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In this episode of The Kudzu Project, I sit down with Rev. Anthony McMinn, President and CEO of the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, for a powerful and raw conversation about leadership, faith, and community. Rev. McMinn reflects on his roots in Hendersonville, N.C., what it was like growing up Black in a small Appalachian town, and ultimately, returning home to become the first African-American CEO in the Mission’s history. We also talk candidly about the challenges facing the Rescue Mission today, including the local drug epidemic, the mental health crisis, and the realities of homelessness in Henderson County.

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The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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Dr. Jennifer Hensley has spent more than two decades helping people feel more aligned — as a chiropractor and wellness professional, Hendersonville N.C.’s Mayor Pro Tem and now — candidate for Mayor in 2026. In this episode, we explore the backbone of her leadership philosophy, adjustments she believes the city needs as it grows, and the values that keep her grounded in service. From small-business insights to housing, green spaces, and the future of Hendersonville, she shares how her work in holistic health and role as a wife and mom have shaped her approach to community wellbeing.

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The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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In this episode of the Kudzu Project, we sit down with Bryan Byrd — a Hendersonville resident for the past two decades, a local realtor, jovial emcee, and owner of the Flat Rock Cinema, a beloved neighborhood movie theater off the Greenville Highway. Bryan shares what first drew him to Western North Carolina, how his life has become rooted in community, communication, connection, and helping people escape the everyday. From the challenges of operating a local theater to the rewards of investing deeply in a community, Bryan’s story offers a look into the forces that help shape the culture of Henderson County.

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The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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In this episode of the Kudzu Project, we sit down with Commander Bill Manofsky, USN (Ret.), a remarkable figure whose life blends aviation, engineering, and quiet dedication in ways few ever see — or hear. A retired naval officer and P-3 Orion flight officer, Manofsky has spent his career navigating everything from the opening moments of the Iraq War to the front lines in Ukraine. Today, from his home in the Hendersonville, NC area, he applies that precision and expertise to analyzing modern conflict — offering technical insights that are being felt 5,000 miles away in Ukraine.

Beyond his military career, Manofsky is a mechanical engineer, a former aerospace professional, a longtime veterans' advocate, as well as a hobby race-car builder who designs Formula One–style machines in his basement. This riveting conversation explores the mindset of a man driven by conviction and problem-solving, the evolving nature of modern warfare, and the surprising global impact of one individual living right here in our community. It's a fascinating and eye-opening interview.

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The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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In this special episode, I sit down with Alan Yeck, Director of the Veterans Healing Farm in Mills River, N.C., to talk through a lifetime shaped by service. Alan shares stories from growing up in a military family, joining the United States Marine Corps, and serving at remote foreign service outposts around the world. We discuss his mission today as Director of the Veterans Healing Farm, and how his diverse experiences shape the work he’s doing for veterans and their families here in Western North Carolina. And how battling demons of his own helps others conquer theirs.

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The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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In this episode of the Kudzu Project, I sit down with Daniel Andreotta of Integrity Financial Group to talk about where the economy really stands—nationally, regionally, and right here in Henderson County, NC. Daniel works every day with families, business owners, and local professionals, bringing a grounded perspective on how broader economic shifts are being felt close to home.

We dig into the difference between chasing growth and growing with purpose. Daniel, a Henderson County native, talks about returning to core values: intention, discipline, and understanding why you’re building what you’re building before you focus on how.

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The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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When the world changed on the morning of September 11th, 2001, Jeff Sokol says his life — and everything he thought he knew about the world around him — changed with it. In this gripping conversation, Jeff recounts his experience of surviving that fateful day, and the spiritual reckoning that ensued. What began as a story of survival became a lifelong struggle with faith, doubt, and the search for truth. His journey moves through chaos and clarity, belief and disbelief — a look at what happens when the unthinkable tests not just your life but your very soul.

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The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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Retired Army Major Bob Johnson has made it his mission to ensure that Henderson County's Missing in Action servicemembers from World War II are never lost to time. In this powerful episode, we talk about VFW Post 5206’s efforts to honor and locate 13 local heroes still unaccounted for, including Marine Corps Private Luther Rhodes, who vanished in 1942 at Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. From deep historical research, to working with Senator Budd's office and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Bob brings the past into the present with purpose and heart. A conversation about sacrifice, remembrance, and a community that refuses to forget.

Support the show

The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.