The Bilby + Ella Show

About The Bilby + Ella Show

The Bilby + Ella show is for music creatives, by music creatives. Broadcasting from the heart of Nashville, we dive deep with artists, producers, songwriters, and visionaries who've found their purpose through the creative process. Each conversation reveals the real stories behind the music: the breakthroughs, the setbacks, and the moments of clarity that shape both artistry and life. We chip away at new creative ideas and strategies that push boundaries and spark innovation. This is where creativity meets purpose, and where every story has something to teach.

Publisher

BilbynElla

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Sept 2025

Latest episode

10 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Alyssa Flaherty on Singing for Kevin Costner, Taking Risks, & Using the Stage as a Game | Ep. 20

   Our guest this week is singer-songwriter and artist Alyssa Flaherty, who grew up performing the national anthem at pro sporting events and singing at talent shows and charity events around Annapolis, Maryland, long before she ever picked up a guitar. At 14, she quietly cold-emailed a handful of Nashville labels, and only told her family once she got a response back. That leap of faith turned into a full family move to Nashville in March 2020, where Alyssa taught herself guitar, learned to write from scratch, and found her community at open mics in Leiper's Fork. In this episode, Alyssa tells the almost unbelievable story of how producer and Modern West band member Teddy Morgan discovered her at a writer's round and brought her in to sing "Amazing Grace" for Kevin Costner's film Horizon: An American Saga, an opportunity that led to her opening for Costner and his band on the road and finally pushed her to start releasing her own music. She gets honest about the real gap she sees in artist development across the industry, the hypocrisy of demanding authenticity while pushing artists toward sameness, and why she treats every show like a game she's trying to win against herself. She also opens up about faith, family, and how fearlessness looks different now than it did at 14. Whether you're an artist trying to find your own lane, someone who loves a good against-the-odds story, or just want to hear someone talk about music like it's still magic to them, we think you'll love this one. Check out Alyssa's newest singles "Texas in July" and "Falling for Someone," available everywhere you listen to music! 0:00 – Welcome & Intro: Alyssa Flaherty 0:53 – Reminiscing About Fox & Locke's Open Mic Scene 9:52 – Growing Up Without a Musical Family & Voice Lessons at Best Buy 13:09 – Classical Training, the National Anthem & Auditioning for The Voice 16:01 – The Cold Email That Convinced Her Family to Move to Nashville 21:22 – Learning What Nashville (and This Industry) Really Gives You 24:05 – Learning Guitar, Writing Her First Songs & Meeting Teddy Morgan 27:36 – The Call That Led to Singing "Amazing Grace" in Horizon: An American Saga 29:02 – Her First Tour, Starting in Jackson Hole, Opening for Kevin Costner 33:02 – The Hardest Part of Being an Artist & Nashville's Broken Development System 38:49 – Advice to Her Younger Self & Getting Comfortable With the Unknown 44:48 – Why Artist Development Takes a Team & How Its Absence Hurts the Music 51:45 – The Voice, Staying True to Herself & Fearless Then vs. Now 55:43 – Songwriting Came Naturally & How Attached She Gets to a Song 59:07 – Chasing the "Shania Twain Effect" & Building Long-Term Artistry 1:06:22 – Finding Melodies That Never Get Old & Capturing Ideas on the Go 1:09:20 – Inside Her New EP, American Sweetheart, & Her Release Strategy 1:10:47 – Bodies of Work vs. Instant Gratification in Today's Music 1:13:49 – What Stays the Same When You Strip Away the Genre 1:16:52 – Her Current Listening & Will We See Another Music Renaissance? 1:27:37 – Closing Thoughts: Music as a Time Machine & Making Something That Outlives You Follow Alyssa Flaherty: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alyssaflahertymusic/) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssavflaherty) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@alyssaflahertymusic) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alyssavflaherty) Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/bilbynella/) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@BilbynElla) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@bilbynella) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://beacons.ai/bilbynella) Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/hillelliottmusic/) Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/williegoinham/)

2. 

   30 Jul 2026

   How Rusty Gaston Became Sony Music Publishing Nashville's "Chief Encouragement Officer" | Ep. 19

   Our guest this week is the legendary music publisher and song champion Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Rusty spent 24 years building an independent publishing company (THiS Music) before a call from Jon Platt (SMP's worldwide chairman) changed the trajectory of his career entirely, and he's spent the last six and a half years leading the largest home of country music publishing on the planet, informally known around town as the Chief Encouragement Officer. In this episode, Rusty gets honest about the loneliness that can come with leadership, the rare friendship he had with a "competitor" at another major publisher, and the real math behind commercial songwriting: why it's a game won by perspiration more than inspiration. He breaks down his philosophy on encouragement as a job description, his belief that there's no song too good to find its way in today's world, and tells the story of how Way Maker, a worship song written by one woman in Nigeria, became a global movement. He also opens up about his path from a teenage performer at Six Flags to a defining meeting in Nashville, and what he hopes to pass down to the generations of his family he'll never meet. Whether you're chasing a publishing deal, trying to figure out what it means to lead with humility, or just want to hear someone talk about the power of a song like they've never lost the wonder of it, this one will stick with you. We're endlessly grateful Rusty made the time. Be sure to check out his podcast, Thank a Songwriter, available everywhere you listen! 00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville 02:56 – Overview: From Independent Publisher to Sony CEO 03:24 – "God's Plan Is Bigger Than Your Plan": Leaving THiS Music 04:37 – The Cold Call From Jon Platt That Changed Everything 06:07 – Moving to Nashville in 1996 & Sony's Country Music Legacy 07:21 – Leadership, Loneliness & the Rare Friendship With a "Competitor" 12:37 – Culture Building, Other-Centered Leadership & What Publishers Do 14:37 – Songs That Have the Power to Change the World 15:05 – Launching the Thank a Songwriter Podcast 18:39 – Why No Great Song Gets Left Behind Today 20:32 – Kix Brooks, the Seven Human Emotions & Where His Optimism Comes From 26:08 – A Third-Grade Memory That Sparked His Love of Music 27:17 – Falling in Love With Records & a Teenage Performer at Six Flags 30:13 – Learning the Word "Intern" & the Full Circle Meeting That Brought Him to Nashville 32:23 – Finding a Mentor Who Opened the Filing Cabinet 33:35 – His Advice for the Next Generation of Songwriters 34:15 – Perspiration Over Inspiration: The Numbers Game of Hit Songwriting 36:42 – Becoming CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville in 2020 37:10 – Purpose vs. Hustle & the Death of Ego 41:59 – The Book of Psalms & Becoming the "Chief Encouragement Officer" 49:04 – The Songs That Changed His World: Alan Jackson & Way Maker 54:10 – Happy Birthday, Seven Generations & the Legacy He Wants to Leave Follow Rusty Gaston: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rustygaston/) Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/bilbynella/) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@BilbynElla) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@bilbynella) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://beacons.ai/bilbynella) Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/hillelliottmusic/) Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/williegoinham/)

3. 

   16 Jul 2026

   Dylan Brady on the "Math" Behind a Hit Song, Betting on Himself & Redefining Success | Ep. 18

   Our guest this week is singer-songwriter, artist, and killer soccer teammate of William's, Dylan Brady. He's spent the better part of a decade building a career in Nashville that has run through a record deal, a publishing deal, and now the freedom and uncertainty that comes with being independent. In this conversation, Dylan gets honest about what it actually takes to write hit songs for a living while riding the financial rollercoaster that comes with it, navigating tough financial spots at 27 vs. 17 when he first signed his deals, and being more creatively fulfilled than ever. He breaks down the "math" behind great commercial songwriting, the vulnerability of writing his most personal record to date, and a piece of wisdom from his therapist about finding your own version of a swing set in the middle of nowhere when everything else falls away. Plus, stay tuned to the end where Willie & Dylan bonded over each of their funny and creative uncle names given by their own nieces and nephews. We're so thankful we got to have an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about staying creative and staying yourself while you wait for the seeds you have planted to grow. Check out Dylan's new album, Gradual, available everywhere you stream and purchase music! 00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Dylan Brady 01:25 – Catching Up on Soccer, the World Cup & Feeling Like "Old Men" 04:15 – Recording Episode 18 & Realizing They Don't Know Each Other's Origin Story 04:44 – Growing Up on Long Island With Zero Long Island Accent 06:59 – Bonding Over Bad Fishing & Why It's a Form of Meditation 10:33 – William's Senior Project That Led Him to Nashville 12:18 – Did Dylan Even Know About the Music Industry Growing Up? 13:05 – A Moment of Gratitude for Each Other's Kindness 14:05 – The Soccer Team as an Escape From Industry Stress 14:58 – Scoring Six Goals the Night of a Breakup & His Therapist's "Swing" Theory 17:23 – Falling in Love With Music, the Brady Brothers & a Twin Brother's Path 20:01 – Ten Years in Nashville & Staying Excited Through the Ups and Downs 21:13 – Why "Being in the Room" Is the Best Part of the Job 23:06 – Evolving From Doing Everything Yourself to Building a Team 24:34 – Creating Something From Nothing & Songwriting as Therapy 26:05 – The "Math" Behind Great Songwriting: Phrasing, Rhyme & Emphasis 31:13 – Writing His Most Personal Record Alone After Nine Years 33:26 – Behind "Lose My Mind" & "Forgot About You" 36:14 – Why "Still Looking For You Everywhere" Means So Much to Him 41:19 – Pre-Release Anxiety & Struggling to Root for Yourself 42:11 – Life Between Deals: Writing, Pitching & Scheduling It All Himself 45:35 – "The Seed You Plant Isn't the Fruit You Eat" 46:13 – The Financial Rollercoaster of Being an Artist at 27 vs. 17 48:38 – Abbey's Song "The Lottery" & Betting on Each Other 52:05 – The Harrison Ford Story: Why You Just Have to Stick Around 56:23 – The New "In the Room" Series Hill & William Are Building 58:23 – Uncle DD, Nieces & Nephews & a Children's Book in the Works 1:01:04 – Writing "Say Cheese" for a Kids' Music Compilation 1:04:46 – Shotgun Questions: Dream Collabs, Go-To Plugins & More 1:07:09 – Closing Thoughts & Thanks Follow Dylan Brady: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dylancbrady/) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@dylancbrady) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DylanBradyMusic) Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/dylanbradymusic) Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/bilbynella/) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@BilbynElla) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@bilbynella) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://beacons.ai/bilbynella) Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/hillelliottmusic/) Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/williegoinham/)

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Contact The Bilby + Ella Show

Guest appearances

Books guests

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