In this episode  Don Cox—better known as Bald Guy—takes us behind the scenes as a recent guest on the Explore Boone Podcast where he shares how he went from the pulpit to the roastery. Discover how a history student at App State transformed into an artisanal coffee roaster after a life-altering Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) shifted his path from a PhD to the pursuit of the perfect cup.

Don shares his deep-rooted connection to the coffee lands of Mexico and Rwanda, explaining the philosophy of La Taza Habla (The Cup Talks). This episode explores the technical and spiritual sides of roasting coffee, emphasizing a "low-tech" approach that relies on the five senses rather than computer algorithms. Whether you are interested in the grit of Watauga County history, the ethics of socially responsible coffee, or the mechanics of making green beans brown, this episode offers a rich look at what it means to honor the hands that pick every bean.