Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek

Lesley Platek
  • 5.0 (12)
  • History
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to "Classic City Rewind" — I'm your host, Lesley Platek. As a longtime Athen's resident, who first moved to Athens, Ga in 1992 with my husband Zach, a three year old son named Travis and a three day old daughter named Sydney -the moment we arrived, the city felt like a perfect place to raise our family. I've spent decades connecting with the people who make this community extraordinary. From producing heartfelt biographies through my company Lifefilms to spotlighting local sports legends, my mission has always been to share stories that matter. Each week, Classic City Rewind takes you behind the scenes of Athens' rich history through intimate, inspiring conversations with the people who lived it. You'll meet guests like: - Charlotte (Chot) Johnson, who reflects on life with her late husband — legendary UGA and New England Patriots football player Andy Johnson and on breaking barriers as one of Athens' first female home builders and Contractors. - Charlotte Thomas Marshall, a local historian and author of the book "The Tangible Past in Athens, Ga." - Loran Smith,Longtime Assistant Sports information Director for UGA. - Dan Aldridge, Author "Lasso the Cloud" the story of Ben Epps and early aviation in Athens. and - Peter Dale, Owner of 5 & 10 Resturant and celebrating the Resturant's 25th Anniversary . And so many more. Highlighting one non profit and one business is also important to my heart. This season, I'll be featuring the Athens Boys and Girls Club with Derrick Floyd, who also made a FInal ROur run beating UNC with Michael Jordan on the way in 82-but 83. As well as "Finish Performance Health" with Kelly Ward about her 30+ years of experience in Orthopedic sports medicine. Whether you're a lifelong Athenian or a newcomer discovering the city's soul, this podcast invites you to rediscover what makes Athens timeless. My hope is that this podcast will be an archive for the community as well as for the families of the folks who I interview. It's my way of giving back to my beloved Athens, Ga. Because remembering where we've been helps us see who we've become. Join me, Lesley, on Classic City Rewind — where Athens' past comes alive, one story at a time.

  1. 1d ago

    29. The Last Resort Grill — Keeping an Athens Institution Alive

    Grab a seat at the bar and settle in, because this episode is a warm trip through nearly 60 years of Athens history. We're heading downtown to 174 West Clayton Street, home to The Last Resort Grill — a building that was once a legendary music venue before it became one of Athens's most beloved restaurants. From hosting touring folk and blues legends in the 1960s and 70s to serving Southern and Southwest-inspired cuisine since 1992, this space has quietly shaped the soul of downtown Athens for generations. In this conversation, current owners Tom and Kelly Call share the story of how a chance dinner (and a slice of cheesecake) on the restaurant's 30th anniversary led them to leave their life in Valdosta and take on the responsibility of carrying The Last Resort's legacy forward. They open up about the emotional and practical sides of buying a beloved institution, the mentorship of founder Melissa Clegg, and what it means to honor decades of memories while still finding ways to grow. The building's surprising origin story — from a bank called the "Lender of Last Resort" to a 1960s–70s music club that hosted acts like Doc Watson, Townes Van Zandt, and a young Jimmy Buffett and Steve Martin How Tom's real estate and property management background and Kelly's school teaching days prepared them for the emotional and financial realities of restaurant ownership The behind-the-scenes story of buying the restaurant from founder Melissa Clegg, including her mentorship during the transition The evolution of the beloved outdoor garden space, born out of necessity during COVID, and plans to make it a year-round venue Kelly's role curating the restaurant's rotating local artist program, and Tom's vision for bringing back a limited reservation system for locals Beyond the history and the food, this episode is really about stewardship: what it takes to inherit a place woven into so many people's personal milestones — graduations, engagements, family traditions — and to keep that spirit alive while still evolving with the times. Tom and Kelly talk candidly about staff loyalty (their GM is celebrating 20 years this November), the challenges of downtown Athens, and their hopes for what the next 34 years might hold for The Last Resort.

  2. Aug 11

    28. From San Juan to National Championships: Coach Manny Diaz's UGA Tennis Journey

    If you've ever wondered what it takes to build a legendary sports program this episode of Classic City Rewind will feel like sitting down with an old friend who has quite a story to tell. Host Lesley Platek welcomes  Manny Diaz, the former longtime head Mens tennis coach at the University of Georgia, whose journey from a tennis-obsessed teenager in San Juan, Puerto Rico to the winningest coach in SEC history is full of warmth, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. The conversation is especially timely: Diaz was just inducted into the ITA Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame alongside an all-star class that includes John Isner, Stevie Johnson, Kevin Anderson and John Frierson…he shares vivid memories of the early days of NCAA tennis in Athens, when Coach Dan Magill pioneered the fan-friendly touches — chairs, scoreboards, and a devoted host-family network — that turned the sport into a beloved local tradition. From there, Manny takes listeners deep into his own path: the chance encounter with tennis at 13, training under the demanding Welby Van Horn, and an unannounced recruiting visit to Athens that ended with a full scholarship and a lifelong bond with Coach Dan Magill. He recounts the injury that redirected him toward coaching, the pivotal call that brought him back to Georgia as an assistant, and the championship runs that followed as head coach. Diaz's unlikely path from baseball-loving kid in Puerto Rico to two-time All-American at Georgia Behind-the-scenes stories from Georgia's NCAA hosting history and Coach Dan Magill's legacy The rotator cuff injury that changed the course of Diaz's career and led him into coaching Highlights from Georgia's national championship seasons, including 1999 and the 2001 Triple Crown Reflections on retirement, family, and passing the torch to current Head coach Jamie Hunt The episode closes on a personal note, as Diaz talks candidly about the challenges of balancing a coaching career with family life, the pride of watching two of his sons play for the program he once led, and what retirement looks like now — pickleball, long bike rides, and a new chapter on Amelia Island. It's a heartfelt, detail-rich look at the people and traditions that built Georgia tennis into what it is today.

  3. Aug 4

    27. Bertis Downs on R.E.M., Athens, and a Life Built Around Music

    Bertis Downs' life reads like a map of the last sixty years of American music culture — and if you've ever wondered how a law student ends up managing and giving legal advise to  R.E.M. this episode is for you. Downs traces an extraordinary arc: a childhood shaped by his missionary family's years in Taiwan and the sudden loss of his father in a plane crash, followed by his mother raising three young boys alone. He landed in Clarkston, Georgia for his teenage years, then Davidson College, where a college radio show devoted almost entirely to the Allman Brothers Band planted the seed of his lifelong love of music — even as he pursued history and, eventually, law. A summer internship at the Fulton County Jail (and a chance bellhop gig serving the Rolling Stones) pointed him toward a legal career rooted in service, which brought him to the University of Georgia and, in turn, to a group of friends who would soon form R.E.M. Downs' early life: born in West Virginia, life in Taiwan as a missionary's son, and the family's return to Georgia after his father's death His path to Davidson College, a deepening love of music through campus radio and concert committees, and the pull toward law school How friendships with Bill Berry, Peter Buck, and the future members of R.E.M. formed years before the band's first show in Athens R.E.M.'s slow-build rise — from the Radio Free Europe single through Murmur, Reckoning, and the surprising six-year gap between tours that produced Out of Time and Automatic for the People What Downs and the band are doing today, from anniversary reissues to R.E.M.'s music finding new life in shows like The Bear The conversation is warm and unhurried, full of the kind of specific, lived-in detail — freighter ships to Taiwan, ham radios, the 688 Club, Neil Young record recommendations from a young Peter Buck — that only someone who was actually there could offer. It's a great listen for R.E.M. fans, Athens locals, or anyone curious how a band builds a decades-long career entirely on its own terms.

  4. Jul 28

    26. "The Art of Looking: Rebecca Wood (R. Wood Studio) on Color, Clay, and Nature"

    "The Art of Looking: Rebecca Wood on Color, Clay, and Nature" There's something deeply comforting about sitting down with someone who has spent their entire life following what genuinely brings them joy, and this conversation with Rebecca Wood is exactly that kind of gift. Host Lesley Platek welcomes listeners into a conversation about creativity, patience, and the slow, unglamorous work of building something meaningful from scratch — a reminder that the most beautiful things in life rarely happen on a fast timeline. Rebecca Wood came to Athens in 1975 during the city's legendary arts and music boom, earned her art degree from UGA in 1977, and never left. What started as hand-painted fabrics and jewelry sold out of a Saturday shop on Dubose Street eventually grew into R.Wood Studio, now one of the largest pottery studios in America. Along the way, Rebecca shares the winding, often penniless path that led her there — from wanting to be an archaeologist and a weather girl, to painting portraits in Atlanta, to a life-changing $19,000 check from a Neiman Marcus buyer who believed in her before she'd even mastered ceramics. Rebecca's early life in the woods outside Atlanta, and how that unstructured freedom shaped her as an artist The scrappy, joyfully broke years in 1970s Athens, when $100 a month covered rent, food, and art supplies How a chance order from Neiman Marcus and an 18-year partnership with Sundance Catalog helped R.Wood Studio grow Her hiring philosophy (she hires for spirit, not resumes) and the tight-knit, supportive culture at the studio Her deep love of Japanese ikebana flower arranging and why staying connected to nature matters more than ever The conversation closes on something quieter and more personal: Rebecca's lifelong pull toward nature, her monthly "Love Notes" essays, and her belief that beauty and stillness are things people need now more than ever. As R.Wood Studio celebrates its 35th anniversary, this episode is as much a portrait of Athens' creative spirit as it is of one woman who built a life around color, craft, and looking closely at the world around her.

  5. Jul 21

    25. Terri Moody Hancock, From the Fairway to the Pickleball Court: A Conversation with Athens, Georgia Golf Legend.

    This episode offers a warm and inspiring window into one of Athens' most celebrated athletes. Host Lesley Platek sits down with Terri Moody Hancock for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from golf fairways to pickleball courts — and reveals the quiet, quilting heart behind one of Georgia's greatest champions. Terri Moody Hancock is a true Athens original — a two-time All-American at UGA, the 1981 Broderick Award winner and National Golfer of the Year,  the first woman in Georgia history to earn a full athletic scholarship and the first women at UGA to win a National Championship. She went on to earn her LPGA Tour card and compete internationally, all while carrying the calm, unshakeable composure that defined her game. She has since been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Georgia State Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, and the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame. In this episode Terri and Lesley cover: Growing up in a golf family — from her grandfather's gifted country club membership to her father's SEC championship career at UGA Competing on the boys' golf team at Athens Academy before women's teams existed, and what it was like to outplay opponents who weren't expecting it Her standout moments as a Bulldog, including winning the individual national championship in a sudden-death playoff — with her mom walking all 21 holes on a broken toe Earning her LPGA Tour card, playing tournaments in Japan, and navigating life as a solo traveler before the era of coaches and entourages Life after golf: her passion for quilting, her love of pickleball, and the joy of watching her golf-phenom grandson Jackson compete   Terri's story is one of quiet confidence, deep family roots, and a competitive fire that never burned out — it just found new courts to play on. From sand shots to pickleball angles to hand-stitched baby quilts, this conversation is a reminder that the best athletes carry their gifts into every corner of life.

  6. Jul 14

    24. The 90 year History of Dick Ferguson's Clothing Store

    Dick Ferguson III shares the remarkable story of a family business that has weathered nearly a century of change, beginning with his grandfather Richard John Ferguson, who opened the store on Clayton Street in 1934. When his grandfather passed away unexpectedly, Dick's grandmother Mary Cloud stepped in to run the store — an extraordinary feat for a woman in that era — earning deep respect from the Athens community while raising her family and keeping the business alive. Episode Highlights: Dick's grandmother Mary Cloud ran the store as a widowed woman in the 1940s and '50s, a trailblazing achievement at the time Dick Sr. gave up a career offer with a Big Eight accounting firm to take over the store out of loyalty and pride. The store nearly closed before COVID, but the arrival of manager Shane Cooper modernized operations and breathed new life into the business Current manager Patrick Sowell has helped Dick Ferguson's achieve its best sales year ever. Four generations of Fergusons — including Dick III's children and his brother Ed's children — have all worked in the store.   Dick reflects on how Athens itself has shaped the store's identity, from the days when a coat and tie were standard attire to today's more casual menswear landscape. Through smart reinvention, a refreshed inventory, and a trusted team, Dick Ferguson's has not only survived but is thriving — a testament to the power of community roots, family legacy, and knowing when to evolve. As Dick puts it, he hopes to be alive for the store's 100th anniversary, and for his own children to one day tell this same story.

  7. Jul 7

    23. Karen Morgan from a Trial Attorney to Nationally Touring Stand Up Comedian

    This episode is going to feel like sitting down with an old friend. Host Lesley Platek welcomes Karen Morgan, a born-and-raised Athens, Georgia native who has built a remarkable life straddling courtrooms, comedy stages, and now, Hollywood screenwriting. Karen Morgan is a former trial attorney turned nationally touring stand-up comedian, known for her two Dry Bar Comedy specials and her comedy album Shiny Happy People Laughing — recorded in her hometown and aired on four SiriusXM channels — with the title recorded with special permission from R.E.M. Karen and Lesley take a winding and wonderful walk through Athens memories, the craft of comedy, and what's next on Karen's horizon: Karen grew up in Athens, swimming competitively at Athens Country Club and spending summers at Beechwood Cinema — where she saw Star Wars 26 times After earning an art degree at UGA and working for legendary tennis coach Dan Magill, Karen spent seven years finding her way before attending Georgia State Law School at night while working full-time A stand-up comedy workshop she took just to "get out of the house" led to a finalist spot on Nickelodeon's Search for the Funniest Mom in America — launching a 20-year comedy career Karen describes her storytelling style as deeply observational and always true, explaining how she builds sets from "bits" to "chunks," taping every performance to refine her wordsmithing She is currently pursuing an MFA in screenwriting at UGA, has already written a sitcom and a feature film about Athens tailgating, and plans to wind down touring by 2027 to focus on writing full-time Karen's journey is proof that no experience is wasted — every lap in the pool, every courtroom argument, and every punchline has led her exactly where she's meant to be. You can find Karen at karenmorgan.com or reach her directly on Instagram @ karenmorgancomedy

  8. Apr 28

    22. Legendary UGA Women's Tennis Coach Jeff Wallace

    What better way to close out Season One of Classic City Rewind than with this conversation — especially with the NCAA Tennis Tournament coming to Athens May 14th–17th. Classic City Rewind returns with Season Two in July. If you've ever wondered what it looks like when passion, purpose, and place all come together, this conversation is for you. Host Lesley Platek sits down with legendary UGA women's tennis Coach Jeff Wallace — a Portland, Oregon native who arrived in Athens as a transfer student, fell in love with the Classic City, and never left. Jeff's journey from junior tennis player in the Pacific Northwest (including an early gig testing shoes for a then-fledgling Nike) to one of the winningest coaches in the history of collegiate women's tennis is nothing short of remarkable. He traces his path playing under Coach McGill, winning an SEC singles title in 1985, and landing the women's head coaching job at just 23 years old after a now-legendary job interview with Coach Vince Dooley. Episode highlights: How a chance encounter with Nike's early shoe testing program shaped Jeff's junior tennis years The story behind Georgia women's tennis going from an unranked program with a losing record to NCAA finalists in just two years A once-in-a-lifetime trip to the 1987 NCAA Tournament — complete with Kenny Rogers, Benihana, and Wilt Chamberlain The art of building a team-Jeff's thoughts on recruiting, culture, and treating people as individuals. The incredible family story connecting Herschel Walker, the founding of UGA's women's track program, and Jeff's wife Sabina   Jeff closes out with a heartfelt reflection on retirement, spending time with his wife Sabina,  his daughter Brittney, known as Lovely Grey, is a fashion influencer and blogger and who he calls his internet athlete with over two million followers, his son Jarryd's incredible Paralympic career, spending time with their grandchildren and what it means to finally slow down and just be present. This one's a genuine gem.

See All (30)

Trailer

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Classic City Rewind" — I'm your host, Lesley Platek. As a longtime Athen's resident, who first moved to Athens, Ga in 1992 with my husband Zach, a three year old son named Travis and a three day old daughter named Sydney -the moment we arrived, the city felt like a perfect place to raise our family. I've spent decades connecting with the people who make this community extraordinary. From producing heartfelt biographies through my company Lifefilms to spotlighting local sports legends, my mission has always been to share stories that matter. Each week, Classic City Rewind takes you behind the scenes of Athens' rich history through intimate, inspiring conversations with the people who lived it. You'll meet guests like: - Charlotte (Chot) Johnson, who reflects on life with her late husband — legendary UGA and New England Patriots football player Andy Johnson and on breaking barriers as one of Athens' first female home builders and Contractors. - Charlotte Thomas Marshall, a local historian and author of the book "The Tangible Past in Athens, Ga." - Loran Smith,Longtime Assistant Sports information Director for UGA. - Dan Aldridge, Author "Lasso the Cloud" the story of Ben Epps and early aviation in Athens. and - Peter Dale, Owner of 5 & 10 Resturant and celebrating the Resturant's 25th Anniversary . And so many more. Highlighting one non profit and one business is also important to my heart. This season, I'll be featuring the Athens Boys and Girls Club with Derrick Floyd, who also made a FInal ROur run beating UNC with Michael Jordan on the way in 82-but 83. As well as "Finish Performance Health" with Kelly Ward about her 30+ years of experience in Orthopedic sports medicine. Whether you're a lifelong Athenian or a newcomer discovering the city's soul, this podcast invites you to rediscover what makes Athens timeless. My hope is that this podcast will be an archive for the community as well as for the families of the folks who I interview. It's my way of giving back to my beloved Athens, Ga. Because remembering where we've been helps us see who we've become. Join me, Lesley, on Classic City Rewind — where Athens' past comes alive, one story at a time.

Information

You Might Also Like