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. 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.
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.