The Boone Show

Text us what you think of this episode!

We talk with Pelzer Mayor Chase Smithwick about why local leadership moves faster than national politics and how showing up changes what a town can become. Along the way we get a preview of the Great Anderson County Fair plus a grounded look at budgets, grants, and rebuilding quality of life in a mill town. 
• deciding to run for office after seeing a need for change 
• a service minds...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We catch up with Chef Chris as his ProStart team heads back to nationals, where five teenagers have one hour and minimal equipment to cook a three-course fine dining meal for scholarship-level judging. We also preview the Belton chili cook-off with Gene Jameson and end with a quick run through of odd headlines plus our weekly picks for entertainment and food. 
• why ProStart is so hard and...

Text us what you think of this episode!

SC Comic-Con weekend is almost here, and we sit down with Rob and Michele Young to talk about how a family-run convention grew into one of the biggest pop culture events in South Carolina. We dig into guests, vendors, community impact, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that keep the show fun and manageable. 
• using the Greenville Convention Center at full capacity and managing the morni...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We sit down with ACTC Sports Medicine Instructor Julia Voyles to talk about building a hands-on program that helps students test-drive real healthcare and fitness careers before college. Then we hear from her husband, former MLB pitcher Brad Voyles about the long minor league grind, his big-league debut, and what it’s like to play baseball around the world.  

• building a sports medic...

Text us what you think of this episode!

Rick Sanders explains how West Pelzer goes from empty storefronts to a thriving Main Street and why he steps into the mayor’s seat to keep that progress moving. Blake Sanders breaks down what changes when you jump from local government to the State House, from taxes and conservation to the realities of passing bills. 
• Rick’s path from Michelin career to restoring the old Pelzer Library a...

Text us what you think of this episode!

Roberta Hamby and Chase Maddox break down how Envision Williamston turns ideas into real events that bring neighbors together and send customers into local shops. We talk through what it takes to plan, fund, and staff community traditions while keeping civic pride at the center. 

• Envision Williamston’s role as the fun side of town 
• Why the nonprofit shifts away from economic d...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We swap campus keys for guitar strings and stone wheels, tracing how a retired facilities guru built a popular 100-seat music venue, a revived folk festival, and a mill that brings real flavor back to grits. Along the way, legends drop by, family dinners feed the music, and a new book takes shape.

• origins of The Fiddle and Bow Music Hall and Southern Folk Art Gallery
• intimate ...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We trade sled runs for city plans with Mayor Rocky Burgess, unpacking why Ingles is delayed, how the town enforces site standards, and where trails and sidewalks unlock daily life. Along the way, we hit sports, small-business wins, and a fast fix for a washed-out bridge.

• why the mayor won’t run again but stays hands-on
• community sled day, churches on the hill, and mayors’ race...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We explore how shared rituals turn a busy season into a kinder one, from concerts as neutral ground to campus traditions led by our “Director of Holiday Hype.” Tanya shares how she builds warmth with simple, repeatable moments that make people feel seen.

• concerts as rare places of peace
• origin of a holiday hype role at school
• growing up Christmas without Santa
• fami...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We sit down with John Benca to trace a life that bridges public service and hospitality, from a physics degree and restaurant openings to the Anderson County auditor’s office and a downtown pub that survived downturns and storms. The story crescendos with adopting Sam, a family choice that reframes work, legacy, and leadership.

• education in Georgia and early career moves
• openi...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We trace Tim Self’s journey from scout leader to foundation head, and unpack how gratitude, trust, and clear asks turn community giving into real healthcare impact. Community response, teen mental health, and workforce pipelines are among the chapters in an interesting and hopeful story.

• small-town roots and scouting lessons shaping leadership
• cookie tables to donor strategy a...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We put the spotlight on Zach Howard, our longtime sports guy, and trace his path from Clemson and Braves fandom to girl dad life, a special Dallas trip with his father, and the stories that make everyday moments memorable. We also get real about “iPad kids,” TV tray dinners, and finding balance around screens, sports, and family time.

• how Zach joined our show and kept calling in thr...

Text us what you think of this episode!

We sit down with Julie Bell of the WebbCraft Family Foundation who shares how a hometown endowment fuels early reading, arts access, and life-changing field trips. From Disney-level planning to third-grade literacy, we trace how small grants create big momentum for local kids and teachers.

• Origins of a family foundation and mission
• Endowment model that sustains grants over tim...

Text us what you think of this episode!

A Halloween special that blends stagecraft, film lore, and smart scares. We trade slasher nostalgia for psychological bite, preview a two-actor Gothic comedy, and share real set stories from Friday the 13th to quick-change chaos on a haunted manor.

• spooky theater that favors wit, speed and surprise
• quick-change comedy with two actors playing eight roles
• Irma Vep show tim...

Text us what you think of this episode!

A hometown journey through industry change, from textiles to advanced manufacturing, with a candid look at pay, culture, and why long-term loyalty still matters. Trey Thomas shares family stories, youth sports energy, and how community partnerships fuel a stronger workforce.

• origins in Anderson, Clemson engineering, early field work
• Hill Electric’s 70-year pivot from textiles ...

Text us what you think of this episode!

Jimmy Smith, a lifelong doctor and fire chief, turns mayor and lays out a practical plan to revive Honea Path with open doors, safe streets, and steady investment. We talk downtown revival, fiber, housing, healthcare access, and the ordinance that ended fire fatalities.

• hometown roots, medical training, and 42 years of family care
• 53 years in the fire service and 32 as chief

Text us what you think of this episode!

We walk through Denver Downs’ new fall season—Lainey Wilson maze, fireworks, flowers, food—and meet the ACTC “Hogfather” whose students breed, deliver, and show pigs while learning real vet science. A student leader joins to share how FFA turned curiosity into a calling.

• Lainey Wilson corn maze design, trivia, photo ops
• How mazes are built using grids and spray
• Mums, sun...

Text us what you think of this episode!

Rob Young of SC Comic-Con returns to the Boone Show to discuss his experience with cutting-edge stem cell therapy in Mexico and preview the upcoming Fall Edition of SC Comic-Con. He shares an exclusive first look at the historic DC/Marvel crossover comic featuring Batman and Deadpool releasing tomorrow.

• Received 250 million stem cells in Mexico to treat spinal issues, knee problems,...

Text us what you think of this episode!

The Boone Show welcomes Brandie Greer, CEO of the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, and Angie Stringer, Executive Director of the Cancer Association of Anderson, for a powerful discussion on community leadership and supporting cancer patients through innovative programs.

• Brandie Greer shares her journey to leading the Chamber and her vision for supporting businesses of all sizes in...