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. Aaron Bradford
Acclaimed Public Historian, HISTORICAL INTERPRETER, AND PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER
Aaron Bradford has spent a lifetime sharing a love for history by bringing it to life at forts, battlefields, plantations, mills, in classrooms, lectures, and in historic films. After earning a degree in History Education at the University of Delaware, he worked at Pamplin Historical Park outside of Petersburg, Virginia. Bradford now serves as Interpretive Supervisor for the Coastal Heritage Society in Savannah, with an emphasis at Old Fort Jackson and the Savannah History Museum.
Fun Facts about Bradford:
*As a young child he discovered a strong personal connection with the past and passion for history when he learned he was a direct descendant of Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Plantation.
*He walked in the footsteps of those from the Bible during a visit to Israel for 8 days, he also studied abroad in Germany.
*He discovered a long and fascinating history of stories and letters from family during the Revolutionary and Civil War Era.
*He met his future wife at an 1863 Era Christmas Social.
*He lived in an historic inn on a Civil War Battlefield in Virginia.
Mrs. Ashley Steele
Public historian, Ginger, Cinemaphile, Professional Storyteller Extraordinaire
Ashley Steele is one of those people who can be defined by her kindness. To say that she is a people-person is an understatement, and her fun personality is matched only by her storytelling ability. A mega-fan of scary movies, all things haunted, and the macabre, she spent 7 years as a VIP Host for Universal Orlando, where she was not only able to indulge her cinemaphile side, but she facilitated Behind the Screams Tours for Halloween Horror Nights. Ashley brings an energetic and dynamic perspective to her Savannah ghost tours, as well as a deep understanding of what makes not only a good story, but a very scary story. A fun fact about Ashley - she was married in Savannah’s famous Bonaventure Cemetery.
Mr. Ray Christie
Public Historian, HISTORICAL INTERPRETER, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER
A true gentleman, Ray Christie brings friendliness and a multi-faceted authority to his Savannah History Tour. As a Historical Interpreter at The Coastal Heritage Society, he has a deep appreciation for the stories and experiences of Savannah’s past, and the individuals who lived here over the centuries. Friendly and engaging, Ray is a pleasure to walk with, and a veritable fount of information for the true history buff.
Mr. Rodney Steward
Professor of History | Professional Storyteller
Mr. Steward holds an enduring passion for teaching history and a love of performance. As a professor at USCS, and as a host for Genteel & Bard, he brings enthusiasm and fun to the study of history. Mr. Steward has been speaking publicly for more than fifteen years, teaching hundreds of students, and speaking at conferences and historical organizations. Savannah's colonial, antebellum, and Civil War history are what he finds most intriguing -but he is an open book when it comes to all of Savannah’s history.
Mr. Steward hosts our Savannah History Tour.
Mr. Robert Hernandez
Public Historian | Career Storyteller
A veteran storyteller, Robert was born and raised in New York, before moving to Florida in the early ‘90’s to work for Universal Orlando where he spent 19 years in VIP touring department. In 2015 he married his wife (and fellow G&B host, Ashley Steele, in Savannah’s famous Bonaventure Cemetery. The couple fell in love with Savannah and moved to city shortly after. When he’s not working you can find him ghost hunting with my Ashley and his step-son or in the theater watching scary movies.
Ms. Julianna Monet
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.
Genteel & Bard’s Southern History & Lifestyle Content Team
Mrs. Brenna Lauren Michaels
CO-FOUNDER Of Genteel & Bard, Chief Creative CURATOR, Souther Fiction AUTHOR, Public HISTORIAN
A native southern peach, author and entrepreneur Brenna Lauren is no stranger to the power of storytelling. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, and has given workshops on the importance of story-structure and characterization to writers from all over the country. Brenna has a deep love for the city of Savannah, its multi-faceted history, its nuance, and its mystery. As co-founder of Genteel & Bard she oversees aesthetic design and marketing, as well as the social media and community presence of the brand.
Her southern gothic fiction novel, The Memory of Glass, debuted at the top of the gothic southern romance charts in September 2023. The next installment of the Lowcountry Legacy Series arrives in 2024.
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. As much as she loves indulging her entrepreneurial side, her faith and her work of homemaking and caring for her family are the sources of her purest joy.