Finding Asheville Podcast

The future Mike Tyson of art?

Nathan sits down with Asheville folk artist/outsider artist Gabriel Shaffer for the 30th episode of the Finding Asheville podcast. They chat about growing up in Parkersburg, WV, how a vision of Gabriel’s grandfather inspired him to write, traveling in bands, how painting saved his life, why Gabriel trains to paint like a boxer would train for a fight, and what may be next for Asheville’s most self critical artist. 

Dear Annie to Edgy Mama to Brewgasm to Oskar Blues Brewery Communinatrix? 

Today’s episode is episode number 29 with Anne Fitten Glenn author of the book Asheville Beer: An intoxicating history of mountain brewing and marketing reprsentative for Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard. We chat about growing up in Atlanta, Ga., finding a love for craft beer in London, why she once encountered a very angry and naked Hunter S. Thompson, who or what is responsible for Asheville’s thriving craft beer scene, what it takes to secure a job at an Asheville brewery, and what may be next for Asheville’s craft beer expert. 

Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug?

Nathan sits down with Chef Rick McDaniel Southern food author and author of the books An Irresistible History of Southern Food: Four Centuries of Black-Eyed Peas, Collard Greens and Whole Hog Barbecue and Asheville Food: A History of High Country Cuisine for the 28th episode of Finding Asheville. They chat about growing up in Kings Mountain, NC, how Asheville helped him romance his wife, what it was like to work for a newspaper in Gastonia, NC, how he first learned to cook, what defines Southern cooking, why Asheville is blessed with such a good food scene, what are some things the Asheville food scene is missing, and what really defines success at the end of the day.

Delivering pizzas to riding two wheeled death machines?

Nathan sits down with Hugh Owings of Hugh’s HandBuilt for the 27th episode of Finding Asheville. They chat about growing up in the South, being raised by his grandfather at the age of 15, the romanticism of being a pizza delivery driver, how he had the courage to leave a dead end factory job to start his own his business, how failure is key to the creative process, and why he will continue to ride on his two wheeled death machine.

Budget Rental car salesman to craft brewery owner?

Nathan sits down with Mike Rangel, president of Asheville Brewing Company for the 26th episode of Finding Asheville. They chat about growing up in Uruguay, Lexington, Ky, and Venezuela. Whether or not Asheville can sustain and support such an ample amount of breweries, how Mike despite having no craft beer experience entered the craft brew industry, why all Asheville businesses need to run their business through the ‘Asheville filter’ to succeed, and why sometimes too many ideas, especially when framed from the wrong perspective can ultimately limit progress.

Political flamethrower to non controversial politician?

Nathan chats with City Council Member and Counselor Gordon Smith for the 25th episode of Finding Asheville. They chat about growing up in Lakeland, Fla., what Asheville was like in the early 90’s, doing volunteer work in Belfast, Ireland, opening his own therapy practice in Asheville, what exactly is involved with counseling, the two main factors impacting one’s happiness, the birth of Scrutiny Hooligans, his run for City Council, how to create jobs and affordable housing in Asheville, and why Gordon deserves two parody twitter accounts.  

Mise en place equals life success? 

Nathan sits down with chef William Dissen of The Market Place for the 24th episode of Finding Asheville. They chat about growing up in Charleston, West Virginia, cooking in the Culinary Super Bowl, attending the Culinary Institute of America, cooking in South Carolina, living in Vietnam, the transition to buying the Marketplace, what does it mean to be a sustainable fisherman, what it is like to speak in front of Congress, and the next step for Asheville’s ‘most green minded’ chef. 

Why do you do so much and how can I be more like you? 

Nathan sits down with Ty Hallock of Top Floor Studio. They chat about growing up in Sylva, NC, holistic medicine, the birth of Top Floor Studio, how to adapt in an ever-changing industry like technology, how to tackle multiple projects in an effective way, and the importance of finishing projects that you start. 

This episode was recorded at Mojo Coworking at 60 North Market Street in Downtown Asheville. 

How do you go from working with rock stars to working with doctors?

Nathan sits down with Adam Blumenthal owner of Curious Sense and Health Games Innovation Lab for the 22nd episode of Finding Asheville. They chat about growing up in Fairfax, VA, Adam’s short stint into journalism, history of virtual reality and gaming, stops with Kodak, R/GA, and McKinney, what it was like to develop video games for Phish, REO Speedwagon, Soulja Boy, and the Grateful Dead, what it means to be a dead head, and why video games may be the answer to America’s health problems. 

Police Officer to southern food afficianado? 

Nathan sits down with Mike Moore, owner and chef at Seven Sows Bourbon and Larder for the 21st episode of Finding Asheville. They discuss growing up in Eastern North Carolina, why Mike gave up a career as a police officer to pursue the culinary world, what ultimately drove him back to North Carolina from San Francisco, why the Asheville food community gets along, the birth of Blind Pig, an underground dining club, and many other chef centric topics.