In this episode of Retire Southern, Steve Nygren shares the remarkable story behind Serenbe, the pioneering wellness community tucked into the hills of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia. Steve opens up about the Monday morning he woke up, stepped off the corporate treadmill, and completely rewrote the script of his life. What began as a quiet escape to the country became the spark for a movement built on radical common sense.

Steve reflects on the moment a bulldozer flattening a nearby forest pushed him from observer to advocate, and how that single wake-up call inspired a new model for community living. Guided by nature, human connection, and intentional design, Serenbe's story is a reminder that our surroundings shape our lives more than we realize.

We talk about free-range kids, uncaged elders, clustered neighborhoods, and why designing around nature—not on top of it—creates healthier, happier people. Steve also shares what it means to protect green space, build with purpose, and create a place where people can breathe again.

If you've ever felt the pull to step out of the rat race, reset your priorities, or rethink what "home" should feel like, this conversation is your invitation to explore a different way of living.

Explore Serenbe. Explore Steve's new book. Explore what's possible when you stop waiting for someday.

Listen now and share with someone who's craving a life lived with more intention.

Explore Serenbe: https://www.serenbe.com/visit
Buy the Book: Start In Your Own Backyard

In this episode of Retire Southern, host James Lewis sits down with Coy Bowles — Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter, and children's author best known for his work with the Zac Brown Band — to explore how music, family, and purpose intersect in a life built on creativity and gratitude.

From his "blue-collar Wonder Years" upbringing in Thomaston, Georgia, to writing hits like Colder Weather and Knee Deep, Bowles shares how his Southern roots shaped his storytelling — and how fatherhood and faith now fuel his passion for inspiring others.

He also opens up about his newest children's book, Every Amazing Story, co-written with Malcolm Mitchell, and his mission to help young readers across Georgia discover the power of imagination and literacy.

In this episode of Retire Southern, we sit down with Kevin Ouzts, founder of The Spotted Trotter, sharing how his entrepreneurial spirit, grit, and dedication to the craft has shaped a slow food legacy with a Southern twist. Learn how he built one of the nation's most respected charcuterie houses with the trademark, New American Charcuterie, and how his story defines what it means in the context of living well in the South.