The BOB & TOM Show Free Podcast

BT Extra: Paul Thorn
Release Date: December 23, 2025
Guest: Paul Thorn (Singer/Songwriter)

Episode Overview

This special "B&T Extra" episode features acclaimed singer-songwriter Paul Thorn. In classic Bob & Tom Show fashion, the conversation blends witty banter, musical performances, and Thorn’s unmistakable Southern charm. The episode traces Thorn's unique journey from boxer to musician, highlights his musical origins, shares behind-the-scenes stories, and treats listeners to live renditions of his songs—all with the show's signature playful humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Paul Thorn’s Boxing Past

• Roberto Duran Fight Story

  • Thorn reveals he once faced legendary boxer Roberto Duran on TV in 1988.
    • “The fight was scheduled for 10 rounds, and I hung with him for six rounds... I had a horrific cut over my eye. My lip was split real bad. And so they stopped the fight after six rounds. But I got some punches in. I busted his eye open. And I'm real happy about that.” (Paul Thorn, 07:02)
  • Light-heartedly boasts:
    • “I'm probably the only person in this room that can honestly say that they got to ride in the back of an ambulance with Roberto Duran.” (Paul Thorn, 07:28)

• On Staying Fit:

  • “I still work out like a boxer... and I don't have slurred speech. I have a draw, but it's not slurred speech.” (Paul Thorn, 07:56)

2. Ozzy Osbourne’s “Elf on a Shelf” Doll Anecdote

• Thorn shares an amusing story about ordering an Ozzy Osbourne Christmas elf doll online:
  • “The picture they had of the doll on TikTok looked exactly like him. But the one I got, it looks like Richard Lewis.” (Paul Thorn, 08:49)
• The hosts riff about celebrity memorabilia, such as Elvis’s wart auctioned for $12,000:
  • “Somebody paid like $12,000 for it.” (Paul Thorn, 10:23)

3. Musical Upbringing & Influences

• Mississippi Roots:

  • Though born in Wisconsin, Thorn considers tupelo, MS his hometown: “I moved to Tupelo when I was a baby, so I don't remember Wisconsin. All I remember is being [in Mississippi]." (Paul Thorn, 10:47)

• Elvis Influence & Church Upbringing:

  • Grew up attending the same churches as Elvis, with both coming from gospel backgrounds.
    • “My dad's a Pentecostal preacher and I grew up singing in church just like Elvis did. That's where I got my... mojo. I got it from church.” (Paul Thorn, 20:57)

4. Song Performances

a. “Wait”

• Written about a friend’s humorous dating exploits involving Tinder and Popeye’s Chicken.

• Notable lyric:

  • "Don't do it all on a first date / Leave a little something on the plate / Don't do it all on the first date, wait." (First Chorus, ~12:09)

• Standout moment:

  • “We both agree. Jackson Brown finally looks old.” (Paul Thorn, 12:49)

  • Leads to a playful exchange:

  • “All his life he's always looked like a fresh faced young boy... But time caught up with him. Father [time] catches up with all of us.” (Paul Thorn, 14:30)

b. “Where Was I”

• A poignant, reflective song about love and historical moments intertwined with personal nostalgia.

• Notable lyrics:

  • “On a black and white TV back in grammar school / I was watching Neil Armstrong walking on...” (Paul Thorn, 15:52)
  • “I was in a Dallas disco the night John Lennon died. The DJ played Imagine and everybody cried.” (Paul Thorn, 16:26)
  • “[Chorus] Where was I when you stopped loving me? When did I become history?” (Paul Thorn, 16:47)

• The song’s emotional weight draws praise:

  • “That's unbelievably beautiful.” (Bob, 19:25)

5. Paul Thorn’s Musical Genesis & Break

• First Time on Stage:

  • Thorn recounts a transformative 8th-grade talent show moment:
    • “I sang Lionel Richie’s Three Times a Lady... and I won first place. I went from being a social outcast to being the most desired boy on the planet.” (Paul Thorn, 19:34)

• Early Gigs & Career Break:

  • From playing a Tupelo pizza restaurant to being discovered by legendary manager Miles Copeland:
    • “I was still working a day job and I had a little gig two nights a week playing in a pizza restaurant... Miles Copeland... got a cassette of some songs of mine... and I was able to quit my job at the factory.” (Paul Thorn, 21:17)
    • “The very first time I went to a concert in my life, I was opening for Sting in Nashville.” (Paul Thorn, 22:00)

• Tours with Legends:

  • Opened for Sting, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler, and Toby Keith.
  • Describes the remarkable leap from local gigs to touring worldwide.

6. Debut on The Bob & Tom Show & Viral Song

• How Thorn First Appeared on Bob & Tom:
  • He was a last-minute replacement when Toby Keith skipped an appearance after a rough night out.
    • “Y’all took a chance on me... A couple nights before I came on this show... I wrote this song... ‘It’s a Great Day to Whoop Somebody’s Ass’ and I debuted that song on this show." (Paul Thorn, 23:45–24:10)
  • The song became his most-streamed track.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'm probably the only person in this room that can honestly say that they got to ride in the back of an ambulance with Roberto Duran.”
  (Paul Thorn, 07:28)

• On Ozzy Elf Doll:

  • “The one I got, it looks like Richard Lewis.”
    (Paul Thorn, 08:49)

• “All his life [Jackson Browne’s] always looked like a fresh faced young boy... But time caught up with him. Father [time] catches up with all of us.”
  (Paul Thorn, 14:30)

• On 8th grade talent show:

  • “I went from being a social outcast to being the most desired boy on the planet.”
    (Paul Thorn, 19:34)

• On going from pizza gigs to opening for legends:

  • “The very first time I went to a concert in my life, I was opening for Sting in Nashville.”
    (Paul Thorn, 22:00)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |:-------------:|:------------------------------------------------------| | 06:30 | Paul Thorn joins, boxing talk begins | | 07:02–07:40 | Story of fighting Roberto Duran | | 08:24 | Ozzy Osbourne elf doll anecdote | | 11:10 | Introduction to “Wait” song and story | | 12:09–14:18 | Full “Wait” song performance | | 15:32 | Request and setup for “Where Was I” | | 15:52–19:13 | Full “Where Was I” song performance | | 19:34–20:54 | Thorn discusses first performance, childhood stories | | 21:17 | Origin story: from pizza restaurant to record deal | | 23:44–24:24 | How he debuted “It’s a Great Day to Whoop Somebody’s Ass” on Bob & Tom |

Tone & Style

Lighthearted and warm, with Thorn’s down-to-earth storytelling, the hosts’ trademark ribbing, and a mix of humor and heartfelt moments. Anecdotes, asides, and musical interludes keep the episode engaging for fans of both music and comedy.

Summary

This episode is a treat for music lovers and longtime Bob & Tom fans. Paul Thorn’s stories—spanning boxing, Southern roots, and stardom—blend seamlessly with his live, witty, and sometimes poignant music. Thorn’s humility shines as he describes his rise from awkward schoolboy to celebrated touring artist, and how a fateful Bob & Tom appearance gave him his most famous song. The episode is peppered with laughs, touching memories, and genuine appreciation between guest and hosts.