Sunday Afternoon Smokes

In this powerful episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with Juliette Pierce—Mrs. Greenville America, athlete, gym owner, and woman of deep faith—for a raw and unhurried conversation about resilience, identity, and transformation. Juliette shares her journey from a difficult childhood marked by instability, addiction, and the absence of a strong father figure to finding purpose throug...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down on the patio with Geoff Rhyne — chef, entrepreneur, father, and founder of Red Clay Provisions and iDefine Foundation. What starts as a conversation about butchery, southern food culture, and building better condiments slowly unfolds into something much deeper. Geoff shares stories from his early years growing up around chaos and violence...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with returning guest Jake Henderson, owner of the Carolina Barbell Club and a competitive strongman athlete training out of Britt’s Brothers Gym in Greenville, South Carolina. Jake breaks down the differences between strongman, powerlifting, and bodybuilding, what it really takes to train for elite strength sports, and why discipline matt...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with esthetician and entrepreneur Kimberly Bertrand, founder of SmartFace and SF Ceuticals. Kimberly shares her unexpected journey—from small-town Texas to San Diego and eventually Greenville—and how building a successful skincare business forced her to confront burnout, leadership failures, and ultimately her own need for transformation....

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with Duncan Morrow and Jerry Plumb of Upstate Community Press for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, small business, and the role creativity plays in building community. What begins with cigars and conversation quickly moves into deeper territory. Duncan and Jerry share how Upstate Community Press grew from a passion for visu...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with neighbor and entrepreneur Cody Stinson — founder of Media Lifeline Pro — for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, business, technology, and resilience. Born three months premature and given almost no chance of survival, Cody shares the story of his early life, the vision complications that shaped his childhood, and the unexpected...

On this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I sit down with Julian Loue, founder of Rise Bakery, for a conversation about craft, restraint, and building something that lasts. Julian’s path to owning a bakery wasn’t immediate or linear. After spending years in the automotive industry, baking began as a personal interest, grew quietly during the pandemic, and eventually moved from a home kitchen to...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I sit down with Upstate photographer and videographer Josiah Hartline for a relaxed, long-form conversation about work, creativity, and calling. We talk about growing up in Greenville, feeling directionless in school, finding purpose through apprenticeship and discipline, and how his relationship to work — and faith — has changed over time. Along the way...

This episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes was recorded in April 2025 and, for a long time, I believed it had been lost. It turns out it wasn’t. What you’re hearing is a fully unscripted, early-season conversation with two entrepreneurs who build meaningful work in very different corners of the country — and who both understand what it means to carry responsibility, uncertainty, and care for others....

Episode Clarification: During the conversation, Courtney misspoke when defining acquired brain injury. An acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any brain injury that occurs after birth and serves as an umbrella term for both traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries result from an external force (such as a fall or motor vehicle accident), while non-traumatic brain injuri...

Sean from Jetline Canine Training returns to Sunday Afternoon Smokes after first appearing back in Episode 2 in November 2024. This time, the conversation isn’t about dog training in theory — it’s about what it actually looks like to start a puppy the right way. Poppi, Chris’ new 5-month-old dog, is only about a week into training, so this episode isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a real discussion abo...

As the new year is upon us, many people begin thinking about goals, plans, and their annual resolutions. While the practice itself is ancient, this episode approaches the topic from a Biblical perspective on planning, purpose, and dependence on God. In this solo episode, I reflect on what Scripture teaches about making plans, committing our work to the Lord, and recognizing the limits of our contr...

Chris sits down with Michelle Getz, brand strategist and potter from the Upstate South Carolina area, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually means to build a brand — and why most business owners are doing it backwards. Michelle breaks down the difference between branding and marketing, explains why so many entrepreneurs struggle to articulate what makes them different, and shares h...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I sit down with Matt Bradford, co-owner and operator of Matty’s Pattys in Anderson, South Carolina, for a laid-back but thoughtful conversation about cigars, food, and the realities of building a small business. We start, as always, with cigars — talking about what Matt’s been smoking lately, how he got into the hobby, and how cigars have become a way to...

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 op...

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...

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 spir...

**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 w...

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,...

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...

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 take...

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 landscapi...

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...

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...

Chris sits down with Martine Helou-Allen, founder and executive director of RIZE Prevention, for a wide-ranging conversation about youth substance abuse prevention, addiction, trauma, faith, and the search for identity and belonging. Martine shares her personal story and the mission behind RIZE Prevention, an organization working to inspire and equip young people to rise above the influence of dru...