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…
Sewing a Movement: Georgia Bonesteel and the American Quilt Revival Long before YouTube tutorials and Instagram reels, Georgia Bonesteel was teaching America how to make quilts — one stitch at a time. Georgia helped spark a nationwide quilting revival through her PBS…
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…
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…
The Story Behind the Story: Mary Davis Gage of “Getting to Know Hendo” In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with storyteller Mary Davis Gage, co-host of the Getting to Know Hendo podcast. Mary has a gift for spinning a…
The Home Front: Conversation with Hendersonville City Council Member Gina Baxter In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Hendersonville City Council Member Gina Baxter to discuss her path to public service, her love of the region and…
Guadalcanal Diary: Marine Private Luther Rhodes Finally Heading Home More than eight decades after he was killed in action on Guadalcanal and declared MIA during World War II, the remains of Marine Corps Private Luther Rhodes are finally coming home…
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…
Food is Love: An interview with Stacy Fields of Mini Batch Bakery In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Stacy Fields, owner of Mini Batch Bakery in Henderson County, NC, to talk about why food is love — and how…
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…
The Power of Family: Turning Survival into Strength with Cheryl Stuller In this episode, I sit down with Cheryl Stuller, owner of Stuller Power Solutions in Hendersonville, North Carolina, for an honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, perseverance, and rebuilding…
A Community in Alignment: Dr. Jenn Hensley on Growth, Wellness & Leadership You heard it here first: Dr. Jennifer Hensley is running for Mayor of Hendersonville, N.C. The local chiropractor has spent more than two decades helping people feel more aligned…
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…
Episode 1: Jay Egolf on Listening and Learning in Henderson County, NC In this debut episode of The Kudzu Project, host Nick Lucey sits down with Jay Egolf, Henderson County Commissioner and local business leader, for a candid conversation about…