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Virginia roots. Nashville dreams. And a bass-baritone voice made for country music.

At just 26, Grayson Walsh is building his place in Nashville with a sound that blends traditional country storytelling, neon-bar energy and a little cinematic heartbreak. Raised in Glen Allen, Virginia, Grayson went from singing in choir to performing with JMU’s Exit 245, studying opera, writing his own music and eventually packing up for Music City to chase the career he knew he wanted.

Grayson joins Johni and Jess to talk about finding his sound, why heartbreak has been pretty good for his songwriting career, and the reality of trying to stand out in a city overflowing with talent. He takes us behind songs including “Fall In Fall Out,” “I-81” and “New Pontoon,” shares how an unexpected connection landed him an opportunity to perform at a VIP pre-show event for Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour, and gives us a preview of what he's working toward next.

He also gets very real about what it actually takes to make it in Nashville: showing up, staying determined and refusing to change your musical identity just to please someone else. And, because this is The Hook, we also uncover the important stuff — including his Diet Dr. Pepper obsession, inability to throw a football, and a level of Marvel fandom that includes Captain America pajamas.

And when you hear what Grayson considers the ultimate sign that he's finally “made it,” you might understand exactly why we're excited to see where this story goes next.

Find & Follow Grayson Walsh

Instagram & TikTok: @GraysonWalshOfficial

Listen to Grayson Walsh on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music.

Grayson says to start with “New Pontoon” — then, after you “run through a wall,” follow it up with “Fall In Fall Out.”

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Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess. This is where music, art, and passion come together. We sit down with musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries to discover the moment they got hooked, the stories that shaped them, and the journeys that followed. Our mission is to give independent artists a voice.

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Visit our website to learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and discover more stories.

🌐 Website: www.johniandjess.com

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The Hook with Johni & Jess — Where passion begins with a moment.

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What happens when film, music and storytelling become more than entertainment — and start bringing people together?

This week on The Hook, Johni and Jess sit down with Heather Waters, Founder and Producer of the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF), as the festival celebrates its 15th anniversary September 22–27.

Heather takes us inside the incredible story of RIFF — from launching the festival just one week after moving to Richmond to building it into an international event featuring 180+ films from 30 countries and 60 events. She also introduces Lightmakers, her newest venture using music, film and dialogue to build bridges across cultures and borders.

We get into the story behind this year’s theme, “Story Is Our Blueprint,” the films and experiences you won’t want to miss, and the special Lightmakers pre-launch featuring panels, a VIP mixer and live music from Rodney the Soul Singer, Kyle Davis, The Joey Davis Band, plus appearances from Elana Lisa.

Heather also opens up about her own unexpected path — from performing and touring to filmmaking, international relations and peacebuilding — and how the pieces that once seemed completely unrelated ultimately led her exactly where she was supposed to be.

🎬 Richmond International Film Festival
September 22–27, 2026

🎟️ View the festival schedule & purchase tickets/passes:
riff.aventive.org

🎥 Learn more about RIFF:
RVAfilmfestival.com

From red carpets and international films to live music and conversations that cross borders, this is a look at the woman behind one of Richmond’s biggest arts events — and what she’s building next.

Heather Waters, you’re on The Hook.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess.
This is where we talk to musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries about the moment they got hooked—and the journey that followed.

Learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and explore more stories at:
https://www.johniandjess.com

Follow The Hook on Facebook for new episodes, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming guest announcements:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588050877252

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with someone who inspires you, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue telling the stories behind the hook.

The Hook with Johni & Jess — where passion begins with a moment.

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What happens when a kid raised by opera singers finds his voice in reggae?

For Christos DC, the answer became a life that has crossed genres, cultures and continents. From his Greek-American roots in Washington, D.C., to years on the road with reggae legends including Don Carlos and The Itals, Christos has built a career around something increasingly rare: making the music he believes in, on his own terms.

On this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, Christos opens up about the loss of his brother that changed the course of his life, finding his place in a culture different from his own, the lessons learned from decades of touring, and why staying independent matters more to him than fame.

We also get into Honest Music, his collaborations around the world, the unexpected connection between opera and reggae, the deeply personal song he may never perform live, and why he believes music can carry people through some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Plus — India, Brad Pitt with dreadlocks, a reggae song born from a very unfortunate case of food poisoning, and a Reverse Cowgirl that somehow gets us into politics, Madonna, Michael Jackson and James Brown.

This is reggae without borders — and Christos DC is on The Hook.

Listen to Christos DC

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JI815CBvvt4BZAmdRw8e4

Follow Christos DC on Social Media:

www.facebook.com/ChristosDC12

www.youtube.com/@christosdc5983

www.instagram.com/christosdcofficial

Support the show

Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess.
This is where we talk to musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries about the moment they got hooked—and the journey that followed.

Learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and explore more stories at:
https://www.johniandjess.com

Follow The Hook on Facebook for new episodes, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming guest announcements:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588050877252

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with someone who inspires you, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue telling the stories behind the hook.

The Hook with Johni & Jess — where passion begins with a moment.

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Richmond music legend James “Plunky” Branch joins The Hook with Johni & Jess for a wide-ranging conversation about more than five decades of music, creativity and cultural impact.

From his early years in Richmond and time at Columbia University to the evolution of Juju and Oneness of Juju, Plunky shares how jazz, African rhythms, funk, soul and R&B shaped his unmistakable sound. He also opens up about his connection to the early development of go-go music, his path as an independent artist and label owner, and the experiences that have taken his music around the world.

Along the way, we talk about creativity, family, race, community, technology and why Plunky continues to seek out new sounds and new ideas after all these years.

It’s a thoughtful, surprising and often funny conversation with an artist whose influence reaches far beyond Richmond—and whose connection to his hometown remains as strong as ever.

Mentions:

• Lonnie Liston Smith
• Melvin Ras Mel Glover
• Mighty Joshua
• WHUR 96.3 / The Daily Drum
• Experience Unlimited (E.U.) / Sugar Bear
• 725 Arts

Connect with Plunky:

🌐 Website: www.plunkyone.com
📘 Facebook: www.facebook.com/PlunkyandOneness
𝕏 X (Twitter): https://x.com/plunkyone
▶️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/plunkyb
🍎 Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/plunky-oneness/6315845
🟢 Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/0zeMpqW3Y0hyDOV6iQ6U9p?si=YYw70XuoQD6l8vKsp-MBgg&nd=1&dlsi=f660f15c79fa454b

Support the show

Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess.
This is where we talk to musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries about the moment they got hooked—and the journey that followed.

Learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and explore more stories at:
https://www.johniandjess.com

Follow The Hook on Facebook for new episodes, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming guest announcements:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588050877252

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with someone who inspires you, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue telling the stories behind the hook.

The Hook with Johni & Jess — where passion begins with a moment.

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What happens when three incredibly talented musicians share a studio, trust each other completely, and set out to make the best music they possibly can? You get JORDAN REIN.

In this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, Jordan Rein, Peter Wellman, and Maddox Bruce join us for an unforgettable conversation about the evolution of their Richmond-based power trio, their collaborative creative process, and the friendships that fuel their music.

The band shares how they came together, why performing as a trio pushes each of them to new creative heights, and how every member leaves their fingerprint on the music. Jordan reflects on receiving his first guitar as a surprise Christmas gift, Peter talks about unexpectedly becoming a drummer before performing at the Grand Ole Opry with his high school show choir, and Maddox shares how playing bass during the pandemic and performing in church shaped his musical journey.

We also dive into Jordan Rein's ambitious new concept album, 65432, a deeply personal project exploring the five stages of grief through music, accompanied by an upcoming short film. Jordan opens up about the healing process behind the record, while Peter and Maddox discuss how emotionally invested they became in bringing the songs to life.

Along the way, the conversation takes plenty of unexpected turns—from Jordan's experience performing at the legendary Whisky A Go Go alongside rock icons, to touring with musicians like Oliver Anthony and Joey Davis, the future of authentic rock music in the age of AI, Jordan's lifelong fascination with sharks, and the hilarious true story of building the world's fastest flying lawnmower.

The episode also features three tracks from Jordan Rein, a live performance of The Star-Spangled Banner at Carmax Park and an always entertaining speed round, making this a must-listen for music lovers, creatives, and anyone who appreciates the stories behind passionate artists.

Featuring: Jordan Rein (vocals/guitar), Peter Wellman (drums, keys, multi-instrumentalist), and Maddox Bruce (bass).

Follow Jordan Rein on Social Media

IG ww.instagram.com/rein.rocks

FB www.facebook.com/ReinRadio

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@rein.rocks

Support the show

Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess.
This is where we talk to musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries about the moment they got hooked—and the journey that followed.

Learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and explore more stories at:
https://www.johniandjess.com

Follow The Hook on Facebook for new episodes, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming guest announcements:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588050877252

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with someone who inspires you, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue telling the stories behind the hook.

The Hook with Johni & Jess — where passion begins with a moment.

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From hitchhiking the East Coast with a harmonica in his pocket to performing on some of the most iconic stages in America, Gary Green has lived a life that sounds more like a movie script than a résumé.

In this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, Gary shares the incredible journey that took him from teaching himself harmonica on the side of the road to winning at the World Harmonica Championships, performing at the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium, and collaborating with musicians around the globe. Along the way, he opens up about playing alongside Jimmy Buffett, performing with the cast of The Dukes of Hazzard, working with Afghan musicians through a U.S. State Department cultural exchange program, and engineering sound for legends including B.B. King, Kris Kristofferson, Mavis Staples, George Thorogood, Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, and many more.

Gary's passion for music extends far beyond performance. Whether he's talking about the art of supporting songwriters, the magic that happens between performer and audience, or the unexpected lessons learned through travel and cultural connection, every story reveals a deep appreciation for the power of music to bring people together.

This conversation is packed with road stories, behind-the-scenes music industry insights, harmonica geekery, and unforgettable moments from a career spent chasing great songs and meaningful connections. If you've ever wondered what happens when talent, curiosity, and a harmonica collide, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Links & Social Media

Gary Green Official Website
Gary Harmonica Green

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@cvilletunes

Support the show

Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess.
This is where we talk to musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries about the moment they got hooked—and the journey that followed.

Learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and explore more stories at:
https://www.johniandjess.com

Follow The Hook on Facebook for new episodes, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming guest announcements:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588050877252

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with someone who inspires you, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue telling the stories behind the hook.

The Hook with Johni & Jess — where passion begins with a moment.