Nashville comedian Mike James made my 16-year-old nephew laugh so hard at the Grand Ole Opry that I had to meet him. Now he’s here to talk stand-up comedy, dad life, working with Nate Bargatze, and the Nashville he grew up in.

Mike tells me why his Opry debut meant so much, what he learned from getting booed, and how his aunt wound up asking Arsenio Hall for an autographed photo in a Facebook comment. We also confess to some very emotional drunk texting, revisit Opryland, and make Mike choose: Chris Rock or Arsenio?

And can someone please tell me how to pronounce “Bargatze”? I’m pretty sure I got it wrong for the entire podcast. 😂

Come see Mike tape his comedy special with Andy Woodhull and Mark Chalifoux at Nateland Presents Live Special Taping on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Woolworth Theatre in Nashville. The show starts at 3:15 PM.

Tickets: https://sessions.woolworththeatre.com…

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