Slower Lower

The Delaware Whitetail Open is an annual deer-hunting competition held in Gumboro during the November firearms season. Organizer and spokesman Kyle Brown joins Chris and Crystal for a conversation about: Why he decided to keep the event going after the passing of his father, long-time organizer and avid hunter David Brown. The first time Chris and Crystal attended the event in 2023. How and where...

Chris and Crystal join Brian Shannon, the Executive Director of the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation (LRC), in his office for a conversation about the nonprofit organization's origins and history, past and current projects in the town of Laurel, Delaware, and Brian's upcoming retirement after 26 years. Topics discussed: The founding of the LRC in the early 1990s, and its mission to reimagi...

Chris and Crystal hang out with returning guest and noted local sportsman and taxidermist Billy Hardesty, and last-minute substitute Fulton Giebel. Topics discussed (to name a few) How Billy met Fulton, and how Fulton got into hunting. The camaraderie of hunting, especially waterfowl hunting. Similarities between wild turkeys and backyard chickens. Outdoors trivia. The upcoming Delaware Whitetail...

On episode 17 of the Slower Lower podcast, Chris and Crystal celebrate the official arrival of fall (or autumn) and recount an off-season Saturday spent in Rehoboth and Lewes. Topics discussed: Fall vs. Autumn Why did Generation X parents name their daughters Autumn and Summer, but not Spring, Fall, or Winter? Royal Farms coffee and Chris's refusal to wait in line for the pumpkin spice even th...

Episode 16 of the Slower Lower podcast features Cory Shaffer, a resident of Delmar, Maryland, who was elected to serve on the town commission in the aftermath of the tragic murder of Corporal Keith Heacook in 2021. Previous guest Russell A. Taylor III also returns for his third appearance on the podcast. This episode is all about Delmar, the little town too big for one state. Topics discussed: Sam...

Chris and Crystal return from a week-long vacation with an episode all about Cape Charles, Virginia. Topics discussed: Since Lower Delaware is becoming less slow, should the podcast name refer to Slower Lower Delmarva instead? Breakfast spots including the Northampton (aka the Wren), the Cape Charles Coffee House, the Almeta, and Rayfield's Fountain. The importance of checking days and hours,...

This week Chris and Crystal hang out with local small business owner, historical society board member, and veteran Jared Allen for a largely Laurel-focused conversation loaded with memories and laughs. Topics discussed: A brief shout-out to the late, great John Brady. Vanished businesses of Laurel, Delaware, from the 90s (French's, Food City, the old Britt's, Pizza Palace, etc.). 20-cent generic s...

Chris and Crystal chat about the unusual cool spell that Delmarva is enjoying, and whether it should be called a "false fall" or a "fraudulent autumn." Plus: Drinking pumpkin ale in August. Is summer the season that we look forward to the most, but get over the quickest? A visit to the Threshermen show in Caroline County. Is Denton's Market Street Pub the best pub on the peninsula? Bull & Goat Bre...

Chris and Crystal cryptically recall a recent beach day at a nearby location they'd prefer not to mention, and talk through a list of ten commandments for going to the beach. Agree? Disagree? Have something to add? Connect with the Slower Lower podcast on Facebook, Instagram, or by leaving a comment on the episode.

This week's featured guest is Billy Hardesty, a sportsman's sportsman who harvests the wild bounty of Delmarva and the Chesapeake year-round. He has previously appeared on the local TV program Outdoors Delmarva , and has a large social media following. Billy is also an award-winning taxidermist specializing in waterfowl. Since 2019, he has worked full-time in his Fowl Creations studio on the outsk...

Chris and Crystal hang with Shane Beard, an up-and-coming country artist from Slower Delaware, and Shane's bandmate, influence, and dad Glenn Beard. They are the heart and soul of Shane Beard & the Barn Burners. Topics discussed: ● Feedback from Bruce in Long Neck ● The State of Delaware has a new official dragonfly ● Shane Beard and Glenn Beard are perfect country artist names; they sound like so...

It's the 4th of July. Chris and Crystal talk about the summer of 2025; the recent heat wave; whether there are more lightning bugs this year; lightning bug vs. firefly; getting 30 yards of mulch for free; a garden update; and July 4th memories and traditions.

Steve Wootteon is the current drummer for the Baltimore-based indie rock band Have Mercy as well as the hardcore punk band Meth Rats. He is a past drummer of the world-touring metalcore act Across Five Aprils, in addition to several other bands including A Perfect Kiss, Leland Palmer, and Future Thrills. Steve is a passionate music enthusiast, a skilled cabinetmaker, a dad, and a good friend. On t...

Chris and Crystal recount a family crab feast and discuss how to pick, eat, and enjoy steamed blue crabs. Topics discussed include: A quick shoutout to the friendly folks at Trident Seafood Market in Hebron, Maryland. Old Bay Seasoning vs. J.O. Spice. Many people think they're eating Old Bay when it's actually J.O. Crystal's strong opinions about how to pick a crab properly. It's just a blue crab,...

Chris and Crystal sit down with award-winning photographer Russell A. Taylor III of Delmar and Laurel for a deep dive into his story. The conversation runs the gamut from laugh-out-loud hilarious to deeply sobering. Topics discussed (to name a few of many): How a childhood interest evolved first into a passion, and then a mission. Russell's mentor, Delmar High School teacher and photographer S...

Chris and Crystal chat about their backyard Delaware chicken flock and the recent hatching of five baby chicks. The Delaware chicken breed (not to be confused with the Blue Hen) was developed in Ocean View in the 1930s-1940s, and was once the favored bird of the broiler industry. It is an excellent choice for backyard flocksters in Delaware and elsewhere, good for both meat and eggs, and comfortab...

In the fourth episode of the Slower Lower podcast, Chris and Crystal sip Orange Crushes and react to the news that Maryland has finally named the wildly popular summertime drink its state cocktail after Delaware, in a puzzling breach of etiquette and sense, did the same last year. Topics discussed: What is an Orange Crush? (Fresh-squeezed orange juice, triple sec, vodka, and Sprite or Sierra Mist...

While Crystal battles allergies and a stubborn cough, Chris does a solo "quickie" episode about Delmarva's ancient caste system of locals, tourons, and come-heres. What are the differences between these groups? How did they evolve? Can a touron or a come-here become a local? This episode of the Slower Lower podcast is brought to you by Bald Cypress Books, independent publisher of new and old books...

On the second episode of the Slower Lower podcast, Chris and Crystal chat about their Memorial Day weekend road trip away from Slower Lower Delaware and into the mountains of western Pennsylvania, discussing topics such as: AirBnB etiquette, including what to do if you spill wine on the host's Oriental rug; historic Fort Bedford and the modern town of Bedford; visiting the Whiskey River Pub (shout...

In the inaugural episode of the Slower Lower podcast, Chris & Crystal chat about the highlights of their weekend, including the Vernacular Architecture Forum's visit to Laurel's Old Christ Church; lunch at the Groove; Chris's presentation at a Sussex County Genealogical Society meeting; lunch at the Lewes Oyster House and why it's their favorite restaurant on the Delmarva Peninsula; and the un...