The Mountain Magnolia’s Podcast
Experience the magic of Mountain Magnolias, where we uncover the rich history and vibrant culture of the Swannanoa Valley in Western North Carolina. Join host Mary Noble Braden as she interviews locals to reveal the heart & soul of this beautiful community. Subscribe now!
Episodes
Holiday Happenings at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts with John Hall
In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Hall — associate director at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, and a well-loved actor, director, and arts advocate in our community. Our conversation dives into all of the incredible Holiday Happenings taking place over the next two weeks. These events bring world-class music, storytellin...
Mountain Magnolia Show — Episode 63 with Cathryn The Grateful
Today’s episode is one of my favorites — and a milestone — the first time I’ve ever recorded the Mountain Magnolia Show from home. It felt sacred to welcome my friend Cathryn Davis aka Cathryn The Grateful into that space.
Cathryn is not only a filmmaker, activist, minister, and creative visionary — she is one of the people who has done the deepest work to preserve a...
Reconstitution by Mitch Emoff, Directed By Lucy O'Brian
World Premiere | November 14–16, 2025
Black Mountain Center for the Arts | Black Mountain, NC
“Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society.” — Augusto Boal
In this episode of The Mountain Magnolia Show, host Mary Noble Braden talks with playwright Mitch Emoff about his new play Reconstitution, making its world premiere th...
This week on The Mountain Magnolia Show, we’re celebrating five flavorful years of Cousins Cuban Café in Black Mountain, North Carolina — and the woman whose heart and soul have made it a community treasure: Beatriz “Betty” Martinez-Sperry.
From her roots in Miami to the mountains of WNC, Betty brings the warmth of Cuban culture to every plate. Her food tells a story — of family, of migration, of love — and her café has become a ga...
This week on The Mountain Magnolia Show, I sit down with Jennifer Pickering, the visionary behind LEAF Festival and LEAF Global Arts, as the beloved fall festival celebrates its 30th anniversary at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, North Carolina on October 16-19th, 2025.
Jennifer shares the inspiring story of LEAF’s founding — how a dream of creating a place where families could connect with world cultures blossomed into one of WNC’...
This week I welcome Eve Stevens—spiritual coach, ordained minister, and priestess—whose journey reminds us that real transformation begins with naming what we want to change, and what we long to create.
Eve’s path carried her from seminary in New York to ministry in Charlotte, and eventually here to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Along the way, she shifted from long hours in the pulpit to blending nutrition, spiritual c...
Please join me in welcoming Rich Caisse to the Mountain Magnolia Show!
Rich is an EC teacher and Wrestling Coach at Owen High School. He attended Appalachian State University (1999–2004), where he was a proud member of the wrestling team. After some years in Florida, he and his wife longed for the mountains of Western North Carolina, and in 2011 they returned to WNC to build their life here.
Today, Rich serves as case manager f...
Meet Samara Price, owner of Brew Naturals in Black Mountain!
Her journey started with a simple recipe to keep her little one healthy… and today she’s creating amazing elderberry syrups, butters, mixers, and even a knock-your-socks-off barbecue sauce!
From 3-gallon pots in her kitchen to a 40-gallon kettle in her purple cottage on West Street, Samira now uses over 1,000 pounds of elderberries a year — all sourced from local...
Happy Saturday, beautiful people!
We’ve got a special treat for you on the Mountain Magnolia Show today! Please help me welcome the amazing Rhoda Weaver!
Born right here in Asheville, Rhoda grew up singing with her family in church and at gatherings—and she’s carried that passion into a life full of music. You’ll find her lighting up festivals, weddings, churches, and even busking in downtown Asheville.
Rhoda is also the s...
Movement, Mindfulness & Finding Your Happy Place
This week on the Mountain Magnolia Show, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Christey Carwile, owner of Elemental Pilates in Black Mountain, NC.She is , is the heart and soul behind Elemental Pilates in Black Mountain. We talked about the healing power of movement, how we work out our work, and how she turned a pandemic parking lot Pilates class into a beautiful ...
Welcome to the Mountain Magnolia Show!
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce someone who’s no stranger to the heart of Black Mountain hospitality — Danielle Topping. Danielle has been the manager at Que Sera Restaurant and Oyster Bar for over a decade. When longtime owners Carl and Janie decided to retire, it was only natural for Danielle to carry forward their legacy. She recently stepped into her new role as owner, and with her at t...
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: The Laundry – Black Mountain, NC
Today’s Mountain Magnolia Show is one you won’t want to miss. Please welcome Luna Carwyn, co-owner of The Laundry, alongside her amazing business partners Addie King and Emily Abney.
Luna has called Black Mountain home since she was just 3 years old, and it’s been such a joy to watch her grow into someone giving so much back to this community. I’ve known Luna since her Art S...
In this episode, we sit down with Candace Reilly, Executive Director of the North Carolina Glass Center, to explore how Asheville’s rich creative culture, and the silica-rich mountains, helped shape a thriving hub for glass artists from around the region and beyond.
Candace shares what brought her to Western North Carolina over 15 years ago, from being drawn in by the abundance of artists and community to eventually joining the bo...
Welcome to the Mountain Magnolia Show, where we celebrate the heart and soul of our community. Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Lori Cozi, Executive Director of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Lori joins us to talk about one of the area’s most anticipated events — the 19th annual Art in Bloom, happening this weekend, June 19th through 22nd. If you’ve never experienced this beautiful celebration of creativity, nature, and com...
Join us as Mary Noble Braden sits down with Kim Hughes, co-founder of White Horse Black Mountain and Sacred Self Living, and the Om Girls. Kim shares the inspiring story behind the creation of White Horse Black Mountain alongside her then-partner Bob Hinkle, and her stories behind her Masters in Counseling, and her dedication to helping people ‘individuate’.
Dive deep into a rich conversation about spirituality, Carl Jung, the wisd...
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