Naturally Curious

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Jacqui Sobieski, who holds a dual role in her region as the executive director of the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce and the co-owner of Virginia Mountain Vineyards. Jacqui discusses the rich history of Botetourt County and the balancing act of managing rapid economic expansion, new housing infrastructure, and the upcom...

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan welcomes long-time friend and jazz guitarist Cyrus Pace to discuss his new role as the executive director of the Academy Center for the Arts in Lynchburg. Cyrus shares his journey through the music industry, reflecting on everything from his master's degree in jazz guitar and playing in the Navy band to his 15-year tenure running Roanoke's...

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan welcomes his long-time friend Bob Schmucker to the studio for a conversation that is bound to lift your spirits. Bob is the resident leader of the Third Street Coffeehouse in Roanoke's Old Southwest neighborhood, a volunteer-led acoustic venue celebrating its 40th year of bringing people together. He shares his journey from serving in the A...

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan talks with Maureen Best, the executive director of LEAP, about how the organization connects people with local food sources in Virginia. Maureen shares her background in agriculture and talks about her transition to becoming LEAP's first paid staff member back in 2013. The conversation covers the daily operations of the local food system, i...

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Isabel Thornton, the executive director of Restoration Housing, to discuss the intersection of historic preservation and the affordable housing crisis. They explore the creative mechanics of transforming blighted, boarded-up properties into high-quality rental units, emphasizing how tools like historic tax credits can breathe...

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Karen Pillis, the executive director of the West End Center for Youth, Inc., to explore how a grassroots neighborhood program from the late 1970s evolved into a vital community anchor. They discuss the realities of post-pandemic childhood, discussing how local educators and nonprofits are teaming up to tackle unique modern hu...

This week on Naturally Curious, host Bruce Bryan sits down with Julia Boas from the Roanoke Regional Partnership to uncover why the greater Roanoke area is becoming such a massive magnet for outside companies, capital, and top-tier talent. From global manufacturing growth and the booming "placemaking" movement to the secret weapon of the regional outdoors, Julia breaks down the sustainable growth...

For the first time in nearly forty five years, Hollins University women's basketball has secured a winning record in the NCAA era. Coach Emilee Dunton joins Naturally Curious to discuss the relentless, loyal, and passionate mindset required to turn a program around after a decade of dedicated building. From growing up in a Division I household to navigating the unique dynamic of having her own fat...

In this episode of Naturally Curious, Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Charlie Counts of Local Seafood Delivery to explore the winding journey of a modern fishmonger. Growing up on a tobacco and cattle farm in Southwest Virginia, Charlie’s career took a sharp turn from Black Angus beef to the docks of North Carolina after a single lightbulb moment during a family vacation. The conversation explores t...

In this episode of Naturally Curious, Bruce C. Bryan talks with Dr. Jai Girard from the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association. They discuss her transition from Texas to Virginia, a move sparked by her father’s health needs and a timely job offer from James Madison University. Dr. Girard shares how her early days bartending and managing a nightclub eventually led her to pursue a PhD an...

In this episode of Naturally Curious, Bruce C. Bryan talks with Rita Joyce about her journey of turning a devastating personal loss into a way to help others. Since losing her son nearly twenty years ago, Rita has dedicated herself to supporting families through her nonprofit, "Fed Up with Gun Violence." The conversation covers her work providing financial and emotional aid to those in their darke...

In this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan spends time with retired judge and acclaimed author Martin Clark, often described as "the thinking man’s John Grisham." With a legal career spanning three decades on the bench, Clark shares the fascinating story of his winding path from a young judge to a celebrated novelist. The conversation dives deep into the realities of the courtroom,...

In this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Virginia’s senior senator, Mark Warner, for an in-depth conversation that moves beyond the typical political headlines. Senator Warner reflects on his unconventional path from a struggling entrepreneur in the early days of the cellular industry to serving as the Governor of the Commonwealth and eventually a United States Sena...

The Food Evangelist: John Park on the Virginia Culinary Scene   What does it take to become the most influential "Food Evangelist" on the East Coast? This week on Naturally Curious, we sit down with the man behind the lens and the menu: John Park, known to his tens of thousands of followers as The Hungry Asian. John isn’t just eating and drinking his way through the region; he is actively connecti...

This week on Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Sam Calhoun, the Chief Operating Officer of Across the Way Productions and a driving force behind the legendary FloydFest .   As the "man behind the scenes," Sam discusses the intricate art of Placemaking—the philosophy of transforming a physical space into a community-driven destination. Whether it’s the rolling hills of the Blue...

What happens when a professional career path and a deep personal mission collide? In this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Ashley Arney, Director of Development for Healing Strides of Virginia , to explore the profound impact of equine-assisted therapy. Ashley’s connection to the organization goes far beyond her job title. Having witnessed firsthand how these "hoofe...

In this episode of Naturally Curious, we sit down with Xavier Duckett - photographer, mentor, and founder of The Humble Hustle Company , a Roanoke-based nonprofit built on a simple but powerful idea: Keep Giving. What began as a grassroots T‑shirt project has grown into a creative hub supporting Black youth, connecting diverse communities, and redefining what it means to give back with intention....

Building Homes and Leaving Legacies: A Conversation with Jim Drader   In the final installment of our three-part series on the New River Valley’s most pressing challenges, we dive into the world of affordable housing. Recorded in late 2025, this episode features Jim Drader, the former Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the NRV.   Jim recently announced he is stepping down after six year...

Nearly 30 years ago, Angie Covey started at New River Community College as an adjunct instructor. Today, she oversees more than $25 million in assets as the Executive Director of the NRCC Educational Foundation.   Join us on Naturally Curious as Angie discusses her unique path from NRCC graduate to executive leadership. We explore her commitment to providing "access to education for all" and how t...

This episode of Naturally Curious features a deep dive into the life and work of Emily Hemphill...a reporter, writer, and future graduate student whose work spans the heart of Virginia. From her reporting at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville to her insightful long-form pieces for Cardinal News, Emily shares what truly drives a reporter to find the heart of a story. The conversation explores th...

Childcare in America: A Conversation with Dr. Jessica Wirgau While the media often overuses the word "crisis," the reality of childcare in the United States presents a specific, measurable challenge that many families can no longer ignore. On this episode of Naturally Curious, Bruce C. Bryan explores the cultural and economic factors driving the current shortage of reliable care.   The discussion...

Imagine being able to combine all of your professional passions into one work. When you hear Michael Hemphill's story, you quickly realize that if the pieces can fit together so nicely for him, they can for you as well. Michael is a former award-winning newspaper reporter and when he chose to switch to nonprofit work, after years of helping individual nonprofit organizations, he had a bigger idea....

In this episode, we're sitting down with Ethan Long, President and CEO of VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment . Managing a team that covers over half the state's geography, Ethan oversees work that's as complex as it is vital. There are no easy answers in this field, but VIA is dedicated to educating and training young people, supporting their families, and accelerating their paths to post-secondary...

 Abby Hamilton is the president and CEO of the United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge . During this episode of Naturally Curious, we're going to discuss early childhood education, workforce development, and how the United Way tackles the most difficult challenges facing the region. And we'll go deeper. You'll hear about leadership, career development and how Abby's career path can inspire you or thos...

Naturally Curious host Bruce C. Bryan talks to Stan Hale of The Roanoke Tribune about the history, struggles and perseverance of Roanoke’s longest-running African-American newspaper.