Marc Hunt on Taylor’s Wave and the Future of the French Broad River

Andrew Kota of Foothills Conservancy on Protecting Land for Future Generations

Andrew Kota is the executive director of Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, a land trust that permanently protects land and water in Western North Carolina for the benefit of people and all living things. If you’ve ever hiked at South Mountains State Park, enjoyed a view of Lake James State Park, or visited Catawba Falls, then you’ve benefitted from a fraction of the work by the Morganton-based organization. For the past 30 years, the land trust has worked to protect more than 74,000 acres of forests, farms, waterways, and mountain landscapes across eight counties in Western North Carolina. Much of that story is told in a new documentary “A Dream for the Future,” which highlights both the Conservancy’s history and its current efforts to permanently protect Hickorynut Mountain near Old Fort, a 12,000-acre tract of land roughly the size of Manhattan. Andrew joined Foothills Conservancy in 2005 and has spent the last two decades helping conserve some of the region’s most important lands and waterways. In this episode, he shares what land conservation actually looks like in practice; why places like Hickorynut Mountain matter; the challenges facing this work; and what it means to think not just years, but generations into the future. Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina foothillsconservancy.org [https://www.foothillsconservancy.org/] Watch: A Dream for the Future [https://youtu.be/XkPj5PxnfJE?si=FSAMt_RYOt0KEpQ2] Theme Music The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio. Learn more about On the Blue Ridge and sign up for updates at ontheblueridgepod.com.

Taylor and Fran Montgomery on Life, Land, and Food at Montgomery Sky Farm

Taylor and Fran Montgomery are the owners and driving force behind Leicester, North Carolina-based Montgomery Sky Farm, where regenerative agriculture, intimate dining, and an animal rescue are deeply intertwined. They’re also the subject of a James Beard Award-nominated documentary, and Taylor is a finalist for Best Chef: Southeast in the 2026 James Beard Awards. Established in 2018, Montgomery Sky Farm offers farm tours and hosts private and community dinners, designed to connect guests more deeply with the land, the food being grown there, and the changing seasons of Western North Carolina. With more than 25 years of culinary experience, Taylor is passionate about heirloom produce, and the preservation of rare and endangered seed varieties that support biodiversity and long term soil health.  Fran has more than two decades of experience in veterinary medicine, and she guides the rescue and rehabilitation efforts at Final Run Rescue, an onsite nonprofit caring for neglected and abused animals, including Highland cattle, donkeys, alpaca, and even a few capybara.  In the summer of 2024, Taylor left his post as executive chef at Urban Wren in Greenville, South Carolina, to focus on the farm. A few months later, Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, and the Montgomerys turned their focus towards helping to feed first responders and those in need. Those efforts are highlighted in “The Soil Remembers,” a new documentary from Greenville-based director Rioin Oshiro.  In this episode, Taylor and Fran discuss the evolving nature of the farm, the animal rescue, and their immersive dining experiences; the heirloom produce they’re growing and what they’re excited to share with guests; how Helene impacted their operations; what it means to receive James Beard recognition without operating a traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant; and more. Montgomery Sky Farm montgomeryskyfarm.com [http://montgomeryskyfarm.com/] Follow the farm on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/montgomeryskyfarmLLC] Follow the farm on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/montgomeryskyfarm/] Follow Taylor on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/keeppushingchef/] Final Run Rescue finalrunrescue.org [http://finalrunrescue.org/] Follow the rescue on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/p/Final-Run-Rescue-61559647550121/] Follow the rescue on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/finalrunrescue/] The Soil Remembers Watch a trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AACueSUsWY] Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the.soil.remembers/]

Aaron Burdett of Steep Canyon Rangers on Crafting Songs in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Aaron Burdett is a Western North Carolina-based singer-songwriter, guitar player, and one of the lead vocalists for Steep Canyon Rangers. A highly acclaimed musician with eight solo albums to his credit, Aaron is also the founder and owner of Solstice Construction Co., a custom homebuilding firm in Saluda, the small mountain town where he grew up. Blurring the lines between Americana, Folk, Country, and Bluegrass, his solo work is deeply rooted in these mountains, carried by thoughtful songwriting and a soulful voice that made him a natural fit for Steep Canyon Rangers. They’re a Grammy Award-winning bluegrass band that formed in 2000 and are widely known for collaborations with Steve Martin. Aaron joined the group in 2022 following the departure of founding member Woody Platt, and he has quickly become an important part of the band’s evolving creative voice, both on tour and in the studio. He appears on the albums Morning Shift, Live at Greenfield Lake, and Next Act, the band’s latest studio album, which arrives May 22. In this episode, Aaron discusses the stories behind a few songs from the new album; his path to Steep Canyon Rangers; balancing music with a longtime career in homebuilding; how growing up in Western North Carolina has shaped his voice as a singer and songwriter; and much more. Steep Canyon Rangers steepcanyon.com [https://www.steepcanyon.com/] Aaron Burdett aaronburdett.com [https://www.aaronburdett.com/] Tracks Featured in this Episode “Next Act” by Steep Canyon Rangers (watch the music video) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKheaYd4Tcs] “Going Home to Carolina” by Aaron Burdett Theme Music for On the Blue Ridge The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Mike McKearin on Fishing, Family, and Designing the GoReel

Mike McKearin is the co-owner of Crystal Creek Gear, a Pisgah Forest, North Carolina-based company creating minimalist fishing gear designed to fit in your pocket. Mike and his wife, Susie, started Crystal Creek Gear after years of getting their four kids outside in Western North Carolina. What began as a family project, with early GoReel prototypes built on a 3D printer in their garage and tested by their kids on local ponds, rivers, and trails, eventually grew into a business. The GoReel itself is simple: a compact hand reel with no rod and no moving parts. It’s designed for the kind of moments when you’re hiking, biking, camping, or playing by the river and want fishing to be easy enough to bring along. In this episode, Mike talks about his earliest memories of fishing; falling in love with the mountains after coming to Brevard College; the early garage prototypes of the GoReel; what it was like turning a family project into a business; and more. Crystal Creek Gear crystalcreekgear.com [https://crystalcreekgear.com/] Theme Music The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Marc Hunt on Taylor’s Wave and the Future of the French Broad River

Marc Hunt is a passionate river steward helping shape the next chapter of the French Broad River, from efforts to remove the Craggy Dam to the creation of Taylor’s Wave, a manmade whitewater wave in Woodfin, North Carolina. Marc is also a whitewater paddler and former Asheville City Council member who has spent decades working to protect and reimagine our local rivers. A former outfitter on Tennessee’s Ocoee River, he has long been involved in river conservation and recreation efforts and currently serves on the board of RiverLink. He has played a leading role in projects like the Woodfin Greenway & Blueway and Taylor’s Wave, a stationary whitewater wave dedicated to the memory of his son, which is scheduled to open in late summer. He’s also a strong advocate for removing the Craggy Dam in Woodfin, just outside of Asheville.  In this episode, Marc shares his passion for rivers and explains why he believes removing the Craggy Dam could be one of the most important steps we take in our lifetimes to improve the health of the French Broad River, and its role in the community. Marc also discusses how the idea for the wave came together; how it fits into the broader Woodfin Greenway & Blueway; how the wave and surrounding park could benefit the town; and what it means for the wave to carry his son’s name. Craggy Dam Removal craggycoalition.org [https://www.americanrivers.org/craggy-dam-removal/] Opinion: Removing Craggy Dam a chance to restore French Broad River [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/2026/03/07/opinion-now-is-time-to-remove-craggy-dam-on-french-broad-river/88982125007/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQdMf9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9ztrp4DRJ-HCQjUE1opoIg8AmuNhc2tSHNB_3EuLnYGiLiS64EgjSFMEE6g_aem_5CuVPd_GtPg8JBhOmVKbeA] Town of Woodfin woodfin-nc.gov [https://woodfin-nc.gov/] River Volunteer Opportunities RiverLink [https://riverlink.org/]Asheville GreenWorks [https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/]MountainTrue [https://mountaintrue.org/] Theme Music The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.