Kudzu Project

Drop us a line. SPECIAL EPISODE DROP! I had the opportunity to sit down with Adam R. Smith , congressional candidate in North Carolina's 11th District , who took time out of his busy campaign schedule to join me on the Kudzu Project . Adam is a U.S. Army Green Beret veteran with nearly 17 years of service. He's a man of commanding stature, deep faith, and profound conviction — and in thi...

Drop us a line. In this episode of the Kudzu Project , I sit down with storyteller Mary Davis Gage, co-host of the Getting to Know Hendo podcast. Mary has a gift for spinning a yarn — whether she's sharing a story on stage or helping spotlight the people who make Henderson County, NC, special, she understands something powerful: stories shape communities. We talk about the art of storytelling...

Drop us a line. In this episode of the Kudzu Project , I sit down with Hendersonville City Council Member Gina Baxter to discuss her path to public service, her love of the region and its culture, and the issues that matter most to her. Gina brings a background in nonprofits and a people-first attitude to her role on City Council. Her central focus is affordable housing — one of the most urgent ch...

Drop us a line. More than eight decades after he was killed in action on Guadalcanal and declared MIA during World War II, the remains of Marine Corps Private Luther Rhodes are finally coming home to rural Henderson County, North Carolina. In this follow-up conversation, I welcome back retired Army Major Bob Johnson — first introduced in Episode 3 of the Kudzu Project — for a remarkable update on...

Drop us a line. In this episode of the Kudzu Project , I sit down with Barbara Volk , the first female and second longest-tenured mayor of Hendersonville, North Carolina , for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, legacy, and love of place. Having served the city for nearly four decades — first on City Council and then as mayor — Volk has helped guide the city through growth, challenges, and...

Drop us a line. In this episode of the Kudzu Project , I sit down with Stacy Fields , owner of Mini Batch Bakery in Hendersonville, NC, to talk about why food is love — and how baking is her love language. Stacy shares her journey from small-town mountain girl to successful small-business owner, the role her family and faith play in her life, and the challenges she has faced along the way. We also...

Drop us a line. In this short episode of the Kudzu Project , host Nick Lucey reflects on the quiet, unsettling space between Christmas and the New Year — the pause before everything resumes moving again. As 2026 rapidly approaches, we look back on a year marked by loss, growth, and unexpected momentum. This episode explores why meaningful change rarely begins on a date on the calendar, but grows f...

Drop us a line. In this episode, I sit down with Cheryl Stuller, owner of Stuller Power Solutions in Hendersonville, North Carolina, for an honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, perseverance, and rebuilding life from the ground up. Cheryl shares her humble beginnings and opens up about surviving domestic violence, a journey that ultimately led her to get involved with Safelight, a lo...

Drop us a line. In this episode of The Kudzu Project , I sit down with Rev. Anthony McMinn , President and CEO of the Hendersonville Rescue Mission , for a powerful and raw conversation about leadership, faith, and community. Rev. McMinn reflects on his roots in Hendersonville, N.C., what it was like growing up Black in a small Appalachian town, and ultimately, returning home to become the first A...

Drop us a line. Dr. Jennifer Hensley has spent more than two decades helping people feel more aligned — as a chiropractor and wellness professional, Hendersonville N.C.’s Mayor Pro Tem and now — candidate for Mayor in 2026. In this episode, we explore the backbone of her leadership philosophy, adjustments she believes the city needs as it grows, and the values that keep her grounded in service. Fr...

Drop us a line. In this episode of the Kudzu Project , we sit down with Bryan Byrd — a Hendersonville resident for the past two decades, a local realtor, jovial emcee, and owner of the Flat Rock Cinema, a beloved neighborhood movie theater off the Greenville Highway. Bryan shares what first drew him to Western North Carolina, how his life has become rooted in community, communication, connection,...

Drop us a line. In this episode of the Kudzu Project , we sit down with Commander Bill Manofsky, USN (Ret.), a remarkable figure whose life blends aviation, engineering, and quiet dedication in ways few ever see — or hear. A retired naval officer and P-3 Orion flight officer, Manofsky has spent his career navigating everything from the opening moments of the Iraq War to the front lines in Ukraine....

Drop us a line. In this special episode, I sit down with Alan Yeck, Director of the Veterans Healing Farm in Mills River, N.C., to talk through a lifetime shaped by service. Alan shares stories from growing up in a military family, joining the United States Marine Corps, and serving at remote foreign service outposts around the world. We discuss his mission today as Director of the Veterans Healin...

Drop us a line. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Daniel Andreotta of Integrity Financial Group to talk about where the economy really stands—nationally, regionally, and right here in Henderson County, NC. Daniel works every day with families, business owners, and local professionals, bringing a grounded perspective on how broader economic shifts are being felt close to home. W...

Drop us a line. When the world changed on the morning of September 11th, 2001, Jeff Sokol says his life — and everything he thought he knew about the world around him — changed with it. In this gripping conversation, Jeff recounts his experience of surviving that fateful day, and the spiritual reckoning that ensued. What began as a story of survival became a lifelong struggle with faith, doubt, an...

Drop us a line. Retired Army Major Bob Johnson has made it his mission to ensure that Henderson County's Missing in Action servicemembers from World War II are never lost to time. In this powerful episode, we talk about VFW Post 5206’s efforts to honor and locate 13 local heroes still unaccounted for, including Marine Corps Private Luther Rhodes, who vanished in 1942 at Guadalcanal in the Sou...

Drop us a line. In the second installment of the Kudzu Project, host Nick Lucey sits down with Sebastian Badger of " Haunts of Hendo " for a walk through Hendersonville’s haunted history — from the eerie echoes of Piedmont Flight 22 to the mysterious Sunshine Lady and the town’s infamous triple homicide. Chills, legends, and local lore all come alive in this creepy convo. Support the sho...

Drop us a line. In this first episode of the Kudzu Project , host Nick Lucey sits down with Jay Egolf , Henderson County Commissioner, business owner, and lifelong community advocate. Jay shares his journey from running Egolf Motors to serving the people of Henderson County — and what it means to balance economic growth with preserving the region’s small-town charm. They talk about the challenges...