From One Idea to Two Dozen Episodes ... and the Road Ahead

Six months ago, the Kudzu Project started with a simple idea: sit down with good people and have great conversations. No roadmap. No strategy. No script. Just a belief that the stories of folks here in Henderson County, across Western North Carolina and around the South, deserve to be heard.

Now, two dozen episodes in, something unexpected has taken root. In this special solo episode, I take a step back to reflect on the journey so far, and the stories that have shaped it. From veterans and community leaders to artists, business owners, and neighbors with stories you won’t hear anywhere else, the Kudzu Project has become something bigger than I ever imagined.

This episode is a thank you… and an invitation. If you’ve been listening, sharing, or supporting in any way, I’m grateful. And if you believe in what we’re building, I’m asking for your help to take it even further. Know someone with a story to tell? It might be time we sit down and talk.

- Submit a story idea at kudzuproject.com
- Or email directly at podcast@kudzuproject.com

Because at the end of the day, this podcast grows one story at a time. And we’re just getting started.

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is a proud presenting partner of the Apple Festival Races which will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The event is presented by Hunter Subaru, with support from Lassonde Pappas, Cummins, and Mountain Credit Union. This event has something for runners of every level with an 8K, 5K, and Chick-fil-A Mini Moo Mile. To register, visit https://raceroster.com/events/2026/111853/apple-festival-races. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:18

Hey y'all, it's Nick Lucy with the Kudzu Project Podcast. I didn't publish an episode at Zero Dark 30 this morning like I usually do. I didn't have an interview lined up, but I did want to give you something to listen to and think about. So here goes. I started this podcast in October of last year, and I'm now 24 episodes in. And this podcast is growing day by day. The Kudzu Project has been downloaded thousands of times across the United States and overseas, from Singapore to Spain, Italy to the United Arab Emirates. Our stories have been heard in Los Angeles, Alaska, New York City, Miami, and beyond. I wanted to put things in perspective, not just for you, my wonderful listener, but also for myself. I've done a little research and I've discovered the following. According to statistics, 90% of podcasts don't make it past episode 3. And of the 10% that continue past episode 3, 90% of those quit before episode 20. So at 24 episodes in, we are in the top 1% of podcasts worldwide. That means this little podcast that started here in Henderson County, North Carolina, is in pretty rare territory. And this is where things start to get interesting. If you can produce this many episodes, it's very likely that the podcast will start growing exponentially. In the coming weeks, I plan to video these interviews as well, so you'll be able to not only listen to, but watch the Kudzu Project. I have some very interesting personalities lined up, so I hope you'll stay tuned. I wanted to take the opportunity to talk directly to you, my esteemed listener, because I've been thinking a lot lately about what this podcast has become. Six months in, and I can honestly say it's turned into something I never fully expected. When I started the Kudzu Project, I didn't have a concrete plan, a detailed strategy, or a definitive roadmap. I guess in hindsight, I was kind of throwing spaghetti at the wall. But I did start with a simple idea to sit down with real people here in Henderson County or around Western North Carolina or even beyond and have real conversations. Have good people tell great stories that might otherwise never be heard. Because I've always believed that everyone everywhere has a story worth telling. And not just scandalous, sensational, headline-grabbing stories. I'm talking about the ones that often get overlooked, or worse, never even get told. To give these people and these stories a voice and to broadcast them from this corner of the world out into the universe. And over the course of these two dozen episodes, I've had the privilege of hearing a lot of those great stories. I've sat across from veterans, folks who've served this country, and come back with experiences many of us can't even begin to understand. I've talked with people who are dedicating their lives to helping others, whether that's through nonprofits, public service, community work, or assisting others through the lessons they've learned in their own lives. I've had conversations with artists and creators, people who see the world a little differently, and remind us that creativity still matters. Business owners who took a risk on themselves, leaders who are shaping where our communities are headed. And then there are the stories that don't fit neatly into any category. The ones about loss, the ones about pushing through, about rebuilding, about figuring things out as you go. Amazingly, my most popular episode was the interview with my wife, who has an amazing story to tell. Of course, I am very biased. And that's really what the Kudzu Project is all about. It's about pulling back the curtain. It's about taking the time to listen rather than just amplifying your own voice out into the world. Now, I'll be honest with you, doing this podcast hasn't always been easy, especially when I'm also trying to operate a successful marketing agency, have a successful marriage, and even have a life outside of the studio. There are a lot of moving parts. Scheduling, recording, editing, promoting, trying to figure out what works and what doesn't, wondering if people are actually listening, or if it's just disappearing into the ether. But then something happens. Someone reaches out and says, hey, I really enjoyed that episode, or I had no idea that person had that story. Or even just keep going. Or sometimes, how come you didn't drop an episode today? And that's enough. Because it reminds me that this matters, that these conversations matter. And if you're one of those people who've listened, whether it's just one episode or all 24, I just want to say thank you. Seriously. You're the reason this works at all. But here's the thing. If this podcast is going to grow, if it's going to reach more people, if we're going to keep bringing this area of the country to a larger audience, if we're going to keep uncovering the kinds of stories that deserve to be heard, I can't do it alone. This has to be a community effort. This podcast is and will continue to be absolutely free and listener supported. But I want to ask you for a few simple things. If you like an episode you hear on Spotify or Apple or YouTube, like it. Rate the podcast, write a review, share it, tell a friend, post it on your social media feed. All these things matter because it helps more people just like you find the podcast and it tells the platforms that this is something worth paying attention to. Because as anybody making or listening to podcasts knows, word of mouth is a very powerful thing. But most of all, and this might be the most important thing, help me find the next story. Because the best episodes, the ones that really resonate, usually come from word of mouth as well. So think about it. Who do you know that other people should know about? Who is doing something meaningful? Who's got a story that hasn't been told? Maybe it's someone you work with. Maybe it's a neighbor. Maybe it's someone you've known all your life. Or maybe it's you. If you've got a story, if you've lived something, built something, gone through something that could help or inspire someone else, I want to hear from you. You can reach out directly. Go to our website, kudzuproject.com. I have a form right there on the homepage where you can submit your story idea. Reach out on social media. You can even write me a letter via snail mail, P.O. Box 6053, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28793. Or write me an email. Podcast at Kudzuproject.com. At the end of the day, this podcast grows one story at a time. There's no shortcut, no hack, just one conversation leading to another and another. And over time, we start to build something together. So if you like what we're building here, help me keep it going. Help me find the next voice. Let's see where this thing can go. We're just getting started. And as always, thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

The Kudzu project is made possible by the Lucy Agency, helping businesses across the South grow deep roots and stand out. Based in Hendersonville, North Carolina, this full-service marketing firm builds handcrafted websites, eye-catching logos, and social media that pops for businesses and organizations. Because if your story's worth telling, it's worth telling right. Learn more at LucyAgency.com. That's L-U-C-Eyagency.com.

SPEAKER_01 8:04

Everyone has a story. And at the Cudzu Project, we want to hear yours. Go to Kudzu Project.com and fill out our story submission form. You can write your story for us to read on the podcast, request to be interviewed, or even nominate someone else whose story deserves to be told. The Cudzu Project is all about capturing the voices and spirit of our community, and your story could be the next one we share. Visit Kudzu Project.com and tell your story today.