Part 1 - The Journey Begins: Built for the Climb
Posted on January 23 2026,
In this episode of a 4-part series, Don takes us behind the scenes as a recent guest on the The Real Boone Podcast where he shares how he went from the pulpit to the roastery. Discover how a history student at App State transformed into an artisanal coffee roaster after a life-altering Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) shifted his path from a PhD to the pursuit of the perfect cup.
Don shares his deep-rooted connection to the coffee lands of Mexico and Rwanda, explaining the philosophy of La Taza Habla (The Cup Talks). This episode explores the technical and spiritual sides of roasting coffee, emphasizing a "low-tech" approach that relies on the five senses rather than computer algorithms. Whether you are interested in the grit of Watauga County history, the ethics of socially responsible coffee, or the mechanics of making green beans brown, this episode offers a rich look at what it means to honor the hands that pick every bean.
5 Takeaways
- Honor the Origin: The role of a roaster is not to make coffee special, but to avoid "buggering up" the hard work already done by the farmers.
- Sensory Roasting: You don't need a computer to roast world-class coffee; you can achieve excellence through time, temperature, sight, smell, sound, and taste.
- The "Wreck Your Truck" Rule: Evaluate your work-life balance by asking if the risk of the "commute" (physical or emotional) is worth the reward.
- Bivocational Resilience: Career pivots—even those forced by injury—can lead to a "stinking awesome" life if you are built for the climb.
- Socially Responsible Sourcing: True artisanal coffee requires knowing the cooperatives and ensuring they align with eco-friendly and social priorities.