DeKalb Talks Tourism

In this episode we sit down with Shani and Jelani Linder, the owners of Granite House Lofts in Stone Mountain, GA. They share their personal backgrounds, walk us through the transformation of the historic granite building into a unique lodging space, and talk about their vision for the future of Stone Mountain. If you love local stories, entrepreneurship, and community development, this episode is...

At the 2025 Taste of Chamblee, we brought our podcast van on-site to capture all the action! Inside, we sat down with Andrea Byron, Community Engagement Director of The Navigate Foundation, to talk about the Chef Youth Culinary Competition that took place at the festival. Follow Andrea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-irvin-byron-2a56446/ https://www.instagram.com/atlfoodwriter/?hl=en More Navi...

At the 2025 Taste of Chamblee, we brought our podcast van on-site to capture all the action! Inside, we sat down with Brittney Lindsay, Community Engagement Director, with the City of Chamblee to talk about the event and what makes it special. Follow Brittney: linkedin.com/in/brittneylindsay Chamblee Website: https://www.chambleega.com/ More about A Taste of Chamblee: https://www.tasteofchamblee.n...

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Susan Walcott to explore the history and impact of Buford Highway. We dive into how the area has grown and changed over time, its immigrant communities, and its role in regional economic development. Dr. Walcott also shares insights from her research on technology, innovation, and community growth, and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her work on our upcoming Bu...

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Blooms of Blooms Emporium to talk about his journey into the art world and the variety of mediums he works with—from painting to tattooing, murals, and more. Andrew also discusses his role in helping bring back Atlanta’s Chinatown through art, events, and community projects. Tune in to hear how he’s combining creativity and local culture to make a real impa...

Join us inside our podcast van at the GACVB Governors Conference in Savannah! 🎙️ We sat down with Chris Hardman, who was just announced as the new Executive Director of GHLA starting next year, to talk about what’s ahead and his vision for Georgia’s hospitality industry. Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hardman-mghm-36222a48/ More about GHLA: https://www.ghla.net/ DeKalb Talks...

We got to chat with Shara Sanders, Executive Director of Leadership DeKalb! We talk about what Leadership DeKalb really is, how it helps develop community leaders, and the ways it’s making a difference in our county. If you’re curious about the programs and opportunities shaping DeKalb, you’ll want to hear this episode! More about Leadership DeKalb: https://www.leadershipdekalb.org/ Connect with S...

Our 2025 State of Tourism was a defining moment for us at Discover DeKalb! This year’s event showcased the incredible initiatives shaping our county and the powerful impact tourism continues to have across our community. In this short episode, we sit down for a fireside chat with Felipe Tobar to reflect on collaboration, innovation, and the momentum driving DeKalb forward. Connect with Felipe: htt...

We’re joined by Father Paul to talk all things Atlanta Greek Fest🇬🇷✨. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, this year’s festival is set to be bigger than ever — with authentic Greek food, live music, dancing, and plenty of family-friendly fun! Atlanta Greek Fest: https://www.atlantagreekfestival.org/ DeKalb Talks Tourism IG:   / dekalbtalks…   Discover DeKalb IG:   / discoverdek…   Discover DeKalb FB...

To gear up for the 2025 Georgia Football Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 4th, we’re hitting the road on a mini tour of Florida A&M and Mississippi Valley State. Along the way, we’re sitting down with some of the incredible people who represent these communities. Our second and final stop: Mississippi Valley State University, where we had the pleasure of interviewing Latavia William...

To gear up for the 2025 Georgia Football Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 4th, we’re hitting the road on a mini tour of Florida A&M and Mississippi Valley State. Along the way, we’re sitting down with some of the incredible people who represent these communities. Our first stop: Tallahassee, where we had the honor of interviewing Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede, FAMU’s first-ever female...

We sat down with Emmy-winning producer Tom Luse on this episode of DeKalb Talks Tourism! Tom shares what it’s like working on TV shows versus movies, producing hit series like The Walking Dead and The Vampire Diaries , and what it takes to break into the industry. He also gives powerful advice for aspiring filmmakers—reminding us that we all carry the technology to make films right in our pockets....

In this episode of DeKalb Talks Tourism , we’re joined by Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. We dive into Georgia’s evolving business landscape, how tourism plays a key role in economic growth, and what’s ahead for communities like DeKalb County. Georgia Chamber: https://www.gachamber.com/ Follow Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-clark-gachamber/ Georgia Cham...

On this episode of DeKalb Talks Tourism , we chat with Anthony Catalano and Dale Hughes about how Apotheos Coffee and Apotheos FC teamed up to create a brand that blends great coffee with local soccer. We talk about how the idea came to life, what each business is all about, and what’s coming next. It’s a fun conversation about, collaboration, soccer, and of course, coffee. More Apotheos: https://...

In this episode, we talk with Andrew Keenan, Executive Director of Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Andrew shares the fascinating history of Callanwolde, how it’s grown into one of Atlanta’s leading arts and cultural hubs, and what’s coming up this season. From concerts and festivals to new classes and events, there’s something for everyone at Callanwolde. More Callanwolde: Website: https://callanwol...

We sat down with Frances Schube, one of the founders of Splash Festivals, to talk all things art, events, and the booming growth of Chamblee. From how she got her start in the festival world to the recent success of the Chamblee Art Festival, Frances shares how creativity and community come together to make something special. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring a city to life t...

We sat down with Brittney Lindsay and Katie Sears from the City of Chamblee for a fun conversation all about this vibrant and growing part of DeKalb! Brittney and Katie gave us the inside scoop on Chamblee Restaurant Week, sharing what makes it such a standout event and why it’s the perfect time to explore the city’s diverse food scene. We also talked about how Chamblee is flourishing with new dev...

We sat down with Jacob Greenblat — better known as @TheBeerAndPretzelGuy on Instagram — for a fun and laid-back conversation about all things beer, pretzels, and content creation! Jacob has built a loyal following by pairing his love of craft beer with pretzels, reviewing breweries, and spotlighting local beer scenes in a way that's authentic and relatable. We talk about how he got started, h...

This week, we sat down with Drew Ellis from Atlanta Hustle to chat about their last season and what’s on the horizon for the team. If you’re a fan of ultimate frisbee or want to learn more about this exciting local sport, tune in! 2025 season tickets: https://shop.atlantahustle.com/ Stay up to date on all things Atlanta Hustle! https://www.instagram.com/atlantahustle/ DeKalb Talks Tourism YouTube:...

We look into the vibrant culture of Plaza Fiesta and Chamblee with Gio Garcia and Joshua Duarte. Discover how Plaza Fiesta has become a dynamic hub for food, shopping, and community, drawing people from all over. Plus, we explore Chamblee’s rich immigrant history and the exciting events that make the city a true cultural melting pot, and how they’ve partnered to host energetic Atlanta United watch...

We sat down with Alexandrea Pangburn and Elaine Stephenson to talk about bringing Babe Walls to Chamblee and how mural art can completely transform a place. They share why public art matters, from building community to changing the way people experience a space! Alexandrea's IG: https://www.instagram.com/Alexandrea_Pang/ Elaine's IG: https://www.instagram.com/Artsy_Elaine/ Babe Walls IG:...

We’re talking all things sci-fi, fantasy, and comics with Tony Cade , the man behind the Atlanta Sci-Fi & Fantasy Expo! This free event is coming to Tucker, GA , and it’s packed with everything from cosplay and gaming to artist panels and indie creators. Tony shares how he got into the world of comics, what it’s like running Challenges Games and Comics , and how the Expo has become a must-visi...

We’re diving into one of the biggest events coming to Atlanta—The FIFA World Cup! We sat down with Nichelle Gainey, CEO of Silverstone International, to talk about the massive impact this will have on the city, how DeKalb County plays a key role in welcoming visitors and creating an unforgettable experience for fans, and what goes on behind the scenes of a global event like this. Plus, Nichelle sh...

This week we got to sit with Jason Breyo, President and Chairman of the Board of 285 Lacrosse. Jason gives us an inside look at the upcoming 285 Lacrosse Invitational happening next week on March 1. We dive into the teams competing, what spectators can expect, and the future of lacrosse in Georgia. Jason also highlights some of the state's exceptional players who are making waves in the sport...

In this episode of DeKalb Talks Tourism , we chat with Teneisha Jones , the Public Arts Manager for the City of Chamblee. Teneisha shares how her passion for art began and the role public art plays in shaping communities. We dive into the recent Babe Walls event, where artists came together to paint stunning murals throughout Chamblee, adding vibrant creativity to the city. We also discuss the imp...