Steel Magnolias Podcast

Here in the American South, we have a question we ask one another.   Who are your people?   That means, who is your family?   We like to know how we connect to one another.   Our guest today is not a part of our biological family, but we do feel like he is OUR people.   Sean Dietrich is a writer, storyteller, musician, lover of bloodhounds, Atlanta Braves fan and Andy Griffith enthusiast.   His pe...

Driving down the road a RED neon light flashes on that catches your eye: HOT NOW the sign reads… Original Glazed Krispy Kreme. If you’ve ever experienced a warm, melty Krispy Kreme donut then you know there is no going back. How did 2 brothers in Winston Salem set out to make the most awesome donuts on the planet? Let’s take a coffee break at the table and find out…   In 1933, Vernon Carver Rudolp...

In the fall of 2019, we released this episode, and we had so many similar things to discuss THIS fall that we decided to re-release it. Be prepared to be inspired with the wonderful foods in season like, Apples, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Squashes, and so much more!    Resources and Recipes mentioned:  Clean Food by Terry Walters -  https://amzn.to/31VGBFh Sweet Potato Fritters With Sriracha Mayo - ...

This episode releases on October 11th, which is the book release date for Sean Dietrich, aka Sean of the South’s latest book release, You Are My Sunshine … and that means we are getting even closer to our live event at The Franklin Theatre where we get to sit down in front of an audience and interview Sean.. we are so excited! And if you grabbed tickets well good on YOU because it sold out in abou...

Since the dawn of time people have been cooking in one vessel... whether they only owned one pot or they were cooking over fire and needed it all in one place, one pot meals, especially in fall and winter, are a smart way to cook. With the convergence of flavors and only one pot to clean, what’s not to love?     Recipes we referenced:  Orange Teriyaki Beef Soup -  https://www.bhg.com/recipe/orange...

In last week's episode on storytelling, we learned from Donald Davis, that there are identity cultures and fortune cultures. We have a heart to see the good parts of our southern identity go on to future generations. But how do we do that? Joining us at the table as we discuss how to carry on that culture. We’re covering the roles these all play in answering this big question: oral traditions,...

Donald Davis was born in Waynesville, North Carolina, a small town in the mountainous region of Western North Carolina. He received a B.A. from Davidson College  and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School. Davis served as a Methodist minister in High Point, North Carolina for over 20 years before retiring to become a professional storyteller. He has recorded over 25 story...

Recipes... they show us the step-by-step of how to prepare dishes to nourish our bodies, but they are so much more than that. They conjure up memories of people and places in very endearing ways. Whether you like the simple instruction of a can of this and a can of that, or if you like the more complex "all fresh" approach we welcome you to the table as we discuss southern cookbooks    Tha...

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1935 Elvis Aaron Presley began his career in Memphis, Tennessee and was on a fast track to become the King of Rock n Roll. He is considered one of the most significant figures of the 20th century.  He had a 149 songs to appear on Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop Chart in America. Our mom has been a life-long fan of Elvis and even got to see him perform in Las Vegas one of the...

TODAY WE ANNOUNCED… OUR FIRST LIVE EVENT! We are doing our first ever LIVE podcast event October 30th at the Franklin Theatre with a very special guest, one of our favorite Southerners, Sean Dietrich, aka Sean of the South… if you know Sean’s work then you know this is gonna be a night of songs, storytelling and the nostalgia that blesses our heart immensely. We will get to interview Sean and disc...

WHAT IS TEX MEX? How is it different than Mexican food? It's basically Mexican food with Texas ingredients. Simple as that! Well, not really. We are discussing all the favorites associated with Tex Mex.    We found a good recipe for homemade tortillas if anyone wants to try them at home -  https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/homemade-tortillas/     BIG THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE -...

When you hear the word cowboy, what do you think of? John Wayne or Roy Rodgers?… The internationally acclaimed football players of the Dallas Cowboys?  The crowded bar of a honky tonk? Today we are exploring cowboy culture, where it’s been and where it is today.    Cowboy hats, herd formation, church, belt buckles and poetry… cowboy culture has lots of depth!   Check out our cowgirl poet friend  T...

A big thank you to Tennessee Woodworks for sponsoring this episode. They are craftsman for custom farmhouse style furniture They offer a wide selection of furniture for every room of your home.  Go take a look for your yourself at  TennesseeWoodworks.com     We have been really busy this summer and are jumping back in to episodes with our summer highlights!       SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS:   The Memphian...

Low country cuisine of the Georgia coast and South Carolina low country is similar to Cajun cooking and the food of New Orleans... It is strongly influenced by African cuisine. We had the chance to sit down with Executive Chef Matthew Chaplin of Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen in Charleston, SC to hear more about the seafood, rice, and one pot meals that make this food special.   About Chef Matthew...

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to visit one of the Florida, South Carolina or North Carolina beaches that border the Atlantic ocean in the summer months, you may have seen areas taped off for the protection of sea turtle hatchlings. On this episode we will discuss the endangered species of loggerhead sea turtles that often grace our southern beaches.   Each year between May and August, female...

A fairly new addition to tourism sites is a list of murals in the city that you may be visiting for great photo ops. Murals are so popular both inside and out! In this episode, we are sitting down with a friend who is behind the paint brush on some of those murals and portraits.   About Mallory Gilbreath: Mallory's an Alabama native, beautiful, 22-year-old lady and Auburn University senior stu...

Music is an integral part of any culture. Before a music artist makes it to the large venues they must start with the smaller stages... some of them are cinder block buildings with no windows others are more wide-open, holding almost 1000 people. Meet you at the table to talk about some of these beautiful humble beginnings!   Full a full list of venues or a transcript of the episode visit https://...

Born in Dawson, Ga., Otis Redding, Jr. and his family moved to Macon when he was two years old. At an early age, he began his career as a singer and musician in the choir of the Vineville Baptist Church.  On this episode, we will discuss this legend that left us all too soon.  If you are anywhere near Macon, GA and are looking for something for a musically-interested young person to do this summer...

On this episode, we are talking about odd Southern foods… more bizarre than putting your peanuts in a glass-bottled coke.. although we do recommend trying that.  These are foods that us Southerners love that might come from a roadside stand or a gas station, but as we’ve mentioned before, the origin of eating such peculiar foods usually comes from times when folks needed to use all resources and w...

It's grilling season! On this episode we will discuss the two different ways that ribs can be prepared. Dry rubs are simply a mixture of dry spices or seasoning that you rub onto the meat, either ahead of time or immediately prior to starting the cooking process vs. a sauced (liquid) marinade.   Lainie brought up there are different cuts of ribs: Baby Back Ribs (Memphis Style), Spare Ribs     ...

Pageant culture is alive and well in the South and with that it’s festival season!   Along with festivals having great entertainment, food, vendors and family fun there is a standing tradition of pageantry that is part of many of the celebrations. On this episode, we will discuss some with the funniest titles.  Thanks to our partner Orca Coolers for their support this month. We are excited to shar...

We have some incredible National Parks in this country. The most visited one is right here in the South and contains a glorious mountain range: The Great Smoky Mountains, aka The Smokies. Meet us at the table as we discuss this ridge that straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.   We have partnered with our friends at ORCA to let you know about new product they are launching this...

This is our 159th episode, and every once in a while we wish we could go back and insert a nugget of info into an episode… so today we are taking the chance to insert those nuggets! Meet us at the table for the pearls of extra wisdom we wish that we’d said and those that are still with us after all these shows…. Referenced episodes: Southerners Throw the Best Funerals Estate Sales feat.  Laura Sto...

Meet us at the table as we discuss with author Elizabeth Passarella why southerners are the very best at throwing funerals. After all, it's our opportunity to do more than provide closure, we experience the grief together, with deviled eggs, tissues, and a chance to reflect on eternity. Elizabeth is a contributing editor for  Southern Living , where she writes the funniest and most heart-felt...

A steeplechase is a distance horse race in which competitors are required to jump diverse fence and ditch obstacles. Steeplechase has its origins in an equine event in 18th-century Ireland, as riders would race from town to town using church steeples.     While steeplechasing originated in Ireland, when it was brought to the U.S., it came to the South and races still occur all over the South in th...