The Real Boone Podcast

Eric Woolridge  is the President of Destination by Design, a Boone-based planning and design firm that helps small towns across the U.S. plan, build, and market themselves as destination-quality communities. With over 20 years of experience and work across 150+ local government jurisdictions, Eric and his team blend land use planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and place branding i...

Amy Lowrey  is the owner of Tiny Hands Pottery, a handcrafted ceramics studio based in Boone, NC. Amy calls herself an accidental potter — she spent her adult life in the nonprofit world, building homes in Mexico, traveling to 40+ countries, and helping underserved students access college funding. Then in 2015 she took a pottery class, fell completely in love, and eventually made the leap to full-...

Singer/songwriter John Lucas has built the kind of career most musicians only imagine—over 40 million Spotify streams, songs licensed by Google, MTV, and Freeform, and a loyal following grown over more than a dozen years. Now putting down roots in Boone, NC, he joins us in the High Country of North Carolina for a honest conversation about what success in music actually looks like from the inside....

Carrington Doolittle Pertalion is a Certified Nurse Midwife at AppHealthCare in Boone, NC, and has been caring for women across the High Country of North Carolina for more than 25 years. In this episode, Carrington walks us through her unlikely path to midwifery — dropping out of high school at 16, working in commercial fishing, and finally discovering her calling the day her daughter was delivere...

Coy Baker, Founder and CEO of Baker Forge & Tool, joins us to talk about building one of America's leading Damascus steel manufacturers in Boone, NC. Coy started his blacksmithing journey in the mountains of Western North Carolina in 2016, engineered his own 25-ton hydraulic forging press, and in 2020 developed a method for fusion welding copper to carbon steel — the breakthrough behind the br...

Description: Jacob and Melina Daniels are the husband-and-wife co-owners of Common Good Co., an artisan gallery and fine art space on King Street in Boone, NC. In this episode, you'll hear how two App State art students went from selling their work at traveling markets to owning and restoring a 100-year-old historic building in the heart of downtown — and what it actually took to build somethi...

Dalton George is the Mayor of Boone, NC and the youngest mayor in North Carolina. Before the title, he's a kid from Midway who came to App State and fell in love with the mountains. In this episode, we get to know Dalton — who he is outside of politics, what shaped him, and how he ended up running a town at 26. We also get into what the job actually looks like day to day, how Town Council works, a...

Chris Grasinger is the High Country Regional Manager for Mountain BizWorks and a co-founder of Center 45 Climbing and Fitness in Boone, NC. He's a Blowing Rock native, App State MBA grad, and has spent the last decade deep in the business development world — from co-founding Startup High Country to managing lending and coaching for small businesses across Western North Carolina. In this episod...

Tina Houston is the owner of Reid's Cafe & Catering, The Beacon Butcher Bar, Betty's Biscuits, and Pearl's Kitchen + Tiny Market — four restaurants across the High Country of North Carolina built over 25 years. In this episode, Tina shares how she went from launching a catering company in 1999 to becoming one of the most recognized names in Boone's food scene, what it means to...

Max Rünzel is the CEO and Co-Founder of HiveTracks , a Boone-based tech company using bees as biosensors to track hive health and biodiversity across 150+ countries. Originally from Germany, Max left a dream job at the United Nations in Rome when two beekeepers from the High Country convinced him to join them in building something new. In this episode, he shares the wild story of how HiveTracks ca...

After 38 episodes, 1,000+ listening hours, and 5.46 terabytes of footage, Paul and Evan sit down in their brand-new podcast studio in Venture Chocolate & Wine to reflect on the journey so far. They share favorite episodes, behind-the-scenes stats, and the story of how The Real Boone Podcast came to be. Plus, a look at what's next—including the studio rental space, upcoming guests like Ray...

Ella Triber and Evan Smith are members of the Association of Student Entrepreneurs at Appalachian State University and help lead Sweet Carolina, a canned water company—Ella as Executive Director and Evan as CFO. In this episode, they share how the club became a launchpad for building a real business in the High Country. We talk about branding, their value proposition, and how entrepreneurship is s...

Josiah Davis (founder of Local Lion and Venture Chocolate) and Jonathan Thornton have partnered up on Conquer Your Mountain, a venture that helps entrepreneurs find purpose and build businesses with intention. In this episode, they share how they got connected through a common interest in Mt. Sinai. For centuries, tradition placed it in Egypt, but the evidence tells a different story. They present...

Cat Roten is a business coach, fractional Chief Operating Officer, and podcaster based in Boone, NC. In this episode, she shares how she helps overwhelmed business owners get out of the weeds and build systems that scale. We talk about time management, marketing, and what it really takes to grow a business without sacrificing your sanity. A must-listen for entrepreneurs in the High Country ready t...

Don Cox, founder of Bald Guy Coffee in Boone, NC, shares his journey of faith, failure, and building something that lasts. From coming to Boone in the '80s "to fish" to a traumatic brain injury that ended his ministry career, Don talks about how coffee became both a calling and a lifeline. We cover roasting beans off the grid, losing everything in a fire, rebuilding from the ground u...

Grant Williams and Crystal Smith, co-owners of Summit Pickleball in Boone, NC, share the real story behind starting a pickleball space rooted in community, connection, and place. They talk openly about the challenges, risks, and rewards of running a recreation-based business in the High Country. More than just pickleball—this conversation explores what it means to build something with intention an...

Emily Brinker, co-owner of The Speckled Trout in Blowing Rock, NC, shares how she, her husband, and two friends opened a restaurant with no experience—just grit, a love for Appalachian food, and a deep belief in community. In this episode, she talks about how risk turned into reward, hospitality as a mission, and why authenticity tastes better than perfection. A story about saying yes before you&#...

Daniel Law is a regenerative agriculture practitioner implementing innovative farming solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this episode, he shares his insights on the broken food system in America, the principles of regenerative agriculture, and how these practices are transforming communities in one of the world's most challenging environments. A conversation about soil health, f...

Sherri Pengjad, founder of Thai Foodie in Boone, NC, shares how her love for Thai cooking became a bridge between cultures. In this episode, she talks about her heritage, the lessons she learned growing up, and the joy she finds in sharing meals with others. A beautiful reminder that food is one of the most powerful ways to tell our stories and build community in the High Country. Support local st...

Aaron Parlier, co-founder of Center 45 Climbing & Fitness, shares his story of grit, curiosity, and community. From growing up on a gravel road in a holler to becoming a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne to building a climbing gym in Boone, NC—his journey is one of passion and perseverance. We talk about risk, purpose, and the High Country climbing scene. Support local stories from the High C...

Jaco Gerbrands, realtor with Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate in Boone, NC, shares his wild story of moving from South Africa to the High Country. We talk about adaptation, perseverance, and how his commitment to hard work and genuine human connection has shaped his life and career. A conversation about building deep relationships and embracing new communities, no matter where life takes you. S...

Declan Nishiyama, founder of Mountain Dev, is a software developer based in Boone, NC. In this episode, we explore the world of software development, artificial intelligence, and how tech is shaping the future—even in a small mountain town. Whether you're a coder, curious about AI, or just wondering what developers actually do, this one's for you. Support local stories from the High Countr...

Scott Korbyn, founder of Steakager, shares the story of building a manufacturing business in Boone, NC. We talk about product design, how tariffs are changing the game for American manufacturers, and what it takes to bring something new to market. A great listen for entrepreneurs and makers in the High Country. Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share! 🔗 ⁠⁠ Steakager 🌐  ⁠⁠Rea...

Ultrarunner John Kelly joins us to talk about his recent Appalachian Trail speed record attempt and why he had to stop just short of the finish. He shares his thoughts on embracing discomfort, setting big goals, and pushing beyond your limits. Whether you're a runner or just looking for motivation, this is an honest conversation about setbacks, resilience, and staying driven. Support local sto...

Meredith Davis is a designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Local Lion and Venture Chocolate in Boone, NC. In this episode, she shares how a campus coffee shop job led to building two beloved local businesses, starting with almost no budget. We talk about risk, faith, creative purpose, and get a sneak peek at the new bookstore opening this fall. Support local stories from the High Country—follow...