Country Outdoors Podcast

Mary O’Neill sits down at CMA Fest with Australian farmer and rising country artist Jarrad Wrigley, fresh off winning the Star Maker competition that funded his first-ever trip beyond Australia. They dive into his humble background, how Star Maker changed his life, and what it’s like to perform in Nashville for the 1st time.

Jarrad shares behind-the-scenes stories from Farmer Wants a Wife Australia, from producers living under the same roof to the drama that changed the rules for later seasons. You’ll hear how the show really works when the cameras aren’t rolling, plus why he chose a more respectful approach while other farmers leaned into the chaos.

Mary and Jarrad dig into meeting the American Farmer Wants a Wife cast at CMA Fest, nights out in Nashville, and the differences between country fans in the U.S. and Australia. They swap stories about travel, music, hats and merch, and what Jarrad is dreaming up next for his music career after reality TV.

Ever wondered what really happens behind the cameras on FOX’s Farmer Wants a Wife? In this Country Outdoors episode, Mary O’Neill Phillips sits down with John Sansone and Matt Warren to break down reality TV secrets, life on their ranches, and how the show followed their real feelings more than a scripted storyline. They go deep on avocado wars, cartel‑pressured farming and water control, family tragedy that pushed them into agriculture, and how neighbors in the ag community helped them learn the ropes. Then it’s all about the outdoors: wild pigs in wine country, duck blinds, Osceola turkey hunting on public land, bowhunting with a young family, wild game cooking, faith, unions, and the farm‑law realities of keeping generational land—perfect for fans of Farmer Wants a Wife, The Bachelor, and anyone who loves rural life and hunting.

“When I met God, I high‑fived the devil.” — @wakaflocka

In one of the most raw and unfiltered conversations we’ve ever had on Country Outdoors, Waka Flocka Flame sits down with Mary O’Neill Phillips to share his full testimony.

He opens up about losing two younger brothers and carrying the weight of survivor’s guilt, years of numbing pain through ecstasy starting in seventh grade, and facing a 10‑year prison sentence after being caught with a stolen car and a sawed‑off shotgun. From divorce and depression to rebuilding his life, Waka walks through the moments that nearly broke him—and how God met him right in the middle of it all.

Today, his perspective is clear: “If it moves me away from God, I’m not doing it. I don’t care how profitable it is. The devil gets no play in my ride.”

He also shares how that mindset shapes everything—his views on marriage, friendship, forgiveness, and the kind of father he wants to be.

If you only know Waka Flocka Flame from the high-energy anthems, this episode will completely change how you see him.

In this episode, we cover:

The tragic accident that took his younger brother’s life and the guilt that followed

Losing another brother to suicide and questioning God

Years of drug use and the moment he realized he needed change

A life-altering legal scare in Georgia

Divorce, failure, and the growth that came from it

Making decisions rooted in faith, not profit

Fatherhood, boundaries, and still choosing to believe in love

Welcome to the Country Outdoors Podcast—where country music, entertainment, and the outdoor lifestyle meet real conversations about faith, life, and the wild.

Michael Ray is back—and this time it’s on his terms. In this episode of the Country Outdoors Podcast, Michael opens up about burning out in the country music grind, stepping away to get physically and mentally healthy, and why this new chapter of his career feels more honest than ever.

We talk about:

Growing up country and how the industry almost pulled him away from who he really is

Hitting a breaking point and resetting his life, health, and priorities

Getting clear‑eyed again through faith, time outdoors, and real friendships

Lining up his first blacktail hunt, future elk tags, and a Canada bear hunt with UFC legend Chad Mendes

Launching his new show Offstage America and building a lifestyle brand around faith, the outdoors, sports, and real stories

What “Michael Ray 2.0” looks like on stage: more stripped‑down, more present, and more connected

Too Country for Country Music? – Shane Profitt, Madden Metcalf & Cole Goodwin

Live from CMA Fest on the Bottomland‑wrapped pontoon, Mary O’Neill Phillips sits down with Shane Profitt, Madden Metcalf and Cole Goodwin to talk real country music, hunting, fishing, faith and small‑town life. Shane shares stories from his biggest turkey season yet, Osceola hunts in Florida, and the journey of songs like “Long Live Country” and “Comes With the Country” as he heads out on tour with Luke Bryan. Madden dives into his Florida Forgotten Coast commercial‑fishing roots and how working crab boats and Gulf Coast docks turned into saltwater Southern country songs, while Cole brings Pooler, Georgia grit and a roots‑first sound that’s helping lead country music back to its traditional core.

If you’re searching for country music that actually sounds like country—turkey hunting, coastal fishing, bass ponds, faith, family, and small towns—you’ll feel right at home in this episode.