letter from the EDITOR
It’s that time of the year again.
Seasons are changing. Kids are
back in school. Weekends are full
of tailgates, football and trips to
apple orchards. Maybe you even jumped the
gun and started decorating for Halloween. If you’re like me,
you’re rewatching “Gilmore Girls” and looking forward to
the holidays and falling leaves. Memories are hitting you in
full force everywhere you look. If I could send you a
bouquet of sharpened pencils, I would.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since I released
my first issue of Cobb Life Magazine. Who would have
thought time would go by so quickly?
On the cover of this issue, you might recognize a
familiar face in Payne Lindsey, the podcaster behind the hit
true crime show “Up and Vanished.”
I can remember exactly where I was the first time I
heard about Lindsey’s podcast. I was in Buckhead at my
standup desk in the Atlanta Business Chronicle. While
scouring the web for tech news, I came across a movie
trailer… for a podcast. Immediately, my interest was piqued.
Not only was the cover art and trailer mysterious, it was
made locally and about an unsolved case in Georgia. I
downloaded the podcast that day and binged as many
episodes as I could.
Since then, I’ve listened to several of Lindsey’s
podcasts — from his scary stories show “Radio Rental”
hosted by Rainn Wilson from “The Oce,” to his magnum
opious “Atlanta Monster” about Wayne Williams and the
Atlanta Child Murders. But it took me years to find out that
Lindsey actually grew up in Cobb County; in fact, he went to
the same public schools I did, just a few years ahead of me.
When I learned Payne was a local, I knew I had to get
him on the cover of Cobb Life. I hope you enjoy learning
about the twists and turns of his work and how pursuing
the truth changed his life. Maybe you’ll give his podcasts a
listen.
In between The Local and Robinson’s Coins on Atlanta
Street in the Marietta Square, there’s a door leading to the
oce of Complete Investigations. Much like a private-eye, if
you’re not looking for the door, it’s likely you’ll miss it hiding
in plain sight. Owner Shelia McPhilamy addresses a lot of
misconceptions about the business (no, she doesn’t spend
most of her time catching cheating spouses and people who
write bad checks), what it’s like being a woman in a field
dominated by men and the cases that move her.
On the lighter side, we have the best food trucks based
in Cobb that are worth the stop. The perks of being an
editor are being able to try the food we mention, so trust me
when I say to check out these meals-on-wheels. Feel like
cooking at home? We’ve got the perfect queso recipe for
those aforementioned tailgates and weekend parties.
If you’re feeling in the mood for whiskey or a good
cocktail, you can always read up on our profile on ASW
Distillery and check out their spot in the Battery Atlanta.
If you’re hoping to get out of town during a fall break or
weekend this fall, travel writer Lisa Mowry has the
lowdown on three Southern towns to visit: Macon,
Beaufort, South Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina.
Like every issue of Cobb Life, we have our Author Q&A
segment, this time with local writer Neely Young and his
book, “Georgia Made.” You’d be shocked to learn how many
influential people are from Georgia and how their lives have
changed the course of history. We also have the latest
September and October releases, noteworthy news from
around Cobb, familiar faces in Cobb Scene and our Now &
Then photo segment.
Take it easy, folks. Stop and smell the falling leaves.
Enjoy the most beautiful time of the year.
— Madison Hogan
Cobb Life Editor
standup
scouring
8 COBB LIFE | SEPTEMBER 2022