Brett Sheroky: Heart Surgery, Surrender & Finding Joy in God's Plan

This week on The Upload, Brooke Taylor sits down with rising country artist Ethan Garner for an honest conversation about faith, temptation, surrender, and what it looks like to follow Jesus while chasing a dream in Nashville. Growing up in Georgia, Ethan was surrounded by faith. His parents prayed over him as a child, his dad had a background in Southern Gospel music, and church was a regular part of his life. But like so many young people, Ethan admits that knowing about God and truly having a relationship with Him were two very different things. During his senior year of high school, Ethan experienced what he describes as being "wrecked by the Holy Spirit" at a Christian camp. For the first time, he felt the weight of his choices and realized that the things he'd been chasing couldn't satisfy him the way a relationship with Jesus could. But his faith journey wasn't a straight line. When Ethan arrived at Georgia Southern University, he quickly found himself immersed in fraternity life, college parties, and the bar scene, where he was also beginning to perform as a musician. Despite his earlier encounter with God, he admits he spent much of his first two years of college partying and struggling with the same temptations he'd hoped to leave behind. Everything began to shift when a mentor invited him on a mission trip to Panama. Trading a traditional college spring break for a week of serving others, sharing the Gospel, and worshiping alongside fellow students, Ethan began to experience his faith in a completely new way. That trip eventually led to another mission trip to Thailand, where he spent several weeks sharing Jesus with others and developing a deeper understanding of what it meant to live for something bigger than himself. Ethan shares how those experiences challenged him to step outside his comfort zone, say yes when God opened a door, and recognize that sometimes the greatest spiritual growth happens when we're willing to leave behind what's familiar. The conversation also explores the pressures of pursuing a career in country music. After transferring to Belmont University in Nashville, Ethan initially considered pursuing Christian music. But an unexpected series of opportunities led him into the country music industry, including meeting his manager and landing a publishing deal on the very same day. With his first EP out now and a growing career ahead of him, Ethan is learning that following Jesus doesn't necessarily mean working in Christian music. It means honoring God wherever He's placed you. Brooke and Ethan discuss the dangers of comparison, the temptation to measure success against other artists, and the importance of staying focused on the path God has prepared for you. Ethan shares advice he's received from industry mentors about working hard, perfecting his craft, and celebrating other people's success rather than becoming consumed by competition. They also talk about personal convictions, the power of worship, surrounding yourself with godly influences, and why Christians don't have to be perfect before they can experience God's love. In one particularly personal moment, Ethan opens up about his family's history of miscarriage and shares that he was originally a twin, though his sibling did not survive the pregnancy. He reflects on the hope of heaven and the possibility of one day meeting the family members he never knew. As the conversation comes to a close, Ethan shares what he's praying for in this new season: the courage to remain bold in his faith, the wisdom to steward his opportunities well, and a heart that stays focused on God rather than fame or success. 🎧 If you've ever felt caught between the life you're living and the life God is calling you toward, Ethan's story is a reminder that your faith journey doesn't have to be perfect, God can meet you right where you are, and sometimes everything begins to change when you're willing to say yes. Follow The Upload: 📸 Instagram — @theupl

This week on The Upload, Brooke Taylor and Pastor Mark Evans sit down with rising country artist Ashley Anne for an honest conversation about faith, identity, family, and what it means to chase a God-sized dream without letting that dream become your god. At just 22 years old, Ashley Anne has already experienced her share of heartbreak, hardship, and success. The Virginia Beach native moved to Nashville at 18 to pursue country music, turning the difficult experiences of her childhood into deeply personal songs. Her latest project, Generational Heartbreak, explores how our past shapes us, the patterns we inherit, and the possibility of breaking cycles to create something better for the next generation. Ashley opens up about growing up in a rocky home environment alongside her two sisters and how those early experiences shaped the woman she's become. She shares why songwriting became her outlet at just 11 years old—a way to process emotions, make sense of painful experiences, and eventually recognize how God was working through her story. The conversation also explores the pressure young women face to fit a certain image, especially in the music industry. Ashley gets candid about the temptation to become the "cool and edgy girl," the constant comparison that comes with pursuing a career in entertainment, and why she's determined not to let fame, success, or other people's opinions determine her worth. For Ashley, her identity isn't found in the numbers, the opportunities, or the recognition—it's rooted in something much bigger. Ashley also shares how her relationship with Jesus has evolved over the years. Although she grew up around faith, she admits there was a season in high school when she struggled with what she believed. Looking back, she recognizes that those difficult seasons helped strengthen her relationship with God. As she puts it, "The test is part of your testimony." Brooke, Mark, and Ashley unpack what it means to pursue success without making it an idol. Ashley admits that even after playing incredible shows, meeting influential people, and reaching career milestones, there's always another goal waiting around the corner. She's learning that there may never be a moment when she's finally "made it"—and that real joy and fulfillment can't come from the next achievement. The conversation takes a powerful turn as Ashley shares her perspective on representing Jesus in country music. Performing for thousands of people, she sometimes wrestles with whether she should speak more openly about her faith from the stage. But having experienced her own season of doubt, she understands that not everyone is ready to hear that message in the same way. Rather than making people feel excluded, Ashley wants to live a life that makes people curious about Jesus. She believes that showing genuine love, meeting people where they are, and treating everyone with kindness can sometimes speak louder than anything said into a microphone. They also discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, guarding your heart, recognizing God-given wisdom, and using your gifts to serve others rather than simply elevate yourself. As the episode comes to a close, Ashley shares what she's praying for in this season of her life: that God would continue to protect her heart and keep her motivations in the right place as her career grows. 🎧 If you've ever struggled with comparison, questioned your worth, or wondered how to pursue big dreams while keeping God at the center, Ashley's story is a reminder that your past doesn't have to define your future, your success doesn't determine your value, and the greatest impact you can make may be through the way you love others. Follow The Upload: 📸 Instagram — @theuploadpodcast 🎥 TikTok — @theuploadpodcast 🔗 Listen on iHeartRadio — The Upload See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Upload, Brooke Taylor sits down with Grammy and ACM-nominated country artist David Nail for an incredibly honest conversation about success, family, grief, faith, and learning to appreciate the life that’s right in front of you. David has spent more than two decades in Nashville, with hits like “Red Light,” “Let It Rain” and “Whatever She’s Got.” Now, he’s releasing Flowers—his first full-length album in more than a decade—and says he’s experiencing his career from a completely different perspective. The nerves are still there, but so is something that wasn’t always as easy for him to find: joy. David opens up about how much of his life was spent immediately chasing whatever came next. Even after a great show or a career milestone, his mind was already moving toward the next goal. But with age, faith and fatherhood, he’s learning to slow down long enough to actually experience the moment he’s in. Sometimes that looks less like a sold-out show and more like walking his kids to school on a Monday morning and being overwhelmed by the simple thought: “I just can’t believe them kids are mine.” That shift in perspective runs throughout Flowers. Brooke and David unpack one lyric in particular: “I got everything I wanted without getting what I thought I wanted.” David reflects on the dreams he once believed would define success and the realization that constantly focusing on the next level can blind you to everything God has already put in front of you. The conversation also gets deeply personal as David talks about fatherhood and the example he hopes to set for his three children. He shares the guilt and second-guessing that come with parenting, why he believes children learn more from watching how their parents live than from being told what to do, and how he and his wife are navigating raising kids in a world filled with comparison and constant noise. David also opens up about losing his mom, Donna Sue, and the complicated layers of grief that have followed. Seeing so much of himself emotionally in his son has made him think about loss in an entirely new way—not only processing the pain of losing his own mother, but realizing his children will one day experience that kind of grief too. He shares how becoming a father has helped him understand the depth of his own parents’ love in a way he never could before having children himself. That realization is woven into “Riverbank,” the final song on Flowers. David explains why the deeply personal song changed the way he thinks about legacy and why he now wants to close every show with it. If something ever happened to him, he wants his wife and children to know that the last song he performed was one written about them—a lasting reminder of what ultimately mattered most. Brooke and David also talk about depression, career uncertainty, comparison, perseverance, rediscovering the excitement he had when he first started touring, and what it looks like to trust that maybe you don’t need the bigger house, bigger career or next accomplishment to know that God has you exactly where you’re supposed to be. The conversation closes with David sharing what he’s praying for in this season: patience as a father. He gets emotional talking about his mom’s faith, the godly woman he found in his wife, and his desire to make sure grief never prevents him from being the kind of father he wants to be. 🎧 If you’ve ever been so focused on where you thought your life should be that you’ve struggled to see the beauty of where you already are, this conversation is a powerful reminder to slow down, find joy in what God has given you, and stop measuring your life by the things you haven’t accomplished yet. Follow The Upload: 📸 Instagram — @theuploadpodcast 🎥 TikTok — @theuploadpodcast 🔗 Listen on iHeartRadio — The Upload See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country artist Drew Baldridge is back on The Upload—making him Brooke Taylor and Pastor Mark Evans’ first-ever returning guest. And a lot has changed since his first conversation with Brooke. After years of navigating the music industry independently, Drew now has a major-label deal, a No. 1 song with “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” two young boys at home, and a new album that might be his most personal yet: Farm Faith Family. Drew shares how the three pillars behind the album—farm, faith and family—tell the story of where he came from and who he wants to be. Growing up on a farm in Southern Illinois taught him that a music career isn’t all that different from farming: you plant seeds, endure droughts, weather the storms and trust that something will eventually grow. He gets emotional remembering the season when he was struggling to pay rent in Nashville and his grandfather quietly sold a load of wheat to help keep his dream alive. The conversation turns to what it means to be a godly man in a culture that often celebrates something very different. Drew shares the story behind “A Man Don’t,” a song inspired by learning that someone he knew had been unfaithful in his marriage. Now raising two boys of his own, Drew says he wants them to grow up knowing what a biblical man looks like: someone who stays, leads, takes responsibility, loves his family and is willing to be called higher when he gets it wrong. Drew also gets honest about the tension of making message-driven country music in an industry where those songs don’t always fit neatly into the mold. He shares the discouragement of being told by a major country platform that his music didn’t fit its messaging—and the questions that can creep in when choosing songs about faith, commitment and family instead of simply chasing what seems most commercially successful. For Drew, the answer keeps coming back to the same thing: stay rooted in truth and keep using the gift God gave him. That perspective inspired another song on the album, “Maker’s Mark.” After the success of “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” Drew found himself wondering what any of the accomplishments would actually mean when he one day stands before God. A No. 1 song, money and career success won't be what matters. The question he wants to be able to answer is: Where did I leave my Maker’s mark? Brooke, Mark and Drew unpack what it means to steward whatever gift God has given you—whether that gift puts you on a stage or simply allows you to show up for someone who needs help. They talk about surrounding yourself with people who will sharpen you, opening up when you’re struggling, saying no to the things culture tells you are normal, and viewing your everyday work as an act of worship. And in one of the most personal moments of the episode, Drew talks about the tension he feels between a career he believes is a ministry and the family he desperately wants to be present for. Now that his oldest son understands when Daddy is leaving for the road, those goodbyes hit differently. When Brooke asks what he hopes his boys will one day say mattered most to their dad, Drew’s answer is simple: “He tried to walk like Jesus did.” 🎧 If you’ve ever wrestled with ambition, comparison, family, or how to stay faithful to who God called you to be when the world is pulling you somewhere else, this conversation is a reminder that success isn’t just about what you accomplish—it’s about what you do with what God gave you. Follow The Upload: 📸 Instagram — @theuploadpodcast 🎥 TikTok — @theuploadpodcast 🔗 Listen on iHeartRadio — The Upload See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Upload, Brooke Taylor and Pastor Mark Evans sit down with Macy Page, wife, mom of two and sister-in-law of country artist Thomas Rhett, for a deeply personal conversation about walking through Stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer and discovering a relationship with Jesus that changed everything. After receiving a diagnosis that turned her family's world upside down, Macy underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy. Today, she's cancer-free—and while she doesn't minimize how difficult the journey was, she says she looks back with an overwhelming sense that she was carried through it. “I don't know how to explain it other than Jesus,” Macy shares. Macy grew up in church, attended Christian school and had always considered herself a person of faith. But cancer forced her to confront a difficult realization: knowing about God wasn't the same as truly knowing Him. Faced with fear and uncertainty, Macy found herself surrendering in a way she never had before—and says the diagnosis ultimately led her to experience what it really means to be led by the Holy Spirit. She also opens up about an incredibly difficult part of her story that she hasn't widely shared. Just days after learning she had cancer, Macy discovered she was pregnant. Suddenly, she was facing questions about how the pregnancy could affect treatment for an aggressive cancer. Throughout the conversation, Macy gets honest about the fears that don't simply disappear when treatment ends—the next scan, the next doctor's appointment and the desire for more time with her husband and children. She shares why surrender has become a daily practice and how the hope of eternity changed the way she viewed even the worst-case scenario. Brooke, Mark and Macy also talk about the difference between being around Christianity and actually walking closely with God, the power of prayer, learning to hear and follow the Holy Spirit, and why suffering can radically reshape what matters most. For Macy, cancer stripped away so many distractions and left her with a new urgency: people need to know Jesus. Macy also shares the practical ways her community carried her family through treatment—from helping with her children and school pickups to providing meals and even having her house cleaned. It's a beautiful reminder that when someone you love is walking through cancer, sometimes the greatest gift is simply finding a way to take something off their plate. Through it all, Macy says something that might sound impossible after a Stage 3 cancer diagnosis: “I would not change a thing.” She wouldn't choose cancer, but she also wouldn't trade the closeness with God she found through it. 🎧 Whether you're facing a diagnosis, walking alongside someone you love through illness, or simply struggling to trust God with something you can't control, Macy's story is a powerful reminder that surrender doesn't mean the absence of fear—it means knowing Who is carrying you through it. Follow The Upload: 📸 Instagram — @theuploadpodcast 🎥 TikTok — @theuploadpodcast 🔗 Listen on iHeartRadio — The Upload See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.