What happens when a winding road, a leap of faith, and a room full of musicians all point you toward the next chapter? On Takin’ A Walk Nashville, host Sarah Harralson sits down with Canadian Americana singer-songwriter Braden Lam during AmericanaFest in Nashville for a candid conversation about finding your voice, trusting the unexpected, and building a music career on your own terms.

Raised in Ontario and shaped creatively by his life in Nova Scotia, Braden brings a distinctive perspective to his songwriting—one grounded in folk influences, vivid storytelling, and a fiercely independent spirit. He reflects on the experiences that led him from homegrown beginnings to signing with Universal Music Group Canada and Island Records UK, while keeping his creative vision at the center of every decision. How do you grow within the music industry without giving up what makes your work yours? Braden shares what that balance looks like in practice.

His single “Coca-Hala” takes its name from a notoriously treacherous British Columbia highway, but the song is about more than a stretch of road. Sparked by a driving memory, it captures the uneasy, unpredictable turns that can change the way we see our lives—and the possibility of moving forward even when the way ahead feels uncertain. Braden also talks about the song’s Nova Scotia-filmed video and a planned series of videos exploring climate anxiety and the importance of protecting the natural world.

There’s a different kind of honesty in a performance captured as it happens. Braden discusses recording his forthcoming album live to analog tape with producer Josh Block, embracing the spontaneity, imperfections, and collective energy that emerge when musicians play together in the same room. What might a song reveal when there’s no chance to polish away every surprise? For Braden, that immediacy is part of the magic—and part of what makes the new music feel alive.

The conversation also follows the momentum around “Beautiful Neighborhoods,” Braden’s touring plans, and a dream he hopes to make real: playing the Grand Ole Opry. He remembers his first visit to Nashville, where friendship and creative community made the city feel welcoming, and shares why showing up and investing in yourself can matter as much as any big break.

For listeners who love emerging artists Nashville is discovering, thoughtful Nashville songwriters, and the stories behind an artist’s journey, this Nashville music podcast offers an intimate look at a musician finding his own road. It’s a conversation about creative independence, collaboration, and the people who help make a new place feel like home—while celebrating Nashville music and its lasting connection to artists from everywhere.

If you enjoy a country music podcast that makes room for Americana, honest songwriting, and meaningful conversations, take a walk with Sarah Harralson and Braden Lam. Takin’ A Walk Nashville brings you closer to the songs, decisions, and experiences behind the music—and to the emerging artists shaping what comes next.