Build It Better

It's not what you know....it's who you know. The Connect Raleigh networking group gives professionals in Raleigh a way to network socially while expanding their professional sphere by focusing on building quality relationships. It's also a fantastic opportunity to highlight who you are, what you do and most importantly...why you do it! Today I get to introduce you to one of our fantastic members Grant Smith, a sales and business development leader here in the area who is excited to meet new connections, build new relationships and explore new opportunities with great leaders and companies in the Triangle area. If this is the first you're hearing of Connect Raleigh, this group is great for long time locals as well as those new to town and is not just for those looking to expand their professional networks. It's for EVERYBODY. We believe everybody, in every profession, can benefit from networking. Meet ups will be a fun, social and informative networking experience often featuring guest speakers from varied aspects of downtown that will open all of our eyes to more possibilities in this great city of ours. Please join us. We look forward to meeting you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chuck-belden/support

Jolene (Jo) Fender is a French Canadian expat that chose to move to North Carolina after getting a taste of snow birding during her maternity leave. She homeschools her 3 kids and started her own secular homeschool co-op to serve over 30 families currently here in the Triangle. She splits her time as best as she can between homeschooling, managing the co-op, creating social media content and helping others build a community of homeschoolers around them. If she's not doing any of that, you may find her out running, playing soccer, listening to true crime podcasts or camping.After the episode please connect with her to learn more about her experience living here in the Triangle or about her Homeschool Co-Op: @littlefenders on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chuck-belden/support

A conversation with Billy Richardson is a good conversation to have. He's lived all around the county but chooses to call Raleigh home. He's a veterinarian, financial + business + soccer coach and really passionate about connecting to other humans and building strong relationships where we can help each other grow. He has a strong desire to gain understanding and perspective from the people he meets as we "do life" together. Originally from Elizabethtown, KY he grew up on the backside of Churchill Downs which ignited his interest and desire to become a veterinarian at the age of 12. He's practiced as a veterinarian in Florida, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and back to Raleigh to open Trinity Animal Hospital in Holly Springs on April 5th, 2016. He then sold the business, hit the pause button on veterinary medicine in June 2021 and has been exploring other opportunities along the way and what does it mean to be an entrepreneur. Check out the chat with Billy, go try some of his favorite places around Raleigh and then give him a follow @billydvm because he would love to get to know you and share a good cup of coffee with you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chuck-belden/support

Today on the Connect Raleigh podcast we get to be Connect Durham...sort of. Our guest Michelle Johnson is with us today to talk about all that is going on around Durham including her brand spanking new DIY studio called Nailed It. I'll also talk a teeny tiny bit about what in the world is happening in the real estate market because it seems to be a little all over the place. If you're looking for more things to do in The Triangle or for more reasons to move here, dig into this podcast. Nailed It's 32nd location in Durham, NC, is owned and operated by Michelle Johnson, a West Virginia native of Filipino descent. Motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic she, with the help of her husband Russell, fulfilled a life-long dream of owning her own businesses in the spring of 2022. Having lived in Durham for more than twenty years, she was ready to be a more intregal part of the community and provide a fun, inclusive experience in south Durham. In the retail section of the store you will find other small businesses selling their handmade goods in addition to the gifts and signs made in-house. In Michelle's spare time you will find her planning a special event or family get-away. After you give it a listen, please connect with Michelle at: https://durham.naileditdiy.com  https://www.facebook.com/NailedItDIYDurhamhttps://www.instagram.com/naileditdiydurham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnson-b798784/ And if you want to learn more about the process of buying or selling real estate, or working with a real estate agent, Let's see if we might be a good fit to work together. Take a look down there.

To start with, Michael or Mike as I'm allowed to call him, is a good friend of mine and the kind of guy that you just enjoy being around. He's smart, he's kind, he's funny, a great dad and husband and a HUGE music geek which is kind of cool. He's a partner with NC Planning where he serves as an attorney and business advisor with over twenty (20) years of experience focusing his practice on the representation of individual and business clients and lending institutions in the areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, business planning, commercial lending and contracts. I am licensed to practice in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. He's regularly represents business clients ​in a variety of matters including corporate and other entity formation, company start-ups, mergers, business acquisitions and sales, joint ventures, employee incentive/deferred compensation planning, commercial lending and loan closings, resolution of shareholder disputes and corporate restructuring. In the M&A space, Michael has successfully served as counsel to clients in a variety of industries including, without limitation, professional practice owners (dentists, doctors, lawyers, etc.), construction, industrial/manufacturing, franchises and medical equipment, effectively and efficiently closing deals ranging in size from $50K-$10MM+  As a natural extension of his business transactional work, he also effectively serves as outside general counsel to corporate clients and professional practices, assisting in a breadth of matters ranging from contract review, revision and negotiation to complex corporate planning and dispute resolution. After you listen in on this one, give Mike a connect at: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-a-burger/ Firm: https://ncplanning.com/ also on FB and IG search Nc planning  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chuck-belden/support

Cheyenne is a local mom, entrepreneur, and content creator. She runs Triangle Families Explore, a media resource connecting families to high quality experiences in the triangle. Cheyenne is currently in the process of opening her first brick and mortar business, Little Oak Collective, a children's consignment store and community space. She's passionate about connecting community and creating intentional spaces for families.  Her perfect Raleigh day would be brunch at Jubala, mountain biking one the trails near Falls Lake, and drinks at East Bower Cider Co. When she chose to move to Raleigh a huge driving factor of her decision was the desire to be a part of the growth and culture of the city. She felt like Raleigh was approachable enough to go after their dreams and they were right!  Check her out online at: @trianglefamiliesexplore @littleoakcollective_raleigh @alevinsonadventure https://www.littleoakcollectiveraleigh.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chuck-belden/support

Brandon Baker is the President/CEO of First Tee of the Triangle and has served in the role since 2013. Prior to moving to the Triangle to join First Tee in 2010, he held a variety of roles in the youth development space spanning from programming to marketing and communications in the youth development space. He holds a M.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and despite being born in Maryland and spending years in Virginia, considers the Triangle home!  Brandon is a certified Master Executive through First Tee, a member of the Triangle Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Class of 2016, and the publication also recognized him as a CEO of the Year recipient in 2021.  In his spare time, Brandon enjoys playing golf, good breweries, and spending time his significant other and their two furry family members. Make sure you connect with Brandon at the following: @Bakerbl (Instagram) @FirstTeeTriangle (Instagram + Facebook) LinkedIn - First Tee — Triangle www.FirstTeeTriangle.org And after the episode check out some of his favorite spots around the Triangle at: The Village District Gizmo Brewing Lonerider Trophy Shelly Lake NCSU NC Museum of Art Marbles UNC Duke Shaw University St Augustine's University NC Central University Old Chatham Golf Raleigh Golf Association Pine Hollow Raleigh Country Club Lonnie Poole Golf Course Wendell Falls Farmhouse Cafe North Hills --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chuck-belden/support

Danny Rosin is the president of Brand Fuel a brand merchandising agency that delivers brand experiences, ecommerce, inspiration and results while having fun along the way. And that right there seems to be the key to everything important in Danny's life...doing big things while having a blast doing it. I think that is the big take away here. At least it was for me. The conversation with him really helped me look at everything important in my life through another lease and I hope it will for you too. He serves on the board of A Place at The Table, Raleigh's only “pay what you can” café which is one of the most talked about businesses on this Podcast in Raleigh. I must be surrounded by some really awesome people with many of them sharing a common love of this place so if you've not been there...get there asap. He is on the executive team for The Harvard 100. He is the active co-founder of Band Together, a nonprofit that has donated $12 million to 108 local nonprofits through live concert experiences. Like the title says, he's a Big Time Do Gooder and having a fun time doing it all. Rosin is a tireless community builder who likes starting organizations doing things that matter which is another reason why I connect to him. He is a pathological optimist, hopelessly falling in love with most everyone he meets. His core competencies are in philanthropy, music, sales and marketing and “familying.”  He is married with two daughters who are 14 and 17 and has come to grips with the idea that well-behaved women rarely make history. Truth right there. And today on the Pod we get to talk about all of this and more. You don't want to miss this one. While listening, go ahead and connect with him online at: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/dannyrosin⁠  ⁠https://twitter.com/DannyRosin⁠  ⁠https://www.brandfuel.com/⁠ ⁠https://bandtogethernc.org/⁠ And after the episode, run by some of his favorite people and places around town and see Danny's version of Raleigh. 321 Coffee Gabi's Grounds Carroll's Kitchen Dix Park Pour House Kings Local 506 Innovate Raleigh Creative Mornings Fuck Up Nights Lincoln Theater Duke Gardens NCSU UNC Umstead Park Citrix Cyle --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chuck-belden/support

Courtney is the owner of a small business in Raleigh called Raleigh Cheesy where they make custom cheese and charcuterie boards for catering options as well as they have a retail location you can pop in for some take home goodies or an educational class. They sprung on the market during Covid and built a very successful business by plugging into and serving their community. Check out Courtney's story and then give her a follow @raleighcheesy on Instagram and Facebook as well as their online presence at www.raleighcheesy.com And after that go check out her favorite places around the Triangle and get a feeling for why she loves it here! Blind Barbor Urban Air North Carolina Zoo Getaway Houses Fenton Colletta Jolie Plum Cortez Lake Johnson Village District Duke Gardens NC State Arboretum Le Farm Fount Wilmington, NC --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

The real estate market has been an insanely confusing and ever changing situation over the last few years. The national media says one thing but is that true for each local market? I'm not sure it is. Today, we get to talk with my preferred mortgage lender Patrick O'Connor of Guaranteed Rate. Patrick has been a lender for 20 years and has likely seen it all. In 2005 he moved to Raleigh from Virginia as a single, 20 something and after meeting and falling in love with his now wife...and also the Carolina Hurricanes, he's never looked back and is proud to call the Triangle his home. In this episode we talk more about the actual truth of the local Raleigh market than I have ever discussed on here before. We get into housing inventory, buyer and seller mindset, mortgage financing options and more...but we also talk about golf, hockey and beer to make it slightly less boring to anybody that doesn't care about the real estate market. But if you're following this podcast you probably care a little bit at least about the Raleigh market. Give the episode a good listen, be sure to connect with Patrick at: IG: @poconnor9, on FB: @PatrickO'Connor and on LinkedIn: Patrick O'Connor And be sure to go visit some of his favorite places around the Triangle to get a really good feeling of his Raleigh...and then make it your Raleigh. @RaleighIsGrowing Carolina Hurricanes Durham Bulls Carolina Mudcats North Carolina FC Lincoln Theater Red Hat Amphitheater Downtown South Walnut Creek Amphitheater Hopscotch Music Festival Bluegrass Festival Vivace Coquette Cantina 18 Trophy Lonnie Poole Golf Club Finley Golf Club River Ridge Pine Hollow Pinehurst Mid Pines Pine Needles Southern Pines Golf Club Tobacco Road Golf Club NC Farmer's Market Raleigh Parks and Rec Umstead Park Dix Park Roanoke Park Five Points Laurel Hills Lynwood Brewing Concern Neuse River Brewing Bowstring Pizza Oakwood Pizza Box --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Libby Taylor started SchoolUp to provide families in Wake County with the knowledge and guidance they need to find the right school for their children. And she's now expanded to Durham County and will be at the coast soon. With first hand knowledge of the challenging intricacies navigating our school system, I can say with certainty that her services are needed. Whether you are new to Wake County, don't have the time, or just need some advice to get you started, her goal is to help families stay informed and feel empowered to choose the right school for their needs. She works hand in hand with your family, looks at your unique goals and desires and then assists you in researching school options that best fit your needs. She has an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and a Masters from UNC. She started her career in education working in Washington D. C. before transitioning to the classroom. She taught in both Wake Co. and Durham Co. before moving on to The National Humanities Center where she planned and coordinated professional development for teachers. She started SchoolUp in 2017 as an independent consulting business helping both local families and those relocating to the area. She spends her days touring schools and talking to parents about their experiences in schools. And today on this episode we get to dive into all of this. On Sunday, March 5 at 3pm she is hosting a very important event that is perfect for families moving to the Raleigh area and interested in learning more about k-12 schools. She will cover all the basics of what you need to know and where to find the right information. From traditional public to magnet, charter, and private she can help you with the information and resources you need to confidently navigate your move. Bring all your questions! You can register for the event on her website at https://schoolupwake.com/events/ and you connect with Libby on Social at: @schoolupwake And after you give this episode a listen be sure to visit some of her favorite places around town to really get a feel for why she calls Raleigh home: Lynwood Brewing Concern: http://www.lynnwoodbrewing.beer/wp/ Crawford & Son: http://crawfordandsonrestaurant.com Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center: https://raleighnc.gov/parks/aquatics Lafayette Village: https://lafayettevillageraleigh.com Sola Coffee: https://www.solacoffee.com Jubala: http://www.jubalacoffee.com Lake Lure: https://www.townoflakelure.com Jolie: https://restaurantjolie.com Colletta (my suggestion): https://www.collettarestaurant.com #raleighschools #raleighnc #wakeforestnc #raleighkids #summercamp #athletics #wakecountyschools #raleighmoms #athleticcoaching #coaching #summeractivities #kidsactivities #raleighsports #sports #youthfun #wakeforestsportstraining #durhamfootball #raleighkidscamps #durhamsports #raleighbasketball #durhamnc #raleighfootball #wakeforestfootball #wakeforestbasketball #durhambasketball #durhamyouthsports #wakeforestyouthsports #durhamsportstraining #raleigh #raleighrealestate --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

This is a little shorter version of the podcast where we focus on and highlight different members of the Connect Raleigh networking group on Linked In. We started the LinkedIN group 15 years ago and today it has approximately 8000 local Raleigh professionals. The goal of the group is to build quality relationships by building personal connections because people want to do business with those that they like and trust. There is no better group in Raleigh for networking in a way that actually works. If you're local, come check it out. Today we chat with Trevor who just recently moved from Utah to Raleigh to open Purple Mattress' first retail location in the state. Give it a listen and please comment if you know of anybody that should be featured on the Connect Raleigh podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

I've heard a lot about Kiara Ruth over the last few years. Mostly from my wife, whom is one of her biggest fans. But also from her husband Terrance, an alum (is that the right word? Alum? Alumni? Alumnus? Who knows???) of the Connect Raleigh podcast. A few weeks ago my wife Brook, Terrance, Kiara and myself got together for a dinner at my home and once the conversation got rolling I immediately knew that we needed to have her as a guest on the Pod. So here we are. She is a self proclaimed master at multi-tasking and simplifying which sounds like I need to know more about that because I'm a master of multi-tasking and over complicating. I could use some simplifying. She gracefully juggles her life as a mother and wife with her presence as a social media influencer and NC tastemaker. Kiara drifts from mom to mogul effortlessly because she remains authentic and true to her brand in every step. This authenticity means telling her story truthfully, acknowledging faults, and being transparent while growing and learning. Kiara is a mom to Miles who is 7 years old and the wife to Terrance Ruth who is a professor at NC State University and who recently ran for the Mayor of Raleigh, only just barely coming up short. Terrance and I had a great chat a few episodes back. Be sure to check it out after this one. Kiara and her family recently rescued a dog, Oakley who is 4 years old and they have lived in the Raleigh area for 10 years and care deeply for the people here. Check her out at: @the.bananamoonblog on IG @thebananamoon on Twitter www.facebook.com/kiaraRuth/thebananamoon www.linkedin.com/kiaraRuth www.thebananamoon.com Please give this episode a listen and be sure to check out some of Kiara's favorite people and places around Raleigh which was EXTREMELY painful for her to narrow down as she wanted to support EVERYBODY!!: The Bananamoon Blog Terrance Ruth Runologie Oaks & Spokes Bean Sprout 5 Star Triangle Families Explore Women's Social Club Thrive Motherhood Where to be Society Raleigh Plant Swap Read With Me Raleigh So and so books Brook Belden Idle Hour Sola Iris Coffee Lab Jubala Good Day Good Night The Green Light Hayes Barton Cafe Pizzaria Toro Mofu Death and Taxes Place at the Table Cortez Heirloom Videri Chocolate Factory Fount Coffee & Kitchen Crawford & Son NY Bagel Standard Food Union Special Bread City Market Sushi M Sushi Stanbury --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

This conversation with Matt is one from the vault that got unintentionally lost in the move between studios. It was recorded just prior to the opening of Oak + Iron Fitness which has now been open for over a year. Matt holds a BS in Physical Education with a minor in nutrition and technology from East Carolina University. Collegiately he wrestled at NC State University. He was a private personal trainer and managed a fitness studio prior to opening Oak + Iron Fitness. Matt spent 10 years in the corporate world before entering the fitness industry full-time. Matt's experience in sales, marketing, and management allows him to not only understand business, but the challenges posed by the corporate world when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This has helped him develop a unique perspective that has helped shape his vision for Oak and Iron Fitness. Sincere apologies for the delay in publishing the episode but please still give it a listen and give Matt a visit at Oak + Iron. And after he kicks your behind with one of their signature fitness classes, check out some of his favorite places around town like: Stanbury Garland: Now Closed Milton's Pizza Fred Fletcher Park Iris Coffee Lab Sola Coffee (ish) delicatessen NC Museum of Art Lincoln Theater Red Hat Amphitheater --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Welcome back to kick off Season 3 of the Podcast. We've been busy over the last few weeks and months lining up some great new guests to introduce you to around our city and can't wait for you to listen in. For our first episode back in a while we bring you a great conversation with local brand strategist Angelique Bolding. Angelique and I had a great chat centering around bringing the human element to the forefront of brand and business and more importantly, going deeper with relationships and why that matters. This is the real stuff that matters most to me. Be sure to connect with Angelique on LinkedIn @AngeliqueBolding on Instagram @angeliquemarya_ and on her Website: angeliquemarya.com and please go and support some of her favorite people and places around town at: Raleigh Founded HEAT Studios Dose Yoga Happy + Hale Irregardless Dix Park French West Vaughn Edge of Urge Yellow Dog Two Roosters Pendo Headbands For Hope Social Cascade Brew Raleigh Raw Crawford and Son Jolie --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

We are taking a little time off from the podcast preparing for season #3 so in the meantime please listen in on this awesome conversation about Raleigh's Best Bars from our friends at Raleigh Magazine. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

I love getting together with my boy Greg Pearlman. It's always one of my favorite conversations and today we let you listen in on it so you can get insight into His Raleigh. Give it a listen and afterward go check out some of his favorite places around town like... CAM Lincoln Theater Oak + Iron Fitness Raleigh Raw Weaver Street Market Cortez Second Empire Stanbury Umstead Hotel NC Museum of Art Boxyard Laurence BBQ Rockford --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Ever wondered what it would be like to sell all of your stuff, move someplace new and start fresh? I've done it twice and there is something to be said about it for sure. My new buddy Mike Doyle did it too. Mike moved to Raleigh in 2016 after selling everything he owned in New Jersey and traveling the US for about a year in 2015. He owns an animation company called drive80.com that brings to life what a company does in a 60-second animation. He's also got a webcomic called dailyBred and a podcast about the late 90s punk scene called This Was The Scene. He could have chose any place in the world to settle down and he picked Raleigh. Why? Well, let me tell you all about it in this episode.  And after you listen, connect with him at: www.drive80.com  www.yourdailybred.com  IG - @yourdailybred / @thiswasthescene And this is a man about town so he's got some great insight as to where you should spend your next 72 hours in Raleigh. Check out some of his faves at: Crude Bitters Transfer Co Food Hall Crank Arm Brewery HQ Raleigh Brew Alimentari Kings Neptunes Jerry's Artarama Poole's Diner Stanbury Death & Taxes Roshambo Beverage Company The Davie Lone Rider Mellow Mushroom Benchwarmer Bagels --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Hannah's story has a lot of twists and turns, but I get the impression she wouldn't have it any other way. She says "there have been more jobs and moves than I care to admit, ranging from account management fresh out of college in NYC, to getting engaged and moving to Boston, losing my dream job in Miami, to landing back in my hometown of Raleigh with a husband and a baby on the way." After a very short move to NYC she decided it was time to officially make Raleigh their home and take the leap and open her own business, Dove & Olive Mercantile. It was in the process of pivoting this business during COVID where she found her motivation, purpose, and ultimately, The Women's Social Club. I love this story for a number of reasons but maybe most of all because it's so familiar. We have had very similar journey's staring our respective networking and social groups. I created the Raleigh Young Professionals almost 15 years ago and we have so many parallels. It's a bit creepy. You can connect with her here: https://www.instagram.com/womenssocialclub/ https://thewomenssocialclub.co/ https://www.facebook.com/TheWomensSocialClub/ And then go check out some of her favorite places around Raleigh: Trolly Pub Heartwell Raleigh Cheesy Wye Hill Vita Vite The Optimist Falafel and Co. Oakwood Pizza Box Art Museum Raleigh Night Market --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Nathaniel is what some call a deep well to drink from. His ability to extract principles and concepts from a vast array of cultures and texts, gives him the perspective, ability and the tools to engage others on many levels which always makes him a great conversationalist. Nathaniel battled with PTSD, night terrors, mis-identity, inferiority, anger, isolation and the overall feeling of not being enough. However, after doing the deep inner work and shifting his mindset along with his perspective, he has made it his mission to help others, reconnect to who they truly are. He believes that when we take time to re-see our traumatic/life experiences with a new perspective, we engage with life differently. We become better Fathers, Mothers, Husbands, Wives, Entrepreneurs, and Leaders. He believes all of us can truly Be, Do and Have what-ever we desire. After listening to our chat, check him out online at: Website: www.theperspectivecoach.us IG: @therealnathanielbrown IN: linkedin.com/in/theperspectivecoach And then connect with some of Nathaniel's favorite places around Raleigh: Watts & Ward Taverna Agora Vinny's Venture Pizza Chuy's Raleigh Raw NC State Fair C Grace Logan's Trading Company Haven Farm Adventure Landing Brier Creek Alamo Theater The Rialto Theater Parade of Homes --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Originally from Australia, Craig and Caz Makepeace are the founders of ytravelblog.com, one of the world's largest family travel blogs and now two good friends. Their blog has won multiple awards, they've been invited to The White House in 2014 as one of the most influential travel bloggers and digital media outlets to attend the first ever travel summit on study abroad, and were recently awarded Green Cards for their travel blogging expertise and success. They are now the founders of ThisIsRaleigh.com which is dedicated to sharing all the amazing things to do in Raleigh and the pursuit of a vibrant life in the “City of Oaks”. Be sure to jump over to their site to downloand your own uniquely Raleigh bucket list. They could literally live ANYWHERE in the world and they chose Raleigh. Let's find out why! To learn more about them after the episode connect with them here: https://thisisraleigh.com https://www.ytravelblog.com https://www.instagram.com/thisisraleigh https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsRaleighNC https://twitter.com/ThisIsRaleighNC https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpA3DdcN9Zkt87guKr0wD1w And be sure to check out some of their favorite places around town tagged in our Instagram post at www.instagram.com/connectRaleigh --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

In today's conversation I get to introduce you to Matt Sheehan of Exhale, a brand new tech enabled company that focuses on simplifying all of the  home services needed to care of your largest single investment...your home, to give people back their most precious resource...their time. Matt is a Boston transplant and now Raleigh resident. He's a husband, father of 3 awesome kiddos, a proven executive who often chooses the path less traveled and now he's launched a killer business here in the Triangle.  You can connect with Matt on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/matthewtsheehan/ and check out Exhale online at www.exhaleathome.com And after you connect with Matt, go check out some of his favorite places around Raleigh at: Homestead Building Company Lafayette Village Farina Lake Gaston Dix Park Carolina Hurricanes --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Susie is an experienced and effective consultant, trainer, LGBTQ+ subject matter expert, and content creator who artfully mixes her professional experiences with down-to-earth humor and personal coming out story to bridge the knowledge deficit and help others on their DEI journeys. Her unique perspective and future-ready business strategies are amplified as a TDM Senior Consultant where she drives awareness and shared accountability across all diversity traits including gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, and mental and physical abilities. Susie's expertise has deepened recruitment pools, increased employee productivity, and boosted companies' bottom lines. Susie's career includes 18 years in public education and in 2015, she founded With Pride Consulting to create actionable change for the LGBTQ+ population in schools and the workplace. Susie is also an accomplished artist whose work has been featured in numerous venues throughout North Carolina and on HGTV's Love It Or List It. Susie lives in Cary, North Carolina, with her wife, two children, and a dog named Clark Griswold. When she is not consulting or speaking, Susie enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, painting and baking delicious treats! You can connect with her at: www.thediversitymovement.com www.susiesilverart.com And on Instagram: @thediversitymovement @susiesilverart And after you connect with her online, go check out some of her favorite places around town: Mayton Inn Gonza Tacos Y Tequila Chatham Street Wine Market La Farm Bakery Umstead Park NC Art Museum Bond Park Marbles Kids Museum Artspace --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

David Meeker is a Raleigh native, which is becoming harder and harder to spot these days with so many folks moving to town. He founded Carpenter Development and partnered with the Trophy Brewing team in 2008 to open Trophy Brewing and Young Hearts Distilling. He has made every mistake in the world, lived to tell about it, and has invaluable development experience because of that. David is on the Board of the Raleigh Chamber, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Common Cause NC, North Carolinians for Redistricting Reform, Dix Park, Dogwood Bank Advisory Board, and Artspace all of which have a major focus on building community in Raleigh. He is also on the Capital Campaign Committee for Healing Transitions, a detox and recovery center on Dix Park. David lives in Downtown Raleigh with his wife and two boys. You can connect with him here: @davidmeeker on twitter @wrightbros on IG And then check out some of David's favorite places: Beasley's Chicken and Honey Death & Taxes Umstead Park Dix Park Layered Boulted Bread Morgan Street Food Hall Transfer Co Food Hall Garland Centro Fiction Kitchen Crank Arm Brewing --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Jerry McCormick is the Chief Safety Officer for Personal Safety at Work, where he utilizes his 30 years of experience as a police officer, plus 8 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and as a personal safety expert that researched more than 300 incidents of Active Shooter cases and then developed training for thousands of public safety professionals on how to respond to active shooter incidents. In addition, he has transitioned into a role of providing employee personal safety training after interviewing 9,800 police officers in the US, Europe & China on why police officers are rarely victims of Person-on-Person Crimes to help employees learn how to deal with a myriad of workplace and public threats that extend beyond active shooter situations. Personal Safety at Work has expanded their online offerings to include Distracted Driver Training and Turnkey Fleet Safety Management Program. This course is designed to increase safety, reduce injuries, reduce damages to property and vehicles, reduce lost time at work from accidents and improve confidence when operating a motor vehicle. In this chat Jerry and I talk about his life's work of creating safe environments for others and how that has contributed to making our area one of the safest places to call home. You can connect with Jerry at www.personalsafetyatwork.com and be sure to go check out what he loves most about Raleigh...well...Cary mostly: Waverly Place Koka Booth Amphitheater Cary Tennis Park Durham Athletic Park Durham Bulls Durham Performing Arts Center Duke Basketball Duke Football NC State Basketball NC State Football Carolina Hurricanes --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Amanda Cheney is an entrepreneur and philanthropist in Raleigh, NC. After graduating from NC State, Amanda worked in telecommunications, banking, and politics before starting her own business in May of 2011. aMANda'S BEST FRIEND, LLC is a premium level pet care service in the Raleigh area. In addition to her business, Amanda is fully vested in the Raleigh community through her volunteerism with the non-profit Band Together. She attended the Harvard Business School Governing for Nonprofit Excellence Program in September 2019. Amanda is an avid traveler, certified yoga instructor, and long-distance runner. She also loves to cook and read. And, of course, she's totally obsessed with her dog named Nala who she rescued in October 2019. After the episode please connect with her here: www.amandasbestfriend.com Instagram: @amandas_best_friend Facebook: @amandasbestfriendllc LinkedIn: @amandas-best-friend And then go try out her favorite people and places around Raleigh: Kane Realty Koka Booth Amphitheater Walnut Creek Amphitheater Bowstring Rover Band Together Red Hat Amphitheater Glenwood Grill J Betskis Cantina 18 Raleigh Art Museum Museum of Natural Sciences Pour House Lincoln Theater Cat's Cradle About your host Chuck Belden: I am a client centered, full service Real Estate Broker with a high touch, high communication approach to serving my clients. I earned my NC Real Estate License in 2008 and was named Rookie of the Year that year in my firm. I've spent the last 13 years building a successful business and an outstanding reputation in the industry by always putting RELATIONSHIPS FIRST. I've worked in general brokerage for the majority of my career, including a time as the Managing Director of Hunter Rowe's Durham office and a year in new home sales for a local custom home builder. If I'm not helping my clients achieve their real estate related goals, you can find me most likely with my beautiful wife, playing with my two amazing children, hosting this podcast, studying leadership, hosting networking events with the Connect Raleigh Networking group, playing lacrosse with the Raleigh Lacrosse Club or out on a LONG run. I'm an experienced leader with a diverse background in sales & negotiations, coaching, business development, entrepreneurship, management, client care, and public speaking. I value people and believe deeply in building strong relationships which is evident in my desire to connect and serve others. My wide skill set comes directly from a rich professional career spanning from hospitality to real estate sales, management and team building to community management & new home sales and finally to real estate office management and talent personal & professional development. And if you want to learn more about the process of buying or selling real estate, or working with a real estate agent, Let's see if we might be a good fit to work together. Take a look down there.

Terrance Ruth is a proud Raleigh Citizen. A husband. A dad. He is a teacher at NC State, a former public school principal, and a community organizer. He led a foundation that works for social and economic justice. Terrance is a former National VP of Repairers of the Breach. And he is running to be Raleigh's next mayor. Thanks to our wives we've been able to connect and today he came by the studio for a chat. You can learn more about him on TruthforRaleigh.com and connect with him here: TruthforRaleigh.com FB: @truthforraleigh Twitter: @TruthforRaleigh Instagram: @TruthforRaleigh Truth4Raleigh@gmail.com And if you want some real insight into what makes the man tick, check out some of his favorite Raleigh people and places here: The Banana Moon Junction West DW Foundation Table Raleigh Garland YM4C Second Empire Anisette 42nd Street Oyster Bar Blackology Coffee --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Brook's story is a familiar one. Raised to go to school, get good grades, find a good job, work hard and get all the things. But something along the way changed. She knew there was something deeper worth seeking in this human experience, which led through some self-discovery about the food we eat and the way we move our body. While super common now, that was super woo back then. From there, she started a health coaching business and hustled her way to a pretty successful spot. She did all the things the experts say to do but something felt off. And then she crumbled and stripped it all away to find her true alignment by studying Human Design and now her goal is to help others find their true alignment and flow. You can connect with her at www.BrookBelden.com or on IG @BrookBelden. She's lived in Raleigh for 20+ years so be sure to check out some of her favorite spots around Raleigh for a true local's perspective: Gear Up For Adventure Falls Lake Durham Life & Science Museum Lifetime Fitness Raleigh Raw Humble Pie Raleigh Art Museum Lake Johnson Prime BBQ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chuck-belden/support

Chris Gorges is the founder & CEO of Thompson & Prince, a brand strategy and design firm focused on early-stage ventures and small businesses. He leads a wide range of creative projects related to foundational branding, including naming, logo design, visual identity, messaging, positioning, marketing collateral, pitch decks, and website design & development. Chris is also a bootstrapping tech entrepreneur, building Everharbor, a community for creative agencies and talent. He moved to Raleigh in March 2020 from New York City when COVID began and has a unique perspective on what moving here and living here is like. Give it a listen and connect with Chris below. Thompson & Prince: IG @thompsonandprince Twitter @thomprincenyc LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/thompsonandprince/ Web www.thompsonandprince.com Everharbor: IG @everharbor Twitter @everharbor Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/everharbor/ Web www.everharbor.com Chris: IG @chrisgorges / @departmentofvintage Twitter @chrisgorges Web www.chrisgorges.com And after the chat be sure to check out the Connect Raleigh group on Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1533317/ and then go see some of Chris' favorite places around Raleigh and a few others we talk about at: UNC Scale School Red Hat Amphitheater Cookout Taco Bell Linwood Brewing Concern Wilson's Bowstring Pizza DiFara Pizza Crank Arm Brewery

This is going to be a long and windy ride so sit back, get comfy and come along with us as we talk through what it's been like running a business, specifically a Co-Working office, during the global pandemic. Michael opens up about the struggles as well as the silver linings and how he feels we move forward from here. And if it's not clear from our conversation, Michael loves Oakwood Pizza Box so you better run, not walk, over there today to grab a slice and ask about the top secret Oakwood Pizza Box story. After that, check out some of his other faves: The Nest Attended Events Betabox Labs HQ Raleigh aka Raleigh Founded Origin Hotel Mandolin Marbles Kids Musuem C Grace NC Bluegrass Festival

Christopher Terrell Moore, known as Artist Christopher Terrell, and known to me as Chris is a local Raleigh artist. We met a decade ago when I was walking through the Crabtree Mall with my real estate nametag on upside down. He caught it, called me over and I corrected my blunder. From there we connected on social media, he joined my Connect Raleigh networking group and soon I had the opportunity to help him purchase his first home. Here's a secret I don't think I've told many people and didn't tell Chris during our chat but I should have...I wore that nametag upside down on purpose. I was a new real estate agent trying to meet people so I came up with the idea that I would put it on upside down and walk the mall until somebody noticed it and started a conversation with me. And here we are 14 years later....crazy. Over the last twenty years, he has produced over a thousand pieces, showcased his paintings and other art forms at more than 100 shows, and has been written about extensively. His art career began in middle school – drawing cartoon characters from his favorite comic books and selling them to his friends for lunch money. And it's evolved greatly from there. Through this work, Terrell taps into our internally shared experiences in life, both struggles and triumphs, with the goal of focusing on the more fundamental things that connect us over the more superficial externally experienced things that divide us. In 2009 he put together a year-long exhibit entitled “Art gallery: Home of the Obama Art Museum.” It showcased hundreds of creations by artists worldwide depicting President Obama – some in very creative forms, such as works made out of shoes or coins. From 2009 to 2012 he created and operated “Hustle & Flow Community School of Hip-hop, R&B, and Art.” It was an organization that promoted school programs such as track-out, in-school programs, and special events. Its mission was to provide young people a place to learn and grow their creativity. In 2012, he created the Raleigh Film & Art Festival which is an annual event that showcases the most talented film directing and art work of young people from North Carolina and beyond. The festival draws many hundred submissions each year. You can connect with him here: www.ArtistChristopherTerrell.com www.RaleighFilmandArtFestival.com www.TopCarNegotiators.com And after the episode, be sure to strap on your walking shoes and go on his tour of Raleigh. You can go check out some of his favorite places and get a feel for his Raleigh here: Connect Raleigh Networking Group The Hudson Condos Raleigh Film & Art Festival First Friday Raleigh Arts & Science Academy North Carolina State University Obama Art Museum Tobacco Road Sports Cafe Benny Capitale's Pizza Falls Lake JC Raulston Arboretum Marbles Kids Museum Dix Park Raleigh Farmer's Market

This conversation got me really fired up and I think that after you give it a listen the same will happen for you unless of course you are a terrible person. And if you're a terrible person you're probably not listening to this podcast or following me on social media because you'd be too busy doing terrible things. So, since you're an awesome person, and you're doing awesome things like listening to this podcast of course, you're definitely going to love this chat with Lindsay Wrege the co-founder and CEO of 321 Coffee, a coffee shop truly based on diversity and inclusion. She started this company in her college dorm room as a freshman folks. I know what I was doing as a freshman and it wasn't starting community impacting companies. She now employs over twenty individuals with disabilities and believes in the power of using business for social impact. She's already partnered with big Raleigh companies like Pendo, Cisco and is looking for the right connection at Apple for their new Raleigh campus so if you know somebody...do your thing and make a connection for Lindsay. You can connect with Lindsey here: www.lindsaywrege.com www.321coffee.com IG: @drink321coffee And if you feel connected to Lindsay after this conversation, head on out and check out some of her favorite spots around Raleigh. 321 Coffee Raleigh Farmers Market Cisco Pendo Happy + Hale Apple A Place at the Table NC State Centennial Campus & surrounding greenways Whitfield Farms Short Walk Wines Lilly's Pizza

Welcome friends. It's time to connect with Mr. John Kornegay. John is a photographer living in Raleigh, North Carolina. When he's not working he enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and son, functional exercising, and transcendental meditation in his spare time. JK as the local's know him, is a guy you need to connect with right now so go do it. Start with a follow on Instagram and then get to know this man in person as soon as you can. This is another one of the relationships that I talk a lot about that came out of the birthday round table my boy Kristian put together and I'm grateful and lucky to know him. He's got great insights on what to do, where to go and how to live life and he shares much of it here in our chat. Connect with JK at: www.instagram.com/johnkornegay www.johnkornegay.com Check out the conversation and let me know your thoughts. And after the listen, give some of his favorite places a try. You can see the list below. Shaw University Lucid Skin Beauty Nest CoWorking Lifetime Fitness Raleigh Raw Food Truck Rodeo Morgan Street Food Hall Ray's buck jones Angus Barn Sullivan's St Jacques Raleigh Art Museum Centro Sitti Gravy Tonbo Ramen

Get ready for today's conversation. If you're not sitting down, you may want to. And it's likely you're not going to be able to stay in your seat for very long because it's about to get hype up in here today. So sit, stand, go for a run, listen to this one on a long drive...do whatever you gotta do. Larry Long Jr. is the Founder and CEO of Larry Long Jr LLC, which focuses on sales motivation, inspiration, training & coaching, and he's the host of the ‘Midweek Midday Motivational Minute' on Linked IN. Larry is an experienced sales leader with a demonstrated history of success in SaaS sales. He is extremely passionate about coaching as you'll be able to tell from our conversation, and he gets fired up by helping professionals take their game to the 'next level'. From years of playing athletics, primarily baseball, Larry brings a unique perspective to the table and understands many of the challenges faced by sales professionals. His areas of experience include Sales Training, Team Development, Leadership, & Motivation within organizations of all stages (start-up to publicly traded). Practicing what he preaches, Larry continuously seeks opportunities to learn & grow. Basically he is a speaker, trainer and thought leader helping people from all different backgrounds and industries just be better. He's a husband, a dad, a friend, and he cares deeply about people I feel better after every time I talk with him and he ups the energy everywhere he goes. And couldn't we all use a little more of that. This episode has so many important nuggets of wisdom in it that you're just going to have to listen to the whole thing. And after you do, connect with Larry and tell him how this conversation impacted you. You can do that at any of the links in the show notes. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/longjr7 Twitter: https://twitter.com/larrylongjr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longjr7 Website: www.larrylongjr.com Sales Training Course: www.thesalesallies.com And once you've connected with him, go check out some of his favorite spots around the Triangle below: Bojangles Pendo Idea Fund Partners NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic Duke Angel Network Durham Bulls Carolina Mudcats Carolina Hurricanes Wake Med Foundation Beasley's Chicken + Honey Poole's Diner Marbles Kid's Museum Boxcar Urban Axes

Let's connect with Jeff! Jeff Murison is the President of Live it Up Hillsborough Street, an organization dedicated to creating a thriving corridor bringing NC State and local residents together in one awesome community. We talk about what it's like to go back to face to face connections in the post Zoom/Covid world, how the pandemic has affected local businesses and the University and the silver lining in all of it. Because if you look...there's always a silver lining. You can find him online at: jeff@hillsboroughstreet.org www.hillsboroughstreet.org http://brcalliance.org Or, if you're out and about at any of the following places there is a good chance you'll bump into him and can connect: Global Village Coffee Live it Up Hillsborough Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance North Carolina State University Drive Shack Connect Raleigh Networking Group Young Professionals Network Downtown Raleigh Alliance Player's Retreat Raleigh City Greenways Trolley Pub Gonza Tacos Y Tequila Aloft Hotel Krispy Kreme Challenge

Liz McLean is a lifelong Raleigh resident and has vowed to NEVER LEAVE. She's a graduate of Meredith College with a passion for her community and the people of North Carolina.  She has over thirteen years of professional experience in public relations, brand awareness and client engagement and has worked with a variety of clients including political candidates, Fortune 500 companies and local non-profits. Her 3 favorite things are Raleigh, Live Music and Giving Back and she's happiest when all 3 collide into a beautiful mix. She recently joined the team at Holt Brothers Incorporated as Executive Director of the Holt Brother Foundation, an organization led by former NFL greats and brothers Terrence and Torry Holt to help kids that have a parent or guardian with cancer. Liz enjoys helping others understand how to apply their talents, grow their personal and professional networks in the city she loves and call home, and is constantly looking for ways to grow and improve her own understanding of her gifts...gifts that include high level peripheral vision and knowing when stragers are pregnant, among other very serious gifts. She’s recently taken up Fly Fishing and can often be found at Dix Park or out and about in downtown Raleigh. Connect with Liz here: IG: www.instagram.com/mcleanliz IG: www.instagram.com/holtbrothersinc - business https://holtbrothersfoundation.org Some of her favorite people, places and things around Raleigh that you need to drop everything and go experience right now include: Transfer Food Hall for awesome food choices Jolie for fancy date night Rosewater Kitchen also for fancy date night Barcelona again for a fancy date night Cowfish (actually I said this one but it's really good) Vita Vite for pre and post dinner drinks Bloomsbury Bistro the place to be in the 90's but still pretty damn good Hayes Barton Pharmacy amazing desserts...maybe best in town Lincoln Theater for live music Mission 19 is a favorite "local" band Band Together a favorite organization Pour House for live music Kings for live music Walnut Creek Amphitheater for live music Reynold's Coliseum for live music back in the day now mostly some NC State athletics Holt Brothers Foundation to make an impact in the community Torry & Terrance Holt Holt Brothers Construction NC State Football A Place at the Table for coffee Benchwarmers for coffee Tazza for night out with friends Dix Park to do fun shit outside Lake Raleigh for a top secret cool place to paddle board that nobody knows about...until now Umstead Park for hiking The Flourish Market for local shopping Edge of Urge for local shopping Unlikely Professional for local shopping for the dudes So & So Books for a cool bookstore Two Roosters (this was mine too) for amazing ice cream

In an arena football game right before the NFL camp was slated to start and potentially all of his childhood dreams about to come true, he broke up a pass play, tripped over a receiver and slammed into a wall. The impact broke Jojo's neck and left him paralyzed from the waist down. The doctors told him he'd never walk again. In that moment he thought: “My life is over. I’ll never play again. I’ll never be a husband or a father.” But then, like an answer to those dark thoughts, he remembered something a past coach used to shout at him during practice: “Dig!” That word motivated him. So he made it his own and turned it a slogan: “D.I.G.: Determination. Intensity. Guts.” Those words got him through that dark time in his life. There were days he wanted to quit the rehab work because it was just too hard. D.I.G. kept him going, all the way to a full recovery. Nearly 20 years later, he still carries that message to every person who walks in the door at CORE, his downtown Raleigh fitness studio. Every day he calls on his experiences to say: “No matter your goal, you have to have the Determination to start. You need the Intensity to hustle hard. But the key is Guts. You’ve got to have the guts to push through the hardest times." It’s become the CORE value at CORE and he continues to inspire every person he comes in contact with. You can connect with Jojo here: www.Coreraleigh.com IG: @jojopolkdig FB: @JosephPolk LI: @JosephPolk IG: @CoreRaleigh Twitter: @CoreRaleigh And then go check out some of his favorite places here: Midtown Olive Oil Lululemon North Hills Barre 3 Mojoe's Burger Joint Happy and Hale Run Raleigh Physical Therapy

If you're thinking of calling Raleigh home, today's guest is somebody you should connect with for sure. Doug Stewart is the Author of 5 1/2 MENTORS, he is a TEDx speaker, certified Dale Carnegie Instructor, performance coach, and mentorship thought leader. He is best known for utilizing original and adaptive methods to help people pursue a life of purpose through enthusiastic discovery. Most importantly, Doug is a devoted husband to his best friend, Merideth, and proud father to Kendall and Kendrick. And he knows a thing or two about building community which is why he is on today's episode. In this chat Doug and I sit down for the second time to talk about all things Raleigh. And if there is somebody that LOVES this area...it's this guy. So much so that he's got our area code (919) in everything he does. I feel like this might be one of the best conversations for somebody to listen to that is moving to a new area without much of a support system and without knowing many people. If I were moving someplace new, this would be the first place I would start to get confidence and a plan on how to connect with strangers in a strange place. After you listen to the episode please connect with Doug here: www.YouTube.com/DougStewart919 www.Instagram.com/DougStewart919 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougstewart919/ DougStewart919.com And now go try out some of his favorite places. Oh, and tell them he sent you and maybe you'll get hooked up. Downtown Raleigh: https://downtownraleigh.org/ Raleigh Raw: https://www.raleighraw.com/ Raleigh Founded: https://raleighfounded.com/ Warehouse District: https://downtownraleigh.org/districts/warehouse-district Morgan Street Food Hall: https://www.morganfoodhall.com/ 321 Coffee: https://321coffee.com/ Raleigh Farmer's Market: http://ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/ Jubala Coffee: http://www.jubalacoffee.com/ Pullen Park: https://raleighnc.gov/places/pullen-park Harris Lake: https://www.visitnc.com/listing/mn9P/harris-lake-county-park Jordan Lake: http://www.jordanlakenc.org/ Fuquay Varina: https://fuquay-varina.org/ Cary: https://www.townofcary.org/ Holly Springs: https://www.hollyspringsnc.us/ Apex: http://www.apexnc.org/ The Provincial: http://www.theprovincialapex.com/ Common Grounds: https://commongroundsapex.com/ SAS Institute: https://www.sas.com/en_us/home.html Research Triangle Park: https://www.rtp.org/ Umstead Park: https://www.ncparks.gov/william-b-umstead-state-park/home

Morgan is a video production entrepreneur and digital marketing content creator. When she is not producing videos for businesses, she focuses on her blog, morgankg.com, and social media outlets to teach the most effective methods in digital marketing and video. In today's chat in which my dog joins us for the majority of so sorry for the barking, we talk about so many reasons and places that make Raleigh unique and a great place to call home. If you do anything with your day today make sure you connect with Morgan at her links below and then you go check out some of these awesome places we talk about. Business website - mkgmediaco.com Blog - morgankg.com YouTube - youtube.com/morgankg TikTok - @mkgmarketing Instagram - @mkgmediaco Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/morgangoettge Now run to these places right now and show them some love: Wendell, NC: https://www.townofwendell.com/ Bearded Bee Brewing Company: https://www.beardedbeebrewing.com/ North Carolina State University: https://www.ncsu.edu/ Gary Vaynerchuk: https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/ Jordan Lake: http://www.jordanlakenc.org/ Falls Lake: https://www.ncparks.gov/falls-lake-state-recreation-area/home Emerald Isle: https://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/ Lake Johnson: https://raleighparks.org/2011/09/02/lake-johnson-park/ Global Village Coffee: http://www.globalvillagecoffee.com/ Lucky Tree: http://www.luckytreeraleigh.com/ Raleigh Raw: https://www.raleighraw.com/ Raleigh Rose Garden: https://raleighlittletheatre.org/visit-us/rose-garden/ Sola Coffee: https://www.solacoffee.com/ Sir Walter Coffee: https://www.sirwaltercoffee.com/ Sitti: https://www.sitti-raleigh.com/ Sosta Cafe: http://sostacafe.com/ Wye Hill: https://www.wyehill.com/ Dorothea Dix Park: https://dixpark.org/ Lynwood Brewing Concern: https://www.lynnwoodgrill.com/ Benchwarmers Bagels: https://www.benchwarmersbagels.com/

Did you know that there was a desert in Washington state? Me either. But today's guest did. Dr. Holly Sullenger is somebody you need to connect with. She is one of the nicest, coolest, smartest, most well connected people in Raleigh and she loves to help others. She's a corporate speaker, trainer and consultant that helps others stay relevant in their field by giving the participants new tools and insights. And if there was ever a time to stay relevant...it's now. She loves helping clients work smarter rather than harder and seeing people have "Lightbulb" and "A-ha!" moments are her true passion. In our conversation we talk about the adventures of parenting, leadership development, moving to a new area and not knowing anybody, why she felt Raleigh was the #1 place in the world to move to and so much more. Here's where you can Connect to her: Dr. Holly Sullenger of Dr. Holly Speaks, PhD, LLC Website: https://www.DrHollySpeaks.com Linked In: https://www.LinkedIn.com/company/DrHollySpeaks Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/DrHollySpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrHollySpeaks Email: DrHollySpeaks@gmail.com Her Favorite places: For Outdoor Activities: Lake Johnson, Bond Park, Jordan Lake, downtown Raleigh, downtown Durham. Bida Manda: https://www.bidamanda.com/ Cafe Luna: https://cafeluna.com/ Pour House: https://thepourhousemusichall.com/ Red Hat Amphitheater: https://www.redhatamphitheater.com/ Regency Park: http://www.regencyparkcary.com/

Keekee Lennay is a Health and Confidence Coach. She is originally from Detroit Michigan but currently live in Raleigh NC. After leaving a toxic relationship and overcoming domestic violence she decided to take control over her health and life. She has successfully lost over 80lbs, ran a half marathon, and started implementing small changes to her lifestyle to be more healthy and happy. Her passions includes dance, laughing until her stomach hurts, and good music. She is an advocate for women, especially women of color, and one of her strengths is helping them recognize their worth. She shows women that living a healthy lifestyle can be made simple and on their terms. She coaches girls to tap into their authentic self and love the body they live in. Her desires include making an impact in her community and earning a living while doing it. Good food, Chicago stepping, genuine hugs, and Beyonce are the ways to her heart. In this chat we talk about she opened her first business during a global pandemic and as a black woman business owner how she navigates all that that comes with that every single day and how her business contributes to the downtown Raleigh community. Kee’s favorite places in Raleigh: www.NourishRaleigh.com for healthy food and positive vibes www.Cloudsbrewing.com for good food, beer and people www.Blackfriday.market for one stop shopping from Black owned businesses www.Theloungenc.com  home to over 20 fashion, children, self-care, and lifestyle brands, The Lounge also features workstations and bi-weekly Think Tanks and events. Connect with Kee: @keekeelenay on IG and FB @nourish_Raleigh on IG @nourish on FB @homegurlhangout

Whitt is one of the most revered athletes in North Carolina history. He is a former collegiate basketball player who played for North Carolina State University, where he was a member of the 1982-83 team that won the NCAA national championship. As a star guard he helped lead former coach Jim Valvano's squad to a historic 54-52 victory over heavily-favored University of Houston and clinched the title of game MVP.   Dereck was a third-round selection of the Phoenix Suns in the 1983 NBA Draft. He has more than 25 years of college basketball coaching experience and has worked as an analyst for ESPN and as a regional NBA scout for the Utah Jazz. He was an executive producer for "Survive and Advance," a 30 for 30 documentary detailing NC State's 1983 title run. He was also an executive producer for "The Gospel According to Mac," a 30 for 30 documentary about Colorado football coach Bill McCartney. Committed to giving back to his community, Whittenburg serves on the Board of Directors for The V Foundation for cancer research. Whittenburg is the co-founder of the Dereck Whittenburg Foundation, with a mission to extend the hands of financial assistance to deserving college students that find themselves facing the hindrance of finance as the barrier to their completion of college degrees. The mantra of The Foundation is "Dream. Believe. Work. Now Finish!" Whittenburg is currently employed by the athletic department at his alma mater, serving as Associate Athletic Director for Community Relations and Student Support, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Jim Valvano foundation for cancer research, and holds the position of Director of Basketball Operations at North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. You can connect with Dereck at: www.DereckWhittenburg.com www.instagram.com/dwhitt1983

Welcome to episode one of the Connect Raleigh podcast. My simple philosophy is that relationships matter, like really matter. I know super genius right? I actually believe it’s not what you know its who you know. And that’s not an excuse to be lazy or ignorant. And with approximately 70 families a day moving to this area there are a whole lot of relationships just waiting to happen. And a whole lot of people looking to get connected to something bigger than themselves. So I’m here to connect you to the people and places of Raleigh that make this the best place to live in the country! And this is our first episode as we take on this new direction but still bringing you the same great content and the same inspirational stories. In this podcast we will connect you to the people and places of Raleigh and get you connected on a deeper level! Let’s get started!

Great content right here especially on parenting, leadership, and community activism. Brian is also easily accessible and excited to talk with anybody so please reach out to him directly if you’d like to further discuss any of the content here. Please like, comment, and share this episode!

Spend a few minutes learning about and from local Raleigh, NC business owners, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and all around good people. On Episode 4 Greg Pearlman, Chief Success Officer at BetaBox Learning shares his mission to help learners everywhere uncover and hone their technology skills and how his company is shifting to help children while learning from home. Tune in to see how each of us can support his mission and help the kids!

Angela Kristen Taylor is an Integrative Productivity Expert,  the CEO & Founder of Productive Souls and The Limitless Collaborative,  she's an Author, a Speaker and a mom. Angela helps ambitious entrepreneurs and sales professionals overcome chaos so they can create the life and business they want. She’s a licensed realtor, certified spiritual healer, integrative nutrition health coach, mom to five kids (and two giant dogs), Disney cartoon & super-hero aficionado, and the creator of The Limitless Collaborative, a one-of-a-kind virtual co-working space created for solopreneurs, micro-businesses, and creators to connect, find community, and get things done.

Spend a few minutes learning about and from local Raleigh, NC business owners, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and all around good people. On Episode 3 Kendra Leonard shares her mission to dress the city with us and opens up about how COVID-19 has impacted the Raleigh small business community.

This is a special Build it Better Podcast episode where I got to spend some time with my good friend Nathaniel Brown. Nathaniel is the kind of guy that lights up a room and you just feel GOOD after every interaction with him. In this conversation he goes deep as he shares his story of sexual trauma, anger issues, night terrors and going from brokenness to fully integrated. And now, living his best life, he's able to pour it into others as a husband, father, entrepreneur, coach and mentor.

Spend a few minutes learning about and from local Raleigh, NC business owners, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and all around good people. On Episode 2 Kristian Castro shares his story, what he loves about Raleigh, NC and how we all can help the hospitality industry.

If you're ready to stop procrastinating, this is the episode for you!

Spend a few minutes learning about and from local Raleigh, NC business owners, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and all around good people.   On Episode 1 Patrick Moen shares his story on life during the CoronaVirus lock down, building a consulting business and hosting a super cool and impactful podcast called 'Just a Recording.'