Our Town Podcast

Ricky Fernandez is one of the most recognizable personalities in North Alabama sports and serves as the Senior Director of Marketing and Promotions for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, where he leads the creative vision behind one of Minor League Baseball's most celebrated fan experiences. As the energetic on-field emcee at Toyota Field, Ricky has become the face and voice of countless unforgettable moments, entertaining thousands of fans each game while helping transform every home stand into a community event rather than simply a baseball game.A Huntsville native through and through, Ricky was born and raised in the Rocket City. He graduated from Bob Jones...

Ricky Fernandez is one of the most recognizable personalities in North Alabama sports and serves as the Senior Director of Marketing and Promotions for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, where he leads the creative vision behind one of Minor League Baseball's most celebrated fan experiences. As the energetic on-field emcee at Toyota Field, Ricky has become the face and voice of countless unforgettable moments, entertaining thousands of fans each game while helping transform every home stand into a community event rather than simply a baseball game.A Huntsville native through and through, Ricky was born and raised in the Rocket City. He graduated from Bob Jones...

Chelsea McKinney is a North Alabama entrepreneur, REALTOR®, business owner, and investor whose career has been built around one central mission: helping people protect and maximize the value of their homes. Through her experience in real estate, residential investing, and construction, she has developed a unique perspective that spans nearly every stage of home ownership—from purchasing a first home to renovating, maintaining, and protecting one of a family's largest financial investments.A lifelong resident of Madison, Alabama, Chelsea developed an early passion for real estate through buying, renovating, and investing in homes. After spending years investing in residential properties, she earned her real...

A community watch party featuring music from The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square on June 26, 2026. The venue will open at 3 PM with bounce houses, giant yard pong, corn hole, and jumbo Connect 4 as entertainment. The show will begin at 7 PM and fireworks will follow.Proceeds from all concessions will be donated to our local charitable organization First Stop,Inc. who is dedicated to helping homeless people move from homelessness to stability.There will also be a special performance from classically trained tenor, Nathan Pacheco, singingthe National Anthem live.In this special episode, we explore a historic moment for members...

Today’s guest is Ranae Bartlett, the Mayor of Madison, one of the fastest-growing and most successful cities in the Southeast. Her career spans law, education, corporate leadership, nonprofit management, public service, and municipal government, making her one of the most accomplished civic leaders in North Alabama.During nearly a decade of service, she helped guide one of Alabama's highest-performing school systems through periods of rapid enrollment growth and increasing academic success. She served as Vice President of the Board from 2015 to 2017 and as President from 2017 to 2020, providing leadership during a critical period of expansion for Madison City...

Taylor Reed is a Huntsville engineer, nonprofit leader, and community advocate whose passion for serving others led him to found and lead ShowerUp Huntsville, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring dignity, hope, and human connection to individuals experiencing homelessness. Through mobile shower units, hygiene supplies, and compassionate outreach, ShowerUp Huntsville provides one of life's most basic necessities—a safe, hot shower—to those who need it most. A graduate of The University of Alabama in Huntsville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Taylor balances a successful career in the aerospace and defense industry with a deep commitment to community...

Today on the Our Town w/ Troy Bye, we welcome author Charles H. Souther, a storyteller and historian whose life experiences span one of the most transformative periods in American history. Souther is the author of the memoir From the Mules and Wagon to the Space Shuttle, a reflective and deeply personal account of growing up in a rural America that would evolve from horse-drawn transportation and isolated farming communities into the modern technological age of rockets, computers, and space exploration. Raised in the American South during a time when daily life revolved around agriculture, faith, family, and close-knit communities,...

M. Troy Bye is the creator and host of the Our Town Podcast, a long-form interview show centered on meaningful conversations with influential, accomplished, and interesting people from across business, government, sports, education, technology, entertainment, and community leadership. Known for his conversational interviewing style and natural curiosity, Troy has developed a reputation for drawing out compelling personal stories, unique perspectives, and authentic insights from his guests.Based in North Alabama, Troy has built the podcast around the idea that every community — every “town” — is ultimately shaped by the people within it. Through thoughtful dialogue and deep preparation, he explores...

Zach Taylor is a Huntsville, Alabama–based author, engineer, and storyteller whose work bridges the worlds of high-stakes technical innovation and raw, character-driven fiction. A graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Taylor comes from a multigenerational family involved in advancing spaceflight and has built a professional career rooted in aerospace and mission-critical systems. In 2015, Taylor was awarded NASA’s prestigious Silver Snoopy Award, an honor given to individuals who make significant contributions to human flight safety—placing him among a select group recognized by astronauts for excellence and reliability in the aerospace field. While his professional life has centered on...

Seth Burton embodies a lifetime of dedicated service and unwavering commitment. Starting in a humble house on the banks of the Tennessee River, Seth learned hard work and responsibility growing up on a farm. Ultimately becoming a two-time submarine commanding officer, he led complex missions beneath the waves, honing his leadership in high-stakes environments. His distinguished naval career spanned three decades, a period marked by discipline, strategic thinking, and a profound sense of duty to his country.Beyond his command, Seth is a recognized expert in nuclear power, a critical field demanding precision and deep technical understanding. This unique blend of...

Seth Burton embodies a lifetime of dedicated service and unwavering commitment. Starting in a humble house on the banks of the Tennessee River, Seth learned hard work and responsibility growing up on a farm. Ultimately becoming a two-time submarine commanding officer, he led complex missions beneath the waves, honing his leadership in high-stakes environments. His distinguished naval career spanned three decades, a period marked by discipline, strategic thinking, and a profound sense of duty to his country.Beyond his command, Seth is a recognized expert in nuclear power, a critical field demanding precision and deep technical understanding. This unique blend of...

Marie Waxel is an experienced broadcast journalist and news anchor at WAAY-TV 31 in Huntsville, Alabama, where she plays a key role in delivering daily news coverage to viewers across North Alabama and the Tennessee Valley. With a strong foundation in both reporting and anchoring, she has developed a reputation for accuracy, clarity, and a steady on-air presence.At WAAY-TV, Marie anchors newscasts and contributes to editorial decisions, helping shape coverage on major local and regional stories. Her work spans breaking news, severe weather coverage, investigative pieces, and human-interest features that highlight the people and issues impacting the community. She is...

Bio from Sean Wiswesser's LinkedIn page:"I have spent 30 years in national security, serving with the CIA, State Department, and now in the private sector. My career has been defined by one focus: understanding foreign intelligence services and helping the U.S. and its allies stay ahead of evolving intelligence, defense, and other national security threats.As a senior operations officer with the CIA, I led human intelligence operations worldwide — including in conflict zones and denied areas — while mentoring the next generation of intelligence professionals. I earlier served as a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department and now advise...

Christie Finley is an accomplished education leader and former Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools, one of Alabama’s most prominent and rapidly growing school systems. With a career spanning more than two decades in public education, Finley has built a reputation for strong organizational leadership, student-centered decision making, and a commitment to academic excellence in diverse and high-performing communities.Before being named superintendent, Finley served Huntsville City Schools in several key leadership roles, including Chief Academic Officer and Deputy Superintendent. In these positions, she played an instrumental role in shaping district-wide instructional strategy, improving curriculum alignment, supporting teacher development, and expanding academic opportunities...

Camryn Suggs is an emerging leader in the North Alabama small business and culinary community, serving as a driving force behind the continued growth and customer experience at Valentina’s Pizzeria. Known for its commitment to quality ingredients, Valentina’s has quickly become a local favorite — and Camryn plays a key role in ensuring every guest feels part of the family.Camryn's journey to become the GM at Valentina's was very untraditional. She was a Figure Skater for much of her youth, supported by her amazing family, and then went to study Business and Cyber Security at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. She...