Jessie Dean is the founder and CEO of Asheville Tea Company, whose building was swept away by Hurricane Helene’s devastating floodwaters. Despite the unimaginable challenge, Jessie is committed to rebuilding with the support of her community.

Jessie grew up in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, just outside of Boone, and later moved to Asheville, where she opened Asheville Tea Company in September of 2016. Partnering with local farmers, Asheville Tea Company’s products celebrate the rich, vibrant flavors of Southern Appalachia.

In this episode, Jessie shares her passion for tea and running a mission-driven business; how she and her team weathered the storm during what should have been their busiest season; her gratitude for the outpouring of community support; the future of Asheville Tea Company; and much more.

Asheville Tea Company
Homepage
Shop Teas

Initiatives Mentioned
WNC Strong
The Always Asheville Fund
Optimist Ventures
Together We Recover

Also Mentioned
Video of Asheville Tea Company's building floating down the Swannanoa River
Asheville Detours

Theme Music
The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

John Parks is a brewer and co-founder of Woodfin, North Carolina-based Zillicoah Beer Company, which was devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene and remains closed indefinitely.

Parks and his co-founders, brothers Jonathan and Jeremy Chassner, are childhood friends who grew up in Miami and eventually all landed in the Asheville area. Taking their name from the Cherokee word for the French Broad River, Zillicoah opened on the river’s eastern bank in 2017. The founders designed the brewery with the possibility of flooding in mind, but like a lot of other people and businesses in the region, they weren’t prepared for the extent of devastation brought by Helene and didn’t have flood insurance.

When the French Broad reached its record high point, the surging water rose six feet inside the brewery, sweeping away equipment, specialty beer, and years of passionate hard work.

In this episode, Parks shares how Helene impacted the brewery, the challenges of rebuilding in a floodplain, the craft and passion that goes into Zillicoah’s beers, and the outpouring of support the brewery has received from the beer community near and far.

Click here to donate to Zillicoah Beer Company

Theme Music

The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.

Heather Clements is a professional artist and art instructor whose life and work have been profoundly shaped by the forces of nature. Heather is part of Asheville’s River Arts District, which suffered catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Helene.

Helene was the second major storm to upend Heather’s life and career. In 2018, while living in Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Michael destroyed her home, forcing a year-long hiatus from creating art. Last year, Heather and her husband relocated to Asheville. This September, Helene spared their home but devastated most of the River Arts District, including 310 Art, the gallery where Heather taught classes and showcased her work, which explores the deep connection between humans and the natural world.

In this episode, Heather shares how these natural disasters have tested her resilience and transformed her creativity. She discusses her personal experiences with both Hurricane Michael and Helene; how natural disasters have hindered and inspired her work; and how a trip to the mountains after Hurricane Michael helped lift her out of depression. Heather also takes us behind the scenes of her creative process, from her interactive murals to her new book, “Pull Me Apart.”

Heather’s Work

heatherclementsart.com

“Pull Me Apart: An Interactive Sketchbook”

@heatherclementsart on Instagram

@heatherclementsart on TikTok

The art that stuck behind

Lilith, an interactive mural in downtown Asheville

Hurricane Helene flood self portrait

Donations

River Arts District

310 Art

Riverview Station

Also Mentioned

Bridget Benton

Re.Imagine

Wedge Studios

Poposition Press

Forever Tattoo

Middle Prong Wilderness

Laurel River Trail

Theme Music

The song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.