Speak Easy

Bill Blackburn is one of the minds behind HomeGrown Restaurant Group, the team responsible for some of your favorite restaurants in Alexandria. Blackburn sat down with Alexandria Times Editor Cody Mello-Klein to talk about his entry into the restaurant industry, the lasting impact of the pandemic, kitchen culture and the magic of Del Ray.

This month Marion Brunken sits down with Olivia Anderson to discuss her work with Volunteer Alexandria, a community resource for volunteerism. A German native, Brunken also touched on her experience coming to the United States, as well as some of the differences she's seen working in the volunteerism nonprofit sector versus corporate settings.

Genealogist and investigative researcher Char McCargo Bah has traced the roots of local African American families for 40 years. Bah stopped by Speak Easy to talk about how genealogy has helped her uncover her own family tree, the stories she's helped uncover over the years and the value of knowing your past.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Ben Fiore-Walker, the city's town crier, stops by Speak Easy for the first episode of 2022. Fiore-Walker sits down with Alexandria Times Editor Cody Mello-Klein to talk about his 10 years in the role of Alexandria town crier, what inspired him to throw his hat in the ring for the role, the psychological experience of donning his Colonial garb and the power of a town crier in 2022.

Audrey Davis, director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, stops by Speak Easy this month. Davis discusses the origins of her deep love for museums, how the city is shedding light on Black history and the importance of remembrance. 

Patricia Washington, president and CEO of the city's tourism bureau, Visit Alexandria, stops by Speak Easy to talk about the city's identity as a tourist destination and how it has evolved over time. Washington also delves into the impacts of the pandemic on the city's businesses and what Alexandria's recovery is looking like.

Independent filmmaker David Ashton, writer and director behind "The Legacy Sessions," which won the 2020 Audience Award at the Alexandria Film Festival, joins Speak Easy this month. Ashton talks the challenges and joys of independent filmmaking, the inspiration behind "The Legacy Sessions" and his approach to the filmmaking process.  

City historian Dan Lee stopped by Speak Easy to talk about the ins and outs of Alexandria history and some of the lesser known chapters of the Port City's story. Lee also talked about growing up in Germany, his work for the Department of Defense's POW/MIA office and his interest in humanizing history.

Alexandria's Legislative Director Sarah Taylor took a break from the whirlwind of Virginia politics to talk about her experience working for the super minority Democratic caucus in the Oklahoma state senate, the challenges of working Virginia General Assembly sessions and the strategy behind state level politics.

Alexandria Times reporter Olivia Anderson sits down with Adriana Schellhaas, the executive director of Casa Chirilagua, a faith-based nonprofit in Alexandria. Schellhaas talked about what drew her to the nonprofit sector, the impact of COVID-19 on the Chirilagua community and the power of resilience.

Joe Cerutti, the artistic director of the world famous barbershop chorus The Alexandria Harmonizers, stopped by this month to discuss the lasting appeal of a cappella music, performing for the Obamas, his musical upbringing and how his 100-person chorus has adapted during the pandemic.

Brandon Byrd, owner of the renowned local frozen custard shop Goodies, stopped by this month to talk about how he went from studying kinesiology to selling custard, the lasting appeal of soul music and Goodies' first brick and mortar location at the old Alexandria ice house.

Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter stopped by Speak Easy to talk about the infamous Charles Severance case, the psychological hazards of his job, his formative experiences in the Alexandria Police Department and the changing culture of law enforcement in Northern Virginia.

Emmy-award winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Robin Hamilton stopped by Speak Easy to chat about her latest film, Our Alexandria, which tells the story of two residents who have captured the city's segregated past through their detailed dollhouses. Hamilton detailed the story behind the documentary, her filmmaking process, how memory and nostalgia played a role in the film and the value of local stories.

Speak Easy kicks of 2021 with special guest Jarreau Williams, the singer and frontman for the Jarreau Williams Experience. Williams spoke about his musical influences, approach to songwriting how he was affected and inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests and what it's been like as a musician during the pandemic. Music:"Flash Mob," Jarreau Williams"Shoulda Known Better," Jarreau Williams and Mas

The Times looks back on a year's worth of conversations with the people who make Alexandria tick by connecting all those conversations in one special year-end episode.

George Mason Elementary School music teacher Heather Rosner has made it her life's work to ensure all students have access to the world of music. Alexandria Times intern Lindsey Sullivan sat down with Rosner to hear about some of the challenges she has faced as a teacher in the age of virtual learning and how she is adapting and continuing to provide students access to music during the pandemic.

In honor of Halloween, Wellington Watts, president of Alexandria Colonial Tours, stopped by for a special episode of Speak Easy. Watts talks about the lasting appeal of ghost stories and shares a few of the city's most infamous spooky tales.  "Ghost Story" by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/3805-ghost-storyLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Reporter and author Michael Pope stops by to talk about how he got into journalism, his stint leading ghost tours, reporting during the pandemic and the quirky side of Virginia politics and history.

Stephanie Landrum, CEO and president of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, has been involved in some of Alexandria's most significant developmental efforts over the past few years. Landrum stops by the virtual Speak Easy studio to talk about securing Amazon's HQ2 in the region and AEDP's work supporting the local economy during COVID-19.

Councilor John Chapman joins Speak Easy to talk about what inspired him to get involved in local politics, his work uncovering the city's Black history for Manumission Tour Company and the current state of race relations in Alexandria.

Virtue Feed & Grain's bourbon expert Tom Gale talks with Times editor Missy Schrott about his passion for spirits, Virginia's storied bourbon past and what it's been like working in the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The music director for the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, James Ross, steps up to the mic to talk about his musical upbringing, playing music in East Germany, what actually goes into conducting an orchestra and how the ASO is adapting to the pandemic. 

For the first quarantined episode of Speak Easy, it only seemed appropriate  to sit down (remotely) with Director of the Alexandria Health Department Dr. Stephen Haering to discuss how he became head of the AHD, his work spearheading the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how he is personally coping with a socially distanced world.

Brooklyn-based artist Olalekan Jeyifous stops by the studio to talk about African megacities, the power of architecture, making art for Starbucks and his public art installation on the Alexandria's waterfront.

Local developer Teddy Kim is bringing change to a city he has called home  his whole life. Alexandria Times reporter Cody Mello-Klein sits down with Kim to discuss his memories of Alexandria in the 80s, the changing face of the city, gentrification and balancing history and possibility in redevelopment.

Alexandria Times reporter Cody Mello-Klein welcome Del Ray philanthropist, activist and all around good neighbor Pat Miller to the first episode of Speak Easy. Pat talks about how she first got into building community in Del Ray, the origins of Art on the Avenue, her work with the Alexandria Domestic Violence Shelter and how her pickup truck became a Del Ray icon.

Ahead of the launch of the Alexandria Times first podcast, Speak Easy, Times reporter Cody Mello-Klein and Times editor Missy Schrott sit down to answer your biggest question: What is Speak Easy? They also introduce themselves and reveal the podcast's first guest.