Podcasts about Great Smoky Mountains

Head on down to Rocky Top with Randy, Caly, and Visit Knoxville Director of Communications Kristen Combs as they explore the Sunsphere, Market Square, Southern cuisine, outdoor adventures, and other top things to do in Knoxville, Tennessee—a unique city at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.Plan your next trip to Knoxville at https://VisitKnoxville.comSubscribe to RV Destinations Magazine at https://RVDestinationsMagazine.com and use code PODCAST20 to save 20% on your subscription today!

Great Smoky Mountains' Katie Liming joins Bob Thomas to talk about the synchronous fireflies events taking place this summer, the lottery process to win tickets, hiking in the Smoky Mountains & more! #PhilShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's True Weird Stuff - Bloody Bishop   In 1976, a respected U.S. diplomat named  William Bradford Bishop murdered his wife, mother, and three sons. He drove their bodies 275 miles to a swamp and set them on fire. Bishop vanished soon after, abandoning his car near the Great Smoky Mountains. He spent nearly 42 years on the FBI’s Most Wanted list and was never captured. No one knows if he died in those mountains…or if he simply became someone else.  

Tonight on America at Night with McGraw Milhaven: Professor Anat Alon-Beck, an expert in corporate governance and tech litigation, joins the show to discuss the high-stakes OpenAI trial and what the case could mean for the future of artificial intelligence, corporate responsibility, and the rapidly evolving tech industry. Elahe Izadi, staff writer and podcast host for The Washington Post, examines what Stephen Colbert's cancellation could mean for the future of late-night television, the shifting media landscape, and how audiences are changing the way they consume entertainment and political commentary. Plus, Jacqueline “Jackie” Harp, Executive Director of Smokies Life, joins the program for the weekly National Parks segment to highlight the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States and a vital part of America's natural heritage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's RV news is big. A congressional hearing reveals what really happened when the Grand Canyon burned. A potential mega-merger could reshape every RV on the road. Bears are attacking hikers at the most visited park in America. And the national parks are opening - with some major changes you need to know before you go.In this episode:The Dragon Bravo Fire scandal: did the NPS let it burn on purpose? Congress wants answers.Fire season is already here - Southeast RVers, there are campfire bans in effect RIGHT NOWPatrick Industries and Lippert in merger talks - the two companies inside your RV want to combineBears attacked six hikers at Great Smoky Mountains in two weekends - here is what not to doGrand Canyon North Rim reopens May 15 after the most destructive fire in park historyGlacier National Park drops its reservation system for 2026 - finallyAcadia, Yellowstone updates - and an RV height warning Acadia visitors must hearNew episodes every Monday (News) and Wednesday (Stories from the Road). Subscribe so you never miss one.Join our community at RVCommunity.com - ad-free, no algorithms, just RVers. Plan your next trip at rvlifestyle.com/plan

I took this episode from an article I wrote for Flying Snake magazine, which was published in December 2020 (Vol. 6, #18). Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. The Great Smoky Mountains is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, which stretches from the middle of Alabama in the United States north into southeastern Canada. The Appalachians formed when the world's continents crunched together to form the supercontinent Pangaea. The southern Appalachians formed separately and later than the northern Appalachians, around 270 million years ago. The Appalachians were once as high as the Rockies or Himalayas, but by the time the dinosaurs went extinct, they had eroded down to the mountain cores. Sediment weathered from the peaks and filled in valleys. But during the Pleistocene, when massive glaciers covered the northern parts of North America, the weight of the ice pushed the North American plate down, causing the southern part of the plate to rise. Eventually the ancient mountains' roots were a thousand feet (300 m) above sea level again. Rivers that once flowed east into the Atlantic Ocean or west into the remains of the shallow Western Interior Seaway shifted their courses to flow northward. Streams that once meandered across the land now plunged down steep slopes and dug gorges into the rock. And over thousands of years, animals and plants retreating from the ice migrated southward along the mountain range. When the climate warmed some 11,000 years ago and the ice age glaciers melted, many cold-adapted species were trapped in the peaks of the southern Appalachians. One of the highest peaks is Mount LeConte, with its highest point, High Top, measured at 6,593 ft, or 2,010 meters. I hiked Mount LeConte on 7 May, 2016 when the weather in nearby Knoxville, Tennessee was a warm 82 Fahrenheit, or 27.8 Celcius, but there was snow on the mountain that morning. I wrote my name in it. A spruce-fir forest grows on the upper slopes, a remnant of forest that grew throughout the mountains during the last ice age. The climate at the peak of Mount LeConte is more like that of southern Canada than the warm, humid southeastern United States. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 to protect the mountains along the Tennessee/North Carolina border. No one lives in the park's 800 square miles (2,072 square km), which receives up to 90 inches [2.29 m] of rain a year, some of it from hurricanes that sweep up from the southern Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. Large tracts of old-growth forest still remain in the park too. So as you can see, the Smokies are a biodiversity hotspot. In 2018, the park announced its 1,000th species discovered that is new to science, which by July 2020 had grown to 1,025. Overall, 20,000 known species live in the park as of 2019 and scientists estimate that up to 100,000 more are yet to be discovered. The Smokies are heavily forested, of course, but some mountain summits and crests have no trees. Instead, native grasses and shrubs grow. They're called grassy balds and no one is sure why they exist. The prevailing theory is that Pleistocene megaherbivores opened the forests for grazing, and after their extinction, the balds remained open due to bison, elk (wapiti), and deer. When white settlers moved into the area, they used the balds to graze cattle and other livestock. Remains of mammoth and mastodon, musk ox, ground sloth, and other megaherbivores have been excavated from various balds throughout the park. Amphibian enthusiasts call the Smokies the Salamander Capital of the World, with 30 known species. Largest of these is the hellbender, which we talked about in episode 14, a giant salamander that can grow nearly 2 ½ feet long, or 74 cm, and which lives in swift-moving mountain streams. It's most closely related to the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders, which can grow over twice as long as the hellbender. Twenty-seven of the salamanders found in the Smokies are lungless, in the family Plethodontidae. Instead of breathing with lungs or gills, the lungless salamanders absorb oxygen through their skin. Of these, the red-cheeked salamander is endemic to the Smokies—that is, it's found nowhere else in the world. The red-cheeked salamander lives in forests in high elevations. It can grow up to seven inches long, or 18 cm, and is gray or black with bright red patches on its face. It spends the day in a burrow, then comes out at night to find insects in the leaf litter. But it's hard to tell apart from the imitator salamander, although the imitator only grows a little over four inches long, or 11 cm. The imitator has red cheeks but its body is patterned black and brown instead of solid gray or black. Sometimes its cheeks are yellow, too, while the red-cheeked salamander only ever has red cheeks. Another animal found only in the Smoky Mountains, although it may also be present in mountains outside of the park, is a species of jeweled spider fly called Mary-Alice's emerald (Eulonchus marialiciae). Mary-Alice's emerald has a metallic-green body and yellow legs, and the adults eat nectar. But the larvae eat spiders. Specifically, they parasitize spiders. After hatching, the larva goes in search of a spider, especially trapdoor spiders that live in burrows. When it finds one, it works its way into the spider's body and eats it from the inside out, eventually killing it. Then it pupates in the burrow and emerges as an adult spider fly. It prefers high elevations that are cool and moist. A less horrific animal found in the Smokies is the Carolina northern flying squirrel. It was one of the species whose ancestors migrated south along the Appalachians during the Pleistocene. Then, after temperatures started to warm, the cold-adapted flying squirrel migrated north again. Some populations remained on mountaintops in the Smoky Mountains and have been isolated for thousands of years, evolving into a subspecies of flying squirrel found only in high elevations of the Smokies. It's much rarer than the southern flying squirrel that lives throughout the southeastern United States, and prefers spruce forests instead of the hardwood forests that southern flying squirrels like. But the spruce forests are threatened by climate change, the introduced woolly adelgid insect that kills fir trees, and pollution in the form of acid rain and pesticides that travel to the mountains from other states and even other countries. The Carolina northern flying squirrel has a patagium of furry skin that connects its front and back legs. When it jumps from a branch, it stretches its legs out and uses the patagia to glide to a new perch. It's clumsy on the ground, though, and spends most of its time in trees. It mostly eats fungi, mushrooms, and lichens, but will also eat nuts, insects, bird eggs and even baby birds, and other plant material like tree sap and buds. Bobcats still live in the Smokies, but the cougar, or mountain lion, was supposedly killed off in the area by the end of the 19th century. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the eastern cougar subspecies from the endangered species list in 2018, since it is supposed to be extinct. The last cougar in what is now the park was supposedly killed in 1920. But sightings continue in the Smokies, close to a dozen a year, and some sightings are compelling, like the 2002 report of a cougar crossing a road in the park, spotted by a veterinarian who treated captive cougars in his practice. Considering how seldom seen the bobcat is despite it being relatively abundant, it's possible that a small number of cougars still live in the park—either animals that have moved back into the mountains from elsewhere, or a relict population. The red wolf is native to the eastern United States and was once common in the Smoky Mountains, but was killed off by white settlers throughout most of its range. Where it remained in the wild, it interbred with closely related coyotes, until it was declared extinct in the wild in 1980. Fortunately, by then a captive breeding program was in place. Starting in 1991, 37 red wolves were released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, following the release of 63 red wolves into the Alligator River Natural Area in North Carolina a few years earlier. But the release didn't go well in the Smokies. Wolves are shy and need enormous territories with lots of game. Before long some wolves were leaving the park and attacking livestock. Others died of parvo virus, especially wolf pups. Worse, this was about the same time that coyotes moved into the area from the west. The wolves started interbreeding with the coyotes, and the coyotes also competed with the wolves for food. In 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Service ended the program and recaptured all but one of the wolves originally released into the park. The North Carolina release went better, with a population peak in 2006 estimated at nearly 130 wolves. But that program was suspended in 2015, and without management of the wild population, the number has dwindled. As of 2019, only 14 wolves remain in North Carolina—and that's the entire population of red wolves in the wild. But sightings of red wolves continue in the Smokies. The trouble is that the red wolf looks very similar to the coyote. It's taller and larger, with a more pronounced reddish shade to its coat, but even experts can have trouble telling the two species apart if they can't get a good look at the animal. Most likely people are seeing coyotes, possibly ones descended from red wolf/coyote hybrids born during the reintroduction program. The biggest mystery in the park is the occasional sighting of a Bigfoot-type creature. Most sightings are probably bears, though. An estimated 1,500 American black bears live in the Smokies, and while some bears get used to hikers and tourists, most are shy and seldom seen. A black bear keeping an eye on hikers or cars will sometimes stand on its hind legs for a better view, and would naturally look like a hulking humanoid if glimpsed. But other sightings aren't so easy to explain. In February of 2009, a photographer named Deb Campbell was hiking the Middle Prong Trail in the snow. The Middle Prong Trail passes three major waterfalls and many smaller ones as it follows along a tributary of the Little River. She had the trail almost completely to herself—she says she only saw one person the whole time. Later she reported, “[A]t some point I am photographing along the stream and I start to smell a gawd awful stench. Not really like anything I had ever smelled before. I look around, see nothing, listen intently…nothing. So I finish up at that spot and go further up the trail.” The smell receded behind her but the snow increased, so finally she turned around to hike out. Around the area where she smelled the stink earlier, she started feeling watched. She stopped long enough to secure her camera gear for much faster hiking in slick conditions, when she heard a deep growl that she described as “very low, not like a cat, almost guttural.” Needless to say, she got off the mountain as quickly as possible. The black bear doesn't truly hibernate since its body temperature remains normal instead of dropping, but it does find a den in cold weather and will sleep for long stretches. It may emerge from its den occasionally during the winter during warm spells, but for the most part it's asleep in its den from around November through March in the Smoky Mountains. But Campbell was hiking in February during a snowfall, with snow already on the ground. A bear would most likely not be out of its den in that weather unless it had been disturbed. And bears don't actually smell bad. During the winter hibernation most bears don't defecate at all. Any feces left in a bear's digestive tract harden to form a fecal plug. If it does feel the need to defecate near the end of the winter, it will do so just outside its den, but the fecal plug has very little odor. Even under ordinary conditions, unless a bear has been eating carrion, it will smell no worse than a dog that needs a bath. Not only that, black bears don't actually growl. They make grunty, huffing noises when warning people away or when males fight in the summer, and a frightened bear will moan, but they don't growl like a dog. It's possible that Campbell hiked past a bear that had emerged from its den early and had found and eaten carrion, possibly roadkill, and that she was so close to the bear without seeing it that she smelled its breath. That's almost more frightening than the thought of passing near a Bigfoot. The growl might have come from a different animal, a coyote or who knows, maybe even a red wolf. Or Campbell might have encountered a creature sometimes called a skunk ape due to its foul odor. The skunk ape is most commonly reported in Florida swamps, but sightings—or smellings—have come from many other states. The smell is sometimes described as that of rotting food and roadkill on a hot day. A bear or other animal that has been rooting around in garbage bins can pick up this odor, especially in hot weather, but it's hard to believe that a bear would be actively foraging so much in winter that it would smell like trash. January and February are the depths of winter in East Tennessee. The bears are hibernating, not foraging. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening! This is what a couple of fighting bears sound like: [bear sounds]

Tennessee is known for its rolling hills and deep river valleys, but beneath the scenic beauty lies a history of bone-chilling encounters with the unknown. In this episode, we dive into the top 5 cryptids that call Tennessee home.We explore the legend of the Tennessee River Monster, a "Leviathan of the Deep South" with reports of aggressive attacks dating back to the 1800s. We move into the dense woods of Dickson County to hear the blood-curdling tales of the White Bluff Screamer, a creature known for its terrifying, banshee-like shrieks.The journey continues with the Tennessee Wild Man, the region's own powerful and elusive version of Bigfoot, and the bizarre, semi-aquatic Lizard Man of Big South Fork. Finally, we look at the modern-day "super swine" known as Hogzilla, a massive apex predator roaming the Great Smoky Mountains. Join us as we uncover the history, the sightings, and the enduring mysteries of these Appalachian legends.Have your own story? Send it to us: https://www.spookyappalachia.com/submitastory.phpStay Spooky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Scott and Jesse discuss President Donald Trump's call for TVA CEO Don Moul's pay to be cut by 90 percent; informational signs in the Great Smoky Mountains flagged for supposedly objectionable content by the Trump administration; a breakthrough in an almost 40-year-old Knoxville missing person case; the University of Tennessee's research ambitions; the arrest of a Nashville Spanish-language reporter by ICE; and the removal of two Republican candidates from the May primary ballot. They also look ahead to this week's meetings of County Commission, City Council, and the UT Knoxville Campus Advisory Board. This is a FREE service of CompassKnox.com SHARE IT...with EVERYONE

Want a truck that works hard without the luxury price tag? We take the 2025 Ford F-150 STX SuperCrew 4x4 on real roads to see how its 5.0-liter V8, 10-speed automatic, and direct steering stack up against the high-trim hype. With 12,700 lbs of towing, 1,685 lbs of payload, and a standard 12-inch center screen, this “lower” trim still brings serious muscle and everyday comfort. We break down the maze of trims, cabs, beds, and engines, then map the pricing landscape against Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra, and Chevy Silverado to pinpoint where the value truly lives.From there, we trade spec sheets for scenery with five family-ready spring break road trips. Base out of Flagstaff for a Grand Canyon loop with Sedona red rocks and Route 66 neon, or chase ocean air on California's Pacific Coast Highway with Monterey and Santa Cruz stops. Prefer forests and wildlife? The Great Smoky Mountains deliver waterfall pullouts, easy hikes, and a Cades Cove loop with deer and black bear sightings. Desert dreamers get a cooler-season window into Utah's Mighty Five—Zion, Bryce, and Arches—where short hikes lead to vast views. And if nostalgia calls, string together Route 66 segments for vintage motels, classic diners, and Americana in motion.We also pull back the curtain on parking lot design. Why do angled spaces feel easier? When does perpendicular packing backfire? We explain 30, 45, and 60-degree tradeoffs, one-way flow, door clearance, and ADA considerations so you can pick smarter spots and keep your doors ding-free. Finally, we put the 2026 Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus under the microscope. With 227 hp, 310 lb-ft, upscale materials, and a compact footprint, it's a lively daily driver—though a small trunk opening and fussy infotainment hold it back. We compare it with Civic, Corolla, and Elantra to help you choose the right compact for your roads.If this helped you sort your next truck or plan a better road trip, follow the show, share it with a friend, and drop a quick review—what would you drive first, the F-150 STX or the Mazda 3?Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.---- ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time? In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy! Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.----- -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at info@inwheeltime.com

What keeps a classic car honest isn't a fresh coat of paint—it's the quiet, careful work that makes it start, steer, and stop like it should. We sit down with Tim Winton, founder of Cambrian Classics in West Wales, to unpack the craft of mechanical stewardship: how a small, dedicated team brings MGs, Triumphs, Austin‑Healeys, Alfas, and air‑cooled VWs back from the shed to the street. Tim shares the overlooked checks that transform the driving experience—like why an MGB's steering rack must be oil‑filled—and how correct tire pressures, proper lubrication, and smart carb and ignition tuning often beat expensive “upgrades.”Tim's journey from the modern motor trade to a thriving classic workshop reveals what really builds trust: consistent results and a feel for how these machines were meant to behave. We talk MG identity in 2026, the difference between bodywork makeovers and true recommissioning, and why variety—from a TR5 to a rare Humber Hawk—keeps the craft sharp. You'll hear how long‑stored cars return to life step‑by‑step, and why experience across “a hundred variations on a theme” helps diagnose issues by sound and feel alone.We broaden the lens with two practical segments for everyday drivers and road‑trippers. First, a clear look at parking space design—30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° layouts—how aisle widths and one‑way flow affect access, safety, and door clearance, and why perpendicular slots can be the worst for usability. Then we map five spring break road trips across the United States: the Grand Canyon loop from Flagstaff, California's Pacific Coast Highway, the Great Smoky Mountains, Utah's Mighty Five, and the timeless pull of Route 66. Whether you drive a well‑loved MG or a modern SUV, you'll leave with actionable tips and fresh ideas for the next journey.If this mix of hands‑on wisdom and road inspiration hit the mark, follow the show, share it with a car‑loving friend, and leave a quick review so more enthusiasts can find us.Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.---- ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time? In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy! Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.----- -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at info@inwheeltime.com

4 Disappearances That Search Teams Still Can't ExplainLinktree: https://linktr.ee/its_just_creepyStory Credits:►Sent in to https://www.justcreepy.net/Music by:►'Shadows and Dust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auHe walked a hundred yards ahead of his group. When they caught up… he was gone. No body. No gear. No trace. Just silence.Tonight, we cover four lesser-known disappearances of adults who vanished in the wilderness under circumstances that still don't make sense. A hunting guide who knew the woods better than anyone alive. A woman who waved at her friends, walked over a hill, and ceased to exist. The only park ranger in modern history to vanish from his post and never be found. And a hiker whose backpack was recovered — but never him.These are not famous cases. These are the ones that slipped through the cracks. And they might be the most unsettling stories I've ever told.

Disappearances in the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Go to https://kachava.com and use code HSP for 15% off your first order. One summer, a 24-year-old runner parked her car on a remote Wyoming road, left behind a to-do list with one uncrossed item "run" and was never seen again. Across the country, another woman was walking with friends on a well-traveled trail in the Great Smoky Mountains, went off ahead of her friends, and vanished without a trace. Today, we're diving into two backwoods disappearances, where the search parties found almost nothing, and the questions still go unanswered.  These are the cases of Amy Wroe Bechtel and Polly Melton.  Both of the cases in today's episode are open and unsolved. If you have any information please contact the below:  Amy Wroe Bechtel: Please Contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-442-8477. or the Fremont County Sheriff at 307-332-5611 Pauline Melton: Please Contact Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 615-744-4000 or the National Parks Service  https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/cold-cases.html Subscribe on⁠ Patreon⁠ to become a member of our Rogue Detecting Society and enjoy ad-free listening, monthly bonus content, merch discounts and more. Members of our High Council on Patreon also have access to our weekly after-show, Footnotes, where I share my case file with our producer, Matt. You can also enjoy many of these same perks, including ad-free listening and bonus content when you subscribe on Apple Podcasts . Follow on⁠ Tik Tok⁠ and⁠ Instagram⁠ for a daily dose of horror. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In June 2004, a 22-year-old college student was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, who had been stalking her for months. The suspect fled the state and triggered a multi-agency manhunt that stretched across the Southeast and ended with a high-risk pursuit in the rugged terrain of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Support the show!For bonus content join our Patreon!patreon.com/CrimeOfftheGridFor a one time donation:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cotgFor more information about the podcast, check outhttps://crimeoffthegrid.com/Check out our Merch!!  https://in-wild-places.square.site/s/shopFollow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crimeoffthegridpodcast/ and  (1) FacebookSources:https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2004/06/10/murder-suspect-killed-himself/30552840007/ https://www.wect.com/story/1925156/john-peck-killed-after-chase-shootout/ https://www.carolinajournal.com/killings-shock-wilmington-campus/ https://www.stalkingawareness.org/about-sparc/ https://www.wral.com/story/111447/ https://npshistory.com/morningreport/incidents/grsm.htm

Paranormal Insight welcomes Vinnie "Funkmaster V" Vineyard January 15th, 2026 EP: 62 Vinnie "Funkmaster V" Vineyard is a versatile performer. He has garnered notoriety in filmmaking, radio, music, stand up comedy, professional wrestling and acting. In 2013, the Maryville Daily Times did a piece on Vineyard, suggesting that he possibly is the most interesting man in East Tennessee shortly after he won his party's nomination for state representative. Vineyard, along with his tag team partners "Big Luke" Walker and Travis "El Gordo Gringo" Graves, created their own paranormal TV show "Wrestling With Ghosts" which airs on several stations. In 2018, he ran for Tennessee State Governor. He has since created the Paranormal TV shows "It Happened to Me..." "Haunted Graves", and a comedy skit show entitled "Lets Make Love with Big N Funky." Vinnie and his tag team partner "Big" Luke Walker have started writing and producing six movies about some of the legends, myths, and stories surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains in a collection they call "The Smoky Mountain Chronicles". These include WJHC AM, The Hike, Showdown in Secret City and Camp Smokey.

Every once in a while, a story comes across my desk that stops me cold. Not because it's sensational, but because it's precise, deeply personal, and impossible to dismiss. The account you're about to hear is one of those. It arrived as a letter from a man I'm calling Tom, a seventeen-year park ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains who has spent his life dealing in facts, emergencies, and hard reality—not Bigfoot stories.Tom was called to a remote homestead owned by an eighty-two-year-old woman named Mabel. Something had been raiding her property, tearing apart her barn, stealing dog food and chickens, and—most unsettling of all—unlatching doors and closing them behind itself. Bears don't do that. What Tom found near the coop were sixteen-inch footprints with five toes, unmistakably primate, and impossible by any known standard.What followed changed everything he thought he knew about those mountains. Mabel told him she had lived alongside these creatures her entire life. Her mother, her grandmother, and even her great-grandmother had known about them since settling that hollow in the 1840s. There had always been rules, boundaries, and even communication. But a new presence had arrived—larger, gray-furred, aggressive—and for the first time in eighty years, Mabel was afraid. Tom chose to stay. Over the next two weeks, he documented wood knocks, vocalizations unlike any known animal, tree breaks forming deliberate perimeters, rocks thrown with intent, and images from trail cameras that still haunt him. With help from a trusted wildlife officer, he gathered casts, recordings, and photographs that defy easy explanation. And on the eleventh night, he had an encounter that permanently altered his understanding of reality. This story doesn't end with proof or confrontation. It ends with something far rarer: understanding.Tom wrestled with whether to share this, knowing the cost of speaking out. But he thought of Mabel, of his friend who'd carried his own encounter in silence, and of everyone who's seen something in these woods and been told they imagined it. I believe him.What you're about to hear is exactly as Tom wrote it, in his own words. It's long. It's detailed. And it's one of the most moving accounts I've ever received.So settle in. From an eighty-acre homestead at the edge of the Smoky Mountains, this is the letter from Ranger Tom.

What can real trail time in the Great Smoky Mountains reveal about where today's light-truck tires truly fit? In this episode of What's Treading, Tire Review heads to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a hands-on ride and drive featuring three Hankook Tire Dynapro tires: the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme, Dynapro MT2, and Dynapro XT. We got the opportunity to test and compare how each tire handled on-road driving and off-road terrain. See the testing conditions, compare performance differences, and hear Robert Nasca, product and sales training manager, and K.C. Jensen, VP of U.S. PC/LT sales, explain how each tire fits drivers who split time between pavement, dirt, and rocky terrain.

Missing Teen Walks Out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park After 11 Days!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Strange Stories from the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

The Articulate Fly's final Casting Angles segment of 2025 delivers essential cold weather fly fishing strategies from host Marvin Cash and fly fishing expert Mac Brown, owner of Mac Brown Fly Fish in the Great Smoky Mountains. As winter conditions settle across the country, Mac shares decades of hard-earned wisdom on layering techniques and gear selection that keep anglers comfortable and effective on the water when temperatures drop into the 20s and below. Learn Mac's counterintuitive footwear approach of wearing boots 1-2 sizes larger to accommodate heavy wool socks without restricting circulation, preventing the painful cold that results from compressed feet. Discover the complete layering system using silk weight Capilene base layers, expedition weight mid-layers and quality Gore-Tex outer shells, plus Mac's ingenious shower cap trick for superior heat retention under toboggans. The discussion covers critical hand protection using poly or nitrile food service gloves that maintain full casting sensitivity and strike detection while keeping hands warm through wet line handling. Mac and Marvin also share tactical tips including why your jacket should always go over your waders, the value of Hot Hands and vintage hand warmers and how carrying a simple backpacking stove for hot beverages can extend your productive fishing time when temperatures drop. Whether you're pursuing winter trout in neoprene waders or preparing for your first cold weather outing, this episode provides the complete blueprint for staying warm, dry and fishing effectively all winter long.Related ContentS6, Ep 141 - Mastering Cold Weather Fly Fishing with Mac BrownS6, Ep 145 - Navigating Winter Waters: Unconventional Strategies with Mac BrownS6, Ep 130 - Casting in Color: Mac Brown's Fall Fly Fishing StrategiesS7, Ep 20 - Practice Makes Perfect: Mac Brown on Mastering Casting TechniquesAll Things Social MediaFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your...

Head into the Great Smoky Mountains with Randy, Caly, and Dana Soehn, President and CEO of Friends of the Smokies, as they explore America's most visited national park. Discover the hiking trails, historic Appalachian culture, scenic overlooks, hidden gems, and conservation efforts that protect this iconic landscape for future generations. Learn more about Friends of the Smokies at https://FriendsOfTheSmokies.orgSubscribe to RV Destinations Magazine at https://RVDestinationsMagazine.com and use code PODCAST20 to save 20% on your subscription today!

Welcome to this special collection episode of Sasquatch Odyssey, featuring six of the most compelling Bigfoot encounters I've documented across the Southeastern United States over the past five years. These stories span sixty years of fear, awe, and unanswered questions, carrying us from Alabama's river bottoms to South Carolina's swamps, and showing why the South may be one of the last true sanctuaries for something we still don't understand.We open in the suffocating heat of Alabama in 1967, where a power company lineman working near the Cahaba River noticed something impossible: massive handprints sunk deep into a utility pole. Moments later, he found himself face to face with a towering presence that moved with purpose and intelligence. That encounter sets the tone for everything that follows—brief, terrifying interactions where the creature controls the moment, revealing itself only on its own terms.From there, we climb into the mountains of North Georgia in 1973, where four seasoned hunters discovered the woods had a hierarchy they didn't sit atop.Near Blue Ridge, their camp became the target of relentless intimidation—rocks crashing through darkness, trees shaking violently, and a chilling discovery at dawn: dozens of stick figures arranged in a perfect warning circle around them. The night didn't just scare them; it shattered friendships and ended their lives in the forest forever.The third account takes us into Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains in 1985, where a park ranger and wildlife biologist experienced something that demolished her scientific certainty. While stationed in a fire tower, she watched a massive creature climb the structure and examine her equipment with unsettling curiosity, as if it understood what it was seeing. Even more disturbing was what she learned afterward—that similar encounters had been quietly documented for decades, tucked away and never meant for public eyes.The most heartbreaking story comes from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in 1991.A family camping trip turned into a nightmare when towering beings approached their site and demonstrated strength beyond anything human—crushing rocks in their hands while the family huddled in terror. A young girl watched it unfold, and the trauma that followed tore the family apart, leaving permanent scars long after the woods fell silent again. In 2002, deep in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest, an experienced hiker found himself living through an encounter unlike any other in my files. He described three days in captivity with what appeared to be a family group of these beings, observing tool use, complex social behavior, and a kind of focused curiosity toward human objects. His story challenges the idea of Sasquatch as a solitary wilderness phantom and suggests something closer to culture—structured intelligence living beyond our reach.Our final encounter lands in South Carolina in 2014, when college biology students captured forty-three minutes of high-definition footage of a creature inspecting their research equipment with clear understanding of its purpose.What happened next was just as chilling as what they filmed: a rapid government response, confiscated evidence, and enforced silence that raises the question of how long this phenomenon has truly been known—and how actively it's been buried.Across six stories and six decades, the same threads surface again and again: the heavy, musky odor that announces their presence, the massive handprints left behind like signatures, and the unnerving sense of being watched by something that doesn't panic or flee—but evaluates. Most unsettling of all is the repeated realization that these creatures could harm us effortlessly, yet choose restraint instead. Witnesses don't describe a mere animal. They describe something hovering in a blurred space between human and beast, perfectly adapted to remain hidden while living alongside us. What emerges from these accounts is a portrait of the American South as a vast refuge for an undiscovered species—or perhaps a parallel branch of human evolution that chose isolation over contact. From Alabama's rivers to Tennessee's peaks and the deep wild of the Ozarks and Carolinas, these beings have claimed territories in the spaces we've ignored or forgotten. They watch from cover, occasionally stepping into view when a boundary is crossed, always vanishing before the mystery can be pinned down. They want you to know the woods are not empty, that something ancient and intelligent still moves through them, and that the old instinct to tread carefully in the dark may be rooted in more than superstition.As you listen, notice how the behavior of these creatures shifts over time, especially around human technology. Consider what it means that responses to evidence sometimes seem immediate and organized. And ask yourself what else might be sitting in classified files, protected by silence and dismissal. These aren't campfire tales or urban legends. They are documented encounters from credible witnesses whose lives were never the same afterward. The South keeps its secrets well, but every now and then—between darkness and dawn, between wilderness and civilization—those secrets step out just long enough to remind us how much we still don't know.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.

Welcome to this special collection episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, a journey across sixty years of encounters from the deep woods of the Southeastern United States. In this episode, I share six of the most compelling accounts I've documented over the past five years—stories that take us from the riverbanks of Alabama to the swamps of South Carolina and reveal just how many secrets the South still keeps hidden.Our journey begins in Alabama in 1967, where a power company lineman discovered enormous handprints embedded in a utility pole along the Cahaba River. His face-to-face encounter with a towering creature challenged everything he believed about the world and set the tone for the stories that followed: intelligent beings that choose their moments carefully and always remain in control. From there, we move into the mountains of North Georgia in 1973, where four seasoned hunters found themselves under siege near Blue Ridge. A night of rock throwing, violent tree shaking, and dozens of stick figures arranged in a perfect warning circle around their camp left them shattered and unwilling to ever return to the woods.In Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains in 1985, a park ranger and wildlife biologist had her scientific worldview upended when a massive creature climbed her fire tower and examined her equipment with deliberate intelligence. Her experience led her to discover that the Park Service had quietly documented similar incidents for decades.The most tragic encounter comes from the Ozark Mountains in 1991, where a family camping trip spiraled into terror. A young girl watched as towering beings demonstrated their strength by crushing rocks with their bare hands. The emotional and psychological fallout broke her family apart, leaving scars that never healed. In 2002, the forests of North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest became the setting for an encounter unlike any before it. An experienced hiker spent three days in what he described as captivity with a family group of these beings, observing their social dynamics, tool use, and an unmistakable curiosity about human objects—suggesting a species far more complex than previously imagined.Our final story takes us to South Carolina in 2014, where two college biology students captured over forty minutes of high-definition footage showing a creature examining their research equipment with clear understanding of its purpose. The immediate government intervention and enforced silence that followed hinted at a much larger effort to conceal the truth. Across all six encounters, the patterns are unmistakable: the heavy musky odor that announces their presence, the massive handprints, the intelligent eyes studying and evaluating, and the sense that these beings could harm us—but choose not to. Together, these stories paint the American South as a hidden refuge for an undiscovered species, or perhaps a separate branch of human evolution that has mastered the art of staying unseen. This episode serves as both a warning and an invitation. The woods are not empty. Something ancient and intelligent is out there, watching from the edges of our world. As you listen, consider how these beings' behavior has evolved over the decades, how closely they seem to be studying us, and what it means that evidence is so quickly suppressed. These are not campfire tales—they are the testimonies of people whose lives were forever changed by what they saw. And sometimes, in the quiet space between dusk and dawn, the South's best-kept secrets step out of the darkness and make themselves known.

Many fans of the iconic Predator film franchise are all too familiar with that unmistakable click-click-click, the guttural growl, and the eerie shimmer of its cloaking device.Our guest today, Jason York, heard and witnessed something chillingly similar while filming the gripping documentary Sasquatch and the Missing Man in the remote wilderness, a powerful reminder that when you actively hunt for monsters… sometimes they hunt you back.Jason is an accomplished digital creator, professional photographer, host of the acclaimed podcast AFK Discussions, and a key member of the renowned Merkel Media team.In this episode, Jason takes us deep into his recent expeditions in the notoriously active Elkmont region of the Great Smoky Mountains, revealing startling encounters and unexplained phenomena that prove when you venture out in search of high strangeness, you just might get far more than you ever bargained for.We are thrilled to announce the official launch of Let's Get Freaky merchandise! Our collection includes hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and more. Explore the full range at http://tee.pub/lic/aQprv54kktw.Do you have a paranormal or extraordinary experience to share? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us to be a guest on the Let's Get Freaky podcast. Email us at letsgetfreakypodcast@mail.com or reach out via social media on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, or YouTube at @tcletsgetfreakypodcast. Connect with us at https://linktr.ee/letsgetfreaky.

Park Ranger Warns: Stay Far Away From the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teen WALKS Out of Great Smoky Mountains National Park After MISSING for 11 Days!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

In this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash connects with Mac Brown from Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, for another Casting Angles segment exploring an often-overlooked winter fishing strategy: dry fly fishing in cold weather conditions. Mac reveals why winter dry fly fishing deserves more attention, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains where low, clear water and selective trout make stealth presentations with dries surprisingly effective. The discussion covers critical winter hatches including midges, blue wing olives and October caddis, with Mac emphasizing that BWOs in the Smokies are exceptionally small—requiring size 30 patterns for selective fish rather than the typical size 18 parachutes many anglers default to. Both anglers share insights on dry dropper techniques for precision nymphing in skinny winter water, explaining how light rigs allow far more accurate presentations than indicator setups when targeting specific fish. Mac reflects on how his most memorable catches throughout his guiding career have come on dry flies during fall and winter, challenging the modern trend toward nymph-only approaches. The conversation also touches on late-winter black stonefly hatches and Mac's upcoming 2026 fly fishing show schedule including Boston, Edison, Denver, Bellevue, Pleasanton and Lancaster.Related ContentS7, Ep 28 - Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac BrownS6, Ep 130 - Casting in Color: Mac Brown's Fall Fly Fishing StrategiesS6, Ep 141 - Mastering Cold Weather Fly Fishing with Mac BrownS6, Ep 145 - Navigating Winter Waters: Unconventional Strategies with Mac BrownAll Things Social MediaFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the

Send us a textA hidden cemetery. A mill built by an enslaved craftsman. A song written on the hillside where roots hold memory. Eric Mingus joins us to unpack a lineage that runs through the Great Smoky Mountains, across Cherokee land, and into a body of work that insists legacy must stay alive, not embalmed. What began as a visit became The Mill—composed on site, later performed with Yo-Yo Ma, and now growing into a traveling forum that invites communities to gather, remember, and speak.Music for ArtStorming was written and performed by John Cruikshank.

Mysteries and Disappearances from the GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINSBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Cherokee NATIVE Warns: SOMETHING Is Going On in the Great Smoky Mountains Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park DISAPPEARANCESBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Leconte Lodge, the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States, is a bucket list item in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Atop Mount Leconte at an elevation of 6,593 feet, the Lodge is only accessible by trail and through a competitive lottery system. Tune in for more about Leconte Lodge, host Bill's recent journey there, and how you can experience it for yourself. Looking for more hiking? Visit Jesse Brown's, Charlotte's one-stop shop for all things adventure - from apparel to footwear to accessories to plain old advice! More Liner Notes are available online at Jesse Brown's

Some quotes: “When we treat the house as the biggest duct, comfort and performance finally line up.” “Field data becomes financial data the moment a homeowner decides—so it has to be right.” “If you can't measure it, you can't improve it.” — often attributed to Lord Kelvin Fresh back from the early-September NCI Summit in Austin, Bill and Eric recap three big themes: whole-home thinking, data you can trust, and tools that make better work faster. The “high-performance HVAC” mindset came through in a lively contractor panel moderated by Ben Lipscomb, where folks like Mitch Bailey, Dustin Cole, Ty Branaman, Jeremy Begley, MIcahel Cianfrocco, and others talked about uniting HVAC and building science to solve real problems, improve installs, and reduce callbacks. NCI's training depth—airflow, combustion, diagnostics—was front and center, and the format (several sessions presented twice) helped attendees catch more of what mattered. Eric highlighted his session on using recorded field data for smarter troubleshooting and clearer homeowner communication, calling out platforms like MeasureQuick to aggregate, analyze, and report. On the show floor, you two dug into standout tools: the Shaeco fin-restoration attachment for oscillating tools (a genuine hail-damage time saver), the EEV-Mate for driving unipolar electronic expansion valves (with a demo Ty Branaman filmed), and Testo's 860i wireless thermal imager that streams to a phone or tablet—great for homeowner show-and-tell. Startups NOSO Labs (AI for windshield-time prep and voice-note capture) and Thalo Labs (multi-point system sensors) hinted at where the trade is headed. With ~210 attendees and ~20 exhibitors—Fieldpiece, TEC, Daikin, Energy Circle, TSI, Sauermann, and more—the vibe was busy, practical, and optimistic. They also shouted out the Canadian contingent (including Anthony Woo, Contractor of the Year-Small) and noted EOS adoption gains. Bill also notes that BetterHVAC.org sign-ups ticked up to ~250 contractors, and he previewed a heavy fall travel calendar (Nexstar Super Meeting, Women in HVACR, BPA New England, Heat Pump Summit, ASHRAE Buildings XVI, etc.). NCI's next Summit is slated for September 2026 the Great Smoky Mountains—contractors should keep an eye out. LINKS: Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billspohn/ Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-kaiser-323a1563/ NCI site: https://www.nationalcomfortinstitute.com/ NCI Homeowner site: https://www.myhomecomfort.org/ NCI Summit Site: https://www.gotosummit.com/ The GRIT Foundation: https://www.thegritfoundation.com/ The Joe Groh Foundation: https://www.josephgrohfoundation.org/ Shaeco Coil Straightener: https://trutechtools.com/condenser-coil-connection/ EEV Mate: https://trutechtools.com/eevmate Testo 860i: https://trutechtools.com/testo-860i-wireless-thermal-imaging-camera/ BetterHVAC: www.BetterHVAC.org This episode was recorded in September 2025.  

Great Smoky Mountains National ParkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Running a private practice is rewarding, but the financial side can feel overwhelming. That is why I am excited to have Kristin Meador, CPA on the show today. Kristin is not only a Certified Public Accountant but also a Profit First Professional who works closely with therapy practice owners across the country. She is here to take the stress out of your numbers and show you how to build a more profitable and sustainable practice. In this episode, you will learn: How to simplify your bookkeeping and actually use your numbers to make decisions Why Profit First works so well for private practice owners A simple system to trim thousands in unnecessary expenses How to confidently set your rates and when to raise them What to consider when paying yourself and your team Get ready for practical and encouraging advice that will help you finally feel confident about your private practice finances. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube  Use the promo code “GORDON” to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Meet Kristin Meador Kristin Graduated from The University of Tennessee with her Bachelor's and Master's in Accounting. She became a Certified Public Accountant shortly after and worked tirelessly at a Big 4 accounting firm, earning the promotion of Senior Auditor. After reaching her corporate life threshold, Kristin traveled the world before creating her own firm.  When Kristin founded Gradient Accounting, she was quickly able to fulfill all her passions: being a digital nomad, working as an accountant, and helping fellow small business owners achieve travel dreams of their own.  Along with traveling internationally for about 3 months each year, Kristin loves exploring her hometown of Knoxville, TN, and the beautiful nature of the Great Smoky Mountains. Website LinkedIn Instagram Free Three-Minute Pricing Checkup Tool 

Growing up in the north Georgia mountains in the 1980s, I had an encounter that changed everything I thought I knew about the world. Something massive, walking on two legs, chased me out of the woods when I was twelve years old. That terrifying experience sent me down a decades-long rabbit hole, researching and collecting stories from across the American Southeast.In this episode, I share my personal encounter along with the haunting story of Mr. Brown, a Summerville carpenter who came face-to-face with an injured eight-foot-tall creature while hunting ginseng in 1986. We explore the hidden history of Sasquatch sightings throughout Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, from ancient Cherokee legends of Tsul 'Kalu to modern-day encounters captured on police dash cams.Despite what skeptics claim about the Southeast being too developed for unknown primates to exist, the evidence tells a different story. We examine compelling accounts from the Minnehaha Falls incident, the Florida Skunk Ape photographs, Tennessee's Flintville Monster siege, and hundreds of other documented encounters that mainstream science refuses to acknowledge. From the vast wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains to the impenetrable Everglades, these creatures have been seen by thousands of credible witnesses over centuries.This isn't about proving anything to anybody. This is about the truth of what people have experienced in the shadows of the Southern woods, and why these ancient mysteries deserve our respect, not our ridicule.Because sometimes, in those quiet moments when the fog rolls through the hollows and the modern world feels far away, we're reminded that we don't know everything about the forests we call home.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.

In this week's Travel Flashback Episode, we're sharing 10 of the most perfect mountain towns for a trip this Fall. The list includes mountain towns, places for fall leaf peeping, and regions that really lean into fall experiences like apple picking and wine tasting. This is the perfect episode to escort you into the fall season or get your wheels turning to inspire a future trip for the next autumn season.1. Mount Rainier National Park, WAWhere to Stay near Mount Rainier National Park: Ashford: ⁠Paradise Village Hotel⁠ or ⁠Mountain Meadows Inn⁠Sumner & Puyallup Hotels: ⁠Holiday Inn Express Suites Sumner⁠ or ⁠Candlewood Suites Sumner⁠Itinerary: Download our ⁠Washington National Parks Itinerary⁠Episode: ⁠Exploring Mount Rainier & Olympic National Parks⁠2. Mammoth Lakes, CAWhere to Stay in Mammoth Lakes: ⁠Empeiria High Sierra Hotel⁠ or ⁠Juniper Springs Resport⁠3. Shenandoah National Park, VIWhere to Stay near Shenandoah: ⁠Doubletree By Hilton Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows⁠ or ⁠Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Conference Center⁠Episode: ⁠Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park⁠4. North Cascades National Park, WAWhere to Stay near North Cascades National Park: ⁠Mt. Baker Hotel⁠ or ⁠North Cascades Inn⁠Itinerary: Download our ⁠Washington National Parks Itinerary⁠Episode: ⁠Best Hikes in North Cascades & Glacier National Parks⁠5. Lake Tahoe, CA/NVWhere to Stay in Lake Tahoe: ⁠The Landing Resort and Spa⁠ or ⁠Harrah's Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino⁠ Episode: ⁠Best Things to Do in Lake Tahoe in Summer and Winter⁠6. Asheville, NCWhere to Stay in Asheville: ⁠Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville⁠ or ⁠The Residences at Biltmore⁠Episode: ⁠The Best Things to Do in Asheville⁠7. Rocky Mountain National Park, COWhere to Stay near Rocky Mountain National Park: ⁠YMCA of The Rockies Estes Park⁠ or ⁠Ponderosa Lodge⁠Episode: We talk about Rocky Mountain National Park in our episode on ⁠How to Spend 3 Days in Denver⁠8. Gatlinburg- Great Smoky Mountains, TNWhere to Stay in Gatlinburg: ⁠Crossroads Inn & Suites⁠ or ⁠Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown⁠Episode: ⁠Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains and Nearby Cities ⁠9. Cherry Log, GAWhere to Stay in Cherry Log: ⁠Airbnb cabin⁠⁠ Episode: ⁠The Ideal Fall Cabin Weekend in Cherry Log, GA⁠10. Acadia National Park, Maine Where to Stay in Bar Harbor: ⁠The Bluenose Inn⁠ or ⁠The Pathmaker Hotel⁠Episode: ⁠Things to Do in Acadia National Park⁠General Information: Find a great flight deal to a nearby airport of these destinations by signing up for⁠ Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and watching the daily flight deals (points & cash) that are emailed directly to you! Use our promo code TS10 to get $10 off your first year subscription.---------------------------------------Shop:⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

In this exciting episode of the Jeep Talk Show, hosts Tony and April dive into the latest Jeep news: the iconic 392 Hemi V8 is here to stay in the Wrangler and making its debut in the Gladiator! We discuss Jeep's push for bigger tires, custom colors, electrified models like the 4xe hybrids, Wagoneer S EV, and Recon. Plus, we welcome a new Patreon subscriber with a hilarious Grok AI shoutout and continue our "Ask Grok" segment—getting expert advice on the Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion (Aug 21-23, Pigeon Forge) and the best-selling Jeep Gladiator mod (Nitto Ridge Grappler tires!). Whether you're into off-roading, Jeep mods, or EV hybrids, this episode has it all. We also chat Tesla range anxiety, Dollywood Jeep fun, and why V8s are essential for American Jeepers. Don't miss our sponsor spots from Windshield Defense (code JTS20 for 20% off), RealTruck camper shells, and G-tops (25% off with code 25OFF)! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Grok AI Debate 05:30 - Welcome New Patreon: Russell D (Grok Style!) 10:45 - Jeep 392 Wrangler Continuation & Gladiator V8 Reveal 20:15 - Jeep Personalization: Bigger Tires, Custom Flares 25:00 - Electrified Jeep Lineup: Wagoneer S, Recon, 4xe Gladiator 35:20 - Ask Grok: Great Smoky Mountains Jeep Invasion Tips 45:10 - Best Jeep Gladiator Mod: Nitto Ridge Grappler Tires Explained 50:30 - EV Talk: Tesla vs. Jeep 4xe Off-Roading 1:00:00 - Nikki G's Joke & Outro Subscribe for more Jeep talk, off-road tips, and AI fun! Hit the bell for notifications. Support us on Patreon: jeeptalkshow.com/contact. Follow on Instagram for Jeep Life updates. #Jeep392 #JeepGladiator #GreatSmokyMountainJeepInvasion #GrokAI #JeepMods #Jeep4xe #OffRoad #JeepNews #V8Jeep #Dollywood #PigeonForge #JeepTalkShow Welcome to Jeep Talk Show, the ultimate podcast for Jeep enthusiasts! Join Tony, and, the crew as we dive into off-road adventures, Jeep Wrangler 392 updates, Jeep Gladiator camping, and the Jeep Cherokee relaunch. From $130K Jeep resale trends to Gladiator tent reviews, we cover Jeep modifications, off-road gear, and events like Easter Jeep Safari and Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion. Get expert Jeep 4xe towing tips, lightweight truck camper insights, and off-road trail guides for Jeeps. Subscribe for weekly Jeep news, join our community at jeeptalkshow.com/discord, and hit the trail with us! Head to https://jeeptalkshow.com to explore our world of Jeep madness, subscribe, and let us make your day a little more rugged and a lot more fun. Ready to roll with us? Let's hit the trails together! #Jeep Talk Show, #Jeep podcast, #off-road podcast, #Jeep community, #Jeep off-roading, #Jeep Wrangler, #Jeep Gladiator, #Jeep news, #Jeep modifications, #Jeep accessories, #off-road adventures, #Jeep events, #Jeep 4xe, #Wrangler 392, #Jeep camping, #Jeep trails, #Jeep Wrangler 392, #$130K Jeep resale, #Jeep infotainment bricking, #TuneOutdoor Gladiator tent, #RealTruck trail access 2025, #Jeep Gladiator camping, #lightweight truck camper, #$13K Jeep camper, #Jeep Cherokee relaunch 2025, #Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion, #Easter Jeep Safari 2025, #Jeep Badge of Honor app, #women off-road Jeep podcast, #Chic Chat Jeep podcast, #Jeep off-road gear reviews, #best Jeep accessories 2025, #Jeep 4xe towing tips, #off-road trail guides for Jeeps

Mysteries and Disappearances in the Great Smoky MountainsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Exclusive Deals For Reading With Your Kids Listeners! Visit www.zivo.life and use the promo code READ to get 30% off The Better Microalgae – your ultimate daily nutrient boost! Visit www.BigForkBrands.com and use the promo code READ to get 20% off the most delicious pork snacks ever. Visit www.CozyEarth.com and use the promo code READ to get an incredible 41% off their ultra cozy and comfy bedding. Get ready for an exciting episode of Reading with Your Kids that'll spark curiosity and imagination in readers of all ages! We've got two incredible authors sharing their incredible stories that prove learning can be an absolute blast. First up, Rob Renzetti takes us on a wild ride with his middle-grade novel "The Cursed Cloak of the Wretched Wraith" - the final book in his mind-bending series. This isn't your average fantasy story! Rob weaves quantum physics into a hilarious adventure featuring Zenith Maelstrom and his sister exploring a bizarre world called Grabog. With characters like a quantum physics-powered landscape and a Schrödinger's cat, kids will be laughing and learning at the same time. Then, we meet Colleen Paeff and her fascinating non-fiction picture book "Firefly Song," which tells the incredible true story of Lynn Faust, a citizen scientist who discovered synchronous fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains. Imagine fireflies that flash in magical, synchronized patterns - like living Christmas lights in the forest! Faust's persistence in proving her discovery to skeptical scientists is an inspiring lesson in believing in yourself. Both authors showcase how reading can transport kids to incredible worlds - whether through imaginative fiction or mind-blowing real-life discoveries. They prove that curiosity, persistence, and a love of learning can lead to amazing adventures. Whether you're looking to inspire future scientists, ignite a love of reading, or just enjoy some quality family time, this episode has something for everyone. Grab a book, cuddle up with your kids, and get ready to explore worlds beyond your imagination! Pro tip: These books are perfect for sparking conversations about science, creativity, and never giving up on your dreams. Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com Follow Us On Social Media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/ X - https://x.com/jedliemagic LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/ Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!

In this compelling episode of The Articulate Fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash teams up with renowned guide and instructor Mac Brown for another insightful Casting Angles segment focused on high water fishing strategies in the Great Smoky Mountains. Mac, who lives on Deep Creek in Bryson City and has been guiding Appalachian waters since the 1980s, reveals why experienced anglers should flip conventional wisdom during big rain events and head to lower elevations rather than seeking high mountain streams. Learn how massive brown trout emerge from hiding during flash flood conditions, creating feeding frenzies that represent some of the best fishing opportunities in Appalachia. Mac shares specific streamer fishing techniques including his go-to Black Ghost pattern, the importance of color contrast in turbid water and why upsizing flies becomes critical during high water events. Discover proven bank fishing tactics using jig hooks for fast-moving water, plus Mac's upcoming fall instructional offerings including his September advanced casting school, October guide school and a special wet fly fishing workshop with legendary angler Davy Wotton on Arkansas' White River - where Mac first learned to fly fish as a child.All Things Social MediaFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the Industry and Need Help Getting Unstuck?Check out our consulting options!

Great Smoky Mountains Mysteries and DisappearancesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Tomcat shares three shorter thru-hikes that you can do in about 2 or 3 weeks. We chat about the Ouachita, Benton MacKaye and Allegheny Trails. He goes over trail logistics, camp sites and set up, gear, resupply options, water carries, trail angels and trail magic and favorite parts of each thru-hike. Listeners can find out more about these trails and more by visiting Tomcat's blog and Facebook pageYou can also check out our episode on The Colorado Trail here and our interview about completing the Northeast 115 here.Trail Info/Trail Associations:Ouachita Trail Benton MacKaye TrailAllegheny TrailSupport the showConnect with Hike:Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorerFacebook: @thehikepodcastEmail: hikepodcast@gmail.com

This episode was originally published on February 5th, 2024. My guest this week is Charity Rutter [39:50], a great friend and longtime guide in the Great Smoky Mountains.  She and her husband Ian have just finished a great book (I read the manuscript and loved it) and although it won't be available until April, you can pre-order it  here:  https://randrflyfishing.com/store/fly-fishing-guide-to-great-smoky-mountains-national-park/ Charity shares her secrets for making more out of your time on small waters, and although she concentrates on her area, she has fished small streams throughout North America and her tips will help you no matter where you fish.   In the Fly Box this week we have a nice assortment of questions and tips on fly fishing and fly tying, including: Why do you hate hook keepers so much? Is it true that you should not hook your fly onto your stripping guide? A listener recounts his first experience with selling flies he tied himself. A number of people chide me for not using a wading staff—yet. Will it hurt my fly line if I stretch it first before fishing? A listener gives some good advice on how to get out of a dangerous situation while wading, and how to prevent your waders from acting like a sea anchor. A tip from a listener on how he deals with litter during a day of fishing and one on how he carries rods on the back seat of his vehicle. A listener tells me how pleased he was with Orvis reel repair service. Should I wear socks when wearing the new Pro Approach Hikers in salt water? Can I Euro nymph in lakes and ponds? A tip from a listener on making more durable peacock herl bodies. Where should I put the heavy section of mono on a shock leader? A listener shares a tip on playing darts during the winter to keep those casting muscles in shape I used rubber soled wading shoes on slippery rocks and had poor traction.  Should I stud them or just get a pair of felt-soled boots? In a remote lake with an inlet and outlet, will trout move into the outlet as well as the inlet? How can I keep my dropper and tippet from slipping off my barbless hook when fishing with a dry dropper?  And what knot is best when attaching a dropper to a hook bend? I have a 9-foot 5-weight rod and want a rod for fishing for panfish and streamers for trout.  What rod should I get next?

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the entire United States. Every year close to 14 million people go to check out the nature, the wildlife, and to see what life was like back in the 1800s (90 structures have been preserved!). What's really exciting about the Smokies, at least to me, is that they're the birthplace of Appalachian culture. In today's episode, we'll begin with some geography, a little bit of history, and then we'll do a deep dive into folklore, bluegrass, and moonshine (homemade corn whisky), which is very much the reason why NASCAR exists today. It's truly mind-blowing. At the very end of the episode I'll share tips on visiting! Hope you enjoy it! :) Mentioned in this Episode ⁠Season 4 Premium Content⁠ ⁠All Premium Content Seasons 1-3⁠ (+ discount on Season 4) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi everyone! Welcome back. I'm excited for another expression episode. Today we're going to be talking about a common one: "Where there's smoke, there's fire." We'll of course, dive into the meaning, I'll teach you about the origin, and we have multiple examples today so that you can hear how it's used naturally in conversation. At the very end, there will be a little pronunciation exercise just for reinforcement. In part two of today's lesson, which will be posted next week, we'll explore the Great Smoky Mountains. Yes, the Great Smokies, the most visited national park in the United States. Stay tuned! Mentioned in this Episode ⁠Season 4 Premium Content⁠ ⁠All Premium Content Seasons 1-3⁠ (+ discount on Season 4) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight I share  five extraordinary encounters with unexplained forest beings across five decades and thousands of miles of American wilderness, told by witnesses who never met yet describe remarkably similar experiences.Olympic Peninsula, Washington - 1968 & 1973 A fire lookout witnesses a massive bipedal creature investigating a log in the remote Olympics. The witness describes intelligence in the being's eyes and the sensation of being observed. Years later, while hunting, he encounters multiple creatures communicating through wood knocks and territory marking with strategically broken trees.Adirondack Mountains, New York - 1976 & 1988 A biology graduate student conducting acid rain research experiences terrifying vocalizations and heavy bipedal footsteps circling her camp. Twelve years later, while camping with her husband, they both witness the same wood-knocking communication and glimpse a large, hair-covered figure—validating her earlier encounter and challenging her scientific understanding.Ozark Mountains, Arkansas - 1985 & 1997 An experienced hunter describes a creature methodically untying a rope supporting their game—showing dexterity and problem-solving unlike any known wildlife. Despite having a clear shot, he chooses not to fire after recognizing intelligence in the creature's eyes. His second encounter while hunting with his teenage son reveals territorial behavior through wood knocks and stone throwing.Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina - 2002 & 2005 A pastor on a solitary retreat encounters unusual branch arrangements and "offerings." He describes the creatures' apparent response to prayer, adding a spiritual dimension to the encounter. Years later, with his young nephew, they witness coordinated movement around their camp and discover a precisely arranged pile of pinecones topped with a wild strawberry.Humboldt County, California - 2019 & 2022 A wildlife biologist in California's redwood forests provides our most technical account, describing coordinated group behavior, tool use, and possible communication attempts. Her scientific training allows detailed analysis of vocalizations with infrasonic components and footprints suggesting creatures weighing 600-700 pounds moving with bipedal locomotion unlike any known mammal. What makes these accounts compelling is the consistent behavioral patterns described by witnesses separated by thousands of miles and decades: the same wood knocking communication, branch breaking patterns, gift exchanges, and sense of being observed by something intelligent yet non-human.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.

This week, Steve and Rod bring you the remarkable story of Isaac Cline, a Tennessee-born son of Appalachia who rose to become one of America's most respected meteorologists. From his humble beginnings in a two-room log cabin near the Great Smoky Mountains to his fateful role during the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, Cline's life was marked by groundbreaking contributions, profound loss, and an enduring legacy.He defied standard protocol of the time to warn the people of Galveston and turned that tragedy into a mission to redefine storm forecasting.Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our podcasts!  Thanks for listening.

On September 25, 1981, a 58-year-old woman mysteriously vanished while hiking a familiar Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. Moments after walking ahead of her friends, she disappeared without a trace. Strange behaviors leading up to that day—including unusual phone calls and missed commitments—only deepened the mystery. Despite exhaustive searches, her fate remains unknown. Was she lost, abducted, or did she deliberately disappear? Join us this week as we investigate the disappearance of Thelma Polly Melton in Great Smokey Mountains National Park.Mark your calendars!  We have a special multi hour live stream coming up on the evening of 4/23/25.  Stay tuned for more details!Learn more about Locations Unknown: https://linktr.ee/LocationsUnknownCheck out our other shows on the Unknown Media Network:Crime Off The GridOff The TrailsThe Peanut Butter and Mountains PodcastThe Weirdos We Know  Who Runs This ParkNew Patreon Shoutouts: John E Farris, Jasmina Vodenicar, Amy FriedlWant to help the show out and get even more Locations Unknown content!  For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Patron of Locations Unknown and get access to our episodes early, special members only episode, free swag, swag contests, and discounts to our Locations Unknown Store!  Become a Patron of the Locations Unknown Podcast by visiting our Patreon page.  (https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown)  All our Patreon only content (Audio & Video) can now be accessed via Spotify.  (Active subscription to our Patreon channel is required.) -- Locations Unknown Subscriber Only Show | Podcast on Spotify  Want to call into the show and leave us a message?  Now you can!  Call 208-391-6913 and leave Locations Unknown a voice message and we may air it on a future message! View live recordings of the show on our YouTube channel: Locations Unknown - YouTubePresented by Unknown Media Group.Hosts: Mike Van de Bogert Research: Cherish GreenBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support.

Time for some year end inspiration from the incomparable Dolly Parton! A true living legend. If all you think about when you think of Dolly is big hair, bigger boobs, and some catchy songs, I hope you give this one a listen. She is so much more than that. A truly incredible, inspiring soul who has built an incredible life on a foundation of generosity, kindness, and her faith. Merch and more: www.badmagicproductions.com Timesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious PrivateFacebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch.