Exploration Local

The Saluda Grade Trail: Connecting Towns and Generations

Send us Fan Mail A railroad line that once climbed one of the steepest grades in the country is getting a second life and it might become one of the most memorable rail-

CRAFTED Bike & Gear Show: A Gathering of Bikes, Brands & Community

Send us Fan Mail Every bike has a story, and so do the people who build them. At the inaugural CRAFTED Bike & Gear Show at Cane Creek in Western North Carolina, I set ou

The Roadless Rule Is Under Threat: What It Means for North Carolina with Carla Fox, The Conservation Alliance

Send us Fan Mail 58 million acres of national forest land have stayed largely free of new road building for more than two decades and that protection is now under real p

More Than a Brewery: Trailside Brewing with David Schnitzer

Send us Fan Mail Trailside Brewing is one of those places that makes you rethink what a “local brewery” can be. In this episode, I sit down with David Schnitzer, CEO and

FIND Outdoors: Creating Experiences That Connect Us to Nature with Carolyn Ashworth

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you connect people to nature? For Carolyn Ashworth, President & CEO of FIND Outdoors, that connection is at the heart of their work.

700 Miles in 17 Days: Operation Carolina with Jonathan Milkovich

Send us Fan Mail 700 miles across North Carolina in 17 days sounds like an endurance headline. But after talking with Jonathan Milkovich, it’s the reason behind the run

Scars On The Mountain: The Story Behind The Story with Christopher Pike & Michael Foley

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with Executive Producer Michael Foley and Director Christopher Pike to talk about Scars on the Mountain, their feature docume

Rooted in Place: Cullowheegee Farms, Handmade Soap, and Building a Life Around the Land with Sarah & Eric Rehmann

Send us Fan Mail For Sarah and Eric Rehmann, a dream of a different kind of life eventually led them to the mountains of Western North Carolina — and to an eleven-acre p

The Future of the South Mountains with Andrew Kota

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Kota of Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina as they celebrate 30 years of protecting the landscapes of weste

Exploration Local: The Hidden Thread in Every Episode

Send us Fan Mail What started as a podcast about trails, towns, rivers, and destinations has become something deeper: an exploration of the relationship between people a

The Swannanoa Greenway: More Than a Trail | Bradley Spiegel & Carol Groben

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Bradley Spiegel (community planner at Equinox) and Carol Groben (Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa) to unpack the stor

Hatley Pointe: Rebuilding A North Carolina Ski Mountain Into A Year-Round Destination

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Deb Hatley shares the story behind rebuilding the former Wolf Ridge into Hatley Pointe — from major infrastructure challenges and leade

Destination McDowell: Connecting Trails, Towns, and the Blue Ridge Experience

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I am joined by Shannon Odom, executive director of the McDowell County Tourism Development Authority, to unpack why this corner of Weste

Born in Pisgah: The Cane Creek Story with Dorene O’Malley & Brent Graves

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a small North Carolina factory lets the trail—not the spec sheet—make the call? We sit down with Dorene O’Malley and Brent Graves from

South Yellow Mountain Preserve: Park Greer Reveals The Work And Wonder Behind Protecting A Rare Appalachian Preserve

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with South Yellow Mountain Preserve manager Park Greer to share the full, behind-the-scenes story: the surprise Earth Day don

Celebrating North Carolina's Great Trail State Day with Palmer McIntyre, Author of Trails & Treats

Send us Fan Mail I sit down with advocate and author Palmer McIntyre to explore how North Carolina grew into the Great Trail State—and why that identity now shapes healt

Five Towns, One Vision: Inside Visit Haywood’s 10-Year Destination Master Plan

Send us Fan Mail As outdoor tourism continues to grow, how can mountain communities plan with intention—not just for visitors, but for the residents, businesses, and nat

From Rails to Trails: The Ecusta Trail’s Role in Linking Communities and Outdoor Spaces

Send us Fan Mail Trail by trail, North Carolina is weaving a network of connections that transforms how we move, gather, and experience our communities. The Ecusta Trail

Wander Far, Explore Local: A New Kind of Adventure

Send us Fan Mail I'm redefining what adventure means after discovering the joy of exploring greenways and rail trails. From Colorado's Aspen-lined paths to Ken

Preserving Appalachia: The Power of Documentary Storytelling with Mountainwater Films

Send us Fan Mail Every region has its stories, but few places weave storytelling into their cultural fabric quite like Appalachia. Bob Peck, the visionary behind Mountai