The Atlanta Story podcast features meaningful stories of Atlanta’s builders, creators, and entrepreneurs. In this episode Jon Birdsong sits down with Sally Bethea, the Founding Director and Riverkeeper of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and author. Born and raised in Atlanta, Sally spent 30 years setting up and leading the non-profit that protects and preserves the 430 miles of our vital Chattahoochee river – which weaves through the state of Georgia and Atlanta.   

Topics in today’s interview include lessons on how the non-profit started, stories around Chattahoochee’s cleanup and turnaround, the best locations on the Hooch, ways to continue the progress and much more!      

The Atlanta Story is put together by the folks at Atlanta Ventures -- and we can’t wait to share some of the personalities behind the brand. Atlanta Ventures invests in entrepreneurs through community, content, and capital -- most notably through our Studio with companies like Greenzie and Intown Golf Club. We believe the best entrepreneurs learn from other great artists in different fields.

In this episode, we discuss…

1. How the founding Riverkeeper of the Chattahoochee was created in 1994. (1:30)

2. The geography of the Chattahoochee.  (3:51)

3. What is the most underrated location on the Chattahoochee along with the most overrated. (15:26)

4. Smart construction on the Chattahoochee. (19:22)

5. The inspiration behind writing “Keeping the Chattahoochee, Reviving and Defending a Great Southern River”. (21:08)

6. How did you know your job was done? (27:59)

7. How YOU can get involved.(29:19)

8. Alan Jackson’s song about the Chattahoochee – any coincidence? (31:37)

9. How the cultural influence of the Chattahoochee brings Georgia together. (31:53)

10. Why Atlanta? What has Atlanta done for you? (34:03)

Resources discussed in this episode:

Ted Turner’s Foundation and his daughter provided the first round of funding to kick-start the CRK

New Executive Director Jason Ulseth

The Atlanta Women Who Saved the Chattahoochee trailer

Keeping the Chattahoochee: Reviving and Defending a Great Southern River (UGA Press link to purchase)

How you can get involved: 

Visit atlantaventures.com/studio if you’re interested in learning more about Atlanta Ventures and the Studio. 

Where you can find us:

Website: www.atlstory.com

Twitter: @theatlantastory

Instagram: @theatlantastory

YouTube: Here

Subscribe to the newsletter here.

The Atlanta Story podcast features meaningful stories of Atlanta’s builders, creators, and entrepreneurs. In this episode Jon Birdsong sits down with Brian McGowen, President of Centennial Yards. Born in the Bronx, raised in New Jersey, and educated in California, Brian McGowen has been bi-coastal for the majority of his life. His career has spanned between public and private sectors dating back to his time in California, to DC, and culminating in Atlanta. Now, he’s leading Centennial Yards which is an 8 million square foot mixed-use development preparing to bring a gravitational force of energy including dining, entertainment, housing, and office to the gulch.   

Topics in today’s interview include lessons learned while working for the Governator, Arnold Scwartzenegger, what makes a successful public-private partnership, Centennial Yards’ progress and origin story, and much more!      

The Atlanta Story is put together by the folks at Atlanta Ventures -- and we can’t wait to share some of the personalities behind the brand. Atlanta Ventures invests in entrepreneurs through community, content, and capital -- most notably through our Studio with companies like Greenzie and Intown Golf Club. We believe the best entrepreneurs learn from other great artists in different fields.

In this episode, we discuss…

1. Brian talks about his experience in economic development, including working with the private and public sectors and the language barrier that exists between them. (03:48 - 06:19)

2. Brian shares his experience working in the Obama administration and the connections he made during that time. (14:49 - 17:12)

3. Brian discusses his time at Invest Atlanta and the projects he worked on, specifically focusing on downtown development. (22:16 - 26:45)

4. Brian explains the origin story of Centennial Yards and how it came together, including the involvement of Steve Coonan, the President of the Hawks. (33:03 - 37:48)

5. Brian talks about the challenges faced during the development of Centennial Yards and the timeline for completion. (37:48 - 41:51)

6. Brian discusses what's after Centennial Yard’s when the mission is accomplished. (55:52-58:07)

7. Why Atlanta and what has Atlanta done for you? (58:07-59:55)

Resources discussed in this episode:

Centennial Yards: https://centennialyards.com/

How you can get involved: 

Visit atlantaventures.com/studio if you’re interested in learning more about Atlanta Ventures and the Studio. 

Where you can find us:

Website: www.atlstory.com

Twitter: @theatlantastory

Instagram: @theatlantastory

YouTube: Here

Subscribe to the newsletter here.

The Atlanta Story podcast features meaningful stories of Atlanta’s builders, creators, and entrepreneurs. In this episode Jon Birdsong sits down with Victoria Lemos, Founder of Archive Atlanta. Born and raised in New York, Victoria moved to Atlanta 18 years ago and since then has become a prolific podcaster through Archive Atlanta. Two hundred and thirty episodes later, Victoria has covered everything from the most underrated neighborhood – which we discussed, to the quirky stories in the cracks and crevices of Atlanta’s history rarely told.  

Other topics in today’s interview include, the three buildings everyone in Atlanta should visit, the best park, why she gravitates towards specific stories, how history rhymes with the past today, and much more.  

The Atlanta Story is put together by the folks at Atlanta Ventures -- and we can’t wait to share some of the personalities behind the brand. Atlanta Ventures invests in entrepreneurs through community, content, and capital -- most notably through our Studio with companies like Greenzie and Intown Golf Club. We believe the best entrepreneurs learn from other great artists in different fields.

In this episode, we discuss…

1. Why Victoria started the Atlanta Archive. (1:35)

2. Do the subjects drive the time period or does the time period drive the subjects? (4:55)

3. Let’s talk about zoning. Can you share a primer for our listeners who may not know the importance of it today and the historical significance as well. (6:14)

4. The most interesting cemetery to you? (7:26)

5. The 3 buildings that everyone visiting Atlanta must visit? (8:58)

6. How do you come across the buildings? (10:54)

7. Favorite park and why? (21:37)

8. What’s the pink house behind the new Chic-fil-a on Peachtree Street and Collier Road? (45:28)

9. What archives or time period should get more attention but does not?

10. Why Atlanta and what has Atlanta done for you? (52:42)

Resources discussed in this episode:

Archive Atlanta: https://www.archiveatlantapodcast.com/

How you can get involved: 

Visit atlantaventures.com/studio if you’re interested in learning more about Atlanta Ventures and the Studio. 

Where you can find us:

Website: www.atlstory.com

Twitter: @theatlantastory

Instagram: @theatlantastory

YouTube: Here

Subscribe to the newsletter here.