“It’s never a bad time, for a good story!”

Zack Brewer; attorney by day and band seeker/producer of Sounds and Grounds on nights and weekends. Zack is hoping to broaden the genres represented in the region and bring together the community to experience performances in a cozy atmosphere. Held once per month at Talia Espresso, Zack aims to secure unique and diverse bands to play in downtown North Wilkesboro. In fact, Jim and Kathy have been creating custom coffee drinks for each event, and this is a tradition they hope to continue.

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Our guests on this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast are Jim and Kathy Kozak, owners of Talia Espresso on Main Street in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. After a time of prayer, Kathy felt led to name the business Talia, which has roots that mean “lift me up.” To contribute to the musical community of North Wilkesboro and the region, Talia has begun hosting Sounds and Grounds events once per month, and they are excited to see the impact that these events can have on local culture.

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On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl joins his friend Francene Marie on her home turf to reminisce and discuss her career. Francene Marie has worked in the broadcasting industry for 23 years, and she is notably the first African-American woman to host a program not targeted towards African-Americans. She has dedicated her career to creating a show that is a comfortable place for people to share their stories and a consistent figure in the lives of her listeners.

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Carl is joined by 16-year-old Liam Purcell, a talented musician with a passion for playing, writing, and creating music. Liam got his start at the age of 6 learning guitar through the Junior Appalachian Musicians Program. By the time Liam was in 3rd grade, his parents realized his talent needed to be nurtured. This region of the Appalachian mountains is an excellent place to learn about old time and bluegrass music from musicians whose skills and knowledge of music have been passed down for generations.

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Carl is joined by local cardiologist, Dr. Julian Thomas. Dr. Thomas tells listeners about the three main types of heart disease. Carl shares his own experiences over the past 2 years, from first learning that he had A Fib and sleep apnea through his ongoing treatment.

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A lifetime expert on the furniture business, especially in North Carolina, Bill Evans has noticed a few trends that are leading to a resurgence of furniture manufacturing and upholstery in our area.

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Carl is joined by George Smith, co-founder of the Copper Barrel moonshine distillery in downtown North Wilkesboro. Several years ago, George was a member of the Charlotte Bourbon Club and he became aware that the popularity of craft spirits was on the rise. From his previous work experience with IBM and Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market, he knew that retail growth is cyclical, and he would be wise to make the leap into a business venture early. He knew that he wanted to venture into the craft spirits realm because of his passion for the history, culture, and community surrounding moonshine, as well as his personal affinity for it.

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