The Overlook with Matt Peiken is a podcast all about Asheville, NC
Matt Peiken talks with local journalists, civic leaders, artists and newsmakers at the heart of the Asheville’s headlines, trends and issues. Go deeper into what’s happening here—and what isn’t—in this growing, complicated city.
New episodes are online every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (except during our August break). Listen to The Overlook wherever you get podcasts. We produce more episodes than most people can listen to in a given week. That’s why you should sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter. Never miss an episode that catches your fancy!
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Latest Episodes
The Song Remains the Same | Asheville Symphony Chorus and Asheville Youth Choirs
Kyle Ritter of Asheville Symphony Chorus and Emily Floyd of Asheville Youth Choirs talk about the futures of their choral groups and their art form in advance of their April 27 concert together.
A Voice in the Huddle | Katie Cornell of ArtsAVL
Katie Cornell of ArtsAVL talks about mission shift, advocacy and how rising real estate costs are potentially pushing artists’ workspaces and arts organizations out of Asheville.
Field Trips | City Facilities Manager Chris Corl
Chris Corl of the City of Asheville details the progress of renovations at McCormick Field, Western North Carolina Narture Center, Asheville Municipal Golf and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
The Enduring Vinyl Revival | Harvest + Static-Age + Earth River Records
Mark Capon of Harvest Records, Jesse McSwain of Static-Age Records and Morgan Markowitz of Earth River Records talk about the risky and speculative nature of the vinyl record business and the unique approaches each is taking to carving a sustainable life in music.
Placing a BID on Downtown | Hayden Plemmons + Zach Wallace + Dana Frankel
Leaders from the Downtown Asheville Association, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Asheville talk through the process and potential impacts of a business improvement district.
A New Season of Parks and Rec | Director D. Tyrell McGirt
D. Tyrell McGirt talks about setting balancing budgets with community needs in the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
(Re)Happening Happening | Claire Elizabeth Barratt + Swannatopia
Performance artist Claire Elizabeth Barratt and Madalyn Wofford of the creative collaborative Swannatopia preview what they have in store for the April 20 (Re)Happening.
Finding the Missing Middle | A Housing Panel Discussion from Mountain True
Middle housing is all the rage in planning and urban development circles. This panel discussion digs into how filling the “missing middle” could be an answer to Asheville’s affordable housing crisis.
The Politics of Prosecution | Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams
Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams talks Aston Park, the media, prosecutorial discretion and relationships with others in law enforcement.
Post-Traumatic Theater | Poet and Storyteller Barbie Angell
Barbie Angell has poured a lifetime of trauma into her poems and stories. She details her path in advance of her one-night-only show, March 27 at LaZoom.
The Front Lines of Violence and Abuse | Jackie Latek of the SPARC Foundation
Jackie Latek of the SPARC Foundation talks working with people who’ve committed child abuse, domestic abuse and street violence to find other paths of behavior.
Asheville City Schools' Deficit and Decisions | Greg Parlier of Mountain Xpress
Greg Parlier of Mountain Xpress breaks down Asheville City Schools’ decisions and forecast for closing a $4.5 million deficit, including last week’s controversial vote to merge its middle schools.
Catching Plein-Air | Landscape Artist Chris Jehly
Landscape artist Chris Jehly talks about his evolution from graffiti art into the work he’s showing now at Tyger Tyger Gallery in the River Arts District.
The Beauty in Death | Performance Artist Edwin Salas
Performance artist Edwin Salas gives us a glimpse of his dark version of “Hansel & Gretel” in advance of his performances through the Asheville Fringe Festival.
Won't You Be My Neighbor? | One Couple's Path Through Eminent Domain
Rob and Sarah Shearan tell their story about the “impossible situation” NCDOT has put them in by offering only a “partial take” on their West Asheville property.
Strings Attached | Violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley
Revered violinist and Asheville native Noah Bendix-Balgley talks about his ambitious, weeklong residency with the Asheville Symphony, beginning March 11.
PART TWO: City Council Candidates | Iindia Pearson, CJ Domingo, Kim Roney
This is the second of two episodes recorded from the Feb. 20 Asheville City Council candidates mixer at Citizen Vinyl, thrown by the Asheville Downtown Association. You'll hear my short conversations with candidates Iindia Pearson, CJ Domingo and Kim Roney.
PART ONE: City Council Candidates | Bo Hess, Kevan Frazier, Sage Turner
Hear from Bo Hess, Kevan Frazier and sitting councilwoman Sage Turner from the Feb. 21 mixer of City Council candidates, thrown by the Asheville Downtown Association.
Mission Control | Andrew Jones of the Asheville Watchdog
Andrew Jones of the Asheville Watchdog details the “Immediate Jeopardy” Mission Hospital faces in the eyes of investigators from the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Priming the Polls | Voter Outreach in Western NC
Robin Lively Summers of Indivisible Asheville and Leslie Boyd of the Poor People’s Campaign talk about the coalition of nonprofits banding together to boost voting in Western NC.