In this episode, we sit down with our co-host, Ben Johnson—one of today’s most dominant pens in country music and a standout cross-genre songwriter. A small-town guy with big ambition, Ben shares the courageous journey that led him to Nashville, following the advice of his first mentor, Rivers Rutherford, in search of where great ideas come from.We dive into how years of grinding in Music City shaped his relentless work ethic and ignited the competitive edge that fuels his success today. In some hilarious and insightful recaps, Ben reveals how humility—on the basketball court and in asking just to be heard—opened the door to a life-changing connection with country music legend Ashley Gorley. Now a multi-genre hitmaker with 11 #1 songs across diverse charts, Ben is more than a songwriter—he’s a modern renaissance man. We explore how his journey through Hitmakers, including some tough moments, refined him not just as a creator, but as a human being. Ben is a testament to fearlessness, preparation, and the fire it takes to win. Whether you’re in music, sports, or just trying to make your own mark, Ben’s story proves that with unconditional heart and hustle, you really can become the biggest.
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52:27
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52:27
Harv: The Confidence Code
From church pews to global stages, HARV’s story is all about supernatural musicianship, unbounded confidence, and purpose. He shares how the environments he was raised in shaped his confidence as a man and creator—whether being the point guard on his basketball team or part of the most prestigious frat on campus. In this episode, we thread the needle from him laying down the bassline on Gucci Mane’s Lemonade to touring the world with Justin Bieber and producing one of his biggest hits, Peaches. HARV talks about what it feels like to create music when you hear in color, and how being a family man keeps him grounded in the industry. If confidence is the fuel that makes the machine go, HARV’s got a full tank. This Hitmaker is living proof that if you believe you can, you probably will.
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42:31
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42:31
Whitney Phillips: Earned, Not Given
She’s not just our cohost—she’s a creative and intellectual force. In this episode, we sit down with Whitney Phillips to explore how grit and tenacity turned a series of bold leaps of faith into a career paved with platinum. From waiting tables to Lil Wayne, to accidentally hanging up on Christina Aguilera’s manager as an intern before earning her first Grammy nomination alongside the icon herself, Whitney’s story is one of resilience and relentless drive. Whether it was being the odd man out at an A-list writing camp and coming out the other side with a Celine Dion placement—or flipping quarantine on its head by scoring her first #1 record entirely over Zoom—she proves that every stripe of hers was earned, not given. Truly a woman who paved her own path, Whitney is a testament to how far you can go if you have the courage to keep going.
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52:34
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52:34
JHart: A Multi-Genre Master
From Atlanta to LA, and from pop to country, JHart is a man of many territories, genres, and even accents. In this episode, we Postmate some good old Chipotle and talk about his early days working with TLC’s T-Boz, the hustle of cold-emailing his way into a pub deal, and the leap of faith that brought him to LA. He spills on battling imposter syndrome after his first big cut with Justin Bieber, why personal growth is the secret weapon for real success, and how he went from pop hooks to a country #1 with Keith Urban. Whatever the genre, build this writer a box and he’ll break it… all while dressed to the nines.
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54:59
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54:59
Tommy Brown: The Man In Every Room
Tommy Brown—aka TBHits—has always been that guy. From beat making in the cafeteria to producing chart-toppers for Ariana Grande, he’s the man in every room for a reason. He breaks down his transition from songwriter to executive, the importance of visibility, and what it really takes to curate a cultural moment. When you move like Tommy, there’s only one motto that makes sense: Always up, never down—spread the money all around.
Get to know the humans behind the hits! Step inside the world of Hitmakers, the Netflix series where songwriting takes center stage. This podcast brings you candid, one-on-one conversations with the artists, producers, and creatives who shaped the music—plus unfiltered stories from behind the scenes, including what you didn’t see (or hear) on screen.
New Zealand