In this episode of No Holds Barred, Rich Roth sits down with Cyrus Pace, the new Executive Director of the Academy Center of the Arts. After 15 years leading the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, Cyrus shares his vision for fostering local growth and the "incubator" model for talent in Lynchburg. We discuss everything from taking over an organization after a "standing ovation" to his background as a jazz musician and his plans for the Academy’s growth in the community and elsewhere.0:00 - Introduction to Cyrus Pace5:12 - Leaving the Jefferson Center after 15 years12:30 - The "incubator" model for local talent22:45 - The role of risk in the arts53:00 - Fostering growth and the future strategic plan#LynchburgVA #DowntownLynchburg #LynchburgVA #AcademyCenterOfTheArts #TheAcademy #JeffersonCenter #RoanokeVA #NoHoldsBarred #Podcast #ArtsLeadership #ArtsAndCulture #JazzMusician #CommunityImpact #NonprofitLeadership #PerformingArts

What does it take to play professional golf for over 50 years? Join Rich Roth on No Holds Barred as he sits down with PGA and Senior PGA Tour Pro, Dick Mast.

In this deep dive, Dick Mast shares incredible stories from a career that spans eras from playing a practice round with an 18-year-old Tiger Woods to competing at the highest level at age 75.

Now a resident of the Lynchburg area and teaching out of Ivy Hill Golf Club, Dick discusses the evolution of the game, his "near misses" in Milwaukee and Chicago and the life-changing moment he found his faith on the tour.

In this interview, we cover:

• The Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus Debate: Dick compares the mindsets of the two greatest to ever play.

• Golf Tech Fallacies: Why Dick still uses shafts from 2002 and woods from the 50s.

• Instructional Wisdom: The two biggest mistakes every amateur makes (Hint: It’s not what you think!).

• The "Grind": What it was like Monday qualifying and living the tour life in a motorhome with six sons.

• Short Game Secrets: Why you should start your practice with 30-yard wedges.

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#DickMast #PGATour #GolfInstruction #TigerWoods #JackNicklaus #LynchburgVA #IvyHillGolfClub #GolfTips #SeniorPGATour #GolfLife #TheMasters #BritishOpen #USGA #USOpen #NoHoldsBarred

Rich Roth sits down with Danny Givens, the owner of Lynchburg’s iconic Givens Books & Little Dickens, as the business celebrates its 50th anniversary. While many know Danny as the curator of a local "Wonderland," he is also a certified Death Doula.

In this episode of No Holds Barred, Danny shares his nomadic upbringing, the "serendipitous" founding of his toy store and why he’s dedicated his later years to helping people navigate the "inconvenient mystery" of death.

Key Topics in This Episode:

• The 45-State Nomad: Danny’s childhood traveling in a camper.

• Building an Icon: How a 1930s gas station became a regional staple.

• The Shift to Digital: Why physical books are surviving the "Anxious Generation".

• What is a Death Doula? Advocating for the terminally ill and breaking the American phobia of grief.

• The 5 Regrets: What Danny has learned from being at the bedside of the dying.

• The Next Generation: Danny’s daughter joins the family legacy.

#LynchburgVA #GivensBooks #DeathDoula #Podcast #NoHoldsBarred #SmallBusinessSuccess #EndofLife #GriefWork #Bookstores #LittleDickens #LynchburgHistory #CentralVirginia #DeathCafe #WorkLifeBalance #HolisticCare

Technology is moving faster than ever, and today on No Holds Barred, we are looking at the massive shifts hitting Lynchburg and beyond. From AI breakthroughs that let us talk to our pets to radical changes in our local dining scene and state laws, our guests are breaking some "exclusive" news you won't believe.PET TRANSLATOR: 0:00 - 8:17Charley Butcher (University of Lynchburg) discusses a new AI app that translates animal synapses into English — starting with primates and moving to dogs and cats.NEVER MOW AGAIN: 8:18 - 18:35W.B. Bass (Bass Sod Farm) introduces "No Mow Grass," a new fescue variety that only grows to a pre-set height (like 3 inches) and pulls moisture from the air so you never have to mow or water again.NO MORE STEAK?: 18:36 - 24:56Jason Arbusto (Milano’s Enoteca & Italian Ristorante) announces the rebranding of the 40-year staple "Milano’s" to "Milan," a Mumbai-style vegetarian and tea-infused restaurant inspired by a spiritual voyage to India.PETS ARE PEOPLE?: 24:57 - 34:51Rich Gilman (The Law Dog) breaks down "Senate Bill 1417," a radical new animal rights bill in Virginia that grants pets "personhood," bans crates/fences, and gives them more autonomy.AI IN THE BATHROOM: 34:52 - 46:12Ryan Gordon (Blue Ridge Scientific) reveals the "AI Attendant Booth," a patented, invasive drug-testing booth featuring AI watchers "Ava" and "David" to ensure no one cheats.BLOOPERS: 46:13 - 48:08🛑 SPOILER ALERT / APRIL FOOLS! 🛑If these "innovations" sound a little too wild to be true... it's because they are! We had a blast putting this special April Fool's edition together with our incredible community partners. Stick around until the end of the episode for the blooper reel!#AprilFools #NoHoldsBarred #LynchburgVA #TechTrends #Prank #Podcast #Satire #AI2026 #AITechnology #FutureTech #LawnCareHacks #Fescue #HealthandWellness2026 #AprilFools2026 #VirginiaPolitics #VirginiaLife

Step inside a Lynchburg legend. This week, Rich Roth welcomes Wells Duffy, owner of the iconic Cavalier Store (The Cav) since 1987.

Wells shares the fascinating history of the building; from its origins as a trolley garage to becoming a nationally recognized burger destination featured in Southern Living. Discover why this "cash-only" neighborhood staple remains a timeless sanctuary in an age of technology, where the owner still runs the business with his head and a simple calculator.

We discuss the famous Cavalier Cup, the secret to their homemade ranch, and the community spirit that makes every customer feel like they’ve finally come home.

Follow us for more stories from the people who shape our community.

"I didn't take a whole lot of crap from anybody."

In this edition of No Holds Barred, Rich Roth sits down with Karl Hess—a man who spent decades at the center of college basketball’s biggest stages. Hess held Liberty University’s all-time scoring record for 40 years before transitioning into a storied, and often controversial, career as an ACC official.

In this episode, Karl discusses:

• The Legendary Coaches: Behind-the-scenes stories of dealing with Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, Rick Pitino, and Bobby Knight.

• The NC State Incident: For the first time, Karl gives his side of the 2012 ejection of Wolfpack legends Corciani and Gugliotta.

• The Pressure of the Final Four: What it’s really like officiating on the game's biggest stage and the "feel" required for last-second calls.

• The Transition: Why he left the court to become a psychologist and how he views the game today.

Whether you loved him or loved to hate him, you won't want to miss Karl’s candid takes on the "politics" of officiating and the legendary figures of the ACC.

#NoHoldsBarred #ACCBasketball #CollegeBasketball #NCAA #MarchMadness #NCAATournament #LibertyFlames #ACC #FinalFour #NCState #Corciani #Gugliotta #ACCOfficial #BigEast #CoachK #DeanSmith #BobbyKnight

Join Rich Roth as he sits down with retired Colonel Tom Current—a man whose career spans from the grueling training of the Army Rangers and Special Forces to a legal career dedicated to defending faith-based institutions.

In this episode, Col. Current shares:

• The "guilt" that drove him to volunteer for Ranger and Special Forces training during the Vietnam era.

  
  

• What it really means to be a "Quiet Professional" and why teamwork beats a "Rambo" mentality.

  
  

• The incredible story of a general, a stained-glass plaque, and meeting John Wayne’s widow.

  
  

• His current mission: Serving homeless veterans through the Lynchburg Area Veterans Council and the Desmond Doss House.

#LynchburgVA #Veteran #SpecialForces #armyrangers #greenberet #desmonddoss #valorfarm #veteransaffairs #Militaryhistory #noholdsbarred

In this episode of No Holds Barred, Rich Roth sits down with Mark Maslow, the founder of Southern Landscape Group. Mark’s story is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, beginning at age 9 with a push mower and evolving into one of Central Virginia’s premier outdoor living firms.But this isn't just a "success story." Mark opens up about the brutal reality of burnout that led to a life-threatening kidney failure in 2021—an event that forced him to step back and completely reinvent how he leads his team.

In this episode, we dive into:

The Business of Design: Why "functionality" is the most overlooked element of a beautiful backyard.

The 4/16 Memorial: The emotional story behind installing the Virginia Tech shooting memorial.

Leadership Through Autonomy: How Mark stopped being a "dictator" and started building leaders by letting them "hear the train coming".

Living with Purpose: Mark’s mission to help others through Angel Flight and his "why" behind completing a grueling 140.6-mile Ironman.

The Great Outdoors: Why Mark bans cell phones for his kids until age 16 and how they find "Zen" in the Virginia landscape.

Rich Roth sits down with Chuck Felmlee, one of the area's top defense attorneys, on this week's episode of No Holds Barred. After spending almost two decades as a prosecutor, Chuck finds himself on the other side of the courtroom. They discuss his perspective on switching sides and some of his most memorable cases.

Rich Roth sits down with Lynchburg City Councilman Marty Misjuns on this week's episode of No Holds Barred. They discuss Marty's background, the latest on city council politics and what may be next for Marty.