Creative Paths and Craft Beer | Amanda and Chris Brown’s Adventure

What does it look like when you hike 2,000 miles, fall in love, move across the country, and somehow end up exactly where you were meant to be? Amanda Michaels-Brown and Chris Brown didn't plan to plant roots in Dalton, Georgia — but Dalton had other plans. From a chance college connection to a tragedy that revealed the power of community, their story is a reminder that the place you come home to shapes you in ways you never expect. Amanda leads the Creative Arts Guild, one of Georgia's oldest multidisciplinary arts nonprofits, and Chris founded Dalton Brewing Company with friends while working as a lawyer at Geiger Legal. Together, they've become two of the most invested voices in Dalton's revitalization.HighlightsAmanda and Chris were born in the same hospital in Syracuse, New York — but didn't meet until their first semester at the University of the South (Sewanee), connected through a mutual friend from DaltonThe two hiked the entire Appalachian Trail together after college before deciding to build a life togetherAmanda grew up immersed in the arts in Dalton, ultimately majoring in theater after a pivotal senior-year audition for The King and IAfter law school in Denver, Chris commuted between Dalton and Colorado for years — eventually choosing to fully plant roots in DaltonThe loss of Amanda's father brought her back to Dalton and showed both of them what true community looks like: neighbors who showed up, cooked meals, and didn't leave for nearly two weeksAmanda was hired at the Creative Arts Guild almost by accident — a visit to see a friend turned into a job offer and eventually the Executive Director positionThe Creative Arts Guild was founded in 1963 and is one of the first multidisciplinary arts nonprofits in the state of GeorgiaChris and partners launched Dalton Brewing Company in 2018 on his 35th birthday, inspired by Denver's neighborhood brewery cultureBoth see the brewery and the Guild as "third places" — community gathering spaces that go far beyond their primary functionsTheir best advice for newcomers: show up, get involved, and don't be fooled into thinking there's nothing to do hereChapters0:00 — Welcome Back0:28 — Meet Amanda and Chris1:33 — Amanda's Roots in Dalton3:55 — College Connection4:47 — First Impressions of Dalton5:25 — Arts Path and the Guild9:08 — Denver Move and Proposal10:00 — Life in Denver Changes11:58 — Loss and Community Support14:05 — Guild Director Opportunity16:44 — Returning to Revitalize Dalton17:49 — Dreaming Up the Brewery18:53 — Community Party Vibes19:13 — Brewery as Third Place19:50 — Family-Friendly Pushback20:37 — Guild During the Recession21:50 — Building Dalton's Live Music Scene23:38 — The Guild as Extended Family24:58 — Staying or Leaving Dalton27:06 — Advice for Newcomers29:32 — So Much to Do Here32:27 — Favorite Dalton Moments34:06 — Dalton Stories and Laughs36:13 — Wrap Up and PlugsResources MentionedCreative Arts Guild — Dalton's multidisciplinary nonprofit arts organization, founded in 1963Dalton Brewing Company — Craft brewery and community gathering space in downtown DaltonGeiger Legal — Law firm where Chris Brown practicesUniversity of the South (Sewanee) — Where Amanda and Chris met as freshmenFollow the show:Instagram: @behere.daltonFacebook: Here MagazineLinkedIn: Here Local MediaThanks for listening! Be sure to support the show by subscribing on your podcast player and leave us a review!