Explore More- Getting Real Local in the Tennessee River Valley.: Recent Episodes
Julie Graham
Each show we are getting real local in the Tennessee River Valley, bringing local voices and local knowledge to tell the stories about the best historic, cultural, and outdoor recreation places and spaces across the seven state Tennessee Valley watershed..Go where the locals go. Know what the locals know.
Owner of Knoxville Adventure Collective, Jon Terry joins Julie to talk about the adventures that his business offers visitors who want to get on the river or greenways.
From biking to rock climbing to paddle trips, learn more with Jon.
From your Artsy, outdoor, kind of Town see the river in a "whole new way."
Guided tours or simply rent equipment, learn more about how to discover the rivers.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
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We had a chance to attend media day at the 2023 Bassmasters Classic in Knoxville, TN.
Find out why professional anglers love the Tennessee River system for both competitive and for recreational fishing.
Listen to anglers, Gerald Swindle, Scott Canterbury, David Mullins, Brandon Card, Tristan McCormick, Jon Cox, Clifford Pirch, Cody Huff, Drew Cook, Greg Hackney and the winner of the 2023 Bassmaster Classic Jeff Gustafson talk about the river system and where the sweet spots are.
The Classic is an annual event inviting the the best bass anglers in the world to compete in head to head competition.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
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Got 72 hours for an epic adventure? Listen in as ROAM's founder, Greg Wingo shares ideas for adrenalin adventures in the Tennessee River Valley
Need an adventure idea:
- Cycling
- Backpack rafting
- Backpack hiking and backpack running?
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
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Norris Dam was the first of a series of dams that the Tennessee Valley Authority built as part of their mission to improve life for people in the Valley.
During the Great Depression, the rural communities were struggling to survive. Most of the farming land around Norris Lake had been stripped of topsoil due to farming and logging practices. Electricity was only available in cities, and jobs were scarce.
The Tennessee Valley Act of 1933 created the TVA and charged the agency to control flooding, improve navigation, and to bring cheap electricity to the people of the Valley.
In this episode, Park Ranger, Joseph Gamble talks about the history of Norris Dam and the co-located, Norris Dam State Park.
This park is a treasure trove for outdoor lovers with its paddling, camping, historic buildings, and trail system, which includes hiking, mountain biking, and horse trails.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
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In 1756, the British were building forts on the western frontier to fortify their position during the French Indian War (1754- 1763.)
Fort Loudoun was commissioned by the British Colony of South Carolina to keep trade routes open with the Overhill Cherokee Nation. By 1760, due to mounting tension between the British and the Overhill Cherokee Nation, the fort was captured by the Cherokee and was never again used as a military garrison. It is said that the Overhill People destroyed the fort and the land reverted to its natural beauty.
During the Depression, a reproduction of the fort was built on the location of the original fort. The site was designated as a state park in 1977.
Park Ranger, Joseph Gamble talks about the history of the fort and the nearby Tellico Blockhouse. Why were these structures built? Who lived here?
Learn more about this living history state park and the events that are held annually.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
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In 1942, TVA's first dam, Norris Dam was generating power and World War II was being fought in two theaters- Europe and Japan. How did these two events combine to birth a National Park.
Oak Ridge Historian, Ray Smith takes us from the beginning of the "Secret City" project being built in Oak Ridge and powered by Norris Dam to the establishment of the Manhattan Project National Historic Park.
Learn about the history behind Little Boy and the efforts to commemorate these places with a National Park designation as told by one of Ray, one of the chief individuals who spearheaded the designation effort.
"What is the Manhattan Project? The Manhattan Project was an unprecedented, top-secret World War II government program in which the United States rushed to develop and deploy the world’s first atomic weapons before Nazi Germany. The use of these weapons by the United States against Japan in August 1945 ultimately became one of the most important historical events of the 20th century. The project ushered in the nuclear age and left enduring legacies that echo all around us today. The Manhattan Project took shape at three primary locations across the country: Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. NPS website 2023.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**
Tim Pruitt, TVA retiree shares stories about the history of Douglas Dam and its purpose for World War II.
The power from the dam was used for aluminum production to build military aircraft.
Tim pivots to the nearby TN Museum of Aviation. The Tennessee River Valley has had a profound impact in America's history of aviation and space exploration,
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**
What's Up Ballooning pilot, Ray Fournier shares his expertise of going aloft in a hot air balloon.
Every day that the winds are right and the clouds are clear, Ray is bringing guests over the Smoky Mountains to see a different view.
In this episode, listeners will learn about how weather and wind conditions are used to set the flight path for that day. How does the balloon gain loft and how does it land?
This is a fun session of technique and storytelling from an experienced balloonist.
You can lean more about Ray and What's Up Ballooning on his website.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**
In the midst of the Great Depression, the cycling of floods and poor farming practices led to millions of cubic yards of fertile top soil sliding down hillsides and clogging waterways.
In this episode, TVA Retiree, Tim Pruitt will take you a on journey from the FDR's New Deal and the sweat investment of TVA in re-greening the Valley.
Find out if TVA had a hand in today's most well-known whiskey and Lynchburg distillery.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**
The Tennessee River Valley is known for its world class tournament lakes and rivers.
Anglers know that the waters are a destination, but how do these fisheries stay healthy?
TVA biologist and recreational angler, Shannon O'Quinn talks about the role that TVA plays in supporting wildlife agencies to keep the river and lake fisheries productive. Learn about the role of the "hot cold" dam at Tims Ford Dam and the impact on native species such as the darter and creating a trout habitat on the Elk River.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**
Darrell Guinn from the River Forecast Center talks with Julie to answer the question that so many people who live and play on TVA lakes have about the up and down of lake levels, especially the "dreaded drawn down."
Located in Knoxville, the River Forecast Center is staffed 365 days a year, 24 hours per day to monitor weather conditions and forecasts to fulfill multiple purposes that the river serves.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**
The earliest explorations of the Tennessee Valley dates back to Spanish Conquistadors who came in search of gold and treasurers.
Listen in as history buff and state park ranger, Joseph Gamble talks about the impact of Hernando DeSoto's 1540 expedition on Native American People, native lands, and the original mapping of the Southeast US.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**
Host Joe Harper interviews Julie Graham, volunteer Executive Director of the TRV Stewardship Council.
Listen in as Julie and Joe talk about the ExploreTRV mapguide tool, and how to use the guide to explore the Tennessee Valley.
The mapguide not only will lead visitors to the most authentic places to see, play, and experience in the Valley, but can also be used by small businesses, non profits, and communities to tell their unique stories.
**The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram**