Carla Jean Whitley

One of Carla Jean Whitley's prized possessions is a postcard from Birmingham's long-gone Terminal Station. That's because she's a proud Magic City native who reflects on the city's imperfect past while embracing its present-day progress. Carla Jean is the author of "Birmingham Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Magic City," "Balancing Act: Yoga Essays" and "Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music." Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @inkstainedlife.