06/08/2026
Jerry Smith is a waterman, history buff, YouTube creator, and life-long resident of Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay. If he looks familiar, you probably saw him in Peter Santenello's viral video about the island in 2024, which has been viewed 5.2 MILLION times and resulted in a GoFundMe raising more than $38,000 to repair Jerry's hurricane-damaged house. Chris and Crystal hung out with Jerry in the village of Ewell on Smith Island, which is accessible only by boat.
Topics discussed:
● How Jerry got hooked up with the world-famous vlogger-journalist Peter Santenello two years ago.
● Spending a day with Peter, the viral video, and the surge of interest in Jerry and his content after it came out.
● Jerry's nickname, the Rogue's Point Pirate, inspired by the earlier name for Rhodes Point and his pirate ancestor Marmaduke Mister.
● Early Smith Island settlers (and Jerry's ancestors) of the mid-1600s.
● Chris's and Jerry's shared appreciation for Paul Baker Touart's book Somerset: An Architectural History.
● Authors who have written about Smith Island, including Frances Dize and Tom Horton.
● Life on the island in the 60s and 70s; dressing up to go to Crisfield; businesses closed on Sundays.
● Old Bay vs. J.O. Spice? (Jerry's answer may surprise you!)
● Jerry's crabcake recipe, plus a recipe for a lesser-known dish, "stewed jimmies." 🦀
● Challenges in the crabbing industry, and the significant barriers to entry for young people.
● Tourism and recent come-heres on the island, and Jerry's optimism about the future.
👇 Spotify link in comments! Also available on most streaming platforms including Apple, iHeart, and Amazon.
