In this episode of Retire Southern, James Lewis sits down with Dave Echols, President and General Manager of the Charleston RiverDogs, inside the press box at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.

Dave shares the simple philosophy that has guided nearly two decades of leadership. Fun is good.

You will hear how that idea influences everything from staff culture and fan experience to community engagement and trust. The conversation also explores the RiverDogs' role in Charleston beyond baseball, including the powerful moment following the Mother Emanuel tragedy, when city leaders made a simple request. Play the games. Open the gates.

This is a thoughtful conversation about joy as strategy, community as responsibility, and why a ballpark can be more than a place to watch a game. Sometimes it becomes a place to heal.

Listen to the full episode and explore the complete written feature at retiresouthern.com.

In this episode of Retire Southern, James Lewis travels to the Lowcountry to explore what it really takes to grow oysters the right way. Recorded on the water at Charleston Oyster Farm, this conversation dives into mariculture, stewardship, and the patience required to work in rhythm with tides, weather, and nature itself.

You will hear how oyster farming works from seed to harvest, why Charleston oysters reflect the place they are grown, and what it means to build a sustainable operation from the ground up. From navigating years of permitting to delivering oysters to local restaurants just hours after harvest, this episode offers a rare look behind the scenes of a working waterfront.

A thoughtful conversation about place, responsibility, and why sometimes the best path forward is learning to grow with the flow.

Charleston Oyster Farm Website

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In this episode of Retire Southern, James sits down with Chris Hall, one of the South's most influential hospitality leaders and the co-founder of Unsukay Restaurant Group. From childhood memories shaped around a family dinner table to the intense kitchens that forged his career, Chris shares a story filled with grit, generosity, and the belief that food connects us all.

You will hear how Muss & Turners, Local Three, MTH Pizza, and Roshambo came to life, why Chris never wanted to wake up at sixty and wonder what if, and how a tragedy inside their restaurant family sparked the creation of Giving Kitchen, the James Beard Award winning nonprofit that now serves hospitality workers across the country.

This conversation explores the heart of Southern dining, the evolution of intentional hospitality spaces like Warhorse and Seahorse, the dishes you absolutely cannot miss at each of his restaurants, and why human connection sits at the center of everything Chris and his team create.

A powerful episode rooted in purpose, humor, honesty, and the reminder that life is too short to wait for someday.

Explore Unsukay: https://unsukay.com/

Explore Giving Kitchen: https://unsukay.com/giving/