The Joys of Living East Tennessee with Amber Carroll

1
00:00:05,300 --> 00:00:08,070
Welcome, everyone, to another episode of Connect.

2
00:00:09,770 --> 00:00:15,200
I am your host, Julia Hurley, connecting Knoxville to the nation.

3
00:00:15,370 --> 00:00:19,470
And today, we have a connector of our own, Amber Carroll.

4
00:00:19,470 --> 00:00:24,810
She is the new hostess of Living East Tennessee, one of the most popular

5
00:00:24,810 --> 00:00:28,520
TV shows letting you know what's going on in the East Tennessee market.

6
00:00:28,729 --> 00:00:30,659
Amber, thank you so much for joining us today.

7
00:00:30,869 --> 00:00:32,000
Thank you so much for having me.

8
00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:32,759
This is a blast.

9
00:00:32,790 --> 00:00:35,300
I'm usually on your end, so this is a lot of fun for me.

10
00:00:36,270 --> 00:00:37,860
You do so many interviews.

11
00:00:38,090 --> 00:00:40,220
You get to talk to so many amazing people

12
00:00:40,220 --> 00:00:42,050
across the Knoxville and East Tennessee market.

13
00:00:42,260 --> 00:00:45,609
You bring a lot of excitement and a lot of personal

14
00:00:45,629 --> 00:00:49,010
touch to what most would say is a boring news day.

15
00:00:49,049 --> 00:00:52,019
So a lot of people tune in to WATE Channel 6 News just

16
00:00:52,180 --> 00:00:54,940
to find out what's going on in Living East Tennessee.

17
00:00:54,940 --> 00:00:55,930
So tell us a little bit.

18
00:00:55,970 --> 00:00:57,620
Let's start with just about you.

19
00:00:57,769 --> 00:01:01,019
I think people in Knoxville would like to get to know who their new host is.

20
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:02,089
Yeah.

21
00:01:02,089 --> 00:01:03,089
I love this job.

22
00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:04,019
I love what I do.

23
00:01:04,470 --> 00:01:06,600
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I was out

24
00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,100
in California, actually, and this job popped up.

25
00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:11,110
I was doing medical TV, out of all things.

26
00:01:11,429 --> 00:01:15,050
I went to University of Tennessee, started out in sports reporting

27
00:01:15,059 --> 00:01:19,389
and anchoring, and wanted to kind of get back to that side of TV as

28
00:01:19,389 --> 00:01:22,459
to where you could have a little bit more excitement and personality.

29
00:01:22,459 --> 00:01:25,059
Loved medical TV, but blood wasn't my thing, so

30
00:01:25,060 --> 00:01:27,380
I was watching surgeries and all those things.

31
00:01:27,669 --> 00:01:30,009
It was a blast, a great area in life.

32
00:01:30,370 --> 00:01:34,759
So they got me back from California, and they kind of hit me with it.

33
00:01:34,759 --> 00:01:37,289
You can start going to Tennessee games again in Neyland.

34
00:01:37,289 --> 00:01:39,309
And I was like, hands down, I'll see you in a month.

35
00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:44,419
It's been such a blast and such a huge blessing to not only get to

36
00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,759
be back in my home state, which is so close to my heart, but be right

37
00:01:48,759 --> 00:01:53,439
here in Knoxville, where it's growing so rapidly, but in a great way.

38
00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,840
And to be a part of that and experience that and experience

39
00:01:56,860 --> 00:01:59,510
it alongside locals here, and it makes me feel like

40
00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,179
this is actually home over Nashville, to be honest.

41
00:02:02,490 --> 00:02:03,880
Knoxville's way better than Nashville.

42
00:02:04,050 --> 00:02:05,740
Hands down, hands down.

43
00:02:05,790 --> 00:02:06,250
Hands down.

44
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,810
So how did you facilitate, because I've seen

45
00:02:09,890 --> 00:02:11,760
Living East Tennessee completely change.

46
00:02:11,899 --> 00:02:13,810
The guests have changed, the atmosphere has changed,

47
00:02:14,089 --> 00:02:16,330
the excitement has changed, the interviews have changed.

48
00:02:16,490 --> 00:02:20,620
You're bringing really different aspects and a different community conversation.

49
00:02:20,700 --> 00:02:23,189
What are some of, currently, since you've been

50
00:02:23,190 --> 00:02:25,850
there, you're absolutely like favorite segment?

51
00:02:25,970 --> 00:02:28,360
You know, like today, there was a moment

52
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:29,920
where I just, I couldn't get my words out.

53
00:02:29,990 --> 00:02:30,660
You can't speak.

54
00:02:30,660 --> 00:02:32,930
So some days you're just like, I'm trying to turn on,

55
00:02:32,930 --> 00:02:35,540
you know, I'm trying to be here with you guys and people.

56
00:02:35,540 --> 00:02:38,470
And I guess that human element, I think that's one of my favorite

57
00:02:38,490 --> 00:02:42,170
aspects in general about lifestyle is having that human element.

58
00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,720
But honestly, I don't know if I have like a specific favorite segment,

59
00:02:46,730 --> 00:02:50,390
but one of my favorite things I've been able to do is be able to

60
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,900
connect with local business owners or even like people have my number

61
00:02:53,900 --> 00:02:57,350
and they'll text me and say, "Hey, we've got this new thing coming on.

62
00:02:57,380 --> 00:02:58,380
We'd love to come on and share it."

63
00:02:58,380 --> 00:02:59,349
And I'm like, absolutely.

64
00:02:59,349 --> 00:03:03,070
And so for me, the most important aspect of this show is not

65
00:03:03,089 --> 00:03:05,730
only connecting locally with the viewers, but connecting with

66
00:03:05,730 --> 00:03:09,500
the people around us and to know they have their own outlet and

67
00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:12,130
people to come to that they feel like they can trust with their

68
00:03:12,130 --> 00:03:16,169
business and be able to share that with East Tennessee and beyond.

69
00:03:16,505 --> 00:03:19,315
Because like, you know, people come from all over the place to travel

70
00:03:19,315 --> 00:03:22,225
here, whether it's the Smoky Mountains, whether it's the Tennessee Games.

71
00:03:22,255 --> 00:03:25,505
I mean, Knoxville is just, it's a hub now, you know, for people to

72
00:03:25,505 --> 00:03:29,324
come and travel, and we want to be able to be like, "This is, our town.

73
00:03:29,405 --> 00:03:31,355
Welcome to our place, East Tennessee."

74
00:03:31,685 --> 00:03:35,415
And to me, like I said, I don't know if I have a specific segment in mind.

75
00:03:35,435 --> 00:03:36,895
I just like to have a lot of fun, girl.

76
00:03:36,905 --> 00:03:38,815
Like we, we have a blast.

77
00:03:38,825 --> 00:03:40,355
Sometimes I mess up and I'm like, you know what?

78
00:03:40,385 --> 00:03:45,260
It's okay, but the people here are incredible and to see it come

79
00:03:45,260 --> 00:03:48,350
to life like that, that is, that is the ultimate experience for me.

80
00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,290
So I know you have a guest cook who has also been on my

81
00:03:52,290 --> 00:03:56,740
television show and on my podcast, Michael Galeon, Blue Shirt Guy.

82
00:03:56,830 --> 00:03:59,720
So I saw that yesterday and I thought, oh my gosh, how cool is it

83
00:03:59,729 --> 00:04:03,370
that I've had so many different people and we all find a way to

84
00:04:03,430 --> 00:04:07,490
connect, which is exactly why we now have our podcast, ConnectTheKnox.

85
00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:08,940
You are doing the same with television.

86
00:04:08,970 --> 00:04:11,670
You're connecting people in the community.

87
00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,380
Some of the best episodes I've seen are definitely brought

88
00:04:14,650 --> 00:04:17,619
by some of our biggest treasures like the Knoxville Zoo.

89
00:04:18,709 --> 00:04:20,730
You get to experience those kinds of things.

90
00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:22,150
Uh, what are some of the new things?

91
00:04:22,289 --> 00:04:25,010
You know, I love, um, Knoxville has opening so many

92
00:04:25,010 --> 00:04:28,575
different, it's Knoxville, not only Knoxville, but like East

93
00:04:28,585 --> 00:04:31,245
Tennessee in general, there's so many different aspects.

94
00:04:31,285 --> 00:04:34,905
Opening up, there's a new place in Clinton actually that's about to open.

95
00:04:35,565 --> 00:04:39,195
Oh yeah, oh my gosh, that place is going to be amazing.

96
00:04:39,454 --> 00:04:41,795
One of my favorite like little hidden gems, a lot

97
00:04:41,795 --> 00:04:45,285
of people coming to the Gatlinburg area, Townsend.

98
00:04:45,295 --> 00:04:48,405
I love Townsend, you know, you've got the beauty out

99
00:04:48,405 --> 00:04:50,945
there, but then also there's so many local makers that come

100
00:04:50,945 --> 00:04:55,095
from Knoxville to whether they're in Townsend in general.

101
00:04:55,335 --> 00:04:58,815
I love that area of the world too, and East Tennessee.

102
00:04:58,865 --> 00:05:01,815
But I would say coming up and stuff, I just think

103
00:05:01,815 --> 00:05:03,395
there's so many different businesses popping up.

104
00:05:03,395 --> 00:05:06,545
Like I've, even recently, I've had a lot of uptick and people texting me

105
00:05:06,545 --> 00:05:09,285
like, this person's starting their own clothing line, different things.

106
00:05:09,285 --> 00:05:10,305
And I'm like, let's do it.

107
00:05:10,305 --> 00:05:11,704
Let's bring each other up.

108
00:05:11,704 --> 00:05:12,845
Let's all connect.

109
00:05:12,964 --> 00:05:16,845
And there's so many great business place like Maker City, for instance, that

110
00:05:16,845 --> 00:05:20,535
connects people, but then also helps you get your business like off the ground.

111
00:05:20,675 --> 00:05:25,500
I think those businesses are so crucial because we're all noticing like, I want

112
00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,960
my time, I want to be able to spend time with my family, my kids, I want to

113
00:05:29,070 --> 00:05:33,610
own my own business, and I can do this and having that support system is huge.

114
00:05:33,610 --> 00:05:37,000
And so I love connecting with people like that are encouraging local

115
00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,849
business owners, and I've met some of my best friends through this show.

116
00:05:40,849 --> 00:05:42,720
It was just crazy, and I love it.

117
00:05:42,730 --> 00:05:47,110
It's so much fun, but there's so much happening in East Tennessee.

118
00:05:47,285 --> 00:05:48,225
at an incredible rate.

119
00:05:48,295 --> 00:05:52,055
So, WATE is now the station for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

120
00:05:52,055 --> 00:05:55,385
You all won that contract over Channel 8 this past year.

121
00:05:55,745 --> 00:05:59,774
So, as a former sportscaster and someone who's now back in the spotlight

122
00:05:59,775 --> 00:06:03,275
in the Knoxville, Tennessee market, and Knoxville was just labeled

123
00:06:04,145 --> 00:06:08,325
collegiate sports, Mecca or something like we are now the number

124
00:06:08,495 --> 00:06:11,235
one place for collegiate sports in the United States of America.

125
00:06:11,425 --> 00:06:14,145
How is that like going to play in to all of the things

126
00:06:14,145 --> 00:06:16,164
that you have to offer and what you're able to do?

127
00:06:16,284 --> 00:06:18,805
And they know too, anytime I get to have any kind of like

128
00:06:18,824 --> 00:06:21,245
sports element in this show, I'm like, can we do this?

129
00:06:21,274 --> 00:06:24,555
Can we, you know, do something with homecoming or whatever it might be.

130
00:06:24,594 --> 00:06:28,284
And I think that's the beauty of East Tennessee, even if you're not.

131
00:06:28,344 --> 00:06:31,674
Um, quick story, one of my best friends who I met at an

132
00:06:31,704 --> 00:06:35,565
art gallery down here, he moved here from New Jersey.

133
00:06:35,945 --> 00:06:38,344
They're more of like pro sports fans, and they moved

134
00:06:38,364 --> 00:06:40,809
to Knoxville in January of this year, I believe.

135
00:06:40,910 --> 00:06:42,140
Huge UT fans now.

136
00:06:42,230 --> 00:06:42,860
Huge UT.

137
00:06:42,890 --> 00:06:45,100
They're like, we've never even been college collegiate sports

138
00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:49,140
fans really, but we got here and we were like, this is epic.

139
00:06:49,140 --> 00:06:52,270
You know, and some of us, some, some people might call us friends,

140
00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,149
fans crazy, you know, but you know, I, I think that's a part of it.

141
00:06:56,149 --> 00:06:57,369
That's a part of the SEC.

142
00:06:57,369 --> 00:07:02,030
It's a part of the South in general and being able to incorporate

143
00:07:02,409 --> 00:07:05,034
different elements, like things you're interested in, like sports.

144
00:07:06,145 --> 00:07:09,085
And kind of make it approachable for everyone, which I love, you know,

145
00:07:09,085 --> 00:07:12,855
it's not just a guy thing or, you know, someone who likes sports.

146
00:07:12,865 --> 00:07:14,304
It's an, let's get together.

147
00:07:14,305 --> 00:07:18,964
Let's have a really good time and let's support this huge cause that, I mean,

148
00:07:18,964 --> 00:07:22,084
you've seen the videos, the hype videos that the Vol football throws out.

149
00:07:22,105 --> 00:07:24,195
And I mean, I don't care if you're a UT fan or not.

150
00:07:24,445 --> 00:07:25,665
You get excited about it.

151
00:07:25,675 --> 00:07:27,105
So it's, it's so much fun.

152
00:07:27,105 --> 00:07:29,965
And girl, anytime I could throw some sports stuff in

153
00:07:29,965 --> 00:07:31,815
here, they're always like, sure, yeah, you can do that.

154
00:07:33,105 --> 00:07:35,365
And I hear that same thing from people all over the country that we

155
00:07:35,365 --> 00:07:39,224
move here is, "Hey, our pro sport, we're pro, we're pro, we're pro."

156
00:07:39,504 --> 00:07:41,545
And they get here, they experience a hundred thousand.

157
00:07:41,895 --> 00:07:43,915
They experienced 200, 000 fans.

158
00:07:43,945 --> 00:07:46,845
They experienced the camaraderie and the tailgating.

159
00:07:47,055 --> 00:07:50,655
And I took some people from out of state through the tailgates last weekend.

160
00:07:50,795 --> 00:07:52,755
And I said, here, we're going to stop and say hi to these people.

161
00:07:52,755 --> 00:07:53,475
They said, "do you know them?"

162
00:07:53,475 --> 00:07:54,435
I said, "no, I don't have to.

163
00:07:54,715 --> 00:07:55,755
We're all family."

164
00:07:55,795 --> 00:07:56,715
We're at UT Game.

165
00:07:56,715 --> 00:07:57,325
We're just going to stop.

166
00:07:57,335 --> 00:08:00,054
We're going to say, hey, we're going to get you acclimated to the acquaintances.

167
00:08:00,054 --> 00:08:01,215
We'll get you some orange shirts.

168
00:08:01,215 --> 00:08:01,455
Let's go.

169
00:08:01,795 --> 00:08:03,415
Like, let's just go.

170
00:08:03,725 --> 00:08:07,965
And you get to bring that to all the locals that tune in to Channel 6 News.

171
00:08:08,005 --> 00:08:12,525
So what is your, maybe not dream, but vision for where

172
00:08:12,525 --> 00:08:15,225
you're able to go because now you're mobile, you all can

173
00:08:15,225 --> 00:08:18,034
actually leave the studio, you can go interview people.

174
00:08:18,195 --> 00:08:21,084
If you could ask anybody right now for an interview that you

175
00:08:21,125 --> 00:08:23,555
haven't been able to get right now, who would it be and why?

176
00:08:23,705 --> 00:08:27,125
One of the biggest things we want to open up into the next year is

177
00:08:27,125 --> 00:08:31,305
highlighting these like local cities maybe that aren't as much on the map

178
00:08:31,305 --> 00:08:34,725
when people come to the area and highlighting East Tennessee as a whole.

179
00:08:34,954 --> 00:08:39,004
When people are coming in for tourism and, um, really up, uptaking

180
00:08:39,054 --> 00:08:43,164
our social media platform and utilizing that to help build businesses

181
00:08:43,164 --> 00:08:46,584
here in East Tennessee, whether that's, um, we did a special, I

182
00:08:46,594 --> 00:08:50,344
think back in the spring and, and focused on Jefferson County, you

183
00:08:50,344 --> 00:08:53,364
know, in different places like that, where it's like, let's bring

184
00:08:53,374 --> 00:08:56,034
Living East Tennessee in here because this is also East Tennessee.

185
00:08:56,034 --> 00:08:58,504
It's not just the big city you see, maybe not even

186
00:08:58,514 --> 00:09:00,974
around Knoxville, but in the little hidden gems that.

187
00:09:01,189 --> 00:09:04,949
The Pizza Place is a, you know, hole in the wall that people go to that

188
00:09:04,959 --> 00:09:08,259
are stunning and that you might not ever know about unless you ask a local.

189
00:09:08,549 --> 00:09:11,369
So going into this next year, that's our goal.

190
00:09:11,389 --> 00:09:14,669
We want to spread it far and wide as long as the borders can go.

191
00:09:14,689 --> 00:09:17,959
Even, uh, we've kind of ventured into, like, western

192
00:09:17,959 --> 00:09:20,364
North Carolina a little bit, kind of breathed a little

193
00:09:20,364 --> 00:09:23,655
bit of Middle Tennessee, but, and even Northern Kentucky.

194
00:09:23,694 --> 00:09:27,634
But I think just highlighting those individuals and giving, helping people

195
00:09:27,634 --> 00:09:31,794
get themselves a platform to be able to come out, have the confidence to come

196
00:09:31,795 --> 00:09:35,175
out and, you know, have a great time with it and showcase their business.

197
00:09:35,175 --> 00:09:38,094
And that's, that's really what we want to do in 2025.

198
00:09:38,094 --> 00:09:39,224
Love that idea so much.

199
00:09:39,435 --> 00:09:41,474
I'll give you a first hint for Union County.

200
00:09:41,485 --> 00:09:43,204
It's this little restaurant called Little Joe's.

201
00:09:43,550 --> 00:09:45,240
Best prime rib you're ever going to find.

202
00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:46,400
And they only do it on Fridays.

203
00:09:46,510 --> 00:09:46,910
It's delicious.

204
00:09:47,219 --> 00:09:48,290
Well, Joe's Union County.

205
00:09:48,430 --> 00:09:48,969
All right, girl.

206
00:09:48,969 --> 00:09:49,860
I'm going to give them a call.

207
00:09:49,949 --> 00:09:50,839
That place is delicious.

208
00:09:50,969 --> 00:09:54,040
So when you're out and about in Knoxville, how often

209
00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,490
do people recognize you and want to take your attention

210
00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,060
and how often do they share things that you didn't know?

211
00:10:00,089 --> 00:10:02,240
I mean, that's something that I have found with people and they

212
00:10:02,270 --> 00:10:05,060
talk with me or they talk with some of our kids that we sponsor

213
00:10:05,060 --> 00:10:08,615
on the football team and they'll say, "hey, can I get a photo?"

214
00:10:08,855 --> 00:10:10,495
And they'll say, "did you know blank?"

215
00:10:10,625 --> 00:10:12,944
And sometimes I'm from here, my family's from here.

216
00:10:12,954 --> 00:10:14,275
Sometimes I'm like, no, I didn't know that.

217
00:10:14,275 --> 00:10:15,055
That's so exciting.

218
00:10:15,055 --> 00:10:15,594
Thank you for sharing.

219
00:10:15,704 --> 00:10:17,454
What have you found has been some of the best

220
00:10:17,795 --> 00:10:19,995
kept secret that the locals share with you?

221
00:10:20,194 --> 00:10:22,534
I think that's one of my favorite things is especially

222
00:10:22,535 --> 00:10:25,415
like being approachable, like in public and stuff, and it

223
00:10:25,415 --> 00:10:27,485
does, it does amaze me because you don't think about it.

224
00:10:27,515 --> 00:10:29,295
And most of the time I am not wearing makeup.

225
00:10:29,475 --> 00:10:31,954
I'm running on Market Square down here.

226
00:10:31,954 --> 00:10:34,965
Like I'm not, don't look like this outside of work

227
00:10:34,965 --> 00:10:36,495
a lot of the time, unless I'm going somewhere.

228
00:10:36,845 --> 00:10:39,395
And it's amazing when people do recognize you.

229
00:10:39,395 --> 00:10:42,604
I was checking out somewhere and a guy looked at

230
00:10:42,604 --> 00:10:44,684
my ID and he said, you look a lot taller on TV.

231
00:10:44,684 --> 00:10:45,814
And I was like, you know, I've never gotten

232
00:10:45,814 --> 00:10:47,675
that one, but I really appreciate that.

233
00:10:47,675 --> 00:10:50,095
You know, cause I I'm 5'10 without heels on

234
00:10:50,174 --> 00:10:52,255
and, um, have to wear heels in the studio.

235
00:10:52,265 --> 00:10:55,045
It makes me look, you know, as they would call Amazon.

236
00:10:55,645 --> 00:10:56,275
Amazon Amber.

237
00:10:56,575 --> 00:10:57,145
Oh my God.

238
00:10:57,435 --> 00:10:58,094
I love that.

239
00:10:58,104 --> 00:10:59,245
That's a, but I'll take it.

240
00:10:59,255 --> 00:11:00,724
You know, I'm like, I've been told my whole life.

241
00:11:00,724 --> 00:11:03,155
And I'm so, I love when people are just

242
00:11:03,354 --> 00:11:05,375
able to come up and talk to you like that.

243
00:11:05,505 --> 00:11:09,144
But honestly, yeah, one of my favorite things is being able to go

244
00:11:09,375 --> 00:11:13,144
even to like markets down here or wherever it might be, Maryville.

245
00:11:13,265 --> 00:11:16,094
And talking to not only the vendors, but then the vendors saying

246
00:11:16,094 --> 00:11:20,064
like, "Hey, have you heard of so and so or they're doing this?"

247
00:11:20,064 --> 00:11:22,925
And I actually had a phone conversation last night.

248
00:11:22,925 --> 00:11:26,344
I got a call at 10 o'clock from someone I'd worked with yesterday and

249
00:11:26,344 --> 00:11:29,234
they were like, I know it's late, but I've got to tell you about this.

250
00:11:29,234 --> 00:11:30,704
And you know, breast cancer awareness.

251
00:11:30,704 --> 00:11:33,374
And so connecting with her today and just like,

252
00:11:33,444 --> 00:11:35,675
I think that's what Knoxville is all about too.

253
00:11:35,675 --> 00:11:37,564
And East Tennessee in general, this.

254
00:11:37,730 --> 00:11:41,400
Connecting people with each other when we all have that like mindset of, and,

255
00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:45,710
you know, personally, you know, being able to empower others and connect each

256
00:11:45,710 --> 00:11:49,850
other and I, you know, There's billions and billions of people for a reason

257
00:11:49,850 --> 00:11:54,169
and it's definitely not made or created I feel like to just be by ourselves.

258
00:11:54,519 --> 00:11:58,680
We all know that real estate is location, location, location.

259
00:11:59,330 --> 00:12:03,260
Our team at Just Homes Group has the true expertise,

260
00:12:03,620 --> 00:12:06,789
pairing buyers and sellers with the right opportunities.

261
00:12:07,864 --> 00:12:11,005
Whether you're looking to buy or sell a home, right here

262
00:12:11,005 --> 00:12:16,854
in Knoxville, Lenoir City, Clinton, or Farragut, we have

263
00:12:16,864 --> 00:12:20,155
the expertise throughout every Knoxville surrounding area.

264
00:12:21,204 --> 00:12:23,055
Call Just Homes Group today.

265
00:12:24,310 --> 00:12:27,470
One of our favorites, you know, throughout the history of Knoxville, you

266
00:12:27,470 --> 00:12:31,580
come and go and you see people at restaurants and some of the most staple

267
00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,770
places have started to kind of wane off as their owners have aged out.

268
00:12:35,939 --> 00:12:38,589
Some of that je ne sais quoi, I suppose.

269
00:12:38,970 --> 00:12:41,949
Uh, what have you seen that's coming in that's taking younger

270
00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,359
people with new ideas and still encompassing that Knoxville spirit?

271
00:12:46,150 --> 00:12:49,079
I love that question because I totally get that because

272
00:12:49,130 --> 00:12:52,599
it is kind of sad when things start to phase out.

273
00:12:52,599 --> 00:12:54,659
Like, I mean, uh, I grew up in Mount Juliet.

274
00:12:54,659 --> 00:12:57,169
Now, Mount Juliet is big now.

275
00:12:57,170 --> 00:12:58,359
They've even got a Costco.

276
00:12:58,409 --> 00:12:59,930
Like, they're living it up out there.

277
00:13:00,010 --> 00:13:01,669
But we were, we, it was farmland.

278
00:13:01,670 --> 00:13:04,489
You know, we would bring our four wheelers out and go mudding and

279
00:13:04,989 --> 00:13:07,630
in places we probably shouldn't have and different things like that.

280
00:13:07,630 --> 00:13:09,489
And, you know, when things start to close,

281
00:13:09,489 --> 00:13:11,520
we Two local gas stations, I remember it.

282
00:13:11,900 --> 00:13:14,680
Both of those are taken over by larger companies now built

283
00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:17,400
on, but I remember like right in the back of my grandfather's

284
00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,400
truck and getting like peanuts and Diet Coke, you know, and

285
00:13:21,460 --> 00:13:24,339
it's those memories you make as a kid, those nostalgic things.

286
00:13:24,339 --> 00:13:27,869
And so when we start to kind of see, like you said, like that shift of

287
00:13:27,930 --> 00:13:32,070
the closing and you're like, it's kind of sad, you know, I never took

288
00:13:32,070 --> 00:13:35,205
it for granted kind of, that it was feelings that I got being able

289
00:13:35,205 --> 00:13:39,375
to make memories with my family or myself, enjoying going to a place.

290
00:13:39,805 --> 00:13:44,855
But I think East Tennessee, I love what I've noticed is the

291
00:13:45,164 --> 00:13:50,140
collaboration and the real, what would be the right word, And the

292
00:13:50,140 --> 00:13:54,540
Appalachian culture that has been embraced and then also put out.

293
00:13:54,540 --> 00:13:58,069
So a lot of people are starting to relearn, like, some of the

294
00:13:58,239 --> 00:14:00,539
things that I learned growing up, canning beans, different

295
00:14:00,539 --> 00:14:02,959
things like that, were just a way of life back in the day.

296
00:14:03,339 --> 00:14:07,099
And they were a form of art, room making, different things that you

297
00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,219
might not have seen unless you were a kid with your great grandmother.

298
00:14:10,505 --> 00:14:13,444
And people are starting to adopt those again and open that back

299
00:14:13,444 --> 00:14:18,435
up to a new way that's very modern and approachable, but we're all

300
00:14:18,444 --> 00:14:22,714
learning something that's from far back that is huge in our roots.

301
00:14:22,824 --> 00:14:25,884
And I've seen that so much, and I love it, even from people who

302
00:14:25,884 --> 00:14:28,874
we have a guest on here, and she does a wonderful job at that.

303
00:14:28,885 --> 00:14:32,714
That's her whole, uh, bit is about, um, embracing the Southern.

304
00:14:32,714 --> 00:14:33,644
Chicken Librarian?

305
00:14:33,805 --> 00:14:34,064
Yes!

306
00:14:34,064 --> 00:14:35,709
Oh my gosh, she's the best!

307
00:14:36,030 --> 00:14:37,089
She is amazing.

308
00:14:37,130 --> 00:14:40,860
But she was like, I, you know, I'm going to teach people how to do this.

309
00:14:40,890 --> 00:14:42,300
And I was like, I want to make hand pies.

310
00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,460
Like, I want to be able to have someone over that's close to me.

311
00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:46,460
I want to be able to do that.

312
00:14:46,469 --> 00:14:49,150
And I remember making pies as a kid, but have I made one as an adult?

313
00:14:49,429 --> 00:14:50,560
Absolutely not.

314
00:14:50,669 --> 00:14:53,060
You know, but it's just so beautiful.

315
00:14:53,060 --> 00:14:55,780
Everyone is starting to, you know, kind of re-embrace

316
00:14:55,900 --> 00:14:57,660
the roots and going back to that tradition.

317
00:14:57,660 --> 00:15:00,610
So although it's changing, it's evolving and coming

318
00:15:00,610 --> 00:15:02,910
back full circle and it's like such a beautiful way.

319
00:15:02,910 --> 00:15:03,780
So I love it.

320
00:15:03,850 --> 00:15:04,590
I love that as well.

321
00:15:04,590 --> 00:15:06,070
The Chicken Librarian is one of my favorites.

322
00:15:06,070 --> 00:15:07,179
I took so many of her classes.

323
00:15:07,430 --> 00:15:08,260
I make cheese.

324
00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:09,590
I learned how to make soap.

325
00:15:09,819 --> 00:15:11,780
I, you know, I learned how to can.

326
00:15:12,019 --> 00:15:14,149
I can make candles, do all these things now.

327
00:15:14,150 --> 00:15:17,970
And I think to myself, this is not as hard as I used to think it was.

328
00:15:17,970 --> 00:15:19,850
This is a lot easier, a lot simpler.

329
00:15:19,870 --> 00:15:21,880
I make jams, jellies, pints of friends.

330
00:15:22,325 --> 00:15:25,005
And she takes two hours to learn a class.

331
00:15:25,025 --> 00:15:27,265
I mean, it's, it's really amazing.

332
00:15:27,345 --> 00:15:31,075
She's now branching out and bringing her gift to the master program.

333
00:15:31,345 --> 00:15:32,464
Really love that for her.

334
00:15:32,465 --> 00:15:33,225
And I love that.

335
00:15:33,234 --> 00:15:34,604
That's what you took away from that.

336
00:15:34,604 --> 00:15:39,775
Because I also take away that culture of, wow, we have so much, we're growing

337
00:15:39,865 --> 00:15:43,615
so much people moving here, want to respect our culture and learn the way

338
00:15:43,615 --> 00:15:47,265
of doing things that's motivating this next generation to learn the old way.

339
00:15:47,705 --> 00:15:48,715
They're not new to us.

340
00:15:48,995 --> 00:15:49,475
I love that.

341
00:15:49,545 --> 00:15:50,085
I love that.

342
00:15:50,185 --> 00:15:52,265
Well, wrapping it up, we've got about three minutes left.

343
00:15:52,455 --> 00:15:55,825
Tell us some of your favorite things, and you are not promoting

344
00:15:55,834 --> 00:15:58,655
any of these people by any means, or saying that anybody else

345
00:15:58,655 --> 00:16:01,365
is bad, or anybody's bad, but everybody has a favorite place.

346
00:16:01,395 --> 00:16:03,594
Everybody has a favorite restaurant, or favorite grocery

347
00:16:03,594 --> 00:16:06,054
store, or something they just frequent on a regular basis.

348
00:16:06,104 --> 00:16:08,254
Can you give me a top five list for you?

349
00:16:08,364 --> 00:16:10,864
I have my top, so it could be restaurants, anything.

350
00:16:10,934 --> 00:16:11,334
Anything!

351
00:16:11,484 --> 00:16:16,170
Okay, so I will say, I absolutely love some of like the local

352
00:16:16,170 --> 00:16:19,550
restaurants that we have here that we frequent like quite often, and

353
00:16:19,550 --> 00:16:23,310
this is just me frequenting it because of the people that are there.

354
00:16:23,430 --> 00:16:26,540
The service, like the food, and you enjoy it.

355
00:16:26,569 --> 00:16:28,689
It's all encompassing number one.

356
00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:33,710
My boyfriend and I go to Harvest probably two or three

357
00:16:33,710 --> 00:16:35,760
times- they have the best Manhattan in town, you guys.

358
00:16:36,060 --> 00:16:38,229
I tell you that much, and I love, I love everyone there.

359
00:16:38,239 --> 00:16:39,579
You know, they get to know you they get to know

360
00:16:39,579 --> 00:16:41,619
your name, and it's such a beautiful place.

361
00:16:41,619 --> 00:16:42,859
You can go watch a game there.

362
00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,875
There's so much, I feel like, that's inviting about that space.

363
00:16:46,875 --> 00:16:47,745
I love Harvest.

364
00:16:47,745 --> 00:16:49,535
I meet people there for brunch all the time.

365
00:16:49,635 --> 00:16:50,334
What else do I love?

366
00:16:50,355 --> 00:16:51,715
Downtown Wine and Spirit.

367
00:16:51,755 --> 00:16:54,784
That's another place I have to shout out because they helped me

368
00:16:54,784 --> 00:16:59,095
find the best wine, and I love that their selection is hand picked.

369
00:16:59,124 --> 00:17:01,534
They had a Rioja not too long ago.

370
00:17:02,204 --> 00:17:03,345
Y'all, I love me some wine.

371
00:17:03,345 --> 00:17:06,165
And if you can't tell, I just mentioned Manhattan and wine like back to back.

372
00:17:06,165 --> 00:17:06,855
I apologize.

373
00:17:07,165 --> 00:17:09,655
But you know, you can tell what I like to do.

374
00:17:09,655 --> 00:17:10,305
My spirit's

375
00:17:10,305 --> 00:17:11,524
totally normal.

376
00:17:11,525 --> 00:17:13,045
This is what I like to do in my spare time.

377
00:17:13,205 --> 00:17:17,075
I will say, uh, and I absolutely love, um, they do such a great job

378
00:17:17,175 --> 00:17:20,395
selection wise, and they're always there to help you, and he literally got

379
00:17:20,395 --> 00:17:22,965
the box out last time I was there, and he was like, we just got this in.

380
00:17:22,965 --> 00:17:24,655
I was like, that sounds perfect, you know, and

381
00:17:24,655 --> 00:17:26,765
they know what you like and that local aspect.

382
00:17:26,905 --> 00:17:28,445
I'm trying to think, I'm trying to branch out

383
00:17:28,445 --> 00:17:32,545
past my, my wine and cocktail fetish here.

384
00:17:32,855 --> 00:17:37,405
Um, I would say, uh, I love going to the markets, like, in general, any

385
00:17:37,405 --> 00:17:41,075
market, especially downtown, on Saturdays, The Square, and everything changes.

386
00:17:41,075 --> 00:17:42,575
A lot of the vendors change, too.

387
00:17:42,705 --> 00:17:45,335
That's one of my favorite aspects, because you get to know

388
00:17:45,335 --> 00:17:47,895
people, especially even walking around, and, and through

389
00:17:47,895 --> 00:17:49,614
this show, I've gotten to know a lot of the vendors.

390
00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,760
And sometimes I'll just go so I can go, I go grab a bag of coffee from, I

391
00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,390
think it's Three Bears, Three Bears Coffee, I think it's what it's called.

392
00:17:56,540 --> 00:17:57,170
And it's very good.

393
00:17:57,170 --> 00:17:57,880
It's my favorite.

394
00:17:57,930 --> 00:18:00,720
And so I'll grab a bag there and I'll just go give hugs to everybody.

395
00:18:01,470 --> 00:18:02,210
That's mainly why I go.

396
00:18:02,210 --> 00:18:03,759
I'm like, my mom will call and she's like,

397
00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:04,979
you're going to see your friends at the market?

398
00:18:04,979 --> 00:18:05,399
Like, yes.

399
00:18:05,510 --> 00:18:06,309
I love my people.

400
00:18:06,310 --> 00:18:08,540
Like, it's so much fun to be able to see that.

401
00:18:08,765 --> 00:18:12,105
I would also say who does my hair and actually who I met through the

402
00:18:12,105 --> 00:18:16,225
show, no joke, Serendipity Hair Salon up here off North Broadway.

403
00:18:16,615 --> 00:18:17,574
She's amazing.

404
00:18:17,585 --> 00:18:18,895
She is incredible.

405
00:18:19,054 --> 00:18:21,655
Like I said, I met her through the show and ended up, I had a hair

406
00:18:21,655 --> 00:18:24,905
emergency one day and I was like, "Hey girl, do you have any time?"

407
00:18:24,935 --> 00:18:28,600
And she is the sweetest soul and is an incredible colorist.

408
00:18:28,629 --> 00:18:31,820
So if you need a great colorist hairdresser in

409
00:18:31,820 --> 00:18:34,090
Knoxville, that is definitely the place to go.

410
00:18:34,129 --> 00:18:36,370
And then I'll say, let's see for my fifth one.

411
00:18:36,490 --> 00:18:39,330
I love the, the Fancy Rascal.

412
00:18:39,450 --> 00:18:42,530
It's um, a boutique, I think it's called Fancy Rascal.

413
00:18:42,869 --> 00:18:46,804
It's off right there off of Kingston Pike going towards, um.

414
00:18:46,965 --> 00:18:50,725
You've got Intrepid Cold Brew, the Nitro Cold Brew place.

415
00:18:51,085 --> 00:18:53,655
It's, yeah, it's going towards Kingston Pike over there, but

416
00:18:53,665 --> 00:18:56,305
they, it's a really, really cute boutique and she has a bunch

417
00:18:56,305 --> 00:18:58,505
of different selections, but she only gets in certain sizes.

418
00:18:58,705 --> 00:18:59,915
So I stop by there.

419
00:19:00,024 --> 00:19:03,714
I try to, try not to, but like every week or

420
00:19:03,715 --> 00:19:06,395
every other week, you know, yeah, exactly.

421
00:19:06,545 --> 00:19:09,865
There's just so many little places that I love and it's so hard

422
00:19:09,865 --> 00:19:13,429
to pick, but like, big wide range variety of different things.

423
00:19:13,429 --> 00:19:15,860
So those are probably the places like that are in the

424
00:19:15,860 --> 00:19:18,129
forefront of my mind right now, but there's so many.

425
00:19:18,210 --> 00:19:18,689
I love it.

426
00:19:18,889 --> 00:19:20,224
Well, we're gonna wrap it up there.

427
00:19:20,485 --> 00:19:23,385
But anyway, please tell everybody where they can find you, when they can tune

428
00:19:23,495 --> 00:19:27,195
in, how they can find all the information and the websites and everything.

429
00:19:27,335 --> 00:19:28,795
We're literally Living East Tennessee.

430
00:19:29,275 --> 00:19:30,875
Well, thank you so much for having me today.

431
00:19:30,875 --> 00:19:33,024
And you can find me on Instagram.

432
00:19:33,024 --> 00:19:35,585
That's where I'm most active on, uh, Amberlynn Carol.

433
00:19:35,845 --> 00:19:39,725
And then, um, find me on, um, I'm not really active on Facebook.

434
00:19:39,725 --> 00:19:41,515
My Instagram goes to my Facebook though.

435
00:19:41,845 --> 00:19:44,535
So I would definitely say find me on Instagram.

436
00:19:44,535 --> 00:19:45,595
Connect with me, message me.

437
00:19:45,605 --> 00:19:48,375
I'll definitely message back because that's me.

438
00:19:48,595 --> 00:19:51,175
If you need anything news wise or any businesses want

439
00:19:51,195 --> 00:19:55,215
to reach out, it's acarroll@wate.com for my email.

440
00:19:55,265 --> 00:19:55,525
Love it.

441
00:19:55,575 --> 00:19:58,395
Amber, thank you so much for spending time with us and everyone, thank

442
00:19:58,415 --> 00:20:01,814
you yet again for tuning into another episode of Connect the Knox.

443
00:20:02,115 --> 00:20:05,805
I'm Julia Hurley, your hostess with the mostest, and we'll see you next time.

444
00:20:06,025 --> 00:20:06,495
Thanks for visiting.

445
00:20:07,185 --> 00:20:08,935
Thank you for tuning into the show.

446
00:20:09,235 --> 00:20:12,645
Make sure to like and subscribe, leave a five star review

447
00:20:12,645 --> 00:20:15,584
on your podcast player of choice, and if you would like

448
00:20:15,585 --> 00:20:19,325
information on moving to Knoxville Send me a private message.

449
00:20:19,585 --> 00:20:23,645
As always, this is Julia Hurley connecting Knoxville to the nation.