Explore Lake Murray Country: Your Guide to Come Alive in the Jewel of South Carolina

Welcome to the Explore Lake Murray Country Podcast: Your Guide to Come Alive in the Jewel of South Carolina. As the nation approaches the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, Explore Lake Murray Country continues a special series uncovering the stories that shaped our region. In this episode of Revolutionary Roots, host Kelly Hughes is joined by noted Newberry historian Ernie Sheal...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, host Kelly Hughes sits down with Christian Greico, a professional bass angler on the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and content creator based in Chapin, SC — right in the heart of Lake Murray Country. At just 27, Christian has already racked up 3 career wins, 15 Top 10 finishes, and over $269,000 in career earnings across 92 MLF ev...

As the nation approaches the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, Explore Lake Murray Country begins a special series uncovering the stories that shaped our region. In this first episode of Revolutionary Roots, host Kelly Hughes is joined by Andy Thomas, Curator of the Cayce Historical Museum, to share the remarkable story of Emily Geiger, a young woman whose courage helped change...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, host Kelly Hughes sits down with J.R. Fennell, Director of the Lexington County Museum and Chairperson of the Lexington County 250th Committee. Originally from Walterboro, SC, J.R. has served as museum director since 2007. With a master’s in public history and a certificate in museum management from the University of South Carolina, he has dedicated...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, host Kelly Hughes sits down with Allison Horne, Co-Chair of the Junior League of Columbia Holiday Market, and Casey Pash, President of the Junior League of Columbia (JLC). They chat about how this beloved Columbia holiday tradition brings people together every December—and how it powers JLC’s mission to support women’s leadership and improve the live...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, host Kelly Hughes sits down with Matt Lyons, owner of Carefree Boat Club Lake Murray, Lake Life Marine, and Lake Murray Resort. After moving from the Midwest just four years ago, Matt has become a central figure in shaping how locals and newcomers alike experience the lake. From offering hassle-free boating through Carefree Boat Club to creating memo...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, host Kelly Hughes sits down with Chef Chris Williams, owner of Roy’s Grille and celebrated South Carolina Chef Ambassador. Chef Chris shares his journey from small-town beginnings in Olar, SC, to building one of the Midlands’ most beloved restaurants. He talks about the inspiration behind Roy’s Grille, his commitment to scratch-made southern cooking,...

 In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, host Kelly Hughes sits down with Suzanne Brooks of Historic Columbia, the nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the Midlands’ rich history. Suzanne shares her journey into the world of preservation, the unique experiences visitors can have at Historic Columbia’s house museums and gardens, and the importance of telling inclusive stories about...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, we’re going behind the scenes of South Carolina’s largest fireworks show with Brent Munnerlyn, owner of Munnerlyn Pyrotechnics. Brent shares the personal passion that led him to a career in pyrotechnics, what it takes to orchestrate Lake Murray’s Independence Day Celebration, and the cutting-edge effects launching this year. Learn how Capital City/La...

 In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, host Kelly Hughes heads to one of the region’s most beloved outdoor destinations—Dreher Island State Park. Park Ranger Sam Worley shares what makes the park such a unique experience for campers, boaters, anglers, and nature lovers alike. With 12 miles of Lake Murray shoreline, lakeside villas, hiking trails, and prime fishing spots, Dreher Island is...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, we’re diving into one of the summer’s most exciting events—Weekend With the Pros. Co-founder Chris Farr joins host Kelly Hughes to share the story behind the SC Rough Riders, the roots of WWTP, and how this two-day wakeboarding experience has grown into a major draw for riders and families alike. From pro-led lessons to high-energy exhibitions, Chris...

In this episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, we’re taking a closer look at South Carolina’s capital with Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. From his roots in Columbia to his journey through public service, Mayor Rickenmann shares how the city continues to evolve and inspire. He talks about launching his own podcast, Around Town with @ColaMayor, memorable moments as mayor, and his vision for Columbia as a...

Katie Maglocci, the Operations Director of Palmetto Outdoor, is a lover of the outdoors who moved from Cincinnati to Columbia for school. She sits down with Kelly on today’s episode of Explore Lake Murray Country to talk about what drew her to the Columbia area and the summer job at Palmetto Outdoor that transformed into her career. She also discusses her favorite outdoor activities and gives out...

Located in the small town of Ridge Spring, SC is Juniper, a local restaurant run by Chef Brandon Velie. Chef Brandon sits down with Kelly on today’s episode to discuss his background, what drew him to cooking and the history behind Juniper. Chef Brandon also talks about the success of the South Carolina Chef Ambassador program, which he started to provide a network for local chefs in the area. Fol...

Known for decorating the Governor’s Mansion for the holiday season and lighting the State Christmas Tree, the Columbia Garden Club is an organization in the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region that promotes gardening and nature. Stephanie Cordum, the club president, sits down with Kelly on today’s episode to talk about the history of the club, its mission and how people can join. She also brie...

On today’s episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, Kelly sits down with Mayor Sloan Griffin III, the mayor of Blythewood. Mayor Griffin talks about his background in firefighting and disaster relief and how his work with FEMA led to him getting an initial taste of Blythewood before moving there years later. He also gives Kelly an in-depth rundown of some of his favorite local restaurants in and ar...

On today’s episode of Explore Lake Murray Country Kelly sits down with Anne Pinckney Smith, the executive director of the Newberry Opera House, to talk about one of Newberry’s notable landmarks. Anne discusses the opera house’s impact on Newberry’s local arts scene and some of the big names that have performed at this venue like Willie Nelson and Chubby Checker. She also touches on the refresh tha...

The dynamic duo, Janet Jordan and Gloria Freeman with Two Gals and a Fork, join Kelly on this episode to celebrate their tenth anniversary of offering food tours in the area. They discuss their backgrounds in association management, the inspiration behind their food tour business and its evolution in Columbia, South Carolina. They share memorable moments including navigating chaotic events and a s...

Davy Hite is a decorated professional angler and broadcaster hailing from the Lake Murray region. Davy joins Kelly on today’s episode to discuss how growing up on Lake Murray formed his passion for fishing and his successful career as a professional angler. Davy also dives into some of his favorite things about fishing on Lake Murray and what makes it a fun fishing destination. Capital City/Lake M...

The Spirit of Lake Murray is a charter yacht that offers tours and can be rented out for weddings and birthday parties. Captain Rick Crout, one of the co-owners of the Spirit, joins Kelly on today’s episode to talk about the different charters you can take, such as sunset cruises, watching the Purple Martins and renting out the ship for different events. The Spirit of Lake Murray Capital City/Lake...

Joining Kelly on today’s episode of Explore Lake Murray Country, local birder John Tjaarda talks about how he became a “bird nerd”. He also gives the scoop on the different bird species you can find in Capital City/Lake Murray Country, his favorite bird species and the different bird walks he hosts. Content Warning: Towards the end of this episode, our guest John Tjaarda discusses his profession a...

Today on Explore Lake Murray Country, Kelly is joined by Chef Brian Duffy and Olympian Mark Henry, who are celebrity judges at the Southeastern BBQ Showdown in Columbia, SC. Chef Duffy, known for his appearances on Food Network and Spike TV’s Bar Rescue, shares his background, how he met co-judge Mark Henry and the secrets to a perfect plate of barbecue. Later in the show, Mark Henry, an Olympic w...

In Episode 6, Vickie Davis, Senior VP of Special Events & Funding at Capital City/Lake Murray Country, joins Kelly to give a rundown and history of the annual Taste of Lake Murray fundraiser for the 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray. Tune in to learn about Vickie’s background, her involvement in the fundraiser, and the sentiment of these events to our local community and the village of volunt...

Located in West Columbia, Palmetto Outdoor offers tubing and kayaking experiences across the Lake Murray Country region. Owner Micahel Mayo sits down with Kelly to talk about why he started his company and his passionate mission to get people outside in nature. Michael also talks about the different tours that he offers and what to expect when you book a trip with Palmetto Outdoor. Palmetto Outdoo...

In Episode 4 of Explore Lake Murray Country, Kelly sits down with Michael Geddings, a local mural and portrait artist in the area. Tune in to hear about Michael’s history with art and what its creation means to him. Michael also details his process when creating murals and portraits as well as his involvement in the colorful Cayce Arts District. Where to see Michael's work: "Paint the Town" The Ca...