Salvation South magazine editor Chuck Reece spends almost all his time thinking and writing about the American South. But sometimes, his mind starts wrestling with far bigger questions than what we Southerners read, listen to, or eat. This leads him to frustration — and sometimes, to a good lesson.

On this episode of Salvation South Deluxe: Chuck travels to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to meet 'the Aristotle of Bacon.' Learn how Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams—a humble smokehouse in Madisonville, Tennessee—caught the attention of the fine dining industry and beyond.

Certain words in the Southern dialect are not easily rendered on the printed page — words that do not necessarily lend themselves to spellings that make sense. At a recent art exhibition in Atlanta, Salvation South editor Chuck Reece was reminded of such a word from his youth, one he found literary validation for only after he left home.

April Fool's Day got Salvation South magazine editor Chuck Reece thinking about an idea once put forth by the great Alabama songwriter Jason Isbell. Do Southerners tell better jokes? Chuck has tried for a long time to prove Isbell true. Listen to how that’s worked out for him…

Salvation South editor Chuck Reece has some thoughts on asparagus, the one vegetable that stubbornly resists his best backyard gardening efforts.

Discover how the Affrilachia movement is redefining the narrative of the Appalachian region, challenging stereotypes and embracing diversity. From poetry to visual art, hear the stories of those who are reclaiming their space in this often-overlooked corner of America.

Today, many Christians around Georgia will celebrate Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting and reflection. Ash Wednesday is also, of course, the day after Mardi Gras. Salvation South editor Chuck Reece is here with a brief history of how the South’s celebrations of Mardi Gras reach back to ancient times.

Inviting people to your home for a meal is one of the most important ways that we build communities of friends and neighbors. As he planned how to feed some people at a coming dinner gathering, Salvation South editor Chuck Reece found himself grateful he could do that, because five years ago, no such gatherings were possible.

Hurricane Helene devastated Old Fort, N.C., in 2024, but this small community's innovative economic plans, centered on outdoor recreation, are helping them rebuild stronger than ever. A tale of hope, unity, and determination in the face of disaster.

For many years now, Salvation South editor Chuck Reece has edited publications where Southerners of all sorts can tell their stories, including stories of this region’s rich Black history. Here’s Chuck to talk about how his views of Black History Month have been evolving over those years.