Heart of The Gulch

08/11/2026

Big dreams don't protect you from doubt.

MŌRIAH opened up about those days when the life you're building looks nothing like the life you imagined—and you start questioning whether you even want to keep going.

I understood exactly what she meant. I'd had that same feeling that morning.

That's why MŌRIAH believes the people around you matter so much. Sometimes you need someone else to remind you why you started, why your voice matters, and why the dream is still worth chasing.

Even the most ambitious people need to be reminded of their “why.”

08/10/2026

IT ONLY TOOK US TWO YEARS. 😂🇦🇺

We've been trying to get Australian country artist Melanie Dyer on Heart of the Gulch since CMA Fest TWO YEARS AGO.

Schedules didn't cooperate.

Until now.

And it was absolutely worth the wait!

Melanie joins Tony Mendoza to talk about finally moving to Nashville after nearly a decade of traveling back and forth from Australia, the hilarious and beautiful family story behind “Golden Girl,” “Mama Knows Best,” growing up on a farm, performing at CMA Fest and creating her most personal album yet.

She also reveals that the new album is expected around October! Watch here: https://youtu.be/OhgoHcpIl-I

08/10/2026

Two years. 😂

That's how long Melanie Dyer and I have been trying to make this interview happen.

We were supposed to sit down at CMA Fest two years ago, schedules got crazy, and somehow we kept missing each other.

Well... WE FINALLY GOT IT DONE.

And I'm glad we waited.

Melanie has now officially moved from Australia to Nashville after spending nearly a decade traveling back and forth, and she's creating music that feels more connected to her family, her upbringing and her roots than ever before.

We talked about everything from her parents' love story to leaving home, imposter syndrome, songwriting and taking a chance on yourself.

Australian country artist Melanie Dyer joins host Tony Mendoza on H...

08/09/2026

MŌRIAH had NO idea TED Talks required this. 😳

18 minutes. Memorized.

No teleprompter. No script. No notes.

When MŌRIAH agreed to give a TED Talk, she didn't realize she'd have to memorize the entire thing and deliver it completely from memory.

And yes, she's an actress—but as MŌRIAH quickly reminded me, memorizing dialogue is VERY different from memorizing yourself talking for 18 straight minutes. 😂

08/08/2026

MŌRIAH almost forgot the little girl who thought she could do anything. ❤️
And that moment helped create “Superwoman” (“Supermujeres”).
MŌRIAH was questioning her path when her friends reminded her why she started in the first place: the storytelling, the culture, the music—and that fearless younger version of herself who never questioned whether her dreams were possible.

Sometimes you don't need a new dream.

You just need to remember why you had it.

08/07/2026

My Latina sister is back. 🇲🇽❤️

MŌRIAH has officially reached that point where I don't know if I'm interviewing her or we're just catching up while three cameras happen to be recording us. 😂

This was hands down one of my favorite conversations from CMA Fest.

We talked “Superwoman,” Nice Life, her next album, filmmaking, Mexican heritage, knowing your worth, and why our shared culture makes it so easy for us to go from joking around to having a legitimately deep conversation five seconds later.

I always leave our conversations inspired—and apparently with plans to get spicy margaritas next time. 😂

Love you, sis. Until next time!
https://youtu.be/H3LChyGOz0s

08/07/2026

Friend of the show Moriah Smallbone is BACK! 🇲🇽❤️

And when Tony Mendoza and his “Latina sister” get together, you already know this isn't going to be a normal interview. 😂

MŌRIAH joins us again to talk “Superwoman,” Nice Life, her Mexican heritage, her upcoming full-length album arriving in Q1 2027, and the next chapter of her career in both music and film.

But some of our favorite moments happen when the interview gets deeper.

Tony and MŌRIAH talk about their shared Latino heritage, representation in Nashville, family, knowing your worth, and why our backgrounds play such an important role in the stories we tell.

Oh... and Tony tries singing.

We're sorry. 😂

One of our favorite conversations from CMA Fest is here!

Friend of the show MŌRIAH returns to Heart of the Gulch for one of ...

08/04/2026

Erin Kinsey says allergies are a singer's worst nightmare. 🤧🎤

During my conversation with Erin Kinsey, we talked about one challenge fans rarely think about—having to perform while battling seasonal allergies.

Erin Kinsey admitted that allergies can be one of the toughest parts of touring because there's no easy fix when your voice is your livelihood. From drinking endless cups of tea to trying every remedy she can find, Erin says all a singer can really do is prepare the best they can and hope their voice holds up when it's time to step on stage.

08/04/2026

This week's dress code? Suede. 🤠 Congrats to friend of the show Erin Kinsey on the release week of her debut album Suede! We couldn't be more excited! 🤎
Watch interview: https://youtu.be/XRsdoYF2Su0

08/03/2026

Erin Kinsey says her songs don't belong to her anymore. ❤️🎶

During my conversation with Erin Kinsey, she shared one of the most rewarding parts of being a songwriter and performing live.

Erin Kinsey says there's nothing more special than looking into the crowd and seeing fans sing every word with their eyes closed. In those moments, she realizes the songs are no longer just hers—they belong to everyone who has found their own meaning in them. For Erin, creating music is about building a shared experience that connects people, even those she's never had the chance to meet.