David Huff is an Asheville-based writer, photographer, and conservationist.

Leading at the intersection of disruption and resilience, he is the founder and chair of the George Masa Foundation, Councilor for Communications for the Carolina Mountain Club, and a trustee for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

A few weeks before the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Western North Carolina, David reflects on what recovery has looked like, from the economic toll on small businesses to the emotional weight carried by neighbors and families. He discusses resilience as a lived experience shaped by community, creativity, and connection.

David also shares details from an early-September outing with the Carolina Mountain Club to the Craggy Gardens area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, where the group cleared the way on the Craggy Pinnacle Trail.

David Huff’s Work & Partnerships
davidhuffcreative.com
George Masa Foundation
Carolina Mountain Club
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Beth Kellerhals and Dana Amromin are the co-owners of ButterPunk, a bakery and café that opened this May in Asheville’s River Arts District.

Beth and Dana have been longtime friends since their days in Los Angeles, and both of their paths eventually brought them to Asheville, where they realized their shared dream of opening a shop together. But just as they were about to get serious about building out their space, Hurricane Helene struck. While their building was fortunate enough to avoid the worst of the flooding in the River Arts District, it still endured 5 feet of water and was covered in mud.

In this episode, Beth and Dana—who is also the pastry chef at Asheville’s Potential New Boyfriend—reflect on the challenges they faced in the months of uncertainty following the storm. They also share what it means to be part of the revitalization of the River Arts District, the unique vibe of their space, the story behind the name ButterPunk, and the inspiration for Beth’s butter bomb biscuits.

ButterPunk
Follow @butterpunkavl on Instagram

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Les Love is the president of the Carolina Mountain Club, the oldest and largest hiking and trail maintenance organization in the Southeastern United States.

If you’ve ever set foot on the Appalachian Trail or Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Western North Carolina, odds are the Carolina Mountain Club helped clear the way. Now more than a century old, the member-run volunteer organization helped build both trail corridors through the region and continues to maintain over 400 miles of trails across Western North Carolina—while also leading more than 200 hikes per year.

In this episode, Les reflects on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene—from watching trees fall in his own yard to the club’s challenges in helping to reopen trails. He shares how the Carolina Mountain Club supports first-time volunteers, explains what a typical trail workday looks like, and explores the legacy of the club.

Carolina Mountain Club
carolinamountainclub.org
Join the club
Learn about volunteer opportunities

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.