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Join us in a captivating journey with Witt Tuttle, the Executive Director of Visit North Carolina, as we unravel the scenic beauty and cultural diversity that makes North Carolina the sixth most visited state in the country. We pry into the heart of responsible tourism marketing, focusing on how it caters not only to the visitors but also to the culture, people, and picturesque locations that define the uniqueness of North Carolina. Together with Witt, we unveil how Visit NC collaborates with local tourism offices to spotlight the state’s breathtaking landscapes and addresses the importance of strategically timing visits to help local communities thrive.

Unearth North Carolina's cultural heritage and natural attractions as we dance through the lively food scenes in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Groove along to the melodious music scene, absorb the timeless moonshine and NASCAR culture, and immerse yourself in the unmatched beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Smokies, Blue Ridge, and High Country mountains. Get ready to be swept off your feet as we delve into the heart and soul of North Carolina.

Facing the challenges head-on, we discuss the potential hurdles that tourism in North Carolina may encounter. Witt talks about the innovative solutions Visit North Carolina provides to mitigate these challenges, including the Outdoor NC program. This initiative encourages exploration of less touristy areas, promoting rural community sustainability while avoiding overcrowding. Finally, get a peep into Visit North Carolina's interactive website, a tool that allows you to personalize your North Carolina experience. Plug in your earphones, open your hearts, and prepare to fall in love with the appeal and spirit of North Carolina.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Visit NC
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Outdoor Economy Conference
Cherokee, North Carolina

0:00 Exploring North Carolina's Tourism and Beauty
11:06 Explore NC's Cultural Heritage and Beauty
17:46 Tourism Challenges in North Carolina
23:48 North Carolina's Beauty and Appeal
35:05 Encouraging Engagement and Promotion of Podcast

Mike Andress
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828-551-9065
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Get ready to get inspired! Meet our guest for today, Matt Godfrey, the Executive Director of the Outdoor Business Alliance, a man who wears many hats - advocate, business leader, educator, and much more. Matt is no stranger to the outdoor industry, he's been instrumental in shaping it from his early days as a founding board member of the Outdoor Business Alliance. Experience his journey as we walk through the different stages of his career; from his time at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly and corporate America, to his role in a startup.

The Outdoor Business Alliance has come a long way from being a loosely-knit group of outdoor gear manufacturers - it's now a platform, a family for the outdoor industry. Discover how this organization creates opportunities for members to network, share resources, ideas, and more. Learn about the collaboration that has helped Western North Carolina become the outdoor gear hub of the East. Matt and I also discuss the benefits that come with being a member of the Outdoor Business Alliance, such as networking socials, educational opportunities, and promotion on their website and social media.

But what role does the Outdoor Business Alliance play in the greater ecosystem of the outdoor industry? Uncover how the alliance creates a platform for businesses to connect and collaborate, and how it provides access to resources, programs, and networking opportunities. We talk about the partners the alliance works with, like the Waypoint Accelerator program and Mountain Bizworks, and how they support its members and the outdoor industry in Western North Carolina. Join us as we celebrate the passion and love that both Matt and I have for the industry and the community we proudly serve. Trust me, you wouldn't want to miss out on this insightful conversation.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Outdoor Business Alliance
Made X Mountains
Waypoint Accelerator(Deadline for next Cohort is October 12. First Session November 2)
Mountain Bizworks
Outdoor Economy Conference
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Outdoor Recreation in North Carolina

Mike Andress
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828-551-9065
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With unmatched natural assets and a community intimately engaged in the outdoors, Western North Carolina is the outdoor industry hub of the east, and in 2021 a campaign was launched to develop a regional brand that celebrates and grows the outdoor industry across 24 counties. 

Today, that campaign has blossomed into a full blown partnership called MADE X MTNS (Made by Mountains). In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with Amy Allison, Partnership Director, to talk about how MADE X MTNS is working to expand the outdoor industry and economy across North Carolina’s Appalachian region.

The Partnership includes Outdoor Business Alliance of WNC, Mountain BizWorks, and the NC Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, as well as numerous stakeholders including regional universities, rural communities, economic development, and conservation organizations. 

Mentioned In This Episode
MADE X MTNS
Outdoor Business Alliance
ENO
NC Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
Sylvan Sport

Mike Andress
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North Carolina is undeniably home to the best traditional rock climbing in the South. From beginners' routes to multi-pitch thrillers, North Carolina has it all, including the tallest rock face on the East Coast.

In this episode I sit down with one of Fox Mountin’s Guides, Forrest Stavish. He started climbing in 2004 after being introduced to bouldering at Rumbling Bald, NC, and not long after that bouldering trip, he got his first taste of exposure on Table Rock in the Linville Gorge. Since then, Forrest has climbed extensively in North Carolina and Tennessee and has traveled to places like Red Rock and Joshua Tree as well as the alpine of the North Cascades.

We’ll cover all of this, plus Forrest’s volunteer work with his local fire department for the past six years and his experience as a member of the Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team and Mountain Rescue Technician for NC Emergency Management.

Regardless of whether you are a climber, interested in getting into climbing, or just love stories of how these mountains have shaped people and helped make them who they are, there is a little something for everyone in this episode.

SHOW NOTES LINKS
Fox Mountain Guides & Climbing School; Facebook and Website
McHone Personal Training
North Carolina Emergency Management
American Mountain Guides Association
Transylvania County Rescue
Henderson County Rescue
Buncombe County Rescue

Mental & Physical Benefits of Climbing
Climber News
Time Magazine

Mike Andress
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828-551-9065
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Nestled between Little and Big Sandy Mush Balds, at an elevation of over 5,000 feet above sea level, lies one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited in the Blue Ridge Mountains; The Cabins at Sandy Mush Bald, an off-grid and authentic Appalachian experience, located on 500 private acres atop the Newfound Mountains in Western North Carolina.

The Cabins at Sandy Mush started as a dream of the founder, John “Doc” Adler who longed to create a hike-in facility that provided a sense of hard-earned awe just like he found on the Appalachian Trail and at other infamous hike-in facilities. 

“Doc” passed away a couple of years ago, but his spirit and the splendor of this place lives on through his niece, Lisa Adler, who I had the distinct pleasure to sit down with in this episode. I was only on the mountain for a few hours, but it stirred something deep in my soul, and a longing to return.

LINKS:
The Cabins at Sandy Mush Bald
Hipcamp
Southern Highlands Conservancy
Outdoor Business Alliance

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
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So, what do you get when a talented photographer who creates one of a kind visual content for companies like Patagonia, Land Rover, Our State, and numerous Tourism Authorities - partners with an award-winning creative director who develops designs and messages for organizations like Explore Brevard, Biltmore Estate, Earth Fare and a broad range of tourism, outdoor adventure nonprofits and cultural heritage clients? Answer: A pretty RAD company making its mark in WNC’s outdoor community. That company is The Uproar Concept.

In this episode I sit down with Derek DiLuzio and Nathan Jordan from Uproar to talk about their shared vision to create, reimagine how creative content is crafted, celebrate the great outdoors, build authentic connections, and develop a more sustainable future.

From companies like SylvanSport, Headwaters Outfitters Outdoor Adventures, Beech Mountain, and G5 Collective, to venues like Nantahala Outdoor Center, to events like Outdoors For All - Old Fort, the Uproar Concept has made its mark creating quality, attention-commanding work, while being active and impactful participants in WNC’s outdoor community.

We talk about their shared vision to provide exceptional creative deliverables capable of elevating any brand, and their belief in working collaboratively with their clients to create disturbances in the market that command attention and achieve results.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Beech Mountain
Leave No Trace
MADE X MTNS
Visit NC
Headwaters Outfitters
Gorges State Park
G5 Collective
Explore Brevard
Our State

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
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In this episode I sit down with very special guests Layla & Stacey Hildenbran, and Jay Hardwig from BRAVO which is Blue Ridge Adventures – Vision Optional, whose mission is To provide outdoor enrichment programsto youth with blindness and low vision. 

This is an especially fun episode for me because I have been hearing about Layla’s story since my wife taught her in first grade six years ago. She is a super special girl who is completely blind…and pursues life full on. And it’s not by accident. Her parents, Stacey and Jason have always taken the approach that they didn’t want to limit Layla, but instead wanted her to thrive and experience as much as she possibly could in her life. The outdoors has always been a draw for their family, and they’ve made adventure a priority in their lives.

Sadly, there is a shortage of quality programs for students with visual impairments, particularly in the area of outdoor experiential education.  Multiple studies have confirmed that students with visual impairments are more likely to be less active, less healthy, and less socially engaged than their sighted peers. These discrepancies have become more pronounced following the Covid pandemic.

So, when the camp program that Layla had been participating changed their focus and direction in the fall of 2022, Jay, Stacey and others knew what they had to do. They started the non-profit BRAVO program to continue bringing blind and visually impaired students into the outdoors so they too can experience the positive impact on their mental and physical wellbeing, and improve symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

https://www.blueridgebravo.org/

https://wildwaterrafting.com/

https://noc.com/

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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Pat Keller is known for his waterfall first descents as well as being a repeat winner of the coveted Green Race, winning the Great Falls Race and the inaugural Rey del Rio Waterfall World Championships in Mexico where he battled the world’s top boaters over three back-to-back waterfalls—a 25-footer, a 55-footer and a 35-footer.  Accolades also include being a two-time Teva Mountain Games winner and the first Descents as I just mentioned including: Toxaway Falls, Linville Falls, Valser Rhein Falls, Cane Creek Falls, Wolf Creek Falls, and Ozone Falls.  

All these accomplishments are super impressive, but what also stands out to me is Pat’s passion, zeal for life, and his constant need to set goals and push himself in whatever he does. 

Although Pat now considers himself a retired pro-athlete, the quest for finding outdoor pursuits where he can totally immerse himself and find that flow state is as strong as ever. He may spend more time rallying around the endless network of gravel roads on his motorcycle these days, but he admits there are more whitewater kayaking missions on the horizon. 

In this episode, Pat drops by the studio and we unpack all of this. We also talk about how being born and raised in the western North Carolina mountains has truly shaped him and helped develop his passions.

Mentioned In This Episode
Liquid Logic
Dagger
Green Race
TAT TransAmerica Trail
Dagger Green Boat
Blindfold Run of Green River

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
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Jason Bowman grew up in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia chasing brook trout and working on trucks. Today he lives in Brevard, N.C. and still chases trout and works on trucks. The only difference today is that he’s a little bit older, LIVING with Stage 4 prostate cancer, a USMC Veteran, family man, business owner and creator in the outdoor gear space, and he spends as much time on the coast surfing as he does fishing the local rivers these days. Oh, and the trucks he works at O.G.R.E. on aren’t the everyday, run of the mill trucks. They are purpose-built tools designed to get adventurers to their favorite river, trail, or hunting spot.

In this episode Jason stops by the studio and we unpack a lot. We talk about life, family, business building, living life on purpose, and life’s perspective through the lens of cancer. We also talk about the effect of the outdoors on our physical and mental well-being, and the importance of making play and getting outside an integral part of our lives.

Be sure to check out:
O.G.R.E https://www.ogreoutdoors.com/
Warrior Surf https://www.warriorsurf.org/
Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC https://www.outdoorgearbuilders.com/
Mountain BizWorks https://www.mountainbizworks.org/
Carbon TV: OGRE Outdoors https://www.carbontv.com/shows/ogre-outdoors/
Brevard, NC https://explorebrevard.com/
TC Webb https://www.thomascwebb.com/
Mental Health America https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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The NC Year of the Trail celebrates North Carolina’s vast and diverse collection of trails, greenways, and blueways which showcase its diverse landscapes – grand mountain vistas, quiet rivers, vibrant urban greenways, coastal forests, and the rolling hills of the piedmont.

These trails not only help make NC a healthier, more accessible, and fun place to live, they also strengthen the economy in a big way. You see, the outdoor recreation industry in NC has an economic impact of over 28 billion dollars and provides over 260,000 jobs in the state. Trails are the cornerstone of the industry, and all of this is a large part of why NC is the Great Trails State. Historically, the trail networks that make this all possible have rarely been part of the mainstream public discussion, but in 2023, that will change.

In this episode I sit down with Palmer McIntyre, NC Year of the Trail Director, and Beth Heile, a key voice and advocate on the planning committee, to unpack and chat about all things NC Year of the Trail. We talk about the historic $29.5 Million investment for State Trails, and the vision behind the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in the Old States history.

We also talk about how the NC Year of the Trail is meant to inspire people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to try trails, to demonstrate the importance of trails to elected officials, boost outdoor recreation tourism across the state through Year of the Trail events in all 100 counties, promote safe and responsible use of trails, with the Outdoor NC Principles, and to advance diversity and inclusion on trails.

DISCOVER MORE
Great Trails NC
Great Trails State Coalition
NC Year of the Trail Events
PBS NC
NC Weekend
State Employees Credit Union
NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Visit NC

The Great Trails State Coalition acknowledges and greatly appreciates the leadership of:

• Representative Dean Arp, R-69 (Union), Senior Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee
• Representative Hugh Blackwell, R-86 (Burke),
• Representative Mike Clampitt, R-119 (Haywood, Jackson, Swain)
• Representative Erin Pare, R-37 (Wake)

This group took the lead on this funding effort with help from many other members of the House, Senator Brent Jackson, and Governor Roy Cooper.

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
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Instagram: explorationlocal