Podcasts about Mountain Brook

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Growing a Business Without Losing What Makes It Special | Golden Age Wine In this episode of The Localist, Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Brandon Loper and Trent Stewart, co-owners of Golden Age Wine in Birmingham. Last time Brandon and Trent were on the podcast, it was during the pandemic. A lot has changed since then. They still have their original Mountain Brook location, but they also have Golden Age Wine Garden downtown, a national wine club and their own importing company called Vins de Lieu. Brandon and Trent talk about why they chose to scale through importing instead of opening more locations, how they think about pop-ups with local chefs, what makes Birmingham's small business community so supportive, why they hire for hospitality first and wine knowledge second, and how they keep both shops feeling personal even as the business grows. If you own a small business and you have ever wondered what it looks like to grow without losing what makes you special, this conversation is full of honest answers. Watch the Full Episode on YouTube ____________________________________________________________________________________ Mentioned in This Episode Golden Age Wine website Golden Age Wine Club signup Brandon and Trent's first Localist episode (2021) Paramount (Brian) Bandit Patisserie Chez Fonfon Salud David Baker Architects June Coffee Erin Merhar (pizza pop-up) Harper Snell (Golden Age photography and marketing) Rob Culpepper (photographer) _______________________________________________________________________________ Thanks to Our Sponsor, Infomedia The Localist is sponsored by Infomedia, a Birmingham-based web and digital marketing company that helps small businesses get big results online. Contact Infomedia: https://infomedia.com/contact ________________________________________________________________________________ Join Us at Localist Lab Localist Lab is our free live marketing event series for small business owners, held on the third Thursday of most months at Saturn in Avondale. Each session features practical strategies you can use right away, plus free tacos and coffee. See upcoming events and register https://infomedia.com/events ________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to Carrie's Newsletter Get more small business insights, resources and behind-the-scenes updates from Carrie delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for the newsletter: https://gmail.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9c59a060684d71f12f6e495fc&id=98cd3122b9

The 2026 regular legislative session has concluded. This is an election year in Alabama. In election years, lawmakers often introduce bills that generate favorable headlines but do little to improve the health and welfare of their constituents. State Rep. David Faulkner of Mountain Brook bucked that trend when he filed and passed legislation creating common-sense regulations for Alabama's overnight summer camps. House Bill 381, also known as the Sarah Marsh Heaven's 27 Act, was recently signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey after receiving nearly unanimous support in the Alabama Legislature. The legislation is named after Sarah Marsh of Birmingham,... Article Link

Welcome to another episode of the Peskies Pest Control Podcast, where we dive into the “full force” emergence of Alabama's most annoying insects as the weather warms up. In this episode, Michael Wienecke and Travis McGowin discuss everything from the “prehistoric” look of moisture-loving earwigs to the high-altitude difficulty of treating wasp nests in home eaves. Whether you are dealing with a “nightmare” yellow jacket infestation in your walls or looking for a 100% guarantee to keep fire ants out of your yard for an entire year, we have the professional solutions for whatever “ails” your home this summer. Watch this on YouTube! Podcast Transcript:Michael Wienecke: All right, so what are some summertime pests that you have seen that have just been—or coming up summertime pests?Travis McGowin: I mean, the summertime gets everything moving. Everything from roaches, crickets, silverfish, earwigs—I mean, a lot of things that we just haven’t seen throughout the fall and winter months or hadn’t had any issues with. It’s now like they’re all coming out in full force again. I mean, not even to mention, you know, mosquitoes—we’re already seeing those, and it’s only halfway through March yet, so.Michael Wienecke: I’m just glad that the Asian lady beetles are starting to kind of—kind of go away.Travis McGowin: Are they? Are they, though?Michael Wienecke: Well, you know, there’s a lot of videos out there about—about them, so I don’t know if they’re going away, but it—at my house, they’re going away.Travis McGowin: I still have a couple lingering here and there. A lot of them have died, personally, here in my office. I’ve got a couple still crawling around on the ceilings, it looks like, but I have a very large amount on the floor that are dead. So, but they’re getting annoying, still.Michael Wienecke: You know what my favorite pest to treat in the summertime is?Travis McGowin: You have a favorite pest. What’s that?Michael Wienecke: Favorite pest.Travis McGowin: What’s that?Michael Wienecke: Earwigs.Travis McGowin: Why earwigs?Michael Wienecke: Because earwigs are a moisture problem, and most people—it’s kind of crazy because like, we look in our forums and stuff off Facebook and all that, and people post earwigs all the time and they don’t know what they are because they’re—they look prehistoric, you know.Travis McGowin: Well, you know where they get their name from, though, right?Michael Wienecke: Oh yeah, yeah.Travis McGowin: Yeah, so for those listening that may not know where an earwig gets its name from, it was thought years and years ago that the earwigs would burrow into people’s ears to lay their eggs. And so there was this—this unfounded fear, which is—don’t get me wrong, any type of insect has the potential to crawl in your ear. I mean, you do enough research online, you can see where people have roaches—Michael Wienecke: Ugh, roaches, yeah.Travis McGowin: —spiders and stuff.Michael Wienecke: That was like my biggest fear when I found that out. Of like a roach just flying into your ear and like you having to go to the hospital and get it removed. I’d just be like, oh, that’s disgusting.Travis McGowin: Right, right. And from what I understand, having something crawling around inside your ear canal is not comfortable by any means. But any—any roach or earwig or whatever insect that’s small enough can go into your ear canal if it gets the opportunity to. But like I said, the—the idea was that that was where they went and laid their eggs, and they would hatch inside your ear canal, which is just not true. But, I guess the name stuck.Michael Wienecke: Well, I just think they’re cool. I mean, you know, they’ve got those little pin—pinchers on the back, and they actually do work. I mean, if you put your finger in, they can pinch you. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s just—they’re just cool little creatures, and when they get in people’s houses that—that typically don’t see them, it’s—it’s just something new to them.Travis McGowin: Well, and rarely—the—the pinchers themselves are not typically used as a defense mechanism for them. They’re actually used to hold their whatever food they have—um, to consume, is more what they’re used for, actually.Michael Wienecke: Yeah, which is really cool. So, like I said, it kind of looks like a prehistoric scorpion to me.Travis McGowin: Well, we have those too. We have scorpions too here in Alabama.Michael Wienecke: We do not see a lot of scorpions, but we do, you know, every now and then we’ll get a house, especially one that’s had a lot of—um, you know, like unearthed—like they’re doing some kind of landscaping or something like that, we’ll typically see some invasions of scorpions inside homes. What’s your least favorite pest to treat?Travis McGowin: Uh, clarify the question a little bit more for me. So when you say least favorite, are you talking about least favorite in terms of potential difficulty or least favorite in terms of process?Michael Wienecke: Difficulty.Travis McGowin: I think my least favorite—and—and this is—this is probably strictly just based upon the fact that reaching them can be difficult—and because they fly, but probably one of the most annoying ones to treat is wasps.Michael Wienecke: Oh, a wasp. Okay.Travis McGowin: Yeah, I was going to say wasps, because—and I’ll give you an example. Went to a customer’s house last week that has a single-story house, but there’s some very high eaves—especially above the house in the attic space, there’s just some very high eaves. And you can’t reach it with a traditional pole to knock a web or—not—not a web, but to knock a nest down. Spray has difficulty getting up that high. But, you know, the wasps being that they fly, being that they can get into really small gaps and crevices around the eaves of the house or doors and windows and they’ll inevitably end up in somebody’s house and they’re freaking out because they’ve got this wasp in their house. But there’s—there’s not a lot necessarily, you know, prevention-wise other than sealing things up. I mean, even—even applying a liquid pesticide’s only going to do so much for a wasp.Michael Wienecke: Well, hold on now, Travis. Now we—we’ve been up on a three-story home, and we’ve sealed out a chimney to keep these wasps from getting in a house. So you can do preventive maintenance. Um, you want to screen things that they can get into—main area’s going to be a chimney, but again, it’s going to be very high up, especially if it’s a—a—a tall home.Travis McGowin: Right, from a—from a just a general pest control—um, perspective on that, I think that they’re probably one of the more annoying. And—and, you know, obviously they can come at you and sting you—so, you know, there’s that dangerous aspect of it, if you will, especially if you have—you know, an allergy or a hypersensitivity to a wasp sting. But, there again, they can fly, they can go wherever they want to—um, and when they’re out foraging throughout the day and doing their activities throughout the day, you know, they—they can be kind of a nuisance, and—and like I said, unfortunately from a pesticide perspective, there’s only so much that you can do because they fly.Michael Wienecke: Well, I—I like how you said, you know, so high, you know, our duster pole if we can’t reach it to remove it, but we do also have the—the attachment that goes on the pole with the, you know, where we can either dust—what is it called, a Gotcha Duster?Travis McGowin: Yeah.Michael Wienecke: Yeah, the Gotcha Duster—um, you can get an aerosol on there or something, so I have used that to take care of some very, very high wasp nests in gutters and such.Travis McGowin: Right, right.Michael Wienecke: But I would agree with you on difficulty, that would be—that would be one that’s not really—that’s kind of hard to treat because like you said they fly, but also the difficulty level of finding them.Travis McGowin: Well, and there’s the—the preventive aspect. So let’s—let’s really talk about that. So from a pest control perspective, what we do when we come out for these quarterly services or we come out for these monthly services is an attempt to not only treat what it is that the customer may or may not be having a problem with, but it is also to prevent things from coming in or things from happening so that there is no, you know, pest inside or there’s no infestation that builds up. You know, and there’s a lot of pests that we can target preventatively. I mean, if you look at a house that has shrubbery, flower beds, mulch beds, those kinds of things where it’s conducive place where roaches and crickets and silverfish and earwigs want to live, but we can liquid treat and we can put out bait granules and that sort of thing, there’s a lot of preventive measures that can be taken. But something like a wasp, I mean, if they fly over and land on your house, I mean, you know, halfway up the side of your house, I mean, you know, there’s really no preventive for that.Michael Wienecke: No, not at all. Um, perfect example in Chelsea, Alabama—um, had a customer that had every year in the summertime right around this time they get—they get wasps in their house. Um, they signed on with us, they haven’t had it for the last two years, but did an inspection, found out where they were getting in, and they had an issue where the—the roof was a little raised up and they were just right in there able to get into that—that attic space, and then of course they were in the house. So dusted that area, got that treated, and they have not had a problem since. So that’s—that’s good.Travis McGowin: Right. Yeah, and flying insects, man, that—that unfortunately is—is going to be one of the ones that do pose more of a challenge. I do know that I have heard from some customers that previous companies they may or may not have had, you know, at one point, there’s some companies out there that don’t even try to fool with or cover wasps.Michael Wienecke: That’s what I was going to say. Yeah, yellow jackets, wasps—any stinging insect, I mean, they won’t touch it.Travis McGowin: Right. And so, you know, we’re one of the—we’re one of the few, of course. I’m always a big proponent of communicating with the customer, setting realistic expectations, um, trying to provide a solution for the customer where they understand, you know, this is what you should or should not expect. And that’s one of those things—wasps, you know, we can—we can do some hopefully preventive things or pesticide-type things, but ultimately they fly and they go where they want to go.Michael Wienecke: Speaking of flying insects, I—I did learn something. If—if there’s a yellow jacket nest in a wall, do not remove the tape over the hole in the wall, because they—they will come out in droves.Travis McGowin: Who put the tape there?Michael Wienecke: The customer.Travis McGowin: Oh, well, smart on—smart on them.Michael Wienecke: Well, I went to remove the tape and—and the little bitty, you know, they had eaten out the hole back of the wall. So when I removed the tape, it just disintegrated and thousands and thousands of yellow jackets. So we had to do some—some shoving pillows under doors and all that and keep them—keep them contained.Travis McGowin: Well, let me—let me just say, I have had some yellow jacket experiences that I mean would—would probably be out of the realm of like nightmares, if you will. Several years ago had a customer that called me and—and they were actually a customer but they were also a family friend, so I had my cell phone number and they called me and they said, “Hey, we’ve got a yellow jacket issue inside of our house.” And I’m like, “You sure it’s yellow jackets?” They’re like, “Absolutely. It’s yellow jackets.” I said, “Okay,” and this was on a Sunday, so I said, “What time are y’all going to be around tomorrow? I’ll come by the house tomorrow, we’ll take a look at it.” And they’re like, “No, you don’t understand. We’ve got hundreds—Michael Wienecke: Emergency!Travis McGowin: —hundreds of yellow jackets inside of the living space of the house.” And I said, “All right, I’ll be there in a little bit.” So loaded up, went over there. This was prior to my possession of a bee suit, by the way.Michael Wienecke: Oh, wow.Travis McGowin: Probably not—probably not the safest ordeal that I’ve ever been involved in. You know, I spent 11 years as a fireman and this was probably more dangerous than half the stuff I did as a fireman. So I went up into the attic, okay, and if you do some research you can find that—that some yellow jacket colonies can have, you know, kind of what they term is like a super nest—massive nest, multiple queens, just ever-expanding, ever-growing nest. So we—first of all, on the outside of the house, in one of the corners of the eaves was just this massive built-up paper, you know, chewed-up paper nest like they build, almost looked like hornets for a minute but it wasn’t. And it actually expanded and extended through the eave up into the attic space. And so at the time I wish I would have got more pictures of it. I do have some pictures somewhere. But I got up into the attic and tried to treat, and I did only get stung one time in the attic.Michael Wienecke: I’m impressed, because I’ve been stung with a bee suit on, so that’s very impressive.Travis McGowin: I know. Knowing what I know now, that was not a good idea. So but I got stung one time, went back down, did some treatment—and then actually ended up having to come back a day or two later because they were still some alive and eventually got it annihilated. But I do have pictures of this too somewhere, but the—the yellow jackets when they build up enough into the attic they actually chewed through the sheetrock. And that’s where they—there was a corner of like a ceiling and the wall in the kitchen—or dining room, and they actually chewed through and made their way into the house while the customer was gone, and then when they came home that’s when they found all these yellow jackets.Michael Wienecke: Yep, that was in Mountain Brook. Same—same deal, they had chewed all the sheetrock out and like I said it just disintegrated. So well, I think we found our topic—I mean, we can talk about wasps, you know, coming up summertime and that’s what’s about to be just buzzing around everywhere. So they’re pollinators, that’s one thing I think we’ve talked a lot—lot about, and—and you have to understand that they—they are going to be flying around this summer. They’re going to do what nature intended, just like honeybees, they are pollinators—um, as well as pests. So they’re here, and they’re here to stay.Travis McGowin: Right. Um, you know, big thing to remember about yellow jackets too—more so than wasps. Now I—I will say wasps will build nest in shrubbery—um, a lot of times people only kind of mentally think wasps build under eaves, porches—um, inside of solid objects, but no, they will actually build nests in—up inside of shrubbery. I’ve—I’ve been treating houses and actually accidentally bumped a bush and had, you know, 18 of them come out at one time on me, so that is a possibility. But big thing about the yellow jackets is when you’re mowing your grass, when you’re doing any yard work—flower beds, shrubberies—keep in mind that a large majority of these nests are inside a hole, you know, through a hole into the ground where there’s this chamber underground that they’ve dug out and built. Um, and there can be—I mean, just population-wise, depending upon the size of the nest, I mean there could be hundreds in there.Michael Wienecke: Oh, I’ve—I’ve dug hole—I’ve dug nests out that were, you know, bigger than basketballs.Travis McGowin: Right, and they’re—they’re just nonstop. Um, but you know, if—if one of them stings you, they release an alarm pheromone. And that pheromone can trigger you to have many, many more stings—um, and also kind of trigger a pursuit of you by the other yellow jackets. So, you know, as you’re getting back out into the yard as we unfortunately have seen that warmer weather appears to be here to stay, much to my disappointment—Michael Wienecke: Eighty degrees is—is weird for right now.Travis McGowin: —it—it is, it is. I shouldn’t be sweating watching baseball on the bleachers, but here—there we are. Um, but as you’re out there doing these things, you know, just be mindful and cautious—um, and be careful, because you know yellow jackets in—in a high enough volume could potentially really hurt you or even kill you, maybe.Michael Wienecke: Oh, yeah, yeah. No, I—I think, you know, I always tell anyone that if they are allergic, they need to carry an EpiPen—um, it’s kind of a must. Um, it’s—it’s just not, you know, as us being firemen, you know, anaphylaxis is not—is not a good thing.Travis McGowin: Absolutely not. Um, and you know, for your kids to be getting out in the yard and playing and all that—I mean, I’ve—I’ve even had a time where I was at a customer’s property treating for ants. I was treating the house for ants, and I was standing in the yard next to the house, and I don’t know why I happened to glance down but I did, and I—my boots were standing basically almost on top of the entrance of a yellow jacket’s nest.Michael Wienecke: Landmine!Travis McGowin: Yeah, right. The customer was standing on the front porch which was probably four or five yards away from where I was standing talking to him, and I was the one standing on the mouth of the nest, and I did not get stung a single time and he got stung several times. So I got lucky on that one, he did not get as lucky on that one either and then ended up having to, you know, treat yellow jackets that day too instead of just nests. But it’s just that simple, it can happen that fast and you just don’t even see them.Michael Wienecke: One hundred percent. Well, and something to understand too is, you know, around this time of year, start spring summer, we’re going to start seeing them just foraging too. So just because you see them in your yard kind of buzzing around low—low to the—does not mean that you have a nest inside, you know, around your yard. They could just be out trying to get a food source, looking for water—I mean, there’s tons of different things that they could be doing. So that’s something—don’t—don’t just kind of freak out if you see them buzzing around your house because that might not necessarily mean that you just have an infestation in your yard or around your house or anything like that.Travis McGowin: Well, and speaking of other things that cause people aggravation, how about fire ants?Michael Wienecke: Oh, man, that was—so that was mine, Travis, is ants. Um, every type of ant. Except for carpenter ants. I really like to get rid—carpenter ants don’t bother me so much. But fire ants, Argentine ants—um—Travis McGowin: Pharaoh.Michael Wienecke: Pharaoh ants, yeah, those would be the big three really. The fire ants, you know—um, I—last year my son fell in a fire ant bed, so they—I’ve got a special—um, you know, I just—I want to get rid of all of them, so.Travis McGowin: Well, I—I—I can kind of agree with you on the carpenter ant ordeal. I feel like that’s about the chase, almost.Michael Wienecke: I like carpenter ants. I think they’re very cool.Travis McGowin: Well, it’s—and it’s like a hunt.Michael Wienecke: Yeah, yeah.Travis McGowin: You know, I’ve had multiple carpenter ant customers where they were seeing them in the house, they looked, couldn’t find a nest, and then of course go do a little digging around the outside of the house and find this, you know, damaged tree not far from, you know, the house that’s—you essentially go kick the tree and out come the carpenter ants, you know. Um, so it is—is more of an investigation. But the fire ants—um, obviously from an aesthetics point of view, they’re—they’re making big mounds in your yard—unsightly, you’re hitting them with a lawnmower, you’re stepping on them as you walk—so there’s that. But, you know, from a—a danger perspective, I mean especially if you have young children—Michael Wienecke: Yep.Travis McGowin: —you know, if they were to accidentally step in it and not realize it and just stand in it or God forbid sit on it accidentally, which I have heard of happening—Michael Wienecke: Nightmare.Travis McGowin: —yeah, you—you could talk about some serious allergic reaction—and obviously the pain aspect of it. I mean, I don’t like getting hit by an ant by one, you know, in the yard mowing grass or something like that. So I can’t imagine, you know, having 20, 30, 40—40 of them on you at one time—um, you know, I could see where that would be very painful.Michael Wienecke: Well, how satisfying, though, is it to run over them with a lawnmower? Because I did it—I did it over the weekend and I—I did too and it was—it’s just—it’s sat—it’s a satisfying, you know, just that cloud of dust and all those ants just—going—Travis McGowin: Such a sick—Michael Wienecke: —going into oblivion.Travis McGowin: —such a sick individual. Well, you know the good thing is, though, is if you are—if you are dealing with a fire ant issue, there is hope.Michael Wienecke: There is hope. Um, honestly the only way to get rid of fire ants is treatment. And—and I don’t even recommend, you know, just treating one—one nest. I mean, we have that—that full guarantee 100 percent—um, gone for a year—you know, I use it on my yard, you’ve used it on your yard—we love it.Travis McGowin: Oh, it absolutely works like a charm. And I promise you here over the next month or so, um, it will be reapplied to my yard, because I—I noticed last spring I was out my yard, I think we were doing yard work and I just happened to notice that there’s these mounds piling up everywhere. I’m like, “I don’t typically worry too much about my yard—at least in the past I haven’t—but no sooner did I notice that I literally went and got my spreader, hit my yard with the product, and haven’t seen an ant mound in my yard since because the product stays here for a year.”Michael Wienecke: You just got to protect—you got to protect that little girl, man. I mean, you know.Travis McGowin: Oh, right, right. But the product stays here for a year. Yeah, yeah. And when we say that, it legitimately stays here for a year. I have not seen an ant mound in my yard in almost a year. It’s amazing.Michael Wienecke: It is amazing. I mean, it—it—it works, it works great.Travis McGowin: Right. And as simple as—as, you know, a pest because it’s a restricted-use product, but as simple as a pest control company coming out, spreading it, making sure it gets watered in whether that’s by the company, by the homeowner if they’ve got sprinkler system, whether it’s going to rain here in a little while and get a good little rain to come in and water it in, but somehow water it in—and then no ants for a year. No fire ants for a year.Michael Wienecke: And then of course you go the warranty—I mean, we always back everything we do, so the warranty is—is so important. If—if by any chance they do come back, we come back as well.Travis McGowin: Right. So I guess to sum up this whole conversation, we—we know that the pests are coming. The weather is warming up, they’re going to be out and about. They’re going to be seeking for, you know, places to get into your home—um, whether it’s ants, roaches, silverfish, earwigs, crickets, whatever ails you—um, whether it’s wasps in your yard, yellow jackets in your yard, soon to be termites coming out and about for people discovering they have termites, unfortunately.Michael Wienecke: That’s a fun hunt.Travis McGowin: It is. But whatever ails you, we pretty much have a solution for you.Michael Wienecke: We sure do. The post The Heat is On: Managing Alabama's Summer Pests appeared first on Peskies Pest Control.

Happy Holy Week from StoryTellers Live!   As we approach Resurrection Sunday, Anna Meade Harris' story invites us to sit in the tension of grief and hope—and to remember that the cross was never the end of the story.   Anna, from our Mountain Brook, Alabama community, shares her story of losing her husband unexpectedly and raising three boys on her own. In the midst of loneliness, anxiety, and unanswered questions, Anna wrestled with not understanding God's ways—yet chose to trust that He is good. Looking back, she now sees how God met her in the waiting, bringing restoration, renewed purpose, companionship, and unexpected joy.   This Holy Week, if you're walking through sorrow or unanswered prayers, Anna's story will remind you: the same power that raised Jesus from the grave is still at work—redeeming, restoring, and making all things new.   VERSE OF THE WEEK: "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3   CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: Reflect on the amazing gift of the cross this week and the great things the Lord has done for you! _________________________________________________________ God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well by Anna Meade Harris    Download a phone background of the weekly verse HERE!   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Anna!   Register here for our Finding God in the Details workshop being offered online on April 21st.   Join us "In the Room" on Patreon to access new stories straight from our live gatherings around the country!   Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series~ Stories of Hope, Stories of Freedom, Stories of Faith Are you interested in one-on-one coaching with our very own Robyn Kown!?  Click HERE!   Check out all of our live speaking engagement opportunities on our website.   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for upcoming events, new podcast episodes, details on our live gatherings happening around the country, and much more!! FOLLOW US on Instagram and Facebook!   

It's a well-known statistic that 85% of people who place their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior do so between the ages of 4 to 14. Knowing this increases the urgency for ministries to work in tandem to bring the Gospel to children before the teenage years. Join Kari as she talks to Kathy Anderson, a Mountain Brook grandmother who has led Bible Studies for children for 40+ years and equips the moms behind her to carry on the torch.Ep. 105 Show Notes: o Learn More About Bible Club Ministries at bibleclubministries.org o Contact Kathy at kda21kda21@gmail.como Footsteps of Faith Bible Study Curriculum (from BCM International)o  Join Kari on Substack, Instagram, or Facebook; Sign Up for Kari's email listo Kari's Bestselling Book for Girl Moms Is Your Daughter Ready?o Kari's Bestselling Devo for Teen & College Girls: Yours, Not Hers: 40 Devotions to Stop Comparisons and Love Your Lifeo  Kari's Books: Love Her Well, More Than a Mom, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know and Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For? 

Birmingham, Alabama isn't the next Nashville — and that's exactly what makes it interesting. In this episode, Will Glass breaks down the full picture of the Birmingham real estate market: where it came from, where it stands in March 2026, and how to think about it as an investor or homebuyer.Will covers the city's origin as a geological accident, how UAB became Birmingham's economic backbone, and why the same ridge that fueled steel furnaces still divides the city's most valuable neighborhoods from the rest. You'll get a clear breakdown of market cycles from the 1990s through today, neighborhood tiers from Mountain Brook to Norwood, and the rental math behind Birmingham's cash flow reputation.In this episode:Birmingham's industrial history and why it still matters for real estateUAB as an anchor employer and what that means for market stabilityMarket cycles: 1990s through March 2026Neighborhood tiers: Class A, B, C & D breakdownsCap rates, occupancy rates & what rental returns actually look likeDowntown revitalization and the 2026 bull case2026 forecast: modest appreciation, strong single-family rental demandIf you're evaluating Birmingham for your portfolio — or just trying to understand the city before making a move — this is your starting point.

Podcast Transcript: Michael Wienecke 0:00 Hey, and thanks for listening to the Peskies Pest Control Podcast. I am Michael Wienecke, owner and operator of Peskies Pest Control, and I have Travis McGowin. How we doing Travis? Travis McGowin 0:12 I’m doing well, how are you doing? Michael Wienecke 0:14 Great man, waiting on the freezing storm to get here. Travis McGowin 0:19 You know, I all the projections early on were completely devastating, and now it’s like North Alabama. Sorry, but everybody else, you’re going to get wet. It’s going to be rainy. So we’ll see what happens this weekend. Michael Wienecke 0:34 Well, and then they’re talking about next week. Could be even worse. So we’ll see. Michael Wienecke 0:38 Yeah, good times. Michael Wienecke 0:42 Well, today we want to talk about something that hasn’t come up very often, and that’s reinfestation of bed bugs. So we had a customer, after what about eight months of doing a heat treatment, reinfested her home? Right? Travis McGowin 0:57 Exactly. So initially, the customer believed that they brought bed bugs into their home by purchasing a quilt from a thrift store, I believe is what it was. I think her daughter had gifted her a really nice, handmade quilt that somebody had donated, and she got it home, took it out of whatever packaging was there, and just immediately laid it across the bed. And that’s the only thing that she can think of that was the reason why she was dealing with bed bugs in the first place. And so, of course, we came in, we did an inspection. She had a fairly significant infestation at that time. It’s a two story house. The, you know, the lady lives by herself, so the upstairs really not even utilized. So we, we treated the first floor. And you know, for all intents and purposes, everything was was really good after treatment up until now. Michael Wienecke 1:57 So let’s talk about the initial so you said she brought a she bought, or she thought she bought a quilt, brought it in and it had one bedbug on it. How? How bad was the infestation when you inspected the first time? Travis McGowin 2:11 So I can’t confirm or deny how many bedbugs were possibly on that quilt when it was brought in. However, I can say that when we did the inspection, it was, it was fairly significant with bed bugs in cracks and crevices on the headboard and the frame of the bed, as well as on the box springs and the mattress. So, you know, it’s, it’s possible that she may have had them and not known it prior to the actual quilt itself being brought in. But you know, it’s hard to tell, especially if you, you know, haven’t paid attention to it, or hadn’t noticed it until it was too late. Michael Wienecke 2:48 Well, I mean, they’re, they’re designed to hide in the tightest crack and Travis. I mean, you’ve seen them, you know, at the gas station, between the little pump joints before. Travis McGowin 3:00 I mean, I have seen them at a gas station, inside of the little booth where the the cashier sits, you know, and rings people up for gas and for convenience store goods there inside a cracker Travis, where a lady that worked there had brought them in her purse and set her purse on the counter, and someone had complained about getting bitten by a bed bug there at the gas station, and lo and behold, there was one bed bug in a very little crevice in the countertop. So they do get around. Michael Wienecke 3:31 Well, and that’s what I kind of wanted to talk about, how hard they are to detect. I mean, you know, one or two bed bugs within not knowing that and then a month goes by, and then you start, you’re starting to multiply, get bit all that. I mean, it can turn into a pretty quick, or I would say, a slow infestation, but you’re just not realizing it while it’s happening. Travis McGowin 3:52 Right, and so, you know, bed bugs can range in size, from the eggs, which are really, really tiny, and then the multiple, you know, nymphal stages, where they grow and then they shed their skin or molt, and then they grow again all the way up into the adult stage. I mean, so they can be a varying range of sizes, I would say, anywhere from the size of a mustard seed all the way up to even maybe close to the size of, just to give people an idea, a watermelon seed. I mean, some of these female bed bugs, especially after feeding and being engorged, can be rather large. So you could see where transferring these bed bugs, you know, from one place to the next, if you came in somewhere and sat down at a restaurant where potentially someone had sat with them in their purse or on their clothing, and they fell off in the restaurant booth, and then you came in next and sat down. I mean, it might be very easy to not even notice that you had transferred these little insects in with you and then inadvertently taking them home. So it’s fairly common and easy to get a bed bug infestation. I mean, bed bugs aren’t selective on whose house they go to. They just know that they need a host, and if they can attach on to someone’s clothing or, you know, say, luggage in a hotel or Airbnb or something like that, then they’ll do it. It doesn’t matter if you live in $100,000 house or a million dollar home. They’re, you know, they don’t discriminate. Michael Wienecke 5:23 No, not at all. I mean, we’ve seen them in Mountain Brook, Hoover, Birmingham, Montgomery, Helena. Travis McGowin 5:32 Wetumpka, Prattville, Deatsville. I mean, they’re like I said, they they can be widespread. You can have the cleanest house on the block or the dirtiest house on the block. It really doesn’t matter. Now, you know, with this particular individual we came in, heat treated the first floor of the home, you know, so that included the master bedroom, the living room, the kitchen, the dining room area, all of that we actually, you know, cooked it really, really well, of course, up to the manufacturer’s recommendations for the system that we use. And then everything was perceived by the owner of the home to be fine for, you know, a very, very long time. And then what basically happened next is, you know, eight months later, we have this. She said that she had went to get a blanket and change her sheets out on the bed, and she noticed a bed bug at that time. She kind of was speculating whether the bed bugs could have been hiding in the sheets in the closet or something like that. But what I’d like for people listening to realize is that it’s not likely that that would have been, you know, the issue of reinfesting because they were hiding in the closet or something, eight months later. So, you know, of course, bed bugs, depending upon their size and how long they are in their development, bed bugs can last a decent amount of time without feeding on a human or having a blood meal. You know, for everywhere from the this sounds terrible to say, but the newborn stage and the younger nymphal stages all the way up to the adults. The younger nymphal stages aren’t going to last without a blood meal more than probably, like, two weeks, give or take. And as they grow in size, they’re they’re gonna last a little bit longer to where the adults, you know, may last. Let’s just say six weeks, eight weeks, something like that. But definitely not to the tune of seven or eight months before they feed again. I mean, most of that population would have have died off, even if they were in the closet. So, you know, we kind of ruled that out, you know. And it was frustrating because, of course, you know, we go to do the inspection, and she’s got another significant infestation of bed bugs. So, you know, it does lead us to believe that it was more of an issue of reinfestation, where, I mean, maybe they were in her chair at work, or maybe, you know, in the car. But you know, it’s anybody’s guess as to where they came back from. Michael Wienecke 8:15 Well, and that’s why we always recommend, you know, leave your purse, leave everything you can in the house that we’re heating because that’s going to give us the best chance to get rid of those bed bugs. So let’s talk a little bit about the heat treatment. You know, how it works, all that kind of stuff. Travis McGowin 8:28 Yeah so we use a propane fired heater, and that heater goes, you know, outside of the house. So, you know, we don’t ever bring propane tanks or the actual unit with the heating element inside, inside your home, but we set up where we have access to run duct work. So of course, we set the heater up connected to all of the propane tanks, and then we run big mylar duct work into the structure, whether it’s through a window or a door, and we circulate that heat into the structure, and then we run mylar duct work from a different point of the structure out back to the back barrel of that heater to recirculate that heat. It’s more efficient. It maintains heat at a better rate. We use less propane, and we heat faster that way. But basically, we run that heat in through the mylar duct works, and then we bring in large fans inside of each room that we’re treating, and we circulate that heat and think of it like an, you know, essentially creating an oven inside your home. Okay, so let’s just say it’s the holidays. It’s Thanksgiving, and you go to put a turkey in the oven. You know that heat is going to be circulating around and moving around inside that oven and cooking the, you know, that Turkey, or whatever it is you’re cooking, and it’s going to slowly absorb into the food that you’re cooking. And, you know, increase the temperature of that to, you know, whatever the set temperature or your desire to. Temperature is to cook at, and it’s very similar that heat is going to be absorbed by anything inside the room, the contents that could be couches, chairs, you know, the walls, the ceiling, the floor, anything in between. And after those items reach the appropriate temperature, that’s when, of course, we start our timer, and then we cook based upon what our equipment manufacturers recommendations are. And, you know, afterwards, by the time we pull out all of our equipment and leave, the bed bug infestation is gone. Michael Wienecke 10:33 Yep. And it takes a whole day. I mean, we’re there for almost a whole eight hours. Travis McGowin 10:40 Yeah, absolutely. And you know that’s, of course, size dependent upon the structure. If we’ve got a structure where we’re treating two floors upstairs and downstairs, or just a very massive layout in terms of, you know, the floor on the first floor, it can, it can take a significant amount of time. And then, of course, you know, what the homeowner needs to realize or remember, is that when you come back into that structure after we’re done there again, we turned your home into essentially an oven, it’s going to be relatively warm for a while as that oven cools off, no different than when you take the turkey out of the oven and turn the oven off at Thanksgiving, and that oven is going to be warm for quite a while before the heat dissipates and cools off and then reaches room temperature again. Michael Wienecke 11:27 And that’s what’s so great about the heat treatment, is that, you know, it’s just, it’s kind of like you said, warming up everything at one time, and then it’s slowly radiating heat into other things. So you’re getting an internal temperature to kill those bed bugs in every inch of that home. Travis McGowin 11:43 Well, and bed bugs are very good at hiding. I mean, they didn’t, they didn’t, you know, stick around for this many years because they were bad at hiding. So, you know, if you had, like, a metal bed frame that’s hollow, you know, hollow tubes that make the frame and that’s got gaps or cracks in it where the joints come in. You got to think that bed bugs can get down into those spaces. So that heat being absorbed into furniture and into the room itself is great because it’s going to get to those places where, say, a normal chemical treatment may not be able to reach, and it’s really the quickest, most efficient way to kill a bed bug population, from egg all the way to adult in, you know, just a few hours, as opposed to going for weeks at a time applying a liquid product, having to wait for those eggs to hatch. Because, of course, no chemical product can penetrate the egg of a bed bug or any insect for that matter. Until it hatches, those eggs are safe, usually, but heat is a whole different story. It cooks them before they ever hatch. Michael Wienecke 12:52 Nukes, the whole family. Travis McGowin 12:55 Yeah, that’s, that’s a good way to put it, you know. And it’s what’s also is amazing. It’s good that you’re heating all the surfaces and the contents in the room, because when the increase in temperature begins, and you and I, Michael, have seen it when we go on site to do these treatments, but when those increase in temperatures begin, those bed bugs that are, you know, able to move, that haven’t hatched, or that have hatched already, they start to move, looking for a place that is cooler for them to stay, so that they can survive. And as you know, when you’re heating all those contents and all those surfaces, they don’t have anywhere to go. It’s pretty wild sometimes, and sometimes you don’t even realize how significant an infestation was until you start to crank the heat up, and then they all start to move. Michael Wienecke 13:41 Out of the woodwork. Travis McGowin 13:42 Yep, I had a college, two college dorm rooms that I treated. And you know, I saw bed bugs when I did the inspection, but when I started to turn the heat up in that dorm room, or both those dorm rooms, it was mind blowing how many bedbugs were actually in this empty, vacant dorm room with, you know, two, two beds? I mean, it was just amazing. You would have never guessed there were that many, but they started coming out of the woodwork trying to find a cooler place to go, Michael Wienecke 14:12 Right. Well, and I’m glad you brought that up about chemical and heat, and that’s why we chose heat. Is because heat is just, it’s, faster, in my opinion, in our opinion, it’s more efficient. We’re not having to go back 2, 3, 4, or five times. We’re not having to worry about a reinfestate or, you know, one surviving and reinfesting the home, anything like that, Travis McGowin 14:35 Right. And you know, there’s only so much that us as a pest control provider can actually control in terms of reinfestation. So for example, if you’re going to work in a place that has a known bed bug infestation, and let’s just say you brought them back to your house, your house was treated, your house was cleared. Obviously there’s a huge potential there to reinfest and so you know, if you find yourself in that situation where it’s like, okay, I can’t live peacefully in my own home, in my own space with bed bugs, but I still have to work in a place where there’s a high potential to bring them home, then there’s really some precautionary things that you probably need to be doing when you come home from work, for example, immediately removing those clothes and laundering them every day. The less amount of personal items, such as a purse or bags or anything like that, trying not to take that stuff with you, you know, because things can crawl in there, and then, you know, hitch your ride home with you. There’s just, like I said, there’s just several different things that you might want to look at doing if there’s a high potential to bring them back with you to reinfest your home. Visit us on YouTube! Click Here! Visit us on Facebook! Click Here! Learn more about bed bug heat treatments! Click Here! The post Detecting and Defeating Bed Bug Reinfestations in Birmingham Alabama! appeared first on Peskies Pest Control.

Texas A&M Men's Basketball Head Coach Bucky McMillan joins The Next Round to break down the Aggies' scorching start to SEC play, a run that has A&M sitting atop the conference standings and turning heads across college basketball. In this must-watch conversation, Coach McMillan dives into how he built his first Aggies roster on short notice, why being an undersized team can actually be an advantage, and how “Bucky Ball” has not only survived—but thrived—in the SEC, despite critics saying it wouldn't translate. Bucky also opens up about the off-the-court side of the job, including the differences between life in Mountain Brook vs. College Station, building relationships with Aggie boosters, and earning buy-in throughout the Texas A&M basketball community. Whether you're a die-hard Texas A&M basketball fan, a college hoops junkie, or someone fascinated by one of the fastest-rising coaches in the sport, this interview offers insight you won't get anywhere else.

Event Preview: Students and Staff Preview the 2026 ALL IN Mountain Brook Parent Conference ALL IN Parent Conference Jan 14, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Learn more and reserve your spot at this free conference by visiting: https://www.allinmountainbrook.org/  

Who's speaking? What do I need to know before I go? ALL IN Parent Conference Jan 14, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Learn more and reserve your spot at this free conference by visiting: https://www.allinmountainbrook.org/

AlabamaState lawmaker says Ella Cook of Mountain Brook was quiet but also  braveState Senator Orr not convinced the W.Alabama Corridor is good ideaEagle Forum of AL decries the Trump admin for re-classifying marijuana1819 News CEO talks about priority of stopping mass migration to USMobile police arrest 32 and take various drugs off streets in Operation JingleNationalDHS says 2.5M illegals have left the US via self-deportation or arrestsUS Coast Guard seizes 3rd Venezuelan oil tanker using false flag of PanamaDOJ sends out Todd Blanche to explain the doc release re: Jeffrey EpsteinDOJ also appealing two cases dismissed by judge against James Comey & Leticia JamesDr. Oz of Medicare/Medicaid says federal funds will be pull from MN after fraud scandalsGA election board violated state law when certifying the 2020 election results after 300K early votes not properly signed

The parents of Ella Cooke of Mountain Brook, Alabama—who was murdered near Brown University—share more about their daughter and the central role her Christian faith played in her life. Greg reads their moving obituary and raises questions about why police have not yet identified the person responsible.

Greg opens the show and provides updates on two targeted shootings since the last edition of Priority Talk. First, he addresses the mass shooting in Australia that targeted Jews celebrating Hanukkah on a public beach. He then discusses the shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island that claimed the life of Ella Cook of Mountain Brook, Alabama. In response to these tragedies, Greg urges listeners to be spiritually prepared—to be ready to die by making Jesus Lord of their lives.Greg briefly covers the death of Rob Reiner and his wife allegedly by the hand of their son dealing with addiction.He ends this episode discussing the upcoming meeting between Candace Owens and Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, amid the distracting allegations Owens has made of Charlie's death.

This episode of the Coach Mark Gottfried Show features an in-depth conversation with Bucky McMillan, head basketball coach at Texas A&M. Coach Mark Gottfried and Bucky McMillan discuss Bucky's unique coaching journey—from his days defying expectations in Alabama high school basketball, winning five state championships at Mountain Brook, to making the leap directly from high school to head coach at Samford, and now leading Texas A&M. The episode highlights themes of resilience, hard work, the importance of athletics in education, relationships with mentors and family, and candid insights into the rapidly changing landscape of college basketball.

Some gyms talk about premium training. Others prove it in their numbers. When one location clears a $35,000 monthly profit and still raises the bar on hospitality, people start paying attention. And that's exactly what's happening with X4 as it heads into a new market: Salt Lake City.Welcome to the Gym Marketing Made Simple Podcast — your go-to place for real strategies, real numbers, and real conversations that help gyms grow with clarity and consistency.Episode HighlightsThis episode breaks down X4's expansion into Salt Lake City and the numbers that make their model stand out. Chris Wade shares why their Mountain Brook location consistently pulls in over $60,000 a month, how hospitality sets them apart, and why predictable marketing, not guesswork, is the key to scaling. It's a clear look at what it takes to expand a premium fitness brand and what makes a strong franchise partner.Episode OutlineWhy Chris chose Salt Lake City and how personal interests played into the move.The lifestyle shift, adventure focus, and the appeal of new territory.Background on X4's progress, momentum, and franchise development.Mountain Brook unit economics: $25,000 monthly operating costs, $11,000 rent, $60,000+ monthly revenue, $35,000+ monthly profit.What makes X4 competitive in high-end fitness markets.Strength + sprint methodology and why consistency matters.How hospitality separates X4 from competitors.The importance of a predictable marketing playbook.$30,000 pre-opening marketing budget and expected lead flow.Cost per lead expectations and paid traffic performance.Why brand awareness is mission-critical in new markets.National expansion plans with a focus on the southeast.The qualities Chris looks for in franchise partners.X4's long-term vision and why alignment matters.Episode Chapters00:00 Intro00:05 Chris's Move to Salt Lake City and Personal Interests03:38 Challenges and Excitement of Moving to Salt Lake City06:48 Franchise Data and Revenue Insights10:42 Unit Economics and Market Competition18:37 Pre-Opening Marketing and Expansion Plans24:31 Qualities of a Successful Franchisee Action TakenReach out to Chris at chris@x4fit.com for franchise inquiriesPrepare for the new X4 website launch in early December.ConclusionChris' story makes something clear: growth isn't just about finding a new market. It's about proving the model, trusting the systems, and staying committed to the details that keep members coming back. When hospitality and consistency become non-negotiable, expansion becomes a lot more predictable.CTAIf this episode sparked interest in franchising or brought clarity to your own growth strategy, connect with Chris and learn what becoming part of X4 could look like.Supporting Information

Event Preview: ALL IN Mountain Brook Parent Conference Jan. 14, 2026   ALL IN Parent Conference Jan 14, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM   Learn more and reserve your spot at this free conference by visiting: https://www.allinmountainbrook.org/

Sara Martin: Mountain Brook Junior High 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year sits down with Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent, Dr. Dicky Barlow, to discuss her recognition! Watch: https://mbs.eduvision.tv/default?q=X3Y5NcZVhaAQA4sVuBSSSw%253d%253d

Amy Kathryn Gannon: Mountain Brook High School 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year sits down with Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent, Dr. Dicky Barlow, to discuss her recognition! Watch: https://mbs.eduvision.tv/default?q=X3Y5NcZVhaBOZ3wTJmEvcA%253d%253d

Kate Beidleman: Mountain Brook Elementary 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year sits down with Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent, Dr. Dicky Barlow, to discuss her recognition! Watch: https://mbs.eduvision.tv/default?q=X3Y5NcZVhaCS9mvqoENCsQ%253d%253d

Some brands take off because of luck. Others take off because the model is so dialed in that the market can't ignore it. X4 is one of those models built, tested, and refined inside a competitive landscape where most gyms struggle to stand out.Welcome to Gym Marketing Made Simple, the show focused on helping boutique gyms grow with clear strategies that keep revenue moving in the right direction. Every episode breaks down what's working so owners can make confident decisions without getting lost in complicated tactics.Episode HighlightsThis episode takes a close look at how Chris Wade created X4, a training model that blends strength, conditioning, and high-intensity intervals into four stations that challenge members in new ways. Chris shares how the brand moved from a local experiment to a franchised concept with locations outperforming traditional gyms. The conversation covers performance, operations, branding, and the strategy behind taking X4 into new markets.Episode OutlineChris shares his background in football, CrossFit, and the early days of his first gym.The moment he realized there was space for a hybrid concept that wasn't CrossFit and wasn't Orange Theory.How X4's four-station structure was developed and why it creates a more dynamic experience.The buildout process and what changed when he added 3,000 sq ft to test the model.What led CrossFit affiliates to adopt X4 and see higher revenue.Why the team shifted from an affiliate model to franchising.How the Homewood and Mountain Brook locations became top performers.The challenge of running CrossFit and X4 under the same roof—and the systems needed to keep experiences distinct.Why X4 leans heavily on programming science to keep workouts fresh.How features like front desk staff, cold towels, and premium amenities strengthen retention.Plans for Huntsville, Auburn, Chattanooga, Rome (GA), and other markets.How X4 evaluates a market before entering.The role of partners like Lasso and Push Press in brand direction.Rebranding X4 to reach broader demographics, including people preparing for hiking, skiing, and adventure travel.Action TakenDevelop a pre-opening playbook for new franchise locations.Coach franchise owners on customer experience and day-to-day operations.Open the X4 Hoover location.Launch X4 Mid City (Huntsville) in March 2026.Launch X4 Auburn in Fall 2026.Open X4 Chattanooga.Open X4 Rome, GAEpisode Chapters00:00 Intro05:16 Chris Wade's Background and X4's Origin07:23 Expansion and Franchising of X409:40 Challenges and Successes of X412:14 Future Vision and Market StrategyConclusionChris's story highlights what happens when a concept is built with intention and refined through real-world experience. X4 isn't just expanding—it's proving that thoughtful programming, strong operations, and a premium experience can reshape expectations inside the boutique training space. This conversation sets the stage for the second half, where even more of the model's strategy comes to light.CTATo get support with marketing and sales systems for your gym, book a free call and see how Lasso helps fitness brands grow revenue with simpler, more effective strategies.Supporting InformationBook a free strategy call: 

All of us have a tendency to fall into a pattern of living from a false sense of control.  But when the unexpected circumstances of life hit, we are reminded very quickly of our dependency on the Lord.   Today's storyteller, Mary Bradley Anderson, from our Mountain Brook, Alabama community, talks candidly about her journey of surrendering her plans to the Lord. This is a story about God‘s sovereignty, His all-sufficient grace and ever-present Spirit, and His omnipotent power as the Creator and Sustainer of life. Get ready to be inspired to live with your eyes focused on Jesus. ____________________________________________   VERSE OF THE WEEK: Psalm 139:5, 16 “You hem me in, behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me… All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”   CHALLENGE: “Anytime resentment creeps in, it's a reminder to turn to Jesus.” Where are you harboring resentment or jealousy? This week, allow any of those moments to turn your eyes back to Jesus, the author and perfector of your faith.   Learn more about our Sustain the Stories Campaign and how to become a Story Champion by a recurring donation or simply give once in honor of Mary Bradley and our past storytellers!!   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a bonus story from Danna Homan of our Mountain Brook community.   Register for our Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story workshop being offered online on October 29th, 9:30-12:30 CST   Download a phone background of the weekly verse HERE!  (Click the link and hold down on the photo to save to your phone.)   Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series   Check out all of our live speaking engagement opportunities on our website.   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates and details on our live gatherings AND Sustain the Stories Campaign!

Community Connections: Baynes Autrey Baynes is a 2019 graduate of Mountain Brook High School who graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2023 and is currently in flight school as a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. On this episode, Baynes shares about his experience in Mountain Brook and how it prepared him for success at the USNA as a student-athlete. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0jocL56r4uk

Guest:Edward (a.k.a. Scooter) F. Thomas IIITitle: Financial AdvisorAUM: ~$250MWebsite: https://savantwealth.com/employee/scooter-thomas/Bio:As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®), and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Scooter is knowledgeable in all areas of financial planning, including wealth transfer and philanthropy, proactive income and estate tax planning, retirement cash flow projections, retirement income optimization, insurance needs analyses, debt management, and education funding.Scooter has been involved in the financial services industry since 2017. He was an associate advisor with Bridgeworth until it joined with Savant in 2023. Prior to joining Bridgeworth, Scooter served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and then transitioned to the reserve forces.While serving our country, Scooter was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In 2021, he was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a Veteran of Influence.Scooter maintains his affiliation with the Marine Corps Reserve and serves as a Regional Air Defense Policy Planner on the Aviation Expeditionary Enabling team at the Pentagon. He is a member of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and the Alabama Veterans Memorial Park Board, serves as president of the Birmingham chapter of the Hampden-Sydney Alumni Club, and is the board finance chair for the Birmingham Committee on Foreign Relations..Scooter earned a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies (Islam) from Hampden-Sydney (VA) College.Scooter and his wife Megan happily reside in Mountain Brook with their daughter Evie, son Franklin, and two dogs, Lettie and Macy.DisclaimerThis discussion is intended to provide general information. Please consult your financial professional for guidance on your unique situation before implementing any of the ideas presented. Savant Wealth is a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Visit www.savantwealth.com for more information about our firm.

Apryl Marie welcomes in the new mayors of Homewood, Mountain Brook and ClaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alec Lewis, a 2015 Mountain Brook High School graduate, joins the Mountain Brook Schools podcast to talk about his journey in sports media and journalism which began at Mountain Brook Junior High in 9th grade. He now covers the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL for The Athletic and has been an industry professional since high school. Watch or listen to learn more about Alec's journey, appreciation for his upbringing in Mountain Brook and more.  Watch: https://youtu.be/ytgX9omv0Yc

Alison and Amanda talk about spiderweb snafus, cereal scandals, winking weirdness, and fueling fiascos. Sis & Tell, an award-winning weekly comedic podcast, is hosted by southern Jewish sisters the Emmy-nominated Alison Goldstein Lebovitz from PBS' The A List and Time Magazine's 2006 Person of the Year, Comedian Amanda Goldstein Marks.

Warren Fitzpatrick, a Mountain Brook High School graduate and current Texas A&M Men's Basketball Director of Operations/Assistant General Manager visits the Mountain Brook Schools podcast to discuss his time at Mountain Brook, those along the way who helped him achieve his dreams, goals and much more. Warren shares stories of what it's like to work for Bucky McMillan at Samford and now Texas A&M. He explains his role, shares stories and experiences from his journey in sports. Check it out!   Watch: https://youtu.be/NhGnj8raNCU

Alabama Vaping Law (HP8) 2025: Info from Mountain Brook Schools. MBS Director of Student Services, Amanda Hood, sits down with MBHS Principal, Carrie Busby, and MBJH Principal, Derek Kennedy, to discuss this new law and how Mountain Brook Schools will comply.

When the unexpected circumstances of life catch us by surprise, it's easy to morph into “go-mode” - an analogy today's storyteller knows all too well.   Allyson Mouron, from our community group in Mountain Brook, Alabama, shares her journey of faith and trust in Jesus as she struggled with infertility and then the sudden loss of both her father and her best friend.  Through brokenness, hardship, and pain, Allyson reminds us the importance of learning to let go of control and find rest in surrendering to the One Who controls it all.   IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: - The safest and easiest place to be is a place of surrender. - Rest and peace are found in refocusing your mind. - You are called to only do two things - love God and love others.   Links: Want to hear more from Allyson about her infertility?   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Allyson and our past storytellers!!   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content ~ including an interview with Katie Dunn.  This is the second bonus episode of our “Meet the Hosts” series on Patreon!   Register for our Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story workshop being offered in-person on September 10th, 9:30 AM -12:00 PM CST. Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series.   Check out all of our live speaking engagement opportunities on our website. Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates and details on our live gatherings!

Alabama8 year old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook is one of fatalities in TX floodsALGOP Chair says SCOTUS delay on LA case helpful for AL redistricting caseA Guatemalen man is charged with rape of a child in Limestone CountyAL Fire Marshal now investigating fireworks explosion on boat at Lake MartinInjury Law firm rates Alabama as the leading state for death by lightningNationalTrump signs disaster declaration for Kerr County TX, after floods and fatalitiesABC's George Stephanopolous tried to blame TX floods on Trump11 Airspace violations required jet fighter escorts at Trump's NJ golf clubTrump to focus on tariffs and trade deals as Wednesday deadline approachesCIA director releases internal reports that implicate former director Brennan committed perjury and weaponization of intelligence to "get Trump"

"There is a cure for addiciton, and His name is Jesus."- Storyteller, Candace Jones According to the 2023 United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health over 48 million Americans battled a substance use disorder over the past year, making it abundantly clear- addiction does not discriminate.  Today on the podcast, Candace Jones, who spoke at our Mountain Brook community's live gathering, shares her story of struggling with drugs and alcohol and how she quickly spiraled into the evil and dark world of selling drugs.  Through her candidness, Candace clearly reminds us of the importance of having a relationship with Jesus, relying on Him rather than yourself, and the imperative role community plays when you are battling the lies of the enemy. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: -Addiciton can affect anyone-it does not care where you are from or what type of family you grew up in- and it can quickly take over your life.  -God is seeking after a relationship with you, not religion and rules. - When God restores, He can do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)   Links:   Lovelady Center   Portraits of Hope    Listen to a similar story:  Ep. 120- Brynn Rogel:  “God is Not Disappointed in You”   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a Story Within the Story with Marne Wood, our Mountain Brook Community team leader and Executive Director of Portraits of Hope!   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Candace and our past storytellers.   Register for our Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story workshop being offered in-person on June 18th, 6:00-8:30 PM CST   Future dates- Online on July 8th; 9:30-11:30 AM CST and August 20th; 9:15-11:15 AM CST Need a summer Bible study?! Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates and details on our live gatherings!

Mountain Brook head football coach Chris Yeager and Alma Bryant head football coach Bart Sessions join The Writer's Block podcast to talk about the transfer issue in Alabama high school sports, a data-focused presentation made to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Central Board of Control on the issue, and the task force that was created to study the growing transfer problem. Sponsor the show: Gary.Lloyd87@gmail.com.#thewritersblock #podcast #mountainbrook #ahsaa #almabryant #nil #transfer #transferportal #highschoolfootball #football #alabama #alabamafootball #highgschoolsports

David Gornoski spoke at The Gathering event in Mountain Brook, Alabama on March 20, 2025. alpolitics.com: "David Gornoski closed the program with a mix of scriptural readings, interpretations and correlations with current national and international events. He pointed out that many of President Trump's most popular ideas originally came from Ron Paul, including no taxes on tips and Social Security, no foreign aid, and no wars. He also discussed the Epstein Island scandal and how Jesus' example shows us that we should not expect Kings or Princes to save us. Instead, we should be working to save ourselves and our communities." Follow David Gornoski on X here: https://x.com/DavidGornoski Visit https://aneighborschoice.com for more

This podcast featuring Rachel Weingartner (Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation Executive Director) and Dr. Dicky Barlow (Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent) explains the what, why and how questions of the foundation's latest campaign. Listen to find out more about the campaign's history, goals and objectives. To donate, please visit: https://mbgives.org/fundfuture/

Sin followed by subsequent shame and guilt can send us into some of the darkest places of loneliness, isolation, and weariness… places where the Lord never intended for us to be. After all, Jesus came to bring abundant life (John 10:10) and rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-29).   Dawson Cooper, who spoke at our live gathering in Mountain Brook, Alabama, beautifully reminds us of these truths as she recounts her journey of walking through an unplanned pregnancy and subsequent marriage to becoming a parent and letting go of childhood dreams.  In her story, Dawson sweetly shares the gospel message of redemption, as she encourages us to look to Jesus alone to fulfill our needs and see the moments of life where His Holy Spirit has shown up - reminding us His fingerprints are all over our stories.    IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:   - Admitting your weaknesses to others can be powerful in the hands of God.  - God never intended for you to carry shame and guilt - He longs for you to bring those heavy burdens to Him.  - Your past doesn't define you - you are righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ.   Links:   Listen to similar stories:  Ep. 82- Addie Lamberth: “The Unexpected Gift of Life”;  Ep. 219- Chapple Chandler: "A Life Renovated"   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Dawson and our past storytellers.    Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content.   Need a summer Bible study?! Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series, including the newly released Discovering God in Stories of Faith!   Register for our online workshop being offered on May 6th: Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story

AlabamaDr. Brian Christine of Mountain Brook to serve as HHS assistant secretaryHyundai investments within the US to include upgrades in MontgomeryHB 444 addresses religious exemptions for students re: vaccines/testingFairhope City Council not going to defund public library as did the APLSJudge hears immunity arguments for former Decatur police officerPart 3 of interview with family therapist on bill to prevent child exposure to pornography on electronic devicesNationalDr. Marty Makary confirmed by US Senate to head up the FDATrump supports Mike Waltz despite mistake with group chat on SignalWaltz tells Fox News reporter included in group chat is not on his phoneTrump signs series of EOs that address election integrity DOJ says Mahmoud Khalil did not disclose history for green card applicationHouse judiciary to question judges issuing injunctions against White HouseRussia and Ukraine agree to ceasefire for ships on the Black Sea

Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today bestselling author of seventeen novels, including her newest, The Story She Left Behind. She's also a podcast host of original content for her novels, Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis.​Her books have been translated into over 20 languages and have been the Barnes and Noble Book Club Pick, Amazon Editor Pick, Goodreads Book of the Year finalist, People Magazine Choice, Book of the Month Selection, and more. She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She's published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo. Growing up in Philadelphia as the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, she's lived up and down the East Coast from Philadelphia, to Florida, to Atlanta. She now lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Patti attended Auburn University for her undergraduate work and Georgia State University for her graduate degree. Once a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, she now writes full-time. Married to Pat Henry, the mother of three and grandmother of two. Here website is www.patticallahanhenry.com You can find more here on her substack: https://patticallahanhenry.substack.com

Join us for a special reading of “Comatose on the Gravy Train: The Justin Story”… nah, it's Season 8 Episode 6 on this episode of Nothing But A Bob Thang! Enjoy!Episode Link: https://youtu.be/U2_SKgM3f4A?si=xiKNF2pDlj-hz7RY

Send us a textCoach Speer is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Mountain Brook High School. Speer was named the first full time Director for the Spartan Athletic Department. Mountain Brook was named the #5 athletic Department by MaxPreps in 2023-24 and received the Program of Excellence Award by the NHSSCA. In his tenure the Spartans were the Class 6A State finalists in 2022 for football, 2023 State Champions in Volleyball, 2024 State Champions in Soccer and in the 2023-24 State Champions in Wrestling. Prior to that Coach Speer had a successful career as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Tulane for football and 16 Olympic Sports, Georgia Southern where he oversaw football and 17 Olympic Sports, Sam Houston State he worked with football and 14 Olympic Sports, He also had stops at Northern Iowa, and Baylor. He did an internship at Arizona State and was a student assistant at Abilene Christian. His teams made multiple bowl game appearances and he oversaw the construction of multiple weight rooms. Coach Speer has a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Abilene Christian and a Masters degree from Baylor in Health, Human Performance and Recreation. Speer is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and is a member of Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.https://x.com/coachkylespeer?s=21https://www.instagram.com/coachkylespeer?igsh=YWo4M3ZwNDhtdHNihttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email Voodoo4ranch@gmail.comhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Welcome to the New Year! Our kickoff story is all about new beginnings—but it's not what you think. This truth-filled tale will inspire you to get your heart right for 2025.   Jane Menendez, of our Mountain Brook community, openly shares about a seed of bitterness that settled in her heart long ago. The seed grew into a grudge, which Jane watered and nursed for more than 15 years. Jane bears it all, covering a lawsuit, financial insecurity, and eventually confessing the repetitive ways she entertained resentment in her heart.   For decades, Jane tried hard to love, and she tried hard to forgive. Ultimately, only a right view of her own sin could bring about change. As you listen to how Jane learned to face the truth of herself, we think you'll do some necessary soul-searching, too.   In this episode, you will learn:   –The Lord will show you your sin, but He will also show you His love and faithfulness.   –Repentance is uncomfortable but freeing.   –If you're feeling stuck in your situation, you can candidly ask the Lord to help you forgive. Links: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers Listen to a similar story:  Ep. 72- Ivy Holmes: “Freedom of Forgiveness.” Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Jane.   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a “Continue The Conversation” with the podcast hosts!   Register for the new workshop being offered on January 29th-  Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story   Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series, including the newly released Discovering God in Stories of Faith   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates!

En la mañana del lunes 30 de mayo del 2005, un grupo de estudiantes del instituto Mountain Brook se encontraba en el Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, en Aruba. Pronto se subirían al avión de regreso a su hogar en Estados Unidos, dando fin a su viaje de graduación.Pero aquella soñada aventura no terminaría como habían planeado: al grupo le faltaba una de sus integrantes, Natalee Holloway, de 17 años. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

En la mañana del lunes 30 de mayo del 2005, un grupo de estudiantes del instituto Mountain Brook se encontraba en el Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, en Aruba. Pronto se subirían al avión de regreso a su hogar en Estados Unidos, dando fin a su viaje de graduación.Pero aquella soñada aventura no terminaría como habían planeado: al grupo le faltaba una de sus integrantes, Natalee Holloway, de 17 años.

Tara Davis, of our Mountain Brook, Alabama community, experienced a childhood with some emotional and physical abandonment. As a result, learning independence and self-reliance came easily. But unlearning them? Not easy at all.   In the midst of relationship hurts, financial rock-bottoms, and even the murder of her mother, Tara finally found that surrendering in suffering is the true way to peace. Listen and learn that freedom comes when you trust God with your deepest despair and live with dependence on Him.   In this episode, you will learn:   – When you have the right view of your circumstances, peace and hope are possible.   – Self-reliant roads lead to dead ends. Full trust in God leads to freedom.   – The Lord is near you, and He hears your prayers.   Links:   Listen to a similar story~ Laura Quick- Ep.118: “Breaking Free From the Burden of Shame” Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Tara.   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a Story Within the Story with Fairhope native Brooke Preus from Ep. 291: “Finding Purpose in Suffering- Walking Through a Child's Cancer Diagnosis and Remission.”   Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series.The third in the series, Discovering God in Stories of Faith, is now available!!!   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates ~ including information on our new workshop, Finding God in the Details, coming soon!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan are back after Auburn football's off weekend. They start by talking about what Justin learned at SEC Basketball Media Days in Mountain Brook this week and how Bruce Pearl's Tigers aren't going to sneak up on anybody this season with all the hype they've gotten already.The bulk of the episode is a preview of Auburn's football trip to Misso…

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're bringing you an encouraging survivor's story from our Mountain Brook community. Kathryn Tortorici will remind you that the Lord knows your days and will equip you for what's next.   Through her struggle with breast cancer, Kathryn says she learned to fully trust—and that it's possible to be full of tears and full of joy.   Plus, you'll love hearing how Kathryn and a friend were diagnosed at the same time. Together, they developed a heart for God and a heart for others.   In this episode you will learn: - Life is like a train track with trials and tribulations as the tracks, but it will take you to a destination. Links: Song: “Do I Trust You” by Twila Paris   Two by Two: Conversations Between Friends Navigating Breast Cancer by Kathryn Tortorici & Nancy Bynon   Listen to a similar story~ Jehan Corbin- Ep. 121: “Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Enough” and Lindy Walker- Ep. 13: “Surrender Her Agenda”   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Kathryn   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a Where Are They Now with Lauren Beckner- Ep. 109: “Open Hands”   Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates!

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're bringing you an encouraging survivor's story from our Mountain Brook community. Kathryn Tortorici will remind you that the Lord knows your days and will equip you for what's next.   Through her struggle with breast cancer, Kathryn says she learned to fully trust—and that it's possible to be full of tears and full of joy.   Plus, you'll love hearing how Kathryn and a friend were diagnosed at the same time. Together, they developed a heart for God and a heart for others.   In this episode you will learn: - Life is like a train track with trials and tribulations as the tracks, but it will take you to a destination. Links: Song: “Do I Trust You” by Twila Paris   Two by Two: Conversations Between Friends Navigating Breast Cancer by Kathryn Tortorici & Nancy Bynon   Listen to a similar story~ Jehan Corbin- Ep. 121: “Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Enough”   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Kathryn   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a Where Are They Now with Lauren Beckner- Ep. 109: “Open Hands”   Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates!

The Natalee Holloway case is a high-profile, unsolved missing person case that began in 2005. Natalee Holloway was an 18-year-old American student from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who went missing while on a high school graduation trip to Aruba in the Caribbean.Here is a summary of the key events in the case:Disappearance: Natalee Holloway was last seen on May 30, 2005, leaving a nightclub with three young men, one of whom was Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch national who was also on vacation in Aruba. Natalee was scheduled to return home the following day but never did.Investigation: The Aruban authorities launched an investigation into Natalee's disappearance, which quickly gained international media attention. Extensive searches were conducted on the island, but no trace of her was found.Suspects: Joran van der Sloot, along with his two friends, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, were initially arrested and questioned in connection with Natalee's disappearance. However, due to lack of evidence, they were released.Legal developments: Over the years, there have been numerous legal developments, including arrests, confessions, and releases of various individuals connected to the case. Joran van der Sloot was arrested multiple times but was never charged with Natalee's disappearance.On October 18th 2023 Jordan Van Der Sloot confessed to murdering Natalee Holloway.In this episode, we take a look at the confession given by Joran Van Der Sloot and the reaction from Natalee Holloway's mother. (commercial at 9:02)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Judge says Joran van der Sloot has confessed to killing Natalee Holloway | Fox News

Natalee Holloway was an American teenager who disappeared during a high school graduation trip to Aruba in 2005. The case gained widespread media attention and has remained unsolved, with many details still unclear. Here is a summary of the key events:Background: Natalee Holloway, an 18-year-old from Mountain Brook, Alabama, went on a trip to Aruba with classmates to celebrate their high school graduation.Disappearance: On May 30, 2005, Natalee was last seen leaving a nightclub with three young men: Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch national; Deepak Kalpoe, and his brother Satish Kalpoe, both Aruban residents. Natalee did not return to her hotel, and her disappearance was reported when she failed to appear for her flight back to the United States.Investigation: The initial investigation focused on the last individuals seen with Natalee. Joran van der Sloot was arrested multiple times, along with the Kalpoe brothers, but they were released due to insufficient evidence. The investigation faced criticism for its handling and the lack of progress.Search Efforts: Intensive searches were conducted on the island and in the surrounding waters, but Natalee's body was never found. The lack of physical evidence complicated the investigation.Legal Developments: Over the years, there were various legal proceedings, arrests, and releases. Joran van der Sloot was arrested multiple times in connection with the case but was never charged with Natalee's disappearance. In 2010, he was arrested in Peru for the murder of Stephany Flores Ramirez and is currently serving a prison sentence in Peru.Closure and Ongoing Mystery: Natalee Holloway was declared legally dead in 2012. The case remains unsolved, and the exact circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain a mystery. The lack of conclusive evidence and the legal complications in Aruba have contributed to the ongoing uncertainty.In 2023 Joran Van Der Sloot pleaded guilty to several crimes related to Natalee Holloway, but he was not charged with her murder under the terms of his plea deal. Now, in the aftermath of him spilling the beans, officials in Aruba are questioning his version of events.(commercial at 7:44)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comAruba investigators question if chilling confession by Natalie Holloway killer Joran van der Sloot is credible amid concerns over 'contradictions' | Daily Mail Online

Each of us has those first person friendships from back in the day. Bucky McMillan is one of those guys for me. If you know one thing about him, it's his love for basketball. While most of my friends ventured into corporate America, Bucky pursued his passion as an AAU basketball coach, earning $1,500 a year. He knew his path and excelled. But learn how he made it work.In 2013, Bucky led Mountain Brook Schools to national prominence, transforming them into one of the best high school teams in the country. Mountain Brook wasn't known for athletic prowess until he worked his magic.Fast forward to 2020, Samford University recognized Bucky's talent, hiring him to coach their men's basketball program. From just 9 wins initially, he guided them to their first NCAA tournament in 25 years within four years, in 2024.Whether he coaches a Final 4 team or makes it to the NBA remains to be seen, but I am confident in his success.Recently, I caught up with Bucky and his staff over dinner, discussing college athletics, the transfer portal, NIL, his potential, and esteemed colleagues like Nate Oats and Bruce Pearl. He holds nothing back.As the dog days of summer roll in, it's a perfect time to reconnect with individuals who achieve remarkable feats. Don't miss out on hearing Bucky's story and insights - he's an hour well spent for any sports enthusiast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.