The Love of Here | Life and Work in Northwest Georgia

Erika Mosteller & Lauren Sneary
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Society & Culture

For the Love of Here is a podcast about Dalton, Georgia and life across Northwest Georgia—from local businesses and entrepreneurship to community leadership and hometown pride. Hosts Erika Mosteller and Lauren Sneary sit down with founders, civic leaders, creatives, and neighbors from Dalton, Chatsworth, Ringgold, and Calhoun to talk about the ideas, challenges, and opportunities shaping our region. If you care about small-town business, local culture, economic growth, and building a life where you live, this podcast is for you. Because you don’t need a bigger city. You just need a better lens. Produced by Here Local Media.

Episodes

  1. May 25

    Music, Food, and Fire | Josh Taylor’s Culinary Journey

    What does it take to go from washing dishes at your mom's café in Dalton, Georgia to landing on The New York Times list of the 50 best restaurants in the country? Chef Josh Taylor knows. Raised in Dalton, Josh discovered his love of food early — scrubbing pots at his mother's Sweet Basil Café and later pulling shifts at West Walnut Café before chasing a music career took him from Athens to Park City, Utah, and eventually to Charleston, South Carolina. It was in Charleston that he opened Lost Isle, a fully outdoor, live-fire restaurant fusing Southern comfort with Southeast Asian flavors — and the culinary world took notice fast. In just over two years, Lost Isle earned a spot on The New York Times 50 Best Restaurants list and was named Southern Living's Restaurant of the Year. Josh sits down with us to talk about his Dalton roots, the road that led him to a career in food, and what it's really like to build a restaurant from the ground up. Highlights Josh's first kitchen job was washing dishes at his mom's restaurant, the Sweet Basil Café, in downtown Dalton — he was about eight years oldHe originally left Dalton to pursue music, not culinary arts, and worked in restaurants to fund his life as a musicianA girlfriend convinced him to enroll in culinary school in Athens, Georgia — that's when food started to get seriousJosh put together a band in Park City, Utah, released two records (still available on Spotify), and landed his first executive chef job there at age 28His move to Charleston was partly about being closer to family — a quick flight to Chattanooga puts him near Dalton and SavannahThe Thai and Asian influence in his cooking traces back to Dalton: working at a friend's dad's Chinese restaurant in high school, training in Muay Thai, and eventually traveling to Thailand for two weeks of eatingThe fan-favorite dish at Lost Isle? Collard greens with Thai-inspired flavors — they've been on the menu since day one and aren't going anywhereLost Isle is entirely outdoor with all cooking done over open live fire — weather determines whether they're open, which is part of why they operate seven days a weekThe New York Times called Josh for a "fact check" — he didn't realize a critic had already dined at the restaurant months earlierSouthern Living named Lost Isle Restaurant of the Year without Josh knowing what the call was about — he found out when a family member spotted it onlineHis wife Maggie runs all of Lost Isle's social media and marketingJosh is opening a new bar called Sunset Cay Ship Store at a marina on Folly Beach — beach food, drinks, water viewsDalton's food scene has grown enormously: Josh called out Cyrus as a standout he's visited on recent trips home, and the brewing and live music scene downtownHis Dalton nostalgia includes picking vegetables on his grandparents' land, playing coffee houses, and performing at the Depot at ChristmasChapters 0:00 – Sausage Balls Banter0:58 – Meet Josh Taylor of Lost Isle2:46 – Dalton Kitchen Roots3:58 – Music First, Then Culinary5:13 – Leaving Dalton for Athens6:28 – Park City Band Era7:42 – Back South to Charleston8:20 – Thai Flavors Meet Southern10:47 – Dalton Dining Boom13:03 – Pop-Up Dreams and Music14:13 – Building Lost Isle15:47 – Weather or Not16:40 – Bugs and Fire17:25 – Live Fire Learning18:56 – Awards Shockwave21:43 – Maggie and Marketing22:17 – Beach Versus Mountains23:07 – Small Town Longing24:44 – Folly Beach Bar Plans26:32 – Dalton Memories29:36 – Wrap Up and Thanks Resources Lost Isle — Josh's restaurant in Charleston, SC: lostislechs.comLost Isle on social media — InstagramThe New York Times 50 Best Restaurants: nytimes.comSouthern Living Restaurant of the Year: southernliving.comThe Sideshow Ramblers — Josh's Park City band: SpotifyTable 43 Dalton Brewing Company: daltonbrewing.com Follow the show: Instagram: @behere.dalton Facebook: Here Magazine LinkedIn: Here Local Media Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!

    30 min

  2. May 11

    Dalton's Digital Humor with Johnny Carpet | The Story of Carpet Capital Memes

    Comedy is the best when someone holds up a mirror to what we would normally ignore and highlight the absurdity of it. That's exactly what our guest, the enigmatic creator behind the Instagram account @carpetcapitalmemes, has been doing for years. With 11,000+ followers and memes that make locals laugh, argue, and feel seen, "Johnny Carpet" has built something genuinely special for Northwest Georgia. We sat down to find out who's behind the account, why they came back to Dalton after leaving, and what they really think about Murray County. HIGHLIGHTS • Johnny Carpet is a Dalton native — born at Hamilton Medical Center, went to school here, left, and eventually came back with fresh eyes and a new appreciation for the region. • The account started as jokes in a guys' group chat that quickly got out of hand (in the best way). • The comedy rule guiding it all: punch up, never punch down. Positivity attracts more in the long run. • The most viral post? A meme about everyone in Northwest Georgia claiming to be "part Cherokee" — it reached close to 100,000 people and was shared by history departments. • The Whitfield/Murray County "rivalry" goes deeper than people think — they were once the same county, with Spring Place as the county seat. • Dalton State College was a turning point: getting involved on campus changed Johnny Carpet's trajectory and kept them from transferring to UGA. • After a stint in Chattanooga during peak hipster era, starting a family brought them back to Dalton — and they arrived to find Bur Park and a downtown they barely recognized. • Food highlights: pupusas, Elk Cook, Cafe Ostra's lentil soup, Garney House coffee, and Esperanza Bakery (for pastries AND piñatas). • Final advice: "Find your people." Get involved — whether that's a civic org, Soul Running Club, the Bandy Heritage Center, or something at the Guild. If you don't get plugged in, you're gonna be miserable. • Carpet Diem. CHAPTERS 0:00 – Introduction & Stink Bug Incident at the Women's Leadership Council Event 1:14 – Meet the Anonymous Guest: Carpet Capital Memes 2:44 – Dalton Roots and Northwest Georgia Love 4:30 – Murray County Rivalry Lore (and Why It's Complicated) 7:24 – The Comedy Philosophy: Punch Up, Stay Positive 9:28 – Origin Story: How the Meme Account Was Born 10:45 – Viral Posts and the "Part Cherokee" Meme 13:04 – Nostalgic Dalton: Magic Carpet Kingdom and the Walnut Square Mall 15:12 – Why Come Back to Dalton? 16:06 – Dalton State College as a Turning Point 19:34 – Interns, Chattanooga Dreams, and the Main Street Poet 21:29 – The Reality of Chattanooga and What Pulled Him Home 23:14 – Coming Back to Dalton: A Fresh Set of Eyes 24:59 – Meme Page Growing Pains and the DMs 26:12 – Keeping the Humor Positive (and Deleting the Ones That Don't Land) 29:49 – Favorite Dalton Food: Pupusas, Elk Cook, Cafe Ostra & More 32:42 – Bakery Finds, Piñatas, and Dalton Bite Club 34:11 – The Carpet Sample Gift & Closing Thoughts 36:11 – Final Advice: Find Your People. Carpet Diem. RESOURCES & MENTIONS • Carpet Capital Memes on Instagram: @carpetcapitalmemes • United Way – Women's Leadership Council / Power of the Purse Event: https://www.ourunitedway.org/ • Hamilton Medical Center: hamiltonhealth.com • Dalton State College: daltonstate.edu • Burr Park – Downtown Dalton: https://visitdaltonga.com/venue/burr-performance-park/ • Red Eye Rooster (Chatsworth/Murray County) • The Shaky Mutt Hot Dogs (Murray County) • Cafe Ostro • Garmony House Coffee • La Esperanza Bakery • Dalton Bite Club on Instagram • The Spinning Room • Soal Running Club: Episode 4 • CFC (Chattanooga FC): chattanoogafc.com  Follow the show: Instagram: @behere.dalton Facebook: Here Magazine LinkedIn: Here Local Media Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!

    38 min

  3. Apr 27

    Dalton's Running Revolution: From Soccer Fields to Soal Running Club

    What if the thing that changed your life started with a stranger posting their run on Instagram? That's exactly how Soal Running Club came to be — and now it's changing the culture of wellness in Dalton, one Saturday morning at a time. We sat down with founders Geovanni (Geo) Villa and Jorge (Jorgey) Hurtado to talk about how two childhood soccer rivals reconnected through running, why they opened the club to everyone regardless of pace, and what makes Dalton feel like home even after you leave. HIGHLIGHTS Geo and Jorgey met as kids playing for the East Ridge Express, a travel soccer team out of Chattanooga, and later became rivals at Northwest and Southeast high schools.A college ankle injury ended Geo's soccer career but ultimately pushed him toward running — and eventually, reconnecting with Jorgey.The Bill Gregory race was Jorgey's first eye-opener to competitive running — he thought his soccer fitness would carry him and learned quickly that running is its own beast.Soal started in 2023 with just a handful of friends and a group chat; by mid-2025 they were regularly drawing 25–35 runners on Saturday mornings.The club runs Wednesdays at Dalton High School (track night, 6 PM) and Saturdays at rotating local coffee shops including LoFi, Highland Bake Shop, Casa de Café, and Common Ground.Beginners are not just welcome — they're the whole point. Soal runs in "laps," with a 3-mile option designed to make showing up feel possible.Training in summer heat is actually a secret weapon: when race season hits in the fall, your body is already built for endurance.Rocky Face Ridge is Jorgey's favorite trail; the Dalton State (Raisin Woods) trails are a humbling hill workout; Hag Mill is a community staple.Local businesses have been key sponsors, and Soal literally wears that support — they call themselves "a running billboard" for Dalton.One club member is heading to San Francisco to run his first marathon. Geo and Jorgey are just getting started. CHAPTERS 2:08 – Soccer Roots Reunite4:30 – High School Rivalries8:51 – From Soccer to Running13:06 – Finding the Running Hook14:25 – Beginner Friendly Mission17:34 – Weekly Runs and Coffee20:23 – Club Growth and Training23:54 – Races and Big Wins27:22 – Why Dalton Feels Home28:50 – College Drives Home29:56 – Dalton Pulls You Back30:28 – Creating Local Positivity31:39 – Dalton Food Favorites33:17 – Downtown Growth Vibes34:42 – How to Join SOAL35:11 – Support and Celebration36:51 – Upcoming Races Calendar38:22 – Beginner Running Tips41:02 – Best Local Trails45:10 – Wildlife and Trail Resources46:57 – Local Sponsors Shoutout48:41 – Final Thanks and Wrap RESOURCES SOAL Running Club on Instagram: @soalrunningclubSOAL Running Club on Facebook: Soal Running ClubSOAL Running Club website:https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/SoalRunningClubBelieve Greater Dalton – Discover Dalton Hike & Bike Pass: believegreaterdalton.org Follow the show: Instagram: @behere.dalton Facebook: Here Magazine LinkedIn: Here Local Media Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!

    49 min

  4. Apr 13

    Global Lens, Small Town Heart | Ashlea Snell’s Photography Journey

    What does it actually look like to travel the world for work — and still choose northwest Georgia as home? Ashlea Snell of Snell Photography has photographed weddings and commercial shoots across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and beyond — with her work featured in People, Gardening Gun, and the New York Times. But when it came time to plant roots, she and her husband Tyler chose Dalton, Georgia. In this conversation, Ashlea opens up about building a business from a tax refund and a borrowed camera, the moment Tyler almost lost a $5,000 drone over the ocean in Maui, and why she believes the community you're looking for might just be waiting for you to reach out first. She also shares her heart for kids in foster care and how anyone — not just foster parents — can make a difference in Whitfield County. Highlights Ashlea was one of the earliest supporters of the Dalton magazine, and her photography has been central to its vision from the startShe and Tyler built their photography business from a single tax refund during their senior year of college — and booked 32 weddings in their first yearThe Snells moved to the Dalton area six years ago during COVID, drawn by proximity to family, Atlanta's airport, and nonstop international flightsThey renovated a home in Dalton's historic district — essentially taking it down to the studsAshlea has volunteered as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for Whitfield County for three years, advocating for children in foster careThere are currently over 150 kids in foster care in Whitfield County — and there are many ways to help beyond becoming a foster parentAshlea's kids are already budding entrepreneurs: one is investing in stocks, another sold homemade hand sanitizer to classmates, and they're eyeing a table at the local farmer's marketThe Let Them theory by Mel Robbins reframed how Ashley thinks about building community — don't wait, just reach outAshlea's favorite local spots include Native Kitchen, El Maguey, and Table 43The Snells attend church in Chattanooga but say leaving Dalton is hard to imagine — the community they've built keeps them rooted Chapters 0:00 — Meet Ashlea Snell1:29 — How We Connected2:33 — Moving to Dalton4:00 — Downtown Home Life5:46 — Hawaii Drone Drama9:05 — Dalton Magazine Vision9:49 — Starting the Photography Business13:41 — Favorite Destinations15:40 — Why Dalton Feels Like Home16:59 — Dalton Food Favorites18:44 — Old Text Tease19:05 — Brand Photos Memories20:04 — Art and Community Investment20:15 — CASA Foster Care Advocacy23:24 — Wild Photo Shoot Story25:20 — Favorite Local Finds25:48 — Farmers Markets and Gardening26:39 — Kids Entrepreneurship Lessons29:03 — Staying in Dalton29:51 — Community Building Mindset32:07 — Closing Plugs and Local Love Resources Snell Photography — Follow on Instagram at @thesnells_Native Kitchen — Ashlea's go-to local coffee and dining spot in DaltonEl Maguey — Local Dalton restaurant recommended by AshleaTable 43 — Dalton restaurant; Ashley's recent first visit was a hitThe Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins — Book Ashlea referenced on building community; available hereDalton Farmer's Market — Mentioned as a local favoriteRinggold Farmer's Market (Rabbit Valley) — A nearby market the Snell family also visits Follow the show: Instagram: @behere.dalton Facebook: Here Magazine LinkedIn: Here Local Media Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!

    37 min

  5. Mar 30

    Creative Paths and Craft Beer | Amanda and Chris Brown’s Adventure

    What does it look like when you hike 2,000 miles, fall in love, move across the country, and somehow end up exactly where you were meant to be? Amanda Michaels-Brown and Chris Brown didn't plan to plant roots in Dalton, Georgia — but Dalton had other plans. From a chance college connection to a tragedy that revealed the power of community, their story is a reminder that the place you come home to shapes you in ways you never expect. Amanda leads the Creative Arts Guild, one of Georgia's oldest multidisciplinary arts nonprofits, and Chris founded Dalton Brewing Company with friends while working as a lawyer at Geiger Legal. Together, they've become two of the most invested voices in Dalton's revitalization. Highlights Amanda and Chris were born in the same hospital in Syracuse, New York — but didn't meet until their first semester at the University of the South (Sewanee), connected through a mutual friend from DaltonThe two hiked the entire Appalachian Trail together after college before deciding to build a life togetherAmanda grew up immersed in the arts in Dalton, ultimately majoring in theater after a pivotal senior-year audition for The King and IAfter law school in Denver, Chris commuted between Dalton and Colorado for years — eventually choosing to fully plant roots in DaltonThe loss of Amanda's father brought her back to Dalton and showed both of them what true community looks like: neighbors who showed up, cooked meals, and didn't leave for nearly two weeksAmanda was hired at the Creative Arts Guild almost by accident — a visit to see a friend turned into a job offer and eventually the Executive Director positionThe Creative Arts Guild was founded in 1963 and is one of the first multidisciplinary arts nonprofits in the state of GeorgiaChris and partners launched Dalton Brewing Company in 2018 on his 35th birthday, inspired by Denver's neighborhood brewery cultureBoth see the brewery and the Guild as "third places" — community gathering spaces that go far beyond their primary functionsTheir best advice for newcomers: show up, get involved, and don't be fooled into thinking there's nothing to do here Chapters 0:00 — Welcome Back0:28 — Meet Amanda and Chris1:33 — Amanda's Roots in Dalton3:55 — College Connection4:47 — First Impressions of Dalton5:25 — Arts Path and the Guild9:08 — Denver Move and Proposal10:00 — Life in Denver Changes11:58 — Loss and Community Support14:05 — Guild Director Opportunity16:44 — Returning to Revitalize Dalton17:49 — Dreaming Up the Brewery18:53 — Community Party Vibes19:13 — Brewery as Third Place19:50 — Family-Friendly Pushback20:37 — Guild During the Recession21:50 — Building Dalton's Live Music Scene23:38 — The Guild as Extended Family24:58 — Staying or Leaving Dalton27:06 — Advice for Newcomers29:32 — So Much to Do Here32:27 — Favorite Dalton Moments34:06 — Dalton Stories and Laughs36:13 — Wrap Up and Plugs Resources Mentioned Creative Arts Guild — Dalton's multidisciplinary nonprofit arts organization, founded in 1963Dalton Brewing Company — Craft brewery and community gathering space in downtown DaltonGeiger Legal — Law firm where Chris Brown practicesUniversity of the South (Sewanee) — Where Amanda and Chris met as freshmen Follow the show: Instagram: @behere.dalton Facebook: Here Magazine LinkedIn: Here Local Media Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!

    38 min

  6. Mar 16

    Rooted in Dalton | From Skepticism to Real Love

    What does it take to fall in love with the place you live? And then actually stay? In our first episode of the Love of Here podcast, hosts Lauren Sneary and Erika Mosteller sit down together to share their own Dalton stories. One grew up here and swore she'd leave. The other moved here reluctantly and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Together, they explore why Northwest Georgia deserves a better story — and why they're committed to telling it. Highlights Lauren and Erika introduce themselves and share why they launched a podcast to tell the untold good-news stories of Dalton and Northwest GeorgiaErika reflects on how she adopted the "nothing to do here" narrative when she moved to Dalton — and how that story simply isn't trueLauren admits she was fully committed to leaving Dalton after college and recounts the summers bartending at the Dalton Depot that kept pulling her backBoth hosts get real about Dalton's imperfections — from economic disparity to cultural divides — while making the case that the momentum is real and worth celebratingErika shares practical advice for newcomers: find your third space, plug into groups like Believe Greater Dalton, and show up where people are gatheringThe conversation gets into entrepreneurship in Dalton, including why the "shop local" mentality makes it a great place to start a businessLauren gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Here magazine dining guide — more than 100 locally owned and managed restaurants in one placeThe hosts gush over the food scene transformation, name-drop some favorites, and debate which cocktail is "basic"Erika makes her case for the mountains as Dalton's most underrated featureA preview of what's coming next: more guest stories, more community voices, and an open invitation for listeners to reach out Chapters 0:00 — Welcome & Introductions 0:41 — Meet Erika and Lauren 2:03 — Why These Stories Matter 3:39 — Erika's Move to Dalton 4:46 — Changing the Dalton Narrative 5:40 — Lauren's Hometown Perspective 8:18 — Staying and Building a Life 10:06 — Dalton's Challenges and Momentum 10:57 — Getting Connected as a Newcomer 13:25 — Entrepreneurship in Dalton 16:13 — Have You Ever Wanted to Leave? 17:34 — Why We Stayed 17:38 — Dalton Opportunities 18:38 — Craziest Story Setup 19:04 — Food Scene Glow Up 20:34 — Cocktails and Nightlife 21:25 — Local Dining Guide 22:47 — Favorite Thing: The People 24:20 — Trading Local Culture 25:35 — Mountains and the Outdoors 26:59 — Touch Grass Reset 27:42 — Next Guests and Stories 28:44 — Where to Find Us Resources Mentioned Here Local Media — herelocalmedia.comHere Magazine — Available in print around town and as a digital issue online; subscribe at herelocalmedia.comHere Local Dining Guide — 100+ locally owned and managed restaurants in Dalton; available online at herelocalmedia.comBelieve Greater Dalton — believegreaterdalton.com — Community organization with a resource directory of local groups and organizations to plug intoDalton Brewing Company — Local gathering spot and third spaceThe Mill — Local venue with live music and events (Syno mentioned)United Way of Northwest Georgia — https://www.ourunitedway.org/ — Volunteer opportunities in the Dalton communityHag Mill Lake Park — Local outdoor recreation spot (4-mile loop around a lake)The Gallon Goat — Local bar with outdoor seatingThe Carpentry — Rooftop bar with outdoor igloo seatingMaricó Camarón — Local restaurant featuring a unique take on Mexican cuisineHighline Bake Shop — Local bakerySmall Batch — Local bakery (sourdough)The Dalton Depot — Historic local venue (referenced nostalgically) Follow the show: Instagram: @behere.dalton Facebook: Here Magazine LinkedIn: Here Local Media Thanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!

    30 min
  • 6 Episodes

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

For the Love of Here is a podcast about Dalton, Georgia and life across Northwest Georgia—from local businesses and entrepreneurship to community leadership and hometown pride. Hosts Erika Mosteller and Lauren Sneary sit down with founders, civic leaders, creatives, and neighbors from Dalton, Chatsworth, Ringgold, and Calhoun to talk about the ideas, challenges, and opportunities shaping our region. If you care about small-town business, local culture, economic growth, and building a life where you live, this podcast is for you. Because you don’t need a bigger city. You just need a better lens. Produced by Here Local Media.

Information

  • Creator
    Erika Mosteller & Lauren Sneary
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Here Local Media 2026

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