Podcasts Savannah Podcast

Environmental historian Albert Way of Kennesaw State University talks about the history of Georgia’s longleaf pine forests. He argues that longleaf pine is a foundational material of American industry. He presented this talk at the “Coastal Nature, Coastal Culture” symposium organized by the Ossabaw Island Foundation.

Lighthouse enthusiast Bill Fulton talks about his hobby. He calls it lighthouse inspection. More like lighthouse tourism, his passion for coastal beacons has taken him from the Great Lakes to Florida. He has climbed between more than 200 lighthouses.

South Carolina Naturalist Rudy Mancke talks about his award-winning careers in nature, education and broadcasting. His Zen-like television program NatureScene and his snappy radio segments Nature Notes are like walking in the woods with a friend. His unbound enthusiasm for the natural world makes the world a more eco-friendly place.

University of Michigan history professor Tiya Miles talks about “ghost tourism” and “flying African” stories in the South. Both turn historical fragments into supernatural tales. This lecture was recorded at the Coastal Nature, Coastal Culture symposium organized by the Ossabaw Island Foundation.

Rafe and Ansley Rivers of Canewater Farm in McIntosh County talk about their vegetable-growing business and art. Native Georgians, they moved to the coast three years ago to pursue their dream of farm ownership. A photographer, Ansley talks about her project documenting America’s rivers.

Theater director and Collective Face co-founder David I. L. Poole talks about his quirks as an artist. He says that he gravitates toward strong, female-driven scripts and magical, immersive set designs. He previews the company’s 2016-2017 season.

Historian Drew Swanson talks about post Civil War “disaster tourism” and how it relates to the South’s conservation movement. A professor at Wright State University, Swanson argues that postwar emphasis on wildness, recreation and isolation fueled later generations. He spoke at the Coastal Nature, Coastal Culture symposium organized by the Ossabaw Island Foundation.

Tybee Island activist Julia Pearce talks about her life-changing moments and latest causes. An inspiration, she shares advice on how to live and better the world. Pearce founded Tybee MLK, a year-round island legacy to non-violence and understanding.

Tybee Island singer-songwriter Thomas Oliver talks about the mystery of the creative process. The retired Atlanta newspaper editor now lives at the beach, where he books the Savannah Singer Songwriter Series. He talks about taking notes, traveling and daily discipline in the context of his prolific output.

Abdel Metwally of Metwally Table Tennis Club in Pooler talks about the sport’s finer points. He talks about the difference between ping pong and table tennis. And he talks about how he transitioned from a recreational break room player to a club owner.

Historic cartography expert Max Edelson of the University of Virginia talks about British maps of Georgia. He explains how maps reflected the hopes and fears of Colonial settlers. They drew Georgia into being and documented its changing vision.

Art dealer Chris Murray talks about the photography exhibit “Elvis at 21.” On display at the Jepson Center for the Arts, the images capture Elvis Pressley in 1956, while the musician was still on the cusp on stardom. The photos were taken by Alfred Wertheimer.

Laura Lee Bocade of DIRTT Environmental Services talks about the innovative Savannah manufacturer. They employ about 100 area residents in an unusual workplace. They make building interiors. And they are trying to change the construction industry.

Armstrong State University piano professor Benjamin Warsaw talks about his short preludes. Inventive, captivating and based on Chopin’s immortal Op. 28, they draw on a wide range of classical influences and invite the listener into many differing moods.

Sculptor, poet, performer, activist and educator Vanessa German delivers a powerful presentation about art and love. As she describes it, art and love are the same thing. And they have the power to heal individuals and communities. She spoke as part of Telfair Museums’ “State of the Art” exhibit at the Jepson Center for the Arts.

Archaeologist David Hurst Thomas of the American Museum of Natural History talks about our history before the English arrived in 1733. He explores Native American and Spanish facts that define “pre-Georgia” history. This talk was given at the “Coastal Nature, Coastal Culture” symposium presented by the Ossabaw Island Foundation.

Savannah writer Bess Chappas talks about her book, The Wrath of Aphrodite. An old-fashioned romance novel, it features the colorful bar owner Pinke Masters and draws on Greek-American stereotypes. She also talks about her mother and other influences.

Guitar-toting, rap-spitting musician Basik Lee, a.k.a. Steve Baumgartner, talks about his musical influences. His style runs the gamut from hip-hop and soul to rock and blues. He doesn’t like being put in musical boxes. A former member of Dope Sandwich, he talks about the struggle for urban music to gain legitimacy.

Radio news producer Claire Beverly talks about her roles as traffic reporter and morning show personality. She answers some commonly asked questions of radio hosts. She is a familiar voice to listeners of six stations owned by Alpha Media in the Savannah and Hilton Head Island radio market.

Environmental historian Mart Stewart of Western Washington University talks about islands, edges and the globe and how they relate to Georgia’s history. He says this place always has inspired dreamers. This was the keynote address at the “Coastal Nature, Coastal Culture” symposium presented by the Ossabaw Island Foundation.