What does it mean to keep a tradition alive while making sure future generations understand its importance? I had the pleasure of sitting down with Beckee Garris, an award-winning Catawba potter and storyteller, at the Native American Studies Center in Lancaster, South Carolina. Born and raised on the Catawba Indian Reservation near Rock Hill, Beckee shares memories of growing up in a close-knit community where family, traditions, and caring for one another were simply a way of life.

We talk about the women who taught her the art of traditional Catawba pottery, the deep respect she has for the clay, and why preserving these traditions means so much to her. Beckee also shares what led her back to college at age 65, how storytelling helps keep the Catawba language and culture alive, and the special joy of sharing her craft with her great-grandchildren. It's a wonderful conversation about family, heritage, lifelong learning, and the importance of listening to the people whose stories are such an important part of the places we visit.

Episode Highlights
[2:12] – Growing up on the Catawba Indian Reservation and the close-knit community where everyone looked out for one another.

[3:00] – The family legacy of two Catawba chiefs and the lessons Becky learned about family, generosity, and caring for others.

[6:38] – Learning traditional Catawba pottery from master potters and understanding why the clay is sacred.

[9:06] – Preserving a pottery tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years while allowing creativity and personal expression.

[14:34] – What inspired Becky to return to college at age 65 and pursue her associate's degree in art.

[17:38] – Bringing Catawba stories and language to life and feeling connected to her ancestors through storytelling.

[20:14] – Watching her great-grandchildren discover pottery and why passing traditions to the next generation means so much.

Links & Resources

• Beckee Garris – 2026 Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award Recipient – Learn more about Beckee and her recognition by the South Carolina Arts Commission for her contributions to traditional Catawba pottery and storytelling.
• Native American Studies Center (NASC) – Located in Lancaster, South Carolina, the center celebrates Native American history, art, and culture and houses an extensive collection of traditional Catawba pottery.
• Catawba Cultural Center – Discover Catawba traditions, handmade pottery, and artwork while learning more about the Catawba Nation's efforts to preserve its cultural heritage.

If you enjoyed this conversation with Beckee, I hope you'll take a moment to follow Voices of Inspiration, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who loves discovering the stories, people, and traditions that make the Carolinas special. Your support helps me continue bringing these inspiring voices and meaningful conversations to you.

What can a piece of pottery tell us about the people who lived thousands of years ago? And how did a simple riverside fish fry become a tradition that brought entire communities together? In recognition of South Carolina Archaeology Month, I visited the Native American Studies Center in Lancaster, South Carolina, to sit down with Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies at USC Lancaster and professor of English and folklore. For more than 20 years, he's worked alongside Native American communities, documenting their stories, studying traditional art, and helping preserve cultural histories that haven't always received the attention they deserve. His work has also earned him the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award.

Our conversation took us in some unexpected directions, from the remarkable pottery traditions of the Catawba Nation to the origins of Carolina fish camps, Piedmont blues, and even local legends like the Lizard Man. I especially enjoyed hearing Dr. Criswell's perspective on the creativity behind ancient pottery and the importance of allowing communities to tell their own stories. He also shared some unforgettable experiences from his years of research, including one that reminded me just how much trust matters when someone shares a piece of their history. And you'll want to stay for his answer to my final question. It genuinely gave me goosebumps.

Episode Highlights
[03:14] - Dr. Criswell shares how growing up in North Carolina and his early interest in Irish folklore influenced his career.

[05:29] - Why cultural traditions are so difficult to erase, even after generations of hardship and change.

[06:54] - How meeting Catawba potters sparked a deeper interest in Native American traditions and eventually brought him to USC Lancaster.

[08:50] - What visitors should know about the Native American Studies Center and the vibrant Native communities in South Carolina today.

[11:00] - Why allowing Native American communities to tell their own stories is central to the center's mission.

[13:02] - What traditional pottery, baskets, and handmade objects can reveal about the lives and creativity of earlier generations.

[15:55] - The surprising story of an oversized Catawba pottery piece and the human desire to create something beautiful.

[16:54] - How traditional artists balance preserving cultural practices with expressing their own creativity.

[18:41] - The fascinating symbolism behind Georgia Harris's Rebecca snake pitcher and its connection to Catawba traditions.

[20:29] - Bigfoot, the Lizard Man, and the Southern tradition of sharing local legends.

[21:14] - The origins of Carolina fish camps and how Luther Lineberger helped turn riverside fish fries into a regional dining tradition.

[23:47] - Growing up around fish camps and why these restaurants became such an important part of life for textile mill families.

[25:42] - Why Carolina fish camps began disappearing and how the remaining restaurants continue serving their communities.

[27:07] - The connection between Piedmont blues, Southern food traditions, and transforming adversity into beauty.

[28:20] - Dr. Criswell reflects on his research with Native American communities in the Lowcountry and the personal stories that have stayed with him.

[30:47] - A memorable interview with Catawba elder Elsie Blue George and what it taught him about earning someone's trust.

[32:30] - Dr. Criswell shares his favorite words of wisdom and a touching story about love, loss, and finding meaning in unexpected places.

I hope this conversation encourages you to think about the stories behind the places you visit, the traditions you experience, and the people who keep those traditions alive. There's so much we can learn when we take the time to listen.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and leave a review, and share it with someone who enjoys discovering history, culture, and the stories behind the places we explore. Your support means so much and helps me continue bringing these conversations to you!

To begin this new season, we’re exploring what archaeology can teach us about South Carolina’s past. An artifact, a piece of pottery, or even the land itself can reveal parts of history that were never written down and help us better understand the people who came before us.

I had the opportunity to sit down with South Carolina State Archaeologist Chris Judge at the South Carolina State Museum. Chris has spent more than 35 years studying Native American history and archaeology across the state, and our conversation explores the stories beneath our feet, the discoveries still being made, and why preserving the past matters.

Chris has such a genuine enthusiasm for this work, and I think you’ll hear throughout our conversation that archaeology is about so much more than finding old things. It is about connecting objects to stories, giving context to what was left behind, and recognizing our own responsibility for what future generations will inherit.

Episode Highlights

[0:54] - Beginning a new season with the stories beneath our feet and why preserving South Carolina’s history matters.

[3:15] - How travel changes our perspective and helps us notice the history hiding in the places closest to home.

[5:41] - Looking beyond museum displays to understand the surveying, documentation and preservation behind archaeology.

[6:38] - The unexpected discovery of a 5,000-year-old Savannah River point on my own property—and all of the questions one object left behind.

[8:06] - Connecting archaeology with 100 Things to Do in South Carolina Before You Die and asking who decides which places and stories are remembered.

[11:41] - Meeting South Carolina State Archaeologist Chris Judge and discovering how National Geographic inspired his lifelong interest in archaeology.

[13:12] - The South Carolina archaeological site that changed the trajectory of Chris’s career and became a 20-year research project.

[14:26] - What a state archaeologist actually does, including maintaining records for approximately 38,000 archaeological sites across South Carolina.

[16:34] - Exploring underwater archaeology, a centuries-old shipwreck, the Topper archaeological site, ancient pottery, plant research and some of the fascinating projects happening across the state.

[20:40] - What modern science can reveal from ancient artifacts, including evidence left behind in the tiny crevices of stone tools.

[21:23] - What happens when highways, buildings and other development projects encounter archaeological or historic sites.

[23:46] - The challenges facing South Carolina archaeology, from funding and rapid development to coastal erosion and sea-level rise.

[26:01] - Returning to my Savannah River point and discovering what coastal shell rings can tell us about life thousands of years ago.

[26:58] - What archaeology has had to “unlearn” and why collaboration with Native American communities has become an essential part of the work.

[28:51] - What should you actually do if you discover an arrowhead, pottery or another possible artifact?

[31:16] - Why you should never remove archaeological artifacts from state or federal lands.

[32:00] - Ground-penetrating radar, LIDAR, blood-residue analysis and the technologies changing what the next generation of archaeologists may discover.

[33:11] - Chris shares one of his most recent finds—and the story it revealed about Columbia’s historic Wheeler Hill community.

[34:42] - From a Spanish kiln to a pair of scissors, Chris shares memorable discoveries and how even ordinary objects can help archaeologists reconstruct a story.

[36:45] - Why archaeology is not simply about finding old things, but recovering relationships between objects, places, people and generations.

[37:15] - Considering the evidence we are creating today and asking what people hundreds of years from now might understand about us.

[39:18] - Why preserving our own stories, memories and context may be an important part of the legacy we leave behind.

[41:47] - Closing with a reminder that we have inherited only part of the story—and what happens to the chapter in our care is partly up to us.

The past is all around us, and sometimes it takes slowing down and paying attention to recognize the stories that are still there. I hope this conversation encourages you to look a little closer at the places you know and think about the stories we each have a responsibility to preserve.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast, share it with a friend, and take a moment to leave a rating and review. It truly helps more people discover the stories and voices shared here.