On The Palmetto Porch Podcast, host Devyn Whitmire sits down with locals who preserve South Carolina’s history and pass on stories to the next generation of residents and visitors.
Dr. Katherine “Katie” Seeber, Archaeologist
Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Hilton Head Island
Dr. Katherine “Katie” Seeber has always known she was meant to dig into the past—literally. Inspired by her scientist father, she pursued a life in archaeology.
Today, she preserves and interprets the legacy of Mitchelville, the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people in the United States, established in 1862. At Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, where residents once elected their own leaders, built schools and churches, and established laws long before the Reconstruction Era, Seeber's work uncovers both the resilience of a pioneering community and the broader truth that, as she puts it, “We are shaped by all the people that came before us. It’s important to understand where we came from to inform who we are and how we get to the next place.”
Gabe Shuler, Master Naturalist
Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner
Gabe Shuler has been fascinated by snakes, reptiles and amphibians since childhood, so it’s no surprise he grew up to become the resident naturalist at Cypress Gardens. Today, he shares his passion through educational programs, including a popular class on herpetology (the study of amphibians and reptiles) for kids. “Naturalists cover a wide variety of things: the natural history of the area, local wildlife, local ecosystems, even the history of how the land has changed,” he says.
A former rice plantation, Cypress Gardens is now a natural refuge with wildlife, walking trails, swamp boat tours and one of South Carolina’s largest butterfly houses. Soak in the quiet magic of the blackwater swamp, famously featured in The Notebook. For Shuler, it’s not just about observing nature—it’s about recognizing how deeply we’re connected to it.
Glenis Redmond, Poet Laureate
Greenville
Glenis Redmond believes poetry is everywhere—“swirling around us,” as she puts it—we just have to take note. Amid a cancer diagnosis and the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her grandson Julian set out to explore all of the state parks through South Carolina’s Ultimate Outsider program. The journey deepened their bond, offered a much-needed sanctuary and inspired her poetry book The Song of Everything: A Poet’s Understanding of South Carolina's State Parks. Together, they hiked, searched for birds and insects, and took in the quiet details of nature, finding beauty and meaning in every stop. Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville holds a special place in Redmond’s heart, as both an artist and a grandparent. In one poem, she writes to her grandson: “Julian, please know our getaways are not leavings but arrivals. A chance to look into the still pond of ourselves.”
