Podcasts about French Broad River

River in North Carolina and Tennessee, United States

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French Broad River

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Best podcasts about French Broad River

Latest podcast episodes about French Broad River

Outdoor Minimalist
176. One Simple Way to Protect Watersheds: Prevent Stormwater Runoff with Renee Fortner

Outdoor Minimalist

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 33:05


When it comes to protecting our rivers and waterways, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of environmental challenges. But what if one of the most powerful solutions started in your backyard? In episode 176 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we explore one simple yet incredibly impactful way to protect local watersheds: preventing stormwater runoff.I'm joined by Renee Fortner, the Director of Programs for RiverLink, a nonprofit working to protect and restore the French Broad River in Western North Carolina. Growing up along the New River in North Carolina, she developed a deep love for the outdoors that led her to pursue a biology degree at UNC-Asheville and a master's in biology from East Carolina University. With professional certifications in stormwater management and rain garden design, Renee has dedicated her career to protecting the rivers and waterways of Western North Carolina. Through our conversation today, Renee explains how unchecked runoff—from rooftops, parking lots, and roads—can pollute local waterways, worsen flooding, and harm both wildlife and recreation opportunities. You'll hear how climate change intensifies these issues and get actionable steps individuals, homeowners, and businesses can take to make a difference in their communities.INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ORDER THE BOOK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LISTENER SURVEY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--------------------RiverLinkWebsite: https://riverlink.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/river.link/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiOZfkWSbKgnrflpKe42EcQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverlink

Rednecks Rising
(Ep 35) The Collapse of Critical Infrastructure ft. Alice

Rednecks Rising

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 72:13


For our second episode of the year, we spend our time (maybe predictably?) on a soapbox almost entirely about Hurricane Helene. Chelsea sits down with our friend Alice to vent about the social infrastructure that was already failing prior to the catastrophe caused by the storm, and which was almost entirely wiped out by the storm's impact. Alice shares the government's recently announced plan to surface mine the French Broad River in order to restore access to I-40 as soon as possible, and we roast the American dependency on personal motor vehicles.You can support this podcast at www.ko-fi.com/rednecksrising; for all the places you can find us, check out our linktree.If you want to share your story on the show, get in touch with us at rednecksrising@gmail.comREFERENCES FOR TODAY'S SHOW:Britannica: Hurricane HeleneUSA Today: Helene was one of the deadliest storms in recent history. How it devastated the SoutheastIPCC Report, March 2023FCC Helene DashboardNC Health News: Rural water utilities in North Carolina are still reeling from HeleneAP News: Millions still without power from Helene as flooding continues

The River Radius Podcast
Part 2, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, River Rescue

The River Radius Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 87:22


River runners became paramount for river rescue in many parts of Appalachia when Hurricane Helene inflated the rivers to record levels. People were stranded in buildings, bridges blew out, and houses were swept downriver. This live episode at the America Outdoors Conference hosts 3 river runners who immediately engaged in the rescue of people stranded by the floods, and, the rescue of the rivers from their own floods. They tell the stories of their work beginning at daybreak on day 1 of Hurricane Helene.  GUESTSKorey HamptonMitch HamptonFrench Broad AdventuresSteven FoyNantahala Outdoor Center RELEVANT LINKS AND CONTENTUSA Today articles about Korey and Mitch running rescuesUSA TodayHeroes & heartbreak: 36 hours of hell during Helene's historic floodsUSA TodayFrom rescue to recovery:The grim task in flood ravaged WNCNew York Times, print and podcast story about Mr TiptonNY TimesFor hours he clung to a tree. But none came.The Daily Podcast (NY Times)60 Minutes: Families in WNC rebuild in wake of Helene: "This is home"Read:  Hurricane Helene SPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusaRiver Management Society2025 Symposium@rivermgtsocietyFB River Management Society Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Defining Hospitality Podcast
Rebuilding Hospitality - Joe Balcken and Shelton Steele - Defining Hospitality - Episode # 186

Defining Hospitality Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 52:40


Hospitality is key, especially under hardships and destruction, something Joe Balcken and Shelton Steele, Co-Owners of the Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins in Asheville, North Carolina are passionate about. They discuss their unique urban campground hotel and the challenges they've faced. The conversation explores the definition of hospitality, the building of their flood-resilient property, and the impact of a recent historic flood on their business and the local community. The duo share their entrepreneurial journey, the human spirit of resilience, and the importance of tourism in revitalizing Asheville post-disaster. The episode is a testament to perseverance, community, and the spirit of hospitality in the face of adversity.Takeaways: Incorporate local culture and unique features of the area into the business, as shown by Joe and Shelton's emphasis on Asheville's outdoor personality and countercultural vibe.Build emotional connections with guests by highlighting the distinct aspects and personal stories associated with the property.Ensure infrastructure is resilient to natural disasters by adhering to local zoning and building laws.Utilize existing local networks and connections with other businesses to offer comprehensive guest experiences, whether extreme activities for the adventurous or more relaxed, outdoor-curious activities.Foster strong community bonds and be a part of local recovery efforts, which can also lead to supportive relationships and collaborations.Make every guest feel special and connected to the place by providing immersive and memorable experiences, such as customized murals that resonate with the property's theme.Promote group activities and communal spaces to enhance guest interactions and create memorable experiences. For example, having shared spaces like campfires and communal dining areas.Quote of the Show: “ It's my backyard and I wanted to share it with everyone and create an experience that aligned with my version of Asheville.” - Shelton Steele“ It's part of our mission to connect people with the outdoor experience, whether they be one of those people that's outdoor active or someone that's curious about it.” - Joe BalckenLinks:Joe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbalcken/ Shelton's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelton-steele-39521566/ Website: https://www.wrongwaycampground.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrongwaycampground/ Shout Outs:0:59 - All Forward Outdoors https://www.allforwardoutdoors.com/ 1:24 - Independent Lodging Congress https://ilcongress.com/ 7:33 - Pleb Winery https://www.pleburbanwinery.com/ 13:49 - French Broad River https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Broad_River 15:37 - Starman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starman_(film) 16:26 - Amy Michaelson Kelly https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-michaelson-kelly-a547a717/ 37:51 - Hurricane Katrina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina 39:58 - Meg Gutowski https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-gutowski-09b33972/ 45:43 - Wedge Brewery https://wedgebrewing.com/ 46:00 - Biltmore Estate https://www.biltmore.com/ 49:34 - Western Carolina University https://www.wcu.edu/ 

The Upful LIFE Podcast
082: REBUILDING APPALACHIA - Hurricane Helene [w/ LEAH SONG of Rising Appalachia, FYFE, JOSH BLAKE of GFE / iamAVL, WREN from The NOHM Co., BRIAN GOOD - Asheville Music Hall]

The Upful LIFE Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 170:58


Episode 082 offers a bit of a different trip than the usual Upful LIFE Podcast. This program is focused entirely on Asheville NC & surrouding Appalachia in the wake of unimaginable destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene in late September. The Asheville music and arts community is a beacon of light and creativity, full of ambitious artisans, dreamers n' doers whom I admire. The good folks of AVL and Appalachia need a whole lotta love, positive energy, prayers, and most importantly DONATIONS to continue their long, arduous process of recovery and rebuilding.  This podcast presents four conversations between five different people rooted down in Appalachia, connected to the local music/arts community, and who each lived their own harrowing version of this same nightmare.  It is an honor and privilege to offer a platform for these special souls to tell their storm stories, and ruminate on the realities of the recovery journey. Tune in for emotional, inspirational reflections from Leah Song (Rising Appalachia) and Andy Fyfe, Josh Blake of GFE and iamAVL, Wren Ashley from The Nohm Collective, and Brian Good of Asheville Music Hall. If you are moved by the contents of this programming, please consider a donation to any of the efforts linked below. 0:00 - ep.082 preview 4:00 - iamAVL - Music Industry Relief Fund 6:15 - Come Together 12/6 benefit concert for Asheville Music Hall 7:50 - The Upful Update 10:00 - why I'm doing a pod about Hurricane Helene / Appalachia 17:20 - shoutout Katie Flanagan - AVL superhero 20:00 - introducing LEAH SONG and ANDY FYFE 23:00 - conversation w/ Leah, Andy [37 min] 1:01:40 - introducing JOSH BLAKE 1:03:30 - conversation w/ Josh [46 min] 1:50:00 - introducing WREN from The Nohm Co. 1:52:20 - conversation w/ Wren [25 min] 2:17:00 -  introducing BRIAN GOOD of Asheville Music Hall 2:20:15 - conversation w/ Brian [19 min] 2:39:15 - afterglow, Vibe Junkie JAMZ On September 27, 2024 the remnants of the Category 4 Hurricane Helene turned Asheville, N.C., into a post-apocalyptic landscape: fallen trees blocking streets; roads turned into creek beds; power lines down everywhere; city water lines destroyed; bridges torn apart. The region's two rivers carried whole houses downstream. What buildings that remain in the lower areas of Buncombe County are larded with a foot-deep layer of toxic mud. Many people died.  The storm was prodigious. Official reports note that 2,300 structures were destroyed completely or made uninhabitable. That's homes, stores, and other businesses. The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina was closed along its entire length, and its director said that some 10,000 trees had fallen into the roadway. Parts of the parkway were covered in landslide mud, while in other places the pavement had washed away entirely. In several locations, the North Fork Swannanoa River carved new courses, leaving at least one bridge over dry land and the water flowing a hundred yards to the west.   Along the French Broad River south of downtown Asheville, the River Arts District was completely wiped out. The narrow, 14-mile long Hickory Nut Gorge, which drops about 1,800 feet between the town of Gerton and Lake Lure, much of the road is now reduced to a rocky creek bed.  Estimates for regional damages are currently at $53 billion.   Vibe Junkie JAMZ "Tomorrow's Cost" - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and Friends "Everybody Hurts" (REM cover) - Al Green   Vetted resources and references Grassroots Aid Partnership   iamAVL - Music Industry Relief Fund   Rising Appalachia [several fundraising options]   Flood Back Art    Katie Flanagan [AVL superhero]  donate here   Art Garden AVL   Asheville Music Hall - Joe Marcinek's Dead Funk Summit 12/6   More resources via ArtsAVL   EMAIL the SHOW PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Theme Song: "Mazel Tov"- CALVIN VALENTINE

Artsville
Photojournalist Michael Freas Documents Disaster, Destruction, and Hope in Asheville

Artsville

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 71:50 Transcription Available


When natural disasters strike, they don't just destroy homes; they can devastate entire communities, livelihoods, and creative legacies. In this special edition of Art World Horror Stories, Asheville-based photographer Michael Freas shares the harrowing tale of Hurricane Helene's destruction, which left hundreds of local artists without studios or income. Having survived multiple hurricanes, Michael offers a unique perspective on the resilience required to rebuild after such catastrophes. As a freelance photographer for ArtsvilleUSA, Michael and his images have played a crucial role in documenting the storm's devastation of the River Arts District (RAD), a low-lying creative hub located along the banks of the French Broad River. Read ArtsvilleUSA's report on the RAD here. For more information, please visit https://www.artsvilleusa.com/photojournalist-michael-freas

Daily Signal News
What Life Is Like in North Carolina After Hurricane Helene

Daily Signal News

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 23:09


LLife is on pause in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene devastated the city, located about 25 miles south of Asheville. Most people have not returned to work, and in some instances, there is no workplace to return to, because floodwaters swept entire buildings from their foundations.  Hendersonville resident Alexander Potter told The Daily Signal neighbors have been the first line of defense in his community as people swung into action to ensure the elderly were taken care of and no one went hungry.  Alexander anticipates the initial cleanup will take months. After spending several days on the ground talking with locals like Alexander and seeing the devastation firsthand, The Daily Signal's Tim Kennedy says it will likely take years for the community to rebuild.  Hurricane Helene really was the perfect storm dumping about 20 inches of rain in mountainous communities in the southeast and causing rivers, like the French Broad River in Asheville, North Carolina, to flood and become a deadly force, washing away roads, bridges, and buildings.  Kennedy joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to share the stories of people such as Dianne Messer, whose entire mobile home community was affected by the storm, and to discuss how the locals view the federal government's response to the hurricane. 

Southeastern Fly
91. Fly Fishing the French Broad

Southeastern Fly

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 85:48


UPDATE: We recorded this episode well before Hurricane Helene was even forming in the Gulf. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we recorded a second interview with Matthew so he could update us on the conditions in the area around the French Broad. In today's episode, this interview comes first, followed by the original one.In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Matthew Carter, owner of Mountain Yonder Fly Fishing, as he shares his deep expertise on fishing the French Broad River. Matthew takes us on a journey through the diverse sections of the river, highlighting the best techniques for targeting smallmouth bass in various water conditions.Key Highlights:Fly Fishing Techniques: Matthew delves into his approach to fishing in high-turbidity waters, recommending aggressive popper techniques and large streamers to push water and attract fish. He emphasizes the importance of the fish's lateral line in locating prey.Summertime Fishing Strategies: For clear, skinny water in the summer, Matthew advises subtlety, with long leaders and dead-drifting poppers. His patience-focused technique of letting the fly sit before any movement ensures a stealthy approach.Favorite Fly Patterns: From the Foxy Bonefish Clouser to wooly buggers, Matthew shares his top fly patterns for smallmouth bass, along with tips on how to tie flies that mimic the erratic behavior of prey in the water.Gear Talk: Matthew recommends using a Saltwater 6 rod for its power and sensitivity, as well as glass rods for their action. He also highlights the importance of investing in high-quality fly lines to improve casting performance.Trolling Techniques: For slow and deep sections of the river, Matthew suggests trolling with streamers and poppers, offering a balanced approach to fishing different water types.This episode is packed with insights into fishing the French Broad River, from gear selection to technique refinements. Whether you're new to fly fishing or a seasoned angler, Matthew's practical advice is sure to improve your success on the water.Be sure to subscribe and follow Southeastern Fly for more expert fishing advice. Share this episode with your fishing buddies, and don't forget to check out Matthew's guide service at Mountain Yonder Fly Fishing!Produced by NOVA Media

Ronnie McBrayer
The Backwater Blues: God Was Not in the Storm

Ronnie McBrayer

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 27:45


"Hurricanes are the result of low-pressure systems moving across warm tropical wasters. Earthquakes are caused by the normal release of energy from the movement of tectonic plates. Sickness and disease are as old as the ecosystem that sustains humanity, and we are frail beings. Evil people - with twisted minds and monstrous intentions - will always live among us. This is the natural world - the natural state of affairs. To ignore it or to explain it away is a travesty that only compounds suffering, it does not alleviate it. And as utterly shocking as this may sound, in the face of this suffering, don't look to the heavens to find God! Look to your suffering neighbors! "Because God 'was not in the storm,' if I might borrow a line from the prophet Elijah. God is in and with the storm-blown, now homeless family in Steinhatchee, Florida. God didn't cause the rising waters - God is in the evacuees who lost everything to the flooding of the French Broad River. God is in that child who cannot escape the abuse of her of stepfather. God is in innocent children dying in today's wars. Don't look for God up there or out there - look for God down here. Don't look for God in your answer-all theology books - look for God in the question marks and confusion. Don't look for God in the explanations of religion. Look for God in suffering people. Because that's where Jesus said God would be - Christ would be there in the 'least of these.' An act of God is not some disastrous calamity - no matter what your insurance policy says. You are an act of God - you can be - when in hope and faith you act to lovingly heal the world." (See Psalm 19 and Luke 13.)    

Wake Up, Asheville!
Tuesday | July 30, 2024

Wake Up, Asheville!

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 3:55


Today's newscast includes stories about elevated bacteria in the French Broad River, updated crime statistics in Asheville, an appeal to deny an expansion of Mission Hospital, a conversation with members of the local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace and a call for more swimming options in Asheville.

Exploration Local
Revitalizing the French Broad River: Green Infrastructure, Stormwater Strategies, and Community Action with Renee Fortner

Exploration Local

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 58:07 Transcription Available


Send us a Text Message.Can green infrastructure save our rivers? Join us as we explore the French Broad River's transformation with Renee Fortner, Watershed Resources Manager at RiverLink. Discover RiverLink's efforts in turning neglected riverfronts into community spaces and using innovative stormwater management strategies. Learn about projects like the Woodfin Greenway, Taylor's Wave, and Gateway Park in Asheville's River Arts District.Despite threats from industrial pollution and stormwater runoff, the resurgence of freshwater mussels offers hope. We'll discuss sedimentation's impact on aquatic life, the Clean Water Act, and local policies vital for river health. Get practical stormwater management tips and learn about RiverLink's Water Rich program for rain gardens and rain barrels. Hear how community partnerships are essential for the French Broad River's preservation. Don't miss this inspiring conversation on collective action and environmental stewardship.Mike AndressHost, Exploration Local828-551-9065mike@explorationlocal.comPodcast WebsiteFacebookInstagram: explorationlocal

It's all Fine and Danjee
Episode 218: From Mica Mines to River Rides!

It's all Fine and Danjee

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 30:22


Tune in as we explore the mica mines, revisit charming Burnsville, kayak the scenic French Broad River, and let our dogs splash in Hominy Creek!  Links:    Help support ‘It's All Fine and Danjee'! https://cash.app/$fineanddanjee   Podcast phone number  407-490-3899   Podcast email  fineanddanjee@gmail.com   Our Florida Airbnb. Book a stay here. 2 queens~2 twins~quiet~central. https://airbnb.com/h/thelynwoodlounge   Fine and Danjee-Website https://www.fineanddanjee.com   Fine and Danjee-YouTube https://bit.ly/youtube-fineanddanjee   Help support ‘It's All Fine and Danjee'! https://www.patreon.com/fineanddanjee  

Speaking of Travel®
French Broad River Academy Provides An Experiential Educational Program For Middle School Students

Speaking of Travel®

Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 49:46


Did you know middle school students who explored nature and took part in outdoor activities like climbing, canoeing, skiing and hiking, displayed improvements in social skills, resilience, and creativity?Situated on the banks of the French Broad River in Asheville, NC, is a school that provides middle-schoolers with an educational experience that is academically rigorous, outdoor-centric, and ventures far beyond the classroom.French Broad River Academy (FBRA) is a middle school (6-8 grade), founded in 2012, with strong academics, experiential education, and international travel. Co-Founder and Executive Director, Will Yeiser, along with Tricia Chan, Girls Program Director, and 8th graders Riley and Noah, share how the two single-gender campuses, one for girls and one for boys, combines a carefully-crafted academic curriculum with relevant, purposeful learning experiences beyond the campus to become confident, compassionate leaders.The team explains how the community and culture inside of FBRA is set up to challenge and engage students to explore their own strengths and weaknesses. And how they learn to take calculated risks and push their limits in a safe and supportive environment.  A must listen only on Speaking of Travel! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Exploration Local
Venturing Through the French Broad Paddle Trail with MountainTrue's Jack Henderson

Exploration Local

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 51:18 Transcription Available


The French Broad is home to more than 40 access points and 20 riverside campsites managed by federal, state, and local governments; non-profits; businesses and volunteers.In this episode I sit down with Jack Henderson from Mountain True and we talk in depth about the French Broad Paddle Trail. From the tranquil banks of Rosman to the distant shores of Douglas Lake, Tennessee, we unveil the geographical tale of the French Broad River.But our adventure doesn't end with geography. We delve into the heart of conservation, where collaboration is the key. From the efforts of the French Broad Riverkeeper program to the tireless work of local partners, we'll uncover the passion driving the stewardship of this natural wonder.And speaking of passion, get ready to hear about the upcoming enhancements to river access points and camping opportunities that await eager outdoor enthusiasts. With the combined efforts of local outfitters, federal agencies, and nonprofits, the French Broad River isn't just a destination—it's a community-driven experience like no other.LINKSFrench Broad Paddle TrailMountain TrueConserving CarolinaMade by Mountains Outdoor Equity FundFrench Broad River KeepersMike AndressHost, Exploration Local828-551-9065mike@explorationlocal.comPodcast WebsiteFacebookInstagram: explorationlocal

The Final Straw Radio
Imprisoned Anarchist Toby Shone + Updates from Argentinian Antifascist

The Final Straw Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2024 80:33


Imprisoned Anarchist Toby Shone This week, we're sharing audio from anarchist prisoner in the UK, Toby Shone. Toby was arrested in November of 2020 after a car chase and during 5 simultaneous raids on residences in the Forest of Dean outside of Bristol. Toby was accused of being responsible for the insurrectionary counter-info anarchist site 325.NoState.Net as well as participation in the Informal Anarchist Federation – International Revolutionary Front, authoring communiques on behalf of IAF-IRF & the Earth Liberation Front, funding terrorism and being involved in the sabotage of a cellphone tower and having information on explosives. This raid and the case were brought in conjunction with the attempted linking of a diverse array of UK anarchist projects with terrorist charges via Operation Adream, which Toby understands to be conducted in conjunction with intelligence services from the Netherlands and German. The court failed to convict Toby Shone on these charges and only succeeded in convicting him of having and distributing hallucinagens and got 3 years, 9 months. Toby was then re-arressted while out on probation for having a cellphone and attending a prisoner support event. You'll hear two audios from Toby, first him explaining his conviction and situation during his first incarceration, and then you'll hear Toby recently answer a few of our questions and updating listeners about his recent re-imprisonment in HMP Garth, far away from his supporters in the Bristol area. Much thanks to Brighton Anarchist Black Cross for supporting Toby and this conversation. More information at https://brightonabc.org.uk. Brighton ABC and Tobys supporters have noted that he's been receiving pretty spotty treatment for his cancer and not getting a healthy vegan diet and so has lost some weight of recent. Tobys mail, including letters and books haven't been making their way to him at HMP Garth. It's requested that supporters consider writing Toby a postcard, letter or email to help him through these next 8 months or so before his scheduled release and to inform his crew at forestcase (at) riseup.net of the mailing so they have a record in case it doesn't get to Toby. Notably at that website you'll see information about an upcoming International Anti-Repression Gathering happening in Brighton from March 30-31st. There's information about signing up for the event at Brighton ABC's website. Argentinian Antifascist on Resisting Milei and Red Gym, La Cultura Del Barrio Then, we were able to get an interview with Nicholas of Buenos Aires, Argentina to catch up on what's been happening since the presidential election of libertarian capitalist Javier Milei. Milei's presidentialcampaign was highlighted by his claims to subvert the status quo of Peronism - a socially liberal form of democracy with decades of complicated contexts in the 20th century. He's claimed to be an “anarcho-capitalist,” although his policies since election have been nothing short of classic neoliberalism: cuts to social welfare, hamstringing of labor union's rights to strike and picket, and doing away with common regulations of capital. While Americans have sought to understand Milei by comparing him to former U.S. President Trump, Nicholas outlines how this comparison falls short. We also talk about the role of organized anti-fascists in expecting continued clashes with the police, the social space & boxing gym La Cultura Del Barrio, and how the call for a general strike by mainstream labor unions in Argentina largely fell flat. NACLA article on Millei: https://nacla.org/argentina-shock-therapy-resistance-and-role-left LCDB on: instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laculturadelbarrio.oficial/ facebook https://www.facebook.com/lacultura.delbarrio/ LCDB Rolling Stone article (in spanish): https://es.rollingstone.com/la-cultura-del-barrio-documental-arg/ A couple of brief announcements… Andrew Bushnell Memorial in Asheville For folks who hear this in time, you're invited to mourn the death of Aaron Bushnell, anarchist and US soldier who self-immolated on February 25th in front of the Israeli Embassy in DC in protest of the US complicity in and arming of the Israeli genocidal war on Palestinians. This gathering will happen at 6:30pm on Sunday, February 3rd by the Craven Street Bridge over the French Broad River in Asheville. Kevin “Rashid” Johnson in dire health situation Rashid, minister of Defense of the Intercommunal Black Panther Party has surpassed the 70th day of his hunger strike demanding transfer to a lower security medical facility near where he can receive comprehensive treatment for his prostate cancer and is suffering dire medical consequences as his organs begin to shut down. You can hear an interview we did with Shupavu wa Kirima of the IRBPP on the earlier stages of this hunger strike in our January 21st, 2024 episode at our website, which is also transcribed there. There is a sample script and some numbers to call in our show notes for folks who can call the Virginia government to advocate for Rashid's life. They are asking folks to keep calling, urgently. Here's a sample script and numbers to use and to share/post etc: "I am calling with grave concern about the status of Kevin 'Rashid' Johnson who is participating in the Red Onion State Prison hunger strike. He must be allowed to remain close to the medical facility where he accesses treatment for his prostate cancer and congestive heart failure. Please move him back to Sussex I or Buckingham. Additionally, the use of solitary confinement in the state of Virginia is cruel and illegal. I am demanding an end to the use of this practice inside your prisons. We are watching the strike and we will not stop calling until the striker's demands are met. Thank you." The contact info is as follows: VADOC Director, Chadwick S Dotson *NEW NUMBER*Phone: (804) 674-3000 (then hit “0” for staff) Email: Chadwick.Dotson@vadoc.virginia.gov VADOC Interstate Compact Liaison, Kyle Rosch Phone: (804) 887-8404 Email: kyle.rosch@vadoc.virginia.gov VADOC, Chief of Corrections Operations, David Robinson Phone: (804) 887-8078 Email: david.robinson@vadoc.virginia.gov Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin Phone: (804) 786-2211 Email: glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov Mumia Abu-Jamal deteriorating health Mumia underwent a double bypass heart surgery on April 19, 2021. His doctor prescribed a cardiac diet and regular exercise for recovery. To date, almost 3 years later, the prison has failed to provide Mumia the required cardiac diet and opportunities for exercise. More on this, including places you can donate to his legal and medical defense fund and who to express your concern for Mumia's life and safety can be found at PrisonRadio.Org Please call and write these prison officials.  1) Superintendent, Bernadette Mason: 570-773-2158 Email: bmason@pa.gov SCI Mahanoy PA Department of Corrections, 301 Grey Line Drive, Frackville, PA  17931    2) Secretary of PA Dept of Corrections, Laurel Harry: 717-728-4109 Email: ra-crpadocsecretary@pa.gov Message this form: py-forms-prod.powerappsportals.us/DOCContactUs/ 1920 Technology Parkway | Mechanicsburg, PA 17050. 3) Acting Deputy Secretary Eastern Region, Morris Houser 717- 728-4122 ext. 4123 Email: mhouser@pa.gov       Sample Script (can also use for letters and emails):  I am calling because Mumia Abu-Jamal #AM 8335 and other incarcerated elders diagnosed with heart disease are being prevented by the prison from getting what they medically require for their health. Mumia Abu-Jamal #AM 8335 had double bypass heart surgery. He needs: 1) A CARDIAC DIET three times a day that includes fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, legumes, and limited sugar, salt, and highly processed foods;   2) He must have access to do sufficient cardiac rehab every day.   Thank You. Cc: your letter to info@prisonradio.org    https://bit.ly/mumia-fund        https://www.bit.ly/mumia-action Leonard Peltier Must Be Freed! Elder political prisoner of Lakota, Dakota and Anishinaabe descent, Leonard Peltier, has been in prison for roughly 47 years and at nearly 80 years old after this long behind bars, his physical health is ailing. His supporters are asking people of conscience to contact US senators and representatives to appeal for medical care for his eyesight and other medical needs, including access to a wheelchair. There are lots of backgrounds on his case, but you also can hear a February 17th, 2019 interview we conducted with Paulette D'Auteuil on his case. SAMPLE SCRIPT “Hello, I'm calling about immediate medical care needed for Leonard Peltier, a 79 year-old federal prisoner. His prisoner number is 89637- 132, and he's in USP Coleman 1. We need Sen/Rep _____'s assistance. 1) First, Leonard must see an eye specialist without further delay, as his loss of vision poses serious risk of him falling, and he depends on other prisoners to perform basic life activities. 2) Second, Leonard is in constant pain and has multiple severe health conditions requiring immediate and ongoing medical care. I am asking (Sen/Rep) to request an immediate transfer for Leonard Peltier to the Federal Medical Prison Facility in Rochester Minnesota (FCI Rochester) where he can get treatment for all of his medical conditions. I also urge the Sen/Rep to advocate for elder Leonard Peltier's release so he can receive healthcare outside of prison and be with loved ones and community. Aside from Leonard Peltier being innocent of any crime, immediate release is proper and humane given his advanced age and medical conditions. Thank You." . ... . .. Featured Track: Shut 'Em Down (instrumental) by LL Cool J

Paddling Adventures Radio
Episode 418: Updated French Broad River website; Can Georgia landowners restrict water access?; SUPing above 19,000 feet

Paddling Adventures Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 77:15


Episode 418 ~ February 22, 2024 Podcast Info / Topics There is an updated website for the French Broad River that has a ton of useful information for paddlers They are still at it in Georgia. Now they are questioning whether landowners can restrict access to the water due to a judge’s ruling Going to […]

Paddling Adventures Radio
Episode 418: Updated French Broad River website; Can Georgia landowners restrict water access?; SUPing above 19,000 feet

Paddling Adventures Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 77:15


Episode 418 ~ February 22, 2024 Podcast Info / Topics There is an updated website for the French Broad River that has a ton of useful information for paddlers They are still at it in Georgia. Now they are questioning whether landowners can restrict access to the water due to a judge’s ruling Going to […]

Stories-A History of Appalachia, One Story at a Time
Haunted Waters: The Tragic Tale of the Siren's Song in the French Broad River

Stories-A History of Appalachia, One Story at a Time

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2023 10:28


A tale was told by the Cherokee of a siren that inhabited the deep whirlpools of the French Broad River in western North Carolina. These sirens were said to be demons that would lure men to their deaths in the river. Today we tell the folktale of a young man from Asheville who encountered that siren.Be sure to subscribe to the Stories of Appalachia podcast so you don't miss any of our stories.Catch us on YouTube and TikTok @storiesofappalaciha and on Instagram @storyappalachia for short videos about this place we call home.Thanks for listening!This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5553692/advertisement

None of This is Real
167- The French Broad River Siren, Dismal Falls, and Transylvania County

None of This is Real

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 67:15


You may be too spooked to go catfish hunting or exploring in the forest after this episode, but you'll have the beginning of a great musical and some sweet bird sounds.Theme song written & performed by Miquela DeLeón and Gil Davis.

Arcane Carolinas
AC 00083 - The Siren of the French Broad River

Arcane Carolinas

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2023 25:25


Join Charlie and Michael as they discuss a very old--perhaps even ancient--tale of a grim and inviting spirit said to reside in the depths of the French Broad River in the mountains of Western North Carolina!  Also, if you're going to Carolina Fear Fest, discount code "ArcaneCFF" is good for 10% off weekend passes through May 5th, 2023.    Suicide Prevention & Crisis Information:  If you or someone you care about is experiencing a crisis, call or text 988 (United States) to be connected to a crisis counselor. If you or someone you care about is a United States armed forces veteran and experiencing a crisis, call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone or send a text message to 838255 to connect with a Veterans Affairs responder. For more information and additional resources, visit the National Institute of Mental Health.   Research Links: Carolina Haints: an awesome podcast produced by a fellow ConCarolinas regular! North Carolina Ghosts: Stories, Legends, Folklore: amazing site run by a fantastically friendly expert on these and other stories! Mountain Lore: Tales from Appalachia: a site with tons of information! The Pine Barrens Institute: a site with tons of information about a wide variety of cryptids! Weird Carolinas (Amazon.com) Myths and Legends of Our Own Lands (Project Gutenberg) Southern and Western Magazine & Review (Internet Archive)   Upcoming Live Recordings Carolina Fear Fest (May 26-28th, 2023 - Raleigh, NC) ConCarolinas (June 2nd-4th, 2023 - Charlotte, NC) ConGregate (July 14th-16th, 2023 - Winston-Salem, NC)   Follow us! AC Monthly Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr   Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Better Fishing with 2 Bald Biologists
Muskellunge on the French Broad River: The Curse of the White Squirrel

Better Fishing with 2 Bald Biologists

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 61:38


Join Corey and Ben as they discuss the highs and lows of fishing for Muskie on the French Broad River. They discuss Muskie biology and fishing techniques with Tim Boyer, president of the Western NC Muskie Club and Scott Loftis, NCWRC Warmwater Fisheries Research Coordinator for the Mountain Region.

Carolina Outdoors
Fly-Fishing The East Fork Of The French Broad River

Carolina Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 8:36


(From 1.28.23, Segment 2) A few months ago, Wes Lawson had clients on the East Fork of the French Broad River.  This multiple stream near Rosman, NC, has gone from a secret stream for locals to one of the state's most popular delayed harvest streams.  Over 17,000 trout are stocked into this creek that flows just east of Pisgah National Forest.  This segment of the show has Wes giving Bill advice for an upcoming trip.  Remember this is western NC in winter.  Find out what Wes says about a fly fishing trip when it is cold.

Dogman Encounters Radio
It's a Nice Area… When Dogmen Aren't Hanging Around - Dogman Encounters Episode 436

Dogman Encounters Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2022 29:39


Tonight's guest, Jeff, lives in a small town that the French Broad River runs through, as well as the Appalachian Trail. It has a population of about 600 people. Normally, small towns like that are quiet places, where rarely does anything eventful happen. As you'll hear that doesn't apply to the town where Jeff lives. It has a reputation for being a place where strange things happen. An occurrence that fits, nicely, into that category is the Dogman encounter Jeff had there. We hope you'll listen to him share the details of it, on tonight's show.Premium memberships are now available! If you'd like to be able to listen to the show without ads and have full access to premium content, please go to https://DogmanEncounters.com/Podcast to find out how to become a premium member.If you'd like to help support the show, by buying your own Dogman Encounters t-shirt, sweatshirt, tank top, or coffee mug, please visit the Dogman Encounters Show Store, by going to https://Dogman-Encounters.MyShopify.com If you've had a Dogman encounter and would like to speak with me about it, whether you'd like to keep your encounter confidential or be interviewed on a show, please go to https://DogmanEncounters.com and submit a report. If you've had a Sasquatch sighting and would like to be a guest on My Bigfoot Sighting, please go to https://MyBigfootSighting.com and submit a report. I produce 3 other podcasts. Below, you'll find links to them.My Bigfoot Sighting... https://spreaker.page.link/xT7zh6zWsnCDaoVa7Bigfoot Eyewitness Radio... https://spreaker.page.link/WbtSccQm92TKBskT8My Paranormal Experience... https://youtube.com/channel/UCyxVu8_b4yxLHcZ1fNPmRkAThanks for listening!

Five four two and the Blue
The sheriff called Jessie James (8-25)

Five four two and the Blue

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2022 40:54


8- 25. JESSE JAMES BAILEY- lawman extraordinaire who served as sheriff of two different North Carolina Countries in the 1920s. Former Detective for Southern Railway, a celebrated humorist and storyteller, and a feared moonshine still wrecker. Bailey worked in several capacities for the railroad for 52 years until his retirement at age 70 in 1958. He took two leaves of absence of two years each in 1920 and 1928 when he was elected sheriff first of Madison and then Buncombe County, NC. The only lawman in the state to serve as sheriff in two counties. Bailey was born near Bailey's Bend on the French Broad River in Madison County. He was a farm boy until his telegrapher's job at Bailey Station in the Knoxville, Tenn., division of Southern Railway in 1906. At the age of 8, he decided he would be a lawman and did. https://anchor.fm/felonfile/episodes/The-sheriff-called-Jessie-James-8-25-e1p7kfk --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/felonfile/message

Hot & Deadly
Out of the Swamp

Hot & Deadly

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022 38:24


Outside Asheville, NC, a young mother is stabbed four times in the chest and left for dead in the French Broad River. But she lives long enough to seek out help -- and leave a cryptic clue for detectives. Who could have done such a thing -- and why?For even more true crime from ID, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/hotanddeadly to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Real Estate News Radio with Rowena Patton
Learn about floating down the French Broad River with Tyler and Will Show 602

Real Estate News Radio with Rowena Patton

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 54:04


Rowena keeps it light and fun while she shares various questions that come in from potential buyers moving to the mountains, and folks thinking of selling their home, as well as bonus podcasts on The Real Estate News Radio Show with Rowena Patton. The podcast comprises 10yrs of the broadcast show, as well as bonus programs and mini podcasts.If you like to listen to live shows to call in with questions - or win the trivia - get the link to listen anywhere at www.RealEstateNewsRadio.com - broadcast live at 10:05am EST every Saturday since 2011.Follow our podcast for bonus short pods throughout the week, with short 5-10 minute pods that will explain the things that people ask about most frequently. More info? Search at www.MountainHomeHunt.com or hit CONTACT US on that site.Like to call instead? 828.333.4483For an Allstar Experience, See all of our customer programs www.AllstarCertifiedPrograms.com

The Carolina Haints Podcast
5.13 The Siren of the French Broad

The Carolina Haints Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 13:26


This episode begins with a real-life Mummy and ends with a terrifying tale about the Siren of the French Broad River.   Additional vocal talents by Gigi Galdo.  

Artsville
The Village Potters: Dedicated to Clay in The River Arts District with Sarah Wells Rolland

Artsville

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 60:59


As a bustling artist enclave found on the banks of the French Broad River, Asheville's River Arts District (RAD) pulses with an artistic energy born of diverse media and collaboration. Located in the RAD, The Village Potters Clay Center is a vibrant creative community dedicated to the exploration of clay. Today's guest is Owner, Founder, and Resident Potter, Sarah Wells Rolland, who works from her studio at The Village Potters to produce highly sought-after ceramic artworks that are sold in galleries across the US. In this episode, Sarah shares what it takes to become a professional ceramic artist, why she decided to create a shared collective and gallery space in The Village Potters, and how she helps others “find their voice in clay.” We also discuss why Asheville is integral to the success of ‘The Village', how the RAD's artists have come together to govern, support, and manage the district as a community, and where Sarah suggests first-time visitors to the RAD start their journey, as well as her tips for those looking to expand their collection of ceramic art. Join us today to learn more from RAD ambassador and clay artist extraordinaire, Sarah Wells Rolland! Key Points From This Episode: Louise and Daryl introduce The Village Potters, the River Arts District, and Marquee. Get a glimpse into Sarah's 30-year career as a professional potter. Balancing creative and entrepreneurial energy to become a professional potter. Why Sarah describes pottery as a life's work and how long it takes to master the craft. Fine art versus functional art and some insight into Sarah's artistic journey. Learn more about the past and present of ‘The Village' and why Sarah founded it. How the important educational aspects of The Village help to make great potters.  Why Sarah attributes the success of The Village to the women who work there. Honoring the resident potters of The Village: Christine Henry, Judi Harwood, Julia Mann, Katie Messersmith, Lori Theriault, and Ruth Rutkowsky. Why Sarah believes that Asheville and the RAD are integral to The Village's success. Discover the unique history, layout, and collaborative spirit of the RAD. How artists come together as a community to market, manage, and govern the RAD. Sarah shares her tips for those visiting Asheville for the first time: take your time! Her advice for those looking to collect pottery and ceramics: buy what you love. The hallmarks of great pottery, from technical execution to originality. Where to buy The Village pottery if you can't visit the RAD in person. Growth, development, and gentrification in Asheville and how it impacts Sarah's practice. Hear Sarah's recommendations for dining out in Asheville, including 12 Bones BBQ. Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Sarah Wells Rolland on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-rolland-00a0522a/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-rolland-00a0522a/) Sarah Wells Rolland on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/SarahWellsRolland (https://www.facebook.com/SarahWellsRolland) Sarah Wells Rolland Pottery — http://rollandpottery.com/ (http://rollandpottery.com/) River Arts District (RAD) — https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/ (https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/) The Village Potters — https://thevillagepotters.com/ (https://thevillagepotters.com/) Crazy Green Studios — https://www.crazygreenstudios.com/ (https://www.crazygreenstudios.com/) RAD Studio Stroll — https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/events/category/studio-stroll/ (https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/events/category/studio-stroll/) Salsas — https://www.salsasnc.com/ (https://www.salsasnc.com/) Mela Indian Restaurant — https://melaasheville.com/ (https://melaasheville.com/) 12 Bones — https://www.12bones.com/ (https://www.12bones.com/) Scott “Sourdough” Power — https://www.notarealartist.com/ (https://www.notarealartist.com/) Louise Glickman — https://www.louiseglickman.com/ (https://www.louiseglickman.com/) Daryl Slaton —...

Brewery Adventures
Episode 31 - Zillicoah Beer Co

Brewery Adventures

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 54:45


Joel Geier joins me once again, this time to discuss Woodfin, NC's Zillicoah Beer Co. Located just 2 miles north of downtown Asheville, Zillicoah has quickly made a name for having amazing views of the French Broad River and producing great lagers and sour beers. You can follow Joel @BreweryTravels. Brewery Adventures is brought to you by Rivalry Brews. Use code "MMAMcKinney" on RivalryBrews.com for 10% off your order. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Matt and Michele Outdoors
Destination: French Broad River Festival

Matt and Michele Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 53:13


Over 20 years ago, a group of boaters thought they would have a raft race and enjoy some music with some friends. Everyone had a good time, so they did it again, and then again. Friends told friends, and it grew into the festival we all know and love today.In this episode: - Matt & Michele give their thoughts, highlights and impressions.- Guest: Sid Border, Co-Founder/Co-Organizer of the FBRF- Guest: Tyler Donaldson with French Broad AdventuresTo find out more about the Festival, and to plan on being at the next one, visit https://frenchbroadriverfestival.com/To book a trip with French Broad Adventures, visit https://www.frenchbroadadventures.com/BONUS: - Matt & Michele also conducted numerous backstage interviews with Artists at the Festival on behalf of Buzz Radio Asheville. Check out podcasts HERE.

The River Radius Podcast
Sh!%%y Shuttles

The River Radius Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 49:58


River shuttles are as important to a river trip as the boat.  And sometimes shuttles are easy and when they aren't easy, they can be horrible.  This episode is a set of four stories from The River Radius listeners about their sh!%%y shuttle experiences.   RIVERS FROM THIS EPISODEUsumacinta River, MexicoGreen River, UtahNew River, West VirginiaGauley River, West VirginiaGauley FestRio Grande River, TexasColorado River, Grand Canyon, ArizonaMancos River, ColoradoJohn Day River, OregonDeschutes River, OregonFeather River, CaliforniaFeather FestFrench Broad River, North Carolina RIVER RADIUS PODCASTWebsiteFacebookInstagramEmail

Shine
Water Stewardship: Create Necessary Alliances in Leadership and Business with Greg Koch

Shine

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 114:55


How we take care of water is a necessity. Water is a finite resource- we only have the amount that we have. Water is life. We are 70% water. Water is spiritual, it's healing, it's cooling. It's beautiful. And in this interview, I speak with my friend and colleague, and water protector and sustainability expert Greg Koch, about the nexus between food, water energy, and our consumption habits and limits on our resources. For example, how many greenhouse gases can we put in the atmosphere? How much debt can we tax our economy? How many limits can our planet take regarding tin, aluminum, Tesla batteries before it's too much? We speak to our current environmental crisis of climate change. We bring attention to the topic of water stewardship and how we can all be more environmentally responsible as individuals and businesses. In this episode, you will learn that all water problems are knowable, solvable and affordable. We actually have enough technology and data to be able to solve for the water problems, but it requires that we set up a conscious and inclusive environment for water. Greg Koch is a globally recognized leader and technical director at Environmental resource management (ERM? with over 100 countries in water resource management, community and stakeholder engagement in conflict resolution. Greg also excels in sustainability strategy, sustainable development, adaptation and resilience and related policy and finance. SHINE Links: Leading from Wholeness Executive Coaching Leading from Wholeness Learning and Development Resources Shine: Ignite Your Inner Game to Lead Consciously at Work and in the World by Carley Hauck Contact Carley Hauck     Resources mentioned in this episode: NY Times Article - “A Hotter future is certain: How hot is up to us” NY Times Article - “How much hotter is your hometown than when you were born?” Creating 21st Century Abundance through Public Policy Innovation: Moving Beyond Business as Usual by Greg Koch and William Sarni Greg Koch on LinkedIn     The Imperfect Shownotes   Carley Hauck 00:01   Hi, this is Carley Hauck. Welcome to another episode of the SHINE podcast. This podcast is all about the intersection of three things, conscious, inclusive leadership, the recipe for high performing teams and awareness practices. I am offering three episodes a month. Before I tell you about our topic today, can you go over to Apple podcasts and hit the subscribe button. That way you don't miss any of our incredible interviews. And if you love this episode, which I imagine you will, please write a positive review, or share it with friends and colleagues on your favorite social media channel. It really helps. Thank you.   Our topic for today is water stewardship: create necessary alliances with leaders and business with Greg Koch.   One of the reasons I began this podcast in May of 2019 was due to all the research I was conducting for my new book, Shine: Ignite Your Inner Game to Lead Consciously at Work and in the World. The podcast came about due to my desire to bring education, awareness, and then to inspire calls of action to be the change as individuals and business so that we together could solve some of our greatest challenges. The biggest challenge that has been a large motivator for me personally and the reason why I wrote my book was climate change.   I had been following the science for many years, and as a result began teaching on the intersection of leadership and spirituality, and consciousness so that we could be more mindful of our consumption. And I brought that into so many of the work that I've been doing with different leaders and businesses.   So this episode is about water stewardship. As our world becomes warmer, July was the hottest month in recorded history. Glaciers are melting, our oceans are becoming hotter. And all the marine life is struggling to flourish.   How we take care of water is a necessity. Water is a finite resource we have the amount that we have. Water is life. We are 70% water. Water, spiritual, it's healing, it's cooling. It's beautiful. And in this interview, I speak with my friend and colleague, also water protector. I'll call him Greg Koch, about the nexus between food, water energy, and our consumption habits and limits on our resources. For example, how many greenhouse gases can we put in the atmosphere? How much debt can we tax our economy? How many limits can our planet take regarding tin, aluminum, Tesla batteries before it's too much? We speak to our current environmental crisis of climate change. And the most recent IPCC climate report, which is the sixth report. We bring attention to the topic of water stewardship, and how we can all be more responsible and how we consume how to take responsibility as individuals and businesses. In this episode, you will learn that all water problems are knowable, solvable and affordable.   We actually have enough technology and data to be able to solve for the water problems, but it requires that we set up a conscious and inclusive environment for water. Greg Koch is a globally recognized leader with over 100 countries in water resource management, community and stakeholder engagement in conflict resolution. Greg also excels in sustainability strategy, sustainable development, adaptation and resilience and related policy and finance. He is a lead consultant at ERM. We all have the responsibility and opportunity to be the change. Listen to one of my favorite SHINE podcast episodes ever.   Carley Hauck 05:10   Hi, everyone. Thank you for joining the SHINE podcast. I feel delighted to be here today with my new friend and colleague, Greg Koch, thank you so much for joining.   Thank you. Thanks for having me.   Well, I know that we have a lot of really wonderful things to speak about. And one of the first questions I'd like to ask you is, how would you define conscious and inclusive leadership?   Greg Koch 05:39   I first say that it has become paramount to my work. And I feel a hallmark of the success that I've had, and that success has always been collective with communities and inclusivity. But first a bit of history. I'm originally from Germany, an educated and trained engineer. And so for the first 10 years of my professional life, things were very direct, very quantitative, very objective, I had the opportunity to leverage those skills, and to begin to have a better understanding of water issues around the world, and water being so local, and so emotional, and I don't mean emotional in a pejorative sense, emotional baggage, not that there's anything wrong with even that. But what I mean is we people are tied across all cultures to water in ways that are fundamentally different from lots of other sustainability issues.   We're tied to it spiritually, even religiously. Everyone needs it, everyone has a stake in it. And you could see where I'm leading is that when you step into a watershed, a community, for whatever reason, you're motivated to work on water solutions. You realize, at some point, hopefully, early on, that all that water is being shared by everyone, and that everyone needs to be a part of understanding the challenges and being a part of the solution. And so inclusive, is a fundamental prerequisite, of trying to address serious water challenges. And so I have grown.   That was a beautiful answer.   Thank you. So where does consciousness come in? And I'd say obvious, well, not perhaps not obviously. But they go hand in hand, in that, when water is stressed, we could say this for a lot of stressful or challenging situations. In addition to including everyone, because you need to solve the problem, and this was the hardest thing for me to do. And that is to be conscious of their perspective. And their perspective, their demands, and have to be accepted. Because no one's using water for the sake of using water, you use water because of how fundamental it is to your life. So whether you're a mother, or a corporation, or the environment, you have to put your mind in, in a way that appreciates the perspective everyone has. And accepted at face, you don't have to agree with it. But if you're not consciously trying to understand those different perspectives, and help people understand yours, then you don't have the first step towards inclusion.   Inclusion isn't just bringing everyone together in the same room or the same field, particularly around a challenging topic, and then maybe more so for water. You have to understand the different perspectives and accept every one of them at face value before you can take that inclusive environment and try to work towards a solution.   Carley Hauck 09:40   Thank you. Well, and Greg, one of the reasons that I was so excited to have you on the podcast to share your experience and your passion and your expertise around water is because as you're saying, you know we all need it, to survive. It's fundamental. I mean, we're 70% water, right. And it is a way that we are all gathering, so to speak, to use the same resource. And when we're looking at the greater picture, which is people and planet, and that's our motivation for how we're leading for how businesses, hopefully solving for some of these larger problems that are impacting people and planet in a more negative way.   That's, that's really leading with more consciousness. And I know that you're based in Atlanta. And just to kind of bring this to some of the things you were speaking to in 2019, I went through Al Gore's Climate Reality leadership training, which happened to be in Atlanta. And what was so wonderful about that training, and the trainings that he does is that he really focuses on the region or the area of where that training is.   So at the time, I was living in the Bay Area of California, but I came to Atlanta, and there were 1200 of us from all over the world from all over, you know, different parts of the country. But the speakers, and the focus was on that area of Georgia, of Florida, a little bit of North Carolina, and what was going to be impacted in those areas by climate change, because it's different all around the country. Like right now, I have relocated to North Carolina, where there's a lot of water right now, you know, we've had different storms come through.   And I'm actually temporarily in Oregon, in Bend, Oregon. And it has been so incredibly dry. And it was in the high 90s to 100 degrees for the first few weeks that I was out here. And just recognizing how people are adapting and struggling with the difficulty of that.   And so that kind of brings us, you know, back to sustainability and your passion for this topic and why you've actually chosen to hone in on water. And so I feel curious, where did that start? How did that begin?   Greg Koch 12:27   Well, it started with my engineering background. And at the time, I had moved from engineering, consulting to work for the Coca Cola company. And initially, my work was, you know, inside the four walls of the business. So water efficiency, water use, storm water, wastewater management. But over time, myself and Coca Cola began to have a greater appreciation of the challenges that the business was facing, but also the communities that they were a part of were facing. And that led to 15 years of maturity on my part where I transformed myself into someone who not not just focused on water, but focused on solutions. And what drew me to that is two things.   You led the Global Water stewardship program? Correct?   I did, while I was there, for a period of time until I left their great company and they still have a wonderful water stewardship program and many other things. I am really proud of what I did there, and happy to work with other clients now in my consulting role. But back to why water. two fundamental reasons.   The first is water, there's a danger in thinking of water in the binary litany of sustainability topics. So you take major sustainability crises around the world, including the United States, you have safety issues, you have disease, you have poor education, you have social inequity, you have air pollution, you have excess carbon emissions, you have waste and litter. Right. And so you're marching down this litany of big challenges. And what they all share in common is that the desired outcome is less or none of those things. Right. So they're all bad disease, child labor, forced labor, pollution, and the desired place is well, we need to reduce or eliminate that.   And the danger when you get to water is to keep that binary thinking that's not true with water, water. Yes, there are places it's being wasted. And we can talk about that. But in a sense, you really can't waste water, not at least at the global scale, water is a finite resource. It's infinitely renewable, we have the amount we have.   And the other thing is that, beyond that non binary nature of it, it's largely, most people look at water, and they have a positive opinion and a positive experience. You bathe your child, you, you bathe yourself, you go swimming, you go sailing, you know, most people have this daily visceral connection with water, that's a positive one, most people's first memory of water, learning how to swim, you know, at Grandma's lake house, or whatever the case may be.   And so at its heart, water is a positive, right. And you could extend that thinking at a higher level to say, well, Water is life. Alright, we're 70% water, you don't want to reduce your water footprint, you'll get thirsty, then you'll dehydrate, and then bad things will happen. And when we look for life, there's a lot of things that life can use. But we always look for water, whether we're in Mars, around the moon, or wherever, because we know how fundamental it is. And that's a positive thing. So that's one reason that makes me so passionate about water.   16:45   The other is that while there are lots of different forms of water stress around the world, all of those are solvable. First of all, they're knowable, they're solvable, and they're affordable. And you cannot say that for any other sustainability challenge that you have enough data and enough technology today that is affordable, and can be implemented.   Carley Hauck 17:18   I love that. They're knowable, they're solvable, and they're affordable, affordable. Well, I'm gonna ask you some more difficult questions. Yeah, sure. Yeah, go ahead.   Greg Koch 17:30   No, I mean, that, that that says at all, so when, so but so what's the crux? What's the crux that the Kruk is the crux is first, to set up that inclusive conscious environment that respects everyone's need for water that's inalienable and understands their perspective on why they need or want the water they want? And what condition and at what time to then be able to introduce solutions, whether they're technological based or process and policy based.   If you have that enabling environment from the beginning, then you're never going to lack for Well, let's pull this technology and let's make this regulatory change. Right. There's still challenges around getting agreement and getting agreement on the timing. But one thing I like to say about water solutions is the soft stuff is the heart stuff. Right? So hard stuff, meaning infrastructure, pumps, pipes, technologies, hard stuff, meaning reservoirs and collection systems and even data, right?   That stuff's easy. I mean, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, I mean, humankind has been capturing water, storing it, moving it and even treating it for 1000s of years. And yes, we have better ways of doing that today. And there's still room for innovation. But there's enough technology and data out there. So that's not the hard stuff.   The soft stuff is the hard stuff, the soft stuff being How do you build an inclusive, conscious, enabling environment that respects everyone's need for water, and seeks an equitable outcome, and then allocates the funding, which is completely affordable, compared to a lot of the other challenges that the world faces, whether you call them sustainability or not.   Carley Hauck 19:40   Great, great. Well, I'm gonna bring it back to water. But I want to bring it to another conversation that you and I had talked about a few weeks ago where we were talking about climate change. And I was naming it as probably one of the largest complexities that we as humanity face and you challenged me and said, You believed that climate, one of the biggest problems related to climate change was population growth, economic development. And we could even think of resource scarcity as part of that. And I'd love just to hear a little bit more from you on that topic.   Greg Koch 20:23   Yeah. Well, I'll go a step further and say that while climate change is real, is serious and needs attention at a much accelerated pace than the world has done today. It is not the biggest issue facing the world. Let me explain.   First of all, in summary, there are many challenges that exist today that have existed throughout most of human history are getting worse, and will continue to get worse in the future, independent of a changing climate. Climate change is a force multiplier.   And you can say, yes, it's the biggest issue facing us today because of the urgency in solving it. But it doesn't make it the biggest issue short of existential, existentially meaning, if we all went extinct because of climate change. Well, then, of course, but when you look back, and really take climate change out of the equation and say, What is the challenge the world is facing? Yes, it's being driven by population growth and economic development, more people with better lifestyles, less poverty, less infant mortality, those are actually all good things.   But what has happened today, and what I think the biggest challenge is, it's called the Nexus, the nexus between food, water and energy. And it all is underpinned by this concept of limitations, right? So the world is bumping up against a lot of limits. One of those limits is how much greenhouse gases we can put into the environment and not cause global warming. Okay, so that's climate change. That is certainly one of the limits that we're facing. But we're facing limits in terms of how much air pollution beyond greenhouse gases, how much water pollution, how much arable farmable land there is, how much government debt and personal debt, those are also limits. Right?   There's limits on other resources, such as phosphate, tin, lithium for all of our cell phones and Tesla batteries and things like that. Those limits are being approached or even exceeded, and they have been getting there independent of climate change, they're getting worse, even as climate change is happening. And solving for climate change isn't going to solve those limitations. You can design it such but why is that such a big challenge?   You could say, well, I have solutions to water pollution or food security or what have you. But because we're approaching those limits, the solution for one of those can cause problems for the other two. Right? I'll give you an example.   If you're in the United States, and you have a car that uses gasoline, you can see it right on the pump up to 10% ethanol. That's a government mandated and government subsidized program. And it all centers around corn production to make industrial grade ethanol. 15 years ago, there was hardly any corn for ethanol in the fuel supply in the United States. Now it's close to 60% of corn that's grown, goes into ethanol production. Okay, that's a renewable fuel, decreases our dependence on foreign oil is cleaner. So you say, Oh, that's a good thing. Well, you've solved a single variant. you've provided as a single variant solution in a multivariate problem, meaning let's grow more corn and make ethanol for all the good reasons that that that can be considered. But what has led to it's led to a historic rise in the price of corn. You don't see it and I don't see it because I can't if I ever bought a bushel of corn, you know, you buy a couple years of corn or things with corn.   Corn derivatives in it. But that price is really high. And, and then you've also created water stress in places that you would think are water abundant, like Canada, a lot more acreage now being put under the plow to grow corn to meet this ethanol demand. And now you partly solved an energy problem, while causing previously non existent food and water problems. And so that nexus of those three, in a world where we're facing those limits, to me is the biggest challenge.   Carley Hauck 25:41   Thank you. I wanted to actually ask you about another problem as well, I was recently reading about how Lake Mead is drying up, and it's over allocated. And Lake Mead and the Colorado River apparently, well, they're created for melted snows that pour and flow from the Lipitor pass in the Rocky Mountains. And then seven western states really utilize that water for their, you know, for their water needs. And so those states are California, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada and Arizona. And then there's also 29 tribes and Mexico that are also depending on that water. And apparently there have been some successive treaties that have been signed on how much they're going to receive an S us from the river and the dams. But those agreements are expiring in 2025. And when we have such low water, like, how are they going to renegotiate that? Who's going to get what, and then we know that California is in a huge drought as well. And so it's just it's such a complexity, how we're going to solve for that.   Greg Koch 27:03   It is. And there's two things to recognize, from a historical standpoint, and from a reality standpoint, that make a solution on how to allocate what little water there may be even more difficult. The first is the allocation scheme, both international treaties and individual and multi state agreements about how much water each person can get, or each state can get from the Colorado River were negotiated, let me check my dates 1930s 1940, somewhere around the time where the Hoover Dam was built that created Lake Mead. I'm not getting the dates exactly right. But that was based on historical snowpack measurements that assumed that that would be status quo going forward. Well, the droughts we're seeing today, again, let's Park climate change over here, but I will bring it back in.   There's a lot of scientific research. But early indications are that what we're seeing today, what we saw in California, back in 2014, what we're seeing today throughout the West, that that's actually normal conditions. And what we based all of our planning on was a period of time that we had records for, that just happened to be abnormally wet, and snowy and colder. The reality is, if you take all that away, and you think northern Mexico, Arizona, Southern Utah, Southern California and Nevada, those are deserts. Those are extremely arid areas, yet we have millions of people living, we've got tons of agriculture, we have Las Vegas, right? We have all these things that only can be there, because we've captured and allocated over allocated and are diverting all that water. If it wasn't for that manmade intervention, those places would remain scarcely populated, not being farmed, and they would be very dry.   So it's artificially enabled because of what we did, in terms of moving water around and allocating it. And now we're seeing that that allocation and those beliefs were probably based on a historically wet period, and what we're seeing today might be the norm. And so where does that lead you?   Carley Hauck 29:51   I wanted to make just one extra comment because I think it's interesting. I read this other article in the LA Times that was speaking to the drought of California and apparently because there's been such little rainfall, normally Northern California would have I think enough water coming from the Sierras. But right now Southern California actually is doing better with the allocation of water, because it's coming from a different source as you were talking about the storing of it. But historically, you know, Southern California has less water, because as you said, it's more of a desert climate.   Greg Koch 30:31   And so it's interesting that California, of all those states, you've mentioned, actually has priority rights, you know, when the government has to start, and they already have, and they will continue to limit the allocation for the other states. California's agreement doesn't expire, I think, until the late 2030s. So other places will not get enough water, maybe no water, and California will get water. So those communities will see that water flowing by knowing that it's headed to California, only because of the way the contracts and agreements were repent years ago.   Carley Hauck 31:08   And I also just feel curious, not that you should be the end all know all of water, but I'm in Oregon right now. And what's interesting is that it is incredibly dry here. I mean, I went to the Oregon coast, just for the weekend, because I just needed moisture. And the Deschutes river is this incredible river and there's lakes all around, bend where I am, but it is so dry. It feels like such an interesting juxtaposition. And I know that it's lower, the water is lower here than it has been in a very long time. But it feels so interesting that they can both be like the climate can be so dry. And yet there's a lot of water here visibly, because it's coming from glaciers. And I feel curious, you know, half the state is very wet, or again, and then where I am right now it's a desert. And so I guess I feel curious, like what do you think about Oregon as far as how they're going to fare with water?   Greg Koch 32:14   Well, I think Oregon and the states below it, and above it, that whole western United States corridor, the conditions you're seeing today might be what over a long period of time are normal and everything that we've experienced in the couple 100 years that we've basically been the United States before native peoples was that was abnormal. Right? And so where does that lead you?   I started going down that line earlier. If you were in the middle of the Sahara Desert, you would never say, hey, there's a drought. Now, it's just always like that. So you could see, I could see a point where you have to stop calling the conditions that you're facing in Oregon and California and all those a drought. Maybe that's just the way it is. That's the climate that you have, and you're not in a drought. You just happen to live in a very arid part of the world that used to have this brief period of a few 100 years where it was wet.   How does climate change come in? in a major way, okay. You're wet in Oregon and a lot of that to glacier melt. They can only melt to a point where they don't exist. And that's happened around the world. But when you look at the models, particularly for those Western Rockies, right the Cascades, the Uinta mountains down into Utah, this year, Nevada's climate change models all call for there to be more precipitation.   Now I use the word precipitation, which you know means snow, ice or rain. But that precipitation because of warmer temperatures is going to come in the form of rain versus snow. Right? So glaciers, the Sierra Nevada snowpack, think of those as Lake Mead. Those are huge reservoirs that build up through the winter and then slowly melt and release that water over the spring and summer and into the fall. But if even more precipitation falls in the winter, but it comes in the form of rain, there's no storage for it, it's just going to run off and ultimately end up in the Pacific.   So that's a big problem. That's a big problem. You could have wetter winters, but still have greater water scarcity because you don't have that natural reservoir of the snowpack, the snow and ice pack. slowly melting   Carley Hauck 35:00   So we're talking a little bit about water scarcity on the West. But then what do you see happening on the East? With the, you know, with more hurricanes and tropical storms where there's a lot more water, but then how do we store it? Right?   Greg Koch 35:17   Yeah, I'd say the biggest problem in the East and and it also exists out West. So it just compounds the problems that you have is infrastructure, water infrastructure. So think of water pipes, bringing your drinking water, sewage pipes, stormwater drains, 99% of that is out of sight, to underground and out of sight means out of mind. It's not sexy, it's not, you don't want to see it. Right? You just assume 3am. I can walk into my bathroom, turn the tap and get clean drinking water. I'll flush the toilet and it's all taken care of?   Well, the average age of infrastructure in the US is about 75 years old. It's underfunded, it's under maintained. It's underpriced in terms of the tariffs that are collected. And there's a lot of reasons why it's under priced that way. But that is leading to a problem. Can we maintain the level of service that we've experienced and been able to grow our economies and populations with this crumbling infrastructure?   Carley Hauck 36:34   And I'm wondering if you know, part of what you talk about in your your book that you authored, creating 21st century abundance through public policy innovation, moving beyond business as usual, does that pipe some of the responsibility on changing the system and structures so that we are able to actually innovate around how we're storing water and how we're implementing all of this?   Greg Koch 37:06   It does. And it provides some real examples of how you can even improve, not just maintain, but improve the level of water, infrastructure and service and be able to afford it. There's several different approaches that me and my coauthor William Sarni detail in the book, but staying on the theme of infrastructure, let me give you an example that I think shows you the type of thinking. So you recall earlier I mentioned waters underpriced in most places in the United States, you pay a very small amount for water. And there's a lot of pushback if water rates come into being or go up.   So why is that? Well, back to the beginning of this discussion, you know, water is emotional, it's spiritual, it's, it's to human right? It's inalienable. And when you bring that thinking into a municipal water system, and there's parallels in water in nature, water and agriculture, but let's stick in urban areas. You run into danger. It's like if water is a human right, how can you charge me anything for it, let alone more for it, it falls from the sky. You can't lease the rain, you can you know, it's, Hey, come on. It's water, human rights should be free?   Well, I'd say it's up to governments to decide how much they want to charge customers, particularly the underprivileged, that, and I think they should solve for that. And there's a great example of how that's done in South Africa that we can talk about, but here's the problem that they're facing, they're confusing. And therefore people are confused. Government is confusing water, the substance from water services.   So when you buy electricity, when you buy your gigabytes for your Wi Fi in your smartphone, when you buy gasoline for your car or diesel, right, you are buying a substance. You're buying electrons, you're buying radio waves, you're buying gallons of gas. You can't see them, you don't think about them. You don't want to see them in terms of gas might be a safety issue. You never think about, I'm buying a substance yet look at your bill, you are being paid for an amount of electrons called kilowatt hours, gigabytes of data, those are radio waves effectively electrons, you are paying for a substance. And of course you're paying for however many gallons or liters of gas that you buy.   But you don't think of them in that way. You think of those as services. I'm buying more lighting, security, convenience, I'm buying entertainment. I'm buying connectivity. I'm buying mobility, right? That's how you think of those substances you buy, you think of the services that they enable.   And one of the things that we talk about in the book is that mind shift needs to happen for water. Water- the substance- at your tap is free. But who's going to collect it, move it, treat it, pipe it chlorinated, chlorinated, and get it to your tap, and then do the opposite with your stormwater and wastewater. All that infrastructure, costs, money, takes labor, chemicals, energy, those are all services. And if you add up the true cost of all those services, your water bill should be about what your electricity bill is, yet it's a 10th a 20th. of that. And that's led to these infrastructure issues being underfunded, because of the confusion of the substance versus the service.   So the latest UN, IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report came out, and it's dire. Some people are calling it the final warning to humans. It shows that a lot of the early predictions are being manifest. And that time is running out if it hasn't already, on some drastic level of climate change, global warming and the implications that that has.   42:12   I experienced what they're forecasting firsthand a few weeks ago at a family reunion. And most of us live in the southeast United States, I'm in Atlanta, it's hot and humid. Others are in Sarasota, or Charlotte. And so we purposely chose a place in the mountains out west, east of Seattle, thinking we'll be on a river, it'll be nice and cool. Maybe sleep with the windows open at night. The lowest daytime temperature in the eight days we were there was 94. The highest was 105. And everyone says Oh, but it's a dry heat, which it was. But that didn't make 105 degrees any less comfortable.   Add to that for about three days, during the middle of that vacation. There was smoke in the valley that we were in from wildfires that were nearby. And that made it almost impossible to go outside. You know, we had, we'd started saying, okay, when it's really hot, we'll just try to do everything before noon and then just relax or float in the river or what have you. But then when you add wildfires and the smoke around that, then the air quality is such that you really you're just inside and it's no big bummer. Right?   And so you know if that's climate change, and that's going to happen more often. And for longer durations in places you wouldn't expect. And we did not expect that they're certainly the 105 degree heat, then that's a cause for alarm.   So what to do. And and it's a segue into how I help clients in this regard. So when you look at the UN report, it's based on a lot of complicated models, and it takes a global view. And yes, that view can be disaggregated at the local level. But that's still just a zoom in on a global model. What's more useful to people, to communities, to companies in the different places that they operate, is saying, Okay, alright, I get global warming, but I don't live all over the globe. I live and work or manufacture in a certain place. What do the models say is going to happen in that place?   And that's a level of analysis that you can start with the global models, but you have to do a lot of sophisticated calculations and modeling to try to determine what the boundary of the local area that you're looking at is, how it's being influenced by these global changes, to try to come up with a forecast of what is this valley? or What is this community? or What is this region, at a local level going to face? That's much more useful to people, you know, if you were planning for water supplies, or droughts or increased heat, then knowing that, you know, the world might warm 1.5 to 4.5, or greater degrees centigrade, really doesn't help you particularly if you think in Fahrenheit most Americans do.   But so that's the global average, what does it mean for me, in Asheville, or Atlanta, or Seattle. And so that's part of what we do that we find is very helpful to clients because it gives them that local view. And then they can share that information with others, which we encourage, to say, look, we're all going to face this situation, what can we do collectively?   Carley Hauck 46:19   Now, I also appreciate you sharing that I don't recall if I shared this with you. But it might have been one of our previous conversations in March of 2019. I went through Al Gore's Climate Reality leadership training, and he does a few of them a year all over the world. And he picks regional, you know, in geographic areas, and my training happened to be in Atlanta. So he was very much focused on bringing in speakers that could speak to what was happening in this, you know, southeast area, and how flooding is going to happen here. And this is going to happen here based on all of the science and even though at the time, I lived in California, I was still part of that cohort of 1200 folks, and because I grew up in Florida and have family in Florida, it was helpful. And it was helpful regardless.   But I think, to your point, you know, how does this affect me, right? Because most people are very self motivated, versus some of us that are more altruistically motivated, but at the same time, you can hold both. And so I feel curious, in your work, how are you supporting clients? And what's a typical client that you might serve? Because I know your area is water stewardship?   Greg Koch 47:47   Well, it's water and climate. Yeah. And so one of the ways we help clients is translating those global models and projected impacts of climate change to the local level. My clients are typically larger, multinational companies, a lot of them are in the consumer goods, business, or industry. So Procter and Gamble, Unilever, companies like that, but I also have clients in the oil and gas sector in the renewable energy sector. You know, really wide pharmaceuticals, really a wide area.   And so when it comes to climate change, the first place we can help them is having a granular understanding of what's going to happen, where they're located. And that's usually multiple locations in terms of their manufacturing plants. So okay, here's global climate change what's happening in these 20 or 30 places that leads to more meaningful responses on their part, to prepare themselves for the coming change.   Now, you say, Well, what are they doing to prevent the change? And there are a lot of clients, a lot of companies in general around the world are setting targets to reduce their emissions. That fuel they directly burn on site or in their vehicles for their say distribution fleet. They're trying to reduce emissions in the electricity and energy they purchase, trying to buy from renewable sources of energy versus fossil fuels-   Or to do carbon offsets or to really know how effective that is in the long term would be better if we weren't emitting emissions anyway, right?   Yeah, my feeling on carbon offsets if they are, quote unquote, gold standard, then yeah, carbon. The carbon footprint of the world is being reduced but that reduction might happen on the other side of the planet.   And I heard a quote, an analogy that I like, it's like buying a carbon offset credit is like, going for a run in Atlanta and having somebody in Iowa take a shower for you. Right? I think it can help, but it kind of excuses what you're doing.and puts it on somewhere else. At some point there aren't going to be any more carbon credits, and people are going to need to actually reduce their own emissions.   Carley Hauck 50:36   I love that. You just said that. Thank you. Greg Koch 50:46     Yeah. Now, company setting goals is expected, is welcome. I help clients do that. But I first asked them, 'What are they doing to advocate for government change?' Because, you know, the UN report for climate change, rightly belongs there, this is global warming, global climate change, and the scale of the globe's climate isn't going to be solved by any number of corporations making reductions in their emissions. That's good. That's welcome. That'll help. But you're going to need government, governments, global governments, the UN and individual governments at the state, federal, local, you name it level, to make some tough decisions about changing the way we produce and use energy.   And they can incentivize that which they have with subsidies for solar and wind power, they could tax it in terms of a carbon tax and a trading scheme, which exists in many parts of the world. Fossil fuels, and that's gonna be extinguished. But the point is, you know, be while you set, you know, I tell clients, while you set goals for your own business, how are you using your voice? Right, you know, that that's your footprint? What about your blueprint? Right, what are you doing, to advocate for the right policies?   And I find a lot of clients actually welcome that right now, there's a lot of uncertainty. You know, let's take the United States, for instance, is the Biden administration going to come up with a carbon tax? Or are they not? And if they do, which industries would be subject to it? And how much would that tax be? Is it enough to mitigate climate change, so on and so on, that's a lot of uncertainty, that you can sit around and wait to resolve itself.   You can advocate for that change, right? In fact, a lot of businesses say, look, I wish you just to remove the uncertainty and say we're going to tax carbon at $25 a ton, starting in 2025. And it'll be a level playing field, people can incorporate the change that's necessary and embedded into their business model. And yes, costs get passed on. But it removes the uncertainty because what you're left with now, is largely a altruistic fear, or investor driven push for companies to set these targets, you know, for a company to say, Look, I'm gonna get off the grid and produce all my energy by solar wind, some renewable form, fine, it can be done, and some have done it. But it's almost impossible to ever recover those costs.   So they're doing it because of fear of climate change, of reputation of investor pressure, maybe other stakeholder pressure. That's great. But that's right off their bottom line. And so, you know, I always ask them to have my clients and we thought about advocating, you know, whether you do it yourself or you do it through a trade association for your industry, or at some level to say, this is a problem, climate change, we want a solution. And us setting our own little goals will only get the world so far. So that's really how I advise clients on climate change.   Carley Hauck 54:42   Thank you. I don't know if you can speak you know, to this specifically, because I'm sure there's a confidentiality clause but you mentioned that one of your companies that you've supported as you knew every multinational company, and they're known as a company that really is more aligned with ESGs, you know, environmental, social governance and and creating more of those commitments and I'm seeing, and I'm grateful to see this shift is that companies that are making, you know, millions, billions of dollars like Salesforce, Amazon, they're giving a certain amount of their profits towards, for example, climate change I believe in.   I wrote this in my book, January 2020. Bezos at that time, this was right before the pandemic awarded $10 billion towards climate change now, how that is being distributed, how it's being regulated? Who knows, where's it going? You know, since then Amazon has done incredibly well, in the last year and a half. And so I haven't seen the targets, but I know that there are more checks being written. And so you said to advocate for government, but if government, you know, isn't cutting that money, or isn't making those changes, I do think that there is a responsibility and an opportunity for business to be a force for good, and to utilize their voice, their influence, because a lot of government officials, you know, tend to be elected through money that might, you know, lobbying that might be coming from businesses. And so I think it's kind of all combined. What do you think about that? Your perspective?   Greg Koch 56:38   You have to appreciate the scale of government versus the scale of business. Right? So a lot of people might say, well, businesses should just bite the bullet and donate half of their profits or 100% of their profits to some cause. Let's say that's climate change, since that's the most pressing crisis we're facing.   Now, when you look at the scale of business versus government, it is not apples and oranges. It's apples and hammers, the scale of government is in the trillions and 10s of trillions of dollars, the scale of business is in the billions of dollars. And there's a big difference between a billion and those three more zeros to get to a trillion. In the book I co authored, I took the top 1000 corporations in the world and their annual profits for the year that I analyzed, and said, Okay, how much is that profits? That was about $800 billion. So almost a trillion dollars. And so if the top 1000 corporations gave away all of their profits, 100% for 10 years, what do you have, and I equated it to the problem in the world around safe drinking water access.   And that amount of money. You know, there's a lot of people in the world who don't have affordable, reliable access to safe drinking water in their homes, all over the world, including in Georgia, and North Carolina, and, of course, many parts of the developing world. So that's a goal within the Sustainable Development Goals. There's a goal number six, which is all things related to water, and a sub goal within SDG. Six is safe drinking water, that amount of money over 10 years is enough to solve just that sub goal. Right. So that calls for the top 1000 corporations in the world to take 100% of their profits for 10 years, which is kind of unrealistic. But even if they did that, that only solves part of one of 17 SDG goals. So to say that companies ought to donate more. You can say that, but if they donated everything, it wouldn't be nearly enough because the scale of government is so much bigger.   I mean, just take the United States, for instance, Congress now is debating and probably will soon pass a five and a half trillion dollar budget, excess budget, to do all the things they want to do, including parts of the New Clean deal and things like that. That would be all of corporations for five years and all their profits just to come up with that but governments have that scale. And so it doesn't excuse philanthropy and direct corporate action. But it's sort of a red herring to say, well, business should do more.   There's only so much they can do. And if they gave away all their profits, and they all became charities, it's nowhere near enough money to solve the problem. So that's why I say, do what you can give what you can as a corporation, but also use your voice to advocate government to make the tough decisions that are needed.   Carley Hauck 1:00:30   That's really wonderful. It's a three fold action sequence, just to summarize what you said. So it's advising businesses to bring climate change into their operations? How can they lower their carbon emissions? How can they really reduce them, not just have offsets? How then do we also take some of our profits, and really align with social and environmental responsibility in giving to maybe help with some of the sub goals of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, because I think, again, more is better than none. But then to really advocate for the government, and to, you know, put some pressure on some to hold some accountability for the government to do the wise and good thing for all.   And not to get into politics very much at all. But you know, our last president denied climate change. So we are behind the mark on a bigger level. And, you know, we we have some, I think, very important shifts and changes that we need to make right now, you know, in the next couple years, there is urgency, because if we are to reduce our emissions by 50%, in 10 years, which is what they're forecasting, so that we have a chance for humanity to not have this horrible suffering, like you were experiencing just a small bit on the west coast.   When we had our first conversation, several weeks ago, I was in Bend, Oregon, I was there for six weeks. And the entire time that I was there, it was 93 to 108. And I have, I felt like I was baking from the inside out. Bend is a beautiful place. But I really couldn't enjoy it because I was so tired. And so exhausted every day. So it's, yeah, it's real.   And, and then I'm back here and, you know, and outside of Asheville, which is kind of a temperate rainforest, and it feels like a jungle. And they're just such different climates. And this is a bubble. Like I'm very aware most of our country does not look like where I am. But that's why I landed here. From the fires of the Bay Area 10 months ago. Yeah. So anyway, long, longer tangent there.   But let's talk a little bit more about water, if you're open to that. And also thank you for the book that you wrote. It sounds like a really wonderful contribution. I have not read it yet. But we will be sure to leave a link in the show notes for people that want to learn more about that. It sounds like such a huge undertaking to be able to analyze and understand what's really happening.   Greg Koch 1:03:38   Thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah, so water. As we've chatted already, water is under a lot of stress, and that stress is growing independent of climate change. Right? So you can argue about climate change all you want. Flint, Michigan, and those problems with lead and drinking water had nothing to do with climate change. Right? The lack of safe drinking water to almost 4 billion people around the world has nothing to do with climate change, right?   So there are water quality problems, lack of infrastructure, water scarcity, droughts, floods, storms, all of these things exist today. And climate change is making them more unpredictable, more intense, and and have greater duration. And so water, right you know, climate change is a shark has been often said than water is its teeth. So there's a lot of reasons for business. And therefore my work with my clients to look at water, in conjunction with or even independent of climate change, which is more of a sort of a future type planning but even today, there are problems.   Now, what I find is that most businesses in the clients I work with, but even in general, they do a really good job of managing water in the four walls of, say the factory, right. So they bring it in, they pay for that. They use it efficiently, they look for ways to reuse it. They treat their wastewater before they discharge it, and they manage stormwater that falls on their property, right? And that's table stakes, they should do that. And they need to always do that. independent of regulations. And by and large business does a good job with that.   Where I come in, is where we see that clients are exposed to more water stress in the watershed, and communities that they're a part of, we help them analyze that water stress and determine what impacts that could have on them. And that's a big aha, for a lot of clients, because it puts them in two mindsets, and that's always my goal. And when I achieve it with a client, I feel really good because I know some really good things are gonna happen in that community and watershed.   One, you have to get them to truly appreciate that water is a shared resource. They are sharing that water, with their neighbors, with nature, with other industries, even their competitors, of course, with people all around them wherever they're located. Right, it's not their water. It's not someone else's water independent habit, our government may or may not sort of manage it, but water is shared. And so when you recognize that water is shared, that means if it's under stress, you're going to have to work with those with whom you share that water, in partnership to address issues, right. So one leads to the other.   The other big aha, I aim for clients to achieve is to understand that water is transient, right? It's you know, get some water and put it in a bucket and put it in your room and say I own that five gallons of water. Well, good luck. If you do nothing, and you never tip it over and a dog doesn't come in and drink it, it'll eventually all evaporate, right?   Water is heavy, water likes to move, water is in a continuous cycle. And you know, that's a, that's a very easy but illustrative example to say, you don't really own water, it's transient, right? It's going to come into your home, your body, your factory, your ecosystem and move on somewhere else. And so what that leads to, along with this shared concept is the concept of stewardship.   Alright, so stewardship is defined as taking care of something for a period of time. So a shepherd stewards the flock of sheep, for instance, right? Shepherd may own the sheep or not, but they'll move on eventually into something wool or die of old age or, you know, other things. So it's a good analogy, because it says, Okay, I have to take care of this water. And it's water that I share. So you get these two concepts. I'm sharing this, and I have to steward it while it's in my control at some level.   And when you achieve those two mindset changes, I find that it's very powerful for companies to then say, Okay, well, I know what water stress issues I'm facing. And I know how to solve them at the end of the pipe and my four walls, but that's not going to solve the problem. I'll have to continue throwing money at it. The problem is still getting worse. It's impacting my employees and where they live in that community. It's impacting maybe my customers, maybe my suppliers. It's impacting my neighbors, people that share this water with me. So, yes, I ought to do things in my own control. But since I'm a steward who shares that water, I seek partnerships, the local government and local community, NGOs, peers, even competitors And that's the big aha. And it leads to some really exciting types of projects and partnerships.   Carley Hauck 1:10:09   Great. Let's bring it to the consumer and the individual. Because a lot of folks, you know, might be really looking at water like what's happening with the water in my community, how is it being treated? Are the rivers or the lakes if I have those nearby? Are they even safe to swim in? I don't know if you do any advising around that, but I'll just give a personal example.     So when I was living in Bend, there is a river called the Deschutes that goes through the river, or sorry, goes through the town. And everybody's in it. They're kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. It's a huge part of the culture there, even though it's very hot and dry people are in the water, especially in the summer, and the waters are clean. You know, it's coming from glaciers, it's cold. But then where I live now, outside of Asheville, the French Broad River is another river that goes through the town of Asheville, and everybody tells me don't swim in that river. You can fall in it, but then get out, don't swim in it, I think. Why is this river so polluted? Why is there not a responsibility to clean it up? And so me being a person that wants to be a good steward of the water for however long I'm here, I've been thinking, Okay, so how can I use my voice? How can I speak up about things that matter to me that will benefit the whole? And why is this not being cared for? I am wondering if you could just support me as an individual, and how that might translate to others because this is my, you know, geographic area, right, going back to the beginning of our conversation.   Greg Koch 1:12:00   So you've touched on one of the biggest problems not with water, not just in the United States, but around the world. But the United States is a great example. Because when you look at water quality, right, there's three things that are impacting it. And two of them have been largely solved. And the big challenge is that third one. Okay.   So starting with the Clean Water Act in 1972, created by the EPA. Before that, businesses weren't required to treat their wastewater and municipalities weren't required to treat their wastewater and you had things like Love Canal, your listeners can Google that. You had rivers catching on? Love Canal, yeah, Google Love Canal, okay. Google, Pittsburg Rivers on fire. I mean, basically, you had raw industrial effluent being discharged into the environment and raw sewage being discharged by cities.   The Clean Water Act came along, and over a period of a few decades. Now, there are strict regulations in place with very strict enforcement. Nothing's perfect. But businesses have to have an industrial wastewater discharge permit that is heavily regulated, they have to treat their water to a certain level before they discharge it to the sewer. And if they go directly into the environment, it's a whole different ball of wax with a lot more control.   So by and large, industrial, chemical, wastewater, is being treated. Similarly. Communities, from Chicago to Asheville to tiny communities around the world, now all have to fully treat their wastewater before it's discharged into the environment. So why do we still have polluted rivers? One is, neither of those are perfect. But it should still be swimmable if that's all that was going in there.   So it comes to the third. And the concept is called non Point Source runoff. A good example of non Point Source meaning a point would be here's the municipal sewage treatment, that's a point or here's a factory and there's their discharge. pipe. That's a point, a non point. A good example is a parking lot. Right, you got a parking lot in front of a grocery store and a lot of people's cars drip a little bit of oil or whatever it is, and then the rain comes and that rain picks up those contaminants and contaminates the water. So that is a source of contamination.   But the biggest one, which is also non-point, is farming. Farms do not need to treat water that leaves their site, whether it leaves a storm water, or it infiltrates into groundwater. Now, farming, agriculture uses 70-75% of the world's water. And they're applying fertilizers, they're applying pesticides and fungicides. And to the extent those aren't fully incorporated into the biomass of the plant, which most cases they're not, then you're going to have run off with those agro chemicals. And that causes a lot of problems in water quality.   Carley Hauck 1:15:58   And so that's one of the horrible parts of the animal agriculture system, which you and I were talking about before we hit record, but you know, that's a huge, Oh, what's the word I want to use? I mean, it's definitely adding to the warming of the planet just based on all of the practices and the carbon that's coming from the animals. And that would be a whole nother conversation.   Greg Koch 1:16:28   It would, but it's not just animals. I mean, it's it's row crops. It's corn, its wheat, its peas, its carrots, it's Yeah, you exacerbate that? Particularly when it gets concentrated? You know, you're part of mono cropping? Yeah, mono cropping. But in North Carolina, you know, there's a lot of concentrated livestock. So chicken farms, hog farms, right, that are, you know, I could argue their point sources right here, the 10 acre plot of land that has 5000 pigs on it, and it discharges its wastewater I mean, if that's not a point source, then then what is? The same with, you know, chicken, you know, chicken farms in the long rows of chicken houses, and, you know, they have waste coming out of those. And so, so yeah, you, you, you exacerbate the water pollution. And you have climate issues when you talk about livestock and meat in general. But agriculture at large is a huge source of water quality problems, and it's almost completely unregulated.   Carley Hauck 1:17:45   Wow. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. So I want to pull it back to the climate report, and I'm tracking all of our conversations. So I'm gonna summarize it kind of in as skillful of a bundle as I can, so that listeners can actually really understand how they might want to take action with all this wonderful information you're giving.   When we look at this massive climate report, the sixth one, you know, as you said, it's really talking about what's happening globally. But there are maps that are being shown of how it's going to impact you know, the West Coast versus the East Coast. And most of my listeners of the podcast are in the United States, but they're also in other countries. But just for the purposes of the dominant listeners, what could you forecast regarding drought and water from the west coast to the east coast. In our last conversation, we were talking about how California is actually getting their water from other states. But we know that California is really running out of water, but they have such a massive population. So based on the geography of the climate maps right now. What do you think is going to be happening in the next few years from the west coast to the east coast? I mean, the East Coast is getting more water from these hurricanes and storms and the West Coast, at least from what I can tell, is having more drought and fires but I would love if you can break it down even more and where is a safe place? You know? Or maybe maybe not safe, climate resilient, right? Where is more climate resilient? And how do we support more climate resiliency, in the places that we are? Greg Koch 1:19:52   Well, let me say that, that second part, how do we support climate resilience, where we are is what we should all be focused on. I don't think the time now is. Where's that place in northern Canada? We can all go running because you're right that that's a bit alarmist and I'm not going to advocate for that.   But so yeah, call your congressperson, call your senator and say, I want action on climate change, I want it for myself, I want it for my grandchildren, etc, etc. Reduce your own carbon footprint in in ways that are meaningful. Encourage your friends and families to do that. But use your voice and use your vote. Some of the more powerful dollars, no shop with your products, right? Yep. right about that a lot on the podcast. So let's look, West Coast, East Coast, and what is forecasted? I'll just give one example from each coast, right?   Yes, you see droughts, you see wildfires, which have always happened and will continue to happen but are anticipated to to be more frequent and last longer and be more intense. But the big, forecasted change in the West Coast. That doesn't get a lot of press but it is. To me, one of the biggest problems is precipitation. Much of the west coast from the Rockies West, regardless of what state you're in, get their water from snow and ice that falls on the Sierra Nevada or the Cascades or the Rockies. It's all part of the Rockies, the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. What have you.   And so snow and ice fall and you've got a nice snowpack that's actually measured, and then it melts slowly over spring and summer. And feeds downstream communities from San Diego to Seattle. Okay. Large generalization but pretty accurate. So that snow and ice pack is a reservoir. Think of it as a lake, right? And the temperature is the dam. Right? Because it's still frozen. And then it slowly melts and on it comes like Deschutes river and bend oregon. That's snow and ice melt.   Right? It's snow melt.   So what if and this is what's forecasted? You actually get more precipitation in the winter. But because it's warmer, that precipitation comes as rain and not snow. Right?   Right. So what's gonna happen to the rain, it's not going to wait till summer, it's going to go downhill. And there's nowhere to store it. There's not enough places to store it. So it just ultimately will run off eventually, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. And that's a huge problem. And in fact, if you read the UN Climate report that we talked about earlier, and this got picked up in the press, it rained for the first time in recorded history at the highest glacier in Greenland. Right? So Greenland's got this huge snow ice pack. Right. And so more and more snow. It rained up there.   Yeah, Right versus snow. And so think about that in the Sierra Nevada. I mean, forget about skiing and stuff. We're talking about as you're losing that reservoir, and all that water goes off. Now, even if you don't have a drought, there's just no water coming from the mountainside. And so even if the temperatures were cooler, it does, where's the water? It was supposed to be fed to us over the spring and summer. Right.   On the east coast. I think one of the biggest near term sort of 10 year problems is storms and storm surges. And probably the best place to see that in action today, as we speak, is Miami Beach. Right. But you could extend that to Galveston, Texas to New Orleans to Biloxi you know, really the whole Gulf Coast and up the e

Locals Know Best
23. Let's Peace Out and Go Kayaking in Asheville, North Carolina

Locals Know Best

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 35:56


Today, I'll be speaking with Samantha Kellgren about how to have a fantastic day outdoors around one of the most admired spots in the United States – Asheville, North Carolina. Join Sam and me as we bike, hike, kayak, and tube all around this part of North Carolina known for delicious beer, stunning nature, and attracting visitors far and wide. About Samantha Kellgren Sam is a wife, mom, business owner, and marathoner. She runs her own health and mindset coaching business called Simply Well Coaching, which helps Type-A women change their life by changing their minds. Learn more about Sam's coaching business at Simply Well Coaching or check out her Ambitious Women: Less Hustle More Flow Facebook group.   What We Cover in this Episode What makes Asheville, NC, worth visiting. The best and worst time of year to visit Asheville, NC. A beautiful outdoorsy lodge deemed the best spot to stay in Asheville. What the Asheville Airbnb scene looks like. A fantastic breakfast destination, known for fresh coffee, homemade donuts, and large servings. The best spot in the area for mountain biking. The most gorgeous waterfall trails in the area. The superior taco spot in Asheville, NC. Some of the most fun shops in Asheville, NC, including one that sells plants, coffee, and used books! Kayaking and tubing options throughout town, and why those are the best ways to arrive at New Belgium Brewery. Which of the many breweries in western North Carolina should not be missed. Where to get excellent burgers and views for dinner. The sense of community in Asheville and why it's calling to city folk from all around. Two ice cream destinations that should be on your itinerary. The two most picturesque spots in town. An overrated brewery, restaurant, and hike, and recommended alternative destinations.   Quotables “We [were] ready for something different. We were ready for mountains. We say we were nature starved. And anytime you say that in Chicago, people will mention like one place, you can go like out in the suburbs. It's like, no, no, we want like real nature that is accessible. We wanted to be able to get out for a hike whenever we wanted, not to have a drive to do it and make it a big thing.” Sam “I mean, once you come here, we've gone on so many, you know, either like a camping trip or something, or we're just out for a drive, and we're driving back, and I'm like, this would be our vacation. This is where we would vacation. We would vacation in this area, and we get to… every day like I'm so… I feel so lucky to live here.” Sam “Well, if you like beer, it is definitely a beer city. I don't remember the like, you know, per capita breweries, but I think there's over 50 breweries at least at this point. So… you're always within walking distance. But it's really a small town, but still a city.” Sam “What does my husband say?… He says it's the most you will see of drinking in moderation. It's like, everyone's drinking, but you don't witness a lot of like insanity. People are out at breweries, but it's a real family-oriented event, you know, to like hang out at the brewery or out of the park.” Sam “But I think what a big draw is, is that you can be staying downtown and be hiking in under 20 minutes. And if you want to go real far up the Blue Ridge, you can feel like you're in a different state, and that's 45 minutes away. The accessibility of everything, I think, is really a huge draw for here.” Sam “There's a lot of good food. I think that when, when we first moved, people were like, oh, you're gonna miss the, you know, Chicago food and drink, like, oh my God, it's known for it! And I don't miss it.” Sam “New Belgium is the place to be, I'd say for that post kayak kind of beer and entertainment. … I mean, it's amazing there. They've got this huge lawn. They just reopened it. They were the first to close during COVID, but they've just now reopened it, which to me signifies, like, okay, things are okay. Cause it is where you go to meet up with people, hang out on the lawn. “ Sam “It's community. I mean, all of these, any place by the river, any of these breweries, ends up just being like a fun place to hang out and meet people.” Sam “And I laugh when I say, oh, it's all drinking in moderation because my husband and I are back home by eight, cause we have a toddler. So I'm like, what do we know? Maybe it does get like debaucherous after eight pm. But it's not what the town's known for. It is perfectly fine and acceptable; we had our two-year-old's birthday party at Asheville Brewing. Like that's, that's kind of the vibe here. It's very family-friendly. It is very much open to just meeting and connecting.” Sam “I feel like it's this little pocket. It's not too overrun. There's, like you said, there's alternatives for everything. There's the New Belgium and the Sierra Nevada, which are bigger names, or there's these smaller breweries that you would not have heard of unless you have someone that lives here, that you would not seek out on its own. There's plenty to do, a mix of, do you want to walk around downtown or River Arts District, or do you want to go out and not see anyone and go on a hike? So it's going to be whatever you want to make your trip. You can make it totally downtown and people-friendly, or you can be like, I want a peace out and be by myself and go kayaking where I'm not going to see anyone, and you can do both of those trips.” Sam   Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where the Locals Stay: Bent Creek Lodge Airbnbs: Sam's Asheville Airbnb The Asheville Airbnb Barrett and I stayed in years ago with Pinball Machines Outdoor Destinations Mentioned in this Episode's “Perfect Day”: Blue Ridge Parkway DuPont State Recreational Forest Ridgeline Trail Hooker Falls Triple Falls Trail High Falls Trail River Arts District Kayaking or Tubing on the French Broad River with French Broad Outfitters Catawba Falls Trail Skinny Dip Falls Trail Get the best deals on outdoor adventure tours in the Asheville area on Viator.com Restaurants & Breweries Mentioned in this Episode: Ivory Road Cafe & Kitchen Taco Billy New Belgium Brewing Wedge Brewing Sierra Nevada Brewery Burial Beer Green Man Brewery Wicked Weed Brewing Hi-Wire Brewing The Funkatorium Smoky Park Supper Club Sunshine Sammies Ultimate Ice Cream Company Shops Mentioned in this Episode: Whist Flora Instagram Photo Spots Mentioned in this Episode: The Biltmore The Omni Grove Park Inn Thanks for Listening! We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you've been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It's super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. 

Exploration Local
Celebrating 40 Years of Outdoor Adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains with French Broad Adventures

Exploration Local

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 59:23


French Broad Adventures is the closest Asheville zipline /canopy tour and rafting package to Asheville, Johnson City and Greenville SC. The whitewater rafting section of the French Broad River is only 24 miles away from Asheville, and the ten-line canopy zipline tour is on property at the Marshall Outpost which is short 30 drive from downtown Asheville. Whether it's the adventure and excitement of whitewater rafting or the ease and relaxation of a calm water trip you're looking for, French Broad Adventures is the outfitter for you, your family, or your group. And, one of the newer adventures offered by French Broad Adventures, canyoneering, allows guests to experience up close and first-hand the waterfalls and river canyons that make this area so spectacular.In this episode, I go onsite to the Marshall outpost and sit down with staff and owners to talk about what makes this family owned & operated outfitter the number one choice when you want to experience whitewater rafting, canopy ziplining, or repelling down a waterfall…AND still make it back in time to explore Downtown Asheville's great restaurants and breweries.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEFrench Broad AdventuresTown of Marshall, NC Hot Springs, NCMadison County, NC Mad Co Brew HouseMike Andress, HostExploration Local Podcastmike@explorationlocal.com

Earth911.com: Sustainability In Your Ear
Earth911 Podcast: Scott Austion, cofounder of the Olivette Riverside Farm and Community

Earth911.com: Sustainability In Your Ear

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 27:12


As more people look to move out of cities, a new, environmentally-friendly communities may be their next home. Earth911 talks with Scott Austin, a cofounder of the Olivette Riverside Community and Farm, a 346-acre planned "agrihood" along the French Broad River near Asheville, N.C. His team built "a community in which our interactions with water, nature, food, community and lifelong learning are seamless and foster sustainable living." It introduces a unique lifestyle that includes a farm funded through a Community Supported Agriculture program built into the cost of living.Scott shares the Olivette lifestyle, and his plans for farm-to-table living that values "gardens over golf courses." In addition to being able to pick up fresh berries and produce from the farm, clusters of homes share large gardens and everyone can borrow shared bicycles to get around. An affluent community, Olivette may provide an early model for reimagining towns that integrate agriculture, wilderness and lifelong learning that can be applied in many settings. Austin point similar projects, such as Serenbe, whose founder Steve Nygren we interviewed in December 2019. There are many lessons to take from the experience of these early efforts at reinventing living for sustainability.To learn more, visit the Olivette Riverside Community and Farm at https://www.olivettenc.com/.

Southern Haunts
:028 The French Broad River

Southern Haunts

Play Episode Play 36 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 11:48


One of the most intriguing and scariest legends out of North Carolina is undoubtedly the legend of the Siren of the French Broad River, dating back to 1845. This beautiful, dark-skinned, raven-haired woman comes to male hikers in their dreams and steps in and out of their consciousness until they are completely captivated and consumed by what she is. Music in this episode: "Melancholia" by Adrian CroiterJoin the spooky fun over at my patreon!www.patreon.com/southernhauntspodcastMake sure to subscribe to Southern Haunts to hear all my spooky stories first! Rates and reviews are always appreciated. Thanks for helping a ghoul out!

BPR News
Raising A Stink: Environmentalists Press City To Address Raw Sewage Runoff In French Broad River

BPR News

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 1:56


Environmentalists and clean water advocates are urging the City of Asheville to do its part in cleaning up the French Broad River.

State by State: an eerie podcast

Jen will discuss Henry Louis Wallace, and Ali will tell you about the Siren of the French Broad River. 

The Adam Messer Show
#61 - Tony Ray Morris

The Adam Messer Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2020 63:19


#61 - Tony Ray Morris - Tony Ray Morris is a poet and the author of the new mystery book Deep River Blues.  http://www.tonymorris.org/ https://www.ossabawwritersretreat.org/ When the body of a young girl washes up on the shores of the French Broad River, Cord McRae, newly elected sheriff of Acre County, Tennessee, suspects her death might be connected to the Glad Earth Farm, a commune just outside the small town of Falston. Guru/leader Levon Gladson and a group of a hundred and twenty-five followers have moved into an old farm that butts up to the Smokies, and Cord suspects they may be growing something more profitable than sorghum cane up in the hills. The mystery's complicated by Cord's investigation into a second recent murder, of an Afghan vet; the growing power of a local “hillbilly” mafia operated by the wily Thorn Reevers; and Cord's own marriage, which is teetering on the edge of divorce over past violence and his on-again, off-again love affair with liquor. With echoes of WINTER'S BONE and the novels of James Lee Burke, DEEP RIVER BLUES will be a worthwhile addition to the regional crime thriller genre. https://amzn.to/3hWaSLx  

Hashtag 59 Podcast
Hashtag 59 Season 3 Episode 42 Podcast: Tennessee

Hashtag 59 Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 18:42


Hashtag 59's Season 3 Podcast is 50 Episodes long and each episode will provide SIX outdoor adventures in each of the US's 50 states. We are doing these episodes in ABC Order of the states and episode forty-two is Tennessee The goal is to give you ideas and opportunities to experience outdoor adventure anywhere and everywhere in the United States of America. Here's our list for Tennessee: 1. Head into Smoky Mountain National Park and take a hike on the Appalachian Trail to the stone outcrop called Charlies Bunion. ... It's a 4-mile moderate hike (8 miles roundtrip) from Newfound Gap on the North Carolina/Tennessee state line, hiking north away from Clingman's Dome. While you climb more than 1,600 feet in elevation, it's a gradual gain. 2. Visit Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville! There is over 315 acres of protected land near Knoxville. There’s 12 miles of trails, a rock climbing area, and you can do swimming, kayaking or canoeing in Mead’s Quarry Lake. 3. South Cumberland State Park: South Cumberland State Park, just outside of Chattanooga, offers more than ninety miles of backpacking with 12 campgrounds. Be sure to check out the popular Fiery Gizzard, a 12.5-mile one-way trail. This trail provides plenty of scenic lookouts and waterfalls. 4. Take in a cave tour and concert via Bluegrass Underground at the Cumberland Caverns in Pellham TN 5. Hike up to the famous Cumberland Gap Mountain Pass inside of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. 6. Go wildflower and bird watching. Birding, river islands, wildflowers, what’s not to like? This recent addition to Tennessee’s state park system covers over 400 acres along the French Broad River in Knox County. Escape the crowds and enjoy the solitude via bike, trail, or boat. Be sure to bring binoculars to view some of the area’s impressive species of birds. Thanks for listening to Season 3 of our podcast featuring all 50 US States and some of each state's unique and hopefully lesser known to you Outdoor Adventures. This episode featured the state of Tennessee. Subscribe to our podcast if you enjoy what you hear and if you feel so inclined to leave a review we would be grateful. Check out www.Hashtag59.com for our old podcast seasons, hundreds of blogs, & outdoor events/team outings info.

Hendersonville, NC Travelogue
Hendersonville Travelogue Episode 6: Paddling In The Hendersonville Area

Hendersonville, NC Travelogue

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2020 9:47


Discover Hendersonville, North Carolina's rivers, which range in difficulty from easy Class I rapids on the French Broad River up to the extremely difficult Class V rapids on the Green River's world-renowned section, "The Narrows." The wide variety of difficulty levels and proximity to rivers throughout the region make Hendersonville a paddler's paradise.

Imbibe Asheville Podcast
GUEST: Aaron Wilson of French Broad River Brewery

Imbibe Asheville Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2020 22:04


Aaron Wilson, head brewer at Asheville's French Broad River Brewery, chats with me about one of Asheville's oldest breweries, new(ish) ownership, expansion, and COVID-19 changes and precautions. Support the show (https://tunein.com/radio/Biz-Radio-1350-s23339/)

Exploration Local
02: Headwaters Outfitters with Jessica Whitmire

Exploration Local

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2020 48:41 Transcription Available


Headwaters is dedicated to providing family-friendly outings along the French Broad River, and beyond: from big groups of 20 family members to the most elite fisher men and women! Their customer service is unmatched and their proud of that. As a small family owned and operated outfitter in Rosman, N.C., they are passionate about sharing their knowledge of Western North Carolina’s natural resources, their love for Appalachian Mountains, and the outdoor recreation opportunities found along the French Broad River Watershed! Jessica Whitmire was raised in this family business and returned after a short teaching career to serve as the Director of Operations of Headwaters. She is entering her sixth year in this position leading the family business.

Talking Out Your Glass podcast

Alex Bernstein: Time, Creation and Transformation   If we were to examine a cross-section of an ancient iceberg, no doubt the layers and various densities and opacities of color would be beautiful, but they would also signify something greater than ourselves. Such is the case with Alex Gabriel Bernstein’s sculpture. The forms and the techniques he uses to create them, mirror processes in nature such as oxidation, erosion, growth and decay, inspiring in the viewer a profound contemplation of time, creation and transformation.   In his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, Bernstein purchased what was a dark and dingy pool hall called Sharkey’s and worked with a local architect to design a bright and open space for creativity. As the French Broad River flows by, the artist casts glass in layers of transparent color which intermingle with ambient light to evoke images of flowing water, ice crystals, mountain peaks and jagged canyons – all structures that seem solid and unyielding, but are actually in constant flux.   Unwittingly, fortuitously, Bernstein discovered a method of applying metal to glass, and began using it as a jagged, impenetrable crust for his glass castings. Though others have openly copied these techniques - resulting in a new verb, “bernstein-ing” - none will achieve the depth or emotions unique to Bernstein’s sculpture.   As the child of two established glass artists, William and Katherine Bernstein, Alex grew up in a creative environment with access to many of the artists of the American Studio Glass movement. The beautiful surroundings of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina where they lived, played almost as much a part in his inspired upbringing as did the breadth of teachers around him.   After studying psychology at the University of North Carolina in Asheville and working at a children’s psychiatric hospital, Bernstein made the decision to pursue his artistic endeavors full time. He received an MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Crafts and went on to teach at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Penland School of Crafts, and The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass. Twelve years ago, Bernstein was the Department Head of Glass at the Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts, but made the decision to return to his hometown in 2007 to set up a studio and focus on creating his own work full-time. He is currently on the board of the Asheville Art Museum as well as the North Carolina Glass Center.    Bernstein has recently mounted solo shows at George Billis Gallery, New York City; Hooks Epstein Gallery in Houston; Habatat Gallery in Royal Oak, MI; and the William Traver Gallery, Seattle. His work is included in numerous collections, including those of the Corning Museum of Glass, the Glasmuseum Frauenau in Germany, the Mellon Financial Corporation, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Palm Springs Art Museum.   Upcoming Bernstein exhibitions and events include Habatat Prime Chicago, a pop-up gallery located three miles from Navy Pier and open during Sofa Chicago. The 7500-square-foot space offers an incredible collection of the finest in contemporary glass, including Bernstein’s newest work. Winterowd Fine Art, a contemporary art gallery located on historic Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is gearing up for Bernstein’s solo exhibition in 2020. In January 2020, Bernstein’s work will be exhibited at a collectors weekend held at Lahaina Gallery in Maui, Hawaii.    

Carolina Outdoors
Folly Beach: A Smart Destination

Carolina Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2019 7:42


Both of the ‘Outdoor Guys’ are back in the hot seat with Don fresh in from Missouri and Bill in from South Carolina’s Folly Beach. The sand and water were still at the beach when the Bartee family arrived, as well as some delicious fried seafood! Bowen’s Restaurant, an old famous eatery featuring fans, no A/C, beautiful sunsets, and yummy food, is on the only road leading down to Folly, and Bill tempts tastebuds during this segment. From there, to the Folly Beach County Park, to the Folly Beach Pier, back up to Lake Wylie, and then to the French Broad River with Sky Tubing, the ‘Outdoor Guys’ truly cover the Carolinas!

Carolina Outdoors
Everything to Have a Carolina Summer

Carolina Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2019 11:14


Continuing with the theme of “a Carolina summer,” Don and Wes discuss other fantastic activities to do and locations to see throughout the state! Joining in, is WBT’s Ed Billick, speaking on the Cashiers/Highlands area and all of the hiking trails and inns in the immediate vicinity. From the Biltmore Estate and the French Broad River to new products (such as fall wear and continuing summer wear) at Jesse Brown’s, from Alaska outfitting to fly-fishing throughout the United States, summer is still in session with a variety of activities to get you out and about!

Speaking of Travel®
Leap Frog Tours Is A Trusted Name For Great Tours In Western North Carolina

Speaking of Travel®

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2019 20:35


Whether you’re a local or visiting Western North Carolina for the first time, Leap Frog Tours offers fun opportunities to explore the area, from beer to art and everything in-between. They offer tours with set itineraries, custom excursions, and transportation services all over the area.Ann Smith, owner and founder of Leap Frog Tours, explains why they love showcasing Western North Carolina. Discover how you can sip your way through the extensive craft beer scene, see elk in their natural habitat, learn about the benefits of hemp and CBD, explore the history of the French Broad River and so much more.Visit leapfrogtours.com and book your tour today!

MountainLore
The Siren Of The French Broad River

MountainLore

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2019 7:34


Beware the siren’s call or you might find yourself adrift forever in the French Broad River… The MountainLore podcast is available, for free, on most podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RadioPublic, TuneIn and Spotify. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners… Subscribe at Apple Podcasts.

Chasing History Radio
Chasing History Radio: Black Powder to New Orleans

Chasing History Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2019 10:06


In this episode, Chase and the guys talk about how Black Powder was made on the banks of the French Broad River and saved Andrew Jackson's men along with the fate of the fledgling United States during the war of 1812 at the Battle of New Orleans.

Toast and Tea
Episode 2 - Perspective - Live from the banks of the French Broad River in Asheville, NC

Toast and Tea

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2018 14:51


Perspective - A different view. What's real? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toastandtea/support

Drink Local Now!
French Broad River Brewery

Drink Local Now!

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2018 54:32


The sign is hanging in French Broad River Brewery and dates back to before The Green Man buy out by Dennis. Green Man started in the back of Jack of Wood, but they weren’t the only ones who started there. Born around the same time, French Broad River Brewery started there, as well. In episode #0060 of Drink Local Now we are honored to be drinking craft beer with head brewer Aaron Wilson of French Broad, and Ted Clevenger of Ashevile Brewers Supply. Chris and Tommy are humbled by the knowledge of these Asheville craft beer legends, whose brewing relationship dates back a decade. Lots to be learned by listening, as Tommy points out, “I need to learn to shut the f*ck up!”

Southern Appalachian Creature Feature
Lake sturgeon return to North Carolina

Southern Appalachian Creature Feature

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2015 1:30


Absent for more than half a century, lake sturgeon returned to North Carolina waters this fall as seven-thousand fish were released into the French Broad River.

Southern Appalachian Creature Feature
Haywood County kids hit the water

Southern Appalachian Creature Feature

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2010 1:29


The headwaters of the Pigeon River are just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The river flows northwest across North Carolina’s Haywood County, crossing into Tennessee before joining the French Broad River. The town of Canton, North Carolina straddles the river and is home to a paper mill that was the historical source of water quality problems that eliminated much of the life in the river for miles downstream - one of the most egregious examples of water pollution in the Southern Appalachians.