From Coach to Counsel to Candidate: Jerry Smith Makes His Case to Be Hendersonville’s Next Mayor Listen now on Spotify Listen now on Apple Podcasts Jerry Smith has spent much of his life serving Hendersonville, North Carolina … from teaching…
No Passport Required: Mike Andress and the Exploration Local Podcast Listen now on Spotify Listen now on Apple Podcasts For the past six-plus years, Mike Andress has helped unearth the stories that make the Southern Appalachian Mountains so unique. As…
Creative Destruction: Nobel Laureate Peter Howitt on Innovation, Obsolescence, and the Future Listen now on Spotify Listen now on Apple Podcasts Nobel Prize-winning economist Peter Howitt joins the Kudzu Project for a fascinating conversation about technology, obsolescence, and the forces that shape…
Can a Political Outsider Change City Hall? Jeff Groh Thinks So. Jeff Groh has never held elected office, yet he believes that’s exactly what Hendersonville needs. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick sits down with the City Council candidate…
Speaking Broadly with Laurel Park Mayor Carey O’Cain Just west of Hendersonville sits the residential community of Laurel Park, North Carolina, a town known for its scenic beauty, tranquility, and rich history. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick sits…
Hope and Healing in Henderson County: A Conversation with Lauren Wilkie of Safelight In this latest episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Lauren Wilkie, CEO of Safelight, an organization that’s been helping survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault,…
Terrye Jacobs: Downtown Hendersonville in Full Bloom Each spring, Hendersonville, NC’s Main Street blossoms into a flowery wonderland during Garden Jubilee — one of the largest gardening shows in Western North Carolina and one of the biggest annual events in…
The Apple of Their Stepdad’s Eye: The Story of Holt Orchards There’s no such thing as sibling rivalry at Holt Orchards in Flat Rock, North Carolina … just a whole lot of teamwork and family pride. Brother-and-sister duo Tracy Cavagnaro and Todd…
From WNC to DC: Jeff Miller and the Blue Ridge Honor Flight The Blue Ridge Honor Flight didn’t start as a national movement. It began as a local effort to do something simple, and honestly, long overdue. The mission: Give…
Chuck Edwards: From the Golden Arches to the Halls of Congress In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick sits down with Congressman Chuck Edwards, a Western North Carolina native whose story begins right here in Henderson County. Born in Waynesville and…
Breaking Free: Tiffany Lucey on Escaping Control and Building a New Life If you live in Henderson County, North Carolina, chances are you’ve seen Tiffany Lucey before. As the Social Media Coordinator for the County, she’s become a familiar face…
From Addiction to Recovery: Daniel Conway’s Mission to Help Others Find Their Way Back Daniel Conway knows addiction from both sides of the table. Today, he serves as the Program Coordinator for Henderson County’s Adult Recovery Court (ARC), a program…
From Georgia Roots to Carolina Soil: Steve Pettis Dishes the Dirt In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with fellow Marine and podcaster Steve Pettis, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Henderson County. Steve helps…
Mayor Barbara Volk on Leadership, Longevity, and her Love of Hendersonville In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Barbara Volk, the first female and second longest-tenured mayor of Hendersonville, North Carolina, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, legacy, and…
In the In-Between: Loss, Listening, and Looking Ahead And now, a word from our host. In this short episode of the Kudzu Project, host Nick Lucey reflects on the quiet, unsettling space between Christmas and the New Year — the pause…
A Love Letter to Hendersonville: Interview with Bryan Byrd of Flat Rock Cinema Spent a little quality time with Bryan “B Squared” Byrd — the driving force behind Flat Rock Cinema and B2 Realty — and walked away reminded that some…
A Man on a Mission: My interview with Commander Bill Manofsky, USN (Ret.) In this episode of the Kudzu Project, we sit down with Commander Bill Manofsky, USN (Ret.), a remarkable figure whose life blends aviation, engineering, and quiet dedication in…
A Life of Service: My Conversation with Alan Yeck of the Veterans Healing Farm In this special episode, I sit down with Alan Yeck, Director of the Veterans Healing Farm in Mills River, N.C., to talk through a lifetime shaped…
Back to Basics: Fiscal Fundamentals & the Future of WNC In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Daniel Andreotta of Integrity Financial Group to talk about where the economy really stands—nationally, regionally, and right here in…
Missing But Not Forgotten: Major Bob Johnson & Henderson County’s MIA Heroes Retired Army Major Bob Johnson has made it his mission to ensure that Henderson County’s Missing in Action servicemembers from World War II are never lost to time.…
Taking a walk on Hendersonville’s Wild Side with Haunts of Hendo In the second installment of the Kudzu Project, host Nick Lucey sits down with Sebastian Badger of “Haunts of Hendo” for a walk through Hendersonville’s haunted history — from…