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Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
"The Sound of Redemption : Scotty Hasting's Music Journey"
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- [00:01]
Scotty Hasting
Music Saved Me.
- [00:02]
Lynne Hoffman
Welcome to Music Saved Me, the podcast where we dive deep into the transformative power of music and the stories behind the artists who inspire us. And if you're into stories of inspiration and resilience, which I suspect you might be, please check out our sister podcast, Comedy Saved Me, hosted by yours truly. Wherever you get your podcasts, I'm your host, Lynne Hoffman, and today's episode is a story of extraordinary resilience, courage, and the pursuit of purpose. Joining us, rising country star Scotty Hasting, an Army veteran and singer songwriter who is a living testament to the human spirit. Scotty's journey from active military service on the battlefields of Afghanistan to surviving being shot 10 times, surviving and confronting PTSD is nothing short of remarkable. But it's what happened after all of that that marks his deepest transformation. Picking up a guitar during the darkest days of the pandemic to combat PTSD and discovering that music just be a lifeline. It would be a new path forward. Since his first record deal in 23, he shared the stage with country giants like Tanya Tucker, Jelly Roll, and Chris Jansen. And he's also become a proud advocate for organizations like Creative Vets and Guitars for Vets. And as a Purple Heart recipient himself, his music carries the weight of his story and the hope of his message that no matter how tough things get, there's always a light on the other side. Today's conversation, Scotty opens up about songwriting, how it became his sa grace, how sharing his story helped his fellow veterans, and what it feels like to connect with his audiences from stage to stage, reminding us all that sometimes music truly does save us. So wherever you're listening, settle in for an honest and inspiring and unforgettable episode with Scotty Hasting right here on Music Saved Me. Scotty, welcome to the show. It is so wonderful to have you here.
- [02:00]
Scotty Hasting
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Thanks for having me.
- [02:03]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, first and foremost, thank you for your service and for joining us today and your incredible journey. I have goosebumps just thinking about it. And I know we didn't plan this, and it's not like this won't live on forever, but today just happens to be the day I get to talk to you on National Purple Heart Day.
- [02:21]
Scotty Hasting
Oh, wow.
- [02:23]
Lynne Hoffman
Did you even know that?
- [02:23]
Scotty Hasting
I didn't even notice that.
- [02:24]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow. It's incredible. Well, I can't wait to talk to you all about your incredible story, starting with how you survived and how that survival shaped your music. But first, we gotta take a quick break and have a word from our wonderful sponsors who pay for all of this to be able to happen. So we'll be right back with Scotty Hastings. This is an iHeart podcast. Running a business online. Look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy. Instantly build trust with your customers and boost your credibility with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains. To find one that's right for you, pair that with a professional email that works for all your business needs from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.comGdNow and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.comGdNow again. GoDaddy.comGdNow there's never been a better time to choose the domain and email that's right for you. New customer purchases only products Auto renew separately. See terms on site godaddy.com gdnow it's.
- [03:49]
Scotty Hasting
Black business Month and black tech green money is tapping in. I'm Will Lucas spotlighting black founders, investors and innovators building the future one idea at a time. Let's talk legacy tech and generational wealth.
- [04:02]
Lynne Hoffman
I had the skill and I had the talent. I didn't have the opportunity. Yeah, we all know, right? Genius is evenly distributed. Opportunity is not.
- [04:12]
Scotty Hasting
To hear this and more on the.
- [04:13]
Lynne Hoffman
Power of black innovation and ownership.
- [04:15]
Scotty Hasting
Listen. The black tech green money from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, it's Janae AKA Cheekies from.
- [04:25]
Lynne Hoffman
Cheekies and Chill Podcast and I'm bringing you an all new mini podcast series called Sincerely Janae. Sure, I'm a singer, author, businesswoman and podcaster, but at the end of the day, I am human. And that's why I'm sharing my ups and downs with you in real time and on the go. Listen to Jiggies and chill on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. When your car is making a strange.
- [04:53]
Scotty Hasting
Noise, no matter what it is, you can't just pretend it's not happening. That's an interesting sound. It's like your mental health. If you're struggling and feeling overwhelmed, it's.
- [05:04]
Lynne Hoffman
Important to do something about it.
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Scotty Hasting
It can be as simple as talking to someone or just taking a deep calming breath to ground yourself. Because once you start to address the problem, you so much further. The Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council have resources available for you at loveyourmindtoday.org have you ever wished for.
- [05:22]
Lynne Hoffman
A change but weren't sure how to make it? Maybe you felt stuck in a job, a place, or even a relationship. I'm Emily Tish Sussman. And on she Pivots, I dive into the inspiring pivots of women who have taken big leaps in their lives and careers. I'm Gretchen Whitmer. Jody Sweetie, Monica Padme. Elaine Welteroth. Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because your life is going to be full of them. Listen to these women and more on she Pivots now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Music SAVED ME welcome back to Music Saved Me. My guest, Scotty Hasting. All right, let's talk about your journey from serving in the army to becoming a musical artist, a country music artist. Can you describe what role music played for you before your time in Afghanistan and then after?
- [06:12]
Scotty Hasting
Yeah. You know, it's funny, when I was, I grew up listening to music, I grew up singing it, but music was never a thought as, like a career or something that I ever thought that I could do. You know, music was just for me. It was just a hobby. I just, I sang songs in the car or in the shower. I never let anyone ever hear me sing. It was just something for me. It was my happy place.
- [06:34]
Lynne Hoffman
Did you, did you know that you were a good singer or was it just in the bathroom in the shower? Like, good acoustics?
- [06:40]
Scotty Hasting
Yeah. I mean, my mom told me I was good once, but no, I mean, I would sing like, karaoke and stuff. Like, as I got older, I started saying karaoke because my dad was a karaoke DJ for a while. And, and yeah, I mean, I was always told that I was, you know, good, but, you know, it's hard to be like, oh, well, thanks. You know, some drunk guy at a bar thought I was good at karaoke. It's hard to be like, oh, yeah, I'm good, you know, but. But no, it was for me, it was just, it was my happy place was what I did for me. And yeah, I never thought in a million years I'd be doing what I'm doing now.
- [07:11]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow. It's pretty incredible. And it's only been a few short years. I know that you've spoken openly and in vivid detail about surviving being shot, and not just shot, but like 10 times at point blank range. I mean, you were looking into your shooter's eyes, and you also dealt a lot with ptsd, which. Which followed. And I'm very familiar with that. My dad was in the military as well, so he suffered greatly with that. How. How did those experience shape your musical voice and basically your purpose moving forward?
- [07:45]
Scotty Hasting
You know, I think it shaped my musical voice in the sense that it was therapy for me. You know, I started all of this as just a form of therapy. You know, learning how to play the guitar, learning how to write music. And in the music that came out, it was just therapeutic. It was what I needed before the cup overflowed. And it's amazing because I remember going to my first show ever, and I played the first song I ever learned how to play, which it should have been a Cowboy. And I was at an open mic night in Cookville, Tennessee, out in the middle of nowhere at Red Cellar Brewing Company, and. And I was just like, you know, I'm just gonna go up there and play and see what happens. And I. And I remember playing that song, and I remember feeling like, this is what I need to do forever. It was like, in that moment, like, the stage became my sanctuary. And it was. It was my place where I could escape and live in a moment away from the ptsd, the DEP Depression, the anxiety, all of that stuff. And it was. And for me, that's all it was. That's all. That's all I wanted music for was to be therapy. That was it. And. And then I started writing songs for myself as therapy, and then I started playing those songs out, and I started realizing that veterans were. And other people who were struggling were connecting with these songs, and I was like, well, hold on. Like, I might be able to do some good with this. Like, let me. Hold on. Like, let me. Let me do like. I remember going. I played for one of the first show ever played for a veteran nonprofit. It was for creative bets, and it was in Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, before the Super Bowl. And I was opening for Dave Grohl, and there was, like, 200 veterans in this room. And I was like, I. I was so scared. I was nervous. I wasn't. It was like the first time I'd ever truly been by myself in a big show. And. And I remember playing a song about my Survivor's Guild. It's called how do youo Choose? It's a song about my best friend, Being killed. And it's something I struggle with every day. Still, to this day, it's something I struggle with. Survivor's guilt is there. It's always going to be there. And I remember playing it, and it was the first time that I ever played a song and no one clapped after. And I was like, oh, my God, they hate it. They hated it. I just poured my heart, my soul into this. They hated this song. And then I looked around the room and I realized that everyone was kind of consoling each other and they were consoling each other. And then after that, I started getting messages from all these people. And then they came up to me and they started talking to me and talking about how. How, like how I was giving them a voice when they didn't know what to say and all this. And I was like. Like, hold. Like, I. Like I could. I could help people with what I'm doing. Like, I want to do that. Like, I want to help. Like, this is like getting the messages that I get and all that stuff. Like, that's what this is all about. I. I never came into music thinking, you know, this is going to be a career for me and I'm going to make a buttload of money and I'm going to be super famous. Like, no, for me, it was. It became a mission and it became a way for me to help people, and that's a way for me to help myself honestly as well. And. And that's all it will ever be for me.
- [10:44]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow. I find it hard to believe that you're scared of anything after everything that. That you went through.
- [10:50]
Scotty Hasting
Well, you know, it's funny. It's funny. I get questions all the time about, man, are you nervous about to go on stage? You nervous? And I'm like, well, no one's shooting at me today, you know, so. Right, but exactly. But no, I mean, I think a little bit of nerves is good. I think it means that it means something to you, you know, that it's important. But. But yeah, it was. Yeah, it was. It was the first, like, big stage I've ever been on, and it was just me by myself with my guitar. So it was. It was definitely nerve wracking, for sure.
- [11:17]
Lynne Hoffman
I bet it was. You know, I want to. I want to start this next question off with one of your quotes. You were quoted as saying, for me, the demons of PTSD knock the loudest. When it's quiet and when I have my guitar in my hands, I find peace. At what point did you realize that music was More than a hobby and therapy. And if you already said that, forgive me for asking again, but can you also describe that moment when you picked up the guitar during the pandemic and how that changed your whole path of existence?
- [11:46]
Scotty Hasting
Yeah, 100%. So before the pandemic, I was shooting archery with the U.S. paralympic program. I traveled all over the country. I represented the United States. For me shooting archery seven seconds before I released that arrow, nothing in the world mattered. Ptsd, depression, it all disappeared for those seven seconds. And I lived for those seven seconds. And. And then covet happened in the world shut down, and my escape in my way to deal got taken away. And I. I was struggling. I was struggling really bad. I started going into a very dark place and. Yeah, and, you know, like I said, the demons knock the loudest when it gets quiet in. Covid was very quiet, and. And I needed something. I needed something to focus on, and it did something to get out of my head. And I had a guitar in a corner of my room, and one day I was like, I'm just gonna. I'm going to learn how to do this. Like, I'm going to figure out how to play this thing. Like, I've. I've. You know, ever since Walter Reed, I've never let anything stop me from doing something, no matter my injury or whatever. Like, I'm just going to try it. Who knows? And I jumped on YouTube and I started learning how to play a guitar. And it was like that escape was back again. You know, I was able to. I was able to just focus on one thing, and I spent every day playing that and learning how to play the guitar. And then I went from there to, okay, well, now I have this escape, and I have. I have this ability to get away from everything, but I still have all these feelings and emotions that are bottled up. Like, I need to. I need to find a way to get these out, put them somewhere. I need to figure out a way to do this. And so then I started learning how to write songs. I jumped on YouTube and I started learning how songs are structured, and I started learning how it goes from a verse to a chorus to a bridge, to how it all comes together and becomes one thing. And then I started writing songs for myself just so I could get the things that I was dealing with out of myself and put them somewhere else. And. And then, you know, that's what I did for the longest time while Covid was happening. That. That was my. My way of dealing with the demons that I was dealing with. And. And Then, you know, slowly, the world started opening up again. And that's when I went out to Cookeville, Tennessee, the Red Salad Brewing Company. And I. The moment that I knew that I was. That I wanted to do this was forever, was that day. I. I went and I put my name on a list. That open mic night just said, why not? It's funny, I went out there, I put my name on the list, and I was like, man, I don't know if I'm going to do this. Like, there's gonna be a lot of people there. Whatever. And I got up on stage, and there were four people up there. There were four people out in this. Out in the.
- [14:12]
Lynne Hoffman
In the audience.
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Scotty Hasting
Yeah. I was like, good for you. It was during COVID So, like, everyone was like, six. And I was like, man, I've made a fool of myself in front of way more than four people. So, like, why not?
- [14:23]
Lynne Hoffman
Why not go for it?
- [14:25]
Scotty Hasting
Yeah. So I went. I played. Should have been a cowboy. And in that moment, it was like that escape, that purpose, that drive. It was there, but it was magnified 100 times. And I knew that this is what I need to do forever. In that moment, the stage truly became my sanctuary. And I went from seven seconds at a time to be able to nothing else matter in the world to now three minutes at a time where nothing else in the world mattered. Then slowly, the world started opening up, and I went down to Nashville and Broadway and learned that you can play three or four hours at a time while you're down on Broadway. And I was like, well, you're telling me three or four hours a day, I can disappear from all of the stuff that I deal with. Like, I want to do that.
- [15:10]
Lynne Hoffman
Hello, could you put a. Can you put an apartment in the back of this place? Because I'm going to live here.
- [15:15]
Scotty Hasting
There's anywhere I could stay, like, on the roof or something.
- [15:17]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah.
- [15:18]
Scotty Hasting
But. Yeah, so I went. You know, I went and played. At one point in time, I was playing six nights a week down on Broadway for three to four hours a day, and my vocal cords hated me. But the therapy that I got from it was more than anything I've ever experienced. And, you know, it has since grown into so much more than I ever thought possible. And now I have a platform where I can try to help people find something the way that I was able to find music.
- [15:44]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow. YouTube and Focus.
- [15:47]
Scotty Hasting
Yes.
- [15:47]
Lynne Hoffman
And I guess the only thing you didn't look up was how not to fry your vocal cords.
- [15:52]
Scotty Hasting
No. No, I didn't. I Just went for it.
- [15:54]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow. But that's determination, and that has to come from somewhere deep within, and especially when you're going down a dark path. I mean, it's a slippery slope.
- [16:05]
Scotty Hasting
So, yeah, you know, I've just. I've lost a lot of friends that have struggled, and I. I have kids, and I didn't want to be. I didn't want to be that. I didn't want to just leave early. I wanted to be able to experience my kids and watch them grow up and. And be there for them when they needed me, so I needed to find something.
- [16:25]
Lynne Hoffman
So you became a country superstar. It's just incredible to me.
- [16:30]
Scotty Hasting
I just started singing songs, but it.
- [16:33]
Lynne Hoffman
All starts somewhere in this songwriting process for you. Can you share how writing a song helps you process these difficult emotions?
- [16:43]
Scotty Hasting
Yeah. When I first started, it was just a way for me to get emotions and feelings out and put them somewhere else. It wasn't. A lot of their songs don't make any sense, and they're not even really songs. It was just like, word vomit that I needed to get out, and. And now they live in this notebook, and that's where they stay. They live here. Like, that's. That's. This is where it belongs now. And, you know, that for me, that was. That was huge. You know, I was able to take. To take all the things that were eating me alive and put them somewhere else. And. And, you know, now that I've gotten a little bit better songwriting, I. You know, now I can kind of make sense more of the emotions. And honestly, like, songwriting has given me the opportunity to really feel, to really focus on the emotions that I'm feeling and to really think about them and talk about them. And, you know, before, I would just put them in a box and just hope that that box doesn't ever bust open. And now I'm able to talk about them and think about them and put them somewhere and find a way to make it connect with people and. And it's. It's. It's truly taking, you know, the trauma in the things that I deal with and flipping it and trying to make it something that means something. We'll be right back with more of the music Save Me Podcast.
- [18:05]
Lynne Hoffman
Running a business online. Look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy. Instantly build trust with your customers and boost your credibility with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains. To find one that's right for you, pair that with a professional email that works for all your business needs from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.comGdNow and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.comGdNow again GoDaddy.comGdNow there's never been a better time to choose the domain and email that's right for you. New customer purchases only Products Auto renew separately. See terms on site godaddy.com gdnow American history is full of wise people. What woman said something like, you know.
- [19:12]
Scotty Hasting
99.99% of war is diarrhea and 1% is is gory. Those founding fathers were gossipy AF and.
- [19:21]
Lynne Hoffman
They love to cut each other down.
- [19:23]
Scotty Hasting
I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History.
- [19:26]
Lynne Hoffman
Hotline, the show where you send us.
- [19:28]
Scotty Hasting
Your questions about American history and I find the answers, including the nuggets of.
- [19:34]
Lynne Hoffman
Wisdom our history has to offer.
- [19:36]
Scotty Hasting
Hamilton pauses and then he says, the greatest man that ever lived was Julius Caesar. And Jefferson writes in his diary, this proves that Hamilton is for a dictator based on corruption.
- [19:48]
Lynne Hoffman
My favorite line was what Neil Armstrong said. It would have been harder to fake it than to do it. Listen to American History Hotline on the.
- [19:56]
Scotty Hasting
Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [20:06]
Lynne Hoffman
Sometimes it's hard to remember, but going.
- [20:08]
Scotty Hasting
Through something like that is a traumatic.
- [20:10]
Lynne Hoffman
Experience, but it's also not the end of your life. That was my dad reminding me and so many others who need to hear it that our trauma is not our shame to carry and that we have big, bold and beautiful lives to live after what happened to us.
- [20:24]
Scotty Hasting
I'm your host and co president of.
- [20:26]
Lynne Hoffman
This organization, Dr. Lea Tritate. On my new podcast, the Unwanted Sorority, we wade through transformation to peel back healing and reveal what it actually looks like and sounds like in real time. Each week I sit down with people who've lived through harm, carried silence, and are now reshaping the systems that failed us.
- [20:44]
Scotty Hasting
We're going to talk about the adultification.
- [20:46]
Lynne Hoffman
Of black girls mothering as resistance and the tools we use for healing. The Unwanted Sorority is a safe space, not a quiet space. So let's lock in. We're moving towards liberation together. Listen to the Unwanted Sorority. New episodes every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [21:07]
Scotty Hasting
I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, and in.
- [21:10]
Lynne Hoffman
Session 421 of Therapy for Black Girls, I sit down with Dr. Afia and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health, and the ways we heal. Because I think hair is a complex.
- [21:22]
Scotty Hasting
Language system, right, in terms of it.
- [21:24]
Lynne Hoffman
Can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, your spiritual belief. But I think with social media, there's like a hyper fixation and observation of our hair, right, that this is sometimes.
- [21:36]
Scotty Hasting
The first thing someone sees when we.
- [21:38]
Lynne Hoffman
Make a post or a reel. It's how our hair is styled. We talk about the important role hairstylists play in our communities, the pressure to always look put together, and how breaking.
- [21:49]
Scotty Hasting
Up with perfection can actually free us.
- [21:51]
Lynne Hoffman
Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, don't miss session 418 with Dr. Angela Neal Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety. Listen to Therapy for black Girls on.
- [22:03]
Scotty Hasting
The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever.
- [22:06]
Lynne Hoffman
You get your podcasts. Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness, the way it has echoed and reverberated throughout your life, impacting your very legacy. Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, and these are just a few of the profound and powerful stories I'll be mining on our 12th season of Family Secrets. With over 37 million downloads, we continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. I can't wait to share 10 powerful new episodes with you. Stories of tangled up identities, concealed truths, and the way in which family secrets almost always need to be told. I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets. Listen to Family Secrets, Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:11]
Scotty Hasting
Welcome back to the Music Saved Me podcast.
- [23:14]
Lynne Hoffman
I don't know how deeply you are able to speak of the situation you came out of. I have seen you speak of it, but I just. I can't stress enough to our listeners what a turnaround your life is because literally you were pretty much gone. And I was wondering if you could, in a short amount of time, kind of give an example of where you. And then also, can you just tell me, did you ever find out who that woman was that whispered to you in.
- [23:47]
Scotty Hasting
I have no idea.
- [23:48]
Lynne Hoffman
Okay. No one knows what I'm talking about, but I figured I'd lead you into it.
- [23:52]
Scotty Hasting
But, yeah, I'll talk a little bit. For sure. I have no problem talking about it. I think it's important for people to hear it because maybe it can help somebody. April 21, 2011. I was shot 10 times in Afghanistan. Everyone always asks, so I got to say it five times on the shoulder, four times in the hip, once in the thigh, and. And I had lost so much blood at one point in time that my eyesight shut down. You know, for me, I think that that's, you know, it was kind of like a white film. And for me, the way that I think about it now is, like, when people say, man, I see the light. Like, that's what I associate with that. But somehow I. I pushed and I pushed and I didn't give up. I remember feeling how easy it would have been to just kind of slip off and just let go, but I was not going to do that. I pushed and pushed and fought until I got to Kandahar Airfield. When we got into the Kandahar field, that's when they started. They hooked me up to blood immediately and started pumping blood into my system while they're trying to patch up holes and stuff like that. Like you said, my eyesight started coming back, and I heard a lady bend down and say, hey, it's okay for you to let go. It's okay for you to go to sleep. It's okay. It will be fine. We have you. And I passed out. I woke up a couple days later, and. And. And, yeah, you know, it's crazy because, like, like you said, I mean, I found out a couple years later that there wasn't a woman in that room. When they were initially doing the trauma on, like, the. When they were initially doing the emergency trauma procedures on me, there was not a woman in that room. So whoever that was, I have no idea, but it's crazy, and it still gives me goosebumps to think about you.
- [25:33]
Lynne Hoffman
When I heard about it the first time, I was like, I have to share this, because, I mean, it truly, it's, you know, to go from that to battle, just to get your life normal again, just to walk and. I mean, I don't even know how you hold a guitar being shot that many times in your arm.
- [25:52]
Scotty Hasting
Yeah, yeah. You know, thank God for guitar straps, because. But, you know, it was. Yeah, it was hard, man. It was a crazy hard ride. And honestly, it still kind of is, you know, I mean, it never. You know, it never. You never stop trying to heal, you know, and I think that that's. That's the most important part out of all of it is that you never stop trying to heal. You know, I feel like when you stop trying, that's when, when the bad things, when that wins. And, you know, it was, you know, learning how to walk again, learning how to write and do everything left handed because I was originally right.
- [26:28]
Lynne Hoffman
Like, oh, I didn't know that.
- [26:30]
Scotty Hasting
Wow, that was, that was, that was rough.
- [26:34]
Lynne Hoffman
You're incredible, Scotty.
- [26:36]
Scotty Hasting
Well, thank you. Yeah, it was, it was. So. I felt it was crazy in the moment because I remember my, My son at the time had a children's book where he was learning how to write. Like, he had to, like, outline, like, letters and stuff, and I had to do that with my left hand. So we were both working on the same children's book trying to learn how to write. It was crazy.
- [26:57]
Lynne Hoffman
That's a great bonding moment, though, for sure.
- [26:59]
Scotty Hasting
Absolute. But. But it was, you know, it was, it was rough. It was hard. And it still is. I mean, I still have days where, you know, that are so much harder than others and, And a lot of times that's where I'm able to just grab a guitar and kind of escape for a second and, and, you know, and I'm blessed that I have that outlet. You know, I've. I've been lucky enough and blessed enough my whole time, ever since getting injured, that I've had some type of outlet. There's a lot of people who don't, and, and I. And that's. That's terrifying.
- [27:29]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, and that's where music comes in, which is why we're even talking about this right now, because it is so powerful. It allows you to focus. And there's so many aspects of why it can be helpful to pull us out of those moments where we could just hit the checkout and say goodbye. You've become really active also in supporting fellow veterans dealing with mental health struggles. I understand. And I want to know why this mission for you is so important and so personal.
- [27:58]
Scotty Hasting
Obviously, like I said, I've lost too many friends. I've lost too many of the greatest people I've ever known. And just with something that, you know, with the struggles that we deal with here, I've lost more people here than I ever did in Afghanistan. And that's. That's awful. Like, that is, that's. That shouldn't. It shouldn't be that way. And honestly, my mission, my purpose is to try to get rid of that number as much as possible. I mean, if I can, if I can help one person decide to try tomorrow, then. I've done more in this industry than I could have ever imagined. Like, that's. That's all I care about.
- [28:34]
Lynne Hoffman
What message do you hope other veterans and listeners who are struggling, who aren't veterans, just with. With mental health, what do you hope that they take away from your story and your journey?
- [28:44]
Scotty Hasting
You know, I hope that they see that there's hope that. That you don't have to be defined by what hap. What. You don't have to be defined by the bad, but rather be defined by what you do with it.
- [28:53]
Lynne Hoffman
It.
- [28:54]
Scotty Hasting
You know, I. I never. You know, there's. There were so many times when I could have just given up and I could have just said, I don't. I don't want to do this. I could. I could be sitting on my couch right now feeling sorry for myself and. And just in a really bad place. But, you know, I think it's in. It's important to. To push forward and keep going. You know, there's. There's so much to live for. There's so. So many incredible things out here and. And, yeah, man. And the world is. Is better with them in it, with you in it. And. And I think that that's. Hopefully that that's what people take from me and from my story, is that, you know, some type of hope. You know, I mean, I never in a million years thought that I would be where I am, and I hope that that shows other people that they can literally do anything. If I can be up there playing guitar and singing songs and on some of these stages that I'm on, literally anyone can do anything.
- [29:48]
Lynne Hoffman
There's always. You can find it on YouTube. You can fig.
- [29:52]
Scotty Hasting
Yeah, there's, you know, dreams come true every day and there's. And if you. If you work hard enough and you push hard enough, you can make anything happen.
- [30:00]
Lynne Hoffman
You know, considering your journey and your recovery and battling back all of the issues mentally that come along with it. Can you describe what it feels like to you when you hit the stage performing?
- [30:12]
Scotty Hasting
Oh, that's Sanctuary.
- [30:14]
Lynne Hoffman
What's the connection? Is it like a piece or this?
- [30:17]
Scotty Hasting
It's just. Yeah, it's. It's a. It's a piece. Like, it's. It's insane. So there's only, you know, for someone who suffers from ptsd, depression, anxiety, like, it's. It's really hard to live in a moment and not be over there and not think about my friends that are. That got killed and not think about, you know, all the bad. It's. It's it's very hard to find a place where you can just be there. For me, there's only two places that I can find that when I'm on my motorcycle, and as soon as I step on stage, the stage has become a sanctuary for me. It is the place where I can truly live in a moment and enjoy that moment and just be there with whoever else is there. It is truly one of the most magical, most incredible places that I can be, and I live for every moment that I get to be on a stage.
- [31:08]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, we're grateful that you are. I'm curious. Could you share a moment that maybe stands out in your mind when you've maybe had a conversation with a fellow veteran who's told you that your music has helped them?
- [31:19]
Scotty Hasting
Oh, man, there's been so many. But the one that really sticks with me is the one that made me realize that I needed to keep doing what I was doing. So it was when I opened for Dave Grohl in Phoenix, Arizona. There was a guy who came to the show who reached out to one of my buddies. We didn't know that we knew each other, but I played how do youo Choose? The song about my survivor's guilt and everything that I'm dealing with. And he texted one of my buddies, and he was like. He's like, dude, like, there's this guy that was in Phoenix that played and he played this song called how do youo Choose? And he said, I'm gonna be 100% honest with you, man. Like, I was going to this show because I wanted to see Dave Grohl go before I killed myself. And he's like, but listening to Scotty, like, I. He showed me that there's so much more. And that song made me understand that. That I'm not the only one who suffers from this, that I'm not the only one who's dealing with this. And that that moment will forever, forever live in my heart and in my soul. And that is. That's the one thing that as soon as I saw that, as soon as I heard that, I was like, I have to open my chest and let people see who I am, and I have to show them that I struggle and that I'm still successful and that I have been through the worst of the worst, and I'm still here, and I have to write music and I have to perform. That means something to not only myself, but other people.
- [32:48]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, that was meant to be. I mean, you were supposed to be there that day with Dave Grohl.
- [32:52]
Scotty Hasting
After you have that conversation, oh, man, it was insane. That moment will truly live with me forever. Yeah. Wow.
- [33:01]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, you know, something that really tickled me was that you got to recently work with. I mean, this incredible to me, your rise, but not incredible because of your incredible skill and talent. Sorry, I keep using the word incredible all the time, but you got to work with one of my favorite people on the planet, Dolly Parton and Lee Brice, for your rendition of that song, Till the Last Shots Fired. I'm curious, what was it like working with them? And are there any new projects or songs or collaborations like that on the horizon that you're excited about?
- [33:33]
Scotty Hasting
That song changed my life. The first time I ever heard that song, I was at Walter Reed, and we were at an event, and the original version, Trace Atkins version, came on. It was the first time I'd ever heard that song. And it touched a part of my soul, and it grabbed me, and I cried like a baby for two hours, and I couldn't stop. And in those two hours, I made the decision that I was going to live my life to the fullest, that I wasn't going to let my injury dictate my life. And fast forward 10 years, and I'm sitting in the office of one of the guys who wrote the song, talking about signing a record deal, and he's like, hey, like, I put out this song with Trey Sakins. I don't know if you've ever heard it. Like, it's. You know, it's a song called Till the Last Shots Fired. Like. And I was like, yeah, I've heard it. Like, I love that song. Like, that song changed my life. And he was like. He said, well, would you want to do a version of it? And I was like, yeah, man. Absolutely. I want to do a version of it. So we went into the studio and we had. And I did a version of it. It was just me on it. And. And I put every emotion and every feeling that I originally felt when I heard the song into that song, and I thought it was perfect. I thought it was. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it. And. And then. And Doug Johnson, who is one of the writers, who was also my producer, is friends with Lee Brice, and he's like, hey, we're going to reach out to some other artists and see if they want to be a part of this. Like, what do you think? And I said, man, send it to everybody. Like, let's see what happens. And Lee Bryce was the first one to jump on it. A testament to who? Lee Bryce is a person. He's an incredible person. He's become a very dear friend of mine now, which is crazy to say, but he was like, man, I don't care what part I play in the song. I just want to be a part of what you're doing with this. Like, this is incredible. I want to be a part of this. And so we then we had me and Lee's version, and I thought it was perfect. I was like, dude, this is all I like, this is more than I could have ever imagined. And then three weeks later, I get a call from Doug again, the producer, and he said, hey, Dolly Parton wants to be on this song. What do you think? And I was like, let Dolly do whatever she wants. What are you talking about? What do I think? Why are you calling me?
- [35:30]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, my God.
- [35:32]
Scotty Hasting
But, yeah. And, you know, that song changed my life. When I was at Walter Reed, it made me decide that I wanted to live my life to the fullest. It's the reason why I'm doing music now. And a song that changed my life that I thought was perfect truly became perfect when I heard Dolly's voice on it. It's so angelic, and it's absolutely beautiful. And still, I've listened to that song thousands of times at this point, and I still get chills every time she comes on. It is unbelievable, and it's more than I could have ever imagined. And as far as stuff in the works, we have some stuff in the works. I can't really say too much, but we have some stuff in the works with some other artists and stuff, so.
- [36:10]
Lynne Hoffman
Okay. Well, I mean, gosh, I have so many more questions for you, but I. You know, sitting here with you thinking that I introduced you as a rising country star, I mean, when you're on a song with Dolly Parton, you've achieved, you know, success in music.
- [36:24]
Scotty Hasting
Ah, man, I still don't know how that happened.
- [36:28]
Lynne Hoffman
What does success look like to you personally and beyond?
- [36:33]
Scotty Hasting
Success to me is. Is. It's not wealth. It's not fame. Success, to me is making one person decide that they want to continue tomorrow. Success, to me is being able to make some headway in the 22 a day for our veterans. And success, to me, is being able to help somebody, anybody, as much as possible. That is success.
- [37:02]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, that's the whole reason why we do this podcast, so it makes total sense that we would have you on today, and I'm so grateful. I don't want to let you go. But Scotty Hasting thank you so much for your service again to this country. For for all of these people that you're helping every day with your music, your story and your passion to help and inspire others. We're so grateful to have the opportunity to have you on today.
- [37:26]
Scotty Hasting
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me. It's Black Business Month and Black Tech green money is tapping in. I'm Will Lucas spotlighting black founders, investors and innovators in the future. One idea at a time. Let's talk legacy tech and generational wealth.
- [37:43]
Lynne Hoffman
I had the skill and I had the talent. I didn't have the opportunity. Yeah, we all know, right? Genius is evenly distributed. Opportunity is not to hear this and more on the power of black innovation.
- [37:56]
Scotty Hasting
And ownership, Listen to Black Tech green money from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, it's Janae AKA Cheekies from.
- [38:07]
Lynne Hoffman
Cheekies and Chill Podcast and I'm bringing you all new mini podcast series called Sincerely Janae. Sure, I'm a singer, author, businesswoman and podcaster, but at the end of the day, I am human and that's why I'm sharing my ups and downs with you in real time and on the go. Listen to Cheekies and chill on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever wished for a change but weren't sure how to make it? Maybe you felt stuck in a job, a place, or even a relationship relationship. I'm Emily Tish Sussman and on she Pivots I dive into the inspiring pivots of women who have taken big leaps in their lives and careers. I'm Gretchen Whitmer. Jody Sweetney, Monica Patton, Elaine Welteroth. Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because your life is going to be full of them. Listen to these women and more on she Pivots now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [39:03]
Scotty Hasting
Smokey the Bear. Then you know why Smokey tells you when he sees you passing through. Remember, please be careful.
- [39:12]
Lynne Hoffman
It's the least that you can do. After 80 years of learning his wildfire prevention tips, Smokey Bear lives within us all. Learn more@smokeybear.com and remember, only you can.
- [39:29]
Scotty Hasting
Prevent wildfires brought to you by the.
- [39:31]
Lynne Hoffman
USDA Forest Service, your state forester, and the Ad Council.
- [39:35]
Scotty Hasting
Tune in to all the Smoke Podcast where Matt and Stack sit down with former first lady Michelle Neill O' folks.
- [39:42]
Lynne Hoffman
Find it hard to hate up close. And when you get to know people and you're sitting in their kitchen tables and they're talking like we're talking, you know, you hear our story, how we grew up, how Barack grew up, and you get a chance for people to unpack and get beyond race.
- [39:56]
Scotty Hasting
All the Smoke featuring Michelle Obama. To hear this podcast and more, open your free iHeartRadio app, search all the Smoke and listen now.
- [40:04]
Lynne Hoffman
This is an iHeart podcast.