Today we are remembering the late great, Minnie Pearl. HOOOOOWWWWDDEE! We are just so proud to be here today with a special guest! Born and raised a Tennessee farm girl, Mary Beth Pruett still lives on the farm started by her great-great grandfather. She loves horses and dogs, reading and good music! She doesn't remember a time that she did not want to be a writer. She has been writing her whole life, but ended up a librarian. Mary Beth also happens to be the great niece of Sara Ophelia...

Through this podcast, we have gathered at the table to learn, discuss and ponder, all sorts of southern culture topics but now it is time to gather to have an experience together!  Pack your bag, jump on a plane, bus or just in your own car to come experience Tennessee with us! You’re invited to Women in Whiskey: A Steel Magnolias Podcast event May 30, 2024 Join us for an adult field trip filled with southern fun at the  Jack Daniel's Distillery!  Get ready to learn while sippin'. We will...

Georgia's Blue Ridge and the Copper Basin is a scenic area of mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and forest. If you want a place to spend a day outdoors, ride your motorcycle, or maybe even go white water rafting join us at the table to hear more about this area where Tennessee and Georgia meet. Mentioned on this episode: Apple Orchard - Mercier Orchards: https://mercier-orchards.com/Hard Cider “Legends” Fried Pies at the restaurantChow ChowLocal honeysVarious Wines from the region Muscadines...

Today we are sharing a conversation with Stacy Lyn Harris. She is host of The Sporting Chef on Outdoor TV, an Alabama native and mother of 7!! Stacy Lyn married a hunter and quickly figured out that she needed to learn how to cook all the wild game that was coming into the house! Her and her family live a really unique life in Alabama where they truly live off the land. She combines her grandmother’s “from scratch, fresh from the garden” cooking approach and her modern sensibilities of...

It should come as no surprise that southern hospitality is near and dear to our hearts, but opening your door can sometimes present challenges. Today we are offering some lighthearted tips to make you as a host, SHINE. Featured Product: WithCo The Nashville-based WithCo Cocktails are known for their versatile, all-natural cocktail mixes. The brand’s philosophy is that it’s fresh––made with real botanicals and juices––and easy to use, with or without alcohol, leaving you more time to spend...

John Grisham is an expert storyteller, whose unforgettable characters fight for justice in a world that isn’t always fair. As one of the top 10 wealthiest writers in the world, he is a southerner who also has a passion for seeking justice and freedom for innocent people that have been imprisoned. “I seriously doubt I would ever have written the first story had I not been a lawyer. I never dreamed of being a writer. I wrote only after witnessing a trial.” — John Grisham His latest book and...

Southern Live Oak trees are a true emblem of the American South. Some of the famous specimens have names like Treaty Oak, Emancipation Oak, or Council Oaks. That tells us that these old oak trees were landmarks where major decisions took place. Join us at the table to learn more about these majestic trees, and the ferns that sometimes make their home on their branches. Find a southern live oak tree: https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/map/world-liveoak/  Resurrection Ferns often grow right...

Welcome! If you are new here, we are so glad you are here. We are kicking off our 6th year of doing this show and we’ve got lots to cover this year! In today’s episode, we will discuss a recent trip that Laura Beth took to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Plus, Mardi Gras is upon us. So, how do we southerners celebrate such an occasion? Mentioned in the show: #1 Po Boy - Marathon Station - Gautier, MS- https://asap.com/restaurants/ms/gautier/fayards-marathon/14939Mardi Gras Episode (from a long...

It’s the season finale to season #5! We are talking about some of the highlights from this year and some of the wonderful things we’ve been doing in December.  From the “Favorite Things” Party:  Drift.com - air fresheners that Lainie took to ‘favorite things’ party "Count Your Sheep” Linen Spray from 1818Farms.com - air fresheners that Laura Beth took to ‘favorite things’ party FOOD by Geoff Sobelle - http://www.geoffsobelle.com/food-show Our Favorite Episodes of 2023: Loss of a Steel...

Known as the “Winter Resort of the South” Thomasville, Georgia has been luring people to enjoy fishing hunting, socializing, golf horse racing biking since the late 1800’s. Join us at the table, as we discussed the beauty we found in the people, places and landscape of Thomasville, GA. Visitor’s Info: https://thomasvillega.com/ Accommodations South EdenMyrtlewood PlantationCoutryard by Marriott Restaurants Jonah’s The PlazaSASS (Sweet and Savory Sisters)Sweetgrass Shopping The Bookshelf...

December is upon us, and it has become a tradition for us to give you a list of gift-giving ideas from Southern makers and companies. So, join us at the table to hear a few of our favorite southern finds from this year. Previous Gift Episodes Referenced:2021 - Southern Lifestyle Gifts - https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/southern-lifestyle-gifts2020 - 10 Southern Gifts - https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/10-southern-gifts2019 - Southern Gifts...

For those of us who buy a live Christmas tree, it is almost time to make the trip to our local nursery to pick out this year‘s living room addition. But where did those trees come from? Join us at the table as we discuss The Christmas Tree Farms of western North Carolina. Frasier fir trees from North Carolina are shipped to every state in the United States, the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and Japan.  20% of all Christmas trees in the US come from North Carolina!  Mentioned...

“One of the South’s Prettiest Towns" “One of the 50 Best Places to Travel” “A Magical Christmas Town” The past few years, Franklin, TN has been making more and more headlines from Travel + Leisure to the Wall Street Journal, but to us, it’s just home....a place we’ve always bragged on and now we’re ready to share our intimate thoughts with you, join us at the table as we discuss our hometown of Franklin. Just 17 miles south of Nashville sits our little town of Franklin. Well, it's not so...

Now the longest-running music series in American television history, Austin City Limit showcases popular music legends and innovators from every genre. In addition to being honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as a rock and roll landmark, ACL is the only television program to ever receive the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest award for artistic excellence. Austin City Limits details: https://austincitylimits.com/ Austin City Limits Festival:...

Kathryn Greeley is a collector, gardener, entertainer, and designer. Kathryn lives in western North Carolina in a lovely home called Chestnut Cottage. This cottage and its grounds are filled with many of her favorite things.  The gardens outside the cottage are equally impressive. Kathryn’s great affection for cottage style gardens was inspired by her many visits to England, Scotland, and Ireland. Her cozy and informal gardens fill her home with flowers from spring through fall – starting...

Steel Magnolias Podcast is always coming back to the theme of southern hospitality. We love any excuse to open our hearts and our doors to others, so today we wanted to discuss the origins of Friendsgiving and how that can look at your dinner table.  Episodes referenced:  How a Dinner Party Can Save Your Life feat. Dr. Jerome Burt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steel-magnolias-podcast/id1442852139?i=1000484867070Southern Hospitality...

In the middle of the rolling hills of Tennessee, is a new farmhouse full of inspiration and modern amenities...the 2023 Southern Living Idea House. Join us at the table to hear more about our favorite features in this house just up the road from us. From the September Issue - Full Story on the House: https://www.southernliving.com/2023-idea-house-tour-7560567 Tour info and tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hatcliffconstruction/950105 Stay Connected: Subscribe to our...

Scripture cake is also known as “Bible Cake”, “Scriptural Cake” and “Old Testament Cake” and was extremely popular in the latter part of the nineteenth century, especially in the southern Appalachians.  Ready to feed your stomach and your soul? Scripture Cake recipe: https://www.quick-german-recipes.com/scripture-cake-recipe.html Gosh we love a good ole southern pound cake. Growing up, our mom always made pound cake with sour cream, so here's a recipe that does just that:...

Great bookstores, vibrant local music scene and fun, casual pizza joints and coffee shops are just a few of the reasons we love college towns. Join us at the table as we discuss some of the great college towns we have across the American South. We did our best to represent a large spread: 10 towns from 10 states. Episodes Referenced: College Football Traditions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steel-magnolias-podcast/id1442852139?i=1000448448565Presidential...

The chain of barrier islands that skirts the coast of North Carolina from the Virginia border to Cape Lookout was once remote. Today the Outer Banks is one of America’s most popular vacation destinations; welcoming millions of visitors each year! We had the opportunity to sit down with author and Outer Banks native Clark Twiddy. He chronicles the region's journey from isolation to popularity through the stories of innovators and risktakers. Clark Twiddy grew up in Duck, NC and has watched...

We have found two Southern Jewish women that share our passion in preserving history around the dinner table! We are sitting down with Rachel Gordon Barnett and Lyssa Kligman Harvey, two lifelong South Carolinians, to discuss the intersection of traditional Jewish dishes with classic Southern ingredients and African American culinary traditions.  The American South boasts some of the oldest communities of people of Jewish faith. In the 1600s Jewish people began settling in Charleston, South...

We are revisiting one of our all time favorite topics to discuss… College Football Traditions rule and reign on Saturdays in the South and we are going school by school to discuss! We also mentioned that previous guest, Elizabeth Heiskell, is now available for catering at Ole Miss home games - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw-frzWrQYE/ or website - https://www.elizabethheiskell.com/Best College Traditions - https://bit.ly/2Pp6ZW4Biggest College Rivalries - https://bit.ly/2MKJg0vMobituaries -...

In 1955, two Georgia neighbors opened up a restaurant that would change the world.  Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner were living in Avondale Estates, GA, when they decided to open a 24-hour, sit-down restaurant for their friends and neighbors, focused on people on both sides of the counter.  That first restaurant opened the door to create the Waffle House brand that you see today. We love this place and hope you have a Waffle House near you! Here are some references made during today's...

Fort Worth, Texas is often known as the sister city to Dallas, but it has an old west culture that is quite distinct. Join us at the table as we discuss the beauties of Cowtown! Let’s dive into the 12th largest city in the U.S…. Stops mentioned: Historic Stockyard District: https://www.fortworthstockyards.org/Stockyard Museum: http://www.stockyardsmuseum.org/ML Leddy’s: http://leddys.com/Cowtown Opry: https://www.cowtownopry.org/Cattlemen’s Steak...

Get your last minute wear on white yall! Pools are closing, school is starting and sales are happening on mattresses and appliances.  Join us at the table as we discuss the roots of Labor Day and how we like to celebrate. Let’s have a Labor Day cookout! We did say cookout — and we mean that. It’s not a BBQ although there could be BBQ there…but don’t count on it Ideas for what to make: Strawberry Spinach Salad - https://www.wellplated.com/spinach-strawberry-salad/Cucumber Salad...