Biscuits & Jam

Fred Minnick is one of the most knowledgeable people in America when it comes to whiskey. Born and raised in the small town of Jones, Oklahoma, he developed an early interest in shooting, fishing, and messing around in the great outdoors. Inspired by his grandfather’s military service, he enlisted in the National Guard while attending Oklahoma State University, eventually serving as an Army photojournalist in Iraq in 2004. The constant danger and random violence of being in a war zone, as well as the experience of losing friends and comrades, caused him to struggle with PTSD and depression after returning home. Now, in his new book, Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man's Life, Fred tells the very personal story about how he clawed his way back from the brink of self-destruction. He chronicles his discovery of a hidden talent for tasting the complex flavors of wine and whiskey, and he shares how his obsession with the story of Old Crow bourbon—and its mysterious founder—gave him a new sense of purpose. Sid also talks to Fred about the crucial role his wife played in his recovery, the best bourbon he’s ever tasted, and his top recommendations for a Kentucky bourbon tour.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam
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Amy Grant first joined Biscuits & Jam back in 2021, shortly after undergoing open-heart surgery. Not long after that conversation, she was in a serious bike accident that led to a long and challenging recovery. Through it all, she’s maintained a remarkably positive outlook, saying she doesn’t “take a day for granted.” Her recovery brought her back to songwriting, which she describes as a kind of therapy, and now, she’s released her first album of original songs in 13 years, The Me That Remains. Amy talks to Sid about getting through tough times, simplifying her life, and how this new music helped her find her way back to herself. She also reminds us to stay present, seek connection, and embrace the messiness of life.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Ed Rode
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Heather McMahan was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, in a close-knit family that loved to laugh and had a real sense of adventure. Her dad came from a long line of Delta employees and was also a pilot who loved to fly, often taking the family on spontaneous weekend trips to places like Hilton Head. That same spirit led Heather to Ole Miss without ever visiting the campus, where she majored in theater and pursued her dream of becoming a performer. It was there she made lifelong friends, and you can still find her at the Grove on game days—at least when she’s not on tour. These days, you can hear her on the podcast Absolutely Not or catch her Bamboozled comedy tour, where she takes on the expectations and challenges women, especially Southern women, face every day.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Megan Clark

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Kathryn Stockett’s The Help captivated millions of readers and brought national attention to the complex relationships between Black housekeepers and their White employers during the Civil Rights era in Mississippi. It also became an Academy Award winning film just two years later, with Kathryn’s friend Octavia Spencer winning for Best Supporting Actress. Now, 17 years later, she’s back with her long-awaited second novel, The Calamity Club. Set in 1933 in Oxford, Mississippi, it follows a group of resourceful women with a “terrible, awful but very profitable idea” to make enough money to survive during the Great Depression. In true Stockett form, it’s full of memorable characters, hilarious scenes, and plenty of heartbreak. Sid talks to Kathryn about how her mother’s struggles as a divorced woman in the 1970s inspired her new book, why some characters came more easily than others, and how she sees her job as a Southern woman.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Ken Kochey
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Susan Tedeschi may have been born and raised in Boston, but she’s forged a deep and lasting connection to Southern culture. She grew up on blues, gospel, and soul music before eventually embarking on a career that brought all those influences together, making her one of the most exciting voices in modern rock and roll. She’s also spent more than 25 years in Jacksonville, Florida, where she and her husband and musical partner, Derek Trucks, have raised a family and built something truly special together. As the Tedeschi Trucks Band, they’ve united Susan’s talents as a singer, songwriter, and musician with Derek’s supernatural abilities on slide guitar. Now, they have a new record out called Future Soul, one of their best to date. Sid and Susan talk about the album, the family dynamic that’s kept their band together for 16 years, and a particularly fun gig they have on the horizon. On Saturday, May 2, Susan and Derek will perform the “Star Spangled Banner” at the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Bradley Strickland
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