Country Music Dads

About Country Music Dads

The parenting podcast with a twang. We’re driving a highly subjective, comically contrarian, often irreverent conversation about fatherhood and country music for people who have a passion for both. Join us for interviews, analysis, hot takes, and unhinged rants on the most pressing issues in the world of parenting and country music.

Publisher

Country Music Dads

Category

kids & family · music · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Feb 2024

Latest episode

7 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

45 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Thomas Csorba: The Country Album Made for Dads Like Us

   This week we interview Thomas Csorba, a Texas singer/songwriter whose latest album, Tender Country, seems like it was made specifically for Country Music Dads just like us. Tender Country paints a vivid, beautiful and highly accurate picture of life in the early years of parenting. The Dads had never heard anything like this -- an “authentic” view of early parenthood-- so we had to talk to him. SHOW NOTES: 00:50: A bit of an intro and a spelling lesson, as we welcome Thomas into the show. 2:58: A dive into the album, Tender Country and how this album hits much deeper into the Dad Life. Csorba explains that his approach toward songwriting had to be part of his lived experience. And not trying to be cool, which is pretty cool. 6:05: The Productivity of Naptime -- Thomas outlines how fatherhood changed his approach to art and productivity. Kids’ proximity to the ground enables them to change our perception, said Thomas and that this process of being a dad has shifted his understanding of being a creative. 11:08: What is the real cost of making it? The Dads and Thomas talk about his opening track “Big Time” and what success really looks like for parents. For Thomas and his four year-old, it’s high, low, buffalo and getting a handwritten sticky note on a cut out of his profile in the Houston Chronicle. 16:35: Inspiration in the mundane and the ego killer of a four year-old demanding a sandwich. 19:35: A discussion “He Would’ve Love This” and how generational family life matters so much more once you’re a parent. 21:30: Asking the songwriter his go to lullaby. A mixture of old gospel music and Willie Nelson tunes -- very Texas. 24:05: The Dad Life Sound Check Thank you for listening. The best way to support us is to subscribe to the show on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or whatever podcast platform you use. If you want to see new episodes and more content delivered straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our newsletter: countrymusicdads.substack.com (https://countrymusicdads.substack.com/). You can find everything we do on our website: countrymusicdads.com (https://countrymusicdads.com/). And we’d love to hear what you think, so send us comments, suggestions, friendly banter on Instagram @countrymusicdads (https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicdads), or via email countrymusicdads@gmail.com. Mentioned in this episode: The War of Art (https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/)- Steven Pressfield (https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/) Houston Chronicle (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/thomas-csorba-texas-22249393.php) profile. Wind Chimes album - Thomas Csorba (https://open.spotify.com/album/0dcia9RlDIeDHd0MvavUZS) How to Write One Song - Jeff Tweedy (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593183525?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback) References: Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock (https://pixabay.com/music/rock-dark-country-rock-138300/)” - Moodmode Homemade Margaritas (https://open.spotify.com/track/1Pc8yO9N0MLbc2r6H5fbzp?si=5cf440e21c7b4488) - Thomas Csorba Big Time (https://open.spotify.com/track/5YJrzZwvkeQiyINyvO4g6s?si=79c10d28d6734f8d) - Thomas Csorba I Love (https://open.spotify.com/track/5fTwUw09NNgCIOkEKu3bGB?si=fb89a6100e9e41bb)- Tom T. Hall He Would've Loved This (https://open.spotify.com/track/1NzkH7A3pZHbx8fQ3T0dMN?si=0612aeb446c54962)- Thomas Csorba Precious Lord, Take My Hand (with Marion Williams) (https://open.spotify.com/track/0XfrN40MnBCYrnQLtezAw1?si=8433582bb4fd40b0)- Thomas A. Dorsey, Marion Williams Bigger Wheels (https://open.spotify.com/track/5FlZKPsXPPf5z1wHmYWWKR?si=d5c382810ab54f5a) - Thomas Csorba Bigger Than Your Hat (https://open.spotify.com/track/6CRvnJqIwZ9MSvuzDytwqj?si=38eefe6f04d7493e)- Thomas Csorba Rake And Ramblin' Man (https://open.spotify.com/track/0dBYALUb1l4Yk9xFbYCJfZ?si=f10ba040d2c14416) - Don Williams Can't Into Could (https://open.spotify.com/track/4IE3MKdmZKzuAxIirRoB7U?si=f86691adc41d4f66) - American Aquarium Feelin' Good Again (https://open.spotify.com/track/7ur3BWiEDGPx7V9QkAwGBx?si=a0f1bacca54a48a5) - Turnpike Troubadours, Sierra Hull

2. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Brian Whelan: Zen and the Art of Session Musicians

   Brian Whelan is a professional musician with a range of impressive credits to his name. He’s supported Post Malone’s early forays into country music, was a mainstay in Dwight Yoakam’s studio band and supported one of last year's best albums, Jake Owen’s Dreams to Dream. In addition to his studio work, Whelan is a regular on stages across Southern California and beyond. Like so many musicians based in Los Angeles, he called Altadena home. The proximity to recording studios, affordable and interesting housing and a slower pace of life were appealing. Along with his wife, they welcomed their twins home to the city, and not long after that, their lives changed, along with so many others, on a windy night in January. More than 9,400 structures burned down in that fire that raged through the hills and neighborhood east of Los Angeles. The Dads speak with Whelan about music, the impact of the Eaton fire on the music scene in LA, especially the roots, Americana and country scenes, and how being a dad, growing up and getting "Pro Vibed" have provided balance in his life and approach. Show Notes: 2:20 - Brian claims he knew he’d be a performer at 6 years old—and never looked back. As he got older, he became a “liner note junky” and knew he wanted to be one of those guys. 4:22 - Becoming a father drastically shifted his priorities and changed his idea of time. Brian flipped the script on Dave and Donnie and put the question on them -- always a good guest power mover. 7:50 - The Kid Happy Hour: Putting on the greats, right after kid dinner and before bath and bed, the family gets some music, the parents get some drinks, and everyone dances. 9:59 - Brian has mixed feelings about having his kids go into the arts, but he will support them no matter what. But that is sometimes a bit harder said than done, and the guys explore that kind of support. 15:35 - Exploring how a session player helps develop and advance the sound of an artist's album, Brian explains that he sees himself as a connector and supporter of music. Almost as important is how he’s matured as a person, and how his fatherhood and getting “Pro Vibed” have played into that process. 20:05 - We talk about Dwight Yoakam and how much Brian learned and grew when working in his band. 24:00 - Discussing Jake Owen’s most recent album and his role in “the five-piece band in the middle of Hollyweird.” 31:50 - The impact of a local haunt on the trajectory of Brian’s career -- a personal history of the Cinema Bar in Culver City. 37:05 - Eaton Fire and the long-term impact. Brian lost his first home, most of his guitars and most of the family photos. But his kids gave him and his wife purpose. He had a place to put his energy -- and his kids gave him an incredible gift. 45: 18 - The Dad Life Sound Check! Thank you for listening. The best way to support us is to subscribe to the show on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or whatever podcast platform you use. If you want to see new episodes and more content delivered straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our newsletter: countrymusicdads.substack.com (https://countrymusicdads.substack.com/). You can find everything we do on our website: countrymusicdads.com (https://countrymusicdads.com/). And we’d love to hear what you think, so send us comments, suggestions, friendly banter on Instagram @countrymusicdads (https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicdads), or via email countrymusicdads@gmail.com. Mentioned in this Episode: Marissa R. Moss on Jake Owen in the Don’t Rock the Inbox newsletter (https://www.dontrocktheinbox.com/issue-117-the-great-bro-demption/) Brian Whelan's website (https://www.brianwhelanmusic.com/) Cinema Bar (https://thecinemabar.com/) MusiCares (https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirerelief) Tom T. Hall's children's record (https://open.spotify.com/album/1z0cMTD7g3mvCmVG1occOq?si=rPnIEwtIQl-JGPSKX8mI2g) Country Songs for Children Vincent Neil Emerson's health issue post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DY7bFlCCTa_/?hl=en) Tender Country - Thomas Csorba (https://open.spotify.com/album/6e9HYZgj3mcCHji7HTovYQ) Review of Tender Country (https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/article/dallas-singer-thomas-csorba-album-tender-country-22239881.php) Country Cutler newsletter for new music discovery (http://countrycutler.substack.com) Nathan Evans Fox interview (https://countrymusicdads.com/nathan-evans-fox/) Children's books episode (https://countrymusicdads.com/country-grammar-childrens-lit-with-some-country-grit/) References: Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock (https://pixabay.com/music/rock-dark-country-rock-138300/)” by Moodmode Second Hand Heart - Dwight Yoakam (https://open.spotify.com/track/6yFFFQs65ohfLyDYibx7ko?si=4dba4722ceaf411b) I'll Pay the Price - Dwight Yoakam (https://open.spotify.com/track/6W4Ax7Gljiyeu5unLP2ASj?si=030454d427384b79) Dreams to Dream - Jake Owen (https://open.spotify.com/track/5QF2c3saU96W24k1Q8uS0k?si=45fec2156ea143f8) Barefoot Blue Jean Night - Jake Owen (https://open.spotify.com/track/3ts6xK5GzfMAAriT9AIBmP?si=341f4661a9f9420d) Wouldn't Be Gone - Jake Owen (https://open.spotify.com/track/3ONArLC3mEBVBb420K8qYK?si=b365d44bfc5f42ca) Can't Let Go - Lucinda Williams (https://open.spotify.com/track/0kyM6MaS573Gt9Yna1rsqd?si=bef3a8b4f80f4df2) I Love - Tom T. Hall (https://open.spotify.com/track/2vhFsRat25P9D8rweQF1Jq?si=bcba4b36344c416c) Fox on the Run - Tom T. Hall (https://open.spotify.com/track/0mVEatHvxil3ZGJhL8zI4w?si=3cbadc47e896487f) The Great Highway - Vincent Neil Emerson (https://open.spotify.com/track/0Crl9AIE3HdeenGzJo0tyM?si=c0290cd67437460b) He Would've Loved This - Thomas Csorba (https://open.spotify.com/track/1NzkH7A3pZHbx8fQ3T0dMN?si=396be996f38f4053) Little Green Apples - Thomas Csorba (https://open.spotify.com/track/1RHtVMJNecPzQp7etNIdKt?si=39c5063ad3cc4b4e)

3. 

   1 Jul 2026

   The Fourth of July Soundtrack: Why Country Music Sounds Like America

   This week, the Country Music Dads celebrate America 250, country music’s role in this -- and other -- uniquely American celebrations, and how to honor our history, the details of our past, and advance the American experiment. Happy Birthday America! Show Notes: 00:05 - Dave and Donnie talk about their memories of the Fourth, how they are getting ready for America 250 and so much more. From childhood memories to debauchery of young adulthood, the guys go over what makes the Fourth of July awesome. 4:46: What makes a great Fourth of July playlist song? And Dave asks if non-country fans use this holiday as an excuse to enjoy something they feel like they can’t otherwise. 6:35: The history of country music and patriotism. The discussion turns serious as the dads address Joseph Thompson’s Time (https://time.com/6985662/country-music-patriotism-military-money/)magazine article that explores how the country music industry, titans of industry and the Department of Defense teamed up to feed the concept that country music is the music of America. 12:50: “God Bless the US” has been stuck in Dave’s head since the second grade due to grammatical corrections his school made to the song. 14:05: Fourth of July family traditions growing up and sharing with your kids. Both of us want to raise proud Americans who can still love America while understanding the more complicated aspects of our history. 22:49: The playlist debate. The dads start with “Clear Patriotic Anthems/ Celebrations of American Life.” 36:45: The next section is about “Blind Patriotism” songs, and yes, they talk a bit about post-9/11 reactionary country music. 43:30: And now, for a few Protest Songs because there is nothing more American than speaking truth to power. Just ask our kids. 49:57: Songs that People Mistake for Patriotic Anthems but are Really About Something Else 52:15: The Dad Life Sound Check - American Edition Thank you for listening. The best way to support us is to subscribe to the show on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or whatever podcast platform you use. If you want to see new episodes and more content delivered straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our newsletter: countrymusicdads.substack.com (https://countrymusicdads.substack.com/). You can find everything we do on our website: countrymusicdads.com (https://countrymusicdads.com/). And we’d love to hear what you think, so send us comments, suggestions, friendly banter on Instagram @countrymusicdads (https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicdads), or via email countrymusicdads@gmail.com. Mentioned In This Episode: Joseph Thompson's book: Cold War Country: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon (https://uncpress.org/9781469678368/cold-war-country/) Joseph Thompson's Time (https://time.com/6985662/country-music-patriotism-military-money/)magazine article (https://time.com/6985662/country-music-patriotism-military-money/) Country Music Association (https://www.cmaworld.com/) Whiskey Riff article about the Hermosa Beach Ironman (https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2022/07/01/the-hermosa-beach-ironman-is-the-most-ridiculous-4th-of-july-tradition-youve-never-heard-of/) No-No Boy (https://www.nonoboyproject.com/) Ted Russell Kamp episode (https://countrymusicdads.com/ted-russell-kamp-a-founding-father-of-alt-country/) Shooter Jennings episode (https://countrymusicdads.com/songbirds-son-shooter-jennings-on-waylon-the-artist-waylon-the-dad-and-the-legacy-of-both/) 60 Songs That Explain the 90's: The 2000s on Toby Keith (https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/60-songs-that-explain-the-90s-the-2000s/2025/05/14/courtesy-of-the-red-white-and-blue-toby-keith) America-themed parties around the world (https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/this-is-what-american-parties-look-like-around-the-world) Country Country podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/country-country-music/id1459775059) Dead Man’s Town: Born in the USA Revisited (https://open.spotify.com/album/08gnXwznpI8OVfLZt03UDK?si=QdQM5bGySSOHM7uJT8o-LA) Nathan Evans Fox episode (https://countrymusicdads.com/nathan-evans-fox/) References/Songs: Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock (https://pixabay.com/music/rock-dark-country-rock-138300/)” by Moodmode Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa (https://open.spotify.com/track/0hm49jbPCxQK5i6hwmNMMp?si=42f7d1c9258747a2) God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood (https://open.spotify.com/track/623lYBOJ7bLwh1bu3yeN5V?si=a07d407ce9254c73) The Best God Damn Band in Wyoming - No-No Boy (https://open.spotify.com/track/5qlsG2SFkxERjvGD5evVIs?si=26fb7e3e3d504f4f) This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie (https://open.spotify.com/track/2vC2y2TI0Iq4QbN4zjNAth?si=d233bccb86254da6) Ragged Old Flag- Johnny Cash (https://open.spotify.com/track/3lUizfXlBYvhDTYXk2X96w?si=236e63bbc1b54c54) America - Waylon Jennings (https://open.spotify.com/track/5CQVc3q2gQ9rnnFgyn84bU?si=3c05aab8434d4bdd) Born Country - Alabama (https://open.spotify.com/track/0MM0VlDZ4n8f7zfkz2MmqZ?si=2f8a5e406170474b) 4th of July/He Stopped Loving Her Today - Medley - Shooter Jennings, George Jones (https://open.spotify.com/track/0W5Pa3GW06IQ7BS5CbTTOM?si=32500870651a4dab) Americana - Ryan Bingham (https://open.spotify.com/track/2Yk5cxfHpSxhkiwZnktyQK?si=5e03b3b863d447ca) American Saturday Night - Brad Paisley (https://open.spotify.com/track/7xJqaCgeteqWPogqjjxkBl?si=0c60f2143cfb40ab) Middle of America - Haily Whitters feat. American Aquarium (https://open.spotify.com/track/6xBtujFsK2wV09iSWuz1TG?si=07f4ee25bd0d40b1) God's Country - Blake Shelton (https://open.spotify.com/track/1dyxS3YzBbL0t8rEVwVQ1K?si=026fcea6fb3d493a) God's Country (Live from Red Rocks) - HARDY (https://open.spotify.com/track/5kMyufGmzElsXKTfaCOmgc?si=0d8fad0486274c5d) God Bless America Again - Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty (https://open.spotify.com/track/7pkhjCkl8zyat74qGivlqb?si=39ba3f63d2004229) Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) - Toby Keith (https://open.spotify.com/track/0M7mWKqwTIaVjYyxfZmtTa?si=01ad04a387f74665) Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning - Alan Jackson (https://open.spotify.com/track/4aOQG9TYcZOhT3sngkMI9K?si=3a4f1da1203845c2) Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore - John Prine (https://open.spotify.com/track/5xIVA72uBH9dsTNC7L37LV?si=c3c5bd044f794e23) Dress Blues - Jason Isbell (https://open.spotify.com/track/0zP0lnCInwTMeaRDVYiQHS?si=e0dd7adeb6154eac) All American Made - Margo Price (https://open.spotify.com/track/4YS6Bz5sxl0XRDqNTrmRuu?si=713a31d9013e4e3b) History Repeats Itself - American Aquarium (https://open.spotify.com/track/7ERvolMPvoFmqxUfJGunht?si=84c4245851724183) Try That in a Small Town - Jason Aldean (https://open.spotify.com/track/5BqI4ugJL5WaPRQ6MlC8Ho?si=6d7002701bc24054) Independence Day - Martina McBride (https://open.spotify.com/track/1nVoLxz8C0uGgMKfywy0vf?si=a1165e624198483a) Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen (https://open.spotify.com/track/0dOg1ySSI7NkpAe89Zo0b9?si=0c5eb73eff7d4d6e) <a...

Who has been a guest on Country Music Dads

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• The Doohickeys
• HALEY
• JACK
• Tony Kamel
• James Sullivan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

9,475

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

17 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

28

Social presence

94

YouTube

65

Engagement

77

Contact Country Music Dads

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.