I know I know, it’s Saint Paddy’s day this week and you wanna peench people as much as I do. However this week’s issue is our porch-side celebration of the strength, creativity, and “can-do-itism” we see from women all around Chattanooga.

We’re spotlighting our friend Amanda and her Behind the Business Chatt podcast, where she’s been sharing the stories behind some of the city’s most passionate entrepreneurs. Clementine’s also talkin’ about Dolly Parton and the magic of the Imagination Library, and I’ve got a few thoughts about the everyday superpowers I’ve noticed women carry around with ’em.

So grab a warm drink and settle in now that this thunderstorm has passed us. Let’s see what’s cookin’ on the porch this week!

As always, we’ve added a fresh track to this week’s issue purely for vibes as you read. Click the radio below before ya start reading if you wanna listen!

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If you’ve spent any time wanderin’ around Chattanooga, you’ve probably crossed paths with Amanda, the friendly explorer behind ExploringChatt on Instygram. She’s been showin’ folks the Scenic City’s trails, small businesses, and hidden corners for years now, and lately she’s been tellin’ even deeper stories through her podcast, Behind the Business Chatt.

The show pulls back the curtain on the folks buildin’ things around here, from the crew at Awakening Adventures, a peaceful forest retreat near Spring City, the gluten-free magic maker Lezli at Carving Rock Kitchen, flower farmers over at Lorenzen Farm, and the fantastic sisters behind Statemint’s sustainable consignment pop-ups. Each conversation shows just how thoughtful and community-minded Chattanooga’s entrepreneurs really are.

And shoot, wouldn’t ya know it, this week she’s wrappin’ up part one of the series with a conversation featuring y’all’s truly from Chattynooga! We got to talkin’ about how this little newsletter porch got started, along with the growin’ Roundabout North Chatt community and why bringin’ neighbors together still matters a whole bunch in our growing city.

The new episode drops this Thursday this Friday (thanks for the catch Amanda!), so make sure you subscribe to whatever you enjoy listenin’ to podcasts through so you don’t miss it!

The other day I was sittin’ at the kitchen table watchin’ Meemaw fix a wobbly chair with one hand while talkin’ on the phone with her gal pals, waterin’ the plants, while also remindin’ me that my shoes do not belong in the middle of the hallway (which, for the record, they were near my bedroom and just didn’t quite make it when I karate kicked ‘em off) without breakin’ a sweat.

An’ I thought to myself, “Good gravy… how do women do all that?”

Now I know Women’s History Month usually talks about big famous folks in history books. Those women are mighty impressive, and we can’t forget about ‘em.

But truth be told, I see that same kinda power show up in regular ladies around Chattanooga too. The obvious example is Amanda, runnin’ around and telling everybody’s stories including her own.

And then there’s Clementine.

I remember the first day she showed up at school after movin’ up from Georgia. She walked into class with this big ol’ notebook tucked under her arm like she had important ideas already waitin’ to be written down. Most new kids are kinda quiet on the first day, but Clementine raised her hand with a quickness in the middle of class and asked a question that had the teacher scratchin’ his head for a minute.

Before long she was helpin’ folks with their homework, startin’ little creative projects with her classmates, and started turnin’ regular ol’ afternoons after school into lively adventures on the way home together.

She’s younger than most folks we talk about in this newsletter, but don’t let that fool ya: that girl’s got curiosity and more ideas per minute than a popcorn machine at full blast at a Marvel midnight premiere. Watchin’ her move throughout life reminds me that our generation’s already cookin’ up ways to make the world brighter.

And sure, people always say women are beautiful, which is true (Meemaw is the most beautiful woman I know), but I don’t think folks talk enough about the other stuff that women can also be: strong, wise, and full of what I like to call can-do-itism.

When life feels like a bowl of week-old soggy, uneaten Froot Loops, women still find the will to take a deep breath, roll up their sleeves and declare, “I guess it’s time to do the dishes.”

Sometimes the things that women can achieve can be world-changing, other times it can be just quietly encouraging one another and holding things together during a hard day.

On that note, what’s one hidden superpower that you think women have? Feel free to share it in a reply or in the comments, we’d love to hear what incredible capabilities that the women in your life (or yourself) are able to do.

I don’t know if I’ve said it lately, but y’all know my hero of all heroes is Miss Dolly Parton. She’s a small town Tennessee girl that made good on all her big dreams and became the queen that she is today. Well, you wouldn’t believe my surprise when Chattynooga reader Brianna sent in this photo of Miss Dolly herself! Can you believe?! I knew I should have checked out Dollywood’s opening weekend!

Maybe I didn’t get to see her in the flesh, but we do have ways to feel Dolly’s magic here in Chattanooga! Did you know that we have Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library right here in town? The Imagination Library is dedicated to providing every child enrolled in the program with a free picture book every month from birth to 5 years old! Here in Chatt, you can contact Signal Centers to sign up and get reading!

Man, isn’t Dolly a doll?? Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a stack of Dolly CDs and some serious listening to do!

Whether it’s a storyteller highlighting local businesses, a country music legend putting books into kids’ hands, or the everyday women in your life quietly holding things together when life gets a little messy, there’s a lot to appreciate this month.

If this issue reminded you of someone who deserves a little shoutout, maybe send it their way or tell ’em thanks next time you see ’em. Sometimes a small bit of encouragement goes a long way.

Until next Monday, keep being kind to your neighbors, and do your taxes!

— Bubby & Clementine