Good Grit Stories

Trevor Stockton has always known that he wanted to cook for a living. Trevor, the executive chef at the RT Lodge in Maryville, Tennessee, had a spell where he thought he might get a degree in business administration, but then he rediscovered his passion for food while he was in school. Words by Clair McLafferty Read by Nancy Peterson & Matt Godfrey Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription. -----Sponsored By Tupelo, Mississippi----- The power of possibility is yours on a weekend trip to Tupelo. Whether your family is looking for its next great adventure or the girls just need some time away, Tupelo’s unique attractions, restaurants, accommodating hotels, and shopping districts make it the perfect weekend getaway. Visit tupelo.net to create your custom Tupelo itinerary or experience one of the many preset itineraries under the EXPLORE tab. Still have questions? Visit the Ask-A-Local page to get a local’s perspective on how to discover the best of Tupelo. Tupelo, Mississippi: anything’s possible.

If you drive down Heathrow Drive in Florence, Alabama, you’ll eventually arrive at Shoals Christian School, my high school alma mater. Out front there’s a flagpole encircled by twenty-six stone pavers that are the color of sand. Each one is engraved with the name of a student from the school’s first graduating class, the class of 2000. One of those names is “Brett Trapp.” That used to be me. Words by B.T. Harman Read by B.T. Harman Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Annie F. Downs was a college student at the University of Georgia when she met Scotland for the first time. She boarded the plane for a mission trip with the Wesley Foundation, and when she got off the plane, she was home. That was in 2000. Eighteen years later, Scotland has tucked itself into Annie’s heart like a prayer that she keeps coming back to. See Scotland through her eyes as Annie takes Good Grit's Editor-in-Chief through through the Scottish highlands. Words by Ashley Locke Read by Nancy Peterson Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

We were so excited to send our Publisher, Sarah Cait Sawyer, to Dallas to meet Lecrae’s mother, Momma Ormie. She returned from her trip to tell us all about the amazing woman she was blessed to meet. Momma Ormie speaks candidly about being a single mother, finding herself again, and, of course, what Lecrae was like as a child, we can’t wait to share their conversation with you. So pull up a chair and join Sarah Cait and Momma Ormie for margaritas and guacamole... Words by Sarah Cait Sawyer Read by Nancy Peterson Cover Image by Justin Clemins Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

“Good is the enemy of smart creatives." "We try to create a culture that's optimizing for speed, failing fast, and growing at a rate that is outpacing the rest of the company.” These are statements from Barrett Stirling, the founding of Krewe, a 100 year company....now in their 5th year. Be inspired by an entrepreneur who isn't simply reacting to the ebbs and flows of business, but who is establishing a company truly built to last. Words by Amy C. Collins Read by Nancy Peterson Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Farmer, banker, business owner, and restaurateur Jack Paulin "Paul" Kennedy changed so many lives through his work and passion. Listen as award winning chef, David Bancroft explains how his grandfather inspires his work & life even today. Words by Ashley Locke Read by Matt Godfrey Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

“It was one of those life-changing moments when you realize something very precious is about to be lost, and has to be saved.” Listen to the incredible story of Columbia Tennessee’s W7thCo Gallery, and how one days window shopping turning into a project that saved a city's history. Words by Sarah Rowland Read by Nancy Peterson Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Dave Barnes is by no means a one trick pony. At the age of 40, he continues redefining what’s included in the price of admission. We took time with Dave to explore how he developed a career as a Nashville singer-songwriter into a combination music and comedy show that sells out clubs across the US. Words by Blake Ells Read by Matt Godfrey Original Theme Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Special Music Provided by Dave Barnes Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription. --- Brought to You by Non-Fiction Coffee --- Coffee can change lives. Non-Fiction Coffee believes this and it’s why they’ve partnered with small farmers all over the world like the Torre family farm in the mountains of Junin Peru. Find our how your purchase can change the world by visiting nonfiction.coffee/goodgrit.

Down a side road off Main Street in Sealy, Texas, population 6,500, just across the railroad tracks, sits an unassuming white clapboard building. At first glance, you might think it was an old church, which would be okay because the revival going on inside has just as much soul. Meet Cheryl Schulke, a Texas leatherworker whose style and work is turning heads in Texas and beyond. Words by Ginny Ellsworth Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Yelp not, lest ye be Yelped! Are websites like Yelp & shows like American Idol creating an overly judgmental generation. Dr. Jeffrey Heine talks about the danger of living a life as a 1-Star reviewer. Words by Dr. Jeffrey Heine Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription. --- Brought to You by Non-Fiction Coffee --- Coffee can change lives. Non-Fiction Coffee believes this and it’s why they’ve partnered with small farmers all over the world like the Torre family farm in the mountains of Junin Peru. Find our how your purchase can change the world by visiting nonfiction.coffee/goodgrit.

On the outskirts of the unincorporated community of Seale, between Alabama and Georgia, a world-renowned artist lives on his granddaddy’s farm with his mother and an old friend. His name is Butch Anthony, and his unique craft has been centered on recycling everything he can by turning into highly sought-after art. Words by Holly Moore Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

The simple yet extraordinary story about how a piece of glass found its way from the coast of Spain all the way to a table top in Nashville, TN. Words by Emily McMackin Read by Nancy Peterson Cover Photo by Stephanie Davis Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Can gathering around the table and sharing a meal really change the lives of at risk teens? Find out as we sit down with the Teen Dream Center in Nashville, TN. Words by Leah Gwin Read by Nancy Peterson Cover Photo by Abigail Bobo Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription. --- Brought to You by Non-Fiction Coffee --- Coffee can change lives. Non-Fiction Coffee believes this and it’s why they’ve partnered with small farmers all over the world like the Torre family farm in the mountains of Junin Peru. Find our how your purchase can change the world by visiting nonfiction.coffee/goodgrit. --- Brought to You by Tupelo, MS --- Spring is right around the corner, and if you’re looking to load up the car and explore the South start by visiting Tupelo, Mississippi. See the birthplace of the King, snap a photo on The Natchez Trace Parkway, and fall in love with the Tupelo food scene. Go to tupelo.net to plan your next trip and take advantage of one of the many preset itineraries under the EXPLORE tab. Tupelo, Mississippi: anything’s possible.

Caleb Chancey, Good Grit Magazine's Creative Director & father of 5, takes on the popular myth that, "Once you have kids, your traveling days are over!" Listen as he shares the tips & tricks of traveling with a family while explore the city of Chattanooga, TN. Words by Caleb Chancey Read by Matt Godfrey Cover Photo by Caleb Chancey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Inside one of the largest heroine-dealing neighborhoods in the country, there are children who need to be help. Meet pioneer Benjamin Wills' and take a walk around his neighborhood. Words by Ben Sciacca Read by Matt Godfrey Cover Photo by Jonathan Wade Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Annie F. Down explores the nostalgia and truth behind her favorite holiday, in her favorite place, in her favorite season. Words by Annie F. Downs Read by Annie F. Downs Cover Photo by Wes Frazer Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Read this story and many more at goodgritmag.com & use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription. --- Brought to You by Non-Fiction Coffee --- Coffee can change lives. Non-Fiction Coffee believes this and it’s why they’ve partnered with small farmers all over the world like the Torre family farm in the mountains of Junin Peru. Find our how your purchase can change the world by visiting nonfiction.coffee/goodgrit.

Learn how Victor Lytvinenko & Sarah Yarborough are bring back American manufacturing to their home state of North Carolina, and looking damn fine while doing it. Words by Kate Patton Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins

What does home really mean? Is it the house where you spent your childhood? Is it the place you lay your head at night? Annie F. Downs shares what it means to her and how this realization has changed how she sees herself. Words by Annie F. Downs Read by Annie F. Downs Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by Cary Norton

Why would anyone surrender their technology for a week of unplugged "group therapy"? Find out why as Laura Quick, CEO of Good Grit, takes us on a journey of discovering weakness and seeing God's strength. Words by Laura Quick Read by Laura Quick Introduction by Annie F. Downs Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Use Promo Code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription to Good Grit Magazine: https://service.qfie.com/GoodGrit/clsGGNewOrdFormSelect.asp?strAspViewport=lg

Discover the record label Single Lock Records, located directly in the heart of the Shoals. These sleepy North Alabama towns were once the hit-producing capital of the world before everything moved further north to Nashville. However, Single Lock Records is looking to change that. Words by Caroline Nabors Rosen Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins --- Brought to You by Non-Fiction Coffee --- Coffee can change lives. Non-Fiction Coffee believes this and it’s why they’ve partnered with small farmers all over the world like the Torre family farm in the mountains of Junin Peru. Find our how your purchase can change the world by visiting nonfiction.coffee/goodgrit.

James Beard Award Winning Chef Nina Compton recounts her story of coming to New Orleans from St. Lucia, how creole culture has affected her cooking style, and how foods we think are so different are actually more similar. Words by Will Farley Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins

The fast-growing movie industry in the South has created an additional industry—costume design. Find out how four friends broke into the industry and created names for themselves. Words by Madison Griggs Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by James Acomb

No one imagines elephants in Tennessee, but for a certain sanctuary in the lower-middle portion of the state, elephants aren’t imaginary. Discover the story of The Elephant Sanctuary of Hohenwald, Tennessee and how Carol Buckley and Scott Blais created a haven of safety for former performing elephants. Words by Cara Clark Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins

Founded by Chattanooga chef Erik Niel and his wife Amanda, the Scenic City Supper Club hosts four pop-up dinner each year to promote camaraderie amongst local chefs while also giving them a platform to share the food they love to make. Words by Jennifer Stewart Kornegay Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins

Thanksgiving Special: Discover the story of Pardis Stitt, wife of James Beard Award winning restaurateur Frank Stitt, of Birmingham, Alabama. From sustainable food practices to owning a restaurant, Pardis has been through it all. Words by Shana Bakhshi & Sarah Pitts Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by JP Davis Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your orde

#1 Billboard Classical composer Chad Lawson is known for his work on Lore (a popular podcast and tv show), The Walking Dead, and countless films & commercials. In this intimate piece by Dr. Jeffrey Heine, we look into the monastic & spiritual practice of waiting that influences Lawson’s signature sounds, and in so doing moves the listener to a place of peace. Words by Dr. Jeffrey Heine Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Special Music by Chad Lawson Cover Photo by Bryan Johnson Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code LISTEN to get $10 off your subscription.

Blues guitarist Kent Duchaine is dedicated to keeping the legacy of Robert Johnson alive. Find out why… and where he got Leadbessie, the steel guitar that’s been by his side for four decades. Words by Buddy Roberts Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by Peyton Hollis Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your orde

This Santa Rosa Beach nonprofit focuses on global-sustainability projects, bringing clean water, education, and medicine to the people of Burkina Faso, Africa. Through partnerships with other nonprofits and passionate volunteers, The Sonder Project is making a difference in countless lives. For more information, visit: http://www.thesonderproject.org Words by Anna Grace Usury Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your order

Sometimes, what you set out to do isn’t what you should be doing. Or what you want to do. And that’s just the case with Brittany Shields. The interior designer tells the story of how her brand, Penny Shields, came to be. Words by Ginny Ellsworth Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your orde

Good Grit Stories present a special excerpt from Erin & Ben Napier’s book “Make Something Good Today”. Words by Erin & Ben Napier Read by Erin & Ben Napier Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover by James Acomb Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your order Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from MAKE SOMETHING GOOD TODAY by Erin Napier and Ben Napier, read by the authors. Copyright © 2018 by Erin Napier and Ben Napier. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

The Guerreros family brought uncommon oystering techniques to the Southeast when they opened their oyster farm in Louisiana’s Caminada Bay. Find out why their oysters are meatier and where they get their unique flavor. Words by Meghan Holmes Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your order.

Discover Athens, GA native Thomas Wages. Thomas is a renaissance man, a jack-of-all-trades, and more importantly, the purveyor of an upscale menswear boutique in Atlanta, GA. Words by Ashley Hurst Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your orde

A story that seems unreal, over-the-top, and fit for a Lifetime movie: Held hostage in her own home for two years, threatened daily with the harm or death of her children, and forced to marry against her will, Tahiera Monique Brown was trapped by overwhelming despair and helplessness. Eventually, the realization struck that the only way to save herself and her children was through a suicide attempt that resulted in a coma, followed by temporary amnesia. Even so, Tahiera’s message isn’t one of fear, but of strength and freedom. Words by Ashley Hurst Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by Rob Culpepper Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your order.

North Alabama artists The Secret Sisters thought their music career had ended after a legal battle with their manager left them bankrupt. But thanks to the support and encouragement of long-time friend Brandi Carlile, these sisters have made an exciting comeback, earning a Grammy nomination for their third album. Words by Blake Ells Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Special Music by The Secret Sisters Cover Photo by Clark Brewer Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code SECRET to get the issue this story was published in for free.

Money never changed hands, so the need wasn’t financial. And he’s never considered himself to be a great artist, so it wasn’t ego. So what could inspire a gifted artist to create copies of famous masterpieces and then donate them to unsuspecting museums? Words by Paige Townley Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by Stephanie Davis & Austin Richardson Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get $10 off your order.

Leah Chase is a culinary legend in New Orleans. For over 75 years, she has run Dooky Chase’s restaurant on Orleans Avenue. The restaurant is not just an institution serving some of the best gumbo and fried chicken in New Orleans, but was also a major meeting place for civil rights activists and intellectuals during the 1960s. Chase, now 93, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from James Beard Foundation in 2016. As Told By Leah Chase Words by Bill Spratling Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by Stephanie Davis & Austin Richardson Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get 20% off your order.

It has been said that one of the key contributors to poverty is not a lack money, but a lack of opportunity. Hear the story of James and Sarah Sasson, founders of The Kula Project, who believe that if organizations can invest in the ideas and businesses of people living in poverty, together, they can change the future for generations to come. Words by Isaac Ray Norris Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by The Kula Project Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get 20% off your order.

Discover the story of Rachel, a former sex worker who, because of Meredith Rabalais and her ministry team, now lives a completely different life. The pair met one fateful night in a strip club, and since then have leaned on each other for support. Words by Cara D. Clark Read by Nancy Peterson Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Art by Chris Koelle Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: https://goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get 20% off your order.

Shelly Brown, wife of musician Zac Brown, shares with us the story of Gunner Foxx--friend, fellow musician, and third-generation hat maker. Foxx ultimately found the music scene unfulfilling, but he had a long and difficult road through addiction and recovery before he finally found the life he had been searching for. Words by Shelly Brown Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: https://goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get 20% off your order.

Birmingham native Andrew Collins has learned that life often takes you in unexpected directions. When his late wife was diagnosed with cancer, she implored him to continue living life after she passed. Taking that request to heart,he opened The Collins, one of Birmingham’s most popular bars. Words by Paige Townley Read by Matt Godfrey Original Music by Kyle Carpenter & Wilder Adkins Cover Photo by Cary Norton Subscribe to Good Grit Magazine: https://goodgritmag.com/subscribe Use the promo code GRITTY to get 20% off your order.

We are overjoyed to announce the launch of the Good Grit Stories Podcast. This is a weekly podcast showcasing stories of hope, compassion, and the perseverance of the human spirit. Each story is published by Good Grit Magazine and read by one of our amazing audio readers. We hope you enjoy the Good Grit Stories Podcast!