Walk into almost any grocery store today and you’ll find shelves filled with products promising to be natural, organic, clean, heart-healthy, gluten-free, or somehow capable of changing your life before breakfast!

But which of those claims really matter? What does “clean eating” actually mean? And how can we make healthier choices without turning every trip to the grocery store into a science project?

Today’s guest is Cathi Chandler, a holistic nutritionist and herbalist with a passion for helping people better understand the connection between food, gut health, energy, inflammation, and overall well-being.

Many people around the Lake Country already know Cathi through The Station, where she and her husband, Chandler, offer carefully sourced organic coffee, olive oils, vinegars, spices, and other products chosen with both flavor and health in mind. Now, through her new business, Harmony Holistic, Cathi is expanding that mission with personalized nutrition counseling, herbalism, and holistic wellness support.

In our conversation, we explore gluten-free eating, the gut microbiome, misleading food labels, responsible detox practices, healthy aging, and the small changes that can make a meaningful difference over time.

This is not a conversation about achieving a perfect diet, because perfection is exhausting. It is about becoming more informed, more intentional, and better equipped to make choices that help us feel and live our best.

So, pour yourself a good cup of coffee, properly sourced of course, and enjoy my engaging conversation with Cathi.

Guest: Cathi Chandler

Websites:

The Station: https://www.thestationga.com/

Address: 1010 Parkside Commons; Suite 103; Greensboro, GA

Phone: 706-991-1890

Harmony Holistic: https://mysite.vagaro.com/harmonyholistic1/home

Address: 921 Harmony Road; Suite 10; Eatonton, GA

Phone: 706-818-8166

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

When we think about what makes a community a wonderful place to live, we often talk about its natural beauty, its schools, its businesses, and, especially here, life around the lake.

But few things matter more to a growing community than knowing excellent healthcare is available when and where we need it.

Today’s guest is helping shape the future of healthcare across our region.

Stonish Pierce is President and CEO of Trinity Health Georgia, which includes St. Mary’s Health Care System and St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital. Under his leadership, St. Mary’s is making a significant investment in the people and communities it serves, including a $45.6 million expansion of Good Samaritan Hospital.

But this story is about much more than a larger building. It is about expanding access to care, bringing more services closer to home, preparing for the continued growth of the Lake Country, and ensuring that our local healthcare system is ready to serve us for generations to come.

In our conversation, Stonish shares the vision behind that investment, the advantages of combining strong local relationships with the resources of Trinity Health, and the leadership challenges, and opportunities, facing healthcare today.

At some point, nearly every family in our community will depend upon the people and services we are discussing in this episode. That makes this conversation not only timely, but deeply personal.

So let’s look beyond the hospital walls and explore what it takes to build a healthier future for the Lake Country in this engaging conversation with Stonish Pierce!

Guest: Stonish Pierce - President & CEO Trinity Health Georgia/St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital System

Websites:

St. Mary’s Healthcare System: https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/

Trinity Health Care: https://www.trinity-health.org/

St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital: https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/location/st-marys-good-samaritan-hospital-ga

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

Today’s guest knows a thing or two about teamwork, discipline, and showing up when it matters.

Destiny McClendon was a standout college basketball player, and now she’s bringing that same competitive spirit, energy, and leadership back to the Lake Country community in a very different way.

Destiny serves at the Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club, working alongside her father, Stacy McClendon, to help create opportunities, encouragement, and a stronger future for young people across our area.

And while basketball is certainly part of her story, this conversation is really about what happens after the final buzzer, when the lessons learned through sports, education, mentors, and family begin to shape the way you serve others.

We’ll talk about Destiny’s journey as an athlete, the people who helped influence her along the way, what brought her into the Boys & Girls Club mission, and what she’s seeing firsthand in the lives of kids who simply need a safe place, a little encouragement, and someone willing to believe in them.

We’ll also explore what it’s like working side by side with her dad, because apparently one competitive McClendon in the building simply wasn’t enough.

This is a conversation about potential, purpose, and the difference one caring adult can make in the life of a young person.

You’re going to enjoy getting to know Destiny McClendon.

Guest: Destiny McClendon - Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club

Phone: 706-474-3916

Address: 1471 ML King Jr. Drive; Greensboro, GA

Website: https://www.bgcncg.com/pnc

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

When most people think about Lake Country, they picture beautiful sunsets, sparkling water, championship golf courses, and a community that's growing and thriving.

But like every community, there's another story, one that isn't always visible.

It's the story of families quietly wondering how they'll put enough food on the table. It's the story of grandparents raising grandchildren on a fixed income. It's the story of hardworking people who, because of an unexpected illness, job loss, or simply the rising cost of living, find themselves needing a helping hand.

The good news is... they're not alone.

Every month, something remarkable happens right here in our community. Long before most of us are enjoying our Saturday morning, a dedicated group of volunteers comes together with one simple purpose: to make sure their neighbors have enough to eat.

It's called Second Harvest, and while thousands of pounds of food are distributed, what they're really delivering is something much greater: hope, dignity, and the reassuring reminder that this community cares.

My guest today is Bill Bonnington, a longtime Rotarian and one of the leaders behind this incredible outreach. We'll talk about his own journey of service, the hidden reality of food insecurity in our community, and why Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self" is much more than just words, it's something lived out month after month by volunteers who simply want to make a difference.

Whether you've volunteered before, have wondered how Second Harvest works, or simply want to hear a story that reminds us of the very best in people, you're going to enjoy this conversation.

Because at the end of the day, a strong community isn't measured by the wealth of its few...

It's measured by how well it cares for those who need it most.

Guest: Bill Bonnington - Second Harvest

Website: https://secondharvestga.com/

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

Today's episode is a continuation of last week's fascinating conversation.

Sometimes the most interesting people have taken the most unexpected journeys.

Today’s guest has worn a lot of hats over the years. He’s been a leader, an author, a consultant, involved in ministry-focused organizations, a rancher… and now he’s adding one more title to the list—ice cream shop owner.

That’s right.

David Hodge is the owner of Crooked D Creamery, one of downtown Eatonton’s newest and most unique businesses. And while the handcrafted ice cream may be what brings people through the front door, it’s David’s story that makes this episode so compelling.

We’ll talk about where his love of ice cream began, the story behind the unusual name Crooked D Creamery, and why, after a lifetime of leadership, writing, and helping organizations grow, he decided now was the right time to open an old-fashioned ice cream shop.

Along the way, we’ll explore lessons about entrepreneurship, purpose, community, and the importance of creating places where people can slow down, gather together, and simply enjoy life.

Because sometimes the sweetest stories aren’t just found in the ice cream… they’re found in the people serving it.

So grab your favorite flavor—real or imaginary—and join me for a conversation with David Hodge that just might leave you smiling… and maybe craving a double scoop before it’s over.

Guest: David Hodge, Crooked D Creamery

Address: 110 N. Jefferson Street, Eatonton, GA 30124

Phone: 727-207-3640

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Crooked-D-Creamery-61577781920355/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crooked_d_creamery/

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

When you move to a community, there are certain questions you naturally ask.

Where are the best restaurants?

What are the best schools?

Where do I find a good mechanic?

And perhaps one of the most important questions of all...

"Tell me about your hospital."

Because a community hospital says a great deal about a community itself.

Today, we're going behind the scenes at Putnam General Hospital with its new CEO, Thomas "Tog" Goss. As you'll hear today, Tog brings more than experience. He brings a vision.

A vision of a hospital that embraces innovation, invests in cutting-edge technology, empowers its employees, and continues to expand the quality of care available in Putnam County.

It's a conversation about leadership... innovation... and taking care of a community.

Guest: Thomas “Tog” Goss, CEO

Address: 101 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton, GA 30124

Phone: 706-485-2711

Website: https://www.putnamgeneral.com/

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

Today’s guest has worn a lot of hats over the years. He’s been a leader, an author, a consultant, involved in ministry-focused organizations, a rancher… and now he’s adding one more title to the list—ice cream shop owner.

That’s right.

David Hodge is the owner of Crooked D Creamery, one of downtown Eatonton’s newest and most unique businesses. And while the handcrafted ice cream may be what brings people through the front door, it’s David’s story that makes this episode so compelling.

We’ll talk about where his love of ice cream began, the story behind the unusual name Crooked D Creamery, and why, after a lifetime of leadership, writing, and helping organizations grow, he decided now was the right time to open an old-fashioned ice cream shop.

Along the way, we’ll explore lessons about entrepreneurship, purpose, community, and the importance of creating places where people can slow down, gather together, and simply enjoy life.

Because sometimes the sweetest stories aren’t just found in the ice cream… they’re found in the people serving it.

So grab your favorite flavor—real or imaginary—and join me for a conversation with David Hodge that just might leave you smiling… and maybe craving a double scoop before it’s over.

Guest: David Hodge, Crooked D Creamery

Address: 110 N. Jefferson Street, Eatonton, GA 30124

Phone: 727-207-3640

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Crooked-D-Creamery-61577781920355/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crooked_d_creamery/

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

Growing older is one of the few experiences we all share. If we're fortunate, each new birthday is another reminder of a life well lived. But with those years often come new challenges, for ourselves, our spouses, our parents, or close friends.

The question isn't if we'll face those challenges.

The question is... how do we navigate them with dignity, independence, and grace?

Today, we're talking about an organization that's changing the way people think about aging.

My guest is Jeanine Canales, franchise owner of Seniors Helping Seniors, a unique organization built on a simple but powerful idea: some of the very best people to help older adults are... other older adults.

It's not just about assistance. It's about companionship. It's about purpose. It's about helping people remain independent in the homes they love while creating meaningful friendships along the way.

We'll talk about the challenges many families face as parents grow older, the signs that it's time to seek a little extra support, and why accepting help doesn't mean giving up your independence, it often means preserving it.

We'll also explore how this unique model is giving active retirees an opportunity to continue making a difference in the lives of others, proving that one of the greatest gifts we can offer isn't just our time... it's our experience.

Whether you're planning for your own future, caring for aging parents, or simply interested in living well through every stage of life, I think you'll find this conversation both encouraging and inspiring.

Because growing older isn't about giving up what matters most.

It's about finding new ways to keep living the life you love.

Guest: Jeanine Lewis Canales, Seniors Helping Seniors

Address: 191 Sammons Industrial Parkway, Eatonton, GA 30124

Email: info@shsmidsouthga.com

Phone: 762-775-0006

Website: https://locations.seniorshelpingseniors.com/ga/augusta/259.html

Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/

Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/

Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/