Kudzu Project

Nick Lucey/Lucey Agency

Stories that grow wild. Hosted by Nick Lucey, The Kudzu Project delivers voices and conversations from Western North Carolina, the Appalachians, and beyond — tangled in history, rooted in community, and blooming with life. Recorded in Hendersonville, NC by the Lucey Agency. 

  1. 10h ago

    Coming Home, 83 Years Later: Bob Johnson on the Return of SSgt. Charles Ray Smith

    Drop us a line. Of six siblings who served their country, Staff Sergeant Charles Ray Smith was the only one who never returned home. 83 years later ... that is finally changing. Major Bob Johnson, U.S. Army Retired, and Commander of VFW Post 5206 in Hendersonville, returns to the Kudzu Project for a third conversation. Johnson helps account for Henderson County's missing service members, including Marine Corps Private Luther Rhodes, and his recent role in helping bring Smith home. A 1940 graduate of Flat Rock High School, Smith was just 20 when his B-24D Liberator, "SUZY Q," was shot down over Foggia, Italy, on August 16, 1943. A U.S. Army Air Forces tail gunner who had survived the historic raid on the Ploesti oil fields only weeks earlier, Smith remained unaccounted for until his remains were officially identified through DNA in May of 2026. Smith will be laid to rest with full military honors at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m., alongside his parents and four veteran siblings. The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

  2. Oct 13

    Michael Arrowood: Around the World and Back Home to Henderson County

    Drop us a line. Sometimes, the key to understanding our own backyard lies in understanding what exists beyond it. Michael Arrowood of Explore Henderson County joins Nick on the Kudzu Project for a conversation about Henderson County, North Carolina's history and character, and how travel helps us see familiar places with fresh eyes. What begins close to home opens into a broader discussion about curiosity, discovery, and how the more we learn about the world around us, the better we understand the place we call home.  The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

  3. Sep 28

    Betting on Hendersonville: Brett Werner's Grassroots Run for City Council

    Drop us a line. Brett Werner isn't running a conventional campaign — his daughter's chalk art downtown begs voters to "Bet on Brett." The political outsider, father, and downtown Hendersonville resident is taking a grassroots, low-tech approach to his bid for City Council. He's doing it the old-fashioned way: meeting people face to face, hanging out at farmers' markets, and listening to people's concerns in real life. Originally from South Florida, Brett brings experience from the private sector and two terms on Hendersonville's Board of Adjustment. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, we talk about what brought him here, what inspired him to enter local politics, and how he weighs in on the issues facing the city today. For more information about Brett's campaign, visit https://betonbretthvl.com/. The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

  4. Sep 14

    It's Not the Destination: Marilyn Ball on the Journeys That Shape Us

    Drop us a line. Travel is about more than the places we visit. It's about the people we meet, the experiences we carry with us, and the ways in which a journey changes how we see the world around us, literally and figuratively. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick talks with Marilyn Ball, host of the Speaking of Travel podcast. Together, they reflect on their own adventures and explore why travel is such a formative part of our lives. Because in the end, it's not really about the destination ... it's about the journey ... and who we become along the way. For more information about the Speaking of Travel podcast, visit speakingoftravel.net.  The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

  5. Sep 8

    More Than a Mill Town: Mayor Zeb Smathers and the Future of Canton, NC

    Drop us a line. Few communities have been tested like Canton, North Carolina. In just a few short years, the mountain town endured the shuttering of its century-old paper mill, devastating floods, and the widespread destruction brought on by Hurricane Helene. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick sits down with Mayor Zeb Smathers to talk about this Appalachian town's crisis, resilience, community identity, and the grave task of building a future beyond the mill. The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

  6. Aug 24

    The Farmer Who's Fighting Flock: Austin Rhodes on Privacy, Surveillance and Taking a Stand

    Drop us a line. Austin Rhodes says he never expected to lead a movement. But the Edneyville berry farmer and beekeeper has found himself at the center of the growing local debate over Flock Safety camera systems in Henderson County, North Carolina. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Austin tells Nick why he believes the license plate readers raise serious questions about privacy, surveillance, government overreach, and personal freedom. He shares what drew him to the cause, what he has learned along the way, and why he is urging local residents and elected leaders to take a closer look. The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

  7. Aug 10

    From Coach to Counsel to Candidate: Jerry Smith Makes His Case to Be Hendersonville’s Next Mayor

    Drop us a line. Jerry Smith has spent much of his life serving Hendersonville, North Carolina ... from teaching and coaching generations of students to representing the community for 14 years on City Council, including a term as mayor pro tem. Now, the longtime public servant and lawyer is making his case to become Hendersonville's next mayor. Jerry joins Nick to discuss the lessons he carried from the classrooms, sidelines, and courtrooms into City Hall, what he learned during his years on City Council, and his vision for Hendersonville's future. For more information about Jerry Smith's campaign, visit jerrysmithformayor.com. The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

  8. Aug 3

    No Passport Required: Mike Andress and the Exploration Local Podcast

    Drop us a line. For more than six years, Mike Andress has been helping to unearth the people, places, and stories that make the Southern Appalachian Mountains so unique. As the host of the Exploration Local podcast, he has taken listeners into mountain towns, along winding trails and rivers, and into conversations with the people whose lives and missions are deeply rooted in this region. Mike joins Nick to talk about how the podcast began, what he has learned after cranking out scores of episodes, and why some of the best stories and adventures can be found within a short radius of home. For more information about the Exploration Local podcast, visit https://explorationlocal.com. The Kudzu Project is powered by the Lucey Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Hendersonville, NC. Support the show The Kudzu Project is produced by the Lucey Agency in Hendersonville, North Carolina. To learn more about the podcast, please visit kudzuproject.com, or follow along on Instagram at instagram.com/kudzuproject.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Stories that grow wild. Hosted by Nick Lucey, The Kudzu Project delivers voices and conversations from Western North Carolina, the Appalachians, and beyond — tangled in history, rooted in community, and blooming with life. Recorded in Hendersonville, NC by the Lucey Agency. 

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Lucey/Lucey Agency
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kudzu Project
  • Show Website
    Kudzu Project

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