This week on The Mountain Magnolia Show, we’re celebrating five flavorful years of Cousins Cuban Café in Black Mountain, North Carolina — and the woman whose heart and soul have made it a community treasure: Beatriz “Betty” Martinez-Sperry.

From her roots in Miami to the mountains of WNC, Betty brings the warmth of Cuban culture to every plate. Her food tells a story — of family, of migration, of love — and her café has become a gathering place where friendships are formed over café con leche, Cuban sandwiches, and shared laughter.

Join us as we talk about:

What inspired Betty to open her café in Black Mountain

The power of food as a bridge between cultures

How she infuses tradition with modern flavor (including vegan options!)

And her favorite dish for first-timers — the Mojo Pork Bowl

“Food is a memory. Every flavor tells the story of where we come from and who we love.” ~ Unknown

Celebrate Cousins’ 5-year anniversary — Friday, Oct 17, 5-8 p.m. — with mojitos, appetizers, and community connections!

This week on The Mountain Magnolia Show, I sit down with Jennifer Pickering, the visionary behind LEAF Festival and LEAF Global Arts, as the beloved fall festival celebrates its 30th anniversary at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, North Carolina on October 16-19th, 2025.

Jennifer shares the inspiring story of LEAF’s founding — how a dream of creating a place where families could connect with world cultures blossomed into one of WNC’s most cherished community traditions.

We talked about the festival’s theme this year — “Live Life Like a Festival” — which is also the title of Jennifer’s upcoming book capturing 30 years of heartfelt conversations, global art, and connection.

She reflects on the spirit of resilience and rebuilding that defines this year’s celebration, and shares touching stories like the creation of the Luminary Ceremony, held Saturday night ( Oct 18th) at 7 p.m. — a moment of silence and light honoring those who have passed, reminding us who we walk with and whose footsteps we follow.

Highlights:

• The origins of LEAF and its global cultural impact

• The beauty and meaning of the Luminary Ceremony

• The 2025 Poetry Slam — one of the world’s longest-running slams, hosted by James Navé

• Jennifer’s personal reflections on Lake Eden’s magic and community

~ Learn more & get tickets: https://theleaf.org

~View the lineup: https://theleaf.org/leaf-october-festival/

"Stay curious and treasure those cultural traditions — that’s the sweetness of life.” – Jennifer Pickering

#MountainMagnoliaShow #LEAFFestival #LEAFGlobalArts #Asheville #BlackMountain #WNC #LiveLifeLikeAFestival #CommunityVoices #LocalArts

This week I welcome Eve Stevens—spiritual coach, ordained minister, and priestess—whose journey reminds us that real transformation begins with naming what we want to change, and what we long to create.

Eve’s path carried her from seminary in New York to ministry in Charlotte, and eventually here to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Along the way, she shifted from long hours in the pulpit to blending nutrition, spiritual coaching, and emotional well-being into a holistic practice of healing.

Her words stay with me:

And from her own writing:

Eve’s story is an invitation for us all: to pause, to listen, and to honor what we feel by calling it by name.

Listen to the full conversation here.

#MountainMagnoliaShow #Asheville #BlackMountain #SpiritualCoaching #HealthAndWellness #CommunityVoices