Wine and chocolate may seem like simple pleasures, but for people like master sommelier Chris Gaither and Dandelion Chocolates co-founder Todd Masonis, they’re so much more. Chris sees wine as a way to bring people together to share stories and get in touch with the land and culture. Todd’s approach to chocolate focuses on traditional origins and fostering relationships with small farms. In Brian's conversations with both, we dive into how these everyday indulgences can connect us to people, places, history, and even ourselves.

In this episode of Know What You See, Brian Lowery talks with with Simran Jeet Singh, professor, author, and host of the podcast, Wisdom and Practice, to explore the intersection of faith, purpose, and daily life. Simran shares how his Sikh faith guides his journey toward self-improvement, happiness, and meaningful community connections. Together, he and Brian discuss the role of religion as a practice—not just a belief system—and its potential to transform individuals and societies.

For more on the show, visit knowwhatyousee.com.

On a recent episode of Know What You See, Brian had a conversation with master storyteller, Dr. Ray Christian. Ray’s stories have appeared on The Moth, RISK!, and Snap Judgment but he’s not just a storyteller. Ray is also a historian, father, and combat veteran from the rural South, who finds himself floating between life in academia, public speaking, parenting, and tending to the goats in his backyard. To give you a better sense of his stories, I’m excited to share with you an episode of Ray’s podcast, What’s Ray Saying?, and you can find more about him at drraychristian.com. Hope you enjoy!