Get to know our touring hosts
Because a story is only AS GOOD AS THE ONE TELLING IT . . .
At Genteel & Bard we’re obsessed with quality. Especially when it comes to the individuals who represent our exquisite city of Savannah and host our dear friends (that’s you!). Joining our team requires high performance standards, friendly dispositions, and hearts for history and storytelling. So you can be sure that no matter which host you have guiding you along your tour, you’re bound to have a top-notch good time.
Mr. T.C. Michaels
CO-FOUNDER AND Chief EXPERIENTIAL CURATOR OF GENTEEL & BARD, AUTHOR, AND Lead PUBLIC HISTORIAN
You don’t have to spend long chatting with T.C. Michaels before you realize he’s never met a stranger. He harbors a deep love for history and the story of the American South. In addition to being a proud husband and father, T.C.’s an innovative entrepreneur, investor, published author, and public historian. He’s the co-owner of Genteel & Bard, alongside his beautiful wife and best friend, Brenna Lauren.
In life, there is always more to learn, more to understand, and more to appreciate. He loves people, and bringing them together around the power of story and shared experiences. Storytelling and performance are in his blood. As a BFA graduate of the acclaimed North Carolina School of the Arts, he brings a broad spectrum of knowledge and talents to his presentations. Professionally, T.C. has served as a radio host from Savannah, to Atlanta, Nashville’s WSM AM Grand Ole Opry, to L.A. He loves travel, finance, philosophy, sports, and the outdoors. Also important to mention - he’s a huge Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey fan.
When he gets the opportunity - T.C. hosts both our Savannah History Tour and Savannah Ghost Encounter Tours.
Mr. Jovianny Berrios
PUBLIC HISTORIAN, HISTORICAL INTERPRETER, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER
Those who take Jovy’s tours often comment on his endearing passion for history. He is an islander by heritage, his family having resided in Puerto Rico for over 250 years (he will talk your ear off in Spanish if you give him the chance), but takes great pride in calling Savannah his home, having fallen in love with the very streets and buildings where much of his tours take place while he was attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he graduated with a BFA in Film & Television in 2020. He has spent nearly a decade working as a public historian and historical interpreter in museums and walking tour settings connecting with guests from all around the world, focusing on understanding how social history and popular culture have shaped a lot of the world's lore and legends against recorded history. As as result, Jovy is able to do something vitally important when introducing people to the city of Savannah —when you join his Savannah Dark History & Ghost Encounter Tour you don't just see the historic city, you get the distinct impression that you are back in time walking its atmospheric streets and actually listening to the city tell its own story. Full of wonderment and class, he lives for the unexpected moments, so while on your walk with him don't hesitate to share your own stories, for every new interaction brings new depth and makes the experience all the more unforgettable.
Ms. Julianna Monet
Public Historian, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER
Inspired by her family’s roots and deep love for the community, Julianna Monet has made it her life’s mission to help people connect with the world around them. Originally from the sunshine state of Florida, much of Julianna Monet’s inspiration comes from her previous chapter within the performing arts. For 13 years, Julianna entertained guests at Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios. During her time there, she fell in love with giving people a chance to smile and saw how stories have an impact on hearts of all ages. In 2020, she moved to Georgia to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design where she earned a BFA in Fibers and Textile Arts. Her studies revolved around historical applications for modern textile craft focusing specifically on the art of subtle storytelling in costume reproduction. Leaning into her colorful past and natural talents, Julianna continues to bring warmth and compassion to the stories she shares and believes that the key to a rewarding life lies in the celebration of the footsteps that came before us.
Mr. jared Yost
Public Historian, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER
From a young age, Jared developed a deep love for storytelling and its power to move people, whether through books, stories passed down from his grandparents, or the immersive worlds of theme parks. He became fascinated not just with stories themselves, but with how they are told, and how the right story, told well, can make a place feel alive. That passion ultimately led him to Savannah, where he is pursuing an MFA in Themed Entertainment Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
While Jared dreams of one day designing theme parks, he is thrilled to be in Savannah, a city where history, atmosphere, and storytelling are woven into everyday life. He believes the most compelling stories are rooted in real places and real people, and few cities invite that kind of connection more than Savannah. Being able to share those stories, right where they happened, is his favorite part of making Savannah home.
ms. Olli Pamplin
Public Historian, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER
Miss Olli Pamplin is a public historian and gifted storyteller whose tours blend academic depth with artistic nuance. Olli graduated from Boston University with a degree in Art History and has been a public historian throughout the United States. Currently a docent at Savannah’s Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, she brings a thoughtful, well-researched perspective to the city’s layered history, illuminating the past with care, clarity, and respect. Known for her warmth, quick wit, and genuine kindness, Olli has a natural ability to make history feel both alive and approachable. With her engaging presence, bright smile, and subtle sense of humor, she creates an experience that is as intellectually enriching as it is delightful, making every walk through Savannah a pleasure to share.
mr. david tootle
Public Historian, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER, 9th generation savannahian
David Tootle is a ninth-generation Savannahian whose intimate knowledge of the city can only come from a lifetime lived within its storied streets. A confident and engaging host, David is known for his effortless way with people. He’s never met a stranger and embodies the gracious spirit of the Hostess City in every sense. With a sharp eye for the city’s juiciest inside stories and an instinctive understanding of Savannah’s old families, traditions, and unspoken histories, he brings the past to life with warmth, humor, and authenticity. Touring with David feels a lot like being welcomed into the city’s inner circle.
Genteel & Bard’s {Bard}
Mrs. Brenna Lauren Michaels
CO-FOUNDER Of Genteel & Bard, Chief Creative CURATOR, Public HISTORIAN, Gothic Romance AUTHOR
Brenna Lauren is the Bard behind Genteel & Bard. A lifelong student of beautiful storytelling, she holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction, as well as a sharp devotion to aesthetic intelligence, and romantic nuance.
Equal parts novelist and experiential curator, Brenna believes the echoes of history should be felt as deeply as they are explained, and that the most unforgettable stories always leave you wanting just a little more.
Her Savannah-based gothic romance novel, The Memory of Glass, debuted at the top of the gothic southern romance charts (ranking just above Wuthering Heights for about a month, which will be her forever favorite happenstance) in September 2023. The next installment of the Gilded Gothic Romance Series arrives soon.
She also co-authored Hidden History of Savannah with her husband and Genteel & Bard co-founder, T.C. Michaels.
Brenna is a proud southern wife and mama.
