The Shrimp City Report Podcast (Charleston, South Carolina)

This episode features Aaron Siegel, founder and chef of Home Team Barbecue, in conversation with DJ. Aaron walks through his culinary journey — from growing up in Atlanta and studying English at UGA to attending the Culinary Institute of America, living and cooking in Aspen, and eventually moving to Charleston. He shares how his early interest in farmers markets, fine dining experience, and love of hospitality shaped the approachable, music-friendly barbecue concept he created.

We talk about the story of Home Team — how an old gas station in West Ashley was transformed into a now-beloved barbecue institution — and how the menu evolved from its early days to multiple locations. Aaron explains their cooking philosophy (mixing Southern barbecue with southwestern influences), signature dishes like wings, pork, nachos, brisket, and the challenges of running different kitchens. He also tells the behind-the-scenes tale of the Game Changer frozen drink: how a painkiller-style cocktail became a Home Team icon after a naming dispute and a customer-driven naming contest.

Aaron previews Home Team's big 20th-anniversary weekend at The Refinery in September — a three-night concert-style celebration with local and touring acts, special guest appearances (including members and alumni tied to the Home Team family), and VIP options. He describes the musical lineup, special moments from past events, and why the festival feels like a celebration of both food and community.

Order Tickets Here!

For listeners who want to learn more or plan a visit: find Home Team Barbecue on their website and Instagram, or email info@hometeambbq.com for event and reservation details. 

https://hometeambbq.com/

 

In this episode we sit down with Columbia and Charleston musicians promoting a multi-artist bill at the Tin Roof on Saturday, September 5. Guests include Graham (the show booker and organizer), singer-songwriter Don Merckle, the husband-and-wife duo The Water Kickers, and Dubbs (aka the Dubber), who will be on the bill though not in-studio.

The conversation covers how the gig came together organically, each artist’s background and sound — Don Merckle’s transition from Celtic/rock bands to solo songwriting, The Water Kickers’ folk-rock harmony-driven blend and genre-hopping approach, and Dubs’ self-styled “SCRoots” sound with reggae and blues influences — plus Graham’s role running house concerts and promoting local shows.

Everything will be at The Tin Roof (West Ashley, Charleston). Find The Water Kickers on streaming platforms and Instagram (handle: @_water_kickers); Don Merckle at donmerckle.com and on major streaming services; Graham promotes via Grand Jam Music on Instagram. Come on out to the Tin Roof on September 5th to catch the eclectic, multi-genre bill and support local original music.

Click Here For Show Info

In this episode we sit down with returning guest SXVXNT (of the Sound of CANNAE) and Ally from local rock outfit Rooks and Raven to talk about a special live event: a double live album recording at Return to Zero on Saturday, August 22. The conversation covers how the collaboration started, why these two seemingly different acts paired up, and what makes this event unique for Charleston’s music scene.

We hear from SXVXNT, who’s reworking and performing his debut album live and recently won Charleston City Paper’s Hip Hop Act of the Year (again), and Ally from Rooks and Raven, a five‑piece rock band blending 70s and 90s influences with Southern roots. We discuss the band’s history, lineup changes, live chemistry, and why they love mixing genres on the same bill.

What to expect at RTZ:  Two 45‑minute solo sets followed by a 10‑minute tandem performance, captured with full audio and video at Return to Zero (1533 Folly Road, James Island). Both acts will press 50 numbered, signed vinyl copies of their live recordings — exclusive collector’s items that will be gone when they’re gone. They describe the desired MTV Unplugged–style vibe, the spontaneity of live performance, and the creative choices behind re‑recording and revisiting older material.

Doors at 6pm, music at 7pm. Tickets are $10 presale via Eventbrite (links in the artists’ Instagram bios) and $15 at the door. The show is all‑ages; attendees are encouraged to wear purple (Rooks and Raven’s band color), bring their own drinks, and be ready to join a house‑party atmosphere with stage production and merch on sale.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

https://www.instagram.com/sxvxntsoc/

https://rooksandraven.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Return2zerocharleston/

 

 

Join us as we  sit down with Charleston radio legend Bobby Hartin (35 years on air) for a wide-ranging, laugh-filled conversation about sports, local culture, and community. In this episode Bobby opens up about his childhood in Orangeburg, college life at South Carolina (cheerleading and all), and the fandom he inherited from his father.

The show traces Bobby’s journey from working at Pearlstine in Charleston and running sports bars (the first sports bar in Charleston with the big satellite dish) to launching a long-running fan-talk radio program. Hear behind-the-scenes stories — his nervous first remote with a caller on a pay phone, memorable recurring callers (Boston John, Dave, George Dickel), and the outrageous bits that have kept listeners tuning in for decades.

We cover Bobby’s approach to radio (local-first coverage, college football focus, reliance on callers, and about four hours of prep), his thoughts on the changing media landscape (podcasts, AM/FM future), and why he avoids getting bogged down in NIL/money talk. The episode also highlights fun segments and debates from the show — the fried chicken debate (family-cooked cast-iron skillet wins), shrimp preferences, and the summer World Cup/soccer buzz — plus regular features like high school previews, RiverDogs/Battery coverage, NASCAR/racing spots, and more.

We also get candid anecdotes (a broken TV after a lost championship, remotes, Dixie Bubbles, memorable callers getting banned), details about Bobby’s bar and radio overlap, and a look at his deep community commitment: the annual Ronald McDonald House radiothon (over $50,000 raised last year), Bobby’s role on the board of trustees, and the charity tattoo stunt that helped inspire donations.

https://www.kirkmanbroadcasting.org/charlestonsportsradio-1

https://x.com/fantalk989

https://www.facebook.com/fan.talk.7/

 

 

Duante Brown    Trell Lee

In this episode we sit down with Charleston filmmaker Dante Brown and actor Trell Lee to talk about their upcoming Lowcountry-set feature The Boonkey Trail. Dante, a Johns Island and downtown Charleston native, walks us through the film’s origins, his writing process, the local influences that shaped the story, and why he chose to root this horror/comedy in authentic Charleston culture. Trell — Dante’s cousin and a natural comic presence — discusses his character and what it’s like being cast by someone who grew up alongside him.

Topics include the film’s tone and visual style (a colorful, trippy horror with summer-comedy energy), cinematic influences like the Japanese horror Cure and classic comedies, and the deliberate choice to highlight Gullah–Geechee folklore and Charleston myths. Dante describes how research with family members and local lore informed the screenplay, including haunted figures such as the Boo Hag, the enigmatic motorbike man, and other “haints” woven into the story.

We cover production details: the creative team (producers Jake Clancy and Alex, DP Dr. Glover), current development status, permitting and location conversations with the City of Charleston, and plans to shoot crowd-driven scenes at Charleston City Market. Dante shares other planned locations like Dock Street Theater exteriors, Cypress Gardens, Angel Oak, and the Battery, and explains why the premiere will be right here in Charleston when the time comes.

We also talk about about casting and crew logistics, the guerrilla filmmaking spirit Dante admires, and his desire to keep production and spending as local as possible while also seeking outside collaborators and funding. The episode includes a call for extras, local support, and investors — with details on how to follow and contact the team for updates, casting notices, and sponsorship opportunities.  

Throughout the conversation we also get a taste of local flavor — from Dante and Trell’s upbringing on Johns Island to a light-hearted Shrimp City moment where they debate the best way to eat shrimp — giving listeners both behind-the-scenes movie talk and an authentic snapshot of Lowcountry life.

Follow The Bunky Trail on Instagram and TikTok at @boonkeytrail for production updates and casting calls; you can also find Dante on Instagram at @dentyne_3. Tune in for an inside look at a homegrown Charleston film blending folklore, comedy, and horror — and learn how you can be part of it.

ALEXANDER H. MONTGOMERY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(843) 957 5491
amontgomery@stainedglassmosaicproductions.com

JAKE CLANCY
PRODUCER & FIRST AD
(508) 654 2656
jclancy@stainedglassmosaicproductions.com

DAUNTE BROWN
WRITER, DIRECTOR, & PRODUCER
(843) 478 5298
dbrown@stainedglassmosaicproductions.com

ALL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND RIGHTS RESERVED BY DAUNTE BROWN AND STAINED GLASS MOSAIC PRODUCTIONS

 

 

John Hiatt with Clark the Elk on The Adventure

On this episode we visit the Charlestowne Landing State Historic Site in West Ashley, Charleston, and sit down with John Hiatt, Interpretive Ranger and park historian. John shares his personal journey to the park, how archaeological research and primary sources shape interpretation, and why Charlestowne Landing is known as the birthplace of South Carolina (first settled in 1670).

Listeners will hear a sweeping overview of the site's layered history: the 17th-century English settlement and its move to Oyster Point, the Old Town Plantation era, archaeological discoveries (including a Mississippian-period Native American ceremonial site), and the African‑American cemetery connected to the plantation period. John explains how ongoing digs continue to refine the park’s story and how artifacts are rotated into exhibits and programs.

The conversation also highlights the park’s living features: three miles of trails, 664 acres (about 200 acres of upland), Ferdinanda “Ferdie” Legare Waring’s extensive gardens and avenues of oaks, and the Animal Forest & Aviary — home to bison, elk, otters, bears, and domesticated animals that illustrate colonial life. John describes the Adventure tall‑ship replica, its construction and sea trials, and how small cargo vessels served the original settlement.

Education and public programming are a major focus: curriculum-based school programs (Discover Carolina), hands‑on demonstrations (Colonial Cultivation, indigo dyeing), the popular Great Guns artillery demonstrations, living‑history events (Founders Day and Colonial Trades & Harvest Day), and seasonal archaeology tours. The park also offers two premiere event venues, robust volunteer opportunities, and an active outreach/video program developed during the pandemic.

https://southcarolinaparks.com/charles-towne-landing

One of the native species you can check out at Charlestowne Landing.

 

https://www.louloustavern.com

www.instagram.com/louloustavern

In this episode we sat down with Charleston restaurateur Dave Lorenz — the owner behind Mex1, Islander 71 and the newly opened Lou Lou’s Tavern on the Tracks at The Refinery. Dave walks through his journey from the apparel business and early restaurant days with Sticky Fingers to building multiple local concepts, selling Bohemian Bull, and launching the chef-forward Lou Lou’s in the unique Neck/Refinery neighborhood.

Topics covered include why Dave chose The Refinery and the “on the tracks” location (railcars, sunset patios, easy parking and an amphitheater), the restaurant’s shareable small-plates approach, and the balance between Southern comfort and adventurous, chef-driven dishes. We discuss menu highlights — lobster bao buns, gochujang-inspired short ribs, marinated deviled eggs and crispy maitake mushrooms — and how the small-plates format invites communal dining and discovery.

The conversation also dives into Lou Lou’s beverage program: kegged wines and keg cocktails for consistent, balanced pours; thoughtful cocktail development; and a curated draft list that complements the food and concert crowd. Dave describes the team behind the kitchen (Chefs Patrick and Alex), the development process for the opening menu, and how the restaurant plans to keep things rotating and approachable for Charleston diners.

Beyond food and drink, Dave explains Lou Lou’s community ties — a local art wall with consigned pieces, partnerships with The Refinery’s concert schedule, and a VIP program that gives early access to events, menus and special dinners. The episode highlights the idea of “dinner and a show” at The Refinery: arriving early for a relaxed meal and drinks, then stepping outside to catch live music without the usual line or slow bar service.

 

 

https://www.borisvandyck.com/

https://www.instagram.com/borisvandyck/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/borisvandyck/

https://www.paradisochs.com/

For this interview we  sit poolside with Boris Van Dyck, the entrepreneur behind Paradiso Cabana Club at Mixon. In this wide-ranging conversation Boris shares his personal and professional journey — from growing up between Belgium and the Caribbean, to studying marine biology at the College of Charleston, to working as a commercial diver in the Gulf of Mexico, and ultimately finding his calling in hospitality, event services, and real estate development.

Topics covered include the origin stories of multiple ventures: the high-end cocktail catering company Icebox, the event rentals and tent business Event Haus, and later pivots into real estate development and capital raising. Boris walks listeners through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship — surviving the 2008 market downturn, scaling Icebox to thousands of events a year, the impacts of COVID on a senior-housing development, and how those experiences informed his approach to building and managing mixed businesses today.

The episode also dives into the story behind Paradiso Cabana Club: how Boris discovered the property, his vision to transform it into an oasis inspired by Caribbean and European beach clubs, and the long renovation and operational work to reopen and grow membership. Expect a tour of Paradiso’s amenities — a large pool, nine roomy cabanas, a recovery cabana with cold plunge and sauna, a 24/7 gym and wellness center with monthly classes, a members-only restaurant/co-work space, and the Market coffee shop open to the public.

Listen for practical details on membership and programming: roughly 500 membership accounts (about 1,300 individuals), seasonal usage patterns, year-round fitness and events, a concert series and ticketed shows to drive winter engagement, recurring adult swim nights, DJ sets, and big-screen World Cup and match watch parties. Boris also explains how Paradiso balances member benefits with public-facing offerings to grow visibility and revenue.

Key takeaways highlight resilience and versatility — how to pivot after setbacks, the value of hospitality experience in launching successful event and hospitality brands, lessons learned building teams and systems, and the benefits of integrating real estate, development, and operations. Boris shares how he structures his current businesses (development, construction, capital raising, property management) and his preference for building long-term assets rather than transactional brokerage work.

Whether you’re interested in hospitality, real estate development, event production, or simply looking for Charleston’s best new poolside hangout, this episode offers inspiration, strategy, and behind-the-scenes stories from a serial entrepreneur who turned a rundown property into a thriving community hub.