Sunday Afternoon Smokes

A Very Merry Christmas

In this special solo episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I slow things down for the Christmas season and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

Walking through Luke 2:1–18, I share a casual, thoughtful look at the birth of Christ and what it reveals about the love and grace of God—what real love is, what it isn’t, and why the Christmas story still matters today.

I also open up about a personal Christmas tradition I share with my children: reading Luke 2 together and talking about grace, gratitude, and the reason we celebrate before the gifts are opened. It’s a simple practice, but one that keeps our focus grounded in something far deeper than the season’s distractions.

This episode isn’t a sermon. It’s a quiet conversation—an invitation to pause, reflect, and remember what Christmas is truly about.

Whether you’re listening with a cigar, a cup of coffee, or just a few quiet moments to yourself, I hope this episode encourages you and helps center your heart this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas.

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I sit down with my longtime friend Keith Bowling, a seasoned Upstate South Carolina realtor who recently launched Key Renter Upstate, a property management company built around one goal: helping property owners create passive income without the stress.

We kick things off the way we always do—talking cigars—and then dive into Keith’s transition from real estate sales into property management, why he made the move, and how this business model creates recurring income instead of one-time commissions.

If you own rental property—or are thinking about it—this episode is packed with real insight.

We cover:

The biggest mistakes landlords make (and how to avoid them)

Why tenant screening is EVERYTHING (and how to do it right)

What property managers actually handle day-to-day

The real cost vs. value of hiring a property management company

How to protect and grow your real estate investment long-term

Why rental properties are one of the best wealth-building tools available

Keith also shares real stories from managing properties, what can go wrong, and how the right systems can eliminate headaches entirely.

Whether you have one rental or want to scale to multiple properties, this conversation will help you think like an investor—not just an owner.

Connect with Keith / Key Renter Upstate:

https://keyrenterupstate.com

864-924-4924

Follow the Show:

https://instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Chris reflects on the meaning of gratitude through both an American and Biblical lens. He opens with a brief overview of the history of Thanksgiving in the United States before sharing four personal reasons he’s especially thankful this year. From the blessing of being born in a prosperous nation and in a time where the gospel is freely accessible, to the spiritual discipline of gratitude as a defense against materialism, Chris explores how thankfulness shapes perspective and strengthens faith. He also shares a heartfelt expression of gratitude for his wife’s survival and recovery after her health crisis, along with the deep relationships he shares with his family. A reflective, encouraging episode centered on recognizing God’s goodness in every season.

**this episode suffers from some sound quality issues. I don't know why. I'm not a pro, but here it is!**

Joining Chris for ep. 46 of SAS is Cory Rutland, co-owner and operator of Local Pie. It's not a pizza truck, they're so serious and good at it, it's really a mobile pizzeria. Chris and Cory both light up a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur, talk cigars for a little bit, and then they dive into the world of sliging pies out of mobile rig. Cory highlights the struggles in getting his business started, the quality ingredients they use, what makes for a great pizza, and they wrap up the show with a little bit of Cory's background on how he got to Greenville from North Augusta, GA.

https://www.localpiepizzacompany.com/

https://www.gofundme.com/support-jennifer-stewarts-medical-recovery

https://open.spotify.com/show/3dQXtUZBSueL1Tmxxb8oXu?si=d4cf7e3c0c714212

https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

https://www.mobilecigarbox.com

https://x.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/mobilecigarbox

https://chrisstrother.cdanjoyner.com

Jonboy Ellis, owner of Blackwater Roasters, and Stephanie Harmon, coffee shop manager, sit down with Chris to discuss all things coffee. Jonby and Chris, light up cigars and they jump into the world of cigars. It doesn't take long to get the conversation onto the topic of coffee. One of the few roasters in the Upstate, Jonboy and Stephanie walk us through what goes on at Blackwater from roasting, cupping, drink creation to guest service. They also make some clarification for us on what espresso is and is not.

https://www.blackwaterroasters.com/

https://www.instagram.com/blackwater_roasters/

https://www.instagram.com/jonboye1776/

https://www.instagram.com/stephl_harmon/

https://www.gofundme.com/support-jennifer-stewarts-medical-recovery

https://www.mobilecigarbox.com

https://www.instagram.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

https://open.spotify.com/show/3dQXtUZBSueL1Tmxxb8oXu?si=d4cf7e3c0c714212

https://chrisstrother.cdanjoyner.com

Bethany Haile, Founder and owner of Bethany's Wildflowers Salon and co-owner of Upstate College of Cosmetology joins sits down with Chris to explore the world of hair and beauty. Due to poor weather, they are unable to smoke, but a fair amount of cigar talk ensues. After discussing cigars and coffee, the two move on to how she launched her business in Central, SC, moved to Clemson, and then chose to downsize and head back to her roots in Central. They also discuss her purchase of Upstate Cosmetology, what students learn there, and what it's like to run a cosmetology school.

https://www.instagram.com/bethany.haile.1/

https://www.instagram.com/bethanyswildflowerssalon/

https://www.instagram.com/ucceasley/

https://www.gofundme.com/support-jennifer-stewarts-medical-recovery

https://www.mobilecigarbox.com

https://x.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

https://open.spotify.com/show/3dQXtUZBSueL1Tmxxb8oXu?si=d4cf7e3c0c714212

https://chrisstrother.cdanjoyner.com

Scott Matt, owner of Mack Home Inspections comes on Sunday Afternoon Smokes. Chris and Matt both light up a Crazy Alice by Drew Estate and pour a little bit of Elijah Craig bourbon. Chris educates Matt on cigars, who considers himself a novice. Then the conversation turns to Matt's specialty, home inspections. He clues us in on what a home inspection is, walks us through the process, and even takes time to talk about Radon. Finally, the episode wraps up revolving around Matt's personal sabbatical overseas and his transition to Greenville.

Justin McComas and Mike Malloy, owners of Natureline Curbing, join Chris for episode 42 of SAS. Chris lights up an Artista Ambar Puro, Justin enjoys a La Gloria Cubana Serie R, and Mike goes light with the Torano Dominico. The trio cover Justin's in home smoking room, a good discussion on cigars, and then they jump into the business they founded, Natureline Cubing which aims to help your landscaping and prevent water erosion. To wrap things up the jump into Justin and Mike's previous career in California as law enforcement officers.

https://www.naturelinecurbing.com/

https://www.gofundme.com/support-jennifer-stewarts-medical-recovery

https://www.mobilecigarbox.com

https://x.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

https://open.spotify.com/show/3dQXtUZBSueL1Tmxxb8oXu?si=d4cf7e3c0c714212

https://chrisstrother.cdanjoyner.com

Founder and owner of Sante Vie Wellness, Rebekah Fedrowitz, joins Chris for episode 41. Sante Vie Wellness is a functional wellness practice in Greenville, SC that guides their clients with realistic, strategic steps to improve how they feel and function. As a Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Rebekah founded Sante Vie from her own struggles with health. The conversation revolves around what health is, the food we consume, and approaching our health from the point of view that the body should be looked at as a whole unit. A little cigar talk up front as Chris wants to know a professional opinion on cigars.

https://www.santeviewellness.com/

https://www.instagram.com/santeviewellness/

https://www.gofundme.com/support-jennifer-stewarts-medical-recovery

https://www.mobilecigarbox.com

https://x.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/mobilecigarbox

https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

https://open.spotify.com/show/3dQXtUZBSueL1Tmxxb8oXu?si=d4cf7e3c0c714212

https://chrisstrother.cdanjoyner.com

Chris sits down with Marty Van Dam and Lucas de Affonseca for an important conversation about stroke recovery, brain injury rehabilitation, and the long road of rebuilding life after a hemorrhagic stroke. Marty, a speech pathologist and manager of the Outpatient Brain Injury and Young Stroke Program at Roger C. Peace, brings the clinical perspective, while Lucas shares his firsthand experience as a young stroke survivor.

This episode is especially personal for Chris, whose wife Jennifer suffered a brain aneurysm and stroke in April. Together, they explore what a stroke actually is, the difference between hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes, the emotional and physical realities of recovery, and the importance of support systems for both survivors and caregivers.

The conversation also highlights the Young Stroke Support Group at Roger C. Peace, the value of rehabilitation, and the hope that can still exist even when life has been permanently changed by a stroke.

Follow Roger C. Peace on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ph_rogercpeace/

Follow Sunday Afternoon Smokes on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes/