Retire Southern with James Lewis

On the Retire Southern podcast, host James Lewis shares authentic experiences and meaningful connections from the heart of the American South. From chefs and athletes to business leaders and entertainers, get ready to meet the people who leave lasting impressions on those they encounter. Listen to new episodes every other Monday to discover and revel in the tales of these inspirational Southern Characters who live life with purpose and follow their compass. The message is simple—Don’t Wait for Retirement to Start Living!

The Thompson Nashville: The Dream Team Behind Marsh House, L.A. Jackson, and the Soul of The Gulch 06/01/2026

The Thompson Nashville: The Dream Team Behind Marsh House, L.A. Jackson, and the Soul of The Gulch Broadway may be where Nashville turns the volume up, but The Gulch is where the city sharpens its edges. In this episode of Retire Southern, James Lewis sits down with the team behind one of Nashville’s most compelling hospitality experiences: Executive Chef Brack May, Beverage Director Todd Johnston, and Executive Pastry Chef Natalie Moorer of The Thompson Nashville. From oysters sliding across the raw bar at Marsh House to espresso martinis climbing toward the rooftop at L.A. Jackson, this conversation explores what actually makes a hotel feel alive. Not just the food. Not just the cocktails. The feeling. Together, the group dives into: The ecosystem philosophy behind modern hospitality Seafood sourcing, raw bar culture, and caviar service at Marsh House Soft-shell crab yaka mein and elevated Southern seafood The rise of espresso martinis and rooftop culture at L.A. Jackson Building a pastry program that feels refined yet approachable Why locals genuinely spend time at The Thompson The team’s version of the perfect Nashville weekend What Southern hospitality looks like when it is done correctly Chef Brack brings decades of experience from San Francisco to New Orleans, shaping Marsh House into one of Nashville’s defining seafood destinations with an approach rooted in authenticity over performance. Todd has helped build both Marsh House and L.A. Jackson since opening day in 2016, creating spaces that feel elevated without ever becoming pretentious. And Chef Natalie quietly ties the entire experience together through desserts, pastries, brunch, and small details that guests remember long after checkout. What emerges is a conversation about hospitality, energy, rhythm, and the kind of places people return to because of how they feel when they are there. The Thompson Nashville is not trying to compete with Broadway. It is offering a different frequency altogether. A little calmer. A little sharper. A little more intentional. Read. Watch. Listen. Rooted in the South. Driven by Purpose. Built for Living. /episode/index/show/a19cb0be-7d92-4018-9194-6cb203b8b8a4/id/41403985

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Between Airplanes and Amplifiers: The Ballad of Frankie G 05/04/2026

EPICureanism at Nowak’s: Discover the 22nd Century Culinary Philosophy 04/20/2026

EPICureanism at Nowak’s: Discover the 22nd Century Culinary Philosophy What if most of what we call “dining” today… isn’t actually dining at all? In this episode of Retire Southern, we sit down with Chef Kevin Joseph of Raw Lab and Blaiss Nowak of Nowak’s Steakhouse to explore a new way of thinking about food, hospitality, and human connection. On April 28 in Atlanta, they’re bringing that vision to life with EPICureanism at Nowak’s. A one-night, immersive culinary experience designed not as a dinner, but as a progression. A conversation. A room built for presence. Because as Kevin puts it: “The delta between eating and dining is discovery.” In this episode, we cover: The difference between 21st century dining and a 22nd century culinary philosophy How Raw Lab redefined what a meal can be Why presence is the ultimate luxury in a dining experience The psychology of shared tables, music, and environment What to expect from EPICureanism at Nowak’s on April 28 The Experience: EPICureanism at Nowak’s This is not a traditional dinner. It’s a curated, multi-course experience built around: Oyster Flight Salon de Caviar Land & Sea Sea Salt Social Wine travel throughout Designed to engage, challenge, and connect. This experience unfolds in real time, with every guest moving through it together. No distractions. No separate tables. Just a room built for discovery. Who This Is For This isn’t for everyone. And it’s not supposed to be. This is for the curious. For people who value presence over routine. For those who believe the best conversations, and the best relationships, are built around a table. Event Details 📍 Nowak’s Steakhouse, Atlanta, GA 📅 April 28 🕕 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM 🎟️ Limited seating This is what Life EQ looks like in real time. Some dinners you forget. Others change how you experience everything that comes after. This is one of those. 🎧 Read. Watch. Listen. /episode/index/show/a19cb0be-7d92-4018-9194-6cb203b8b8a4/id/40924890