The Palmetto Porch

Davy Hite grew up on the shores of Lake Murray in Saluda County with an aspiration nearly everyone around him considered a fantasy: making a living as a professional bass fisherman. But Davy did exactly that, before becoming a commentator for the sport. Davy joins Devyn to share how South Carolina’s waters prepared him for the national tournament circuit, why he risked a steady career to chase his...

The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is more than a week of professional golf on scenic Hilton Head Island. Devyn Whitmire sits down with tournament director and Heritage Classic Foundation president Steve Wilmot to trace the tournament from its beginnings at Harbour Town Golf Links to its place on the PGA Tour today. Along the way, they talk Arnold Palmer, plaid jackets, cannon fire, and the loca...

23 years into his career with South Carolina’s state park system, Jayson Sellers is building something ambitious. As park manager for Black River State Park, South Carolina’s first linear state park, he’s helping shape a network of sites stretching along the river—and thinking about what those places could offer adventurous visitors decades from now. Devyn and Jayson meet at the new park site to t...

Chefs Jordan Heyd and Guichard “Chef G” Ulysse took very different roads to the kitchen. Jordan’s path carried her around the world, before a life-changing diagnosis transformed how she thought about food. Chef G grew up in Haiti, where his mother showed him how a meal could turn a house full of people into a family. Now, as South Carolina Chef Ambassadors, the two are bringing those experiences t...

In small towns across South Carolina, there are stories waiting to be told. Join host Devyn Whitmire as she explores hidden gems—and even finds new adventures in popular destinations. All guided by the people who call these places home. The new season premieres September 23. Subscribe to know when new episodes drop, and learn more at SCPalmettoPorch.com.

City Scape Winery owners Deb and Josh Jones fell in love with wine while they were falling in love with each other. A home winemaking hobby led them to a tiny winery in the South Carolina countryside, then to the enormous gamble of buying it—and together, they eventually transformed City Scape into a much larger hospitality-driven operation. Devyn sat down with Deb to talk about their journey. For...

Ed Currie—or Smokin’ Ed, as he is known around the world—is the mad scientist behind the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X. But long before the world records and internet fame, Ed was fighting a much more personal battle. From building a new beginning in Fort Mill, to growing record-shattering peppers, Ed shares with Devyn how faith, family, and an unlikely obsession helped shape the life and business...

It takes six years to grow a Christmas tree — talk about a commitment! But in the small town of Monetta, families look to Tom Sawyer for their annual tradition of picking the best tree for their home. And yes, that’s his real name. Devyn ventures down to the farm, and chats with Tom about how his farm gets both young and old into the holiday spirit. For more about Monetta, visit SCPalmettoPorch.co...

Lydia Wherry’s family has been connected to the Edgefield Advertiser—the Palmetto State’s longest continuously running newspaper—for six generations. Lydia shares with Devyn what it was like growing up with the "ink on the walls", the newspaper's impact on locals and how it inspired her to launch Ancesserie, a bespoke letterpress studio. For more about Edgefield, visit SCPalmettoPorch.com.

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of the enslaved Africans who lived in the coastal regions of South Carolina. But their stories—and relevance to state history—didn’t end at liberation. Bridgette Frazier, founder of the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage center, speaks with Devyn about her work to preserve some of the area’s most unique cultural landscape in the face of an ever-changing Low...

A typewriter in her closet. That’s what Hartsville’s Elizabeth Boatwright Coker used to write her novels, at a time where a woman’s ambition usually took a backseat to everything else. That’s why the local Coker University, formerly a college for women, honors her hard work and pursuit of the arts through its programs of study. Eliza Ingle, her granddaughter, teamed up with her mother Penelope Cok...

The area around the town of Summerton isn’t exactly known for its hustle and bustle. But there’s still something wholesome and peaceful tucked into its lush, green landscape. Along with his business partners, Chris Biddle has cultivated some of that landscape into an idyllic escape. The Relaxed Retreat offers guests a chance to unwind and reconnect with nature, and Devyn travels down for a visit,...

McClellanville is a very small town—one of the smallest we’ve ever featured on the Porch. But it’s known all over the state for its fish and seafood. And even today, its locally-sourced fare attracts professional chefs and enthusiasts alike. One figure central to its reputation is Jeff Massey, owner of Livingston’s Bulls Bay Seafood. Jeff joins Devyn for a chat about the local seafood industry, an...

Ethan Bedford is a jack of all trades — and he kind of has to be, as the owner of Hazelwood Dairy Farms in Chester. He and his family run the farm, an agricultural center, a rodeo arena and a general store. Devyn corrals Ethan for a chat about the legacy of the farm and his intentional approach to agriculture, teaching, sustainability and building community amongst farmers. For more about Chester,...

Darren Smith, owner and head chef at Conway’s Rivertown Bistro, has had an extraordinary journey. Starting as a child in his grandma's kitchen, he passed on formal culinary school in exchange for practical experience, and opened his now well-known restaurant at just 25 years old. Today, Darren is a South Carolina Chef Ambassador and owns two establishments in the quaint little town along the Wacca...

In the 1980s, the late Bill Wells wanted to build a place where families could enjoy the music he loved. He and his wife opened Bill’s Music Shop and Pickin’ Parlor — part shop, part venue, part classroom. Today, his son, Willie, sits down with Devyn to share how bluegrass has surged in popularity, and how it continues to evolve through the talent, programming and community around West Columbia. F...

New places, new stories, same Southern charm. Host Devyn Whitmire brings us another season on the Porch, highlighting individuals who contribute to their town's unique character, charm and enduring spirit. Discover delicious food, stunning natural beauty and captivating culture. Premiering September 17. For more information, visit SCPalmettoPorch.com.

Scott Newitt, co-founder of Firefly Distillery, started out with a job in the wine industry and a love of music. With that in mind, it makes sense for South Carolina’s largest distillery to also be a vibrant hub for live performances. Scott sits down with Devyn to share his journey, from the challenges of building a successful distillery, through the evolution of Firefly as both a business and a c...

Before going through her studies at Binghamton University, Dr. Katherine “Katie” Seeber didn’t know anything about Mitchelville, the first town built for free people on Hilton Head Island. As an archaeologist and historian, it’s her job to dig up the past to understand people, places, and cultures. But Katie’s visit to this small coastal town left an everlasting impression on her, and changed the...

North Augusta is a cozy, family-friendly city nestled along the Savannah River, right at the state line. People often pop in to visit relatives — but local leaders want them to have more than a nice dinner with the folks. Devyn talks to Karl Waldhauer about how he became North Augusta’s first director of tourism, and what the area’s revitalization means to him. Learn more about North Augusta at SC...

Michelle Cunningham wanted a change of pace. Selling everything she owned, she set out on a trip across the country in a camper. In the Pacific Northwest, Michelle discovered her love for state park systems, and the community around them. Now the park manager for Little Pee Dee State Park, Michelle hopes to inspire those like her — people who may be looking for purpose, and a place to belong. She...

In 2008, busy middle school teacher Erica McCier received news that would change her life forever: her kidneys were failing. As she adjusted to this harsh reality, she found sanctuary in the cooking shows she watched while going through treatment. A transplant and a career change later, and the new Chef Erica—or Trudy, as folks would call her—sets out to bring a unique dining experience to Abbevil...

Every day, a restaurant in Loris serves steaming bowls of chicken bog, the town’s most famous dish. But what is chicken bog? And how did it place an entire town on the map for so many travelers? Loris native and “Bog Ambassador” Cobi Williams joins Devyn on the Porch to share about life in his hometown, and how its community has come together over one humble culinary delight. Want more about Loris...

The unique natural scenery at Cypress Gardens  has made it a popular backdrop for films and television shows. As the garden’s resident naturalist, Gabe Shuler is an expert on the wildlife found in its trails, swamps, and exhibits. He joins Devyn to talk shop, snakes, and what he loves most about his job. Want more on Cypress Gardens? Visit SCPalmettoPorch.com. 

The legacy of textiles touches almost everything in Lexington. But change is constant, and in the 1980s, the old textile mill in Lexington was converted into a mixed-use commercial area. Through many years of reimagining the space—and one historic flood—the community surrounding the mill shares an excitement for what the future holds. Devyn sits down with owner Laban Chappell to discuss the most r...