Carbonated Conversations Podcast

This week, host Kat Kezon is joined by Rian N. Jenkins for a very carbonated conversation. Born into storytelling, Rian shares her lifelong transformation from confiscated notebooks to seven published books of her stories and poetry. Rian discusses coming into her love of reading as a teacher committed to bringing Black literature into the classroom while providing mentorship that really matters o...

This week host Kat Kezon is joined by Sandra Rivas, the founder of Peaceful Gatherings Nature School. Peaceful Gatherings Nature School, located in the St. Andrews neighborhood, is an Agile Learning Community where learning is inclusive, land-based, and liberated. Sandra shares how she identified a gap in liberated learning spaces for kiddos in Columbia, created the space with the help of her neig...

This week, host Kat Kezon has the pleasure of sitting down with reader, writer, consultant, community architect, and host of the Columbia Silent Book Club, Miss Jemia Williams. Jemia shares how catching up with a friend over silent reading turned into an opportunity to host the city's chapter of the national Silent Book Club. A woman of many talents, many interests, and many lives, Jemia also...

This week, host Kat Kezon sits down with Jordan Sirois, host of the Watching Movies Podcast. Jordan talks about how movies have remained a steady interest and hobby, and has since produced a movie podcast with family and friends. Jordan advocates for visiting your local movie theatre and creating your own analog movie collection at home. Tune in to hear about how Jordan's show has led him to a...

This week, Kat sits down with Britt and Kara of the Magnolia Drifters womxn's rugby club, a 501(c)3 and womxn's social club promoting positive rugby culture and community service. The teammates discuss falling in love with the sport, especially thanks to their amazing teammates.

This episode is truly a love letter to the Soda City. Kat has the pleasure of sitting down with multi-talented paper craft, fabrication, and graphic artist Dogon Krigga whose Afrofuturist, Afrosurrealist art can be found all around the city of Columbia. Dogon shares on their artistic roots in the city and the current day art scene. We talk synesthesia, loving our neighbors, the importance of art s...

It's Black Maternal Health Week! And host Kat Kezon has the pleasure of sitting down with Rebekah Cadet, the founder of The Black Mom Village, who opens up about her personal experiences in motherhood that set her on the course to find and build her village. Rebekah has created a space for Black moms in Columbia, SC that centers lived experience, advocacy, de in the face of disparities in heal...

This week, your host Kat sits down with trans, Southern author Evelyn Berry for another Carbonated Conversation. Evelyn discusses the books that built her, the practices that sustain her, and the Southern treats that delight her. We talk Queerness and the United States South, Queerness IN the United States South. Evelyn even performs two poems from her latest published collection "T4T'. T...

This week, host Kat Kezon sits down for a carbonated conversation with local Artist and Art Consultant, Penny McPeak of Penny & Lucy Lou Co. Penny is a multi-media artist whose work has been implemented in nearly every element of interior design here in Columbia, SC all the way to Barbados. Penny shares on her experiences falling in love with the arts here in Columbia, SC and being raised by h...

Greetings listeners! This week Kat sits down with John Tjaarda for a lesson on the backyard birds of Columbia, SC. John flies us listeners through a lesson on what birds you can expect to see during the different months of the year, how to get started on your own birding adventures, and the importance of citizen science. Tune in to learn some birding lingo and even a few birding calls, you won't w...

This week, Kat sits down with Kylee Hewitt, founder of Cola AF (Alcohol Free), career tattoo artist, and emerging social worker. Kylee shares her journey of reevaluating her relationship with alcohol and explains how that process inspired her to create Cola AF, a space for fun and community without alcohol.

This week, Kat sits down with Scott Padgett, former co-owner of Rockafella's, Columbia SC's spot for rock n roll. Tune in to hear which artists cut their teeth at the Rockafellas before their big breaks, what keeps Columbia from being a true music city, and a deep cut Cola hidden gem. You won't want to miss it!

Welcome to Season 2 of the Carbonated Conversations Podcast! This week, host Kat Kezon sits down with co-owner of local accolade-winning coffee shop, Piecewise Coffee. Jacob shares the story of the shop's inception, his family origins as small business owners, and the importance of shopping locally.

This week, Kat sits down with licensed esthetician and owner of Peche Skin Co, Georgia Woodard. Ever wonder why you leave a facial feeling a level of relaxation that lasts for days? Well in this episode, Georgia explains the powerful impacts of facials on our parasympathetic nervous system. We talk supporting local businesses and advice for those starting on their journey.

Happy 2026, Columbia South CarolinAAAAA! Bring in the new year with Kat and local influencer Brii Sweatshirt as they discuss transitioning out of the military in Columbia, uplifting small businesses in the city, and finding Brii's voice! Brii talks everything from post-partum to baked beans to friendship. You surely will not want to miss it!

Kat sits down with her dear pal Paul Curtin to discuss the beauty of multigenerational/intergenerational friendships. The pair have been friends for several years and have an age gap of 40 years. Paul shares his experiences snow-birding in Columbia, SC and creating a home and a life here. Listeners, you are sure to enjoy Paul’s wisdom and humor in this special Christmas episode!

It's a pleasure to have Licensed Professional Counselor Tracey Goldson share her

Welcome back to the Carbonated Conversations podcast! This week's guest, Zita Riser, is the zine creator and collector behind the South Carolina Zine Collection at Richland Library, where zine authors can have their creations catalogued for check out just like any book in the library's collection. Zita shares their journey from online blogger to zine artist and author, recalls first discovering Co...

This week Claire, one of the founding organizers of Columbia Community Fridges, joins us to talk food insecurity, rescue, recovery, and redistribution. CCF is a grassroots organization working to bring outdoor, publicly accessible community fridges to our city. These fridges are beautifully decorated with murals by local artists and community members and will be accessible 24/7 without supervision...

This week's guest is Kat's bestie of 25 years, Jim O'Malley, a Nurse Practitioner, world traveler, yoga instructor, and the podcasts first pop drinker!! Jim shares his perspectives on Columbia, SC as a now two-time visitor. Jim also talks about his recent move to Grand Rapids, MI and how he has made new friends through different activities, groups, and opportunities. Tune in to find ou...

This week, Kat is joined by her dear friend Maria Paz Villanueva , a local body artist from Santiago, Chile. Maria shares her experience learning English through Columbia’s ESL classes, where Soda City residents from all over the world come together to practice language, build community, and support one another. She also talks about making new friends through Bumble BFF and how those friendships h...

This week, Holly Johnson, organizer of Columbia Girls Who Walk, shares the story behind this beloved Cola organization responsible for creating a safe and meaningful space for female connection, friendship, and empowerment in our city. Holly takes us back to her first time attending a Columbia Girls Who Walk event, shows listeners the behind the scenes of the nationwide Girls Who Walk Movement, an...

Join Kat in a colorful, carbonated conversation with local artist and muralist Cait Patel. Cait discusses her experiences turning her passion for art into a career with her business, The Blissful Hippie, and navigating the local art scene as a festival vendor and lover of the arts herself. Cait also shares the behind the scenes on starting her own non-profit, Palmetto Purpose, with the mission of...

Host Kat Kezon kicks off Carbonated Conversations — the local storytelling podcast celebrating Columbia, South Carolina. From local artists to community builders and everyday changemakers, each episode captures stories that bubble up from the heart of Soda City. Follow along at @carbonated.conversations on Instagram or email ⁠carbonated.conversations@gmail.com⁠ to nominate a future guest!