Located on the sea islands of South Carolina and Georgia are communities of people who are descendants of enslaved Africans. They have a unique culture that is directly linked to West Africa. In South Carolina, this group of African-Americans and the language they speak are referred to as Gullah, and in Georgia they are called Geechee. Many historians believe the word Gullah comes from Angola a West African country from which many of the slaves came. Another idea is that Gullah is from the Gola, a tribe from the border of Liberia and Sierra Leone West Africa, although the exact origin of the word is not known most historians agree that the Gulla people and their language have African roots us at the table as we discussed this piece of southern culture

Mentioned in this episode:

• Our interview with Lynette White of the Plantation Singers can be found as part of our Charleston episode on “Have Love, Will Travel” https://www.accessmore.com/pd/Have-Love-Will-Travel-

• Try Benne Crackers!

• We recommend Marsh Hen Mill for Carolina Gold Rice (or Grits!) You can order them online - https://marshhenmill.com

• Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes from the Matriarch of Edisto Island - Emily Meggett- https://amzn.to/3Uy1fHU

• Listen to the Southern Fork interview with Gullah Matriarch Emily Meggett- https://www.thesouthernfork.com/episodes/2022/5/6/emily-meggett-gullah-geechie-home-cooking-edisto-island-sc

• If you are visiting the Charleston area, look up "The Plantation Singers" schedule. At the time of this episode, they regularly play the Gospel Bruch on Sundays at Hall’s Chophouse. http://lowcountrymusicservice.com/the-plantation-singers

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If walls could talk, the Steel Magnolia Bed & Breakfast in Natchitoches would have hundreds of stories to tell. The home is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana where the writer of the play, Robert Darling, originally grew up. The 1989 film was shot here in this very small town and today the central home to this story is run as a bed & breakfast.

Can you imagine Sally Field, Shirley McLaine, Julia Roberts, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton and Daryl Hannah all coming to your very small town?

Today, Natchitoches has a population less than 20,000.

Named after a Native American tribe, Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish ) is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. Since 1927, they have been home to one of the oldest community-based holiday celebrations in the country, and today their annual Christmas festival lasts 6 weeks! For more info: https://www.natchitocheschristmas.com/

Connect with the Steel Magnolia Bed & Breakfast: https://steelmagnoliahouse.net/

For reservations call: (318) 238-2585

Address for the home: 320 Rue Jefferson, Natchitoches, Louisiana

Mentioned in this episode:

• Steel Magnolias episode: https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/re-visit-steel-magnolias
• Lasoynes Meat Pies: http://lasyones.com/
• Paddle Wheeler River Boat: https://www.caneriverqueen.org/
• Mariner’s Restaurant (great spot to catch a sunset): https://www.marinersrestaurant.com/
• Schedule for Christmas Festival (lasts 6 weeks): https://www.natchitocheschristmas.com/schedule
• Visit Baton Rouge episode: https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/visit-baton-rouge

Steel Magnolias Podcast is an independent show funded solely on support from listeners like you and a few advertisers from time to time.

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We’re discussing the show that made country music famous! The Grand Ole Opry is the longest running radio show; turning 100 next year! With an ever changing lineup of musicians, each performance is broadcast to a global audience via WSM radio, SiriusXM and Circle. We got to sit down with our dear friend, Sean Dietrich to discuss his debut Opry experience, so join us at the table as we discuss the gem that still makes Music City grand.

Places to listen:

Circle, Facebook, YouTube, WSM and more!

Resources:

• Check out Ken Burns’ documentary “Country Music”
• Roy Acuff introduction that Lainie read on this episode is from the book, Nashville's Grand Ole Opry: The First Fifty Years 1925-1975

Sean Dietrich’s blogs about the Opry:

• Father’s Day in Nashville - https://seandietrich.com/fathers-day-in-nashville/
• He Played Fiddle - https://seandietrich.com/he-played-fiddle/
• Kid Stuff - https://seandietrich.com/kid-stuff/
• Grand - https://seandietrich.com/grand-ole-time/
• Nashville - https://seandietrich.com/nashville/

Steel Magnolias Podcast is an independent show funded solely on support from listeners like you and a few advertisers from time to time.

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Baton Rouge is the capital city of Louisiana and sits right on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. If you want to experience history and culture galore in a family friendly setting Baton Rouge is the city for you!

Big thanks to Tamara Williams at Visit Baton Rouge for making this trip so much fun!

To help plan your trip you can find great information at VisitBatonRouge.com

Connect with Visit Baton Rouge:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visitbatonrouge
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitBatonRouge/
• X: https://twitter.com/visitbatonrouge

Mentioned on this episode:

• The Capital Building (New and Old): https://louisianaoldstatecapitol.org
• Raising Cane: https://www.raisingcanes.com/
• Flower Fest (fundraiser for St. Jude’s Research Hospital): https://www.theflowerfest.com
• LSU baseball: https://lsusports.net/sports/bsb/
• Mike the Tiger: https://www.facebook.com/MikeTheTiger/
• Juban’s: https://www.jubans.com
• Mestizo (Louisiana Mexican): https://www.mestizorestaurant.com
• Parrain’s: http://parrains.com

Previous Episodes mentioned:

• Cajun Creole: https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/cajun-vs-creole
• Gumbo: https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/gumbo
• The Mighty Mississippi (River): https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/the-mighty-mississippi

Steel Magnolias Podcast is an independent show funded solely on support from listeners like you and a few advertisers from time to time.

Are you enjoying the show? We hope you’ll text a friend or loved one to tell them about this podcast.

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According to the Library of Congress, in 1862 President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, opened the door for African-Americans to enlist in the Union Army. Although many had wanted to join the war effort earlier, they were prohibited from enlisting by a federal law dating back to 1792. President Lincoln had also feared that if he authorized their recruitment, border states would secede from the Union. By the end of the U.S. Civil war, almost 200,000 African-American soldiers had joined the fight. They were known as the U.S. Colored Troops.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Mrs. Vivian Sims, who was an educator for many decades before finding out that there were soldiers of her race, who also bravely fought in that war.

She has lived in Pulaski, Tennessee for 50 years, and that town has a difficult part of its history having been the place where the Ku Klux Klan began. Join us at the table as we hear a redemptive story of what is now being remembered about Pulaski.

Read here about the U.S. Colored Troops statue that Vivian Sims had created and installed in June 2023 in Pulaski, Tennessee:

In the birthplace of the KKK, she spent $82,000 to erect statue of Black Civil War soldier

Steel Magnolias Podcast is an independent show funded solely on support from listeners like you and a few advertisers from time to time.

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It’s the most sought after ticket by golf fans…. We are talking today about The Masters held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in AUGUSTA, GA.

• Special thanks to these contributors: Curtis Barman, John & May Bumpus, Jeremy Carlson, Charles Phillips, Bill Reeves and Mark Stiver

• 7 Famous MASTERS Golf Tournament Recipes You Must Try: https://bit.ly/3sIRHLl

• Follow this link and set up an account to APPLY - https://tickets.masters.com/en_US/ticketsInfo

Steel Magnolias Podcast is an independent show funded solely on support from listeners like you and a few advertisers from time to time.

Are you enjoying the show? We hope you’ll text a friend or loved one to tell them about this podcast.

Share link: https://pod.link/1442852139

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It's Holy Week. Passion Week. The week that we celebrate the game changing moment of ALL time. We couldn't let the resurrection of Jesus go without a mention this week. Enjoy a quick bonus episode from us on Easter!

Mentioned on this episode:

• Steel Magnolias episode: https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/re-visit-steel-magnolias
• "Sacred Seasons: A Family Guide to Center Your Year Around Jesus” - https://amzn.to/3PF6W5l
• Easter Now App - https://easternow.com/
• Resurrection Rolls recipe - https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/84289/resurrection-rolls/
• Hot Cross Rolls - https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7073/hot-cross-buns-i/
• Legend of the Dogwood - https://www.plantmegreen.com/blogs/news/easter-and-the-legend-of-the-dogwood-tree#:~:text=The%20legend%20holds%20that%20the,on%20which%20Jesus%20was%20crucified.

Steel Magnolias Podcast is an independent show funded solely on support from listeners like you and a few advertisers from time to time.

Are you enjoying the show? We hope you’ll text a friend or loved one to tell them about this podcast.

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Today we are remembering the late great, Minnie Pearl.

HOOOOOWWWWDDEE! We are just so proud to be here today with a special guest!

Born and raised a Tennessee farm girl, Mary Beth Pruett still lives on the farm started by her great-great grandfather. She loves horses and dogs, reading and good music! She doesn't remember a time that she did not want to be a writer. She has been writing her whole life, but ended up a librarian. Mary Beth also happens to be the great niece of Sara Ophelia Cannon, better known as Minnie Pearl. Mary Beth is a wealth of knowledge and history not just with her Great Aunt but also with the history of Centerville/Hickman County, Tennessee.

Connect with Mary Beth's blog: http://sitaspellwithmary.blogspot.com/

Her book “Turn by the Red Calf” details adventures and misadventures on her ancestral Tennessee farm and musings from life and daily observations. Pruett has a wry and often humorous perspective on the pleasures and pitfalls of living in an old farmhouse with four lively dogs and trying to keep tabs on a farm approaching the two century mark.

Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3x6CN8B

Learn more about Sarah Cannon and the Cancer Research Center: https://sarahcannon.com/

Steel Magnolias Podcast is an independent show funded solely on support from listeners like you and a few advertisers from time to time.

Are you enjoying the show? We hope you’ll text a friend or loved one to tell them about this podcast.

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