Sunday Afternoon Smokes

Chris Strother
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

Sunday Afternoon Smokes is a long-form podcast hosted by Chris Strother, featuring unhurried conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, and leaders across the Upstate of South Carolina. Each episode explores business, leadership, faith, risk, and the realities of building something meaningful. Recorded at the table, not the podium. Cigars are part of the setting — never the requirement. Settle in. Enjoy the conversation.

  1. 4d ago

    More Than Dance: Building Character & Culture | Episode 92 with Zach & Ryn Kennedy

    What if the most important thing a dance studio teaches has nothing to do with dancing? On Episode 92 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris welcomes husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Zach and Ryn Kennedy, founders of The Complex Dance & Creative Space in Easley, South Carolina, for a conversation about dance, entrepreneurship, marriage, personal development, and building something with purpose. Ryn's journey took her from discovering dance at age eleven to the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities and eventually to New York City, where she pursued her dream of becoming a professional dancer. But an unexpected change in direction, serious hip surgeries, and a return to teaching ultimately helped shape a very different vision for her future. Together, Zach and Ryn launched The Complex in 2023 with just two guaranteed students and a determination to create something different: a dance studio built around excellence, encouragement, strong values, and a culture free from gossip and unnecessary drama. Three years later, they've grown to approximately 100 students while remaining committed to their original mission. The conversation explores the pressures young dancers face, the influence of parents and instructors, the importance of healthy self-talk, and why developing discipline, resilience, confidence, and character matters more than trophies or competition scores. But the discussion goes well beyond dance. Zach, Ryn, and Chris explore the realities of entrepreneurship, working alongside your spouse, learning through failure, knowing when to relinquish control, and separating personal identity from professional accomplishment. Along the way, the conversation turns toward faith, free will, purpose, and finding meaning in life's unexpected changes. And fittingly for Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Zach and Ryn share how their relationship began over cigars and why the simple experience of sitting together for a smoke has remained meaningful throughout their marriage. ABOUT THE COMPLEX DANCE & CREATIVE SPACE Located in Easley, South Carolina, The Complex offers ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and lyrical dance, competition training, and other classes for students ages 18 months through 18 years. Adult classes and date-night experiences are also available through Complex After Dark. The studio serves families throughout Easley, Powdersville, Greenville, and the surrounding Upstate South Carolina communities. Website: www.complexdance.com Instagram: @complex_dance Sunday Afternoon Smokes Instagram: @sundayafternoonsmokes Website: www.sundayafternoonsmokes.com Music License: OXH5QWNRIMOXAVNV

    More Than Dance: Building Character & Culture | Episode 92 with Zach & Ryn Kennedy

  2. Nov 1

    Celebrating 2 Years of Sunday Afternoon Smokes | Episode 91 with Keith Boling

    🎂 TWO YEARS OF SUNDAY AFTERNOON SMOKES! 🥃💨 Two years ago, Keith Boling sat down with me for the very first episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes. Now, 91 episodes later, he's back in the lounge to celebrate our second anniversary! And this time, we're not following any particular agenda. We're simply celebrating two years of great conversations, friendships, cigars, and whiskey. Keith and I enjoy some excellent cigars, pour a little whiskey, indulge in chocolate fudge and red velvet birthday cake, and talk about whatever comes to mind. From entrepreneurship, taking risks, and betting on yourself to setting ambitious goals, family, football, personal identity, and life in general, this episode is exactly what Sunday Afternoon Smokes was created to be: two friends sitting down and enjoying a conversation. We even managed to turn the lounge into a miniature birthday disco. Keith is the owner of Keyrenter Upstate and has been part of this show since the very beginning. Having him back for our second anniversary seemed like the only appropriate way to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who has watched, listened, subscribed, shared an episode, or joined me in the lounge over these past two years. Here's to another year of great conversations! 🥃 Drinking this Episode: - Maker's Mark - The Singleton Scotch - Bulleit Rye 💨 Smoking this Episode: - Rocky Patel Sun Grown - Alec Bradley Prensado - J.C. Newman Cigars A quick production note: During the recording, I mistakenly refer to this as Episode 94 or 95. It's actually Episode 91! We rearranged our release schedule so this anniversary conversation would publish on Sunday Afternoon Smokes' actual birthday. Find Keith Boling: Instagram: @buysellandrentwiththebeard Keyrenter Upstate: @keyrenterupstate Sunday Afternoon Smokes Instagram: @sundayafternoonsmokes Web: sundayafternoonsmokes.com Music License Codes: G7P2ESDRXHUJCYZS MK7KI6PHT5UPNH5K

    Celebrating 2 Years of Sunday Afternoon Smokes | Episode 91 with Keith Boling

  3. Oct 18

    Building a Mobile Golf Business | Episode 89 with Scott Sill

    What happens when a love of golf turns into a business you have to figure out as you go? In Episode 89 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with Scott Sill, founder of Rollin’ Birdies Golf, a South Carolina-based mobile golf simulator company bringing the golf experience to corporate events, private parties, festivals, tailgates and more. Scott shares how Rollin’ Birdies went from an idea to a working business, the early trial and error of finding equipment that could perform in different environments, and what he learned from taking bookings before he had every detail completely figured out. The conversation also gets into working alongside his wife, Lindsey, growing from one setup to multiple simulators, handling the unpredictable logistics of a mobile business, and deciding how far he actually wants the company to grow. Along the way, the conversation wanders—as Sunday Afternoon Smokes conversations tend to do—into golf trips, cigars on the course, baseball, Greg Maddux, the art of hitting, golf equipment, and why sometimes the only way to learn something is to start doing it. Pour something you enjoy, light a cigar if you have one, and settle in. Rollin’ Birdies Golf Website: rollinbirdiesgolf.com Instagram: @rollinbirdiesgolf Sunday Afternoon Smokes Website: sundayafternoonsmokes.com Instagram: @sundayafternoonsmokes Whiskey Saints License Code: D0R4QEJTJKKS2TAP

    Building a Mobile Golf Business | Episode 89 with Scott Sill

  4. Oct 11

    Experimental Photography, Polaroids & Finding the Picture | Episode 88 with Will Malone

    Photographer Will Malone has spent 17 years behind a camera—but his approach to photography is anything but conventional. In Episode 88 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Will joins Chris in the lounge to talk about discovering photography as a teenager, teaching himself the craft, building a career around his creative instincts, and eventually deciding that if he was going to make a living with a camera, he wanted to make work that actually felt like his own. The conversation gets into the resurgence of old point-and-shoot cameras, why increasingly sophisticated technology can sometimes get between a photographer and the picture, Will’s fascination with overlooked and unusual subjects, turning photographs into physical objects, and his ongoing 365 photography project. Then things get wonderfully analog. Will explains why he still shoots Polaroid, how instant film actually works, the community keeping decades-old cameras alive, and the strange world of Polaroid enthusiasts gathering at PolaCon. He also breaks down his approach to double-exposure photography—from deliberate compositions to embracing chaos and allowing two photographs to create something neither could have produced alone. It’s a conversation about photography, creativity, experimentation, imperfection, and learning to pay attention to things most of us simply walk past. Will Malone: www.willmalone.com www.instagram.com/willmalone Sunday Afternoon Smokes: www.sundayafternoonsmokes.com www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

    Experimental Photography, Polaroids & Finding the Picture | Episode 88 with Will Malone

  5. Oct 4

    Color Analysis, Personal Style & Finding Your Path | Episode 87 with Lindsey Woodring

    Lindsey Woodring is the founder of Greenville Color Queen, where she helps people discover the colors that work best with their natural skin tone, eye color, and hair color through personal color analysis. In Episode 87 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Lindsey joins Chris in the lounge to break down what color analysis actually is, how seasonal color systems work, why black doesn't look good on everyone, and how the right colors can change everything from clothing and makeup to hair color and personal style. But the conversation quickly becomes about much more than clothes. Lindsey talks about growing up in Minnesota, spending years bouncing between jobs and wondering why nothing seemed to fit, moving to Greenville, and eventually realizing that she wasn't looking for the right job—she needed to build something of her own. After discovering color analysis and becoming certified, Lindsey launched Greenville Color Queen in late 2025. Within her first year, she conducted more than 600 color analysis sessions and turned what began as a side business into her full-time career. They also get into Lindsey's own transformation—from hiding behind black clothing, blonde hair, and a version of herself that didn't feel authentic to becoming more comfortable with who she actually is—as well as entrepreneurship, confidence, personal growth, faith, and where she hopes to take Greenville Color Queen next. An unhurried conversation about color, identity, entrepreneurship, faith, and finally finding something that fits. GVL Color Queen: https://www.gvlcolorqueen.com https://www.gvlcolorqueen.com https://www.instagram.com/gvlcolorqueen https://www.instagram.com/gvlcolorqueen Sunday Afternoon Smokes: https://sundayafternoonsmokes.com https://sundayafternoonsmokes.com https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes

    Color Analysis, Personal Style & Finding Your Path | Episode 87 with Lindsey Woodring

  6. Sep 27

    Creativity, Business & Building the Upstate Music Scene | Episode 86 with Brandon Schnader

    Brandon Schnader is the co-founder of Brando Jones Films, a Greenville, South Carolina video production company built by musicians for musicians. In Episode 86 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Brandon sits down in the lounge to talk about the unlikely path that turned two musicians and longtime friends into business partners, filmmakers, and advocates for the Upstate South Carolina music scene. Brandon shares how he and Jones started with cameras, a love for local music, and a desire to document talented artists who weren’t getting the attention they deserved. What followed was years of learning how to balance creativity with business, navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, work alongside your best friend, survive failure, and build a company without losing sight of the community that made it possible. The conversation also gets into social media, algorithms, the obsession with follower counts, why 500 views still means 500 real people, the realities of making a living doing something you love, and why great creative work can become something much bigger than content—it can become a time capsule. Today, Brando Jones Films has worked with hundreds of artists while continuing to invest in the musicians, venues, and creative community of the Upstate. This is a conversation about creativity, friendship, entrepreneurship, music, failure, community, and figuring out what you’re actually good at along the way. Brando Jones Films: https://www.brandojonesfilms.com/ https://www.instagram.com/brandojonesfilms/ Sunday Afternoon Smokes: https://sundayafternoonsmokes.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes/

    Creativity, Business & Building the Upstate Music Scene | Episode 86 with Brandon Schnader

  7. Sep 20

    Custom Home Building, Remodeling & Why Construction Costs So Much | Episode 85 with Caleb Adkins

    Caleb Adkins has been around tools and construction for most of his life — from helping rebuild his family's home as a kid to working on farms, learning from experienced tradesmen, managing custom residential renovations, and building his own company, C A Homes. In Episode 85 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Caleb joins Chris in the lounge for a wide-ranging conversation about custom home building, remodeling, construction costs, building codes, HVAC, design, and why real-world experience can sometimes teach what a classroom can't. They also get into why good planning can save homeowners money, what actually drives the cost of a renovation, how building codes continue to change, and what Caleb has learned from years of working alongside skilled tradespeople. There's also a unique connection to the Sunday Afternoon Smokes lounge itself: Caleb helped bring the room to life, installing the exhaust and portable air-conditioning systems after Chris designed the room's airflow and cooling strategy. That leads into a deeper conversation about The Smoking Room Co., intentional spaces, and why a well-designed room should do more than look good — it should work. Plus: cigars, bourbon, margaritas, Airbnb ownership, C A Homes, raising a family, learning by doing, and where Caleb hopes to take his business next. Contact Caleb: cplusthreeoffice@gmail.com Sunday Afternoon Smokes: sundayafternoonsmokes.com https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes/ The Smoking Room Co.: www.thesmokingroomco.com

    Custom Home Building, Remodeling & Why Construction Costs So Much | Episode 85 with Caleb Adkins

  8. Sep 13

    Beyond the Clothes: Fashion, Confidence & Human Connection | Episode 84 with Bob & Jennifer Houde

    Bob and Jennifer Houde, owners of Maison Avenir in Greenville, South Carolina, join Sunday Afternoon Smokes for a conversation that goes far beyond fashion. Jennifer has spent more than twenty years in luxury retail, developing an eye for fit, fabric, construction, quality, and the subtle details that determine whether a piece of clothing is actually worth owning. Her path, however, began with a degree in microbiology and plans to work for the CDC before realizing that the life she had prepared for wasn't the life she wanted. Bob followed an equally unexpected path through real estate, occupational therapy, and healthcare operations before eventually joining Jennifer to build Maison Avenir. Together, they created a high-end retail experience designed to feel less like a traditional boutique and more like being welcomed into someone's home. Chris, Bob, and Jennifer explore the relationship between clothing and confidence, why what we wear can become connected to identity, and how the right clothing can sometimes help someone rediscover a part of themselves. They also discuss the difference between price and value, Jennifer's process for curating brands from around the world, and why great curation is often about removing choices rather than adding more. The conversation eventually becomes less about clothes and more about people: hospitality, trust, relationships, building a business with your spouse, creating an experience people want to linger in, and Maison Avenir's attempt to scale intimacy without losing what makes the business special. Maison Avenir https://maisonavenir.com/ https://www.instagram.com/maison.avenir/ Sunday Afternoon Smokes https://sundayafternoonsmokes.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes/

    Beyond the Clothes: Fashion, Confidence & Human Connection | Episode 84 with Bob & Jennifer Houde
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5
out of 5
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About

Sunday Afternoon Smokes is a long-form podcast hosted by Chris Strother, featuring unhurried conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, and leaders across the Upstate of South Carolina. Each episode explores business, leadership, faith, risk, and the realities of building something meaningful. Recorded at the table, not the podium. Cigars are part of the setting — never the requirement. Settle in. Enjoy the conversation.

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