← Andy Beshear Podcast
Andy Beshear Podcast
RaeShanda Lias, JD Shelburne and the Honest Truth About Internet Stardom
00:53:30
Kentucky has always had a way of finding people who are undeniably, authentically themselves and this week's guests are proof of that. In this episode, Andy sits down with two Kentuckians who have taken their talent and grit and turned them into something extraordinary.
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- [00:00]
A
Hey everyone, it's me, Morgan Stewart, and I have a new podcast called the Morgan Stewart Show. Join me each week as I talk about pop culture, fashion, my personal life, and just a warning, I'm gonna be giving my opinion on everything. I'll also have some really fun guests to join in on the fun. The Morgan Stewart show is out now. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts or watch full video on YouTube.
- [00:28]
B
What's up, y'?
- [00:29]
C
All?
- [00:30]
B
Welcome back to the podcast. And I'm not Andy Beshear. I'm the podcast producer Breland, subbing in for Andy. And I'm really glad you're here today because this is one of those episodes that reminds me exactly why we wanted to do this show in the first place. When we think about what makes our country so special, it always comes back to the people. It's the people who wake up every day, put in the work, and find a way to make something meaningful out of where they come from. First, Andy is talking with someone who is truly shaping the narrative online. You may recognize Rashonda from her social media platform. Today she's joined by Andy to share a bit of her own story. And then Andy is joined by musical artist JD Shelburne. JD Grew up in Taylorsville, Kentucky, didn't pick up a guitar until college, and has since played over 3000 shows, debuted at the Grand Ole Opry, landed on the Kentucky Tourism Guide, and somehow found the time to get his own Bourbon into 60 stores across the Commonwealth. This is a Kentucky episode through and through, and I think you're gonna love it. Let's get to it.
- [01:40]
C
You're listening to the Andy Beshear Podcast. In this segment, I'm joined by a friend of the podcast, Latasha Buckner, as we interview Rashonda Lias. She is best known for her catchphrase, let's check the board and viral videos from TikTok and Instagram. Her audience is more than 3 million strong and she elevates the mission of leading brands, cause driven organizations and some of the world's leading change makers. She is an experienced entrepreneur, activist, and social media strategist. Rashonda's colorful commentary on topics that range from pet ownership to and fashion to women's rights and politics started taking social media by Storm in 2021. Rashonda's motivational speaking and entrepreneurial roots go back to December 2011, which is where we want to start today. Rashawna, welcome to the podcast.
- [02:34]
D
Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here. It is an honor. Yes, I was Just telling my story of how I came back to Kentucky and I guess we'll start there. I graduated from Kentucky State University. I am a veteran.
- [02:53]
C
My kids are going to have an associate's degree from Kentucky State University at the end of high school.
- [02:57]
D
Yes. See Excited. They're doing dual credit. I love it. My children did too. And then one of my twins, Jayla, graduated from Kentucky State about two years ago. And now I have one daughter that's at UofL in her last semester of fine arts. So I'm super excited about. I just went to her installation. We got to Kentucky. I came to Kentucky the first time right after Katrina. January 06. I had a college friend that was like, you should move to Kentucky. And I was like, kentucky? People don't wear shoes in Kentucky. And she was like, girl, you're in Mississippi. I said, touche. So I moved up here. I got a job, financial aid officer at Kentucky State University. And I finished my degree that I started while I was in the military. So I am a veteran. And I finished there. And I wanted to start a nonprofit for teen moms because I had my oldest child at just 13 years old in Mississippi. His father passed when he was 2, and I remember a program they had there. I said, I want to start a nonprofit. So that's why I got my degree in public administration. I wanted to make a difference. And I resigned on my 30th birthday from Kentucky State. I said, I'm going to go write a book. I'm going to go start a non profit and live out my dreams. And within five months, I had about $30,000 stolen from me. And it was the most surreal thing because I had been through a lot in my life, but I had never struggled financially. And now you are a divorced mom with children that are dependent on you. And I found out Christmas Eve 2012, and I drove in the middle of the night and even though I had been in Frankfurt for five years, I had never been to Louisville. And I stopped my truck in Louisville. I got a pay by the week motel, and I had to start my life over again. And I got a temp job. And then I said, this is not what I wanted to do with my life. I went in the bathroom in that motel and I said, God, you're gonna have to fix this, because I've never been through any of this. And I began, kids are in the room. Yes, they're in the next room. And I. Because I'd never seen my mom cry, right. I'm sure she probably did and this is probably in the bathroom while she's running water or something. But to figure it out. And all I kept hearing was, you know, you're gonna have to start over. And I got a temp job and I decided that I wanted to start a boutique. I grew a following. I was working at Sephora, doing makeup. I growing a following online. And I was just putting together style ideas for women. Like people have stuff in their closet, but they don't know what to do with it. So I wasn't really selling anything. And that following grew to half a million before, you know, people go viral now all the time. And a lady reached out to me that was following me and she was like, you don't know me, but I want to help you. And she was, she owned a boutique in Atlanta. Shelly. I always include her in my story because she changed my life. She came up from Atlanta not knowing me, just following me online. I'm going to show you how to start a business. And I opened all this fair in love and fashion in March of 2013, an online boutique for women. And within 10 months, I had made over six figures. I was freaking out. I went to the government website, I said I got to sign up for all my stuff. I got to make sure that I have my taxes paid. All that that you learn along the way when you're just trying things. I was like, I don't want to go to jail from social media, so how do I make sure everything's happening? Then they went over. You know, you're shipping out of state, this all the things that you go over. And I, I started my business dressing women from sizes 0 to 30 and making and traveling, doing fashion shows and getting into women empowerment. And my first fashion show sold out. And one of the things I, I gave two scholarships to the teen girls that attend the Teen Mom School in Louisville. Which growing up, I distinctly remember seeing that school on a 60 minute show or something. And I didn't know. And it clicked. It was like you're doing exactly what you were supposed to do. And the crazy part is going back home to Mississippi. Where I wanted to start that nonprofit was also Jefferson County. And I'm ended up in Louisville, in Jefferson County. So I am doing exactly what I wanted to do. It just doesn't look like what I thought it would look like. And from there my life took off and I have continued.
- [07:38]
C
You talked about that as leaning into your real authentic value.
- [07:42]
D
Yes, yes, it is. Because I never want to shy away from my story. I think that when you Tell your story. It gives others permission to do the same. Right? And I always tell that. And launched me into so many different things. I was on the Steve Harvey Show. I was on say yes to the Dress and all the things. But in between, people think, oh, you've made it. And I distinctly remember, because it was your face, right? March of 2020, and we had to shut down. And I immediately, even though I had overcome all of that, I immediately went to, oh, my God, I'm going to be homeless again. Even though I was not. It's still at the back of your head. And I laid in the bed for seven days. I got up to use the bathroom shower, got back into bed, and I was like, what am I going to do? Because nobody's going to buy clothes right now. We're in a pandemic. And in the shower, clear as day, it's like, you're going to have to use your connections. And I'm like, I already have vendors and manufacturers in China. I called them and I said, don't send me another piece of clothing. We're going to need masks. I Remember it was March 16, March 17th of 2020, and March 6th was our first case. See? And I. And I said. And my partner at the time laughed, talking about mask. Nobody's gonna need mask. I was like, no, we're gonna need mask. I know what I just heard clear as day in the shower. I'm ordering masks. In April 1st, I announced I had PPE, and that was the largest.
- [09:12]
C
That was gold at April 1st.
- [09:14]
D
April 1st, I announced it, and that was the largest month in my business. I think I made maybe over 50k. And that launched me into, first of all, pivoting. But second of all, I gave to our frontline workers, I gave to our hospital workers, I gave to National Guard, just donating because we were in something we had never been through. And it was me being true to myself and authentic that led me. It's like every point in my life where I had to pivot, this is now the time to show that. And it saved my business, right? Making sure that I keep up with the times, but also able to give back and be a voice for people that don't have right. Because now I understand when you've already lost everything before, you can understand that none of this down here belongs to us and it can be gone in a minute. Even if you have a successful business, you don't know what outside could affect you. So I remember that. And also I want you to know that my followers commented to Say thank you for getting us through the pandemic. Your voice got us through, so thank you for that.
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C
I always viewed the pandemic as the ultimate test of the parable of the Good Samaritan.
- [10:27]
D
Yeah.
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C
Are you willing to sacrifice for someone that maybe you never, ever meet, but your actions could have an impact on.
- [10:35]
D
Yes. That. That was a great lesson in that. And you were a voice every day reminding us of that.
- [10:42]
C
So tell us about how you go about making your content. Oh, what is it that strikes you on any occasion where you say, I'm a post on that at any time?
- [10:55]
D
So I am a huge nerd. I read just to read. I read just to read. And I also will put on a YouTube of trivia things that we may never need at all. And I'm like, I'm going to find out about that.
- [11:08]
C
So you're the best person to be with on trivia night.
- [11:10]
D
Yes. I'm like, oh, I know that. I don't know why, but I do. So for me, it's always. None of it is scripted. It's all just from my memory. If I read something that I feel like we need to talk about, which is often, how do I give it in a digestible, fun manner. But it's a serious topic and that people need. And they started following me not only for my cat, Nutmeg, who has passed away, but for those topics that they want to hear it, but in a way that's dialogical, digestible to them. I often say when we're dealing with politics, a lot of people don't know a lot of things they don't know that you don't have to call the governor for a pothole that they're, you
- [11:56]
C
know, though, if you did, I'd get it fixed, right?
- [11:59]
D
Yes, but. But there's a chain. And when you, when you are already tired from working, when you already got other things on your plate, you don't have time for somebody knocking at your door that don't understand where you are. So I am asking you for your vote. And if you have seen that nothing has changed, it makes you feel like then it doesn't matter. And I am here to encourage people that your voices matter on all topics. Like people want to know. You can show up to your school board meetings, you can show up to your city council meetings, you can make sure that your concerns are met. But people don't know what they don't know. And also the people that are in those places don't know if you don't tell them. So I want to be that bridge on all topics. You know, I hate kitten heels. People think that it is hilarious that I go so hard, but I'm like, If you're under 40 and you don't have a disability or injury, you don't need to be 0.3 centimeters off the ground. It just doesn't make any sense. Right. But I can also talk to you about the current state of the country, and they love that swing in that, and I like bringing that to the table.
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E
What do you think drew you to make more political content?
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D
Oh, definitely the times that we are in. And also I am a graduate of Emerge Kentucky, so I ran for city council during the pandemic, and that was my first time. And I. I did it because I wrote a promise to myself when graduating the class in 2018 that I would. And I did, and I almost unseated an incumbent. And it was because, of course, we were in the House. So I think that me going through that, but also always wanting people to be aware. Right. I don't really. I tend to push back when people say, I'm not political. I am not here to berate you for that. I just don't deal with hate. That's the difference. You can't weave that into politics. Right. I used to say often when Facebook first started, I don't talk about politics, I don't talk about sports, I don't talk about race. And I definitely, you know, I don't know anything about sportsball. Okay. I don't. So I think that when it's time, especially when it's dire, some of the things that we are uncomfortable with talking about, we have to talk about it. We have to bring it out. And it can be in a way that you are not pushing down on someone else. I deal with fashion, fun and facts on my page. I always say that. Give me facts any day. I don't want. I, I.
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C
Because they still exist.
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D
Yes, that's what I'm going to say. I know that people want to believe that their opinions are facts, but that is. That is not the case. Your feelings are valid, but they are not facts. And that's what I. That's what I need. So I want other people to understand that when I am saying something, it is not to offend ever. It is to give you facts. And then you do with that information what you will.
- [15:00]
C
What. What's the one post that you can remember putting out there that if maybe you could pull it back now, you would.
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D
Oh, goodness. Probably when I tracked down this guy, that left a racist comment on my page. I was like, now Rashonda, you didn't have to go into your. I always tell people, this is so fun. I said, the military doesn't untrain you, they just release you. We're just out here, you know what I'm saying? So I can find you if I wanted to. But they don't deserve that energy. You know, it is just. I grew up in Mississippi. I tell people all the time, I grew up in Mississippi in an all black town. We had a white pharmacist and two white people in the bank. That's it. My uncles who married my beautiful aunts that are white and my cousins and everybody else in this town and outside had never experienced racism. And I know that it's crazy because we're in Mississippi, but we did not because we weren't taught to hate. We loved everybody. Everybody we ran into were polite. I don't look at my aunts any different. My godmother is white. I don't know how you wake up in the morning just disliking people. That's the thing that gets me. So when I got to Kentucky or just joining the military and it opens you up to even further or traveling opens you up to a world that you don't know about. I never once looked at somebody and said I don't like them because of their race. I've never had a thought about hate. So for me it is trying to not always push back at somebody that it's just ignorance fueled by fear. Right. Things you don't know. So for me I have to lead with love and I can't let people draw me outside of that. And it wasn't anything I said nasty. It was just the fact that I wasted my time finding him. I was like, I should never did that. But I could be at your house. But I'm not, you know, don't leave
- [17:16]
C
a negative comment on the veterans page.
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D
Right? Do not.
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C
What was the transition from service coming back to civilian life like?
- [17:25]
D
Oh, wow. So I came back, I went first. My first duty station at 19 was Mannheim, Germany. Oh, it was. We had a ball. I don't even know if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. But we had a ball. We had a ball. And then I came to Fort Hood. Texas is where I transitioned from active duty to National Guard there and just coming back. First of all, as I stated, just when you are young and you first leave your parents house in the first place you go is another country and you learn so much about yourself, but also where you are, the history of Germany, the history of us, those things. And then come back to Fort Hood, and everybody there that has been outside of the country understands that we, all of us, are interconnected. It gives you a greater understanding, not, not just pride for your country, but also just a people, period. We are on a spinning rock floating through space. We are really insignificant when you think about it. And the things that we fight about and fuss about, in the grand scheme of things, it just doesn't matter. And I remember laying in the bed, I had my twins. They were born on my birthday and July 29, so they were six weeks when 9, 11 happened. And I think about the fact that I couldn't go. You know, I'm still on maternity leave, and how they may have saved my life. I think about all kind of things that could have and would have happened. So when you leave and come back from any place, whether you ever go outside the US or not, but being in the military and then being outside, first of all, you learn to function different there. You have a routine then being outside, but also learning that there's just so much more. It's so much more that you do not know. Once you've been and traveled and looked in the faces of other people that you may have never seen had you not went in, it changes your perspective on a lot.
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C
Latasha.
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E
I think one of the things that just brings everyone in is how authentic you really are. And is it surprising that your followers are so diverse from what you thought you would have started with?
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D
Maybe so. I think it was, first of all, we all bonded over being a cat mom. That was number one. But when I go through.
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C
That's how Facebook started.
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D
Yes. When you go through the airport and there are women and men from all races that recognize you, or on the airplane, they'll recognize you. You understand that it's not just the demographics you think it is. Everybody. I had a group of ladies. I was sitting at the airport waiting on my flight, and they came over and they were so excited. It was about five of them and four Caucasian ladies, one Asian lady. And they were all going to a lawyer's convention. They were all lawyers, and they was like, we watch your videos all the time. We love you. Continue your work. And I, in that moment, realize you just don't know who is watching. Right. I mean, of course, all the celebs that have reached out, that I have met and all the things, you don't know who it is that. That you're touching and I am always surprised. But I do know that those that follow me means that we're all on the same accord. Yes. I love that.
- [21:12]
E
And congratulations. I know you recently got married.
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D
Yay. I'm so excited. Yes. We got married on Valentine's Day in Louisville. It was a ball. We had a good time.
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C
You got married on Valentine's Day? Believe it or not. Brittany and I, who will celebrate 20 years this year, got married on April Fool's Day.
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D
No.
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C
Yes. So apparently I can forget it once. But it hasn't happened yet.
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D
I was so excited, and I was like, no double gifts, though. Don't. I mean, don't give me one gift. I need a Valentine's Day gift and an anniversary gift immediately.
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C
So you're following politics.
- [21:47]
D
Yes.
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C
Obviously you are professional in fashion.
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D
Yes.
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C
Do you ever judge politicians? Fashion. So if you had to give out the Least Fashionable Award. And I hope I don't qualify for that category.
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D
I was gonna say, you know, you love blue.
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C
I do.
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D
I said, why would you look in another suit? Like a gray, maybe a tan? I don't know.
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C
Haven't you seen the pink shirt?
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D
No.
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C
Worn it a couple times.
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D
You mixed it up with the pink. Okay. He's in a green suit now, too.
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E
It's very exciting.
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D
So he's moving forward. See, that's what I'm saying. But I think it's also when you are known for something. So when I see you in the blue, I'm like, this is a serious moment. Serious moment. If you have a tie. If you don't have a tie. Yes. Yes. If you have your sleeves rolled up with no jacket, I'm like, is he about to go off on. What is he about to do? So it's always so for me. Let me see. Who else? Who would I judge? I think everybody. Even when I've been to. Because I've been to Capitol Hill a lot, I think it's. I think because we are in 20, 26, I want everybody to kind of. It's okay to not just be regular.
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C
Yeah.
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D
You know, you. I'm glad you got a pink shirt. Maybe we should push, you know, we don't have to go crazy. I don't want you in a red suit, but, you know. You know, I don't want you to go too far, but, you know, you can. You can have a fun tie on or something. Yes.
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C
I'm mixing it up a little bit.
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D
Okay.
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C
All right. Opinions on the length of Donald Trump's tie now.
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F
Hey, what's going on over there? It's Me, Trevor Noah. You know me. You don't know me.
- [23:45]
C
Oh, you do.
- [23:46]
F
I was worried there for a second. Well, if you know anything about me, you'll know. I love having interesting conversations. Conversations where we scratch beneath the surface, like what's really going on in the news? Or what is that celebrity really thinking about that scandal that they had? Or what's the worst way to be a parent? I mean, you want to find that out so you can be the best parent, right? Well, regardless of what it is, this podcast is all about figuring that out, talking to interesting people who have interesting ideas that give us an interesting perspective on the world that we're living in. So check out what now with Trevor Noah, available wherever you get your podcasts.
- [24:27]
G
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- [24:59]
D
I thought we was going to get through this without bringing him up. Now I don't. Why are they so. Do they go inside his paint? Are they tucked?
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C
He could. He could. He could tuck it in. It's that long.
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D
Yeah, I don't. I don't know what's. Who is his stylist?
- [25:15]
C
I always wondered if he has one. I'd be shocked.
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D
Okay, so I'm gonna say, you know, it could be better. It could. His foundation could be blended more also. Yes. But it's on par for who he is.
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C
What is. When you look at the content you've posted, what is the one that you still look at and say, I nailed that one?
- [25:40]
D
Oh, my gosh. Probably my women's rights post. I think that it is absolutely crazy, like, batshit crazy that there are people that get to decide what we do with our vaginas. Just think about it. Think, like high level. Think about it. That there are people in committees, in meetings, voting on our vagina as if it's guns on the street. Like, we gotta get those vaginas off the street because they are taking lives. Because I know people always come to me and ask me things, but I'm genuinely saying I don't understand for the life of me what my uterus has to do with anybody else's. Like on the highest level possible. If you zoom out. I wouldn't monitor anybody's body. But if I. When I made the post at the board and I'm saying, I don't care what I do with my inside out cookie box, it's none of your business. And I can't wrap my head around it because I would never tell my brother what he can't do with his body. And so the post went crazy because people are really trying to understand why does it matter? Like I thought the days of telling people what to do with their body was gone.
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C
Yeah. I thought don't tread on me meant leave me alone.
- [27:08]
D
That's what I, that's what I thought. And that's. And now you know, we have diseases that we hadn't seen in a while coming back. Yeah, we got all kind of stuff.
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C
I'm like, things we had fully defeated.
- [27:19]
D
If you don't want to vaccinate your child, that is your business. But if your child is in a public school with other people. My daughter is a teacher. Kids are germ filled. Okay. The first day of school, she's gonna come back with a cold by the end of the week.
- [27:36]
C
I'd say if you don't want to vaccinate your child, okay. But you can't be secretary of hhs.
- [27:40]
D
Yes. Correct.
- [27:42]
E
Yes.
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C
Let me tell you also, don't swim in Rock Creek, especially with everything that's into it.
- [27:49]
D
Do not snort any substance off a toilet seat. I want everybody to hear me. Do not listen to somebody that has did anything with a toilet seat.
- [27:59]
C
I like this game. Don't put a dead bear's carcass in the back of your car, drive into New York City, realize you're flying out the next day and thus stage its death with, I think a bike.
- [28:11]
D
See, you see what I'm saying? Why do we follow people that somewhere something happened right in the mind?
- [28:18]
C
It's the worm in the thing.
- [28:19]
D
Yes. Yes. You can't, you just, you just can't trust that. You can't. You have to. Mental health is a serious thing. And now we are putting people that need to have psyche valves in charge of things that they just should not be.
- [28:36]
C
Secretary Ward hhs.
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D
When the leaked signal chat came out, I said, let me tell when you have. We just need to better monitor. I'm going to ask you this because I need to know how long do you think any of this would take to reverse any of it? Just pick one.
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C
Well, if you got the right people in charge after. I think hopefully we can both make progress for the American people and fix it. But it's going to take a lot of really dedicated folks. I think a lot of Democratic governors right now are really good at what they do. They're good at getting results. But I hope we can also all take a breath, you know, have our McCarthyism moment, if you will. And people say, well, that went too far. We want some level of stability in our country moving forward.
- [29:38]
D
I really wish that we could take a moment. You know how after a bad breakup, you just need a moment.
- [29:43]
C
Yes.
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D
You know, I don't really. I want us to date around presidents like, you know, kind of see what they talking about, go on the first third date, see what's going on and then commit. I don't want to go into another relationship for four years, you know, after we are in an abusive relationship. This country is in an abusive relationship. And I just think that we need a moment.
- [30:08]
C
Well, certainly the way the news hits you.
- [30:10]
D
Yes.
- [30:10]
C
Every day, minute after minute, being intentionally done by the White House.
- [30:15]
D
Yeah.
- [30:15]
C
To the American people. Because they want the American people to give up.
- [30:19]
D
Now, I did say that it is. It is the onslaught of shenanigans day in and day out that makes a lot of people just want to throw their hands up. And some people, you're right, they want to check out. First of all, you already got a lot going on at home with your family, with your stuff. You don't need this right now. And then it's hard for those that are like me, that are in the middle. I want to know, but I don't want to know, but I need to know because it affects all of us. So how do you find that balance without being overwhelmed and giving up? But that's the thing. Since January of 2025 is one thing. We can't go to sleep and we wake up, we at war, we can't go to sleep, we wake up and a plane has ran it. I just need a moment and some coffee or bourbon, but depending on the time of day. Yes, yes. Depending on the time of day. Yes, absolutely. Please make her smart and coke immediately.
- [31:13]
E
Well, I think you blend that really well, the informing people with a serious topic, making it palatable.
- [31:18]
D
Absolutely. And I try to do that because, again, this is heavy. Right. And I don't want to be one of those people, whether you meet me in person or go to my page, that it is just doom and gloom. It can't be, because we can't make it like that. We need hope and we need joy. And that's what I, I try to provide.
- [31:36]
C
I think we need hope, we need joy and we shouldn't get our entertainment from the leader of the free world.
- [31:41]
D
Correct in all caps.
- [31:43]
C
Oh, in post saying he's glad people are dead.
- [31:49]
D
In post that says now, right, that Iran is dead. The biggest enemy to America is left leaning Democrats. When you know that there are people out there off their rocker. We have already lost people due to hate. We just don't need those kind of things coming across from the leader of the free world.
- [32:09]
C
What I've been saying recently is this is a president that denies that racism exists while he shows us what it looks like every day.
- [32:16]
D
Every day. When all we just need to lead with love. It's, it's unnecessary. And I go back to my point on, on that and racism. It's just unnecessary. Because why? You know, there's no reason at all. When I look at you, I see a man. You see what I'm saying? I don't base the amount of things that my me, my family, my ancestors, the thing my grandfathers, great grandfathers, grandmother has told me, you can sit with people that have that in them, right? And it does us no good. We, I always say that I have to have grace and I have to have understanding and I have to look at people every day. You didn't decide. I didn't come into this world deciding on my skin color. Right. So I am not going to be out here having to. First of all, I don't even tolerate disrespect. You're going to talk to me like a human or we're not going to talk at all. Don't get my agent Orange acting up. Don't, don't. So for me that's what it is about. Based no matter what you look like, are you leading with love and respect? Then we can talk. If not, I don't have anything to say to you. You're not gonna bring that up out of me today. And I think that the people that he has emboldened already has that in them. Right. Because nobody wakes up to hate. It takes too much energy.
- [33:48]
C
So tell our listeners and our viewers how they can follow you.
- [33:51]
D
Oh wow. You can follow me on Instagram Reshonda underscore lias l I a s and also on TikTok under Rashonda underscore lias l I a s and also Facebook Rashonda lias so you can hit me up anywhere. My email's there and we can talk.
- [34:14]
C
Rashonda, thanks for joining the Podcast Latasha, congratulations on your premiere episode.
- [34:20]
D
Oh, yay. See? You did good.
- [34:22]
C
Now, Rashonda, one thing we love on the podcast is great guests like you.
- [34:27]
D
All right.
- [34:28]
C
Another thing we love is to sell our merch. So today we've got just a little bit for you. On behalf of the podcast, please accept this Andy Beshear podcast mug. Look it, and nothing says, thank you for being on a podcast like Andy Beshear Podcast tote bag. And in case you need stickers for various things, laptops and the rest, to commemorate this episode, we wanted to send you with that too.
- [34:59]
D
Absolutely. Thank you so much.
- [35:01]
C
You're welcome.
- [35:03]
D
I want everybody to know this is my merch. Okay. I came, I saw, we talked. Yes. Thank you so much.
- [35:12]
C
That's gonna sell more merch than we have ever sold by far. Our guest on this week's Andy Beshear podcast is JD Shelburn. JD Is a Nashville recording artist who is from Taylorsville, Kentucky. Part of his launch into where he is now was appearing on our tourism guide in 2020, where I first met him. JD welcome to the podcast.
- [35:43]
H
Honor to be here. Thanks for having me.
- [35:44]
C
Okay, so Kentucky boy through and through.
- [35:47]
H
Yes.
- [35:47]
C
What's it like going from Taylorsville, Kentucky, to now being on some of the biggest stages across the country? I hear you're playing in Vegas soon.
- [35:55]
H
Yes, it's been considering where I started. You know, I didn't grow up playing music, didn't grow up singing, didn't play guitar. And then, you know, discovering it in college and taking, you know, once my college dorm room to now playing, you know, in Vegas and the Opry is just. Sometimes it's leaves me in shock sometimes to see how far I've actually truly been able to kind of break through and kind of establish my name and brand. It's been amazing.
- [36:19]
C
Tell me that moment you found the guitar.
- [36:22]
H
So I was in college at the University of Kentucky. I'd been up there. I graduated high school in Spencer County, High school in Taylorsville in 2001. Dad was a principal. Mom stayed home with my brother and I, and so I knew college was next for us. Parents put forth education first. And so I knew I was going to college, but had no idea I would eventually find a guitar. So my first semester there, I was living on the dorms, Hagen hall, which I don't think it's even there anymore.
- [36:43]
B
No.
- [36:44]
H
My grandmother back home, she passed away unexpectedly. Went back home from her funeral and was just, you know, I'd been home about the weekend. From what I remember back in June of 02 and I was going through her house. She lived in a house on Main Street. We could never get upstairs when we were kids. The door was always locked. And after she passed, we just kind of went through the house. I was going to take something back from her house to college just to in memory of her. And I was looking for a lamp, anything she had antique, you know. And I come across a guitar. And at first, you know, it wasn't like a tada moment. Like, it's like I've been looking for this forever. It's just like, what can I do with this? And this is small size of guitar I found out used to own, belong to my uncle and just started kind of took it back and forth. I'd come home, visit my parents. I'd bring it home, I'd take it back to school and just started teaching, teaching myself songs. And you know, here. Here I am trying to teach myself to sing, which I could actually kind of sing a little bit because we would sing on school bus rides, the ball games, and we were playing sports and the guitar just kind of electrified it and so kind of made me a little bit more mysterious of like, maybe these things could go together. And here I am.
- [37:47]
C
So was there a song or a moment after that that you started that you thought, I can really do this or this is where I want to take my life?
- [37:55]
H
You know, it seemed like as I started playing music, learning songs became much easier than really studying for tests. I mean, obviously I end up getting a degree and study for tests all through college. But I feel like when I would learn songs, it was just so simple. And the chords, because, you know, you're thinking, you're learning the songs and the words and the strum patterns and the frets, you're putting your fingers on the acoustic. And those things just kind of came naturally. And the more I would just sit down and, you know, you hear songs on the radio. I like that song. So I'd go back home and get on, you know, Google or I think back then it was like Yahoo or something. And you can type in the. You could type in your favorite song in the word chords and it would pop up the tab.
- [38:29]
C
I may still have a Yahoo email address.
- [38:31]
H
I think I still do too. And you could type in the song you liked and the chords after it would bring up the tab so you can go through, find out where to put your fingers. And so, you know, I started doing that and that led to really my first performance in Lexington. And that was kind of all she wrote.
- [38:46]
C
Tell us about that first performance. Where was it?
- [38:48]
H
So the very first time I ever played was. Was a club called Kitty o'. Shea's.
- [38:52]
C
Yes.
- [38:53]
H
It's not even there anymore. It's a parking lot, John.
- [38:55]
C
I'm gonna pretend like I didn't know where that was.
- [38:58]
H
I can remember like my parents, I didn't grow up in bars. Mom and dad didn't grow up in bars. We went to church and we went to the ball field and that was it. So this is like a culture shock to go into a bar. I think it was an Irish pub playing country music. And I ended up playing there one time. And I remember all my roommates came, all my friends that went to UK and LCC at the time. We all went and packed the place. I don't think I knew about three or four songs, but I just remember that moment of like, I just love. I just love the. Just being there, being in front of everybody and creating this vibe. It's like, man, maybe this will work out. And so mom and dad caught wind of that back home. And the guitar that I found was not one you could plug into a pa. So I'm having to put a microphone in front of the sound hole. And so you back up from the microphone, you don't hear any guitar, so it's kind of aggravated. So I told mom and dad, said, hey, listen, guys, if you can bring me a guitar for Christmas, I will sing in church. And so mom and dad brought me a guitar that next Christmas. That was in like 2000. That was in 2002, December. And I played in church like next week. So that new guitar that could plug into an amp really helped kind of take me to the next level.
- [40:05]
C
So you've now performed over 3,000 shows. I think a lot of people probably think about the glitz and the glamour they sometimes do in politics too, but it's a lot of work.
- [40:16]
H
It is, yes.
- [40:17]
C
Tell us the why. What drives you? Why are you willing to get up every single day and play that next show?
- [40:26]
H
The fans. I've been able to make a living doing this. I think that's really, to be honest, has helped. The fans have been a huge part of. Of the whole journey. You know, if you go to these places, you don't have anybody coming to see you play. It gets a little. It can get a little tiresome. But when people come out, you know, they tell you their stories, how they met your. How they learned of your music. They went through life changing moments. My music's helped heal them through the process. And over top of that, you know, you just, you just meet so many opportunities. I remember the first time Churchill Downs called me to play a show for Crown Royal Festival on the field in 2008. I mean, I'm talking going from an open mic night in Lexington to 15,000 people in Churchill. So, like, every day, my email would bring me something different, a new exciting moment every day. And it's like I feel like those things that wait for that next. That next hit, you know, that you would get a big call or get to open. I'm getting to sit right here with you. Dream come true. So little things like that along the way helped.
- [41:22]
C
When we had Walker Montgomery on, he talked about playing at the Grand Old Opry and that being sacred ground for country music.
- [41:30]
H
Yes.
- [41:31]
C
So this last July. Yes. You played there. Tell us about it.
- [41:34]
H
That was maybe the biggest moment of my musical career. I mean, it was just unbelievable. You know, I didn't expect it. You know, I'd gotten to record with the Oak Ridge Boys and Crystal Gill, and I'd always been in the room with Randy Travis, some of these big A list country stars. I always, at the end of our conversation, we were friends first. I would never be the guy to go say, you should get me on the Ivory.
- [41:53]
C
Yes.
- [41:53]
H
But once I would become friends with these people known for a year. So I'd say, hey, if you ever got a, you can nudge the GM at the Opry, I'd love a chance. Well, this never happened. So I would continue to see, like Travis Tritt. I'd see all these other artists at derby parties and we'd be friends and I would never bug them with it. Well, just so happened last June, I was working in my garage, working on my getting merch ready for our summer tour to start last summer. And I've got my phone connected to a Bluetooth speaker. Lo and behold, it's the email from the Opry. They offered me a date. It was just. It was pandemonium at home. I was hugging my wife and her crying tears in the kitchen. And it was a big moment to step up foot in that circle. The greatest stage of country music. You know, I've been working 17 years towards it to finally get to reach the top of the pole. If you've climbed all these years, it was an amazing moment.
- [42:37]
I
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D
The IRS said I filed my return, but I haven't.
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I
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A
What do I do?
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C
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D
I'm freaking out.
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I
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D
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I
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- [43:37]
H
Forget it.
- [43:38]
C
You're listening to the Andy Beshear podcast. We're having a conversation with JD Shelburn. Just talked about 17 years working at it before making the Grand Ole Opry. How many albums have you put out in those? 17.
- [43:51]
H
7.
- [43:52]
C
So which one's your favorite?
- [43:54]
H
Probably the current one.
- [43:55]
C
So this isn't like children, you can just name your favorite.
- [43:57]
H
I can name my favorite? Yeah.
- [43:59]
C
Especially if it's the one selling right now.
- [44:01]
H
Yeah, you're exactly right. You know, 2021, I put out a record called Straight from Kentucky. I wrote a song about this great stage that helped me get a lot of great shows that would end up being a top 30 record for us on itunes. Country chart that was big with no label. And then I had Neon Hallelujah came out. Got to record with the Oakish boys for that. That was a big record for us. And then the race on the good stuff is probably my current favorite. It came out in November of last year. So we'll spend all summer, you know, touring and playing the songs. So real excited.
- [44:27]
C
What's the song you're playing at a show right now that everybody goes crazy for?
- [44:32]
H
Probably a song. Well, Straight from Kentucky has kind of been a staple song for me now.
- [44:37]
C
Do you play that when you're in Tennessee?
- [44:38]
H
I have before.
- [44:38]
C
All right.
- [44:39]
H
Yeah, I have before when I played in Indiana last week or last month. Even better. At a casino. I was like, should play this song in Indiana. I don't know if I didn't. But I do play it in Tennessee, so anywhere. But I'd say my current song, back Road Kind of Love, it's off my new record. It's in Texas Roadhouse right now on their video screens. And it's just Energetic, fun song and probably my most popular right now.
- [45:03]
C
How do you describe your sound?
- [45:05]
H
You know, I would say storytelling. You know, I'm not really. I wouldn't really consider me to be like a more modern country, not classic country. I didn't grow up listening to classic country. My dad had three dog night in a car. Billy Ray Cyrus.
- [45:19]
C
Yeah.
- [45:19]
H
So I skipped the whole George Jones and Willie Nelson, but I would say modern country. Storyteller J.D.
- [45:25]
C
john McConnell. Got one question. When I get to talk to an artist, I mean, 3,000 shows, the Grand Ole Opry. What's the one show that you went out to go perform where the crowd's energy was like something you had to experienced before? Were you just fed off of it?
- [45:42]
H
I've had several of those moments. One that sticks out. Danny Wimmer had me to play Hometown rising back in 2019.
- [45:49]
C
He's been on the podcast.
- [45:50]
H
Yeah, great, great, great concert setups. Amazing, amazing group team. I got to be on the 2019 Hometown Rising. This is right before Pandemic. And I remember he put us on the stage. We were the night Tim McGraw played. And I remember them taking us from the green room in the van to our stage. We were about 45 minutes out. And I remember there wasn't a lot of people watching the band before us. And I'm kind of like, man, where's everybody at? I thought my friends were coming. And, you know, this is 45 minutes. By the time we went on stage and they kicked off the intro, there was thousands of people at our show. I could not believe it. It was a moment where I was like, wow. I finally. This is a special moment. And that was one of many. I've had a few at Churchill Downs, of course. I've done about four Hometown shows in Taylorsville where, you know, when you do stuff for free at home, you don't know if people are going to show or not.
- [46:37]
C
You know, you're going to show, it's free.
- [46:40]
H
Yeah, it's true. But it's like, you know, you don't know what people.
- [46:43]
C
But you're worried. If you charge
- [46:46]
H
anybody there? If I charge money. But I've done free shows there. Stepping out on stage and seeing, you know, 7,000 people in my hometown town square was a big moment.
- [46:53]
C
If you had to play something other than country, what would it be? Because I look back and I also missed a lot of the classic country, but I love that 90s country. Garth Brooks and Brooks and Dunn and Alan Jackson and Clint Black. But I also love 90s rap and hip hop.
- [47:08]
H
Yeah, I was 90s rock. So you're talking. If I could go back, if I could switch, if country was no longer a choice, I would either do Frank Sinatra, the big band stuff. I love his music, and I love 90s rock. Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox 20, Hootie. You know, I come up through the ranks in college and high school when, you know, Iris from the Goo Goo Dolls was the number one song in 98.
- [47:27]
C
So I'm probably 80s rock.
- [47:29]
H
Yeah.
- [47:32]
C
Tell our listeners how they can follow you.
- [47:35]
H
Yeah, we'd love to have your fan Support. I'm@jdshelburn.com on Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Would love to introduce you guys to my music. Like you said, seven records, 3,000 shows. I've been. Been around this business a long, long time and been grateful for a great slew of fans. I'd love to have a few more.
- [47:55]
C
So as an artist in the age of social media, how do you use
- [47:59]
H
it every single day? Yeah, I try to keep my Facebook and everything updated. Even being here today, I took a picture of an interstate sign on the way here. I drove up to Nashville to be a part of this. So it's like, people love to see the journey behind the scenes. I think that's what really drives people to see people, you know, hey, where you at today? And so just keeping things updated. Never. Never letting a day go by where I didn't update my socials. Maybe never letting two hours go by. Just staying in front of the fans as much as possible.
- [48:26]
C
How do you stay grounded with your family? I know you've gone a decent amount, but love your kiddo and your wife.
- [48:33]
H
Just the support back home has just been sensational. My wife and son, I'll go back home to see them tonight, obviously, but just having their support, you know, the other day I got in the car, I bought my wife a new car for Christmas. That was her gift for me. And lo and behold, about a month. A month ago, I get in the car, I'm driving her car. I'm not allowed to drive her car much, but I drove her car, and she had my record playing in her car. I'm like, you have bonus points if you're listening to my record in your new car. There's all the artists in the world. You can listen to me. She listens to my song. So bonus points to my wife.
- [49:05]
C
Every now and then, I look over and Brittany's listening to the podcast.
- [49:09]
H
That's a good wife.
- [49:10]
C
Every now and then.
- [49:11]
H
Yeah, yeah, my wife's every now. And then it's not all the time, but I got to get. Give her kudos for that.
- [49:15]
C
You talk about your journey. What part of your journey led you into the world of bourbon?
- [49:20]
H
So, you know, when I started kind of building a name, kind of getting somewhat known around the state, I was getting calls to play, you know, events for Jim Beam, Evan Williams, Four Roses did some stuff for Angels Envy. And any. Anytime one of those companies would call me, I would always find a way to work it out. It was always great events, corporate events. You know, I got to play at Jim Beam's former home at one time in his backyard. It was amazing. And so I had done things for so many great, great bourbon companies. And so as more popularity came with the music business, the more I'd get opportunity. And the last part of January of last year, I had a company reach out to me called Inclusion Brand. And I wasn't familiar with them at the time, and they asked me to be their brand ambassador. And I was like, well, what exactly does a brand ambassador entail? Am I going to lose my other bourbon gigs, or is this good? So I had no idea. And so ended up. We worked it out, became great friends with Scott and Tracy, the owners of the company. Tracy's the owner. Scott works with Tracy. And we signed on board with them, and they brought me to the table last year to make my own bourbon. So we did 101 proof, and we just put out the 96 proof that Governor Andy has in his hand right now. That's. That's on the shelf right now in Kentucky. So I have two. Two of my own bottles of bourbon out.
- [50:39]
C
So we've got Inclusion Brand Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey here, and they even put his face on it now.
- [50:46]
H
Yeah.
- [50:47]
C
I've had people make a bourbon for me before, but they have never asked for my face to be on it. There's probably a reason, you know, you've made it as a Kentuckian when your face is either on the chicken bucket or the bourbon bottle.
- [51:03]
H
That's right. That is exactly. I like that quote. It's funny you say that, but now. But now it's like, when I'm around my friends or family, I'm like, you can't be drinking any other bourbon but mine. You know, it's funny how that works.
- [51:13]
C
So we ask all our guests, what is your secret superpower? What's something you're really good at that no one knows?
- [51:21]
H
Oh, man. Secret superpower, man.
- [51:27]
C
I'll give you some examples. We've had some people on that don't need much sleep. That's. That's actually useful. My wife can pack a suitcase better than anybody I know.
- [51:36]
H
Okay.
- [51:37]
C
I can cook the Thanksgiving turkey and proved it.
- [51:40]
H
That's right.
- [51:40]
C
You have better than most chefs.
- [51:42]
H
I'll tell you one thing I think I'm good at is I can go to one place one time. Like, whether it be at a little house in Pensacola, Florida, or drive out to Vegas. I can tell you exactly how to get there. Just that one time on gps. I'll never have to look at GPS again. I don't know if something.
- [51:55]
C
My dad can do that I don't know.
- [51:57]
H
I've been. My wife is like, how do you find a place like this? So I go one place, one time. I'll never forget how to get there.
- [52:03]
C
You think that's part of where you grew up, though?
- [52:05]
H
I guess because I lived on old dirt roads and I grew up on a farm. And, you know, I just. I remember when we were kids, I think like 7 years old, dad let me drive the tractor for the first time, hauling a hay wagon. And you got to go out such and such. We raised tobacco, my family. And so we always had barns throughout the county. We would raise their barn to raise tobacco closest to the tobacco patch. And I remember we take that tractor wagon and thinking how in the world this is before GPS even thought of, and I'd find you get there and never forget how to get there again.
- [52:33]
C
If you grew up cutting tobacco, 3,000 shows, easy comparison.
- [52:37]
H
Amen.
- [52:38]
C
I don't think most people listening know how hard that job is.
- [52:41]
H
It really is. You know, when I work for my dad, so my dad worked at the school, but during, when we come home the summers, we were raising tobacco. My dad's always been a farmer on the side. My grandpa Wilson was a farmer. And dad actually used to pay us. Like, usually when you work for your dad, you ain't getting paid. Yeah, dad would pay us.
- [52:59]
C
Tell me about it.
- [53:00]
H
Dad would pay us 12 cents a stick to cut a tobacco to cut tobacco. They think 12 cents a stick, that's. That's nothing. But back in the day, it's like, you know, you could. If you cut 100 sticks, you know, three, four, 400 a day. I mean, if you made a hundred bucks in the week, you were rich. It's funny. Good old days.
- [53:16]
C
So part of your rise, interrupted by Covid a little bit after, was you graced our 2020 Kentucky tourism guide. That was a big moment.
- [53:26]
H
That was a huge moment.
- [53:27]
C
So you came to the capitol. You had your wife there?
- [53:30]
H
Sure did.
- [53:30]
C
I think your in laws were there. That's pretty special if you invite the in laws.
- [53:33]
H
Yeah, it was. Yeah. I still remember like it was yesterday. Anytime I come to Frankfurt for anything, which is not very often, pop over the hill and I see the Capitol, I think of that every time. That was a pivotal moment in my music career. That really helped me just get some more traction across the state, meeting folks like yourself, getting to do bigger festivals. I still use that tool of being on the COVID of the Tourism guide and all my promos. It's on my one sheet. Anytime anyone inquires about booking my band or me as a corporate event, that's one of the top 10 things I've done. That's like, hey, maybe you should book J.D. shelburn as being on the tourism guide.
- [54:11]
C
So it was a big moment throughout all your albums. And let's say, other than Straight From Kentucky, what one song would you recommend to our listeners that if they download, they're going to want to download a lot more?
- [54:25]
H
I'd say a song we had on my Straight Straight From Kentucky record, Church Pew Bar Stools, the number one record for us on cmt. They aired. It became number one right then. Pandemic. It's with the second song I played on my Opry debut. It's a great song, great mess. It's called Church Pew Barstool. I would highly recommend the Journey to my collection. That would be the first song you listen to.
- [54:45]
C
JD it's been a pleasure. Thanks for being on the podcast. And as we head to break, please introduce a song to the audience.
- [54:55]
H
Absolutely. So this is off my 2021 album, one of my most favorite songs I've ever recorded. It's called Church Pew Barstool. I don't always make it to church on Sunday. Been known to use four letter words and too often I forget to pray unless I'm in trouble.
- [55:19]
C
I hope that you are enjoying all the content we're putting out. Remember, you can follow us on the Sirius XM app. You can listen to us on Sirius XM progress Saturdays at 11am you can download this podcast wherever you get your podcast. But we need you to go to our YouTube channel. Hit subscribe. Watch some of those videos. It's what helps fuel this podcast. And remember, there is plenty of merch. Nothing tells somebody that you care about them like an Andy Beshear podcast mug, an Andy Beshear podcast shirt, or of course the Andy Beshear podcast tote bag. Don't be without one. Everybody else has them. I hope you enjoyed the episode and we'll be back soon.
- [56:13]
I
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