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Dave McElroy: Country Music, Hangtime & “We're Not Here for Ourselves”

Country music artist and Hangtime producer and host Dave McElroy joins Ashley Marie for a conversation that goes well beyond the recording studio.

Dave shares the unexpected story of leaving a successful business behind to pursue music, writing his first songs and finding himself connected to the heart of the Nashville music industry — eventually earning his first Top 40 single roughly six months after taking the leap.

But breaking through was only the beginning.

Dave takes us behind the scenes of the music business and the relentless work that comes with building a career: radio, television, touring, soundchecks, meet-and-greets and life on the road. He also shares his biggest advice for emerging artists — stop chasing what you think the industry wants and figure out what makes you unmistakably you.

We also dive into the story behind Hangtime with Dave McElroy, a show built around hunting, the outdoors, friendship, veterans, athletes and the moments that happen when the cameras aren't focused solely on the hunt. Dave even reveals that a reboot could be on the horizon.

And yes — there is plenty of football.

A diehard Green Bay Packers fan, Dave talks Packers, Baker Mayfield and the enormous mental pressure professional athletes face behind the scenes.

At the center of it all is a philosophy that seems to connect nearly every part of Dave's career:

“We're not here for ourselves.”

From faith and giving back to genuine relationships and “living life one laugh at a time,” this episode is ultimately about building a career without losing sight of the people around you.

Plus, Dave teases new music, upcoming projects and residency news still to come.

Follow Dave McElroy / DMAC Band on social media and stream his music on your favorite platform.

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Before ESPN became one of the most recognizable brands in sports, it was simply an idea that many believed would never work.

In this episode of the Entertainment & Sports Spotlight Podcast, Ashley Marie sits down with ESPN Historian Mike Soltys to explore the incredible true story behind the creation of ESPN, as featured in the documentary Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN and the new companion book.

Mike shares exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from his 43-year career at ESPN, the entrepreneurial journey of founder Bill Rasmussen and Scott Rasmussen, and how one bold vision forever changed sports broadcasting.

Whether you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, sports history, media, or innovation, this conversation is packed with lessons that extend far beyond the world of sports.

Featured Resources

📚 Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN
Audiobook Available Now

Paperback & Kindle — July 28

Amazon:
https://a.co/d/0iYtAAzN

🎬 Watch the Documentary
https://watch.tenero.tv/

🎙️ Guest
Mike Soltys
ESPN Historian
43-Year ESPN Veteran

Hosted by Ashley Marie

Entertainment & Sports Spotlight Podcast

Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, executives, innovators, filmmakers, and the people changing sports and entertainment.

Support the show

Check out more podcasts at Malibash Entertainment Blog & Podcast

Support the podcast through a share or donation or monthly subscription: We bring quality info from pros in the field to you ad free:) Please help us continue doing that with a single donation: https://square.link/u/hHZPl3ZB?src=sheet

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Is the next great sporting event happening hundreds of miles above Earth?

In this episode of Entertainment & Sports Spotlight, host Ashley Marie sits down with Philip Hover-Smoot, Founder and CEO of Atlas Cup, to discuss one of the boldest ideas in modern sports and technology: creating the world's first professional sport in space.

Philip shares how Atlas Cup plans to bring orbital racing to life by combining commercial space technology, innovation, engineering, and entertainment into a new spectator sport unlike anything the world has seen. Drawing from his experience leading aerospace and technology companies in Silicon Valley and the commercial space industry, he explains why the timing is right for a new era of competition.

During the conversation, Ashley and Philip explore:

• How Atlas Cup was born
• Why competition accelerates innovation
• The future of orbital racing
• AI, satellite technology, and autonomous spacecraft
• The growing commercial space economy
• The role of storytelling in building a new sport
• Entrepreneurship, leadership, and taking calculated risks
• Why space may become humanity's next great arena for competition

Whether you're passionate about sports, entrepreneurship, aerospace, or emerging technology, this conversation offers an exciting look into what may become the next frontier of global entertainment.

Learn more about Atlas Cup at:
https://www.atlascup.com

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders in sports, entertainment, technology, and innovation.

Support the show

Check out more podcasts at Malibash Entertainment Blog & Podcast

Support the podcast through a share or donation or monthly subscription: We bring quality info from pros in the field to you ad free:) Please help us continue doing that with a single donation: https://square.link/u/hHZPl3ZB?src=sheet