Laura Rice is the executive director of Friends of the Ecusta Trail, a nonprofit organization supporting the transformation of a former rail line into a multi-use greenway connecting Hendersonville to Brevard in Western North Carolina.

In this episode, Laura shares the story behind the Ecusta Trail, from its earliest days to the stretch that’s open today, and what it will take to complete all 19 miles and connect Hendersonville to Brevard, end to end.

She talks about what you can expect on the section that’s already open, how the trail is shaping the communities along it, how she found her way into this role, and what makes her hopeful about the future of this region.

Ecusta Trail
ecustatrail.org

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Lang Hornthal is the Executive Director of EcoForesters, an Asheville-based nonprofit professional forestry organization dedicated to conserving and restoring Appalachian forests through education and stewardship.

In this episode, Lang discusses the organization’s work and how the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has reshaped the forests around us, and the way EcoForesters approaches its mission.

Lang also zooms out to talk about forestry more broadly, and his own path into this work, from running a rustic furniture company to graduate school, where he became fascinated by a simple question: why do so few private landowners have a forest management plan, and what would it take to change that?

EcoForesters
ecoforesters.org

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Kevin Westmoreland and Joe Scully are the co-owners of Corner Kitchen, a venerable restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore Village that reopened this August, nearly a year after Hurricane Helene flooded the entire first floor of the restaurant.

Prior to opening Corner Kitchen in 2004, Kevin had a background in corporate operations and management roles, and Joe was a seasoned, classically trained chef. The duo met through their sons in 2001, and a friendship blossomed into a business partnership that also includes Chestnut, a restaurant in downtown Asheville.

In this episode, Joe and Kevin discuss the long road back after Helene and the emotions they felt when Corner Kitchen re-opened this August. They also recall the early days of Corner Kitchen and how they rebounded from another devastating flood that shut down the restaurant just six months after opening in 2004.

Corner Kitchen

thecornerkitchen.com

Chestnut

chestnutasheville.com

Theme Music

The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

David Huff is an Asheville-based writer, photographer, and conservationist.

Leading at the intersection of disruption and resilience, he is the founder and chair of the George Masa Foundation, Councilor for Communications for the Carolina Mountain Club, and a trustee for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

A few weeks before the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Western North Carolina, David reflects on what recovery has looked like, from the economic toll on small businesses to the emotional weight carried by neighbors and families. He discusses resilience as a lived experience shaped by community, creativity, and connection.

David also shares details from an early-September outing with the Carolina Mountain Club to the Craggy Gardens area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, where the group cleared the way on the Craggy Pinnacle Trail.

David Huff’s Work & Partnerships
davidhuffcreative.com
George Masa Foundation
Carolina Mountain Club
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Beth Kellerhals and Dana Amromin are the co-owners of ButterPunk, a bakery and café that opened this May in Asheville’s River Arts District.

Beth and Dana have been longtime friends since their days in Los Angeles, and both of their paths eventually brought them to Asheville, where they realized their shared dream of opening a shop together. But just as they were about to get serious about building out their space, Hurricane Helene struck. While their building was fortunate enough to avoid the worst of the flooding in the River Arts District, it still endured 5 feet of water and was covered in mud.

In this episode, Beth and Dana—who is also the pastry chef at Asheville’s Potential New Boyfriend—reflect on the challenges they faced in the months of uncertainty following the storm. They also share what it means to be part of the revitalization of the River Arts District, the unique vibe of their space, the story behind the name ButterPunk, and the inspiration for Beth’s butter bomb biscuits.

ButterPunk
Follow @butterpunkavl on Instagram

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Les Love is the president of the Carolina Mountain Club, the oldest and largest hiking and trail maintenance organization in the Southeastern United States.

If you’ve ever set foot on the Appalachian Trail or Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Western North Carolina, odds are the Carolina Mountain Club helped clear the way. Now more than a century old, the member-run volunteer organization helped build both trail corridors through the region and continues to maintain over 400 miles of trails across Western North Carolina—while also leading more than 200 hikes per year.

In this episode, Les reflects on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene—from watching trees fall in his own yard to the club’s challenges in helping to reopen trails. He shares how the Carolina Mountain Club supports first-time volunteers, explains what a typical trail workday looks like, and explores the legacy of the club.

Carolina Mountain Club
carolinamountainclub.org
Join the club
Learn about volunteer opportunities

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Jeff Hunter is the Southern Appalachian Director with National Parks Conservation Association, which is dedicated to enhancing and protecting public lands for present and future generations.

Twenty-five years ago, a thru hike on the Appalachian Trail set Jeff—then working in telecommunications in New York—down a new career path focused on conservation. Today, he’s based in Burnsville, North Carolina, and his work focuses on Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Later in this episode, Jeff shares details on an avian study and a collaborative project focused on improving wildlife’s ability to safely cross Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.

But first, we focus on urgent issues: the impact of the Trump Administration’s mass firing of federal workers, including those in the National Park Service, and the status of recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Important Links

National Parks Conservation Association

Congressman Chuck Edwards
Washington, D.C. office: (202) 225-6401

Senator Ted Budd
Washington, D.C. office: 202-224-3154

Senator Thom Tillis
Washington, D.C. office: (202) 224-6342

Anna Alsobrook and Hartwell Carson are the incoming and outgoing French Broad Riverkeepers for MountainTrue, an Asheville, North Carolina-based nonprofit advocating for clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities across Western North Carolina.

Hartwell has been the veteran French Broad Riverkeeper, working to protect and clean up the French Broad River through scientific research, education, advocacy, fundraising, public engagement and outdoor recreation. Now, as Clean Water Director, he’s expanding his focus to protect waterways across Western North Carolina. Anna, formerly MountainTrue’s Watershed Science and Policy Manager, is now stepping into the role of French Broad Riverkeeper.

In this episode, Anna and Hartwell share how Hurricane Helene affected the French Broad River and what recovery efforts look like months later. They discuss the ongoing challenges of restoring the river, the vital role of the French Broad Riverkeeper, and how water quality science informs their work. We also explore broader clean water initiatives, the biggest threats facing the river today, and how the community can get involved in protecting this important natural resource.

Mountain True
mountaintrue.org
French Broad Riverkeeper
MountainTrue on Instagram
French Broad Riverkeeper on Instagram

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.