True Crime Podcast Inspired Visit to Winder

In preparation for one of my road trips, I found myself looking for a good podcast to listen to. “In the Red Clay” caught my attention as I was scrolling through the true crime section. I listened to the first episode and was instantly hooked. 

Produced by Sean Kipe, “In the Red Clay” is about Billy Sunday Birt. Kipe said he just happened upon the story of Birt, who has been dubbed “the most dangerous man in Georgia.” 

As I listened – and learned - the more I found myself obsessed with both Birt and the Dixie Mafia, of which he was a very active member. 

Obsessed enough that I took a daytrip to his hometown of Winder, Georgia. 

As I pulled into the small town that was home of a man that murdered more people in Georgia than anyone in history, I started searching for the Rock Solid Distillery, the small distillery his son and grandson, Stoney and Billy “Stone” Birt, owned. 

Inside I was greeted by Billy, and we chatted about his grandfather. He told me some stories and showed me a few cards he had from his grandfather while he was on death row. He also told me about the famous whiskey car, a 1970 Mercury Cyclone, considered by many to be the fastest whiskey car built. 

I asked about the car, and he told me it was right outside, then offered to take me for a ride. 

That’s how I found myself in a whiskey running car, once owned by the most notorious murderer in Georgia and head of the Dixie Mafia, casually riding through the streets of Winder.  

Yes, it was fast.  

I recently spoke with Kipe and asked about his experiences researching and producing the podcast. 

“I was surprised that there were so many people who had personal interactions with Billy Birt, and while most had something bad to say about him, most also had something good to say about him,” Kipe said. “I wasn’t expecting that.”  

I was curious about how the community, who understood the kind of man Birt was, responded to having a ruthless career criminal running his business out of what is otherwise a quiet town. Kipe told me that he found there was a kind of conflicted respect for Birt. 

“Some of that respect was surely based on fear, but I also think some of it was also because people were somewhat impressed or enamored by his ability to get away with all that he did for so long," he said. “He was a menacing, cold-blooded killer but he was also very kind to children and animals. That’s hard for many people to wrap their heads around.” 

Kipe said that while he initially found the story of Billy Sunday Birt fascinating, he had no idea how people would engage with it. He believes the secret to its success is that many listeners found that it, in many ways, transcended true crime categorization.  

“I certainly didn’t think Billy Birt, of all people, would become a kind of legendary figure, or that people would contact Stoney and myself to say this story changed their relationship with their own parents or children for the better,” he said. “And many have told us that from all over the world. I couldn’t have seen that coming in a million years.” 

While “In the Red Clay” has proven successful using traditional metrics such as the number of times it was downloaded and listened to, Kipe said his relationship with it is also measured in more abstracted – and profound – ways. 

“Professionally this has been pretty life-changing for me,” he said. “It started me off on a whole new career that I would never have imagined. That has resulted in, among other things, a Georgia State Law being passed (The Coleman-Baker Act, Fox Hunter). I’m immensely proud of having a hand in that. Personally, it has been just as meaningful. I’ve made so many new friends and met so many wonderful people in doing this project and others.” 

 “I consider myself very fortunate.” 

After the ride in Billy Birt’s car, and spending a few heavy horsepower minutes with his grandson, I did the only thing that felt right. 

I bought a bottle of Rock Solid Whiskey and pulled up “In the Red Clay” to listen once again. 

For more on In the Red Clay and other Sean Kipe podcasts, check out www.seankipe.com