Southern Americana OneSouthernMedia

Most everyone enjoys a cup of coffee to jumpstart the day. Jeff Daniels, the Director of Sales at Non-Fiction Coffee, provides insight on making a better cup at home or knowing what questions to ask your local barista.
Based in Pelham, Alabama, Non-Fiction Coffee strives to roast the best coffee while dignifying the coffee producers they work with and buy from worldwide. Jeff describes how Non-Fiction selects their growers and the details behind the roasting process, including tips on brewing or purchasing better coffee.

The Currys, an Americana-flavored musical trio formed of two brothers and a cousin in 2013, continues developing a fan base outside their southern roots. This episode was recorded at SOWAL House in Rosemary Beach, FL, before their Camp Helen State Park performance. I hope you have as much fun listening to this episode as we had while recording.  
 
 

David Dunavent grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, along the banks of the Mississippi River, and in the heart of "Blues Country." Not only is David an accomplished singer-songwriter who tours extensively across the Southeastern U.S., he also has an incredible knowledge of Blues history. Recorded in SOWAL House, in Rosemary Beach, FL, join us as we talk about how the Blues originated and its impact on all genres of music and musicians.

A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Taki Brown writes and delivers original rhymed and narrative poetry. After meeting at SOWAL House Creative Studio in 2022, I sat down with Taki to discuss our Tennessee background and his creative work. When not writing, he donates his time to community service projects, mentoring youth, and hosting jazz and blues events. You can follow Taki's Instagram page at taki_brown.

Regarded as one of the South's best chefs, John Currence made a name for himself in the 1990s when he opened City Grocery in Oxford, Mississippi. Today the City Grocery Restaurant Group also includes Boure, Snack Bar, and the fast-growing chain Big Bad Breakfast.
I sat down with Chef Currence in his Oxford home on a fall evening to chat about all things Southern, including the hospitality industry, his favorite dishes, SEC football, and bourbon. A Louisiana native, Currence was named the Best Chef South in 2009 by the prestigious James Beard Foundation. He also won the Charleston Wine and Food Festival's Iron Chef Challenge that same year. His three cookbooks are "Tailgreat," "Big Bad Breakfast," and "Pickles, Pigs, & Whiskey." 
No trip to Oxford, MS, is complete without visiting one of Chef Currence's establishments. Big Bad Breakfast restaurants are located throughout the South.  
 

There is no question that Mary Alayne Long (@thealabamahousewife) is a "Southerner" through and through. After hearing her read at an Emerald Coast Storytellers gathering, I knew I had to meet her. After all, true Southerners can spot each other a mile away.
Born and raised in Heflin, Alabama, Mary Alayne married in her early twenties and began raising her two wonderful children. Along the way, she nurtured a love for writing, which led to writing for Good Grit Magazine.
Anyone who encounters this genuine Southern Belle will quickly discover her captivating humor, wrapped tightly in an engaging personality that captures the essence of "Southern Hospitality." Mary Alayne Long is the obvious choice for any U.S. President to name an Ambassador for the South.
I sat down with Mary Alayne at SOWAL House, a creative studio in the heart of Rosemary Beach, FL, to discuss our shared admiration for all things Southern and her plans to launch a magazine highlighting her absolute favorite region, the Southeast United States.