For the Love of Gatlinburg: S2, E1 — New Year, New Co-Host

Season Two of For the Love of Gatlinburg opens with a new voice at the mic — and a familiar one at heart. Tom Goodwin welcomes his daughter, Phoebe Goodwin, as co-host for a heartfelt, multi-generational conversation about growing up in Gatlinburg, visiting grandparents Dot and Ralph Ogle (the founders of Mountain Laurel Chalets), and experiencing the Smoky Mountains through the eyes of a child, a parent, and now a storyteller in her own right.

Tom and Phoebe reflect on long drives into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, spotting deer in Cades Cove, and the unforgettable "Big Forest" feeling as fog lifts over the mountains — the kinds of moments that shaped both of their lifelong love for this place. The conversation honors Dot and Ralph's legacy, rooted deeply in hospitality, community, and stewardship of the park, and explores how those same values continue to define Gatlinburg today.

The episode also touches on the town's resilience through fires, COVID, and constant change downtown, set against the timelessness of the national park and cherished spots like swimming holes and scenic overlooks. Along the way, Tom and Phoebe share stories of cabins as gathering places — where college friends, families, and girlfriends alike have created memories that last a lifetime.

At its heart, this episode celebrates Gatlinburg as a place where stories take root, relationships grow, and every visit adds another chapter to your family's story. Season Two continues this theme with guests whose lives have been shaped by this mountain town — longtime visitors, locals, and community leaders who share a deep love for Gatlinburg.

• A new co-host, and a new format. Season Two introduces Tom's daughter Phoebe Goodwin as co-host and marks the show's shift from audio-only to full video.
• The "Big Forest." As a child, Phoebe's favorite part of the drive from metro Atlanta to Gatlinburg was crossing into the national park — which she and her sisters simply called "the Big Forest."
• Free taffy and a lifelong sense of belonging. Phoebe recalls feeling like local shops would recognize her as Dot and Ralph Ogle's granddaughter and offer free candy or popcorn — an early, formative lesson in how deeply loved her grandparents were in the community.
• A Thanksgiving morning tradition. The family would rise early in pajamas to be among the first cars through Cades Cove at dawn, watching deer and old homesteads emerge from the morning fog.
• Nine hours, twelve bedrooms, one unforgettable weekend. Phoebe once brought a group of college friends from Mississippi to stay at Mountain Laurel's Laurel Lodge after finals — a trip so meaningful the group has referred to it as "legend" ever since, and extended their stay an extra day.
• A gathering space that held space for grief, too. Tom shares the story of a guest group of girlfriends who stayed together in August, only for one of them to pass away from cancer in November — their host later wrote to say how sacred that final trip together had become.
• Consistency amid constant change. Phoebe contrasts Gatlinburg's ever-changing downtown attractions with the enduring, protected constancy of the national park and favorite childhood spots like a beloved swimming hole.
• A new companion newsletter. Alongside her co-hosting role, Phoebe — a journalism student in New York City — will write a Substack newsletter recapping each episode's story for readers who prefer text to audio.