:

  • Jason shares stories about the unique challenges and pressures faced by children of famous athletes.
  • Discover the importance of supporting kids’ dreams quietly, letting them shine without feeling the weight of the world’s expectations.
  • Explore what it’s like for children of sports legends who may not reach the same level of success as their parents—and why that’s perfectly okay.
    • Hear examples like Jack Nicklaus’ sons, who carved their own paths instead of following directly in their dad’s footsteps.
    • Listen to the story of John Elway’s father, who encouraged his son to choose between football and baseball with no pressure—just options and unwavering support.
  • Get a look behind the scenes at the sacrifices and pressures pro athletes endure, reminding us that every level of success brings its own unique struggles, where preparation matters as much as talent.
  • Uncover the value of allowing kids to choose their own paths, guiding them gently along the way, and cheering them on—wherever their journeys may lead.

Quotations:

“Most of the time, your kid is not going to be as good as you if you’re a star.” ~ Jason Cole

“You may inspire your kid to be better or in a lot of cases, they just may want to do their own thing. Like, you just never know what it’s going to be.” ~ Jason Cole

“There’s helping your kids chase a dream and then there is putting it out there in the world that they’re gonna get there and putting undue pressure on them to get that dream and to achieve that, which is unhealthy because again, you put a spotlight on them and you put pressure on them and you’re deciding their future for them. And that’s the worst case.” ~ Jason Cole

“You got to be incredibly talented, incredibly passionate to make it work. And so that’s why I say to parents, find what your kid is truly passionate about and drive them in that direction to find out what they’re passionate about.” ~ Jason Cole

“Who did you do any service for by saying your kid was gonna be this great? Are you doing that for your kid or are you doing that for you?” ~ Jason Cole

“It’s going to be about the passion, not about the dollars. The dollars only take you so far. You have to want to do what you’re doing.” ~ Jason Cole

“It’s a gladiator sport and frankly, there are some humans out there who need to play gladiator sports so they don’t become gladiators away from a field.” ~ Jason Cole

“Make kids enjoy what they’re doing. Please don’t make it about what you want to enjoy. Don’t take, don’t live their lives. Don’t live vicariously through your kids. Let them go live it.” ~ Jason Cole

“If you’re a parent, sometimes let your kids sit in a little bit of misery. That’s okay. That will determine sometimes whether they want to keep doing it or not, you know, and talk them through it.” ~ Jason Cole

Bio:

Jason Cole has covered or written about pro football since 1992. He is one of 49 selectors for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has served as a selector since 2013. Cole has worked for publications such as Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, The Miami Herald and The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. He started his career with the Peninsula Times-Tribune in Palo Alto.

Cole has authored or co-authored eight books, including the biography of Hall of Famer John Elway (Elway: A Relentless Life), Shut Up, Your Kid is Not That Great, including a foreword by Tom Brady Sr., Giant with Plaxico Burress, Heart for the Game with Simon Keith, and Ocho Cinco with Chad Johnson. Before covering the NFL, Cole covered the NBA, Major League Baseball and high school sports in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Cole’s five-year investigation of Reggie Bush and the University of Southern California resulted in Bush becoming the only player ever to relinquish his Heisman Trophy and USC losing its 2004 national championship. Cole is a graduate of Stanford University, served as an adjunct professor in the Journalism Department at the University of Florida for 11 years, and is the father of two Eagle Scouts.

Guest Contact Info:

X: https://x.com/jasoncole62

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-cole-1330266/