On the Blue Ridge

Jon Page

On the Blue Ridge features conversations with creative and intrepid individuals making an imprint on the Blue Ridge Mountains. Guests include writers, artists, makers, chefs, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and citizens living in and around the region.

  1. 02/28/2025

    8: Anna Alsobrook and Hartwell Carson on Protecting the French Broad River

    Anna Alsobrook and Hartwell Carson are the incoming and outgoing French Broad Riverkeepers for MountainTrue, an Asheville, North Carolina-based nonprofit advocating for clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities across Western North Carolina. Hartwell has been the veteran French Broad Riverkeeper, working to protect and clean up the French Broad River through scientific research, education, advocacy, fundraising, public engagement and outdoor recreation. Now, as Clean Water Director, he’s expanding his focus to protect waterways across Western North Carolina. Anna, formerly MountainTrue’s Watershed Science and Policy Manager, is now stepping into the role of French Broad Riverkeeper.  In this episode, Anna and Hartwell share how Hurricane Helene affected the French Broad River and what recovery efforts look like months later. They discuss the ongoing challenges of restoring the river, the vital role of the French Broad Riverkeeper, and how water quality science informs their work. We also explore broader clean water initiatives, the biggest threats facing the river today, and how the community can get involved in protecting this important natural resource. Mountain True mountaintrue.org French Broad Riverkeeper MountainTrue on Instagram French Broad Riverkeeper on Instagram Theme Music The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

    44 min
  2. 01/30/2025

    7: Aaron Stone on Capturing ‘The Resonance Sessions’

    Aaron Stone is a filmmaker and photographer based in Asheville, and one of the many creative forces behind “The Resonance Sessions,” an upcoming album featuring dozens of regional musicians to benefit the music scene in Marshall, North Carolina, a town devastated by catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. As director and producer for Parkway Studios—a creative team that includes Bridger Dunnagan and Caroline Aylward—Aaron has built a diverse portfolio of multimedia projects featuring local musicians. The latest project, “The Resonance Sessions,” is a deeply collaborative effort set for release in March. Recorded live in the stairwell of the Old Marshall Jail—a historic building turned hotel and bar that weathered Helene—the album captures raw and heartfelt performances, with net proceeds going to the Madison Arts Council and Rare Birds Cultural Arts.  In this episode, Aaron shares how the album took shape; insights into the emotional nature of the songs, including samples of a few tracks;  the challenges and rewards of documenting these sessions, his perspective on the current music scene in Asheville; and more.  “The Resonance Sessions” Preorder the album on Bandcamp Learn more about the album Tracks from “The Resonance Sessions” in this Episode “Hard Times, Sore Eyes” by The Dead Tongues (Watch a video) “Sailing Away” by River Whyless “Motherfountain” by Soft Talk “The Landslide (1916 Flood)” by William Ritter “Fine Sally” by Donna Ray Norton More of Aaron’s Work Parkway Studios aaronstonephoto.com @aaronstonephoto on Instagram Also Mentioned Josh Copus Old Marshall Jail Hotel & Bar Zuma Coffee & Provisions Donna Ray Norton Sheila Kay Adams Jack Sorokin Clay White Rising Appalachia Tyler Ramsey River Whyless Bridger Dunnagan Luke Mitchell Citizen Vinyl Soft Talk William Ritter N.C. Gov. Josh Stein Cardinals at the Window Nicholas Edward Williams ReString Appalachia “Our New Orleans” “The Serviceberry” BeLoved Asheville

    58 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

On the Blue Ridge features conversations with creative and intrepid individuals making an imprint on the Blue Ridge Mountains. Guests include writers, artists, makers, chefs, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and citizens living in and around the region.