The Sharon Decker Podcast

When Hurricane Helene hit, most people wondered if Chimney Rock Park would ever be the same. After nine months of closure, the answer is yes, and then some.I sit down with Emily Walker, General Manager at Chimney Rock State Park, to talk about what actually happened the day the storm hit, how her team pivoted to keep the mission alive, and what it looks like to fully reopen one of Western North Carolina's most beloved landmarks.In this conversation, we cover:The day before Helene and why evacuating the animals first may have been the smartest decision they madeWhat it felt like to see the park for the first time after the stormHow the education team kept going, bringing animal programs to schools, museums, and libraries while the park was darkTater the groundhog and why their 20th Groundhog Day event was the most attended in park historyWhat is open right now including daily wildlife programs every weekday at 2pm, all trails, the elevator, both shops, and the deliJuly 4th weekend events featuring historic games, flag crafts, and a flag retirement ceremony tied to America 250Annual passes for just $34 and why they are the best deal in Western North CarolinaThe park's full history from its Grand Opening on July 4, 1916 all the way to todayChimney Rock is not just a state park. It is a community anchor, a natural treasure, and one of the most resilient places in Western North Carolina. If you have been waiting to visit, there is no reason to wait any longer. Both main roads are open. The village is open. Lake Lure is open. The park is ready for you.Plan Your Visit:➡️ https://www.chimneyrockpark.com/plan-...Upcoming Events at Chimney Rock Park:➡️ https://www.chimneyrockpark.com/event...Stay Connected and Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources and How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govChapters:[00:00] Introduction: Emily Walker and Chimney Rock Park[00:28] Hurricane Helene: The Day Before the Storm[01:23] Evacuating the Animals and Closing the Park[02:23] The Morning of Helene and Losing Communication[03:24] First Time Back in the Park on October 2nd[04:13] How the Team Pivoted Fast[05:39] Taking Education Programs on the Road[06:41] Tater and the 20th Groundhog Day[07:57] Daily Wildlife Programs This Summer[09:26] Annual Passes and Added Value Programs[10:51] How to Get to the Park Right Now[11:53] July 4th Weekend Programming[13:47] The Energy in Chimney Rock Village Today[14:29] Park History Going Back to 1916[15:26] The Morse Family and the Sale to the State[17:11] What Makes This Park Unlike Any Other in NC[18:08] Everything That Is Open Right Now[19:13] Website and How to Stay Connected#ChimneyRockPark #WesternNorthCarolina #HurricaneHelene #WNCRecovery #WNCStrong #NatureEducation #FamilyTravel #NorthCarolina #StatePark #HickoryNutGorge #LakeLure #Resilience #OutdoorFamilies #Naturalist

What do you do when your bank account hits zero, your car gets repossessed, and you find yourself curled up in bed wondering if this is what entrepreneurship — what life — is supposed to feel like?Dr. Will Lewis has been there. And what he learned on the other side of that storm became the foundation for his powerful new book, Perched in the Storm: Brutal Lessons in Resilience Every Leader Can Learn from Entrepreneurs.In this conversation, Dr. Lewis — Marine Corps veteran, PhD, nationally recognized leadership expert, and entrepreneur — sits down with Sharon to get real about what it actually means to lead through failure, stay steady when the storm is raging, and find strength by leaning into your humanity instead of hiding it.In this conversation, we cover:- The moment everything fell apart — zero bank account, repossessed car, and what it took to get back up- Why the storm didn't come to break him — it came to reveal him- How faith, family, and community became his lifeline when the hustle couldn't fix it- The decision every leader faces in the middle of a storm: victim or victor- Keith Vest's story — cancer, financial collapse, and betrayal hitting all at once, and what came next- Why the strongest leaders are the ones willing to say "I don't know — I need your help"- What Dr. Lewis tells his sons about crying, emotion, and real strength- The founding of The Intersection — and what happens when three leaders collide their gifts📖 Get Perched in the Storm:➡️ Website: https://www.wtlewis.com/books➡️ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perched-Storm-Lessons-Resilience-Entrepreneurs/dp/1968760997➡️ Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/noresults/perched-in-the-storm-william-t-lewis/1149266130---🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govFind Dr. Will Lewis & Cam's Coffee Co.:➡️ https://www.wtlewis.com---Chapters:[00:00] - Introduction: Meet Dr. Will Lewis[01:50] - The Bird on the Cover: The Metaphor Behind *Perched in the Storm*[03:50] - The Original Title (You'll Want to Hear This One)[05:10] - When Everything Collapsed: Zero Bank Account & a Repossessed Car[07:45] - Faith, Family & Why He Never Lost Hope[09:35] - The Storm Came to Reveal You, Not Break You[10:06] - Victim or Victor — It's a Decision[11:20] - What Sharon Saw in WNC Small Business Owners After Helene[12:34] - Granny's Advice: Just Keep Living[14:00] - Humility as a Leadership Superpower[15:20] - The Power of Community in Crisis[17:06] - Why Dr. Lewis Teaches His Sons It's Okay to Cry[18:14] - The Wisdom Is in the Room, Not on the Stage[19:41] - Keith Vest's Story: Cancer, Collapse & Betrayal[24:51] - The Intersection: What Three Leaders Built Together[25:35] - How to Find the Book & Connect with Dr. Will Lewis---Key Takeaways:- The storm doesn't come to destroy you — it comes to reveal who you are- Every leader is either in a storm, coming out of one, or about to go into one- Strength shows up through vulnerability, not in spite of it- Community isn't optional — we were made for it- Faith gives you hope when your circumstances give you nothing- Feel the feels — stuffing it down doesn't make you stronger- The wisdom isn't on the stage. It's in the room.Topics covered: leadership lessons, entrepreneur rock bottom, Dr. Will Lewis, Perched in the Storm, Marine Corps leadership, faith and work, mental health for leaders, male vulnerability, organizational culture, change management, DEI leadership, community over individualism, Sharon Decker podcast, WNC small business recovery#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #PerchedInTheStorm #DrWillLewis #SharonDeckerPodcast #Faith #MarineVet #LeadershipLessons #MentalHealth #CommunityMatters #ChangeManagement #WNC

Western North Carolina is stunning. But keeping it that way? That takes people who show up every single day to protect it — and Kieran Roe is one of those people.I sat down with Kieran Roe, Executive Director of Conserving Carolina, to talk about the work happening right now to preserve the land, restore the rivers, and build the trails that are going to define this region's future.In this conversation, we cover:What Conserving Carolina actually does — conservation easements, land acquisition, trail development, and river restorationThe Saluda Grade Trail: 31 miles across North and South Carolina that could connect Tryon and Saluda to Hendersonville, Brevard, and beyondThe Acoustic Trail — 19 miles linking downtown Hendersonville to downtown Brevard, already open and worth visitingHow floodplain restoration work did exactly what it was designed to do when Hurricane Helene hitWhy rail trails aren't just beautiful — they bring real economic life to the towns along their corridorsHow private landowners can protect their land through conservation easements and long-term estate planningAnd how you can get involved — whether that's volunteering, donating, or just showing up and walking the trailThis is the kind of stewardship that doesn't make the headlines — but it shapes everything. The beauty we love about Western North Carolina doesn't protect itself. It takes organizations like Conserving Carolina and the people who support them.How You Can Get Involved:Visit conservingcarolina.org to learn about volunteer opportunities, conservation easements, upcoming events, and how to support their work financially. Your membership directly funds everything they do.🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govChapters:[00:00] - Introduction: Kieran Roe & Conserving Carolina[00:44] - What Is Conserving Carolina? History & Mission[02:17] - Land Conservation, Easements & Acquiring Land[03:12] - Trail Development & The Outdoor Economy[04:44] - The Acoustic Trail: Hendersonville to Brevard[05:19] - Why Trails Matter for WNC's Economy[06:13] - The Saluda Grade Trail: 31 Miles Across Two States[07:57] - The Long Vision: A 60-Mile Connected Corridor[09:42] - Why These Trails Transform Small Towns[12:58] - Conservation Alongside Development[14:22] - The Historic Saluda Grade & Natural Heritage[16:18] - Protecting WNC's Conserved Lands for the Future[17:26] - Hurricane Helene Cleanup & River Restoration[18:58] - How to Connect with Conserving CarolinaKey Takeaways:Conserving Carolina works across Henderson, Transylvania, Polk, and parts of upstate South CarolinaThe Saluda Grade Trail corridor was purchased just last year — trail construction is the next big stepThe Acoustic Trail is already open — 6 miles constructed connecting Hendersonville toward BrevardFloodplain restoration work along the French Broad River mitigated flood damage from HeleneConserving Carolina has run an AmeriCorps program for over 20 years, placing young talent in conservation workPrivate landowners can explore conservation easements and estate planning through conservingcarolina.orgLocal membership support is the foundation of everything the organization doesTopics: Conserving Carolina, Western North Carolina conservation, Saluda Grade Trail, Acoustic Trail, rail trail WNC, land conservation easements, Hurricane Helene recovery WNC, WNC outdoor economy, Kieran Roe, trail development North Carolina, floodplain restoration, WNC hiking trails, Hendersonville Brevard trail, Tryon Saluda trail, private land conservation, WNC nonprofit, Sharon Decker podcast#WesternNorthCarolina #ConservingCarolina #SaludaGradeTrail #WNCTrails #LandConservation #HurricaneHeleneRecovery #WNCOutdoors #OutdoorEconomy #AcousticTrail #SharonDeckerPodcast

What if the most meaningful chapter of your life hadn't even started yet?

Chuck Hutchison spent decades winning — as a collegiate and NFL football player, a coach, and a highly successful sales executive at Schreiber Foods, one of the nation's largest private label dairy companies. By every measure, he lived a full and accomplished life.

And then he retired to Western North Carolina. And everything changed.

What started as clearing an overgrown piece of land turned into 26,000 hours and 14 years of building something he never saw coming — a garden so thoughtfully designed that it was accepted into the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens, with over 4,000 plants documented. Chuck also just released his book, Getting My Hands Dirty, available now on Amazon.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What drew Chuck and his wife to Western North Carolina — and why they never looked back
• How a blank, overgrown canvas became a space intentionally designed for emotional healing
• The mindset shift that changed how Chuck thought about purpose, identity, and what comes next
• Why he designed a garden to make people feel something — not just see something
• The three women from the French Broad Garden Club who helped get his garden into the Smithsonian
• How 26,000 hours in the dirt built an entirely new community around him
• His one closing wisdom from a life in football, business, and gardening that will stay with you

This is a conversation about the fourth quarter of life — and how staying open to what unfolds next might just surprise you in the best possible way.

Chuck's book Getting My Hands Dirty is available now:
➡️ Amazon | chuckhutchison.com

Watch the 2.5-minute drone video of Chuck's garden:
➡️ chuckhutchison.com

🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North Carolina

Instagram:
➡️ instagram.com/thesharondecker

Tapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):
➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com

WNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:
➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.gov

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: Meet Chuck Hutchison
01:45 - From the NFL to Schreiber Foods: A Life Well Lived
03:30 - Why Western North Carolina? "I'm Among My People"
06:00 - Retiring to Asheville and Discovering Something New
08:15 - The Garden Begins: A Blank Canvas
11:00 - Meathead Labor, Deep Thinking & Meditation in Motion
13:30 - Designing for Emotion, Not Just Beauty
16:00 - 40,000 Pounds of Pea Gravel and 26,000 Hours Later
18:30 - When You Know You've Got It Right
20:30 - The Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens
23:00 - The French Broad Garden Club Connection
25:30 - A Whole New Community Nobody Expected
27:45 - Getting My Hands Dirty: The Book
29:30 - The One Thing Chuck Leaves With All of Us

Key Takeaways:

• Retirement opens a door to identity and purpose that a career never could
• Chuck's garden was designed from the start to create an emotional experience, not just a visual one
• Repetitive, physical work can be the most powerful form of creative thinking
• 26,000 hours and zero gardening background led to Smithsonian recognition
• Community forms in the most unexpected places when you show up with an open hand
• Western North Carolina has a way of drawing the right people — and keeping them
• "You can do all of this differently, but you could not do it any better" — that's when you're done

If you've ever grabbed a bag of Poppy's Handcrafted Popcorn — first of all, good taste. Second, you're going to love this conversation.

I sat down with Ginger Frank, the founder and co-CEO behind one of Asheville's most beloved brands, to talk about how Poppy's went from a tiny shop on Merriman Avenue to a brand now carried in stores across all 50 states. And y'all — the story behind it is just as good as the popcorn.

In this conversation we cover:

• How Ginger opened a popcorn shop as a single mom with two kids and zero commercial batches under her belt
• The shoestring budget marketing strategy that actually worked — spoiler, it involved a cute little popcorn cart and a lot of free samples
• Surviving a roof collapse, COVID, and Hurricane Helene — and what each disaster taught her about running a business
• Why surrounding yourself with the right people is everything, especially on the hard days
• What it really means to be the person where the buck stops
• New summer flavors dropping in May for America's 250th — she wouldn't spill the details but trust us, watch for it

Poppy's is Asheville made, WNC proud, and every single bag supports real people and real families right here in our mountains. Buy a bag, share a bag, ship a bag to somebody you love.

🍿 Find Poppy's Handcrafted Popcorn:

Website: ➡️ https://poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com/
Instagram: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn/
Facebook: ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn/
TikTok: ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn
YouTube: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn

Stay Connected with Sharon & The Tapestry Collaborative:

Instagram: ➡️ instagram.com/thesharondecker
Tapestry Collaborative: ➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com
WNC Recovery Resources: ➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.gov

Topics: Poppy's Handcrafted Popcorn, Ginger Frank, Asheville NC small business, Asheville food brands, women entrepreneurs, single mom entrepreneur, how to start a food business, Western North Carolina brands, Hurricane Helene recovery, small business growth, entrepreneurship, buy local Asheville, handcrafted popcorn Asheville NC

Experience the powerful Easter Sunrise Service at Chimney Rock State Park with Sharon Decker, as faith, hope, and the beauty of Western North Carolina come together in a moving celebration of the resurrection.

After a one-year hiatus, the community gathered once again at the top of Chimney Rock for this meaningful Easter tradition. Through scripture from Luke 24:1–12 and reflections on Isaiah, Sharon shares an inspiring message about resilience, gratitude, and carrying the light of Christ beyond Easter Sunday and into everyday life.

This special service also honors the continued rebuilding and renewal of Chimney Rock Village, reminding us that even after seasons of hardship, rebirth is possible through faith, community, and hope.

✨ In this Easter message:
Easter Sunrise Service
Chimney Rock State Park
Western North Carolina faith community
Luke 24 resurrection scripture
Hope after hardship
Community rebuilding and renewal
Living with faith on Monday, not just Sunday

If this message encouraged you, like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations on leadership, faith, community, and purpose with Sharon Decker.

🙏 Comment below: Where are you seeing light and hope in your life right now?

#EasterSunriseService #SharonDecker #ChimneyRock #HeIsRisen #WesternNorthCarolina #FaithAndHope #EasterSunday #ChristianEncouragement

There are over 10,000 children in North Carolina right now living in foster care. 480 more enter the system every single day across the United States. Many of them feel like no one sees them, no one is coming, and no one cares enough to even know their favorite color.Susanna Kavanaugh, founder of Least of These Carolinas, built a nonprofit to change that feeling — starting with one county in Gastonia and growing into a statewide mission that meets children exactly where they are.In this conversation, we cover:Why so many foster children feel alone — and what it costs them when no one shows upThe Bag of Hope program — personalized duffel bags sent to children the moment they enter care, with their name embroidered in their favorite colorHow LOTC serves over 1,000 foster children each Christmas through community sponsorshipsBridge Camp in Wilkes County — a summer camp just for kids in foster care, now in its 10th yearHow Susanna mobilized after Hurricane Helene to reach WNC families on horseback, in partnership with Greg Biffle and the Joey Logano FoundationAliyah's story — a former camper who arrived at Bridge Camp feeling like no one was listening. She's now an EMT studying at Western Carolina University.Foster children don't need pity. They need someone to show up — intentionally, consistently, and by name. That's exactly what Least of These Carolinas does.How You Can Help:Visit lotcarolinas.com to donate, sponsor a child for camp or Christmas, volunteer to pack bags, or simply reach out if you want to get involved in a way that fits you. Susanna's team will find a place for you.🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North Carolina
Instagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govChapters:00:00 – Introduction: Meet Susanna Kavanaugh01:45 – Why Foster Children Often Feel Alone03:20 – The Numbers: 10,000 Kids in NC, 480 a Day Nationwide04:50 – The Bag of Hope: A Duffel Bag With Their Name On It07:10 – 12 Hours of Christmas: Serving 1,000+ Kids Every Year08:55 – Hurricane Helene: Boots on the Ground in Western NC11:00 – Horseback Deliveries, Greg Biffle & the Joey Logano Foundation13:15 – Bridge Camp: 10 Years of Changing Lives in Wilkes County15:00 – Aliyah's Story: When Showing Up Saves a Life16:30 – How You Can Get Involved With Least of These CarolinasKey Takeaways:Over 10,000 children in NC are currently in foster care480 children enter the foster care system every single day in the USLOTC serves 1,000+ foster children each Christmas seasonBridge Camp in Wilkes County is entering its 10th yearAfter Helene, LOTC coordinated formula deliveries on horseback and secured vehicles for displaced caregiversYou don't have to be a foster parent to step into a child's storylotcarolinas.com is where to start#FosterCare #LeastOfTheseCarolinas #WesternNorthCarolina #HurricaneHelene #WNCRecovery #FosterKids #BagOfHope #BridgeCamp #SharonDecker #CommunityImpact

I'll be honest — loading the dishwasher is one of my least favorite things to do.But a man who lived in the 1600s completely changed how I think about it.Brother Lawrence was a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery whose only job was to wash dishes. And yet he wrote that the noise and clutter of his kitchen felt no different from being on his knees at the altar. He called it Practicing the Presence of God — doing every small thing, for the love of God.Now when I load the dishwasher, I thank God for the person who used that cup. When I unload it in the morning, I thank Him for another day and the gift of health to do it.The question I keep coming back to:What if the little things aren't getting in the way of the vision — what if they ARE the way?We'll never reach the big things without faithfully tending to the small ones. Do it with love. Do it with thankfulness. Just like Brother Lawrence teaches.🌿 Share this with someone who needs the reminder that God is in the ordinary moments too.#Faith #FaithAndWork #PracticingThePresence #BrotherLawrence #DailyDevotion #WesternNorthCarolina #Encouragement #Leadership #AWordFromSharon

When Hurricane Helene's floodwaters rose 24 feet in Swannanoa, they stopped right at the driveway of Valley Hope Church—as if, Susanna says, God drew a line and said, "You'll go no further." What happened next is one of the most remarkable stories of faith, strategy, and community in all of Western North Carolina's recovery.I sit down with Susanna, Head of Helene Recovery at Valley Hope Church in Swannanoa—one of the hardest hit communities after the storm—to talk about what it actually looks like when the church shows up for its people. Not just in the first few days. For the long haul.In this conversation, we cover:How floodwaters stopped at the church's driveway—and what they did the moment it recededWhy they used only skilled volunteers for home repairs—and how that standard led to 170+ completed repairs$300,000 distributed to nearly 30 small businesses to keep their doors open2,000+ volunteers. 26,000+ hours. $780,000+ in donated labor—all mobilized through one small churchThe Better Together Coalition—and how partnering with Mercury One, World Vision & Operation Blessing makes it possible to rebuild a $250,000 home for just $20,00012 full home rebuilds currently underway—and how you can be part of finishing themRecovery isn't just about mucking and gutting. It's about getting families back into safe homes, keeping small businesses alive, and rebuilding the community fabric that makes a place worth returning to. Valley Hope Church—a small congregation given their building for $0 by a dwindling church that chose legacy over profit—has become a living example of what the body of Christ is designed to do: show up, stay, and serve.How You Can Help:Give financially or sign up as a skilled volunteer → ValleyHope.Church/HeleneJoin a Sunday service at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. in Swannanoa (Spanish translation available at 11 a.m.)Share a meal at their community dinner every Monday night, 5:30–6:30 p.m.Pray for the team doing this work long after the headlines are gone.🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comValley Hope Church Helene Recovery:➡️ https://valleyhope.church/heleneWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govChapters:[00:00] - Introduction: Susanna & Valley Hope Church[01:45] - The Miracle of the Building: Given for $0[03:30] - Hurricane Helene Hits Swannanoa: 24 Feet of Water[05:50] - The Water Stopped at the Driveway[06:30] - Becoming a Safe Space: Food, Water & Community[08:00] - Finding the Gaps: Where People Were Falling Through[09:30] - 170+ Home Repairs with Skilled Volunteers Only[11:10] - $300K to Nearly 30 Small Businesses[13:00] - Why Recovery Requires Public, Private & Nonprofit Partnership[14:00] - The Better Together Coalition: Rebuilding for $20,000[17:30] - What the Body of Christ Is Supposed to Do[18:40] - How You Can Give, Volunteer & Show UpKey Takeaways:Valley Hope Church has completed 170+ home repairs since HeleneNearly $300,000 distributed to approximately 30 small businesses2,000+ volunteers contributed 26,000+ hours valued at over $780,000 in laborHomes that cost $250,000 to rebuild are being completed for just $20,000 through skilled volunteer partnerships12 complete home rebuilds currently underway through the Better Together CoalitionRecovery requires public, private, and nonprofit partnership—no single sector can carry it aloneSmall churches can do extraordinary things when led with strategy, heart, and collaboration

Every parent knows that bittersweet feeling — the pride of watching your child grow up mixed with the grief of letting them go.After dropping my daughter Abby off for her spring semester at college in Charlottesville, I faced a six-hour drive home filled with tears, memories, and Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" playing on the radio.But the night before that drive, something beautiful happened. At 2:30 in the morning, Abby and I sat on a red rug in her dorm room sharing tea, chocolate chip cookies, and precious conversation. I didn't care about the time. I didn't care what anyone thought. That was Holy Communion to me.The question I'm asking today:When was the last time you lived like you were dying?Jesus came so we could have life abundantly — yet so often we live from a place of lack, always waiting for the next milestone instead of treasuring the moment we're in.The time is now. Don't wait another day.🌿 Share this with a parent who understands, or someone who needs the reminder to live fully today.#Parenting #LiveInTheMoment #Faith #Motherhood #CollegeLife #LifeLessons #Encouragement #WesternNorthCarolina