Gainesville! Who Knew?

Cresswind Community Fund

The Cresswind Community Fund just reached $1 million.  In this episode you’ll hear the story of how a community of neighbors built something that’s now changing lives for seniors across Gainesville and Hall County, Georgia We sat down with Mark Nestle, President of The Cresswind Community Fund and Bud Baker, who leads Help Me Please - the volunteer program that provides hands-on assistance to Cresswind residents every day. Mark shares how the Fund was founded, what drives the mission and what crossing this milestone means for the future.  Bud walks us through everything Help Me Please actually does - and how you can be a part of it - whether you need a hand or want to lend one. The Fund goes far beyond the gates of Cresswind.  In Part 2, we get the full story of the seniors and programs it supports across the greater Gainesville community. Stay tuned. Gainesville! Who Knew? is produced by Umbrella Media and hosted by Lauren Price and produced by Andy Waterman - your neighbors at Cresswind Lake Lanier, Gainesville, GA gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

Agnes: The Ghost of Brenau University

She's been haunting the halls of Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia for over a century — but who was Agnes, really? In this episode, Andy and Lauren dig into one of Hall County's most beloved ghost stories, weaving together local history, mystery, and more than a little drama. With guest voices bringing Agnes and her world to life through dramatic reenactments, this Georgia ghost story feels less like a podcast and more like settling in around a fire on a dark Southern night. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, you won't look at Brenau's beautiful historic campus quite the same way again. Gainesville Who Knew — because the best stories are hiding in plain sight. gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

Season 2 - Behind the Scenes

Ever wondered how our Gainesville! Who Knew?  podcast actually comes together? In this special Behind the Scenes episode, we take you through our entire creative process—from that first spark of an idea to the final polished episode you hear. We'll show you how we decide which stories deserve to be told, track down the perfect people to interview, dive deep into research to ask questions that really matter, and then bring it all together in the recording and editing process. It's messy, it's fascinating, and it's a labor of love for our hometown. While you can still enjoy this audio version, we’re excited to bring you into our world visually and show you what really goes into uncovering Hall County's forgotten history. This is our first episode as Gainesville! Who Knew? transitions to YouTube!   You can watch the episode on our website: gainesvillewhoknew.com [http://gainesvillewhoknew.com/] or on YouTube .  We hope you enjoy it.  Let us know. gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

Gainesville Who Knew - Season 1 Complete! Taking a Short Break

We've wrapped up Season One of Gainesville Who Knew! Thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey exploring the hidden stories and fascinating history of Gainesville We're taking a short hiatus while we work on an exciting next step— Stay tuned for updates and the launch and Season Two. We'll be back soon with more untold stories from our community! gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

General James Longstreet

Ever wonder what one of the Civil War's most controversial generals would say if you could sit down and talk with him today? In this episode of Gainesville Who Knew, we fire up the time machine to interview General James Longstreet—Confederate commander, friend of Ulysses S. Grant, and the man who spent his final years right here in Gainesville, Georgia. After the war, Longstreet’s life took unexpected turns. But perhaps none more surprising than his transformation from Lee's "Old War Horse" into a Republican who worked alongside his former enemy Grant, a decision that made him one of the most hated men in the South. Join the conversation as we explore why Longstreet ended up in Gainesville, what he really thought about that fateful third day at Gettysburg, and how a Confederate general became an unlikely advocate for reconciliation. It's a story of friendship, controversy, and second chances that connects directly to our local history. gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com