Southern Fried

Landon Bryant (@landontalks) joins this episode of Southern Fried! Landon hails from Laurel, Mississippi where stories of Walmart and explorations of the quirky Southern dialect has led him too a career in content creation, comedy, and writing. Charlie and Landon discuss what makes the best cornbread, who are some all-time Southerners, and why "Nabs" are so controversial. We hope you enjoy this ep...

Matt Swift of The Southern Blueprint joins this episode of Southern Fried. Hailing from North Carolina, Matt and Charlie dive into who Matt is and what inspired him to start TSB. From Southern history and folklore to predicting the Men's National Soccer Team's success in the World Cup, the two of them talk about all lot and follow some fun rabbit holes. We hope you enjoy this episode of Southern F...

Peter Burns joins this episode of Southern Fried! A conversation packed with Southeastern Conference sports references turns into an ode of the stories of the South as Charlie sits down with SEC Network host Peter Burns. Growing up in Louisiana and Texas, Burns ended up taking a bet on himself to enter into sports radio before finding his way as the host of the SEC Network where he's been since th...

Hattie O'Hara joins Southern Fried on this episode! Originally from Decatur, Alabama she has found her way to Birmingham where her love for the city inspired the Instagram series, "One Week in Birmingham." Hattie has a passion for highlighting the city she loves, a Southern hub of great people and experiences. Charlie and Hattie talk all about Birmingham, the South, and Hattie's overall attitude t...

Katie Collins joins this episode of Southern Fried! A teacher in Hoover, Alabama at Bluff Park Elementary School, Katie is passionate about education and impacting her students. She's the 2026 Alabama Teacher of the Year and a top-five finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Since being awarded that title she has taken her personality on the road by co-hosting the podcast Driving Education, tal...

Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois joins this episode of Southern Fried! A Southeastern Louisiana native, Chef has spent time all across the country in kitchens before finding his way to a content-based career. His YouTube channel, Stir the Pot, explores Southern and cajun recipes including his hit series, Duck Camp Dinners. You can catch Chef on the new Food Network show, Chopped Castaways, on Tuesday nigh...

Amanda Storey, the Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm, joins this episode of Southern Fried! Based in Birmingham,AL, JVTF is on a mission to deliver food-based education to the people of the city. Through school farms and downtown crops, Jones Valley has cultivated relationships that go beyond just consuming food, but understanding where that food comes from. Amanda and her team are...

Paul Attaway joins this episode of Southern Fried! Growing up in Georgia before making his way out west to Arizona, Paul built himself a life in entrepreneurship and business. 30 years out west were spent owning, operating, and consulting with businesses before his life would take him back to the South where he settled in Charleston. Now, an author of three books, Paul draws inspiration from the l...

Holly Swafford of SoulGrown joins this episode of Southern Fried. A mostly Birmingham, AL native, Holly has spent time all over the South, including Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama. Holly has a clear love for not only writing, but for showing her curiosity through that writing that sparks conversations. It's the real people and real stories of the South that Holly highlights, making her work incre...

Jamey Shirah, CEO of Revival Restaurant Group, joins this episode of Southern Fried! Born and raised in small town Georgia on his family farm, Jamey is defined by his work ethic and hospitable nature. This mentality has been transferred over to his company, Revival Restaurant Group, that strives for genuine hospitality to be shown at their restaurants in Atlanta and Birmingham. We hope you enjoy t...

Chef Jeremy Lett of Cracker Barrel joins this episode of Southern Fried! Growing up in Alabama and Florida, Chef Jeremy is no stranger to a kitchen, inspired by his grandmother who whipped up southern staples as well as Italian classics. Lett attended college at the University of Florida before finding his way into a restaurant kitchen in Tampa, where his love for the industry grew from there. Now...

Coach Duane Reboul joins this first in-person episode of Southern Fried. Coach Reboul is a New Orleans native who found his way to Birmingham,AL through coaching basketball at Birmingham-Southern College. A two-time national champion and multi-time conference champion and coach of the year, Reboul knows his way around the hardwood. Charlie spends this episode diving into Coach Reboul's childhood i...

B.C. Rogers III joins Southern Fried this week! Down South, one of the key aspects to many lives is a deep love for the outdoors and today on Southern Fried we have the opportunity to talk with B.C. Rogers III, the founder of Wren and Ivy, a brand focused on crafting high-quality gear for the sportsman lifestyle. B.C. and Charlie talk about his roots in Mississippi, time in Nashville, and his love...

Bill "Bubba" Bussey joins our host, Charlie, on this episode of Southern Fried, as we explore the South through its people! Bussey is best known for his many years as a member of the "Rick and Bubba Show," the nationally-syndicated radio morning show that ran for 30 years. Join Bubba and Charlie as they recount his days growing up in Jacksonville, AL, his time in radio, and his new podcast "Bubba...

Sophie Hudson joins Southern Fried today! She is a fellow podcaster who resides in the South, a Birmingham native, and to make things even better, a Mississippi State Bulldog, it was a gift to have her on! Sophie is a bestselling author who has a gift of encouragement through her writing. For over 20 years she’s documented her ideas, life, and all that’s in between on her blog BooMama.net and has...

Robby Hayes joins Southern Fried this week! A Birmingham, AL native, Robby is no stranger to the community and hospitality shown across the South. In 2024, Robby, his wife Lauren, and a team of people formed Neighbor9, a non-profit seeking to create a movement of loving your neighbor through Community Done Differently. Robby talks with Charlie about his life in Birmingham, love for his Auburn Tige...

Chef Rob McDaniel joins this episode of Southern Fried, who, along with his wife Emily, has made a massive impact on the culinary scene not only in Birmingham, but has stretched throughout Alabama and the South. Chef McDaniel is a multi-time James Beard Semifinalist and executive chef of a New York Times top 50 restaurant in the US. From Haleyville to the Plains, Lake Martin to Birmingham where he...

Chris Thomas joins this episode of Southern Fried to talk southern brands and hospitality. Starting Made South, a brand that highlights southern creators and artists, catapulted Chris into a field where he stops at nothing to show how important southern hospitality is and how important it is to southern culture. Check out this episode of Southern Fried as we continue to explore the South through i...

One of the most underrated aspects of the South is its unique beauty. We’re home to mountains and waterfalls, but also swamps and beaches. There’s always something to discover in this great region. On this episode we’re joined by two people who know exactly that, through their journey of exploring every county in the great state of Alabama. From exploring trails to finding the best spots to eat, U...

John Lyda joins Southern Fried this week as we continue to explore the South through its people! A small town childhood in Alabama is the foundation of John's life that would later lead him to the suburbs of Birmingham in Hoover where he would eventually find his way deeply intertwined with the community serving on the city council for 13 years. From cornbread to marathons - get ready to hear John...

Dr. Janie Clay joins Southern Fried on this episode! As a registered dietitian who grew up on her family farm in Marengo County, AL, Janie and her family gained popularity on social media through their knowledge of agriculture and love for each other. Give this episode a listen to learn not only a little about farming, but to hear a love for a family that's unrivaled!

Bobby Horton joins Southern Fried on this episode! An Alabama native, Mr. Horton is a talented musician who performs all over the country solo and with his band Three on a String. He’s also worked on the scores for 19 of Ken Burns’ documentary films and produced numerous albums that take you back in-time to the American past. Enjoy this episode with the multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, a...

This episode of Southern Fried we're joined by Trey Echols, otherwise known as The Fedneck! Trey is a Birmingham, AL native who has a passion for good food that has recently exploded on Instagram through his burger reviews. This episode explores the food scene of Birmingham, the current southern renaissance, and Trey's take on the best burger you can get. Give this one a listen and leave a review!

Sally McKay joins us on this episode of Southern Fried! She's a baker, food stylist, blogger, and now TV star after appearing on Baked With Love: Holiday on the Hallmark Channel. Sally talks with host Charlie about how the South is a major influence on all that she does. Be careful listening to this episode, because you'll definitely want a homemade treat once its over!

Ahmad Austin joins this episode of Southern Fried! As a contemporary artist that specializes in abstract, jazz inspired, and palette knife works, Ahmad takes us through what it's like to be an independent artist in the South. Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Ahmad knows a thing or two about how things are done down here. Check out this great episode and leave a review!