South of Scruffy with Ben Fields
163 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Ben Fields brings in his favorite artists, entertainers, and friends for a to-the-point conversation about what makes them tick. Recorded in his wood-shop-turned-studio, Ben gets straight to business providing his listeners a window into his guests' lives and minds.
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Episodes
#159-Dr. Tore Olsson
March 11, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBTori Olsson is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in American History at the University of Tennessee. Tore takes Ben on a thorough tour of many regionally and nationally relevant topics. The TVA during Jim Crow; how Tore garnered national attention by using a video game to teach a college course; getting "The Guy" to voice your audiobook. All of these topics are covered here...in SOS's first episode of 2024. Tore's new book, "Red Dead's History A Video Game, an Obsession,...
#158-Austin Glover
August 21, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 50.6 MBAustin Glover is a professional photographer and standup comedy afficionado. Austin and Ben weave through Austin's photography career and how he strives to live up to the creative expectations his brother Curtis has inextricably linked to their last name.
#157-Cory Smith
July 20, 2023 17:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBCory Smith is the Marketing Director for Bonnaroo and other music festivals promoted by festival giant C3 presents. Cory and Ben share their love of Bonnaroo, the music festival Rolling Stone called one of the "Top 50 Moments that Changed Rock & Roll". Cory is also the rythm guitarist and vocalist for the 90's country band "Neon Rainbow".
#156-Matt Morelock
June 07, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBMatt Morelock is a banjo player, multiinstrumentalist, radio host and event promoter. Matt's banjo has taken him to 5 continents where he studied the origin of the intrument. Matt has been spreading the origin story of the banjo through Appalachia and the world via his book and his banjo exhibitions for nearly 20 years. Using anecdotes of playing with the worlds best banjo players and folk musicians, Matt weaves Ben through his musical escapades in a poignantly hilarious way.
#155-Christopher Mitchell
May 22, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBChristopher Mitchell is a writer and director whose debut film “An Awful Thing Has Gone and Happened” was just released on streaming services. After his 2 decades of working in television, Christopher, with his wife Deborah Mitchell, collaborated to create this dark comedy. Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU4jayoUKgY
#154-Brian Peery
April 21, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 44.4 MBBrian Peery has hustled hard over the last decade to secure the chops to direct film. Now a director of true crime television series and short films, Brian spills the story of his rise on on SOS.
#153-Charles Ellis
March 10, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBCharles Ellis is the General Manager and operator of Yee Haw Brewing's brew and pub campus in Knoxville. Charles' 2 decades in the beverage industry has culminated in him opening of one of the most experience-forward brew pubs in the southeast.
#152-Wayne Bledsoe, Steve Wildsmith, and Rusty Odom
February 02, 2023 07:00 - 53 minutes - 30.7 MBWayne Bledsoe, Steve Wildsmith, and Rusty Odom are all decorated music journalists. Steve Wildsmith just became the newest inductee into the East Tenenssee Writer's Hall-of-Fame, joining Wayne Bledsoe and many others. Rusty Odom just announced and launched "The Knoxville Mix" a quick hitting guide to Knoxville's Music calendar as a partnership with Compass Knox, and his own publication Blank Newspaper. Wayne, Steve, and Rusty, along with many others, have worked tirelessly to promote the 2023...
#151-Courtney Bergmeier
January 27, 2023 06:00 - 1 hour - 44.2 MBCourtney Bergmeier is the Executive Director of the Bijou Theatre and former talent buyer for AC Entertainment. Throughout her career Courtney has programmed concert venues like the Orange Peel, Marathon Music Works, The Ryman Auditorium, The Tennessee Theatre, and many more. This episode is sponsored by the Bijou Theatre in Downtown Knoxville. Upcoming events at the Bijou Theatre: March 13th, 14th, and 15th - Banff Mountain Film Festival April 8th - Pinky Patel April 13th - David Cross …An...
#150-Doug Griffey
January 26, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBDoug Griffey is the Vice President of Production at Loch & Key Productions. Doug has directed and lensed many award winning short form commercials, t.v. shows like "Snapped", and was the Chief Engineer for the production juggernaut Jupiter Entertainment.
#149-Beau Patton
January 14, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 52.4 MBSince Beau Patton's last visit to the SOS shop in late 2020, much has changed. After a few uncertain years in the industry, Beau and Ben share a figurative sigh-of-relief as they catch up on the state of film and television production in Knoxville. Beau's triumphs have been many since we last heard from him, but he's admittedly had to learn alot of hard lessons recently; both personally and professionally. Beau and Ben reflect on their recent commercial work together and the changes that they...
#148-Randy Read
January 06, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBAfter spending over a decade as the lighting director for the Marshall Tucker Band, Randy Read set off on a path that would make him a pivotal player in building the foundation of the production marketplace in Knoxville, TN. After meeting television mogul Ross Bagwell at the 1982 World's Fair, Randy would go on to have an outsized impact on the trajectory of the film and television business at Cinetel and Scripps Networks. While he admitedly ruffled some feathers over the years, Randy's commi...
#147-The Mike McGill Christmas Spectacular
December 09, 2022 17:00 - 2 hours - 77.3 MBWith the 10th Annual Mike McGill Christmas Spectacular upon us, Mike stops by the shop one more time to chat through the upcoming "Spectacular" - and his journey to becoming one of the most well known singer songwriters in East Tennessee. Mike McGill is hosting his 10th annual Mike McGill Christmas Spectacular at the Bijou Theatre on Sunday 12/18/2022 - you can purchase tickets at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/mike-mcgills-10th-annual-christmas-spectacular-knoxville-tennessee-12-18-2022/even...
#146-Six Pack with Zack #4 - Aaron McClain
December 06, 2022 18:45 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBFor Six Pack with Zack #4, Zack Roskop brings Aaron McClain on his first visit to the SOS shop. Aaron's Crafty Bastard brewery is widely regarded as on of the top craft breweries in Knoxville. Aaron's experimental brewing practices have helped Crafty Bastard happen upon stalwart beers that have challenged conventional craft beer trends and standards. Zack and Aaron indulge Ben's curiosity on the long term viability of craft breweries, and help answer the "are we too saturated with craft beer ...
#145-Casey Cheatham
November 26, 2022 03:30 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MBAt 20 years old Casey Cheatham's virtuousity behind a jazz drum set has already been well rewarded. The youngest member of the band Kingfisher, Casey's contributions can be found on their debut studio album "Grip Your Fist, I'm Heaven Bound". Casey and Ben amble through Casey's musical journey that allowed her to effectiively have her pick of which prestigous music school she wanted to attend for University. Now a Jazz and Improvisation student at the University of Michigan's School of Music,...
#144-Anthony Palmer
November 18, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBAnthony Palmer is the host of Wake. Dad. Drink. Repeat., and the principal at Palm Tree Pod Co. Anthony and Ben talk through the circuituos route that led Anthonoy to being a content creator, podcaster and a thought leader in the world of defining today's modern dad. https://open.spotify.com/show/47vdO6wRLxrUkx0xnQYzZT?si=a948747a233043f0
#143-Mac Comer
November 11, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.5 MBTalking to singer-songwriter Mac Comer is impossible to do without a smile on your face. Mac and Ben talk through Mac's first album release in 10 years and what his career has looked like since the release of his 2012 album "Hyperbolic Length". Seeing his music career as a passion, Mac then spent 14 years teaching elementary school students as the "Dean of Fun" A.K.A. the coolest elementary school educator in Knox County. Mac's new album "Sunny Day" is available on Spotify, and his album rele...
#142-Drew Morgan and Corey Ryan Forrester + The Mind Noodler + Tyler Larrabee
November 04, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBIn a rare triple-header episode, the final 3 Second Bell Festival interviews are packed into this episode of SOS. Along with a "Liberal Redneck" hootenanny with WellRED Comedy Tour comics Corey Ryan Forrester and Drew Morgan, this episode moves to chats with Las Vegas based comedy magician Matt "The Mind Noodler" Donnely, and child-prodigy concert promoter Tyler Larrabee.
#141-Curtis Glover
October 28, 2022 06:15 - 2 hours - 97.5 MBCurtis Glover is arguably the most prolific public artist in Knoxville, TN. Curtis' work in Knoxville is ubiquitous, but his murals continue to pop up in cities across the state of Tennesseee year after year. Curtis and Ben touch on the threats that Artificial Intelliigence is posing to artists communities across the world; and they arrive at a verdict on whether or not Curtis is subject to being replaced by a robot.
#140-Tyler Hays
October 21, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBTyler Hays is the owner of Vessul Creative. While uncovering Tyler's life journey from South Korea to Knoxville, Tyler and Ben dig into the new ways companies are leveraging video content to reach broader audiences.
#139-The Unity Ride
October 14, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBIn another episode of SOS recorded at Second Bell Music Festival, Ben finally caught up with Andre Block, Jonathan Williams, and Justin Hazelet from the Unity Ride. Hours after completing their 4th cross country cycling trip, Andre, Jonathan, and Justin explain how their different ideals and belief systems continue to be the reason they ride together. After traversing the US on bicycles for the 4th time together, their differences are as clear as ever...But so is their willingness to put thos...
#138- J. Roddy Walston & Charlie Glenn / Eric Fortaleza
October 07, 2022 09:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBRecorded in an Airstream camper at Second Bell music festival, Ben talks with J. Roddy Walston and Charlie Glenn about the genesis of their new-ish band, "Palm Palm", and how they handle the waves that the band can't stop making. / Eric Fortaleza has created a monster with his band/music collective "Pitch Meeting". After creating a not-for-profit band 6 months after migrating to the United States from Australia, Eric and Pitch Meeting have held host to some of Nashville's most talented emergi...
#137-Chad Cunningham
September 30, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBChad Cunningham is a director who has directed hundreds of hours of television show for networks like Discovery, Lifetime and Oxygen networks. You can find Chad's recent work on "Fatal Attraction", and "In Pursuit with John Walsh". Chad and Ben dig deep into their respective directorial styles, and how Chad's narative fiilm work is starting to take center stage; both in his career, and at film festivals across the country.
#136-Steve Wildsmith
September 23, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBYou can't write a story about prolific music journalist without including Steve Wildsmith's name. Steve devoted his life to covering music acts for 2 reasons: 1. He's a totally curious music nerd; and 2. He wants to help unknown artists tell their stories. Steve and Ben dig into Steve's recovery journey, and how it led to him being one of the most important music journalists in recent history.
An SOS Announcement
August 18, 2022 03:00 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBListen to this announcement from Ben to hear about SOS' 1 month plan.
#135-The Blankover
August 05, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBEditor-in-chief of Blank Newspaper, Rusty Odom, had a hankering to interview Ben for an episode of South of Scruffy. Over his 15 years at Blank Newspaper, Rusty has interviewed countless artists, entertainers, and ne'er-do-wells. Rusty gives Ben the night off and turns the microphone on him for "The Blankover" of S.O.S. Digging into Ben's path through his film and television career, Rusty gets some answers to appease his curiosity on why the industry has formed an unlikely hotspot in Knoxvill...
#134-Jonathan Kerr
July 29, 2022 08:00 - 2 hours - 71.7 MBWhen it comes to getting into the mind of American consumers, Jonathan Kerr is the best there is. Mr. Kerr is an account director at the Tombras Group where he leverages his intuition to ideate media strategies for fortune 500 companies across the globe. Jonathan and Ben roll through their shared experiences in the media space while bringing to light some untold stories from their personal globetrotting experiences. The Los Angeles talk is strong in this chat as Jonathan just returned from a ...
#133-Ross Bustin
July 22, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBRoss Bustin started his Photography and Cinematography wiazardry when a college football career came face to face with a creative yearning. A decade later, Ross finds himself lensing films and leading the visual voice for bands like Moon Taxi.
#133-rossbustin
July 22, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBRoss Bustin started his Photography and Cinematography wiazardry when a college football career came face to face with a creative yearning. A decade later, Ross finds himself lensing films and leading the visual voice for bands like Moon Taxi.
#132-James Clawson
July 15, 2022 09:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MBJames Clawson is the Head of Marketing at Spyre Sports Group, a management company that manages college athletes. Thanks to a unanimous ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, it is now admissable and legal for NCAA athletes to gain monetarty compensation for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). James' company, Spyre, works with those athletes to make sure they are capitalizing on their earning potential while staying in compliance with the NCAA. This is a major paradigm shift in college athletic...
#131-Virginia Moon
July 09, 2022 03:00 - 2 hours - 89.1 MBVirginia Moon is a Managing Editor at Warner Bros. Discovery. Virginia and Ben chat through their takes on working for one of the largest media conglomorates in the world, and how the changing multimedia landscape is heavily favoring quality content that is made efficiently.
#130-Andy Vinson
July 01, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBCreative Director of Festivals at Loch and Key, Andy Vinson, stops by the shop to chat music festivals and filmmaking on a blazing hot night in the shop. Andy and Ben romp through Andy's career as a filmmaker and taste maker of 21st century music festival video production.
#129-Grace Steele
June 24, 2022 05:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MBGrace Steele brings the same wisdom and wit to this interview that is on display weekly on her podcast, "The Beacon House". While her biggest passions lie with her animal friends, Grace's passion for clean living is inspiring and infectious.
#128-Matt Honkonen
June 17, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 84.9 MBMatt Honkonen has spent his life touring with great touring bands like Llama Train, Peak Physique, Tenderhooks, and Lil' Iffy. When the pandemic hit, Matt was able to focus on another one of his passions: composing and producing. Matt is one of the most prolific producers making music for television today. These days Matt's compositions are used in television shows on the Oprah Network, Magnolia Network, Discovery+, HGTV, Food Network and many others. As he returns to SOS podcast for the fir...
#127-Ashley Capps
June 10, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 47 MBAshley Capps was more than 20 years into his career when he conceived of an idea that would change live music forever: Bonnaroo. After the first Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Rolling Stone Magazine called the festival one of the "50 Moments that Changed Rock & Roll". Ashley and Ben geek out on the cultural importance of live music, how it can shape culture, and how it can make lasting impacts on communities. Ashley started AC Entertainment in 1991, but now he's more than content to focus...
#126-Charles Ellis
May 30, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBWhile trying to unravel their intertwining past, Charles and Ben unlock some untold stories about the worldwide craft beer renaissance, and why Knoxville is a sleeper craft beer mecca.
#125-Jeff Barbra and Sarah Pirkle
May 23, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBThey don't make singer songwriter duos like Jeff Barbra and Sarah Pirkle anymore. Ben met Jeff & Sarah when the three of them were in a touring theatre production in 2004. From there they forged a friendship that has lasted nearly 2 decades. Jeff and Sarah have been through alot since they began gigging and courting simulteneously in the late 1990's. 25 years later, their music and their marriage is just now getting broken in.
#124-Didi Benami
May 16, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBDidi Benami has had an exceptional singing voice her entire life. The word got about Didi's voice in 2010 when she placed 10th on the 9th season of American Idol. Since then Didi's solo music career has taken over and her work as a private vocal coach has gained her more national attention. Didi and Ben recount their intertwining paths from Knoxville to Los Angeles, and what the past 20 years in the music and television industries have taught them both.
#123-Dave Curry
May 09, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 66.7 MBBirthday Boy Dave Curry is one of the funniest people you'll ever meet. Dave has lived about 10 lives in his 50 years on this planet. Dave and Ben relive at least 7 of them during their chat. From Dave's sustainable practices in commercial food farming, to working the green room at Bonnaroo's main stage; Dave opens up about all of it. Dave's stories about catering to some of the world's most famous rock stars at Bonnaroo will make your stomach hurt with laughter - and Dave's passion for recla...
#122- Dr. Josh Loebner
May 02, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.8 MBJosh Loebner has devoted his life and career to ensuring that people with disabilities are equitably represented in advertising. Josh has lived with a disability his entire life, but instead of letting his blindness define him negatively, he has spent his career in advertising advocating for marginalized groups, incuding those living with disabilities. Josh and Ben dig into the ways that the advertising industry is moving toward a model that focuses more on diversity, equity and inclusion.
#121-Cody Walters
April 25, 2022 11:15 - 1 hour - 50.5 MBCody Walters is an outdoor filmmaker and avid bow hunter. Cody combined his passions for narrative filmmaking and outdoor cinematography into a genre of outdoor filmmaking that takes him to all corners of the globe.
#120-Rob Trent
April 18, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 79.2 MBWhen Rob Trent relocated to Los Angeles, he didn't think he would find footing as a Director of Photography so quickly. While on a recent trip to Knoxville, Rob stopped by the SOS shop where he and Ben discussed the rigor of the Hollywood film industry, while comparing it to Knoxville's disproportionately dense filmmaking market.
#119-Jackson Fenner
April 11, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 63.3 MBKnox County District Attorney candidate Jackson Fenner stops by the shop to give a snapshot of the current state of the court, and how he plans to change it.
#118-Wes Walker
April 04, 2022 11:30 - 1 hour - 55 MBWhile in Knoxville for Big Ears Music Festival, Atlantic Record's double-platinum recording artist Wes Walker darkened the door of the SOS shop. Wes and Ben talk about Wes' meteoric rise to fame after his single "Jordan Belfort" dropped while he was still in college
#420-Taylor Swift
April 01, 2022 13:00 - 10 seconds - 333 KBAfter 2 years of pestering Ben and Producer Sam, Taylor Swift was finally able to work her way on to SOS. Taylor and Ben talk about how their breakup in 2010 was the catalyst for many of Taylor's hits.
#117-Edy Recendez
March 28, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBThe rapid advancement of filmmaking tools does not scare Edy Recendez one bit. As a film director, Edy has devoted his purpose to challenging the craft of filmmaking by leveraging all of the tools available to him. With Edy's film work, emotion from his actors is critical; but Edy and Ben chat about how LED video walls and advances in augmented reality tools have enabled filmmakers to tell impactful visual stories that seemed impossible a few years ago.
#116-Ryan Levenson
March 21, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 59 MBRyan Levenson is a real estate guru that has made some very smart decisions in the housing market. Ryan fills Ben in on the anomalies of the current housing market and what we can expect to see with residential real estate as this manic housing market barrels toward the moon.
#115-Scott West
March 14, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 71 MBScott West spent 4 years in federal prison after being convicted of money laundering via a marijuana trafficking conspiracy. As part of his conviction, Scott also had 8 million dollars worth of assets seized by the federal government. When Scott got out of prison, not many people gave him a chance of bouncing back; but according to Scott, the doubt of the public and his peers is what drove him to build back his restaurant and real estate empire bigger than ever.
#114-Beth MacDonald
March 07, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBYou can't tell the story of the film and television industry in Knoxville without getting Beth MacDonald's name involved at some point. A 40 year veteran in the film business, Beth fills Ben in on the framework that was laid by Ross Bagwell - which planted the seed allowing Knoxville to become the 5th largest T.V. production market in the United States.
#113-Indya Kincannon
February 28, 2022 05:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBCity of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon stops by the shop to talk through the changes she's implementing to make her city a better place. From pay raises for police officers and fire fighters, to helping fund a sports stadium in the city center, Indya and Ben talk through the highlights and challenges of Mayor Kincannon's first term as the Mayor of Knoxville.