In anticipation of starting this podcast, Foothills Of The Smokies, I sat down with Keener Shanton, Head Distiller for Old Forge Distillery. So we taped this more than a year before, just as they were about to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. That milestone has come and gone, but like a good spirit, the discussion still aged well, and we wanted you to hear it.

Enjoy this special Christmas Eve reading of T'was The Night Before Christmas. This is a recording we did a couple of years ago, on the 200th anniversary of the the publication of the poem.

So make some hot cocoa, lay out the cookies, and gather the family around.

Merry Christmas from our Old Mill Family to yours.

On this episode of Foothills of the Smokies, we sit down with Leon Downey, Director of Tourism for the City of Pigeon Forge, to talk about tourism in one of East Tennessee's most visited destinations. Leon shares insights into how Pigeon Forge, Tennessee welcomes millions of visitors each year, the story behind how the town got its name, and what goes into promoting a community we're proud to call home.

With a population of just over 6,000 full-time residents, Pigeon Forge hosts more than 8 million visitors annually, offering memorable experiences through its lodging, restaurants, attractions, and family-friendly entertainment. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees roughly 12 million visitors each year across its Tennessee and North Carolina entrances—and nearly three-quarters of those visitors make their way to Pigeon Forge. That kind of impact highlights the work of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism and the role the city plays in the broader Smoky Mountains tourism economy.

Today we've got a real treat for you. I sat down with Landon Bryant — the voice, the storyteller, and the heart behind LandonSpeaks, and his charming wife Kate. You know him for his wit, his Southern charm, and the way he puts into words what so many of us in the South feel in our bones. Together, they host a podcast of their own called Landon Talks with Kate.

We're talking all things home, place, creativity, and the stories that shape who we are. So settle in, pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, and join us for a conversation that feels like front-porch talk with an old friend.

You can find Landon as LandonTalks , and Kate as TheCoolestKate on Instagram.

Foothills Of The Smokies Podcast is brought to you today by The Old Mill. Our historic gristmill, in continual operation since 1830, is the cornerstone of our spot right here in Pigeon Forge, TN, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. We've been welcoming families for decades, and now we invite you to join us as we tell the stories of not only the people and what they do here at The Old Mill, but of folks from all across our beautiful region here in the South. I'm your host, Jimmy Proffitt, and this is Foothills Of The Smokies.

Join us for the second part of our two-part episode with cookbook author, Anne Byrn about her latest cookbook, Baking In The American South.

She stopped by to talk with us on her book tour for Baking In The American South, where she brings to life stories of baking, telling a unique history of the South through those who baked. From home kitchens, tea rooms, boardinghouses, bakeries, and even The White House. Her book speaks of the resilience, assimilation, and about using what the land provided. She covers the South's complicated history, and also of its famous artisinal mills and the communities created around them.

One of the mills that Anne talks about is our very own gristmill, The Old Mill. We've been working with Anne for several years and are proud to help her tell unique and interesting stories of the South.

In a two-part series, we're speaking with Anne Byrn, an award-winning cookbook author and friend. She stopped by to talk with us on her book tour earlier this year for Baking In The American South. She brings to life stories of baking throughout the South, telling a unique history of the South through those who baked. From home kitchens, tea rooms, boardinghouses, bakeries, and even the White House. They speak of the resilience, assimilation, and using what the land provided. They speak of the South's complicated baking history and also of its famous artisanal mills and the communities created around them.

One of the mills that Anne talks about is our very own gristmill, The Old Mill. We've been working with Anne for several years and are proud to help her tell these unique and interesting stories of the South.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Anne's book, you can click Baking In The American South.

You can connect with Anne on her website at AnneByrn.com.

She also has a Substack newsletter you can join at Between The Layers.

And, you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

As always, you can follow The Old Mill on Instagram and Facebook.

We talk to Jaqueline Harp of SmokiesLife about what the fundraising organization does to support The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the gift shops they opperate to the educational programs they provide to visitors of the Park, they make sure our most-visited National Park is one that guests want to come back and visit time after time.

We talked with Chuck Childers, Head Miller of The Old Mill for more than 17 years now. We recorded this last year in anticipation of starting our podcast, so you'll hear him refer to his 15 years with the mill.

In our conversation, Chuck gives us the ins and outs of running a nearly 200-year-old grist mill, a responsibility he takes seriously, but his laugh often tells you he's rarely a serious guy. As a former Marine, he still keeps a regimen to each day, starting well before sunup, with a plan to get the job done. But, as he explains, there is rarely a typical day, so plans have to change quickly sometimes.

And, yes, we discuss the sugar in his cornbread! (Well, and mine, but there's a reason for it!!)