Lure of the Lake

Today’s guest has worn a lot of hats over the years. He’s been a leader, an author, a consultant, involved in ministry-focused organizations, a rancher… and now he’s adding one more title to the list—ice cream shop owner. That’s right. David Hodge is the owner of Crooked D Creamery, one of downtown Eatonton’s newest and most unique businesses. And while the handcrafted ice cream may be what brings...

What do a social media post, a small business owner, a church service, a peaceful protest, and your right to vote all have in common? More than you might think. They are all shaped by a remarkable document written nearly 250 years ago by a group of imperfect, but extraordinary, individuals who dared to ask a bold question: How do you create a government powerful enough to protect freedom, yet limi...

Welcome back to this continuation of last week's conversation. Whether you love politics, hate politics, or simply wonder what’s really going on behind the headlines, today’s episode is one you’re going to find fascinating. My guest is Phil Kent, a man who has spent decades at the center of Georgia’s political, business, and media landscape. He’s the publisher of James Magazine⁠, CEO of InsiderAdv...

Whether you love politics, hate politics, or simply wonder what’s really going on behind the headlines, today’s episode is one you’re going to find fascinating. My guest is Phil Kent, a man who has spent decades at the center of Georgia’s political, business, and media landscape. He’s the publisher of James Magazine⁠, CEO of InsiderAdvantage Georgia⁠, and a familiar face to many as a longtime pane...

When most people think about going to church on Sunday morning, they picture pews, stained glass windows, and a traditional sanctuary. But what if church looked a little different? What if your Sunday morning began with a beautiful sunrise over Lake Oconee, the gentle sound of water lapping against the shore, and a worship service where some people arrive by car… and others arrive by boat? That’s...

Today’s episode is one that I believe will resonate with a great many people in our community, because whether we realize it or not, almost all of us are walking through some season of aging care… either for ourselves, our parents, a spouse, or someone we deeply love. My guest is Abbie Vogt from A-Bridge Aging Life Care Management, a practice dedicated to helping older adults and their families na...

It’s funny how fast time moves. Four years ago, almost to the day, I sat down to record the very first episode of Lure of the Lake. At the time, I didn’t know if anyone would listen, whether I’d figure out what I was doing… or whether I was just a guy with a microphone and a high confidence level! Fittingly, my very first guest was Deano Cantrell from Freedom Boat Club of Lake Oconee. Well, four y...

These will be published with your show on Spotify, Apple, etc. exactly as written, please bear that in mind as you format them with emojis, bullets, etc. Today on Lure of the Lake, we’re talking about one of those wonderful community traditions that proves some events are so much more than a date on the calendar. Every year, the Putnam County Dairy Festival brings people together in the heart of E...

Today’s episode is a little different, and important... As we approach upcoming local elections, we wanted to create something that feels increasingly rare… a space for thoughtful, respectful conversation about the future of Putnam County. This is not a debate. There are no rebuttals. And you won’t hear candidates speaking about one another. Instead, each candidate, in contested races for County C...

Today’s episode is about leadership, community, and what can happen when a group of people decides that a real need deserves a real response. Recently, the 2026 Leadership Putnam Class celebrated graduation at Rock Eagle, marking the end of a program designed to help emerging and established leaders better understand our community, build lasting relationships, and discover new ways to serve. But t...

What if I told you that one of the most important stories ever told… isn’t finished yet—and you’re part of it? Right now, in Putnam County, something remarkable is happening. A traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution has made its first stop in Georgia—not in Atlanta, not in Savannah—but right here in our own backyard. It’s called Voices and Votes: Democracy in America… and it’s far more...

You know, one of the things I’ve learned from doing this podcast… is that the health of a community isn’t just about hospitals or doctor’s offices. It’s about information. It’s about access. And most importantly… it’s about the conversations we’re willing to have. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Lake Oconee Health Fair, surrounded by some incredibly knowledgeable professi...

You know, one of the things I’ve learned from doing this podcast… is that the health of a community isn’t just about hospitals or doctor’s offices. It’s about information. It’s about access. And most importantly… it’s about the conversations we’re willing to have. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Lake Oconee Health Fair, surrounded by some incredibly knowledgeable professi...

Today’s episode is all about progress, the kind you can see, feel, and soon… experience. If you’ve been around Lake Country lately, you’ve probably noticed it. Construction moving forward. New spaces taking shape. And a growing sense that something exciting is right around the corner. So today, we’re bringing you a special episode featuring two conversations, both centered on projects that are hel...

Today’s episode is one that might challenge what you think you know about health, wellness… and even aging. A couple of years ago, I sat down with Lisa Tubbs when she first opened IV Wellness Solutions, introducing the Lake Country community to IV therapy and a more proactive approach to feeling your best. Since then, the practice has grown, evolved, and expanded into something even more comprehen...

Some people spend their lives following a single path… and others find a way to turn every season of life into something meaningful. Today’s guest is someone who has done exactly that. Amy Pulliam has spent more than 25 years in the classroom shaping young minds, encouraging students, and helping children discover who they are and what they’re capable of becoming. But her story doesn’t stop there....

Some people spend their lives following a single path… and others find a way to turn every season of life into something meaningful. Today’s guest is someone who has done exactly that. Amy Pulliam has spent more than 25 years in the classroom shaping young minds, encouraging students, and helping children discover who they are and what they’re capable of becoming. But her story doesn’t stop there....

Every community has defining moments—times when people come together with a shared purpose to make life better for everyone who calls that place home. Today’s episode is about one of those moments. On March 28th, something new is coming to Lake Country: the Lake Country Community Health Fair at Lake Oconee Academy. It’s designed to bring together healthcare providers, wellness experts, community o...

Today's episode is a continuation of last week's interview. There are some people who serve their community… and then there are those who seem to live in service to it. Today’s guest is one of those rare individuals whose fingerprints are all over the growth, leadership, and direction for decades. From serving in the Georgia House of Representatives… to leading the Greene County Chamber of Commerc...

There are some people who serve their community… and then there are those who seem to live in service to it. Today’s guest is one of those rare individuals whose fingerprints are all over the growth, leadership, and direction for decades. From serving in the Georgia House of Representatives… to leading the Greene County Chamber of Commerce… to shaping downtown development, regional planning, and c...

There are some nights that entertain us. And then there are nights that remind us who we are. Today’s episode is about one of those nights. On March 14th, 2026, at Briarpatch Farm in Eatonton, our community will gather for something bigger than a concert… bigger than an auction… bigger than a fundraiser. It’s called “Honoring Our Heroes”, an evening dedicated to the men and women who have worn the...

Today, I’m welcoming back Sean and Amy Maguire, the owners of The Well. The last time they joined us, they were standing on the edge of something big, preparing to open a wellness spa built on intention, restoration, and a belief that taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury… it’s foundational. Now, the doors have been open. The community has walked through. Lessons have been learned. Adjustments ha...

Today’s episode is about a life that never stopped answering the call to serve, even after most people would have felt they’d already done more than enough. My guest is Dick Forrester, a man whose life journey spans farming roots in Virginia, military aviation service during the Vietnam era, decades of leadership in the aviation industry, and now a powerful season of hands-on ministry in retiremen...

Welcome to today's episode, a continuation from last week's conversations. Today’s episode is about one of those roles that quietly keeps everything running, the kind of job most people don’t think about… until they really need it. My guest is Trevor Addison, the Clerk of Court for Putnam County, and if you’ve ever bought property, dealt with a court case, filed legal documents, or tried to naviga...

Today’s episode is about one of those roles that quietly keeps everything running, the kind of job most people don’t think about… until they really need it. My guest is Trevor Addison, the Clerk of Court for Putnam County, and if you’ve ever bought property, dealt with a court case, filed legal documents, or tried to navigate the justice system, his office has likely played a role in your life, wh...