SML Buzz

SML Buzz is a community-first interview show rooted in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. Its center of gravity is local service. P.J. Bell speaks with guests who are running fundraisers, protecting the lake, building business connections, supporting families, sharing county updates, or turning personal hardship into public good. The conversations are warm and accessible. They rarely linger in theory; they move toward local details, volunteer opportunities, and reasons to show up. One episode spotlights Frank Giovinello and the Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire and Rescue, including the scale of the water they cover and the funding needed to keep crews ready year-round. Another follows Heather Alto through Central Virginia Business Coalition events, vendor booths, raffles, and spring home projects. SML Gives receives repeated attention, with Tabitha Collison and Joey Donovan connecting online giving, nonprofit fairs, and the local organizations that depend on public support. Civic life is part of the mix too. Edgar Tuck brings Bedford County history, family roots, and community growth into view, while Bryce Martin explains Rotary’s service mission at both global and Smith Mountain Lake levels. The show also makes space for heavier stories. Vicki Gardner discusses Survival Has Consequences and the long aftermath of being shot and left for dead, while Vicki Brooks describes breast cancer treatment and the start of Smith Mountain Lake Cancer Support Foundation. SML Buzz can sound promotional, but its promotion is usually pointed at real community action. It is neighborly, repetitive in a helpful way, and very specific. The result is less a polished magazine show than a running record of who is doing what around the lake, why it matters, and how residents can take part.