Episode Details

What does it take to fall in love with the place you live? And then actually stay? In our first episode of the Love of Here podcast, hosts Lauren Sneary and Erika Mosteller sit down together to share their own Dalton stories. One grew up here and swore she'd leave. The other moved here reluctantly and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Together, they explore why Northwest Georgia deserves a better story — and why they're committed to telling it.

Highlights

• Lauren and Erika introduce themselves and share why they launched a podcast to tell the untold good-news stories of Dalton and Northwest Georgia
• Erika reflects on how she adopted the "nothing to do here" narrative when she moved to Dalton — and how that story simply isn't true
• Lauren admits she was fully committed to leaving Dalton after college and recounts the summers bartending at the Dalton Depot that kept pulling her back
• Both hosts get real about Dalton's imperfections — from economic disparity to cultural divides — while making the case that the momentum is real and worth celebrating
• Erika shares practical advice for newcomers: find your third space, plug into groups like Believe Greater Dalton, and show up where people are gathering
• The conversation gets into entrepreneurship in Dalton, including why the "shop local" mentality makes it a great place to start a business
• Lauren gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Here magazine dining guide — more than 100 locally owned and managed restaurants in one place
• The hosts gush over the food scene transformation, name-drop some favorites, and debate which cocktail is "basic"
• Erika makes her case for the mountains as Dalton's most underrated feature
• A preview of what's coming next: more guest stories, more community voices, and an open invitation for listeners to reach out

Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introductions

0:41 — Meet Erika and Lauren

2:03 — Why These Stories Matter

3:39 — Erika's Move to Dalton

4:46 — Changing the Dalton Narrative

5:40 — Lauren's Hometown Perspective

8:18 — Staying and Building a Life

10:06 — Dalton's Challenges and Momentum

10:57 — Getting Connected as a Newcomer

13:25 — Entrepreneurship in Dalton

16:13 — Have You Ever Wanted to Leave?

17:34 — Why We Stayed

17:38 — Dalton Opportunities

18:38 — Craziest Story Setup

19:04 — Food Scene Glow Up

20:34 — Cocktails and Nightlife

21:25 — Local Dining Guide

22:47 — Favorite Thing: The People

24:20 — Trading Local Culture

25:35 — Mountains and the Outdoors

26:59 — Touch Grass Reset

27:42 — Next Guests and Stories

28:44 — Where to Find Us

Resources Mentioned

• Here Local Media — herelocalmedia.com
• Here Magazine — Available in print around town and as a digital issue online; subscribe at herelocalmedia.com
• Here Local Dining Guide — 100+ locally owned and managed restaurants in Dalton; available online at herelocalmedia.com
• Believe Greater Dalton — believegreaterdalton.com — Community organization with a resource directory of local groups and organizations to plug into
• Dalton Brewing Company — Local gathering spot and third space
• The Mill — Local venue with live music and events (Syno mentioned)
• United Way of Northwest Georgia — https://www.ourunitedway.org/ — Volunteer opportunities in the Dalton community
• Hag Mill Lake Park — Local outdoor recreation spot (4-mile loop around a lake)
• The Gallon Goat — Local b