Paul Bonesteel is a documentary filmmaker and writer whose latest film explores the life and legacy of George Masa, a Japanese immigrant photographer whose work was instrumental in the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the development of the Appalachian Trail.

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Paul is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work explores history, landscape, and the people whose lives quietly shape how we understand both. He has completed more than a dozen feature-length documentaries, with the latest focusing on a subject that has held Paul’s attention for more than two decades.

“A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story” examines the mysteries behind a man whose images helped shape early conservation efforts and the national parks movement in the United States. It begins streaming on PBS on May 1.

The film builds on Paul’s earlier work, including his 2003 documentary “The Mystery of George Masa” and the book “George Masa: A Life Reimagined,” which he co-authored with Janet McCue. Together, these projects trace a decades-long effort to better understand a man whose story was, for many years, only partially known.

In this episode, Paul discusses the impact of Masa’s photographs; what it took to uncover the missing pieces of Masa’s life story; how a decades-long pursuit evolved from a single documentary into a book and a new film; and what continues to drive his passion for telling stories rooted in place and history.

Watch the Documentary
georgemasa.com

Bonesteel Films
bonesteelfilms.com

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

Joseph Sabbag runs Terramonga Farm in Fairview, and Andrea DuVall stewards Terramonga Hub—a service that delivers food from Terramonga and a network of local farms—straight to customers’ homes.

Terramonga, which means “the earth among us,” began when Joe and Elaina Sabbag moved to Fairview in 2018 with a vision for a farm rooted in both the land and the community around it. Today, the regenerative farm produces organic vegetables and pasture-raised meats, and also operates Terramonga Local Provisions & Deli, a brick-and-mortar space featuring a deli, bakery, and a curated selection of local goods.

In late 2025, they added Terramonga Hub, a farm-to-door delivery service that carries forward the legacy of Mother Earth Food, which Andrea co-founded in 2012. After more than a decade connecting local farms with customers, Andrea made the difficult decision to close Mother Earth last October. Soon after, Terramonga stepped in to continue that work under a new name and similar structure.

In this episode, Joe and Andrea talk about what it takes to build and sustain a local food system in Western North Carolina; the realities behind running a farm, a store, and a delivery network; and how they’re thinking about the future of local food in this region.

Terramonga Farm
shop.terramonga.com

Terramonga Hub
terramongahub.com

Terramonga Local Provisions and Deli
shop.terramonga.com/pages/brick-mortar

Lisa Bottomley is the executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association, a nonprofit made up of local businesses, communities, and individuals that has been promoting America’s Favorite Drive for 75 years.

A native of North Carolina’s Alleghany County, Lisa grew up with the Parkway playing a supporting role in her life. Her father helped build portions of the road, and years later she got engaged at Doughton Park. Since 2023, she has served as executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association, which acts as the official marketing partner of the Parkway.

In this episode, Lisa talks about her personal connection to the Parkway and how it eventually became a professional one, the impact of Hurricane Helene on the Parkway and surrounding communities, and how visitors can begin planning a trip along the Parkway today.

Blue Ridge Parkway Association
blueridgeparkway.org

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

Laura Rice is the executive director of Friends of the Ecusta Trail, a nonprofit organization supporting the transformation of a former rail line into a multi-use greenway connecting Hendersonville to Brevard in Western North Carolina.

In this episode, Laura shares the story behind the Ecusta Trail, from its earliest days to the stretch that’s open today, and what it will take to complete all 19 miles and connect Hendersonville to Brevard, end to end.

She talks about what you can expect on the section that’s already open, how the trail is already shaping the communities along it, how she found her way into this role, and what makes her hopeful about the future of this region.

Ecusta Trail
ecustatrail.org

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

Lang Hornthal is the Executive Director of EcoForesters, an Asheville-based nonprofit professional forestry organization dedicated to conserving and restoring Appalachian forests through education and stewardship.

In this episode, Lang discusses the organization’s work and how the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has reshaped the forests around us, and the way EcoForesters approaches its mission.

Lang also zooms out to talk about forestry more broadly, and his own path into this work, from running a rustic furniture company to graduate school, where he became fascinated by a simple question: why do so few private landowners have a forest management plan, and what would it take to change that?

EcoForesters
ecoforesters.org

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

Kevin Westmoreland and Joe Scully are the co-owners of Corner Kitchen, a venerable restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore Village that reopened this August, nearly a year after Hurricane Helene flooded the entire first floor of the restaurant.

Prior to opening Corner Kitchen in 2004, Kevin had a background in corporate operations and management roles, and Joe was a seasoned, classically trained chef. The duo met through their sons in 2001, and a friendship blossomed into a business partnership that also includes Chestnut, a restaurant in downtown Asheville.

In this episode, Joe and Kevin discuss the long road back after Helene and the emotions they felt when Corner Kitchen re-opened this August. They also recall the early days of Corner Kitchen and how they rebounded from another devastating flood that shut down the restaurant just six months after opening in 2004.

Corner Kitchen

thecornerkitchen.com

Chestnut

chestnutasheville.com

Theme Music

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

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.