Dec. 4, 2025

35. Country Music, Military Stories, and a Lifetime on the Road with Joe Bachman

35. Country Music, Military Stories, and a Lifetime on the Road with Joe Bachman
YouTube podcast player icon Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon
YouTube podcast player icon Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon
Season 1

Ep.35: There’s a certain kind of artist who makes you lean in before you even realize it, and Joe Bachman has that effect from the second he starts talking. From Key West songwriter rounds to Nashville radio tours, from managing breakout looping phenom Carl Wockner to writing military anthems that have literally saved lives, Joe’s career is the definition of heart, hustle, and purpose. In this conversation, we dig into the stories behind his biggest songs, the moment his performance intersected with global history, why Sex, Drugs & Country Music is the album he needed to write before anything else, and how one song became a lifeline for veterans navigating PTSD. Joe’s a storyteller to the bone, and his journey is a masterclass in loyalty, craft, and showing up for something bigger than yourself.

We Chat About:

  • The night Joe announced Bin Laden’s death onstage in Key West
  • How a looping guitarist in Australia changed the trajectory of Joe’s management career
  • The song A Soldier’s Memoir (PTSD Song), and the veterans who said it saved their lives
  • Writing Sex, Drugs & Country Music as his final personal album
  • The Philly cover scene and why it’s unmatched in the country
  • Leaving the mortgage industry to play 5,000+ shows worldwide
  • Building Vacation Jams and curating destination festivals
  • The faith, family, discipline, and integrity that shape Joe’s songwriting
  • Why he says country music is “three chords and the truth”
  • What he believes is the next major genre to explode


About Joe Bachman:

Joe Bachman is a country singer/songwriter with more than 5,000 live shows behind him, a 25+ year career, and a reputation for writing music that hits straight to the heart. After early years gigging the East Coast club circuit, Joe moved to Key West, then Nashville, building relationships with mentors like Lee Brice, Big Kenny Alphin, Cliff Cody, Kenny Chesney, and Florida Georgia Line. His debut single “Lookatchu” broke into the Top 30, but Joe’s most meaningful work has always been his music for the military, including the viral hit A Soldier’s Memoir (PTSD Song), a video with over 5 million views and life-changing impact for veterans around the world. Today, Joe lives with his family at the Delaware beaches and runs Dream Big Dreams Management and Vacation Jams, managing artists like Carl Wockner and curating destination music festivals that blend community, travel, and unforgettable performances.


Connect with Joe:

Facebook: Follow Joe on Facebook

Instagram: Follow Joe on Instagram

YouTube: Watch on YouTube

Twitter/X: Follow on X

Spotify: Listen on Spotify

Apple Music: Stream on Apple Music


Other Resources:

Follow the OFFICIAL “loves music” playlist on Apple Music: ​​https://music.apple.com/library/playlist/p.4Y0J406i03DQrX

“loves music” playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qE3kq89oyg3tFNbmRfHEO?si=vopaKQnNS8OHn0r2fFTVBg

Check out the “loves music” podcast website: https://www.podpage.com/loves-music/

Julian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julian.jones.9484

Julian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianjones417/

Julian on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@julianjones417

Check out Julian’s book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6QYX6RL


Music Mentioned in this Episode:

Songs:

  • “A Million Times” — Carl Wockner
  • “She’s the Driver” — Carl Wockner
  • “A Soldier’s Memoir (PTSD Song)” — Joe Bachman
  • “Sell Him Out a Beer” — Joe Bachman
  • “Back Home” — written by Cliff Cody, performed by Joe Bachman
  • “Drinkin’ to Stay Sober” — Joe Bachman
  • “Gettin’ Down With a Country Boy” — Joe Bachman
  • “One Step Closer” — Linkin Park

Albums & Projects:

  • Sex, Drugs & Country Music — Joe Bachman
  • One — Joe Bachman
  • Freedom — Joe Bachman
  • “Rock Boat” (Sixthman Cruise) — featuring Sister Hazel, Needtobreathe, Bowling For Soup

Artists & Bands:

  • Carl Wockner
  • Cliff Cody
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Lee Brice
  • Kenny Chesney
  • Sister Hazel
  • Pat Monahan (Train)
  • Chris Kirkpatrick (NSYNC)
  • Muse
  • Sleep Token
  • The Warning
  • Metallica
  • Linkin Park
  • The Killers
  • Dave Matthews Band
  • Needtobreathe