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This week on Here’s What We Know, Grammy-winning songwriter and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Tim Nichols joins us for a heartfelt look at the magic and grit behind nearly four decades in country music.

Tim opens up about four decades in country music, the miracle of songwriting, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in Nashville. From his first publishing deal in 1986 to crafting hits for legends like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Ronnie Milsap, Tim shares what keeps him passionate about his craft and why he still calls every song “a little miracle.”

You’ll hear the inside story of “Live Like You Were Dying,” how collaboration shapes Nashville’s best songs, and why “writing bad songs” is just part of becoming great. Plus, Tim talks about his next chapter as a keynote speaker, helping people and businesses alike realize they truly belong in the room.

In This Episode:

• The miracle of songwriting and the discipline behind it
• What it really means when a song is “on hold” in Nashville
• Why rejection fuels resilience for artists and athletes alike
• Behind-the-scenes stories with Faith Hill, Ronnie Milsap, and Mark Knopfler
• The making of “Live Like You Were Dying” and its lasting emotional impact
• How Tim’s message “You Belong in the Room” inspires creators everywhere

This episode is sponsored by:

Reed Animal Hospital (Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

Bio:

Tim Nichols, Grammy-Winning Songwriter & Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Member

With nearly two dozen hit songs, multiple BMI songwriting awards, and a Grammy for Best Country Song, Tim Nichols has earned his place among Nashville’s most respected and enduring songwriters.

In 2004, Tim co-wrote Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” which spent ten consecutive weeks at #1 and broke a thirty-year Billboard record. The song went on to win every major country music award that year, including honors from the CMA, ACM, Billboard, BMI, ASCAP, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International—a feat no other song has ever achieved.

Beyond the charts, Tim is deeply committed to giving back. He’s served on the boards of the Country Music Association, High Hopes Preschool and Pediatric Therapy Clinic, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International, continuing to champion both the craft of songwriting and the community that sustains it.

When he’s not on Music Row writing his next hit or sharing stories from a life in music, Tim brings his passion for creativity and collaboration to keynote stages across the country—helping businesses and teams discover how the same principles that create hit songs can also drive success in any industry.

Website:

https://timnicholskeynotes.com/

https://www.timnicholsofficial.com/

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

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This week on Here’s What We Know, we welcome voiceover artist and creative powerhouse Gina Scarpa. You may not recognize her face, but you’ve definitely heard her voice, from radio airwaves to major video games and promos for brands you know by heart.

Gina opens up about her journey from hand-delivering cassette tapes to radio stations in Connecticut to becoming a full-time voice actor and respected coach. We’ll explore the evolution of media, the realities of creative reinvention, and why finding your authentic voice, literally and figuratively, matters more than ever.

In This Episode:

• The grit and heart behind building a voiceover career from scratch
• How rejection can fuel resilience instead of fear
• Why authenticity beats perfection every single time
• The parallels between gaming, storytelling, and self-discovery

This episode is sponsored by:

Reed Animal Hospital (Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

Bio:

Gina Scarpa is an accomplished professional voiceover artist and coach. She is currently available to appear as a guest on podcasts and can speak on a number of engaging topics. With a wide array of interests, Gina is a great podcast guest for a variety of programs.

Gina has spent decades in radio broadcasting and voice acting. She is proud to have voiced national TV and radio commercials. Additionally, Gina has voiced video games and corporate content for some of the biggest brands in the country.

Some of Gina’s happy clients include VistaPrint, Burger King, Xfinity, L’Oreal, and Invesco. Gina also has a passion for both voicing and playing video games. She is a competitive gamer and is accomplished in Valorant, League of Legends, and other competitive games.

Before taking her VO career full-time, Gina spent many years as an on-air radio DJ. She has also worked as a reality television journalist. As a potential podcast guest, she is able to speak on many topics that may grow your audience. With humor and warmth, she would be a good fit for your list of interested guests.

Gina is also an award-winning teacher and director. She was named the 2019 ACE Educator of the Year by the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County in CT. She is also the founder, owner, and Creative Director of Positive Voices Studio. This program provides coaching and educational programming for children, teens, and rising adult voice actors.

Website: https://ginascarpa.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginascarpa/

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

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Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!

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This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for a deeply moving episode with Kim Cantin, speaker and author of Where the Yellow Flowers Bloom, to share her powerful journey through unimaginable loss and the unbreakable strength of love. After surviving the 2018 Montecito mudslide that claimed her husband and son, Kim opens up about grief, healing, and the small miracles that helped her rebuild her life.

You’ll hear how Kim’s daughter Lauren survived six hours buried under twenty feet of mud, how community became her lifeline, and why true healing happens on your own timeline. Her story is one of heartbreak and hope, a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, compassion and connection can bring us back to life.

In This Episode:

• Surviving the unthinkable and finding purpose beyond pain
• The incredible story of Lauren’s survival
• Lessons in grief, love, and letting others help
• Rebuilding with grace and gratitude
• The healing power of writing and community

Book: Where Yellow Flowers Bloom

This episode is sponsored by:

Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

License #: 679261

Bio:

Kim Cantin is a powerful symbol of resilience, having survived the devastating Montecito mudslides of 2018 that claimed 23 lives, including her husband and son, and left her daughter buried alive. Through unimaginable loss, Kim has fought to rebuild her life, driven by a fierce commitment to hope. She courageously shares her experience and new-found wisdom through her first book, Where Yellow Flowers Bloom.

Website: https://kimcantin.com/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimcantin/

Connect with Gary:

• Gary's Website
• Follow Gary on Instagram
• Gary's Tiktok
• Gary's Facebook
• Watch the episodes on YouTube
• Advertise on the Podcast

Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!