The Holler: A Visit Mountaineer Country Podcast

Happy Valentine's Day!

In this episode of The Holler, we sit down with Lisa and Louis Giuliani, the husband-and-wife team behind several downtown Morgantown businesses, including the beloved 123 Pleasant Street music venue, for a special Valentine’s Day conversation about life, love and entrepreneurship. The two share the story of how 123 Pleasant Street came to be, what it’s like running a business alongside your spouse and the joys and challenges of balancing work and home life. From the evolution of Downtown Morgantown to favorite date-night ideas and the role live music plays in bringing people together, this episode highlights the heart, partnership and community spirit that keep one of Morgantown’s most iconic spaces thriving.  

What does purpose have to do with tourism? On this January episode of The Holler, we sit down with Cate Schlobohm of WVU’s Purpose Center to explore how a strengths-based approach can help tourism professionals build stronger teams, prevent burnout, and start the new year with intention — all while creating places people want to visit and call home.

And even if you aren't a tourism professional, you'll love hearing Cate talk about using your strengths to stick with your New Year's Resolutions.

It's a holiday episode! Listen to Hannah and Rachel as they chat about what makes winter in Mountaineer Country so special. They talk about their favorite holiday traditions, their dream holi-dates and how to stay cozy during the cold months in North Central West Virginia. Plus, hear from tourism partners like The Wow! Factory, Antiquitea House, Hoot and Howl and the West Virginia Botanic Garden about what their holiday plans entail.

Just one month after the Grand Depart of the inaugural Mountaineer Monster bikepacking race, we wanted to revisit some of the participants' thoughts after taking on the course. Rachel had a chance to chat with a couple of riders on-site at Chestnut Ridge Campground at the end of October. So fair warning, the background of this episode is a little windy!

This week on The Holler, we head to the rolling hills of Preston County to talk with Liz Riffle, co-owner of Riffle Farms, West Virginia’s first and only commercial bison farm.

Liz, a U.S. Navy veteran, shares how she and her husband Jimmy’s experience in service shaped the way they run their farm, including their commitment to sustainability, and their belief in doing things the right way, even when it’s the harder way.

We talk about what it means to be a veteran-owned business in rural West Virginia, how agritourism has become a bridge between their mission and the community, and why their herd is grass-fed, grass-finished, and field-harvested — a practice rooted in respect for the land and the animals they raise.

It’s a conversation about purpose, stewardship, and finding new ways to connect people to where their food and sense of home come from.

In this episode of The Holler, we’re talking spicy gravel, Appalachian grit, and the growing outdoor adventure scene in Mountaineer Country. Host Rachel sits down with David Landis, the driving force behind Village 2 Village Trails and Mountaineer Gravel, a regional initiative that is putting North Central West Virginia on the map for gravel biking and bikepacking.

David shares how the Mountaineer Gravel project began, what makes our region’s backroads and trails so unique, and how cycling is helping connect small communities through outdoor tourism. We also preview the upcoming Mountaineer Monster, a new endurance bikepacking race that promises big climbs, stunning scenery, and an unforgettable ride through the heart of Appalachia.

Whether you’re an avid cyclist, a weekend explorer, or just curious about the growing adventure tourism movement in West Virginia, this episode is full of insight and inspiration from one of the region’s most passionate trailblazers.

In this episode of The Holler, we sit down with Stella Hehnly, Brand Experience Manager at Visit Mountaineer Country, to talk about the importance of sustainability in tourism. Stella shares insights on the Leave No Trace principles, why it’s crucial to teach kids how to care for the outdoors, and how responsible travel can protect the natural beauty that makes West Virginia so special. From fostering the next generation of environmental stewards to ensuring that tourism benefits both visitors and local communities, this conversation shines a light on how sustainability and destination development go hand in hand.

Which Appalachian cryptid would be the best at mini golf? We asked the owners of Cryptid Mountain Miniature Golf that along with other hard-hitting questions like the logistics of operating an indoor blacklight mini golf course. We had a great time chatting with one of our quirkiest tourism partners! Listen to Rachel's conversation with Matt and Colton now, wherever you get your podcasts.

The kids have spoken! Summer is in full swing in Mountaineer Country which means kiddos are home from school and looking for something to do. According to young locals, these are the best screen-free activities in Mountaineer Country! We hope you enjoy this very special bonus episode of The Holler!

In this episode of The Holler, we talk to JR Petsko, Director of Monongalia County Parks and Recreation, to discuss the three different parks in the county. JR tells us that there is something for everyone across the Mon County Park system, from tubing in the winter to live music and swimming in the summer, plus wedding venues and miles of hiking trails. There might also be a story about a feral otter and JR's apocalypse hiding spot.