The Summer of '62  |  Episode 1 episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 24, 2026 · 37 MIN

The Summer of '62 | Episode 1

from Higher Grounds · host YellaBird Media

In the series premiere, journalist Kat Singleton arrives at Higher Grounds to speak with the women behind Nashville’s most infamous coffeehouse. Thirty years ago, the coffeehouse made international headlines when child star turned rock icon Elle Harrison was found dead in its parking lot. Six weeks later, mobster Carmine D’Orazio was gunned down in the same spot. Both cases were closed quickly, but questions have lingered for decades.Now, for the first time, the women who built Higher Grounds are ready to speak.Told through candid interviews, Higher Grounds traces four women’s lives across the decades—friendship, ambition, fame, and fallout—leading to the moment long-buried secrets erupted into one of Music City’s most explosive scandals.The story begins here, in the summer of ’62.Written and produced by Kimberly Conway.Dive deeper into the story and explore upcoming YellaBird productions at: www.yellabird.comFollow YellaBird Media:Instagram: @yellabirdmediaYouTube: YellaBird MediaTheme song: “Everything Changes” by Laura Jane Jones, available on Apple Music and Spotify.Featuring performances by:Laura Jane Jones as Sylvia RichardsonCynthia Ergenbright as Joni McKayJanice Lynn Sykes as Rozalyn MitchellKimberly Conway as Kat SingletonTara Madison as ReporterBrianne Buishas as Young ElleKyle Sanderson as AnnouncerRachanee Lumayno as Opening and Closing NarrationSound design and mixing by YellaBird Media.Mixing and mastering by Rick Such.Transcript and additional information available at:www.yellabird.com

In the series premiere, journalist Kat Singleton arrives at Higher Grounds to speak with the women behind Nashville’s most infamous coffeehouse. Thirty years ago, the coffeehouse made international headlines when child star turned rock icon Elle Harrison was found dead in its parking lot. Six weeks later, mobster Carmine D’Orazio was gunned down in the same spot. Both cases were closed quickly, but questions have lingered for decades.Now, for the first time, the women who built Higher Grounds are ready to speak.Told through candid interviews, Higher Grounds traces four women’s lives across the decades—friendship, ambition, fame, and fallout—leading to the moment long-buried secrets erupted into one of Music City’s most explosive scandals.The story begins here, in the summer of ’62.Written and produced by Kimberly Conway.Dive deeper into the story and explore upcoming YellaBird productions at: www.yellabird.comFollow YellaBird Media:Instagram: @yellabirdmediaYouTube: YellaBird MediaTheme song: “Everything Changes” by Laura Jane Jones, available on Apple Music and Spotify.Featuring performances by:Laura Jane Jones as Sylvia RichardsonCynthia Ergenbright as Joni McKayJanice Lynn Sykes as Rozalyn MitchellKimberly Conway as Kat SingletonTara Madison as ReporterBrianne Buishas as Young ElleKyle Sanderson as AnnouncerRachanee Lumayno as Opening and Closing NarrationSound design and mixing by YellaBird Media.Mixing and mastering by Rick Such.Transcript and additional information available at:www.yellabird.com

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The Summer of '62 | Episode 1

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This episode is 37 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 24, 2026.

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In the series premiere, journalist Kat Singleton arrives at Higher Grounds to speak with the women behind Nashville’s most infamous coffeehouse. Thirty years ago, the coffeehouse made international headlines when child star turned rock icon Elle...

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