Meet the host

Nick Lucey is a lifelong storyteller with a career that bridges journalism, television, publishing, photography, art, design, and community leadership. His journey began as a photojournalist and public affairs NCO in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he documented stories from Okinawa, Japan to Parris Island, South Carolina, honing his skills in the field. After his service, he continued shaping narratives as a copy editor of the Savannah Morning News, and later as an editor-at-large, travel writer, and photojournalist for Scuba Diving Magazine.

Nick’s storytelling reached a global audience as host, writer, and producer of the internationally-syndicated travel television series Into the Drink, which aired in more than 60 million homes worldwide on National Geographic International, HDNet, and Outside networks. His on-camera presence and behind-the-scenes production expertise gave viewers a unique, authentic look at destinations around the world.

Beyond journalism and television, Nick has built a career as a creative entrepreneur. As owner and creative director of the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina, he provides branding, graphic design, website development, social media management, photography, and videography solutions for small businesses and organizations with his wife, Tiffany. He currently assists the Blue Ridge Honor Flight and the Veterans Healing Farm with their marketing efforts.

He also previously owned and curated a fine art gallery in Colorado, showcasing his own photography and the work of other regional artists. There, he founded the Castle Rock Artist Cooperative, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting local artists, and served as vice chair of the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation. He has also been a board member of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Castle Rock Downtown Merchants Association, and the Help & Hope Center. His community service earned him recognition as Castle Rock’s Citizen of the Year in 2017.

At the Kudzu Project, Nick brings this rare combination of global perspective, creative storytelling, journalistic truth-seeking, and grassroots community interaction. His passion lies in capturing the real voices of a region—its people, its history, and its spirit—and sharing them in ways that resonate far beyond the South.

To reach him, you can email [email protected].