Kristen Watson leads the Mountain Aid Project, a community hub that provides both immediate relief during crises and long-term support for recovery. Their work focuses on people, art, environment, and education, driving meaningful change across Western North Carolina. What makes Mountain Aid Project special is its flexibility. Kristen and her team adapt to the community’s shifting needs, pivoting quickly to meet people where they are and provide the support that matters most.

The Appalachian Reclamation Koalition is dedicated to improving life in Western NC, rebuilding private bridges, repairing homes, and reducing human suffering.

After Helene, hundreds of bridges need repair or replacement, and many homes have been lost to landslides or ruined by mold. Tami, Carmen, and their network are working tirelessly to change that. They’re the kind of leaders every community needs.

In this episode, Andy Tait from EcoForesters talks about the current state of our forests, how invasive plant species have spread after Helene, and why fire hazard awareness is more important than ever. With so many dead and drying trees across Western NC, Andy emphasizes the importance of taking action now to reduce the risk of wildfires and to protect your home.

When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, chaos and uncertainty followed. Carol, a healthcare and incident management professional, joined the McDowell Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help locate missing people. Her team’s persistence and ability to cut through conflicting information ensured that every missing person in McDowell County was accounted for.

Carol discuses what it takes to find people after a disaster, and the emotional resilience behind the work.

After the storm, Bud McCall stepped up, delivering essential supplies across Western NC to families in need. What started as relief work soon opened his eyes to deeper issues: housing shortages and food insecurity that continue long after the immediate crisis.

In this episode, Bud shares his perspective on the challenges still facing Western NC and why raising awareness is a critical first step toward recovery.

Donna’s passion is caring for children in need within her community. Through her nonprofit, Maw-Maw’s Cheer, she provides food and clothing to kids who need it most.

After Hurricane Helene, the struggle for families to put food on the table became even harder, and the emotional toll on children grew deeper. In this episode, Donna shares the challenges families are facing, how Helene has impacted kids mentally, and why her mission matters now more than ever.

While the national news cycle has moved on, Western NC is still in the long process of rebuilding. Hurricane Helene damaged more than 6,000 miles of road, 100,000 homes, and 2,500 private bridges.

Andrew from Excel College is on the team that launched the Better Together Coalition, a partnership committed to rebuilding over 300 homes in the Swannanoa Valley within the next two years. Their mission is clear: to rebuild Western NC, one home at a time.

Caitlin and her team at the AMY Wellness Foundation have raised millions for Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Their work goes beyond rebuilding homes, they’re partnering with other organizations to provide financial services and long-term support to ensure families truly succeed. This rare and innovative approach is exactly what Appalachia needs for lasting recovery.

Kat and Trevor, owners of Peri Social House, a boutique hotel in Black Mountain, share their story of resilience after Hurricane Helene. When the storm hit, Trevor was stranded at the hotel, unable to return to his family.

In the midst of uncertainty and limited resources, he transformed a difficult situation into something unforgettable, hosting a wedding reception that brought joy and hope to the community during a scary time.

Alyssa is the founder of Barefoot Baby and the Barefoot Baby Foundation, two organizations dedicated to bringing nature and family back to childhood, one memory at a time. In this episode, Alyssa shares how Hurricane Helene impacted her family, especially her daughter, and why it’s so important to check in with our kids when their behavior shifts. We also dive into why we love country living and the resilience it builds in families.

When Hurricane Helene hit, Star started by checking on neighbors, delivering water, and cooking meals for her neighbors.

What began as feeding 1,000 people in five days grew into a relief hub supplying farms and entire communities across multiple states.

Now, nearly a year later, she has purchased storage containers, applied for nonprofit status, and is setting up for long-term recovery and disaster relief. Her story is one of resilience, service, and how ordinary people can rise to meet extraordinary challenges.

Kaila’s husband, Ted, is a firefighter and after Helene, she lost all communication with him.
Not knowing if he was alive left her worried and scared.

While his family waited, Ted was using his swift water rescue training to save lives, navigating dangerous floodwaters and bringing people to safety. But once the rescues were done, his next mission was getting home…a battle against mudslides, downed trees, and impassable roads.

In this episode, Kaila and Ted share their powerful story of separation, service, and the fight to reunite after disaster.

Tammy witnessed the fear, panic, and emotional toll that Hurricane Helene left behind.
Many were unprepared for the devastation , and the mental weight of what they saw.

Despite the overwhelming negativity, Tammy also saw something powerful: communities coming together to help each other in their darkest hours.

Today, she dedicates much of her time to helping her community recover and rebuild. In this episode, Tammy shares her experience, her perspective on resilience, and what it truly means to support one another after disaster.

Drew Crawford is a private pilot who didn’t hesitate to step up during Hurricane Helene, flying critical supplies into devastated areas when others couldn’t.

In this episode, Drew shares what it was like navigating chaotic skies with increased air traffic, limited resources, and emotional weight from the destruction below.

He offers a rare perspective on the mental toll and risks of being a private pilot in the middle of a disaster, and what kept him going.

Jim Artman is a former Army sniper with a new mission: building stronger, more resilient communities in Western North Carolina.
Through his work with Resilient Recovery, Jim is focused on sustainable disaster recovery and long-term environmental restoration.

In this episode, Jim shares how his organization is making a real impact and why community resilience and connection are more important than ever in the face of disaster.

Kim and Portia from the McDowell Chamber of Commerce share how they stepped up to support their community after Hurricane Helene.
They discuss the devastating impact the storm had on local small businesses, many of which were destroyed or severely crippled.

In this episode, they highlight why shopping local is crucial for community recovery and why connecting with your local Chamber of Commerce can be a lifeline for small business owners during both good times and disaster recovery.

Mike shares the incredible story of being swept away while inside his cabin during Hurricane Helene.
Badly injured and alone, he faced the terrifying possibility that he might not survive.

This episode is raw, eye-opening, and a powerful testament to human resilience in the face of disaster.

Most people weren’t prepared for what came after the storm, and that’s understandable.

But then there are those who are ready for almost anything. Off the grid. Growing their own food. Equipped with the mindset to not just survive, but thrive in the face of disaster.

Daniel and his family are those people. In this episode, Daniel shares what life was like after Hurricane Helene, and how he stepped up to help his community when they needed it most.

After Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, Lake Lure was left unrecognizable.
Silt, sediment, propane tanks, mattresses, refrigerators…debris from entire homes filled the water.

In this episode, George shares what it was like to witness Lake Lure in the aftermath: surreal, unbelievable, and deeply disturbing. He’s joined by his partner Adam, and together they talk about how Helene didn’t just change the landscape, it impacted their lives, their livelihood, and their business in ways they never expected.

This is a story about what the flood left behind, and what it couldn’t wash away.