Episodes
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Sumner Bender, the Nickelodeon Theatre's Executive Director, sets the stage in Columbia, SC
This week Kat Kezon, host of the Carbonated Conversations Podcast, sits down with Sumner Bender, the Executive Director of Main Street's beloved Nickelodeon Theatre, South Carolina's only nonprofit arthouse cinema. As a Columbia native, Sumner shares her experiences growing up and becoming a…
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Richard Hurteau (of Richard and the Twins) crowns Columbia, SC a music city
This week, host Kat Kezon is joined by Richard Hurteau of Richard and the Twins! Richard, a self-taught guitarist from McClellanville, talks about following his lifelong dream of making music from garages in McClellanville to writers rounds in Nashville to various beloved venues here in Columbia,...
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Kayla Sweet Hagler centers Queer Mental Health in her work in Columbia, SC
This week host Kat Kezon is joined by Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Kayla Sweet Counseling, Kayla Sweet Hagler. Through her work as a therapist, Kayla identified a gap and need for Queer-centric mental health spaces in Columbia, SC and went on to build her own Queer-forward…
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Jackie Bobo returns
This week host Kat is reunited with local artist and HEARTist, Jackie Bobo. Jackie shares her experiences navigating the artists traps that exist within her industry. Jackie offers her call to action and takes on the POP quiz with fervor! You won't want to miss it.
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Jackie Bobo merges happy with spooky in Columbia, SC
This week, host Kat Kezon chats with fellow pop drinker and Columbia artist, Jackie Bobo! Jackie's adventures as an artist began on her front porch during COVID lockdown and have since soared to incredible heights as The Garage Studio's artist-in-residence. Jackie defines "neighbor" and...
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Rian Jenkins Inspires Beyond the Classroom through Writing, Performing, and Mentoring in Columbia, SC
This week, host Kat Kezon is joined by Rian N. Jenkins for a very carbonated conversation. Born into storytelling, Rian shares her lifelong transformation from confiscated notebooks to seven published books of her stories and poetry. Rian discusses coming into her love of reading as a teacher...
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Sandra Rivas liberates children's education at Peaceful Gatherings Nature School
This week host Kat Kezon is joined by Sandra Rivas, the founder of Peaceful Gatherings Nature School. Peaceful Gatherings Nature School, located in the St. Andrews neighborhood, is an Agile Learning Community where learning is inclusive, land-based, and liberated. Sandra shares how she identified…
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Jemia Williams writes a new chapter for Columbia as Cola Silent Book Club Host
This week, host Kat Kezon has the pleasure of sitting down with reader, writer, consultant, community architect, and host of the Columbia Silent Book Club, Miss Jemia Williams. Jemia shares how catching up with a friend over silent reading turned into an opportunity to host the city's chapter of...
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Jordan Sirois brings the big screen to Columbia, SC with Watching Movies Podcast
This week, host Kat Kezon sits down with Jordan Sirois, host of the Watching Movies Podcast. Jordan talks about how movies have remained a steady interest and hobby, and has since produced a movie podcast with family and friends. Jordan advocates for visiting your local movie theatre and creating...
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The Magnolia Drifters tackle rugby culture, body positivity, and women's sports
This week, Kat sits down with Britt and Kara of the Magnolia Drifters womxn's rugby club, a 501(c)3 and womxn's social club promoting positive rugby culture and community service. The teammates discuss falling in love with the sport, especially thanks to their amazing teammates.
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Dogon Krigga crafts their love letter to Columbia SC's artists
This episode is truly a love letter to the Soda City. Kat has the pleasure of sitting down with multi-talented paper craft, fabrication, and graphic artist Dogon Krigga whose Afrofuturist, Afrosurrealist art can be found all around the city of Columbia. Dogon shares on their artistic roots in the...
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Rebekah Cadet builds a village in Columbia, SC celebrating Black motherhood
It's Black Maternal Health Week! And host Kat Kezon has the pleasure of sitting down with Rebekah Cadet, the founder of The Black Mom Village, who opens up about her personal experiences in motherhood that set her on the course to find and build her village. Rebekah has created a space for Black...
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Evelyn Berry sings Queerness through the US South one poem at a time
This week, your host Kat sits down with trans, Southern author Evelyn Berry for another Carbonated Conversation. Evelyn discusses the books that built her, the practices that sustain her, and the Southern treats that delight her. We talk Queerness and the United States South, Queerness IN the...
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Penny McPeak starts with the art in Columbia, SC
This week, host Kat Kezon sits down for a carbonated conversation with local Artist and Art Consultant, Penny McPeak of Penny & Lucy Lou Co. Penny is a multi-media artist whose work has been implemented in nearly every element of interior design here in Columbia, SC all the way to Barbados. Penny...
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John Tjaarda flies us through a lesson on the backyard birds of Columbia, SC
Greetings listeners! This week Kat sits down with John Tjaarda for a lesson on the backyard birds of Columbia, SC. John flies us listeners through a lesson on what birds you can expect to see during the different months of the year, how to get started on your own birding adventures, and the...
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Kylee Hewitt pours into Columbia, SC with Cola AF
This week, Kat sits down with Kylee Hewitt, founder of Cola AF (Alcohol Free), career tattoo artist, and emerging social worker. Kylee shares her journey of reevaluating her relationship with alcohol and explains how that process inspired her to create Cola AF, a space for fun and community…
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Scott Padgett uncovers Columbia SC's Rock n Roll History
This week, Kat sits down with Scott Padgett, former co-owner of Rockafella's, Columbia SC's spot for rock n roll. Tune in to hear which artists cut their teeth at the Rockafellas before their big breaks, what keeps Columbia from being a true music city, and a deep cut Cola hidden gem. You won't...
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Jacob Kirby of Piecewise Coffee spills on coffee as community connection in Columbia, SC
Welcome to Season 2 of the Carbonated Conversations Podcast! This week, host Kat Kezon sits down with co-owner of local accolade-winning coffee shop, Piecewise Coffee. Jacob shares the story of the shop's inception, his family origins as small business owners, and the importance of shopping locally.
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Georgia Woodard brings calm and luxury to Columbia, South Carolina through Peche Skin Co
This week, Kat sits down with licensed esthetician and owner of Peche Skin Co, Georgia Woodard. Ever wonder why you leave a facial feeling a level of relaxation that lasts for days? Well in this episode, Georgia explains the powerful impacts of facials on our parasympathetic nervous system. We…
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Episode 9: Brii Sweatshirt leaves her influence on Columbia, South CarolinAAA with her unique voice, experiences, and passion
Happy 2026, Columbia South CarolinAAAAA! Bring in the new year with Kat and local influencer Brii Sweatshirt as they discuss transitioning out of the military in Columbia, uplifting small businesses in the city, and finding Brii's voice! Brii talks everything from post-partum to baked beans to...
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Paul Curtin reflects on multigenerational friendships and snow-birding in Columbia, SC
Kat sits down with her dear pal Paul Curtin to discuss the beauty of multigenerational/intergenerational friendships. The pair have been friends for several years and have an age gap of 40 years. Paul shares his experiences snow-birding in Columbia, SC and creating a home and a life here....
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Tracey Goldson enhances wellness in Columbia, South Carolina with MindWell Carolina
It's a pleasure to have Licensed Professional Counselor Tracey Goldson share her
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Zita Riser explores the Columbia Zine scene
Welcome back to the Carbonated Conversations podcast! This week's guest, Zita Riser, is the zine creator and collector behind the South Carolina Zine Collection at Richland Library, where zine authors can have their creations catalogued for check out just like any book in the library's…
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Columbia Community Fridges nourishes our neighbors through grassroots mutual aid efforts
This week Claire, one of the founding organizers of Columbia Community Fridges, joins us to talk food insecurity, rescue, recovery, and redistribution. CCF is a grassroots organization working to bring outdoor, publicly accessible community fridges to our city. These fridges are beautifully...
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Jim O'Malley has a Wicked time in Pop City
This week's guest is Kat's bestie of 25 years, Jim O'Malley, a Nurse Practitioner, world traveler, yoga instructor, and the podcasts first pop drinker!! Jim shares his perspectives on Columbia, SC as a now two-time visitor. Jim also talks about his recent move to Grand Rapids, MI and how he has...
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Maria Paz Villanueva navigates a new language, a new city, and a new opportunity for education
This week, Kat is joined by her dear friend Maria Paz Villanueva, a local body artist from Santiago, Chile. Maria shares her experience learning English through Columbia’s ESL classes, where Soda City residents from all over the world come together to practice language, build community, and…
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Holly Johnson blazes new trails with Columbia Girls Who Walk
This week, Holly Johnson, organizer of Columbia Girls Who Walk, shares the story behind this beloved Cola organization responsible for creating a safe and meaningful space for female connection, friendship, and empowerment in our city. Holly takes us back to her first time attending a Columbia...
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Cait Patel talks local art and the birth of Palmetto Purpose
Join Kat in a colorful, carbonated conversation with local artist and muralist Cait Patel. Cait discusses her experiences turning her passion for art into a career with her business, The Blissful Hippie, and navigating the local art scene as a festival vendor and lover of the arts herself. Cait...
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A Pop Drinker's Love Letter to the Soda City
Host Kat Kezon kicks off Carbonated Conversations — the local storytelling podcast celebrating Columbia, South Carolina. From local artists to community builders and everyday changemakers, each episode captures stories that bubble up from the heart of Soda City. Follow along at...