Best Buncombe Podcasts (2024)

1
From AM Pioneers to FM Guardians: Navigating the Waves of Radio's Golden Eras with Houston and Hogan Episode 57 32:44

19d ago32:44

32:44

Wondering how the radio industry has transformed over the decades? We promise you'll gain a deep understanding of radio's evolution from the FM radio boom to the influence of the FCC mandating FM radios in cars. Join us, Houston and Hogan, as we share our firsthand experiences transitioning from disc jockeys to managers, navigating the seismic shif…

1
The Hog and Hominy State: Unraveling Tennessee's Radio Roots and the Buncombe Turnpike Adventure 20:43

1M ago20:43

20:43

Ever wondered why Tennessee was once called the Hog and Hominy State? Explore this quirky chapter of history with us as we journey down the Buncombe Turnpike and uncover the tales of drovers and livestock. In this captivating episode of Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan, our esteemed guest, Ken Maness, shares colorful anecdotes from his early days in …

1
The Musical Legacy of Oak Ridge: Reflecting on the Oak Ridge Boys, Historical Roots, and Modern Country Icons Episode 55 28:34

2M ago28:34

28:34

Ever wondered how the Oak Ridge Boys got their name, or how their legacy intertwines with the history of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Manhattan Project? Join us as we take a nostalgic journey through the lives and careers of these country music legends. We share heartfelt memories and personal interactions, while also reflecting on the recent loss…

1
Broadcasting Legends and Country Music Fortunes Episode 54 26:56

2M ago26:56

26:56

How did Paul Harvey become a household name with his unforgettable storytelling and iconic sign-off, "Good day"? Join us as we journey through the golden age of radio, sharing humorous and heartwarming anecdotes about this legendary broadcaster. We recount a funny incident involving the accidental cutting off of one of his "The Rest of the Story" s…

1
Dollywood Harmonies: Arthur Rice's Southern Gospel Legacy and Dolly Parton's Community Spirit 25:03

2M ago25:03

25:03

What if you could blend the magic of Dollywood with the timeless charm of Southern Gospel music? Join us on "Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan" as we sit down with Arthur Rice, the legendary lead singer of the Kingdom Heirs, who has wowed audiences at Dollywood for over 27 years. Arthur takes us on a nostalgic journey through his remarkable career, fr…

1
The Echo of Hymns: Arthur Rice's Journey Through Gospel's Golden Era and the Rise of Southern Quartets 20:56

3M ago20:56

20:56

Can you imagine a time when the radio was the lifeline for weather updates and church announcements? Join us on a nostalgic journey through the history of gospel music with our special guest, Arthur Rice. Raised in Weaverville, Buncombe County, Arthur recalls the powerful influence of radio stations like WWNC and WSKY on his childhood, filling his …

1
Episode 51 Nostalgic Airwaves: Chuck Rice Reflects on the Evolution and Impact of Community Radio 24:57

4M ago24:57

24:57

What happens when you blend nostalgia with the evolving world of community radio? Join us on this episode of Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan as we embark on a heartfelt journey through the past and present of small-town broadcasting with our esteemed guest, Chuck Rice. Together, we reminisce about our early days in radio, sharing cherished memories …

1
Voices of the Airwaves: Chuck Rice's Journey Through the Heart of Radio Storytelling Episode 50 30:56

4M ago30:56

30:56

As the comforting crackle of a well-tuned radio takes us back to the days of storytelling at its finest, we're joined by Chuck Rice—a media veteran whose voice has colored the airwaves with stories of local charm and political intrigue. Together on Hot Mic, we reminisce about Chuck's climb from the modest beginnings at local stations like WMMH and …

1
The Harmonic Heartbeat of Bluegrass: Tammy Rogers King and The SteelDrivers' Musical Journey 18:31

5M ago18:31

18:31

Discover the soul-stirring history and future of bluegrass music as we sit down with the remarkable Tammy Rogers King of The SteelDrivers. You're in for an auditory feast that intertwines the traditional melodies of Bill Monroe with the genre's modern-day mosaics, all through the lens of Tammy's rich musical narrative. She recounts her vibrant hist…

1
Bluegrass Beginnings: The Tammy Rogers King Story Episode 48 25:31

5M ago25:31

25:31

When family stories and musical chords intertwine, the result is a legacy as rich as the one Tammy Rogers King brings from her East Tennessee roots. Our special guest, a founding member of the celebrated bluegrass ensemble The SteelDrivers, takes us on a melodic journey through her life, sharing how her upbringing and family band experiences shaped…

1
Echoes of Valor: The Poignant Soundtrack of World War II and Its Impact on American Country Music Episode 47 22:33

6M ago22:33

22:33

Travel back in time with us to the heart-wrenching era of World War II, where music wasn't just entertainment—it was a vital connection to home for soldiers and their families. As we wander through the poignant world of wartime tunes, we'll share how Tex Ritter's "There's a Gold Star in Her Window" and Ernest Tubb's "Soldier's Last Letter" captured…

1
Echoes of War and Unity: The Stirring Impact of Country Music on World War II Soldiers Episode 46 25:27

6M ago25:27

25:27

As the needle drops on a classic vinyl, the memories of my father sharing his World War II stories come flooding back, setting the stage for a heartfelt exploration into how country music provided a soundtrack to an era of tremendous upheaval and unity. In our latest episode, we don't just recount tales; we bring you face-to-face with the songs tha…

1
A Sentimental Journey Through Timeless Country Classics and Radio Antics Episode 45 32:19

7M ago32:19

32:19

Join us on a heart-tugging trip back in time as we explore the undying charm of country classics and the heyday of radio shenanigans. Ever wondered why some tunes, like John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads," seem to defy the decades, enchanting everyone from nostalgic seniors to spirited teens? We've got stories that'll paint a picture of the…

1
The Dawn of Radio Advertising and High-Flying Tales of the Memphis Belle 32:00

7M ago32:00

32:00

As the radio waves of yesteryear crackled with fresh energy, imagine the thrill of the first-ever real estate promotion breaking through the static. That's the world we step back into, with tales spun from a life dedicated to the symbiotic dance between broadcasting and advertising. With the warmth of a seasoned host, I recount how early ads on sta…

1
The Evolving Legacy of the Oak Ridge Boys From Gospel Roots to Country Stardom 26:21

7M ago26:21

26:21

Embark on a heartfelt journey through the decades as we pay homage to the Oak Ridge Boys and their incredible five-decade legacy. Feel the bittersweet emotion as we discuss Joe Bonsall's retirement due to health challenges and explore how Ben James' arrival as the new tenor heralds a fresh chapter for the beloved quartet. Witness the resilience of …

1
A Melodic Memoir Celebrating Willie Nelson’s Legacy 22:47

8M ago22:47

22:47

Remember the thrill of hearing "Turn Out the Lights" for the first time? That moment sparked a lifelong love for Willie Nelson's music for many, including myself. On today's show, we pay homage to the legend himself, exploring his journey from the whiskey-soaked strings to the pungent aroma of marijuana that he claims saved his life. Alongside tale…

1
Episode 42 Chronicles of Willie Nelson's Musical Innovations and Iconic Albums 23:34

8M ago23:34

23:34

Discover the untold melodious tales of Willie Nelson in our latest auditory journey, as we unearth his roots from behind the radio microphone to the iconic "Red Headed Stranger" album. We'll explore the narrative genius of this barebones masterpiece, how it shattered industry norms, and the way Willie's soulful rendition of "Blue Eyes Crying in the…

1
Celebrating Triumphs and Confronting Addictions in Country Music 23:52

9M ago23:52

23:52

As the clock ticks towards a new year, we've got an episode that mirrors the bittersweet symphony of life, celebrating triumphs and facing challenges head-on. Willie Nelson's musings on his town named Luck set the stage for an eclectic mix of reflections, from the cross-generational success of Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" to the…

1
Episode 40 Celebrating Storytelling and Country Music: The Mystifying Tales of Garrison Keillor and Hank Williams, Sr. 31:30

9M ago31:30

31:30

Ever wondered about the mystifying tales of Lake Wobegon and the captivating appeal of Garrison Keillor? Or perhaps you're intrigued by the life and legacy of Hank Williams, famously known as the "hillbilly Shakespeare"? Then buckle up, folks! This episode of Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan takes you on a fascinating journey through the art of story…

1
Episode 39 In the Footsteps of Marijohn Wilkin: A Country and Gospel Legend 26:24

10M ago26:24

26:24

Brace yourself for an episode that unlocks the door to the world of a lesser-known yet pivotal figure in the country and gospel music scene, Marijohn Wilkin. Prepare your hearts as Co-host Dave Hogan brings you face to face with his personal encounter with Wilkin at a DJ convention. This remarkable woman, fondly referred to as the "Den Mother of Mu…

1
Episode 38 Dave Hogan reviews Killers of the Flower Moon 22:12

10M ago22:12

22:12

Dave's been to the movies! He got a big box of popcorn and got totally absorbed in Killers of the Flower Moon. He says it's one of only two movies that he wants to see twice and one of the many reasons is the movie soundtrack. It features historic country music and Dave brings some of that music back to Asheville, North Carolina. I invite you to si…

1
Episode 37 Richard Hurley and WNC Musicians 36:14

11M ago36:14

36:14

Dave and Randy welcome a longtime friend and fellow Mountain Man Richard Hurley to the Hot Mic. We’ve both played a lot of Richard’s music on the radio over the years and in today’s follow up episode we chat with Richard about our beloved mountains and how he has written songs about his experience of growing up here, surrounded by the rich culture …

1
Episode 36 Richard Hurley – Folk Singer Song Writer and Mountain Man 26:29

11M ago26:29

26:29

Dave and Randy welcome a longtime friend and fellow Mountain Man Richard Hurley to the Hot Mic. We’ve both played a lot of Richard’s music on the radio over the years and in today’s first episode we chat with Richard about our beloved mountains and how he has written songs about his experience of growing up here, surrounded by the rich culture of m…

1
Episode 35 WSKY Chapter 2 24:48

12M ago24:48

24:48

On this podcast we continue listening in the conversation that Brian and Barry Lee had with Dave Hogan about his years spent working with their Dad, Zeb Lee. For a half century the name Zeb Lee was synonymous with radio broadcasting in Asheville and Western North Carolina. Zeb founded radio station WSKY in 1947 and decade after decade his love of r…

1
Episode 34 WSKY Chapter 1 We invite you to eavesdrop on a conversation we had with legendary Asheville broadcaster Zeb Lee's sons Brian and Barry as we remember Zeb and his amazing career as a radio station ... 33:58

12M ago33:58

33:58

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 33 Train Songs in Country Music 22:28

1y ago22:28

22:28

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 32 The Legend of Johnny Cash 21:31

1y ago21:31

21:31

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 31 How the recording industry launched the Jukebox industry 20:43

1y ago20:43

20:43

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 30 The Beginnings of the Recording Industry Part 1 21:59

1y ago21:59

21:59

We talk about a range of topics in this episode, from our own radio bloopers to the deaths of a couple of Bluegrass Superstars to the beginning days of the recording industry. We hope you enjoy!By Randy

1
Episode 29 Songs of the Old West Part 2 21:50

1y ago21:50

21:50

Randy and Dave talk about the Songs of the Old West in this Episode of Hot Mic with Houston & Hogan. Dave talks about a recent trip he took into the old west and some of the museums he visited and that music influenced Country and Western music.By Randy

1
Episode 27 Songs of the Old West Part 1 19:36

1y ago19:36

19:36

Randy and Dave talk about the Songs of the Old West in this Episode of Hot Mic with Houston & Hogan. Dave talks about a recent trip he took into the old west and some of the museums he visited and that music influenced Country and Western music.By Randy

1
Episode 26 Trucking Songs Chapter Two 28:01

1y ago28:01

28:01

Dave and Randy continue their deep dive into the strong ties of Trucking songs and Country Music. That's such a strong connection and we talk about some of those familiar songs that you might have forgotten about.By Randy

1
Episode 25 Trucking Songs in Country Music 20:33

1+ y ago20:33

20:33

Dave and Randy delve deep into the strong ties of Trucking songs and Country Music. That's a strong connection and we talk about some of those familiar songs from years gone by to the big all night radio stations that played them.By Randy

1
Episode 24 Famous Duets in Country Music 22:20

1+ y ago22:20

22:20

Some of the most listened to and awarded songs in County Music over the years have come from Duets. Duets comprised of man and wife, mother and daughter, brothers and a lot of different combos. Dave and Randy will jog your memory in this episode of Hot Mic with Houston & Hogan.By Randy

1
Episode 23 Murder Ballads 24:42

1+ y ago24:42

24:42

Dave has been busy researching the darker side of country songs during the early years of country music. Some of the most popular songs recorded were about tragedy and death. Let's go back in time and all be reminded of some of those sad country songs.By Randy

1
Episode 22 One Hit Wonders Chapter Two 21:01

1+ y ago21:01

21:01

Dave and Randy have played a bunch of songs over these radio years and a lot of them came from artists who were in the right place at the right time. They got their hands on a good song and hit the right combination for a big hit song in the charts but were never able to "rinse and repeat." You might be surprised when you hear some of your favs wer…

1
Episode 21 Tune in to a game of One Hit Wonders 21:47

1+ y ago21:47

21:47

Dave and Randy have played a bunch of songs over these radio years and a lot of them came from artists who were in the right place at the right time. They got their hands on a good song and hit the right combination for a big hit song in the charts but were never able to "rinse and repeat." You might be surprised when you hear some of your favs wer…

1
Episode 20 A continuation of our conversation with Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson 19:21

1+ y ago19:21

19:21

We talked with Grand Ole Opry Star and Country Music Hall of Fame Member Bill Anderson recently about his very successful career as a Country Music Singer and Songwriter. We talk about the many hits from the past, the careers of artists he has helped to launch and award winning songs he has penned. There is so much to unpack with this Country legen…

1
Episode 19 We are excited to share our recent conversation with Bill Anderson, Country Music Hall of Fame Member and acclaimed Songwriter 23:01

1+ y ago23:01

23:01

We talked with Grand Ole Opry Star and Country Music Hall of Fame Member Bill Anderson recently about his very successful career as a Country Music Singer and Songwriter. We talk about the many hits from the past, the careers of artists he has helped to launch and award winning songs he has penned. There is so much to unpack with this Country legen…

1
Episode 18 Randy and Dave are joined by Dave's daughter Gina who is also a podcaster 27:43

1+ y ago27:43

27:43

You've heard the old adage "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." We're joined on the show today by Gina Edwards who is also a podcaster and co-hosts a podcast called Around the Writer's Table. Around the Writer’s Table is a podcast that explores the crossroads of creativity, craft, and conscious living for writers of all ages and backgrounds.…

1
Episode 17 Technology changes in Radio over the past half century 24:33

1+ y ago24:33

24:33

When these two guys started in radio, compared to where the technology of the industry is today, we could probably have had just as much success by connecting two cans with a string. It is amazing how radio has changed since we got into the business.By Randy

1
Episode 16 The Legendary Dolly Parton 18:36

1+ y ago18:36

18:36

Dolly Parton is an American icon. She is one of the worlds most loved people and both Dave and Randy have both met and worked with Dolly in their careers, having crossed paths several times. In this episode we talk some about Dolly's beginnings here in our neck of the woods, the Great Smoky Mountains.…

1
Episode 15 Small Town Radio 28:27

1+ y ago28:27

28:27

Dave and Randy both started their radio careers in small towns in Western North Carolina. Small town radio is pretty much a thing of the past now but back "in the day" it was the lifeline of the community. This episode features a recording of Randy Houston's very first time on the air at the tender age of sixteen on Saturday afternoon April 7th, 19…

1
Episode 14 John Newton wrote the most popular hymn of all time, Amazing Grace 18:52

1+ y ago18:52

18:52

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 13 As we near year's end, Dave and Randy talk about the legends of country music that we lost during 2022 29:49

2y ago29:49

29:49

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 012 Dave and Randy talk about several visits that Jerry Lee Lewis made to Western North Carolina 29:13

2y ago29:13

29:13

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 011 Dave and Randy just scratch the surface of their involvement in Gospel Music during their careers 30:03

2y ago30:03

30:03

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 010 The greats of country are fading away fast. Dave and Randy talk about the career of the great Lorretta Lynn 26:47

2y ago26:47

26:47

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 009 Two Country DJ's talking about and paying tribute to the great Merle Haggard 28:34

2y ago28:34

28:34

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

1
Episode 008 Dave & Randy talk about Asheville, North Carolina's connection to the Singing Brakeman Jimmie Rodgers 26:50

2y ago26:50

26:50

Hot Mic with Houston and Hogan features two radio professionals with over a hundred years of broadcasting experience between them. Dave Hogan and Randy Houston are both native Western North Carolinian’s – whose rich voices have been heard in every glade, cove and holler of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the last century – primaril…

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