I’ve always felt that screenwriters and musicians were kindred spirts. As such, it’s no surprise that we are massive fans of each others’ work: I’ve never known a musician that isn’t also a film and/or TV junkie, and I’ve never met a writer that won’t gush about their favorite records. My guest this week is no exception: I initially bonded with my good friend and screenwriter Jesse Harris (of Marvel’s Jessica Jones and other incredible projects) over our love of music and growing up in Appalachia (him in Kentucky and me in Southern Ohio). His most admirable trait, aside from always having unique and profound insights on everything from American politics to the mainstream rise of the Carhartt clothing brand, is his unabashed pride for where he comes from. He doesn’t run from his Appalachian roots. On the contrary, he wears it as a badge of honor and injects it into his writing (and occasionally dunks on smug Bostonians at parties). He’s the embodiment of radical acceptance for the things that make you you, no matter what society or “The Industry” has to say about them.

In this interview, Brylan sits down with Jesse Harris to chat about a common thread that was inescapable when growing up in Appalachia: country music. The pair discuss the original master storytellers of country music’s history , contrasting them with the “stadium country” of today. The pair also discuss some young storytellers carrying the torch of country’s old royalty, how society likes to borrow and repurpose things that country folk were originally mocked for, and even get into some politics and its connection to the soul of country music.

Later, Brylan see’s if Jesse can pick out fake country artist names from real ones. They then discuss Jesse’s most recent project, the short film “Good Daughter”.

Go ahead and pencil this one in, you don’t want to miss it!

Watch Jesse's Short Film "Good Daughter"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyL_GcG4kUs

Follow Jesse on social Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/jhaharlan

Songs used in this episode:

"You Shook Me All Night Long (Cover)" - Hayseed Dixie

"Gin and Juice (Cover)" - Hayseed Dixie

"Under Grass and Clover" - Children of Bodom

"Lucky" - Abby Hamilton

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TTP Ep. 16 - Jesse Harris, Screenwriter & Country Fan