Exploration Local
Come journey with us as we explore and highlight the people and places that make the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian Mountains special and unique. We explore the towns, trails, rivers, scenic byways, businesses, and people that fuel the life & adventurous spirit in these mountains. Listen in on this relaxed conversational style podcast as host Mike Andress interviews Authors, Business Owners, Photographers, Athletes, Adventurers, Travelers and Friends who have a deep connection to the outdoors and directly influence the culture of the Blue Ridge. We’ll even explore the many ways nature & the outdoors can positivity influence our health and well being.
Exploration Local
Preserving Appalachia: The Power of Documentary Storytelling with Mountainwater Films
Every region has its stories, but few places weave storytelling into their cultural fabric quite like Appalachia. Bob Peck, the visionary behind Mountainwater Films, has dedicated himself to capturing these narratives through a lens that prioritizes authenticity above all else.
When Hurricane Helene devastated much of Western North Carolina, Bob's storytelling took on new urgency. Through his documentary approach, he helped businesses like Asheville Tea Company—whose entire operation was washed downstream—process their experiences while inviting customers back through powerful visual storytelling. His work in communities from Old Fort to Lake Lure demonstrates how film can simultaneously educate, inspire, and market in ways that honor the recovery process.
What emerges most clearly is Bob's commitment to sustainable storytelling that connects "nuanced visitors" with authentic experiences while benefiting local communities. In a time when many places struggle with overtourism, his work aims to attract people who will appreciate and respect the true character of Appalachia, ensuring these communities and their stories continue to thrive for generations to come.
Want to explore more of Appalachia's authentic stories? Follow Mountainwater Films on social media or reach out to Bob directly to discover how documentary storytelling can preserve heritage while building bridges to the future.
Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
mike@explorationlocal.com
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Storytelling is at the heart of Appalachia, woven into its very fabric. For generations, communities have passed down their heritage, wisdom and identity through the sharing of stories, keeping their culture alive and thriving. Today, bob Peck of Mountain Water Films continues the age-old tradition, capturing the authentic voices and powerful experiences that make the southern Appalachian region so unique. In today's episode, bob unpacks this journey to becoming a documentary filmmaker, with a mission to showcase the true character of Appalachian communities through their own voices. As Western North Carolina recovers from Hurricane Helene, bob's storytelling has become even more vital. Through his work across 17 counties, he helps businesses and communities share their recovery stories, build connections and invite visitors back in ways that prioritize sustainability. From Old Fort's revived craft scene to Asheville Tea Company's inspiring comeback, bob's documentaries are a testament to the power of authentic storytelling in times of adversity. What you'll hear in this conversation is a profound understanding of what sets Appalachia apart. What you'll hear in this conversation is a profound understanding of what sets Appalachia apart. Through his lens, bob captures these qualities, preserving cultural heritage while attracting visitors who will appreciate and support these communities for generations to come. Let's dive into Bob's story, the vision behind Mountain Water Films and the heart of Appalachian Storytelling.
Speaker 1:You're listening to Exploration Local, a podcast designed to explore and celebrate the people and places that make the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian Mountains special and unique. My name is Mike Andrus, the host of Exploration Local. Join us on our journey to explore these mountains and discover how they fuel a spirit of adventure. We encourage you to wander far, but explore local, let's go Well. I am super excited to have Bob Peck with me this morning. He is the owner and operator of Mountain Water Films. Mountain Water Films is a film production company focused on showcasing the unique experiences of the Appalachian region and beyond. Mountain Water Films also a film production company focused on showcasing the unique experiences of the Appalachian region and beyond. Mountain Water Films also specializes in creating brand films for purpose-driven businesses and organizations. Bob, I cannot thank you enough for dropping in today. I really look forward to this conversation.
Speaker 2:Hey, it's my pleasure. I've been listening to your podcast for a while now and it's an honor to be on it.
Speaker 1:Oh, you're awesome. Well, it's an honor for me to have you here, that is for sure. I want to get to know you a little bit more, bob. I really would love to know specifically about Mountain Water Films and what really kind of drove you. What was your passion to start this venture?
Speaker 2:So I'll just start from the beginning of my career, and I really started in audio production. So as an audio engineer I worked at a recording studio where you know, a voiceover production studio where you know we worked with ad agencies all over the country, where we produce radio, tv, basically anything that has voiceover on it. It could be on hold messagings for businesses or whatever you know anything. And so I started that when I was 24 years old and a few years later a buddy of mine that I worked with there, he and I started a wedding production company. While I was doing the wedding stuff I also had a couple other video companies that kind of evolved over time that were really just whether it was doing things for local businesses and real estate companies, things like that.
Speaker 2:I kind of rebranded from that to specifically more to Mountain Water Films, which really kind of was more geared towards telling the stories here of the region. So I became more interested in sort of like the cultural heritage and like all the all the kind of the things that that this area has to offer.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's good. So you're you pivoted to tell the stories of this area, the Appalachian area and this whole region, of things that were naturally just kind of your attention was drawn to. That's sort of how you ended up making this this pivot. I guess I'm hearing yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I really think I took away from doing the weddings for so long is that you know each wedding was unique and a different story and it really helped develop that kind of storytelling aspect of things and also kind of like the running and gunning nature of weddings. You know it's so chaotic, you know you're just sort of improvising and making things up as you go along, you know kind of capturing the flow, but you also learn those moments that are super important and I kind of continue that. I think it just helped develop me as what I do for video. But then I've taken that again like sort of that skill set into what I do now with just telling those stories here regionally.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's a very important word you said, and I think that's probably really the reason you and I are here today. You know you enjoy storytelling. I enjoy storytelling in a different medium, but there's power in storytelling and I love to kind of talk about that and unpack that a little bit more, because that sounds like really kind of what drives you. That's sort of a motivation and a passion is really kind of telling a story.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean to me, if you think about it, think about the history of storytelling before the technology that we have today. I mean story, that was how civilizations were able to basically, you know, exist where they were telling stories. You know, before there was written language, before things were written, and then, obviously, the other mediums that came along. It was the stories, you know. It was like the shared experiences of what people were passing down from generation to generation. That would kind of tell the history of why they did things. And it continues on today and I think it evolved from sort of just, like this oral tradition, to more of just, and it is still oral, but it's also just a different medium, I guess, and to me it's through what we have now with cameras and technology like that.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm so glad you said that, because the oral part, it reminds me, my mind immediately went back to living in Europe when I was a little boy and we didn't have television, and so I remember my mom was a big reader and so mom would sit there and basically tell us the synopsis of this book. And I remember, gosh, I hadn't even thought about this in years, bob, until you just mentioned that. But it was all oral and it was a way for me to sort of be completely encapsulated into a story that she was telling. But it wasn't just about the books that she was reading, it was talking about the Teton Mountains and my grandfather who was a hunter and all of these things. And those were the oral histories that I had and my connection to that past.
Speaker 1:And you're right, I mean storytelling is very, very powerful, you know, kind of in that way, and I think we're wired for story. Like you said, I think you know, before you know, civilization I mean in early civilization it was all about telling the next story and those stories kind of passing on, and that's why I think we, that's why we watch movies, that's why we watch reels, that's why we like little videos, that's why I'm drawn to the work that you do, and the visual aspect of it too. So yeah, didn't mean to go off on a diatribe about oral story, but man, that is very, very, very, very powerful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and if you think about story and just in relation to back to where we are with this region, I mean this this region has thousands of stories from either from the past and the present and obviously the future. But it's really about telling those stories that just really kind of showcase.
Speaker 2:And you know from what I do with Mountain Water Films, it is more of a destination marketing kind of company, so it is figuring out a way to tell those stories in a way that, in a marketing standpoint, what makes this place unique to visit, Right, so, really that's kind of what we're doing is telling those stories in a way that makes people that want to come and visit you know, and doing it in an the ethos of this region, and that's the cultural heritage, the outdoors, you know, you think about the natural resources, people, you know, communities.
Speaker 2:This is all everything that we do. What I like to think we do is about promoting communities, the people that live there, because it's really what I would like to see is what we're promoting benefits, the communities, right, the people in the communities. Because you know, when you're promoting the region, you want to do it in a way that's helping the local economies, whether it's the, the fly fishermen or the, the heritage museum or the, you know, trail guides, and everything is tied into like promoting that economic development to the area so you're talking about the way in the work that you do, contributing to a really deeper connection between people in the community in this area, and the experiences of this area can offer as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's about promoting the area to kind of like nuanced visitors that you want. You know every town has those experiences that could really. You know there's people out there that crave that. You know what these towns have to offer and what it is. For me it's about finding the connecting the right people within the communities to those nuanced visitors. That would you know, and again that's part of the storytelling aspect of it is finding the community members that can tell those stories to the nuanced visitors that want to come here. And just to me, that attracts the right visitors to these towns and it's not over, you know, populating areas or exploiting things. It's coming more from a true, authentic sort of voice when it's coming from the communities.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and how do you pinpoint that? How do you pinpoint the things that you want to draw out about a particular area or a particular area's assets?
Speaker 2:Well, that comes a lot into who my clients are right. I mean, it's I can guide them and just give them some thoughts on that. Like, hey, draw a list of, like the top five attractions that are in your region or in your county or town, you know, let's figure out those storylines we can tell you know what are the through lines that maybe even connects that one aspect of, say, the cultural heritage and how does that tie into an outdoor experience and how does that even tie into, like, a local business and how can what's that through line that we can tell that storyline, that we can tell that's going to really bring that person that wants to experience all of that into your community.
Speaker 1:And do you find that when you're talking with these people, when you're talking with the TDAs of the world and the destination marketing organizations that they have I mean, they know their area, they know what they would love to sort of promote what is that synergy like between you and them? As you're just kind of working through that, you described it just a little bit there, kind of laid it out. But what does that look like when you're kind of mapping out? Are you going out? Are you experiencing some of these areas as well, you know kind of yourself, to get firsthand knowledge?
Speaker 2:Of course, you're a local and so I know you know Western North Carolina really really well. But what does that look like? Yeah, well, I'll say, just over the last five years I've had a client that has really allowed me to travel this region. So I've I've been all over, I've basically have produced videos for over 17 counties here in Western North Carolina.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:So you really get the sense of what you know and it's I think it's different from, say, where Sparta is, like Allegheny County. It's a little different than way over in Murphy, like in Cherokee County, but you see a lot of parallels Again, it's it's really about people and kind of what those unique experiences are. You know, there's definitely something that you can experience in, like in Boone, than you can experience in, say, waynesville.
Speaker 2:So, again, it's just working with those people and just figuring out what it is that's unique and who can tell those stories, Because I think that's part of it, Because a lot of what I guess what I should say is that what I do focus on is short form documentary style work, so it's documentary is like through voices right, I mean it's not. You know, you think about traditional promotional videos for destinations. You would think, like I always think of, like the sandals beach commercials, you know where you see like the sandy beaches and see people like sipping on margaritas on the beach or whatever, which is cool. You know, there's definitely a place for that. But to me, what I've found is that the short form documentary is just a really powerful way to get that authentic voice from a community and portray what it is from that voice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. And a specific example of that for me is the the one you did recently with explore Asheville, and obviously the focus was on Helene and post Helene, and I know we'll we'll have a chance to kind of unpack that and talk a little bit more about it, but that was really, really powerful for me and that's the one that was my hook. That was like I've got to get in touch with Bob, we've got to get here and talk a little bit more about the work that you're doing, because it told a very, very poignant story from the voice of the people who experienced those tragedies.
Speaker 2:It just adds that voice, or it just adds that voice or just adds that kind of a spirit behind.
Speaker 1:Good word.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean it's you could have a narrator telling a story, but then it's like a scripted thing, you know, and that's to find that hook at the beginning and it's and that's kind of what I do is as a documentary kind of person is getting that out of the people that you're on camera with.
Speaker 2:You know, I've interviewed hundreds of people and you sort of learn as you're interviewing somebody, like can I use this? Like can I use what I'm getting? And then a lot of times you just have to, just maybe you just ask a question and it just you could see a light bulb go off and then you can kind of dig into that a little bit deeper and then it's just like all right, this is, this is where we're getting at. And then you know, and then a lot of times you know we'll have like a especially when you're working with a client, you know you'll have your predefined set of questions, set of questions. And then I found that you know, based on what they're saying, you can kind of connect all the dots and just sort of kind of just get it really concise and just that's usually. At the end of the interview you have a couple of questions follow up and it's like usually it takes that whole interview process to get to that one point.
Speaker 2:And it's like, yeah, so and that's, that's just a process and that's just something I've found over the years that have worked well for me.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about this area in general. We kind of teed that up a little bit. You're doing some work with Explore Asheville. I know that there is a drive and a want from people here for people to come back. There was a time when it was time to stay away. There is now a time for people to come back. But there's a time to come back differently. It might look a little bit different and I know a lot of organizations I'm thinking of just a couple that I've seen recently. They're like okay, we want you to come back and these are the places that are open and this is what we'd like for you to consider and these are the places downtown. So I love to kind of unpack a little bit about your thoughts on people coming back to this area, people coming back to visit Western North Carolina, ways that they can do that and then ways that even you are thinking that you're able to kind of share and tell those stories in the next, however long, bob.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So, first off, I think that we're in this crucial stage. I mean here it is March, we're, you know, six months into.
Speaker 1:Yeah, five, six months yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean, we're heading into almost half of a year of just recovery in this area and I strongly feel that how we market ourselves now is going to greatly impact this region for years to come. I mean, it's there's so many areas that are so heavily impacted and just today I'm actually after this interview, I'm heading out to Lake Lure.
Speaker 1:Chimney.
Speaker 2:Rock area to interview some people out there, kind of just see where we're at in that, and to me that's important to kind of keep those stories going. People need to be aware of that. That is still an ongoing thing and so it's very important that how we market ourselves moving forward is crucial to our long-term success. And I think there's a place in storytelling with video that you know it's such a powerful tool because not only can you promote but you can also educate.
Speaker 2:And yeah, and through, maybe through this education, you can say, all right, well, so much of our region is available and open and welcoming visitors and they need the visitors really for the economies to succeed, those visitors to come in. And so there's this whole education and that's one thing that video can do. You can educate people to to visit or where maybe to kind of tread lightly or maybe to not visit, and so it's just, you know, I find that videos is a tool for for entertainment, for education and for uh, you know, informational usage. So there's all kinds of tools for that. And so I think I'm at this point now where I think it's important to promote what's available, what's readily, you know, should be accessible for visitors to come and also to just be respectful and be mindful and you know, and also to tell the stories of that recovery process.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you might've already answered this question and what you just said, but just from a different way, different perspective, as you're talking to the different destination marketing organizations and tourism development authorities and things like this what, what, what's the sense that you're getting from them? Like, what is your overall sense of how they feel right now about their areas, especially when this interesting juxtaposition of sustainability and we know that this area tourism is the major drive of the economy how are those two things balanced in your view and what is your overall sense? Not to speak for them, but if you just give our listeners and myself just kind of an idea of what is the mindset of these places that people are going to be coming back to to visit.
Speaker 2:Come visit us. I mean no, like I said, we're at this crucial point where how we market ourselves now is going to impact this region for years, and it's about educating people that want to come and travel. Like maybe they've, you know, maybe they've traveled, traveled here before or maybe they've never been here before, but they've seen the stories or they've seen images from the news organizations or whatever way back then. But then obviously they've seen stories of overcoming this. Maybe they've seen the stories of what people are doing to overcome the aftermath of this natural disaster and it's given them some inspiration and so maybe those stories have inspired people to come here to visit. But what I've seen from some regional organizations is that they're totally welcoming visitors.
Speaker 2:I mean a lot of these people west of us haven't really suffered what we had here. I mean the base of these people west of us haven't really suffered what we had here. I mean the base of it was from, I guess, near the Boone, like Watauga County area, through Haywood County, right, so that's a huge footprint, and obviously north of us up until like Yancey County and Mitchell County and all that. I mean that's a huge footprint. But you also think about the footprint west of us. West of Haywood County is a huge region that was largely spared from from Helene and their business as usual. But their business is down and so they need the visitors for their, for artists, for the breweries and all the other businesses to in the outdoor industries to just, you know, know we need to get these visitors to come back here this year. So again, it's like how we market this region.
Speaker 1:it's going to be super important for this year and for the the years that follow yeah, for sure, you did some work with explore ashville, like we talked about, and there were some, a couple of companies that were a part of that. There's some work that you've done on instagram with Russ and Chris with Second Gear. Are you able to talk about any of the other companies that you're kind of working with now and kind of helping to tell their story of rebuilding, recovering and kind of looking to the future?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So one of my longtime clients is the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the organization that I've traveled much of this region with to promote the craft musical heritage of this region and we are just wrapping up a series for the craft trails in McDowell County.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice.
Speaker 2:We did our first set of interviews and whatnot in December. Old Fort was still I mean, they're still reeling in kind of recovery. But when we were there they were Arrowhead Gallery, which is over on Main Street. There on Old Fort their main gallery was damaged from the flood and then they were able to build a new gallery across the streets next to the TDA there. First time I went there in December the walls weren't even up yet, but then they had their grand opening in February.
Speaker 2:When I came back to kind of cover their grand opening and you've got artists that were creating, you've got the whole gallery there. There's tons of art in there. You know the brewery across the street, hillman, is open, and I think some of the other spots along the way are open up again, and the coffee shop there, and so you could tell that this little area has been through a lot. But they have come together and they're you know they're making it happen and again it's just about welcoming the visitors. So I think that's a good example of like working with the craft trails, because you know they're they're about promoting the artists, right, and so that's. A lifeblood of this industry is that is, to promote these artists, and so that's, that's what we're doing for that county, and so it's. I'm happy to see, happy to report that you know there's a long way to go but there's progress being made and that there's going to be some happy outcomes to come from that.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's very good, Very good. And then as you expand out a little bit, so we're going to kind of pan our vision out. You mentioned a little bit earlier about you love and have a passion for not just this area we live here but the Appalachian region as a larger geographical area. This will be a little bit more of kind of a vision casting question for you, but what's in your mind and your heart and your brain for where you take Mountain Water Films and where you would love to see this expand to?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Mountain Water Films. When I started this, it was really just to kind of help do really local sort of storytelling. It was really just to kind of help do really local sort of storytelling. And as I've gotten more into it, I've really kind of feel that there's a whole theme in Appalachia, that it is about the heritage and the outdoors and those small towns. It's like that's what Appalachia is made of, is are these small communities, and I feel like what I, what I do here regionally, could be a good springboard for the greater region, and to me it's.
Speaker 2:It's really about promoting the region as a whole and just helping drive those economies and, you know, just Really making Appalachia like a sustainable ecosystem here in the future that is welcoming the visitors. There's experiences all over the world, even all over the country, but as far as, like, what experiences are in Appalachia, I mean I feel like there's some distinct experiences here that I feel like the stories need to be told. I mean there's, like I said, there's hundreds of stories. There's thousands of stories to be told. I mean there's there's, like I said, there's hundreds of stories, there's thousands of stories to be told in one, in one community, but think about in a whole region like Appalachia.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what are some of the areas that you are really kind of passionate about saying these are kind of going to be some of these first steps that I want to sort of chase after, or will those things just organically come up as you're networking and talking and developing more stories?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so my whole background and working with the heritage area and all that has been sort of it's kind of rooted in craft and music and I've just been really passionate in music pretty much my whole life and just just whole bluegrass and traditional music has always really spoken to me and you know I've done a lot of music videos over the years with. You know a lot of the in that industry. I think that that's like a great story there is. Just when you think about like traditional music in this area, I mean there's so many stories behind that. If you think about like what this whole Western North Carolina has brought, and then you think about like like Southwest Virginia, you know they've got the Crooked Road and then there's Bristol Tennessee. You think about Bristol Virginia, slash Tennessee, that is like the birthplace of country music. You know, and there's like all these stories around music here, that that's like a whole set of stories that can be geared towards a whole set of people that are interested in that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:Talk a little bit about some of the feedback that you get from people that are experiencing your pieces of work, your creativity, your love for storytelling. You get much feedback from people.
Speaker 2:Yeah from you.
Speaker 1:I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2:What I try to bring to the table is this sense of authenticity and, you know, tell them those. It's about those voices. Again, it's about those community voices. I did a series in Hayesville, you know, clay County, and those people were just really thankful to have a voice. You know that I feel like they wouldn't have had otherwise if I didn't help them talk about their, the different aspects of their, their cultural heritage, Cause there is a whole lot of heritage and culture in that area, as as just as anywhere else.
Speaker 2:You know, and kind of tying back into like with second gear and Russ and those guys, you know they, they were really thankful and this is another thing that back around the beginning of Helene, some of the feedback was right around the time of Helene, sort of like those months after when, you know, there was a lot of emotion and a lot of just people figuring things out, like what are we going to do next? Everyone had this sense of community and what can you do to help during those first weeks? And so after Helene, I don't think I would be very helpful if I came out with like a chainsaw and was like trying to just move brush around and things like that which I had people help me, which I'm so thankful for for some of the volunteers that helped me. So what I was doing was my act of service was to help people tell their story a little bit around the recovery and kind of, where do they, what's next for them? And they don't, maybe they don't know, and so any kind of thing I could do to help those people.
Speaker 2:Like you know, another example would be Asheville Tea Company. So I'll just back up a little bit and say that I kind of sent out like a little social media post a couple weeks after the storm and said, hey, if you need help telling your story or if you have been heavily impacted from the storm, I want to help you with your messaging, help you get your story out. Maybe who knows what kind of resources that would bring to these people. And so you know, through some friends that were tagging businesses you know, I was able to get connected with the Asheville Tea Company. Their business was right on the Swannanoa River.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And during the storm their whole business literally got washed down the stream. So they were trying to navigate what's next for them. You know, we were able to kind of tell their story. And then the first time that I worked with Jesse and Melissa and them, we were able to kind of say, hey, we are packaging tea for our fall, we're taking orders now for Christmas, because it was right around the holidays. So we were able to, you know, make a video that was kind of like you know it showed what happened, but then also say, hey, we're still around, we're taking orders for the fall or for the holidays and please sign up. And then the outpouring that they received from that was like, I mean, who knows how much that kept their business afloat by having that let people know. Again, it's about that educational aspect of like, hey, we're still here and we need your support. So that's yeah, that's one example of how you know what I the stuff that I do can help people about an event, something, some person, someplace.
Speaker 1:But part of what you're doing is also, it sounds like helping those people to actually process what it is that they were going through or what their story is that they're telling. And that's the heart connection. And I think with true storytelling there's a grab at the heartstring. And one of the things that I think I've heard you say is that you were able to share a story, but you were also able to help them process what they just went through and then also kind of tell the story of where they're going. And I think that that's one of the things that really just kind of hit home for me of why I'm drawn to the work that you do, because it is first person, it's their voice and it's not just you telling a story about. You know something to celebrate, although the things we're talking about we can celebrate, but you're talking about something where somebody livelihood it's their, their, their way of making a living, it's their not their whole identity, but it's really kind of what they wrap their life up into and you're kind of helping tell that story to somebody else.
Speaker 1:And then the other thing, too, when you started mentioning some of these small towns, like in Hayesville. These are small towns that we kind of talk about, the flyover states in America, but sometimes these are the drive-thru states or the drive-thru parts of the country that we don't even think about in our own state. But all of those people are so much about or, excuse me, there's so much heritage and tradition there that really speaks the story of what true Appalachia is. And sometimes it's not just the flowery stuff and the high, you know, the high energy stuff that you see out there, but it's those quiet roads, it's the cabin, it's the store, it's the place that circa 1895, it's all of these kinds of places and they have major stories to tell as well. And for me that's the connection between where I am now and my past. And that connection right there is also about future connections. And so, yeah, I don't know what I'm saying in any of that right there, but I think I've just kindly found out why I'm connected to the work that you do.
Speaker 2:Thanks, yeah, and I think from what you just said there, I mean I think you would be a great spokesperson for Mount, I mean it's could be a great spokesperson for Mountain.
Speaker 1:Water. I mean it's just true, I mean it's just good stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'll just jump in and just say just about the Appalachian region is. What I'm drawn to is it is about those people and it is a certain you know, I feel like there is a certain realness to this area that you just can't find anywhere else. All of that is just unique to this area, and so what I try to do is just really just tell those stories through those people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know what I think you're right on. A couple of weeks ago Stephen Foy and I were out skiing and we had these chairlift conversations and they were so, so good each one of them. But he said something that really kind of stuck with me and, steve, if you're listening, I'm probably going to kill this, but what he said was that, you know, he spent a lot of time out West and also some time in, you know, the Teton Mountains and also in Montana, and those areas they all have a different characteristic that they take on. The characteristic of the Rockies is not the characteristic of Bozeman, montana, which is not the characteristic of the Appalachian region, and it's very, very specific. Outdoors could be a thread, small communities can be a thread, but the particular area has its own personality, its own characteristic, and the way that he said it was that, you know, in the Tetons I think it was really or, excuse me, in the Rockies it's really rugged. You know it's life or death In the Montana area.
Speaker 1:You know, some of the Tetons is more kind of cowboyish, but the Appalachian region is just gritty. There is a gritty story there. I mean what we just went through, what we are going through, the grit, the resilience and everything is just a very different personality than all these other areas and you're bringing this out. Part of you diving into the heritage, I think, bob, is that you're bringing this out. You say you're going to Lake Lure right after this. My gosh. I just watched some stuff last night with Mayor O'Leary and the recovery that they're going through, and there's a story that's going to be written for years from now, but it's being written today and it's a gritty resilience and it's yeah, it's. You're drawing all of that stuff out, which is what I love, and, of course, I'm a Southern Appalachian myself, so this is where we live and I love to hear those stories.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm from here, Like I grew up here, like I grew up in Weaverville and I've lived in Asheville. Basically I went to UNC Asheville. So I've I've been here my whole life, so I've seen the evolution of how you know, this area has changed over the years. And going back to what you were saying about all the different regions of the country is to me it's like a terroir, like if you're a wine person and you think about that's like that unique flavor that that region has. You know, like a wine that's grape that's grown in Arizona is going to taste different than a wine that's grown in like Napa, or grown here like the crest of the Blue Ridge. So it's that unique flavor and I think it's that flavor that's our food, it's just our culture. It's all that what's unique to this area.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, that's really good and I'm not from here, but but it's the type of work that you do and it's through this podcast, even in the diving into our culture in this region, that I appreciate it even more and I knew years ago that I always wanted to live here. Now that I live here, I know that I never want to leave here. I'll go visit, but I'm always going to come back to this place. But it's the, it's the storytelling, it's it's understanding those stories that are that are, you know, told, heard and yet to be heard and told right. That just continues to kind of draw me here. So another reason that I'm really kind of drawn to the work that you do, brother.
Speaker 2:I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, listen, man, I know that you need to get to Lake Lure and I don't want to take up all your time. We were chatting a lot before we started recording, chatting a lot before we started recording, and I know this conversation will continue as well. But, bob, your heart for story, your heart for storytelling and really trying to help people understand what this region is all about, but also helping the people that live here really kind of fully give voice, you know, and amplify who they are and what they do in the region that they live in, is huge. So I, just as one follower of your work, man, I really appreciate the work that you do.
Speaker 2:I appreciate that and again, to me it's just that emotional connection that you know. It's about the emotional connection to the area and if it's someone from the outside that you know interested in that, anything I could do to kind of help the region, help local towns, to me I feel like my legacy, I guess you could say, is that I would hope that I would just have made this region a better place, just attracting the right visitors. It's not being exploited or anything like that. It's a true sense of place and it's going to attract the right people to come.
Speaker 1:For those people that are interested in you helping to tell those stories? How do they reach out to you? What's the best way to get engaged with you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, my email address is bob at mountainwaterfilms. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions or anything. Follow me on Instagram at mountainwaterfilms. You can find me on Facebook. You can find me on LinkedIn. I'm on the socials here and there, so, yeah, that's the best way to find me.
Speaker 1:Nice Well, bob, thanks again. I've thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and I am so glad that you made the trip down, and I wish you the best in all the things that you hope to uncover in the future.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Bob's dedication to capturing the authentic voices and stories of Appalachia is a powerful reminder of the deep roots of this region and the importance of preserving its heritage for future generations. Through his films, bob not only highlights the beauty and resilience of these communities, but he also shows us how storytelling can be a force for recovery, connection and sustainable growth. If you're inspired by Bob's work, be sure to check out Mountain Water Films and explore the incredible stories they're bringing to the screen and remember. The next time you're inspired by Bob's work, be sure to check out Mountain Water Films and explore the incredible stories they're bringing to the screen and remember. The next time you're in the mountains of Appalachia, take a moment to listen, engage and appreciate the rich culture that continues to thrive through stories like these. Thank you for tuning in.
Speaker 1:If you enjoyed today's conversation, leave us a review and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook and drop me a note at mike at explorationlocalcom if you have ideas for future episodes or you just want to say hello. That's going to do it for this episode. As always, I encourage you to wander far, but explore local. There's so much to discover, right where you are and, until next time, keep listening, keep learning and keep sharing the stories that make us who we are.