Austin Burke, Brandon Day & Paul From Beaumont | Morning Brew Anniversary Bash Preview! | Friday, May 15th, 2026

On today’s episode of The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett and Best Friends, we’re getting ready for Horne Auto Center’s Morning Brew 6th Anniversary Listener Appreciation Party at The House in Show Low!

Joining us in studio from Nashville are Austin Burke and Brandon Day as we talk music, songwriting, Arizona life, and play some ridiculous games including “Are You Smarter Than a Redneck?” with everyone’s favorite redneck, Paul from Beaumont. 😂

Paul also shares some of his favorite Morning Brew memories from the past six years, and we catch up with Kaylee Willis from 3E Snacks — the amazing local nonprofit we’re raising money and collecting donations for through the anniversary bash and cornhole tournament benefiting local kids in need.

🎶 Austin Burke performs live Saturday night at The House
🌽 Cornhole tournament benefiting 3E Snacks
❤️ Donation items and cash donations accepted at the event

As always… be nice to yourself, be nice to others, and don’t be a jerk.

Transcript

Doghouse Jokes And Warm Open

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Oh my gosh. Were were you in the doghouse? Yeah, always.

SPEAKER_04 0:04

Honestly, every song I've ever written about her, I'm always in the doghouse.

SPEAKER_01 0:09

It's like a cheat code on her. I I wish I knew how to write songs because I don't know how to get uh out of the doghouse. I'm a stand-up comedian and uh telling jokes does not get you out of the doghouse. It just gets you into the doghouse.

SPEAKER_03 0:20

It gets you into the deeper.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

That was Austin Burke on today's episode of The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett and Best Friends. And best friends, this was a fun one. We had Austin Burke and Brandon Day in studio getting ready for Horn Auto Center's Morning Brew sixth anniversary listener appreciation party happening Saturday, May 16th at the house in Cholo. We played some fun games, found out if they were smarter than a redneck with Paul from Beaumont. And also Paul shared some of his favorite morning brew memories over these last six years. Plus, we talked with Kaylee Willis from 3E Snacks, the amazing local nonprofit that we're raising money and collecting donations for through the anniversary bash and cornhole tournament. This episode has Nashville music, small town chaos, laughs, heart, and probably a few questionable decisions. Buckle up, best friends. Here's the morning brew.

Austin Burke Joins The Studio

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. I am so excited to be joined in studio with our guest, Austin Burke, who's headlining our big anniversary bash. Horn Auto Center presents the Morning Brew's listener appreciation party at the house. Thanks so much for coming in, best friend.

SPEAKER_04 1:24

Chris, thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_01 1:26

After uh a year, I finally get to meet you in person and joining you and joining you on stage tonight when you're at Torreon, and tomorrow at the house is Brandon Day.

SPEAKER_04 1:34

Woop The Legend, the legend, Brandon Day.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

The legend, Brandon Day. We played one of his songs he wrote uh earlier for Jason Aldean, Small Town Small. And uh now uh we are going to play one of your songs. We're gonna get to hear a lot of your songs uh this weekend and Saturday at the anniversary batch. This one we're playing is called Town Home. What's this one about?

SPEAKER_04 1:55

Yeah, I was just missing Arizona a lot, and uh it's basically about how no matter where you go, you get a little piece of um everything you love about your hometown if you find the person that you love. And so Lexi, my wife, wrote it about her and how she makes you know the sunsets brighter, makes just everything about Arizona in Tennessee. She she makes me feel like like I'm home no matter where we're at.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Oh my gosh. Were were you in the doghouse?

SPEAKER_04 2:22

Yeah, always. Honestly, every song I've ever written about her, I'm always in the doghouse.

SPEAKER_01 2:27

It's like a cheat code on her. I uh I wish I knew how to write songs because I don't know how to get uh out of the doghouse. I'm a stand-up comedian and uh telling jokes does not get you out of the doghouse. It just gets you into the doghouse.

SPEAKER_03 2:39

It gets you into burger.

SPEAKER_01 2:40

Awesome. Well, best friends, you gotta come see Austin Burke and Brandon Day. They're gonna be at the house this Saturday for our free listener appreciation party. It's gonna start at 7.

How 3E Snacks Feeds Kids

SPEAKER_01 2:51

All right, best friends, on the phone, we have my best friend Kaylee Willis with three e Snacks. They are the nonprofit that we have partnered with for Horn Auto Center's morning brew anniversary bash for our sixth anniversary listener appreciation party. Good morning, Kaylee.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

Oh, good morning. So happy to be here, Chris. Oh we just have no idea how much we appreciate you.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

Why don't you tell people that uh might not know what 3e snacks is? Tell us a little bit about uh what 3e snacks is and who and how you help.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Awesome. So we started about 10 years ago, uh this November, and we found out that there was kids that were coming to school on Monday that hadn't eaten enough over the weekend. And of course it's affecting, you know, every aspect of their life. And our family kind of talked about it and thought, you know what, there's somebody we could help. Um, and so we we started just with one school, and then the miracle of the White Mountains happened, Chris. Um our community is so amazing, and they have come together, and for 10 years we haven't missed the week, and we are we are currently um giving out 290 bags every weekend to the schools in Snowflake and Taylor, Keber Overguard, and Concho.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

One of the things I love about 3E Snacks is that 100% of what's raised goes towards helping the kids. Is that right?

SPEAKER_00 4:25

Absolutely. We we are a nonprofit, we don't have any advisors, we don't have any paid employees. It is all done by volunteer, and every dime on every piece of food that people donate goes straight to our local kids. You know, it's somebody my kids are going to school with. It's um and you know, we we don't pretend like we know what's going on, we know the teachers know better, and so the teachers get to, you know, kind of vet it and and see who they feel are in need of it. Um, and so they're the ones that know. And those those bags go home, you know, at the end of the school week, um, they try to be discreet, the kids come up with their backpack, that food bag goes straight into their backpack and and nobody's the wiser.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

What are some items that you would like people to uh bring that uh you can help, you know, uh provide food to uh for the kids?

SPEAKER_00 5:23

Well, Chris, you know, we try to, you know, help out with those meals on Saturday and Sundays that the kids aren't in school, but it also needs to be something that's non-perishable, because you know, kids sometimes don't get stuff out of the backpacks and stuff that's easy for a kid to prepare. We do a lot of canned soup and ravioli, but then also all of the things like granola bars and applesauce pouches, um fruit snacks, uh crackers, um fruit cups, uh tuna fish, just things that are you know a little more simple for kids to prepare or you know not have to prepare at all. Um, we can't do anything that's perishable, unfortunately. But you know, I think a lot of people get caught up on well, I can't donate very much. Well, one can of soup just fed a kid. You know, one box of canola bars fed ten kids a snack. And so, and that's how that's how this has happened is it's a lot of people coming together and giving everybody giving a little.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

A little bit makes a big difference, and so hopefully the brew crew nation, we can come together and make a big difference. And uh we are so happy to help 3e snacks, brew crew nation. I hope to see you all out there at the house for our anniversary bash. We have the cornhole tournament that's benefiting 3e snacks. If you're coming to that, show up at 12, bags fly at 1, and then of course we'll have live music throughout the whole day, and then we're gonna finish it off with a live acoustic concert from Nashville recording artist Austin Burke starting at 7. And I can't wait to see uh how much money we're able to raise for our best friends at 3e Snacks. Kaylee Willis, thank you so much, and uh look forward to hopefully seeing you on Saturday. Thanks, Chris. Woo! That's my vlog!

Paul From Beaumont Shares Memories

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Yay, yay! Everyone's favorite redneck from Beaumont, Texas, buddy. It's Paul from Beaumont on the eve of our big anniversary bash with our big uh acoustic concert with Austin Burke. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Man, not nearly as good as you, man. Not nearly as good as you, and let me tell you, by the end of Saturday, let me tell you guys, I'm definitely not gonna be as good as you because I'll guarantee you, man, you're gonna get six years of love from showloaded this weekend.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

Yeah, I can't wait. It's gonna be so I can't believe it's been six years of uh hosting the morning brew. I've been on the morning brew for eight years and uh been uh host of uh it for six years, and you've been a big part of it. I remember when uh I took over, and especially when my co-host uh uh Mick left, uh, I reached out to you and I was like, hey man, if you want to start calling in every day, uh I'd love it. And uh I'm so glad you've uh been such a big part of the show. You shared uh a couple uh of your favorite memories yesterday. Give me another uh favorite memory of the morning brew.

SPEAKER_02 8:16

Man, I'd have to say when when uh Rhonda found out about this show years after the fact, and uh I was like, they want us to come out there. She's like, Yeah, right, whatever. It's a scam. Whatever. You're not that you're not that big. Don't get the big head. And we came out there and she was like, oh my god. Yeah, yeah. That was that was pretty cool. And then getting to meet everybody, you know, not just uh uh words on a on a screen or a voice talking to you, but actually getting to meet people and then helping, you know, the first time we helped out the Gonzales family, and it was just such a great thing. And now and now you're gonna get you're getting that opportunity to help uh hundreds of kids with this E3 snack thing. Yeah. It's just an awesome deal, dude. It's just awesome. It is. It's so you're an awesome guy. You're gonna deserve all the love you're gonna get Saturday. And uh I wish we could have been there.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Yeah, me too, buddy.

Are You Smarter Than A Redneck

SPEAKER_01 9:19

It is now time for Are You Smarter Than a Redneck? And Paul, you are going up against Austin Burke, the headliner for our anniversary bash this Saturday at the house. He's also performing at Torreon tonight. And joining him is Brandon Day. And uh Brandon Day has written songs for Brantley Gilbert, Jason Aldean. He wrote a song for Jason Aldean called Small Town Small. So I thought for Are You Smarter Than a Redneck, Paul, uh, we would do Small Town Small or Big City Big. You guys gotta tell me if this is something that happened in a small town or a big city. Uh if you know the answer, say your name. That's your buzzer. You ready, Paul? Let's go. All right. Uh headline A goat was elected mayor and reportedly drank beer daily. Brandon. Brandon. That's gotta be a small town. That is a small town. It is Lahita's population, 75 to 100. That is one bad goat. Oh, it is very good. All right, all right, how about this one? A man called 911 because Burger King forgot his chicken nuggets.

SPEAKER_04 10:26

Big uh Austin Austin, Austin. Big town.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

Big town. They are kicking your butt, dude. Uh, yeah, that happened in Houston. 2.3 million. In small town, we don't get upset about stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02 10:38

Well, near Houston, I was probably gonna go there and shoot 'em. I'm in Houston now. I could probably tell you what Burger King it is.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

All right. Uh they're up to zero, Paul. A man attempted to rob a store using a live Python. Big city or small city? Paul. Paul, Paul. Small, small. Small. No. That happened in Memphis. All right. Uh, how about this one? A town held a funeral for a beloved raccoon. Small town, small or big town? Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul. Small. Definitely small. Definitely small. All right. There you go. He finally, you guys gave him that one. Yeah, we wanted him to have a little bit. That happened in Pawnee. Population 200. Okay. And this last question, uh, Paul, will determine the winner. Uh, it's worth a million points. Uh, a man tried to pay for McDonald's with monopoly money. Small town, small. Paul. Big. Ah, he beat you guys. Nice. Nice. Uh, you are not smarter than a redneck. All right. I gotta let my friend Austin Burke and Brandon Day. I gotta let them go. They are gonna be golfing over there at Torireon. Oh, they have great food there too. So they're gonna feed you good. I had some uh delicious uh chicken marsala there yesterday. Mm-hmm. Super good. Uh, they are playing there tonight for the Torian crowd. That one is sold out. And then tomorrow, uh it's a listener appreciation party free at the house. Austin Burke, Brandon A are gonna be taking stage at 7 p.m. So join us for that. And if you can, join us for the Cornhole Tournament. Sign up at Chris Bennettcomedy.com.

Arizona Man Or Tennessee Man

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Before I let you go, let's play a game. You both uh have uh roots in Arizona, you both uh have roots in uh Nashville now. So I thought we'd play a game called Arizona Man or Tennessee Man. All right, these are real headlines. A man tried to rob a convenience store using a live rattlesnake.

SPEAKER_04 12:43

Arizona Man. You agree?

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Uh I mean it's gotta be. We can't get them out there in Tennessee. No, no rattlesnakes in Tennessee. Just at the zoo. Just at the zoo. Yeah, that is an Arizona, man. Happened in Phoenix. Okay. Uh a man was arrested after trying trying to ride a lawnmower through a Taco Bell at drive-thru at 2 a.m.

SPEAKER_04 13:03

Tennessee man. Tennessee guys.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

I know him. Uh a shirtless man chased a coyote with a pool noodle. Arizona, man. Arizona, man. That's right. We had pool noodles, coyotes. Coyotes, yeah. That was a giveaway. Uh mad live. A man attempted to pay his electric bill using bags of pennies dumped from a trailer. Tennessee, man. Gosh, you are on fire, dude. That one was kind of 50-50 for me, I guess. It was. It could have been both, but the trailer is well, yeah, yeah. There are more trailers in Tennessee, I guess, than Arizona. I can name a couple cities, but we'll and last what a man called police because his cat was looking at him suspiciously.

SPEAKER_04 13:44

Let's go. Tennessee. I'm gonna go Arizona Man.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

Austin Burke is a big score! Perfect score! Heck yes! He knows his he knows his Arizona man, he knows his Tennessee.

SPEAKER_04 13:57

Yeah, weed's legal here, so.

SPEAKER_01 14:00

Awesome. Well, best friends, thanks so much for joining us today. I'm gonna let you go head to Torreon. We'll do a little sound check there for tonight's show. And uh can't wait for the listener appreciation party tomorrow.

SPEAKER_04 14:12

Can't wait. Q Country95, the best. Love you guys so much.

SPEAKER_01 14:15

Heck yeah. Come on out to the house and meet Austin in person and uh see his amazing uh he's doing an intimate acoustic singer-songwriter show, and he'll be joined by Brandon Day. It's gonna be a lot of fun, best friends.

How To Join The Party

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Uh, I gotta get going as well. We have a busy day ahead of us and a busy day tomorrow. I hope to see you all at the house. If you want to sign up for the cornhole tournament, go ahead and do it at Chris Bennettcomedy.com. I also have some free entries to give away as well. Compliments of our amazing sponsors, Michaela Wealth Management, Brown Arusso Insurance, and Alabertos. Just message me on any of any of my socials and say, hey, I want free entry into that cornhole tournament, and I will grant you access. Uh for the morning brew, I've been Chris Bennett reminding you to be nice to yourself, be nice to others, and don't be jerk. Bye.