Backstage Pass Radio

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SHOW SUMMARY:
Date: July 8, 2026
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S11: E1: Vern Vennard - Touring, Tones, and Toughness

SHOW SUMMARY:
A touring guitarist sells his house, moves to rural France, builds a recording studio, and finally feels momentum, then the world shuts down. That is where our conversation with Vern Vennard starts, and it only gets deeper from there. Vern is a sideman, producer, and studio problem-solver who has spent decades alongside Zak Perry and the Beautiful Things, and he brings the kind of behind-the-scenes honesty you rarely hear from working musicians.

We talk about what actually holds a creative partnership together for 30+ years when money is not the engine: owning the work, protecting the sound, and chasing steady improvement record after record. Vern shares the origin story that begins in New York, includes two “run over” accidents, and turns into a lifelong musical bond. We also get practical about musicianship, from learning to stay out of the way in an acoustic duo to building parts that make the singer and the lyric land. Along the way we get into guitar influences, Europe touring culture, and why some crowds still listen like it matters.

Then we pivot into craft and standards: podcast audio quality, editing headaches, and why listeners quit fast when the sonics feel cheap. Vern also opens up about training Krav Maga later in life, the focus on de-escalation, and what pressure testing does to your brain under stress. We close with what is next for the band, including the new release The Rodeos in Town, plus where to find Zak Perry and the Beautiful Things on streaming.

If you like real stories about touring, music production, songwriting, and building a creative life through setbacks, hit subscribe, share this with a musician friend, and leave us a review.

Sponsor Link:
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Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - www.backstagepassradio.com & www.randyhulsey.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@backstagepassradiopodcast

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Your Host,
Randy Hulsey 
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SHOW SUMMARY:
Date: June 24, 2026
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S10: E10: Jovana Cubric - From War To Wisconsin

SHOW SUMMARY:
War, immigration, and starting over are not the kind of topics we usually chase on a music podcast, but Jovana Cubric's story is too powerful to keep off the mic. We talk about her move to Sedona and why the outdoors feels like medicine, then rewind to the bigger leap: leaving Croatia during the Yugoslavia conflict, living in Serbia as refugees, and being resettled in small town Wisconsin by pure chance. Hearing how her family navigated uncertainty, separation, and survival puts “stress” in a whole new perspective.
 
We also get into identity, language, and the quiet tension that shows up over time: parents who keep the native tongue, kids who just want to fit in, and what it feels like when you’re translating between generations. Jovana shares how those experiences shaped her independence, discipline, and ability to solve problems without spiraling. If you’ve ever wondered how people rebuild after trauma or how immigrant families adapt in the United States, this conversation is honest and surprisingly hopeful.
 
Then we switch gears into practical business: B2B lead generation, outbound sales, and why cold calling is needed more than ever after COVID. We break down what SDRs and BDRs actually do, how to create a repeatable sales development process, and why quality targeting and human connection beat inbox noise. We also talk coffee operations and what scaling cafes taught Jovana about leadership, plus a few coffee facts that will change how you order tomorrow. 
Subscribe to Backstage Pass Radio, share this with a friend, and leave a review if it helped. What part of Jovana’s story stuck with you most?

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
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Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - www.backstagepassradio.com & www.randyhulsey.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@backstagepassradiopodcast

Artist(s) Web Page:
www.mpi-impact.com

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. 
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Your Host,
Randy Hulsey 
Support the show

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SHOW SUMMARY:
Date: June 10, 2026
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S10: E9: Charlie Marie - From Rhode Island to the West

SHOW SUMMARY:
A single comment from a vocal coach can change a life, especially when it points you toward the voice you were meant to sing with. I’m Randy Hulsey, and I sit down with classic country and Americana artist Charlie Marie to talk about how a Rhode Island upbringing, a Patsy Cline-sized inspiration, and years of real-world experience shaped a sound that feels both vintage and fiercely personal. We get into the early music that raised her, the pressure to fit a mold, and the moment she realized she had to stop imitating and start telling the truth.
 
Charlie opens up about a defining childhood moment on Star Search, how public critique planted a fear of being seen, and why that old wound resurfaced when her career started gaining attention years later. From there, the conversation turns into an honest look at healing and the music industry: the myth that success fixes what hurts inside, the hard work of facing emotions you would rather avoid, and the choice to stay true to your inner compass even when it costs you comfort.
 
Then we hit the road. Charlie shares stories from a cross-country journey that took her deep into the American West, with car camping, unexpected kindness from strangers, and nature as both refuge and creative fuel. We also talk about her singles “Heart” and “Kancamagus Highway,” plus her upcoming record Signs (out June 5) and what it takes to release music independently, from vinyl preorders on Bandcamp to doing the shipping yourself. If you love classic country storytelling, indie artist grit, and songwriting that doubles as self-discovery, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
WWW.SIGNAD.COM
WWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COM

Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - www.backstagepassradio.com & www.randyhulsey.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@backstagepassradiopodcast

Artist(s) Web Page:
www.charliemariemusic.com

Call to action
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Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio
 
Your Host,
Randy Hulsey 
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Support the show

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SHOW SUMMARY:
Date: May 27, 2026
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S10: E8: Brad Gillis (Night Ranger / Ozzy Osbourne) - Where Ya Gonna Run To Now

SHOW SUMMARY:
One phone call can redraw your whole life, especially when it comes from Sharon Osbourne and ends with Ozzy saying, “Go get your guitar.” We sit down with Brad Gillis, the legendary Night Ranger guitarist whose tone and vibrato helped define 80s rock radio, to unpack the real stories behind the hits and the hard parts that never make it into the liner notes. From KLOL’s wild Rock And Roll Auction jam culture to today’s packed touring calendar, Brad makes a case that rock and roll longevity is built, not wished into existence.

We go back to Brad’s early years, from Rubicon’s funk rock experimentation to the by ear approach that trained him to learn fast under pressure. Then we dig deep into 1982: the shock of Randy Rhoads’ passing, the audition gauntlet, the scramble to learn nearly 20 songs, and what it’s like to step onto a sold-out stage when fans are still grieving. Brad shares the human side too, including what surprised him most about Ozzy’s professionalism and nerves before showtime.

From there, we trace the rise of Night Ranger, the MTV era acceleration, and the business choices that reshaped the band’s identity when ballads started stacking up. Brad also gets wonderfully nerdy about guitar tone, from his iconic red Strat and early Floyd Rose history to building and actually playing a serious vintage guitar collection. We also talk StewMac, prototype pickups, and the creative push that keeps him inventing new tools and sounds.

If you love Night Ranger, Ozzy Osbourne history, 80s rock, classic guitar rigs, or the behind-the-scenes truth of touring musicians, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What part of Brad’s journey do you want us to go deeper on next?

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
WWW.SIGNAD.COM
WWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COM

Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - www.backstagepassradio.com & www.randyhulsey.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@backstagepassradiopodcast

Artist(s) Web Page:
www.nightranger.com

Co-hosted by: Dayna Steele
www.daynasteele.com

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. 
Support Backstage Pass Radio - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628902/support
 
Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio
 
Your Host,
Randy Hulsey 
Support the show

Let Us Know What You Think of the Show!
SHOW SUMMARY:
Date: April 15, 2026
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S10: E7: Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) - Shock Rock Guitar Life

SHOW SUMMARY:
Shock rock looks wild from the crowd, but from the stage it’s a craft built on repetition, tone, and trust. We sit down with Ryan Roxie, guitarist in the Alice Cooper band, to get the real behind-the-scenes view of what it takes to deliver one of the most legendary rock shows on the planet while still growing as a player.
 
We talk guitars first, because that’s where Ryan lives: acoustic choices, why the “magic” often starts in the right hand, and how modern tools like YouTube, slow-down features, and looping can accelerate learning while also raising the bar. Ryan shares his best advice for guitar students and working musicians alike: train your ear, learn the 12 tones, and build daily consistency instead of chasing quick hacks. If you care about guitar technique, rock rhythm parts, and developing your own sound, this is a masterclass in practical musicianship.
 
Then we widen the lens to tour life and longevity. Ryan explains why he calls Cape Town home, how he “chases the sun” between hemispheres, and what’s coming next for the Alice Cooper touring calendar, including a new production and a Las Vegas run combining rock and large-scale illusions. We also dig into his touring guitar rig, in-ears, modeling setups like Kemper, Marshall-style tones, and why front-of-house separation matters on a huge stage.
 
Finally, Ryan breaks down his solo single “Fight Another Day,” the mindset behind the song, and the three Ps that keep him moving: practice, persistence, and patience. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a fellow guitar nerd, and leave a review so more music fans can find Backstage Pass Radio.

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
WWW.SIGNAD.COM
WWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COM

Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - www.backstagepassradio.com & www.randyhulsey.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@backstagepassradiopodcast

Artist(s) Web Page:
www.ryanroxie.com

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. 
Support Backstage Pass Radio - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628902/support
 
Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio
 
Your Host,
Randy Hulsey 
Support the show