The Stix & Stuff Podcast

A commentary episode. No guest, no tour — just Tom in a chair at the Ellijay Cigar Lounge in downtown Ellijay with a cigar and a few things on his mind.
Tom shares his take on:– The SAVE Act and election policy– Immigration and the voting debate– Government structure, term limits, and how the process is supposed to work– The historical context behind major legislation– Why public opinion keeps pulling further apart
Agree or disagree, the ask is the same: stay informed, think critically, do your own research.
Opinions in this episode are Tom's alone and do not reflect the views of any sponsor.
Recorded at the Ellijay Cigar Lounge, downtown Ellijay, GA.
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

Forget the groundhog. In Ellijay, a black bear named Hank decides when cocktail season starts.
Hibernation Hank is House of Applejay Distillery's signature winter tradition — a Southern twist on Groundhog Day where Hank is "awakened" each year to deliver his official prediction. Tom records on-site during the event with distillery founder Caroline Porsiel and David Zelski, the Bear Whisperer himself, who leads the annual awakening and announces Hank's verdict.
In this episode:– How a distillery invented its own regional folklore– David Zelski on the art of waking a bear– Winter cocktails, live entertainment, and the crowd that keeps growing– The buzz that brought FOX 5 Atlanta to a small mountain town
Featuring David Zelski (host of GPB's A Fork in the Road and the SEC Songs guy) and Caroline Porsiel of House of Applejay.
Visit: House of Applejay, East Ellijay, GA.
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

Nashville grunge meets North Georgia wine country.
Tom sits down with Nashville recording artist Adrian Stover at 29 North for a raw conversation about growing up on rock and roll, blowing out his vocal cords in Music City, and reinventing himself with a new sound and a brand-new record. The episode closes with a live performance of his original "Pretty Little Devil" — a gritty, grunge-leaning country/rock song about love, tension, and the kind of woman you never quite get over.
If you were raised on Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, the Stones, CCR, and SRV, you'll feel right at home.
In this episode:– First guitar at 9, first paid bar gig at 13 at Chevel's in Murphy, NC– Burning out in Nashville and finding a new voice– The new record and where the sound is headed– Live: "Pretty Little Devil"
Fueled by a glass (or two) of Rich Mountain Red from episode sponsor Chateau Meichtry in Ellijay, GA — Tom's "Six Flags of wineries."
Stream Adrian Stover:Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/6DQtFmLsWmgCEbU98IyfQaApple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/adrian-stover/1629483513Facebook: facebook.com/theadrianstoverInstagram: instagram.com/theadrianstover
Recorded at 29 North, Ellijay, GA.
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

Tom sets up at 29 North — wine bar, craft-beer haven, art gallery, and creative heartbeat of downtown Ellijay — for a conversation with songwriter John Cable of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
John's story runs from early coffeehouse gigs to dropping out, hitting the road, and touring alongside Steve Martin and the Dirt Band. He talks about the moment he joined the band, what a life in music actually looks like, and how a song comes together — catching melodies and lyrics wherever they show up.
In this episode:– John's path from coffeehouses to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band– Songwriting in practice: capturing inspiration on the go– His new album, upcoming shows, and where he's headed next– The Ellijay Songwriters Festival, held each May, and why it's one of the most intimate music experiences in the mountains
Recorded at 29 North, Ellijay, GA [add website/social].
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

One great cigar. One great pour. Zero pretense.
Tom returns to House of Applejay in East Ellijay for a double feature. First up, distillery founder Caroline Porsiel — back on the show after one of our most popular episodes — with more from the mother-and-daughter team turning German liqueur-making heritage into small-batch Appalachian spirits. Then Justin Heitman [add one line: who he is / what he does], with stories you'll be repeating later.
What you'll get:– Real conversation, no fluff, no sermon– A featured cigar and pour worth seeking out– Why cigar culture turns strangers into regulars– Black bears, Groundhog Day, and a couple of stories that go sideways in the best way
If you laughed once or learned once, follow the show and share it with a buddy who needs a better lounge.
Visit: House of Applejay, East Ellijay, GA.
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

One great cigar. One great pour. Zero pretense.
Tom sets up at Smitty's Cigar Lounge in Gainesville, GA with Rob Thigpen and Don Thompson — two guys who kept a cigar shop thriving through ownership changes, a pandemic, and a never-ending supply of dad jokes.
Inside: the origin of Smitty's (founded by Clark Smith in 1997), how Rob went from humanitarian work in Russia and Ukraine to humidor duty, how Don went from Army MP and Savannah PD to professional community-builder, and why this lounge runs on regulars, laughs, and the occasional Friendsgiving. Also on the menu: boutique sticks, a proper bar, and the firm belief that cigars are a shortcut to conversation.
Timestamps0:20 – What this show is (and why Guinness + Maduro works)1:17 – Smitty's tour: big humidor, bigger hospitality3:20 – The "Smitty" behind Smitty's and the handoff to Rob and Don5:31 – Rob's unlikely path: orphanages to overring8:23 – Don's path: Army MP → Savannah PD → cigar shop counselor11:30 – Why cigar lounges = community (not a theory — proof)21:01 – Yes, women smoke cigars; no, this isn't a boys' club22:57 – Friendsgiving, watch parties, and why people keep coming back28:04 – Where to find Smitty's online
Follow Smitty's Cigar Lounge: smittyscigarlounge.com | IG & FB @SmittysCigarLounge
If you laughed once, learned once, or lit up once — follow the show and tell a friend who needs a better lounge.
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

Tom takes the show up the road to downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, and pulls up a chair inside Smokey Bear Cigars with owners Iraima and George Behar.
It started with a spontaneous decision to buy a building on the square. Add Iraima's Cuban heritage and lifelong connection to cigars, and you get a shop that's become a gathering place — weekly veteran groups, events with brands like Plasencia and Kristoff, and a room where the regulars feel like family.
In this episode:– How Smokey Bear came to life on the Blue Ridge square– Iraima's Cuban roots and what cigars meant growing up– Cigar fellowship: the veteran groups and brand events that keep the lounge full– Pairings, special-edition releases, and the craft behind the world's finest blends– A few laughs, tangents, and Blue Ridge stories along the way
Seasoned aficionado or casual enthusiast, you'll enjoy the warmth, humor, and authenticity of this one. Pull up a chair, light up a stick, and join the conversation.
Visit: Smokey Bear Cigars, downtown Blue Ridge, GA.
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

Tom steps inside the Ellijay Cigar Lounge for a conversation with owner Davis Lacey — a local pastor who turned a passion for premium cigars and a heart for people into one of North Georgia's best-kept secrets.
Davis shares how the lounge came together, what makes a cigar worth your time, and why a high-end lounge in a small mountain town became a genuine community hub — the kind of place where people from every walk of life pull up a chair and stay a while.
In this episode:– A pastor's case for cigar culture: craftsmanship, camaraderie, connection– Building a welcoming high-end lounge in downtown Ellijay– What to try if you're new to premium cigars– Why the lounge matters to the community beyond the smoke
Naturally, this is a home-game episode for Tom. Music by Surrender Hill.
Visit: Ellijay Cigar Lounge, downtown Ellijay, GA 
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

Tom heads to Buckley Vineyards in the North Georgia mountains for an inside look at one of the region's premier wineries and a conversation with owner Kevin Buckley.
Kevin walks Tom through the wines that put Buckley on the map: the Malbec No. 7 aged in Jack Daniel's barrels, a French-inspired sparkling wine made in the traditional champagne method, and the fan-favorite Campfire blend. Then the conversation moves out of the cellar to how Buckley Vineyards became a full destination — live music, an outdoor amphitheater, and a sound system built to keep guests coming back.
In this episode:– The story behind Malbec No. 7 and the whiskey-barrel aging– Making traditional-method sparkling wine in the Georgia mountains– Why the Campfire blend is the one everybody asks for– Turning a vineyard into a live-music destination
If you love wine, live music, and people who build things their own way, this one's for you.
Plan a visit: Buckley Vineyards, Ellijay, GA [add website].
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com

Tom sits down with Jono "Big Cat" Agurto - retired detective, insurance executive, and co-founder of Ellijay Paws in Need - at Buckley Vineyards for a conversation about service, community, and pit bull rescue.
Jono's story runs from earning the Silver Medal for Bravery in law enforcement to raising over $100,000 for shelter dogs through the annual Lasagna Cook-Off at Buckley Vineyards. He and his wife Ashley ("Blondie") have changed what shelter life looks like in Gilmer County: every dog walked daily, new play yards built through grassroots fundraising, and a community that shows up for its "pitties."
In this episode:– From detective to insurance exec to full-time rescue advocate– How the Lasagna Cook-Off became Gilmer County's biggest animal fundraiser– What it takes to get every shelter dog walked every day– The other causes Jono champions: Meals on Wheels, Tunnel to Towers, and Neurofibromatosis awareness
Recorded on location at Buckley Vineyards in Ellijay, GA. Music by Surrender Hill.
Learn more or get involved at Ellijay Paws in Need [add website/Facebook link].
Stix & Stuff Podcast with Tom Crawford | Ellijay, GeorgiaSponsor inquiries: thestixandstuffpodcast.com