Season 1

The word community is, without question, central to the human experience. It conveys a sense of togetherness and positivity. Being a part of a community can make us feel as though we are a part of something greater than ourse...

Damascus is a small town with a big claim to fame: Seven nationally known trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail intersect within the town’s borders. The Damascus lifestyle is adventurous and ...

I recently had the privilege of attending the 4th Annual Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina, where 600 outdoor industry businesses, conservationists, public land managers, development experts, nonprofit & ...

The Hickory Nut Gorge is a magnificent jewel in the mountains of Western North Carolina. This 14-mile-long canyon cuts a picturesque pass exposing spectacular sheer granite cliffs, and contains an abundance of undisturbed for...

Nearly 10.2 million Americans today consider themselves digital nomads—people who travel and explore while working—and that number is only expected to go up. In fact, when COVID started to wreak havoc in 2020, the number of d...

It’s no surprise the last couple of years have been a challenge for small businesses. And it’s likely that we all know someone whose life and business has been adversely affected by the pandemic. We’ve seen longtime businesse...

In this episode, I head to Banner Elk, NC to visit with Tracy Tilley & Sheri Moretz for a behind the scenes look at the iconic Mast General Store . We take a trip back in time and learn how the Mast's down-home way of doing b...

Our public lands are among the most visited in the Southern Blue Ridge. The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests receive over 10 million visitors annually, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park a...

In this episode, I sit down with Kieran Roe, Executive Director of Conserving Carolina and we talk about how this organization works to protect & restore natural resources, as well as inspire others to love and care for our n...

We have a special episode in store for you today as we focus in on our Top 5 Most Listened To Episodes of 2021…but with a little different twist. This year I hit rewind and invited our guests back on to bring us up to speed w...

The mountains of North Carolina offer some unexpected treats for skiers and snowboarders. Snowmaking capabilities are outstanding and allow for a constant supply of fresh snow and great conditions. They emphasize family skiin...

Gorges State Park, located about halfway between Cashiers and Brevard, is set in the midst of plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls and a high concentration of rare species. The Park receives over 80 inch...

In 1975, 80% of the clothes Americans purchased were made in the USA, but in the 1980’s, the decline in American made apparel began. By the 1990’s almost no apparel was manufactured in the USA. Western North Carolina fell vic...

The Blue Ridge Mountains are synonymous with beauty, adventure, ruggedness, exploration, & discovery. They are filled with iconic trails and highways, and home to a rich biodiversity. They contain the most incredible waterfal...

The Green River Game Lands contains just over 18,000 acres of wilderness and lies along the Blue Ridge Escarpment in Henderson and Polk counties. It is home to the Green River which cuts a rugged chasm as it descends the Blue...

In this episode I sit down with the G5 Trail Collective, US Forest Service, People on the Move for Old Fort, and the Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation to discuss plans to expand the trail system in the Grandfather ...

The 100-Mile Fonta Flora State Trail will connect Morganton to Asheville with hiking and biking trails along the Catawba River, creeks, around Lake James, through the mountains and into our charming downtowns like Morganton, ...

There are over 1.6 million acres of national forests in Western North Carolina. That means there are FAR more places to explore than just what’s turning up in your social media feed…So, with a little planning ahead, you just ...

The First Peak of the Blue Ridge is more than a just day-trip or overnight destination. Here you can explore for days and check out historic downtowns, incredible arts and culture, delicious local restaurants, amazing outdoor...

Welcome to Part 2 of the Exploring North Carolina Lookout Towers with Peter Barr. If you missed Part 1, I really encourage you to check out that episode where Peter and I discuss the history and backstory of Forest Service lo...

In the early 20th century, forestry agencies constructed dozens of lookout structures atop western North Carolina’s mountains as the backbone of a fire detection system. Many of these lookouts survive in North Carolina today,...

French Broad Adventures is the closest Asheville zipline /canopy tour and rafting package to Asheville, Johnson City and Greenville SC. The whitewater rafting section of the French Broad River is only 24 miles away from Ashev...

When people think of the western North Carolina mountains they tend to think of natural resources like waterfalls, amazing vistas, world class mountain biking, climbing, and fishing, quaint adventure towns, thousands of miles...

Pete Ripmaster has always considered himself an athlete, but it wasn’t until much later in his life that he discovered running. When his mom passed away, Pete was in a real bad place personally, so he packed up everything he ...