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The Golden Standard: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Megan Golden
Welcome to The Golden Standard—a lighthearted, unfiltered look at life behind the scenes in Nashville and beyond. Hosted by full-time musician and creative Megan Golden, the show explores the unexpected, exciting and occasionally chaotic realities of building a creative life.Some weeks, Megan takes the mic solo to share personal stories, honest reflections and everything happening on—and off—Broadway. Other weeks, she’s joined by musicians, creators and fascinating guests for candid conversations about their lives, careers and the stories you don’t usually get to hear.Come for the Nashville stories, creative inspiration and behind-the-scenes moments—and stay for the laughs, unexpected tangents and conversations that feel like catching up with a friend. There’s no single path to a golden life, but we can have a really good time figuring it out.
Latest Episodes
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- 4 days ago1h 12m
Heidi Klum’s Halloween, Costume Controversies & an H3 Follow-Up
Celebrity Halloween costumes gave us plenty to talk about—and a few “what were you thinking?” moments.This week on The Golden Standard, I’m sharing my picks for the best and worst celebrity Halloween costumes, from Heidi Klum’s elaborate look and James Charles’ Yzma transformation to North West and Natalie Nunn dressing as each other. Plus, my take on the costume controversies surrounding Martha Stewart and McCall DePron—and where I think the line falls between spooky and insensitive.Then we’re getting into the viral dispute over an artist painting over his own mural after a payment disagreement, why “exposure” doesn’t pay artists’ bills, and a follow-up conversation about H3, Ethan Klein, and the crew.Also: a personal update on my anxiety medication journey, Halloween gigs in Nashville, and a surprise studio visitor that nearly derailed the entire episode. Apparently, pop culture isn’t the only thing keeping me on edge.Which celebrity won Halloween—and which costume went too far? Tell me in the comments!Subscribe to The Golden Standard with Megan Golden for more pop culture conversations, personal stories, and unfiltered opinions.#TheGoldenStandard #CelebrityHalloween #PopCulture
- 1 weeks ago1h 20m
H3 Drama Explained: Ethan Klein, Hila & Trisha Paytas + Dolly Tribute Backlash
The H3 Podcast drama has me SHOCKED, and today we’re breaking it all down—from Ethan Klein and Hila Klein to Trisha Paytas and the history of Frenemies. Plus, I’m reacting for the first time to Ella Langley and Carrie Underwood’s performances at the CMA Dolly Parton tribute!If you’ve been following the H3 situation, you already know why I needed to talk about it. If you’re new to the drama, I’m taking you through the backstory: how Ethan and Trisha went from enemies to Frenemies, how their families became connected, and what led to the current conversation surrounding H3.Then, as a Nashville singer, I’m sharing my honest first reactions to Ella Langley singing “Jolene” and Carrie Underwood singing “I Will Always Love You” at CMA Presents: A Celebration of Dolly Parton. I also listen to Kelly Clarkson’s tribute and talk about the vocal styles, emotion, and criticism surrounding these performances. Was the backlash fair, or were people being too harsh?💬 Let me know in the comments: What are your thoughts on the H3 drama? And did you enjoy Ella and Carrie’s Dolly tribute performances?If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who loves pop culture and a little internet drama! 🖤#H3Podcast #EthanKlein #TrishaPaytas #Frenemies #DollyParton #EllaLangley #CarrieUnderwood #TheGoldenStandard
- 2 weeks ago1h 1m
PART 2 with Conner Fersner: Wild Nashville Stories, Life on Broadway & Original Music
What happens when Luke Bryan jumps onstage with your Broadway band? Conner Fersner is back for Part 2, and we’re getting into the wild, hilarious, and sometimes downright weird reality of making music in Nashville.We revisit our days as unpaid PR interns, reminisce about writing songs in ten minutes for morning radio, and talk about what it actually takes to survive a four-hour Broadway gig—unexpected requests and all. Plus, Conner shares the story behind performing with Luke Bryan during CMA Fest, and we trade some unforgettable crowd encounters, including horse masks, surprise tarot readings, and fans who take things a little too far.We also catch up on Conner’s original music project, Wild Squash, his musical influences, and our shared love of Vanderpump Rules. It’s another round of old memories, music talk, and stories you couldn’t make up.Missed Part 1? Go back for ghost stories, Elton John, and how our Nashville friendship began!Follow The Golden Standard for more conversations about music, pop culture, and figuring life out along the way.Explicit language and adult stories.
- 3 weeks ago47 min
Ghost Stories, Elton John, & The Nashville Music Scene with Conner Fersner | Part 1
What happens when Elton John notices you in the crowd—and invites you onstage?Nashville musician Conner Fersner joins Megan Golden for part one of their interview on The Golden Standard. Friends since freshman year at Belmont University, Megan and Conner revisit the gigs, late-night conversations, and unexpected connections that helped shape their lives in Music City.Conner shares how School of Rock inspired his first band, what brought him from Charleston to Nashville, and how a last-minute gig led to a chain of friendships and opportunities on Lower Broadway. They also reminisce about playing together at The Row, their beloved “Red Door Sundays,” and the night Darius Rucker bought Conner a beer.Plus: a chilling Charleston ghost story connected to Conner’s family, their musical influences, building confidence onstage, and the unforgettable night Elton John invited Conner and his friend onto the stage.Follow The Golden Standard for part two and more conversations about music, pop culture, and the stories behind the people.
- Oct 7, 20261h 1m
Raven Dawson on Rewind the Podcast & Going Solo with Loud and Wrong
Raven Dawson joins Megan Golden on The Golden Standard to talk about building Rewind the Podcast and her new chapter as the host of Loud and Wrong with Raven, alongside producer Gabe.From reconnecting over their church-camp days to debating Taylor Swift’s best album, this conversation is full of laughs, nostalgia, and unapologetic pop-culture opinions. Raven shares how Rewind got started, what went into creating her new show, and her experience appearing on Terrell Grice’s game show IKYFL.We also get into:• Growing up at Hoover High School during MTV’s Two-A-Days• Moving to Nashville and making friends as an adult• Building a podcast while working a full-time job• Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and boy-band hot takes• Dream reality-TV appearances and hosting ambitions• The celebrities we’d want as church-camp cabinmatesFollow Raven: @iamravendawsonFollow her podcast: @loudandwrongthepodSubscribe to The Golden Standard for more guest conversations, personal stories, and pop-culture commentary with Megan Golden. Loved this episode? Leave a review and share it with a friend!
- Sep 29, 202643 min
Caleb Flynn’s AI Love Song, Taylor Swift’s New Music, DWTS & My Foster Kittens
The Caleb Flynn murder trial keeps getting stranger. In this episode of The Golden Standard, Megan breaks down the former American Idol contestant’s alleged affair, the more than 100,000 messages exchanged with his mistress, and the painfully awkward AI-generated love songs that were played for the entire courtroom.Caleb Flynn is accused of killing his wife, Ashley Flynn, and staging the scene to resemble a home invasion. He has pleaded not guilty, and the trial remains ongoing. We discuss the allegations, the mistress’s testimony, their matching Harry Potter tattoos, the suspicious timeline surrounding her ultimatum—and why sending your mistress an AI love song should be considered its own form of punishment.Then we lighten things up with Nashville’s Dolly Day celebration, the unexpected PETA-versus-Raising Cane’s drama unfolding on Broadway, and Megan’s honest reaction to Taylor Swift’s four new songs from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore—including “Patient Zero.” Plus, why there will be absolutely no Max Martin and Shellback slander on this podcast.Megan also shares her thoughts on Dancing with the Stars, Guillermo Rodriguez’s unexpectedly lovable journey, and whether fan voting makes the competition unfair. Finally, meet the four tiny foster kittens who unexpectedly moved into Megan’s bathroom—and hear Nugget’s highly uncooperative debut in the new “Golden Nugget of Information” segment.Subscribe to The Golden Standard for pop culture, music, Nashville stories, true crime discussions, candid commentary and interviews.Disclaimer: This episode discusses allegations presented during an ongoing criminal trial. Caleb Flynn has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Commentary reflects personal opinions based on publicly reported information.#CalebFlynn #CalebFlynnTrial #TrueCrime #AmericanIdol #TaylorSwift #PatientZero #TheLifeOfAShowgirl #DollyParton #DancingWithTheStars #FosterKittens #TheGoldenStandard
- Sep 22, 20261h 5m
Leslie Odom Jr.’s Hamilton Return, The Band Perry Drama & Carrie Underwood Going Rock?
The Golden Standard is officially back—and there is a LOT to catch up on.Megan shares what she’s ready to reveal about her Europe trip, including losing her passport after taking the Eurostar from London to Paris, tracking it with an AirTag, an unexpected ambulance ride, and a frightening experience inside a Paris emergency room. She also explains why London was the highlight of the trip and what she would do differently when planning another European vacation.On a much happier note, Megan saw Leslie Odom Jr. return as Aaron Burr in Hamilton—and yes, it was every bit as magical as she hoped. She reviews his performance, shares her thoughts on the London cast, and explains why facial expressions and emotional connection can completely change a live performance.Plus, Megan dives into The Band Perry’s apparent family drama unfolding on TikTok, Carrie Underwood’s possible move into rock music, the upcoming Patrick Clancy 60 Minutes interview, Nugget’s Gotcha Day, her potential future as a foster-cat mom, pet communicators, Patreon plans, and why her blue hair is not a political statement.It’s a slightly chaotic, very honest catch-up episode filled with travel disasters, Broadway opinions, country-music drama, cats, pop culture, and—as always—a good rant.Follow The Golden Standard on social media, check out the Patreon, and let Megan know: Would you support Carrie Underwood making rock music? What do you think is happening with The Band Perry? And what bonus content would make the Patreon worth joining?
- Sep 1, 20261h 41m
The Dream Just Pivots: Jenae Cherry on Music, Motherhood & Major League Baseball Life
The Golden Standard officially has its first guest! Nashville singer-songwriter Jenae Cherry joins Megan to share the beautifully chaotic story of leaving college, moving to Nashville at 19, breaking into the Broadway music scene, and meeting her future husband—Major League Baseball pitcher Brad Brach—just days before his first call-up.Jenae opens up about auditioning for The Voice, balancing two people’s big dreams, traveling through 11 MLB seasons, becoming a mom, and finding her way back to music in a new season of life. She also shares the stories behind “Honky Tonkin’ Children” and “Me, Her and You,” including the adorable moment her daughter Briley stepped into the recording booth.It’s an honest, funny conversation about friendship, family, songwriting, perfect timing, and realizing that letting a dream change doesn’t mean giving up on it—it just means the dream pivots.Follow Jenae Cherry and listen to her music wherever you stream!
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About The Golden Standard
Welcome to The Golden Standard—a lighthearted, unfiltered look at life behind the scenes in Nashville and beyond. Hosted by full-time musician and creative Megan Golden, the show explores the unexpected, exciting and occasionally chaotic realities of building a creative life.Some weeks, Megan takes the mic solo to share personal stories, honest reflections and everything happening on—and off—Broadway. Other weeks, she’s joined by musicians, creators and fascinating guests for candid conversations about their lives, careers and the stories you don’t usually get to hear.Come for the Nashville stories, creative inspiration and behind-the-scenes moments—and stay for the laughs, unexpected tangents and conversations that feel like catching up with a friend. There’s no single path to a golden life, but we can have a really good time figuring it out.
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