Blue Ridge Collaborative Co-Founders Join Forces on the Newest Climb That Mountain Episode

Every great story starts with a spark—and in the latest episode of the Climb That Mountain podcast, we explore how that spark can grow into a movement for good. This special episode brings together three creative forces who are redefining what it means to use storytelling for good: Brian Castle, podcast host and co-founder of Blue Ridge Collaborative; Annie Newton, co-founder of BRC; and Amanda Boyd, BRC Board Member.

In Episode 7: A New Mountain, Brian sits down with Annie and Amanda to celebrate the official launch of the Blue Ridge Collaborative, a nonprofit born from years of shared work and countless late-night conversations about what comes next for arts, culture, and storytelling.

“We created something with real intentionality,” Brian shares. “We wanted to close some of the gaps in the kinds of stories that get told and make sure those stories reach the people who need to hear them most.”

Blue Ridge Collaborative is designed to fund and produce projects that challenge assumptions, celebrate authenticity, and uplift unheard voices. From documentary films and podcasts to museum exhibits and community cookbooks, BRC is committed to sharing the full story—especially the ones that traditional media too often overlooks. 

For Annie Newton, who serves as Executive Director, the mission grew out of seeing small cultural and historic organizations struggle to connect with audiences. “COVID changed everything,” she explains. “Suddenly, the field had to modernize, and that opened new ways to reach people everywhere. Now, even a small historic site can engage thousands through digital storytelling. Blue Ridge Collaborative helps these organizations tell richer, more complete stories.” 

Amanda Boyd adds another essential layer: connection. “People crave authenticity,” she says. “History is personal. It’s made up of human stories. When we tell those stories honestly and inclusively, we see just how much we all have in common.”

For Brian, Founder & CEO of Parklife, the creation of BRC feels like a natural next step. “This is the kind of work that captures my imagination,” he says. “It’s about legacy and doing work that’s bigger than us. Parklife will always be a creative agency, but we’re proud to stand alongside BRC as it becomes a force for meaningful, human-centered storytelling.” 

Together, Parklife and the Blue Ridge Collaborative are proving that creative work can create real change.

Tune in to the full episode of Climb That Mountain to hear the story behind Blue Ridge Collaborative, the vision that sparked it, and what’s next for this incredible new chapter in the Parklife story.