FXBG Neighbors Podcast

A paint and sip night sounds like pure fun until you remember the two biggest fears most of us carry: “I can’t paint” and “I’m going to mess it up.” We talk with Michelle Flynn from Wine and Design Fredericksburg about why those fears are exactly what her studio is built for, and how a guided class can take you from blank canvas to something you actually want to hang up. Michelle breaks down what...

Leadership advice gets weirdly abstract the moment you actually need it. So I brought on Becky Hamm, founder of Women Lead Well, to talk about what leadership growth looks like when your calendar is packed, your responsibilities are real, and you’re trying to stay true to yourself. Becky shares how she supports women through executive coaching that focuses on the moments that matter: executive pre...

Most networking feels like a fast trade of names and job titles, then everyone disappears. We wanted something better, so we brought on Shari Courtney from Be The Bean to talk about how she’s building a Fredericksburg community where faith and business don’t compete, they strengthen each other. If you’ve been looking for genuine connection, leadership encouragement, and a place to belong, Shari la...

Chronic pain has a way of shrinking your world, especially when you feel like no one is really listening. We’re joined by Stefani Sellers, founder of Sage: Healing and Guidance, a Fredericksburg, VA healing practice built for people who feel unseen, misunderstood, or simply worn out from trying to explain what’s going on in their bodies. Her first principle is disarmingly simple and surprisingly r...

Fredericksburg has an arts engine that’s been running for 37 years, and it’s bigger than most people realize. We’re joined by Debbie Tripp, vice president of ArtsLIVE!, to tell the story of how a nonprofit founded in 1988 by world-renowned harpist Heidi Lehwalder keeps bringing world-class performing artists to Fredericksburg, VA while still making room for local musicians, students, and community...

CrossFit gets labeled as intimidating fast, but the truth is a lot more practical and a lot more welcoming. We’re joined by Jessica Sullivan, owner of CrossFit Forward in Fredericksburg, VA, to unpack what CrossFit actually is: functional fitness coached in a group setting, scaled to the person in front of you, and built to help you move better in everyday life. We talk through the structure of a...

A big purple van drives through Fredericksburg carrying Narcan, and behind it is a simple idea that can save lives: remove barriers, show up fast, and treat people with real worth. We’re joined by Dana Brown, co-founder and executive director of Zoe Freedom Center, a local nonprofit providing free addiction services, trauma-informed support, and practical help for neighbors who are ready for a nex...

“Food bank” sounds simple until you realize most people are picturing the wrong thing. We sit down with Dan Maher, President and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, to explain the real engine behind hunger relief in our area and why a pantry and a regional food bank play very different roles in getting food to neighbors who need it.  Dan walks us through how a Feeding America network foo...

Postpartum depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it shows up as intrusive thoughts, isolation, and the terrifying feeling that you’re failing at the very moment you’re supposed to be “glowing.” We’re joined by Veronica Jones, founder of Unspoken Mothers, a Fredericksburg-area nonprofit created to raise awareness around maternal mental health and connect parents to real, local help...

College planning doesn’t fall apart because families don’t care, it falls apart because they start too late and chase the same obvious scholarships everyone else sees. I’m joined by Dr. Christie Wilson of Invest N Others to talk about what changes when you treat college admissions, college funding, and career exploration as a long game you can actually win. We get into the real work behind scholar...

Your pet shouldn’t have to suffer through a car ride, a noisy lobby, and a rushed 15-minute slot just to get quality veterinary care. We’re joined by Dr. Lindsey Aebli, founder of Auravet - Mobile Veterinary Care, a new locally owned mobile veterinary practice serving Fredericksburg with a simple idea: bring whole-life care to the doorstep and meet families where they are. We talk through what mob...

You know that moment when motivation is high, you’ve got a plan, and then real life hits at 9 p.m. with stress, cravings, and the familiar spiral of “I blew it”? We get it, and so does Coach Jenna from Veteran Empires Integrated Wellness. She joins us to talk about the one thing most wellness programs miss: ongoing human support that helps you stay steady when the week gets messy.  Jenna breaks do...

“Chiropractic” gets reduced to a sound bite, but real care is a lot more interesting than a quick back crack. We sit down with Dr. Erica Heppe of Heppe Chiropractic to talk about what she’s built in Fredericksburg over the last 10 years and why her goal is to send people home stronger, not keep them coming back forever. From a single room to a growing wellness space that includes massage, IV thera...

Your closet is not just clutter. It can be cash, it can be someone else’s next favorite outfit, and it can keep perfectly good clothing out of the landfill. We’re joined by Kelly Smith from Plato’s Closet in Fredericksburg to explain how their secondhand clothing and accessories model really works and why it’s more than “just a thrift store.” Kelly walks us through the buy-sell cycle at Plato’s Cl...

She built a jungle themed waxing studio where the rule is simple: no judgment, just care and confidence. Amanda Doolittle from Bare Necessities Body Waxing joins me to talk about what full body waxing is really like, why first timers often fear it more than they need to, and how a great waxer can feel like part therapist, part hype person, and part artist. Amanda also shares the turning point that...

You can feel “fine” for years while your body quietly heads toward burnout, brain fog, and insulin resistance. That’s why we brought on Donna Hetrick from Lifestyle Fitness and Nutrition, a clinical nutritionist, blood chemistry analyst, and personal trainer who has spent decades helping people change the trajectory of their health with real data and realistic habits. We talk about why aging is no...

You can have the best intentions in the world and still watch your wellness routine collapse the minute work gets hectic or family needs spike. That’s why I loved sitting down with Charlie Evans of Faithfully Fit and Frugal, an online fitness, nutrition, and wellness company built around one idea: healthy habits should work with your life, not against it. If you’re a busy woman over 40, a parent p...

Goodwill is one of those brands we think we already understand, until you hear what’s happening behind the donation doors. We sit down with Stacey Linkenhoker and Jessica Weber from Rappahannock Goodwill Industries to unpack how their work in the Fredericksburg, Virginia region turns community giving into real workforce development outcomes, from job seeker support to employer partnerships. We tal...

You can book a trip in five minutes. You can also spend weeks second-guessing every choice and still land on the wrong vacation. We sit down with Heijin Mignoli from Dream Vacations to unpack what a professional travel agent actually does and why the “right fit” matters more than chasing the lowest price. We talk through Dream Vacations’ evolution from Cruise One into a full-service travel plannin...

A single travel mistake can cost you days of joy and a lot of money, and no search result will pick up the phone when plans fall apart. We’re talking with Christina Driskill, founder of Open Horizon Journeys, about what it really means to work with a travel advisor and why the biggest value isn’t the booking, it’s the decisions behind it. Christina shares how nearly 20 years teaching history and g...

A fantasy trilogy doesn’t always start with a master plan. Sometimes it starts with motherhood, a return to reading, and one scene that won’t leave your head. I’m joined by Fredericksburg local author Kate Cunningham, who writes adult fantasy with moody, dark settings, and she shares how The Blood Kingdom grew from a personal writing exercise into a complete three book arc, with the final release...

The biggest real estate myths sound like “common sense” until someone proves they’re wrong. We sit down with Fredericksburg, VA real estate agent Nick Bush of The Cobi Company (eXp Realty) to talk about what actually helps people buy, sell, and invest with confidence, especially during major life transitions like moving up to a bigger home or downsizing after the kids leave. Nick shares why Freder...

A swing dance studio over a guitar shop in downtown Fredericksburg sounds like a rumor until you walk in through the back entrance and hear the music. We’re joined by Joel Webber of DanceFXBG to talk about how East Coast swing turns an ordinary Saturday night into a room full of laughter, movement, and people who actually want to meet each other. Joel shares what DanceFXBG is, how the weekly Satur...

Waiting for the “perfect time” to start a business is one of the most expensive habits an entrepreneur can have. I’m joined by Giovanni Delfino of DelfinoCo, and he brings a grounded message for anyone building something in Fredericksburg: you don’t need to know everything to begin, but you do need to start, learn fast, and stay open to help. Giovanni shares how his journey from Peru to the U.S. s...

A backyard garden can be a business plan if you listen closely enough. Rita Witte from Always Flavored joins us to share how “too many hot peppers” turned into a Fredericksburg, VA food brand that now spans a downtown shop and 350+ retail locations. We talk about the real work behind the leap from home batches to certified production, farmers markets, festivals, and getting onto store shelves with...