Stories from the Center of the Universe

Amber Klingman joins the podcast because she and Paul have a mutual acquaintance, Jennifer Stevens (Episode #101). Amber grew up just outside of New Orleans and in a small town in Georgia. Amber had a pretty normal childhood until her sophomore year in high school when she got pregnant. She talks to Paul about her story and the incredible support she received from her child’s two grandmothers. She...

Tim Sutton is a thirty plus year law enforcement professional who was born and raised in Hanover County, Virginia. Paul and Tim discussed his childhood, his first jobs and what led him to enter the law enforcement profession. At one point during his career with the Hanover Sheriff’s Office, Tim was put in charge of a program called Project Life Saver.  This has led Tim to become a subject matter e...

Ahmad Hawkins is from the Newport News/Hampton area of Virginia and was a football teammate with Dwight Vick (Episode 122) for a year at Hampton HS. Ahmad was highly recruited at three different positions (WR, CB and RB) depending on the locality of the school. Ahmad stayed in state and played football at UVA. The picture above is Ahmad making the game winning catch versus VT the last time that UV...

Austin Wilson is childhood friends with Nick Clark (Episode 120) and Alec Eberle (Episode 107). Like Nick and Alec, Austin played football, but a medical issue in his junior year of high school stopped him from playing anymore. With a push from his dad and after watching Jerry Maguire, Austin decided to become a sports agent when he was only sixteen years old. He has continued down that path and r...

Coach Dick Kemper joins the podcast and this episode is a trip down memory lane for Paul. Coach Kemper coached Paul in football and basketball in high School at St. Christopher’s in Richmond. Coach Kemper grew up in Alexandria, but came to St. Christopher’s soon after starting his career.  He spent 40+ years as a coach, athletic director and an educator at St. Christopher’s. Paul and Coach Kemper...

In Part 5 of our Honoring the Military Series, Rich Brown (USMC) joins us. Rich was born in Knoxville, TN, but moved around a bit due to his Dad’s job. Growing up, Rich did martial arts and spent a lot of time with the best grandparents a guy could have! Paul and Rich talked about Rich’s family lineage and then why he chose to join the United States Marine Corps. They discussed his 23 year USMC ca...

Stuart Wiley is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force and continues our series honoring members of our U.S.Military. Stuart grew up in Fluvanna County, Va. and when Paul asked him about growing up, he said it was all about baseball from tee ball through playing travel and for high school. They talked about what he did after high school and why he decided to join the USAF.  Stuart did adm...

Dr. Richard Sander joins the podcast today via a connection with former VCU Basketball player Rodney Ashby (Episode #115). Dr. Sander is from Cincinnati and Paul, Kevin and Richard talked about his childhood and then playing sports in high school. This led to playing football and basketball in college where he also participated in ROTC. Richard discussed his time in the U.S. Army and his career pa...

Jeff Davila come to the podcast via a connection with Jeff Burke (Episode #7). Jeff grew up in Richmond, Va. He played a lot of sports growing up and he was a three sport athlete in high school.  After graduating from high school, Jeff attended the United States Naval Academy where he majored in Math. Jeff went to fight training school, learned how to fly jets and became a Naval Aviator. Paul and...

Dwight Vick was born in North Carolina, but grew up in the Newport News/Hampton area of Virginia. Dwight, Paul and Kevin talked about his great “old school” childhood and how it became clear that football would be an important part of his life. Dwight was always a big guy and played at Hampton HS for a legendary coach. He was heavily recruited by colleges and ended up playing at Virginia Tech.  Th...

Paul and retired Brigadier General James Zollar know each other from serving together in the Virginia Army National Guard. James was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and lived on both sides of the Windy City. He was in ROTC in high school which he originally thought would lead him to the Marine Corps. Instead, James enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in various capacities during an almost th...

Nick Clarke comes to the podcast via two paths.  Paul’s son Zach and Nick’s brother Colby are good friends and Nick is business partners with Alec Eberle (Episode #107). Nick was born in Fairfax, Va., but came to Hanover County at a young age. He played all kinds of sports growing up, but football became his passion.  Paul and Nick talked about his football journey from recreation to playing at Ol...

Chuck Hawkins and Paul have known each other since they were kids and Chuck was even taught by Paul’s mom Brenda (Episode 46) in kindergarten. Chuck grew up in eastern Hanover, but went to Patrick Henry because his parents taught there. Chuck spoke of his admiration for his parents and also about his dad’s sports accomplishments. Paul and Chuck talked about his time in college and how after school...

Ken Oxendine is a former Va Tech and NFL player who grew up in Chester, Virginia. Ken and Paul talked about his youth and growing up in the “big house” with lots of family. They discussed his recruiting process, how he decided on VT and how recruiting is different for today’s athletes. They talked about his non-profit and some of the charity work he is involved with through the non-profit. They fi...

Laura Collombell Marshall knows Paul from being in school together at UVA. She talked to Paul about growing up in different places because of her dad’s job and she landed in Northern VA for high school.  Laura attended UVA where she ran track and then went to the University of Richmond for law school.  Paul and Laura discussed her professional career including one of her more memorable cases and i...

Part 7 of a 7 part series on small businesses in Ashland, VA (each business is part of the Downtown Ashland Association).  Jamie Grant is bringing a unique business to Ashland. Jamie described it as a non-traditional farmer’s market while also offering food education and food preparation tips. Jamie has a background in the food industry from helping her dad at his business in Tappahannock to being...

Rodney Ashby is the sixth VCU basketball player to be on the podcast! Rodney talks with Paul and Kevin about his unlikely basketball journey and how he ended up being a part of the VCU family. He referred to this as the “Ramily” and he discussed the culture and the special life long connections of the program and the school itself. He talked about his business and how he also does broadcasting as...

Part 6 of a 7 part series on small businesses in Ashland, VA (each business is part of the Downtown Ashland Association).  Rusty Stone became the owner of the Iron Horse Restaurant in 2019, but he has worked there for quite a while before buying the restaurant.  Rusty bought the Iron Horse just before the Corona Virus Pandemic started and he discussed with Paul and Kevin the challenges that presen...

Steve Sands has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports. Paul and Kevin interview Steve in this episode via a connection with Ward Fasold (Episode #111) who knows Kevin. Steve talks about his time growing up in Washington, DC, how he went out west for college and how much he enjoyed working at WWBT which is the local NBC affiliate here in the Richmond area. He has worked for the Golf Chann...

Part 5 of a 7 part series on small businesses in Ashland, VA (each business is part of the Downtown Ashland Association).  Homemades by Suzanne is an icon in Ashland and the surrounding area.  Suzanne Wolstenholme and Kim Mills joined Paul and Kevin to discuss the restaurant and its past, present and future.  Suzanne started the restaurant in 1984.  She talked about how the core menu has remained...

Ward Fasold joins the podcast courtesy of guest host, Kevin Flippen. Ward grew up in Alexandria, VA and went to T.C. Williams (Remember the Titans fame!) He went to VCU, majored in Mass Communications and has been covering sports as a  cameraman and as a producer for twenty-eight years. Ward talks with Paul and Kevin about winning an Emmy, Texas HS football and his twin boys.

Part 4 of a 7 part series on small businesses in Ashland, VA (each business is part of the Downtown Ashland Association).  John Working and his partner started their law firm in Ashland in 2015. His wife has a business in town as well. John got to know Ashland originally when he attended RMC where he majored in English and played football. John’s dad was a football coach and before becoming a lawy...

Bill Walker works with Paul and was born in New Jersey not too far from Philadelphia. Bill and Paul talk about growing up in NJ and collecting baseball cards and sports memorabilia.  They also discussed Bill playing competitive poker, his love for all Philadelphia professional sports teams and entrepreneurship. Bill finished by talking about his family and he gave some personal finance advice to h...

Part 3 of a 7 part series on small businesses in Ashland, VA (each business is part of the Downtown Ashland Association).  Carolyn Hemphill and Kelly Payne join the podcast to talk about the Hanover County Black Heritage Society.  Carolyn started the society in 1994 and Kelly, her daughter, is heavily involved as well.  The mission of the society is to collect, research and exhibit historical item...

Alec Eberle was born in Tennessee and moved to Hanover County, Va. when he was in 6th grade. He attended Atlee HS where he was a standout on the football team.  Alec was recruited by several big time Division 1 schools and played college football at Florida State University. He tells Paul about his football journey from 6th grade to trying out for the NFL to now where he helps train and guide toda...