Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with James Michael Hollenstein of North Myrtle Beach

We’re looking forward to introducing you to James Michael Hollenstein. Check out our conversation below.

Hi James Michael, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. One of the most recent moments that made me both laugh with joy and feel truly proud was being recognized with two incredible industry honors — the Bronze 2025 Radio Station/Podcast of the Year at the ISSA Music Awards, and third place for Radio Station of the Year at the Elite Music Awards Semi-Annual Worldwide Event.

Ever since I was a teenager, I dreamed of being on the radio. Never in a million years did I imagine I’d one day be winning awards for doing what I love. In January 2025, I finally found the courage to submit my show to the ISSA Awards. By May, I learned I was a finalist — and honestly, I already felt like a winner just being recognized among so many talented creators.

But when my name was actually called in Atlanta, I was overwhelmed with pride. In that moment, I realized I had finally stopped letting the struggles and pain of my past hold me back. I proved to myself that growth, healing, and persistence can turn dreams into reality — no matter how long it takes. That was a moment I’ll never forget.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is James Michael Hollenstein, and I’m the creator and host of “The Record Machine Show” — an award-winning radio program that celebrates music discovery and artist storytelling. With more than three decades behind the mic as a DJ and broadcaster, I’ve always believed radio is about more than just playing songs — it’s about connecting people through stories, emotion, and sound.

What makes The Record Machine Show special is its heart. Every episode features real conversations with both established and independent artists from around the world. We dive into the creative process, the struggles, and the victories that shape their music — giving listeners a front-row seat to the human side of the art.

After recently being honored with the Bronze 2025 Radio Station/Podcast of the Year at the ISSA Music Awards, I feel more inspired than ever to keep growing the show. My mission is simple: to give great artists a platform, to keep the stories behind the songs alive, and to remind listeners that music still has the power to connect us all.

On a personal note, I’m a proud husband to my beautiful wife Robyn, and the father of two amazing kids, Kelsey and Matthew. We’re also big cat lovers — sharing our home in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with our three furry family members. When I’m not on the air, you can usually find me in the kitchen — I love cooking and baking for family and friends.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe the bonds between people are often broken when love, trust, and communication fade. You can’t have a true connection without trust — it’s the foundation of every meaningful relationship. When someone doesn’t feel loved, valued, or heard, that’s when distance begins to grow. It’s not always about arguments or big moments — sometimes it’s simply the silence, the feeling that your voice no longer matters, that breaks the bond.

What restores those connections, though, is just as powerful — genuine love, patience, honesty, and the willingness to truly listen. When we take the time to show others that they’re loved, that their feelings matter, and that we’re present for them, those broken bonds can begin to heal. Love and understanding have a way of bringing people back together.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
It wasn’t until my late 40s that I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power. For most of my life, I carried the weight of childhood trauma — silently, because in the ’70s and ’80s you didn’t talk about those things. Back then, expressing pain was seen as weakness, so I buried it deep and tried to survive the only way I knew how.

But over time, that buried pain started showing up in other ways — through stress, health issues, and a constant feeling of unrest. In my mid to late 40s, I finally realized I couldn’t keep carrying it anymore. My wife and I made the decision to move to another state, hoping a change of scenery would bring peace — and it did more than that. It gave me a fresh start.

That move became the turning point where I began facing my past instead of running from it. I learned that healing doesn’t mean forgetting — it means transforming what once hurt you into something that fuels your growth. Today, I feel stronger, more grounded, and more at peace than ever before. The pain that once held me back has become the power that pushes me forward.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, I can honestly say the public version of me is the real me. But it wasn’t always that way. When I was younger, I carried a lot of pain from things I had never truly dealt with. I bottled up my emotions, convinced that showing what I felt would make me seem weak. That mindset caused me to distance myself from others, to hide behind a version of me that seemed fine on the outside — even when I was struggling on the inside.

As I got older, I realized that kind of hiding only keeps you trapped. The turning point came when I finally started talking about the things that had affected and hurt me. I discovered that sharing your story and your truth doesn’t make you weak — it sets you free. It allows you to connect with others in a deeper, more authentic way.

Now, I live my life with honesty and openness. The person people hear on the air, see online, or meet in person is truly who I am — someone who’s been through challenges, learned from them, and uses those experiences to grow. I no longer have to pretend or protect myself behind walls. The real me is finally the same person I show to the world — and that’s one of the most freeing feelings there is.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I can honestly say that I give my best no matter what — even if no one ever praised me for it. I’ve never done what I do for applause or recognition. Of course, being honored with awards like the ISSA or Elite Music Awards feels amazing and humbling, but those moments are just the icing on the cake. My real motivation comes from a genuine love for what I do — connecting with people, hearing their stories, and sharing their music with the world.

For me, it’s always been about the human connection behind the microphone. Every artist I interview has a story — not just about their music, but about their life, their struggles, their perseverance. Hearing those stories often reminds me how strong people can be. In fact, some of my guests have opened up about deeply personal things they’ve carried for years, and a few have even told me that our conversation helped them heal or see things differently. That means more to me than any trophy ever could.

I’ve also learned that listening to others’ journeys has helped me, too. Their courage to be vulnerable inspires me to keep being open about my own story — and that honesty has made me a better person and a better host.

So no, I don’t need praise to do my best. I pour my heart into everything I do because I love it, because it connects people, and because it makes a difference — even if no one’s watching. At the end of the day, fulfillment doesn’t come from being recognized; it comes from knowing you gave your all and stayed true to who you are.

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James Michael Hollenstein

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