Kudzu Project

Drop us a line.

In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick sits down with Congressman Chuck Edwards, a Western North Carolina native whose story begins right here in Henderson County. Born in Waynesville and raised in Hendersonville, Edwards got his start in the labor force as a teen behind the counter at McDonald’s. Years later, he would go on to purchase the very same restaurant where he began working, eventually owning several McDonald’s across Western North Carolina. 

Today, Edwards represents North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District in Washington, D.C., after previously serving three terms in the North Carolina Senate. His home base and congressional office remain in Hendersonville, where his ties to the community run deep. 

In this conversation, Edwards reflects on his upbringing in the mountains, the lessons learned from business and public service, and the region that shaped his life and career. With the Republican primary victory now behind him, Edwards is headed toward the November election, where he will face Democrat Jamie Ager.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

If you live in Henderson County, North Carolina, chances are you've seen Tiffany Lucey before. As the Social Media Coordinator for the County, she's become a familiar face on Instagram reels and Facebook videos, helping tell the story of local government and the people who serve our community.

In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick sits down with a very unique guest — his wife. Tiffany shares her story of growing up in the South inside the highly controlled religious world of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). She discusses what life was like under that oppressive system, the moment she began to question it, and the courage it took to walk away from it.

Along the way, Tiffany became a midwife and helped deliver countless children, while raising five boys of her own. Her journey eventually led her to Western NC, where she and Nick founded the Lucey Agency before she stepped into her current role with the County. It's an honest and personal conversation about faith, family, marriage, dedication, and what it really means to break free and build a new life.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

Daniel Conway knows addiction from both sides of the table.

Today, he serves as the Program Coordinator for Henderson County's Adult Recovery Court (ARC), a program designed to help individuals break the cycle of addiction and incarceration by providing structure, treatment, and accountability. The ARC exists to reduce recidivism and give people the tools they need to maintain sobriety and rebuild their lives.

But Daniel’s connection to this work isn’t academic — it’s deeply personal. A Marine who was once an addict himself, Daniel has been clean for more than six years. In this conversation, he speaks candidly about the road that led him into addiction, the moment things changed, and what it means to live in recovery — not just for himself, but in service to others. This is a story about redemption, responsibility, and the quiet, daily work of helping people believe that change is possible.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with fellow Marine and podcaster Steve Pettis, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Henderson County. Steve helps farmers, gardeners, and landscapers make sense of the soil, plants, insects, and growing seasons that make this area unique. We talk about his upbringing in small-town Georgia, the red clay that shaped him, and how his time in the Marine Corps still influences the way he works, educates, and makes his bed each morning.

We dish the dirt on what makes the soil in this corner of North Carolina so unique, and why the region has such a strong agricultural identity. Whether you've planted a garden, wondered why apples thrive here, or just care about how the land shapes the people who live on it, this episode is all about roots, resilience, and the connection between where we live and what we grow.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

SPECIAL EPISODE DROP!

I had the opportunity to sit down with Adam R. Smith, congressional candidate in North Carolina's 11th District, who took time out of his busy campaign schedule to join me on the Kudzu Project. Adam is a U.S. Army Green Beret veteran with nearly 17 years of service. He's a man of commanding stature, deep faith, and profound conviction — and in this episode, you'll hear more than just campaign talking points. He's p***ed off.

We talk about family. Service. Sacrifice. Setbacks. What it means to lead. And one deeply personal chapter in his life — the moment he hit rock bottom and had to low-crawl his way back out. Now running for Congress, Adam is fighting one of his greatest battles yet — challenging a long-standing incumbent and asking voters to take a hard look at what leadership and conservatism actually mean. Regardless of where you land on the political spectrum, this is an honest conversation about struggle, resilience, and the decision to step forward when the odds are stacked against you.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with storyteller Mary Davis Gage, co-host of the Getting to Know Hendo podcast. Mary has a gift for spinning a yarn — whether she's sharing a story on stage or helping spotlight the people who make Henderson County, NC, special, she understands something powerful: stories shape communities. We talk about the art of storytelling, why local voices matter, her own adversities, and how conversations strengthen a place like ours. If you care about our community or the power of a well-told story, this one's for you.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Hendersonville City Council Member Gina Baxter to discuss her path to public service, her love of the region and its culture, and the issues that matter most to her. Gina brings a background in nonprofits and a people-first attitude to her role on City Council. Her central focus is affordable housing — one of the most urgent challenges facing Hendersonville, Henderson County, and North Carolina today as the region continues to grow. She explains why housing accessibility is so important to the city's long-term success and how thoughtful planning helps working families remain in the community they love. Gina also talks about the importance of accessible leadership, listening to local voices, and finding common ground as Hendersonville prepares for its bright future.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

More than eight decades after he was killed in action on Guadalcanal and declared MIA during World War II, the remains of Marine Corps Private Luther Rhodes are finally coming home to rural Henderson County, North Carolina.

In this follow-up conversation, I welcome back retired Army Major Bob Johnson — first introduced in Episode 3 of the Kudzu Project — for a remarkable update on the long and determined effort to locate Henderson County's missing servicemembers. What once felt like an unresolved chapter from the Battle of Guadalcanal has now reached a moment of long-awaited closure for the Rhodes family of Edneyville.

Bob shares how years of research, advocacy, and coordination with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency helped turn history into resolution, honoring a young Marine who gave his life in the South Pacific in 1942. This episode is a testament to remembrance, persistence, and a community that refuses to let its heroes fade into the past.

Some stories take generations to finish. This is one of them.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Barbara Volk, the first female and second longest-tenured mayor of Hendersonville, North Carolina, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, legacy, and love of place. Having served the city for nearly four decades — first on City Council and then as mayor — Volk has helped guide the city through growth, challenges, and change. Our conversation goes beyond policy and politics. We talk about what it means to steward a community you care deeply about, how Hendersonville has evolved over the years, and the delicate balance between progress and preservation. Volk reflects on her journey in public service, the responsibilities of local leadership, and her hope for the future of the city she has called home for more than half a century.

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

Drop us a line.

In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Stacy Fields, owner of Mini Batch Bakery in Hendersonville, NC, to talk about why food is love — and how baking is her love language. Stacy shares her journey from small-town mountain girl to successful small-business owner, the role her family and faith play in her life, and the challenges she has faced along the way. We also talk about her next exciting chapter: Mini Batch Cafe, opening soon just across the street, serving breakfast and lunch. This is a conversation about food, faith, perseverance, and the power of community — one meal at a time. Learn more at minibatchbakery.com

Welcome to Rhythm & Brews — held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from June-October, Rhythm & Brews transforms South Main Street in downtown Hendersonville into a community gathering place filled with music, food trucks, local beer, wine, and cider, and thousands of people enjoying a summer evening together. Learn more at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events/rhythm-brews-concert-series.

The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.