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  • Hurry to Murray: From Local Gems to National Highlights with Barry Gentry

    Hurry to Murray: From Local Gems to National Highlights with Barry Gentry
    2026/07/06

    Ever wondered what it takes to put a small county on the map — not to mention get the attention of Hollywood, HGTV, and out-of-state investors in the process?

    On this episode of the Love of Here podcast, Lauren and Erika sit down with Barry Gentry, president of the Murray County Chamber of Commerce, to talk about how one "wrong turn" led to a mission of building up Murray County from the ground up.


    Barry shares the real story behind Murray's growth — from landing a Taylor Sheridan film production and HGTV star Chip Wade's tree house Airbnbs, to recruiting national retailers, building a new hospital, and creating a slogan ("Hurry to Murray!") that's stuck ever since. It's a candid, funny, and heartfelt conversation about grassroots economic development, believing in your community before the world does, and building something for the next generation — not just for today.


    Highlights


    • Barry's journey from a chamber in Iowa to becoming president of the Murray County Chamber of Commerce
    • How Murray County landed a Taylor Sheridan production (Rescue) and became a hotspot for HGTV star Chip Wade's Airbnb developments
    • The behind-the-scenes story of investing in a retail recruiter to bring in brands like Dunkin', Waffle House, and Factory Connection
    • Major healthcare investment coming to Murray County from Hamilton and AdventHealth
    • The origin story of the "Hurry to Murray" slogan
    • A look at downtown Chatsworth's revival, driven by local investors like Holly Myers
    • New restaurant openings, including a wood-fired concept from Brooklyn transplant Dominic Napolitano
    • The growth of the Murray Arts Council and community-sponsored music events
    • Why Barry believes you have to "build for the youth" to sustain a community long-term
    • Upcoming events: the Teardrop Marathon, Black Bear Festival, and Dancing with the Murray Stars fundraiser
    • The economics of shopping local and why it matters for community wealth
    • Murray County's ambitious housing growth plans, including 1,000 new homes and affordable housing developments


    Chapters


    1:12 – Meet Barry Gentry

    2:51 – Why Murray County

    5:31 – Hollywood and Chip Wade

    11:02 – Getting Murray on the Map

    12:07 – Retail Recruitment Wins

    15:26 – Discovering Murray Outdoors

    16:00 – Here Murray Magazine News

    17:07 – Downtown Chatsworth Tour

    18:50 – Investors and New Restaurant

    21:28 – Downtown Restaurant Buzz

    22:10 – Wood Fired Game Changer

    22:35 – Arts Council Momentum

    23:50 – Chamber Events Community

    25:36 – Can't Miss Murray

    26:57 – Grassroots Local Wins

    28:01 – Hurry to Murray Origin

    31:19 – Build for the Youth

    33:28 – Teardrop Marathon Boost

    35:55 – Fall Festivals & Fundraisers

    38:22 – Regional Partnerships & Daycations

    39:58 – Housing Growth & Affordability

    41:34 – What's Next


    Resources Mentioned


    • Murray County Chamber of Commerce https://www.murraycountychamber.org/
    • Red Eyed Rooster https://redeyedroosterco.com/
    • Murray Arts Council https://www.murray-arts.com/
    • Crown Craft Market https://crowncraftmarket.com/
    • Teardrop Marathon http://www.teardrophalf.com/


    Follow the show:


    Instagram: @behere.dalton

    Facebook: Here Magazine

    LinkedIn: Here Local Media


    Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    43 分
  • Soccer Town USA: A Love for the Game

    Soccer Town USA: A Love for the Game
    2026/06/22
    What happens when a sport becomes the soul of a city? That's exactly what you'll discover in this conversation with Juan and Todd, co-hosts of Monday Night Futbol — the show that has been hyping local soccer players and chronicling Dalton's rise as Soccer Town, USA for five seasons. From the Mexican League games of the early '80s to FIFA-size fields, Atlanta United scouting visits, and a World Cup viewing party at Burr Park, this episode traces the full arc of how soccer became Dalton's identity — and where it's headed next.HighlightsThe Mexican League started in Dalton as early as 1982–83, making it one of the earliest organized adult soccer communities in the regionYoung players — some as young as 15 — played against 30-year-old men in the Mexican League, and that competition is what forged Dalton High's championship pedigreeDalton's first state soccer championship was in 2003, and from 2013 onward they've won nearly every yearIn 2021, Dalton, Southeast, and Coahulla Creek all won state championships in the same year — with four local teams in the finals totalMonday Night Futbol started in 2022 after a 2021 post-championship celebration at Dalton Brewing Company sparked the ideaThe show's mission is simple: hype local kids and give them a platform they deserveClub soccer — particularly North Georgia Soccer Association (NGSA) and CFC Futbol Correcaminos — has been the pipeline for college and pro opportunitiesAtlanta United's Academy scouts come to Dalton monthly; players like Omar Hernandez have made it to the pro level and continue to give back to the communityThe Atlanta United Foundation partnered with Dalton for one of the first 10 Mini Pitches installed in Georgia, with a goal of 100 statewide by the World CupThe girls' game is the next big wave — with NGSA launching their girls academy about four years ago and Kahula Creek making the first girls' state final from the areaHigh school rivalries have largely dissolved thanks to club soccer, where former rivals now play alongside each other on weekendsJuan and Todd's World Cup picks: Spain to win it all; they both want Mexico and the USA to exceed expectationsWorld Cup watch parties in Dalton: Dalton Brewing Company (all USA and Mexico group stage matches) and Burr Park on June 27thChapters0:28 — Soccer Vibes1:00 — Meet the Guests & Jerseys3:38 — Dalton Rival Schools and Early Soccer Days5:33 — How They Got Into Soccer6:10 — Mexican League Roots in Dalton9:35 — Dalton Dynasty and the Soccer Culture Shift12:12 — Soccer Facilities and Community Investment13:03 — The Magical 2021 Sweep16:18 — Origin of Monday Night Futbol17:53 — Early Episodes and Growing Audience19:47 — Mission to Hype Local Kids21:49 — Co-Hosts and Show Evolution24:36 — Dalton Talent Pipeline and Club Soccer26:23 — National Titles Buzz27:20 — Club Soccer Changes Everything29:18 — Soccer Town USA Momentum30:15 — Stadium Dreams and City Plans31:01 — The Taco Bell Fields Origin Story33:02 — Mini Pitches and Local Heroes35:19 — Rivalries Fade, Club Unites37:08 — The Girls' Game: The Next Wave40:18 — College Pathway & Recruiting Tips41:07 — World Cup Picks and Underdogs43:04 — Where to Watch in Dalton43:59 — Socials and Show Shoutouts45:23 — Why Dalton: Closing Thoughts49:49 — Final Thanks and WrapResources MentionedMonday Night Futbol — Follow on Facebook and Instagram: @WDNNMondayNightFutbolMonday Night Futbol Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@elliottmediatvDalton Brewing Company (DBC) — World Cup watch parties for all USA and Mexico group stage matches; daltonbrewing.comNorth Georgia Soccer Academy (NGSA) — Local club soccer program for boys and girlsHeritage Point Soccer Complex — Dalton's FIFA-size soccer facilityKick’N Clips — Local soccer shop that lent Todd a jersey for the episodeFollow the show:Instagram: @behere.daltonFacebook: Here MagazineLinkedIn: Here Local MediaThanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    51 分
  • Building Dalton’s Inclusive Community with Marisa Kelley

    Building Dalton’s Inclusive Community with Marisa Kelley
    2026/06/08

    What makes the city you hated become the place you call home — and then spend years working to make it that way for everyone else?


    That's the quiet, powerful question at the heart of this conversation with Marisa Kelley, president of the Dalton-Whitfield NAACP. Marisa arrived in Dalton in 2014, hated it (her words — two thumbs down), and couldn't find her community. Fast forward 12 years, and she's one of the most visible, invested leaders in the city, organizing what may be the largest two-weekend Juneteenth celebration in the country. We talk about what changed, how the NAACP's work is for everyone, and why Juneteenth is one of the most American celebrations there is.

    Oh, and we also celebrate a little milestone of our own: one year of Hear Local Media.


    Highlights


    • Marisa arrived in Dalton in 2014 and hated it — no community, no places that felt like hers. Downtown's revitalization was the turning point that made her want to stay.
    • She became NAACP president after a friend told her she was "a little too passive" — and she took that as a challenge she never told anyone about.
    • The Dalton-Whitfield NAACP is open to everyone regardless of race — $30/year membership, meetings the 4th Monday of every month at 6:30 PM at the community center.
    • The NAACP's vision is an inclusive community rooted in liberation, where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination.
    • Dalton's Juneteenth celebration is in its 8th year and may be the largest two-weekend Juneteenth event put on by a single organization in the country.
    • Nana's Family Fun Day is named in honor of Ms. Debbie Madden, a vendor from the very first celebration who passed away from breast cancer — a beautiful tribute to the person who planted that seed.
    • Marisa explains the real history of Juneteenth: why the Emancipation Proclamation didn't actually free anyone, what Union General Granger's arrival in Galveston meant, and why formerly enslaved people started celebrating just one year later — in 1866.
    • The Pan-African flag colors explained: red for the blood shed for freedom, green for the richness of the earth and looking forward, black for Black people and unity worldwide.
    • Marisa's favorite thing about Dalton? The people — specifically those who are intentional about doing the work to make it better, not just talking about it.


    Chapters


    0:37 – One Year Milestone

    1:17 – Meet Marisa Kelley

    3:30 – Dalton Love Overflowing

    4:00 – Her Path to Dalton

    5:25 – Finding Community

    6:42 – Downtown Turning Point

    9:17 – Burr Park Connections

    10:12 – NAACP Leadership Journey

    12:21 – Mission and Vision

    14:22 – Get Involved and Juneteenth

    16:09 – Events and Service

    16:28 – MLK Service Projects

    17:16 – Hot Dogs, Hoodies & Haircuts

    18:05 – Juneteenth Gets Bigger

    18:46 – Origins in Kansas

    19:59 – Spades and Fish Fry

    21:56 – Nana's Family Fun Day

    22:53 – Parade, Concert & Gala

    23:44 – Juneteenth History Explained

    26:48 – Symbols, Food & Flags

    29:32 – Dalton Favorites & Farewell


    Resources Mentioned


    • Believe Greater Dalton — YouTube channel featuring Marisa and community members: youtube.com/@BelieveGreaterDalton
    • Dalton-Whitfield NAACP — Follow on Facebook and Instagram for event updates and meeting info


    Follow the show:


    Instagram: @behere.dalton

    Facebook: Here Magazine

    LinkedIn: Here Local Media


    Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    32 分
  • Music, Food, and Fire | Josh Taylor’s Culinary Journey

    Music, Food, and Fire | Josh Taylor’s Culinary Journey
    2026/05/25
    What does it take to go from washing dishes at your mom's café in Dalton, Georgia to landing on The New York Times list of the 50 best restaurants in the country? Chef Josh Taylor knows. Raised in Dalton, Josh discovered his love of food early — scrubbing pots at his mother's Sweet Basil Café and later pulling shifts at West Walnut Café before chasing a music career took him from Athens to Park City, Utah, and eventually to Charleston, South Carolina. It was in Charleston that he opened Lost Isle, a fully outdoor, live-fire restaurant fusing Southern comfort with Southeast Asian flavors — and the culinary world took notice fast. In just over two years, Lost Isle earned a spot on The New York Times 50 Best Restaurants list and was named Southern Living's Restaurant of the Year. Josh sits down with us to talk about his Dalton roots, the road that led him to a career in food, and what it's really like to build a restaurant from the ground up.HighlightsJosh's first kitchen job was washing dishes at his mom's restaurant, the Sweet Basil Café, in downtown Dalton — he was about eight years oldHe originally left Dalton to pursue music, not culinary arts, and worked in restaurants to fund his life as a musicianA girlfriend convinced him to enroll in culinary school in Athens, Georgia — that's when food started to get seriousJosh put together a band in Park City, Utah, released two records (still available on Spotify), and landed his first executive chef job there at age 28His move to Charleston was partly about being closer to family — a quick flight to Chattanooga puts him near Dalton and SavannahThe Thai and Asian influence in his cooking traces back to Dalton: working at a friend's dad's Chinese restaurant in high school, training in Muay Thai, and eventually traveling to Thailand for two weeks of eatingThe fan-favorite dish at Lost Isle? Collard greens with Thai-inspired flavors — they've been on the menu since day one and aren't going anywhereLost Isle is entirely outdoor with all cooking done over open live fire — weather determines whether they're open, which is part of why they operate seven days a weekThe New York Times called Josh for a "fact check" — he didn't realize a critic had already dined at the restaurant months earlierSouthern Living named Lost Isle Restaurant of the Year without Josh knowing what the call was about — he found out when a family member spotted it onlineHis wife Maggie runs all of Lost Isle's social media and marketingJosh is opening a new bar called Sunset Cay Ship Store at a marina on Folly Beach — beach food, drinks, water viewsDalton's food scene has grown enormously: Josh called out Cyrus as a standout he's visited on recent trips home, and the brewing and live music scene downtownHis Dalton nostalgia includes picking vegetables on his grandparents' land, playing coffee houses, and performing at the Depot at ChristmasChapters0:00 – Sausage Balls Banter0:58 – Meet Josh Taylor of Lost Isle2:46 – Dalton Kitchen Roots3:58 – Music First, Then Culinary5:13 – Leaving Dalton for Athens6:28 – Park City Band Era7:42 – Back South to Charleston8:20 – Thai Flavors Meet Southern10:47 – Dalton Dining Boom13:03 – Pop-Up Dreams and Music14:13 – Building Lost Isle15:47 – Weather or Not16:40 – Bugs and Fire17:25 – Live Fire Learning18:56 – Awards Shockwave21:43 – Maggie and Marketing22:17 – Beach Versus Mountains23:07 – Small Town Longing24:44 – Folly Beach Bar Plans26:32 – Dalton Memories29:36 – Wrap Up and ThanksResourcesLost Isle — Josh's restaurant in Charleston, SC: lostislechs.comLost Isle on social media — InstagramThe New York Times 50 Best Restaurants: nytimes.comSouthern Living Restaurant of the Year: southernliving.comThe Sideshow Ramblers — Josh's Park City band: SpotifyTable 43 Dalton Brewing Company: daltonbrewing.comFollow the show:Instagram: @behere.daltonFacebook: Here MagazineLinkedIn: Here Local MediaThanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    30 分
  • Dalton's Digital Humor with Johnny Carpet | The Story of Carpet Capital Memes

    Dalton's Digital Humor with Johnny Carpet | The Story of Carpet Capital Memes
    2026/05/11
    Comedy is the best when someone holds up a mirror to what we would normally ignore and highlight the absurdity of it. That's exactly what our guest, the enigmatic creator behind the Instagram account @carpetcapitalmemes, has been doing for years. With 11,000+ followers and memes that make locals laugh, argue, and feel seen, "Johnny Carpet" has built something genuinely special for Northwest Georgia. We sat down to find out who's behind the account, why they came back to Dalton after leaving, and what they really think about Murray County.HIGHLIGHTS• Johnny Carpet is a Dalton native — born at Hamilton Medical Center, went to school here, left, and eventually came back with fresh eyes and a new appreciation for the region.• The account started as jokes in a guys' group chat that quickly got out of hand (in the best way).• The comedy rule guiding it all: punch up, never punch down. Positivity attracts more in the long run.• The most viral post? A meme about everyone in Northwest Georgia claiming to be "part Cherokee" — it reached close to 100,000 people and was shared by history departments.• The Whitfield/Murray County "rivalry" goes deeper than people think — they were once the same county, with Spring Place as the county seat.• Dalton State College was a turning point: getting involved on campus changed Johnny Carpet's trajectory and kept them from transferring to UGA.• After a stint in Chattanooga during peak hipster era, starting a family brought them back to Dalton — and they arrived to find Bur Park and a downtown they barely recognized.• Food highlights: pupusas, Elk Cook, Cafe Ostra's lentil soup, Garney House coffee, and Esperanza Bakery (for pastries AND piñatas).• Final advice: "Find your people." Get involved — whether that's a civic org, Soul Running Club, the Bandy Heritage Center, or something at the Guild. If you don't get plugged in, you're gonna be miserable.• Carpet Diem.CHAPTERS0:00 – Introduction & Stink Bug Incident at the Women's Leadership Council Event1:14 – Meet the Anonymous Guest: Carpet Capital Memes2:44 – Dalton Roots and Northwest Georgia Love4:30 – Murray County Rivalry Lore (and Why It's Complicated)7:24 – The Comedy Philosophy: Punch Up, Stay Positive9:28 – Origin Story: How the Meme Account Was Born10:45 – Viral Posts and the "Part Cherokee" Meme13:04 – Nostalgic Dalton: Magic Carpet Kingdom and the Walnut Square Mall15:12 – Why Come Back to Dalton?16:06 – Dalton State College as a Turning Point19:34 – Interns, Chattanooga Dreams, and the Main Street Poet21:29 – The Reality of Chattanooga and What Pulled Him Home23:14 – Coming Back to Dalton: A Fresh Set of Eyes24:59 – Meme Page Growing Pains and the DMs26:12 – Keeping the Humor Positive (and Deleting the Ones That Don't Land)29:49 – Favorite Dalton Food: Pupusas, Elk Cook, Cafe Ostra & More32:42 – Bakery Finds, Piñatas, and Dalton Bite Club34:11 – The Carpet Sample Gift & Closing Thoughts36:11 – Final Advice: Find Your People. Carpet Diem.RESOURCES & MENTIONS• Carpet Capital Memes on Instagram: @carpetcapitalmemes• United Way – Women's Leadership Council / Power of the Purse Event: https://www.ourunitedway.org/• Hamilton Medical Center: hamiltonhealth.com• Dalton State College: daltonstate.edu• Burr Park – Downtown Dalton: https://visitdaltonga.com/venue/burr-performance-park/• Red Eye Rooster (Chatsworth/Murray County)• The Shaky Mutt Hot Dogs (Murray County)• Cafe Ostro• Garmony House Coffee• La Esperanza Bakery• Dalton Bite Club on Instagram• The Spinning Room• Soal Running Club: Episode 4• CFC (Chattanooga FC): chattanoogafc.com Follow the show:Instagram: @behere.daltonFacebook: Here MagazineLinkedIn: Here Local MediaThanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    38 分
  • Dalton's Running Revolution: From Soccer Fields to Soal Running Club

    Dalton's Running Revolution: From Soccer Fields to Soal Running Club
    2026/04/27

    What if the thing that changed your life started with a stranger posting their run on Instagram? That's exactly how Soal Running Club came to be — and now it's changing the culture of wellness in Dalton, one Saturday morning at a time. We sat down with founders Geovanni (Geo) Villa and Jorge (Jorgey) Hurtado to talk about how two childhood soccer rivals reconnected through running, why they opened the club to everyone regardless of pace, and what makes Dalton feel like home even after you leave.


    HIGHLIGHTS


    • Geo and Jorgey met as kids playing for the East Ridge Express, a travel soccer team out of Chattanooga, and later became rivals at Northwest and Southeast high schools.
    • A college ankle injury ended Geo's soccer career but ultimately pushed him toward running — and eventually, reconnecting with Jorgey.
    • The Bill Gregory race was Jorgey's first eye-opener to competitive running — he thought his soccer fitness would carry him and learned quickly that running is its own beast.
    • Soal started in 2023 with just a handful of friends and a group chat; by mid-2025 they were regularly drawing 25–35 runners on Saturday mornings.
    • The club runs Wednesdays at Dalton High School (track night, 6 PM) and Saturdays at rotating local coffee shops including LoFi, Highland Bake Shop, Casa de Café, and Common Ground.
    • Beginners are not just welcome — they're the whole point. Soal runs in "laps," with a 3-mile option designed to make showing up feel possible.
    • Training in summer heat is actually a secret weapon: when race season hits in the fall, your body is already built for endurance.
    • Rocky Face Ridge is Jorgey's favorite trail; the Dalton State (Raisin Woods) trails are a humbling hill workout; Hag Mill is a community staple.
    • Local businesses have been key sponsors, and Soal literally wears that support — they call themselves "a running billboard" for Dalton.
    • One club member is heading to San Francisco to run his first marathon. Geo and Jorgey are just getting started.


    CHAPTERS


    • 2:08 – Soccer Roots Reunite
    • 4:30 – High School Rivalries
    • 8:51 – From Soccer to Running
    • 13:06 – Finding the Running Hook
    • 14:25 – Beginner Friendly Mission
    • 17:34 – Weekly Runs and Coffee
    • 20:23 – Club Growth and Training
    • 23:54 – Races and Big Wins
    • 27:22 – Why Dalton Feels Home
    • 28:50 – College Drives Home
    • 29:56 – Dalton Pulls You Back
    • 30:28 – Creating Local Positivity
    • 31:39 – Dalton Food Favorites
    • 33:17 – Downtown Growth Vibes
    • 34:42 – How to Join SOAL
    • 35:11 – Support and Celebration
    • 36:51 – Upcoming Races Calendar
    • 38:22 – Beginner Running Tips
    • 41:02 – Best Local Trails
    • 45:10 – Wildlife and Trail Resources
    • 46:57 – Local Sponsors Shoutout
    • 48:41 – Final Thanks and Wrap


    RESOURCES


    • SOAL Running Club on Instagram: @soalrunningclub
    • SOAL Running Club on Facebook: Soal Running Club
    • SOAL Running Club website:https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/SoalRunningClub
    • Believe Greater Dalton – Discover Dalton Hike & Bike Pass: believegreaterdalton.org


    Follow the show:


    Instagram: @behere.dalton

    Facebook: Here Magazine

    LinkedIn: Here Local Media


    Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    49 分
  • Global Lens, Small Town Heart | Ashlea Snell’s Photography Journey

    Global Lens, Small Town Heart | Ashlea Snell’s Photography Journey
    2026/04/13

    What does it actually look like to travel the world for work — and still choose northwest Georgia as home?


    Ashlea Snell of Snell Photography has photographed weddings and commercial shoots across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and beyond — with her work featured in People, Gardening Gun, and the New York Times. But when it came time to plant roots, she and her husband Tyler chose Dalton, Georgia. In this conversation, Ashlea opens up about building a business from a tax refund and a borrowed camera, the moment Tyler almost lost a $5,000 drone over the ocean in Maui, and why she believes the community you're looking for might just be waiting for you to reach out first. She also shares her heart for kids in foster care and how anyone — not just foster parents — can make a difference in Whitfield County.


    Highlights


    • Ashlea was one of the earliest supporters of the Dalton magazine, and her photography has been central to its vision from the start
    • She and Tyler built their photography business from a single tax refund during their senior year of college — and booked 32 weddings in their first year
    • The Snells moved to the Dalton area six years ago during COVID, drawn by proximity to family, Atlanta's airport, and nonstop international flights
    • They renovated a home in Dalton's historic district — essentially taking it down to the studs
    • Ashlea has volunteered as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for Whitfield County for three years, advocating for children in foster care
    • There are currently over 150 kids in foster care in Whitfield County — and there are many ways to help beyond becoming a foster parent
    • Ashlea's kids are already budding entrepreneurs: one is investing in stocks, another sold homemade hand sanitizer to classmates, and they're eyeing a table at the local farmer's market
    • The Let Them theory by Mel Robbins reframed how Ashley thinks about building community — don't wait, just reach out
    • Ashlea's favorite local spots include Native Kitchen, El Maguey, and Table 43
    • The Snells attend church in Chattanooga but say leaving Dalton is hard to imagine — the community they've built keeps them rooted


    Chapters


    • 0:00 — Meet Ashlea Snell
    • 1:29 — How We Connected
    • 2:33 — Moving to Dalton
    • 4:00 — Downtown Home Life
    • 5:46 — Hawaii Drone Drama
    • 9:05 — Dalton Magazine Vision
    • 9:49 — Starting the Photography Business
    • 13:41 — Favorite Destinations
    • 15:40 — Why Dalton Feels Like Home
    • 16:59 — Dalton Food Favorites
    • 18:44 — Old Text Tease
    • 19:05 — Brand Photos Memories
    • 20:04 — Art and Community Investment
    • 20:15 — CASA Foster Care Advocacy
    • 23:24 — Wild Photo Shoot Story
    • 25:20 — Favorite Local Finds
    • 25:48 — Farmers Markets and Gardening
    • 26:39 — Kids Entrepreneurship Lessons
    • 29:03 — Staying in Dalton
    • 29:51 — Community Building Mindset
    • 32:07 — Closing Plugs and Local Love


    Resources

    • Snell Photography — Follow on Instagram at @thesnells_
    • Native Kitchen — Ashlea's go-to local coffee and dining spot in Dalton
    • El Maguey — Local Dalton restaurant recommended by Ashlea
    • Table 43 — Dalton restaurant; Ashley's recent first visit was a hit
    • The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins — Book Ashlea referenced on building community; available here
    • Dalton Farmer's Market — Mentioned as a local favorite
    • Ringgold Farmer's Market (Rabbit Valley) — A nearby market the Snell family also visits


    Follow the show:


    Instagram: @behere.dalton

    Facebook: Here Magazine

    LinkedIn: Here Local Media


    Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    37 分
  • Creative Paths and Craft Beer | Amanda and Chris Brown’s Adventure

    Creative Paths and Craft Beer | Amanda and Chris Brown’s Adventure
    2026/03/30

    What does it look like when you hike 2,000 miles, fall in love, move across the country, and somehow end up exactly where you were meant to be? Amanda Michaels-Brown and Chris Brown didn't plan to plant roots in Dalton, Georgia — but Dalton had other plans. From a chance college connection to a tragedy that revealed the power of community, their story is a reminder that the place you come home to shapes you in ways you never expect. Amanda leads the Creative Arts Guild, one of Georgia's oldest multidisciplinary arts nonprofits, and Chris founded Dalton Brewing Company with friends while working as a lawyer at Geiger Legal. Together, they've become two of the most invested voices in Dalton's revitalization.


    Highlights


    • Amanda and Chris were born in the same hospital in Syracuse, New York — but didn't meet until their first semester at the University of the South (Sewanee), connected through a mutual friend from Dalton
    • The two hiked the entire Appalachian Trail together after college before deciding to build a life together
    • Amanda grew up immersed in the arts in Dalton, ultimately majoring in theater after a pivotal senior-year audition for The King and I
    • After law school in Denver, Chris commuted between Dalton and Colorado for years — eventually choosing to fully plant roots in Dalton
    • The loss of Amanda's father brought her back to Dalton and showed both of them what true community looks like: neighbors who showed up, cooked meals, and didn't leave for nearly two weeks
    • Amanda was hired at the Creative Arts Guild almost by accident — a visit to see a friend turned into a job offer and eventually the Executive Director position
    • The Creative Arts Guild was founded in 1963 and is one of the first multidisciplinary arts nonprofits in the state of Georgia
    • Chris and partners launched Dalton Brewing Company in 2018 on his 35th birthday, inspired by Denver's neighborhood brewery culture
    • Both see the brewery and the Guild as "third places" — community gathering spaces that go far beyond their primary functions
    • Their best advice for newcomers: show up, get involved, and don't be fooled into thinking there's nothing to do here


    Chapters


    • 0:00 — Welcome Back
    • 0:28 — Meet Amanda and Chris
    • 1:33 — Amanda's Roots in Dalton
    • 3:55 — College Connection
    • 4:47 — First Impressions of Dalton
    • 5:25 — Arts Path and the Guild
    • 9:08 — Denver Move and Proposal
    • 10:00 — Life in Denver Changes
    • 11:58 — Loss and Community Support
    • 14:05 — Guild Director Opportunity
    • 16:44 — Returning to Revitalize Dalton
    • 17:49 — Dreaming Up the Brewery
    • 18:53 — Community Party Vibes
    • 19:13 — Brewery as Third Place
    • 19:50 — Family-Friendly Pushback
    • 20:37 — Guild During the Recession
    • 21:50 — Building Dalton's Live Music Scene
    • 23:38 — The Guild as Extended Family
    • 24:58 — Staying or Leaving Dalton
    • 27:06 — Advice for Newcomers
    • 29:32 — So Much to Do Here
    • 32:27 — Favorite Dalton Moments
    • 34:06 — Dalton Stories and Laughs
    • 36:13 — Wrap Up and Plugs


    Resources Mentioned


    • Creative Arts Guild — Dalton's multidisciplinary nonprofit arts organization, founded in 1963
    • Dalton Brewing Company — Craft brewery and community gathering space in downtown Dalton
    • Geiger Legal — Law firm where Chris Brown practices
    • University of the South (Sewanee) — Where Amanda and Chris met as freshmen


    Follow the show:


    Instagram: @behere.dalton

    Facebook: Here Magazine

    LinkedIn: Here Local Media


    Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!
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    38 分