Talk Local To Me

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, hosts Heather Alto and Mike turn the spotlight on local businesses, community happenings, and valuable resources for families and seniors across Central Virginia. The conversation touches on back-to-school shopping and the importance of choosing local retailers, while also previewing upcoming events like ribbon cuttings and networking meetups. Special guests jo...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, hosts Heather and Mike sit down with Rachel from Joyful Harmonies, a local music studio dedicated to early childhood music education. Rachel shares the inspiring story of the studio’s growth, the proven benefits of music in early development, and how Joyful Harmonies creates a welcoming, family-centered environment through flexible enrollment and research-based...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, host Heather Alto shares the latest updates in local business news and upcoming community happenings before introducing special guest Chantel West, owner of The Wick and Pour Candle Bar. Chantel discusses how her eco-conscious candle bar offers engaging, hands-on experiences for all ages—from personalized candle-making to perfume blending workshops and private...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me,hosts Heather Alto and Mike share personal stories, discuss local events, and highlight community news. They chat about recent concerts, family activities, and the importance of work-life balance. Special guest Kate Kelly, owner of Lady Legacy of Bedford, discusses her boutique’s offerings, upcoming fall events, and a community-focused Farm Makeover Contest. The...

In this lively episode of Talk Local To Me,hosts Heather Alto and Mike welcome Kelly Wood of Media Mosaic to discuss small business marketing and community events. The show features personal stories, including a bear encounter and nostalgic holiday memories, and practical advice on social media management, branding, and website health. The trio also highlights upcoming Christmas parades, the impor...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, hosts Heather Alto and Mike dive into local business initiatives, upcoming community events, and smart financial strategies for individuals and entrepreneurs alike. Special guest Keith from Mercer Advisors shares practical advice on integrated financial planning, including tips for navigating college funding and preparing for long-term financial success. We’re...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, host Heather Alto brings together a vibrant mix of conversation around business, beauty, and community. Guests Taryn from Milk & Honey Skin Studio and Terry with The Pampered Chef share their experiences as local entrepreneurs, offering insights into the beauty industry and home cooking made simple. From skincare tips to kitchen must-haves, they highlight t...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, host Heather Alto shines a spotlight on Lynchburg Restaurant Week with guest Megan Williams from Vista Graphics, highlighting its collaboration with Meals on Wheels. Heather also chats with Malik Stewart of M2 Landscaping and the 434 Hub about his entrepreneurial path and commitment to community-centered marketing. The conversation underscores the importance of...

In this episode, hosts Heather Alto and Mike delve into the importance of self-care, community involvement, and mental health awareness. They share personal experiences about managing the demands of work, family, and personal well-being, while spotlighting upcoming local events. Guests from Kairos Counseling join the conversation to discuss their supportive work environment, the benefits of therap...

In this episode, the hosts engage in a dynamic discussion covering local events, business insights, and community engagement. They highlight the value of conducting mid-year business reviews, focusing on evaluating goals and measuring customer satisfaction. Listeners are also given a preview of upcoming events like "Coffee Talk" and Bedford Center Fest. The conversation underscores the importance...

In this episode, the hosts and guests dive into local happenings, business networking, and the power of community involvement. Heather kicks things off with an intro, proudly sharing that the show is sponsored by the Central Virginia Business Coalition. Heather Alto spotlights several upcoming coalition events, from valuable networking opportunities to the exciting Bedford Center Fest, all while h...

In this episode, a bunch of great voices come together to chat about local events, personal experiences, and insights from their work. It kicks off with some announcements—including the “First Annual Fur Baby Fundraiser” and other happenings from the Central Virginia Business Coalition. Mike and Magen dive into why networking and community support really matter. Then Joshua E. Music shares how he...

In this episode of "Talk Local to Me," hosts Heather Alto and Mike chat with Skylar Cardenas and Heather Schrader from the Bair Foundation, a therapeutic foster care organization. They dive into what makes foster care so complex, especially for kids dealing with emotional and behavioral challenges. Skylar talks about how important it is to have foster parents who are specially trained to handle th...

In the 200th episode of Talk Local to Me, hosts Heather Alto and Mike Norfield look back on how far the podcast has come and what it’s meant for local businesses in Central Virginia. They chat about the show’s journey—from its early days to now having welcomed over 300 guests. This milestone episode gives a shoutout to local favorites like The Happy Waffle and The Sweet Fox bakery, and shines a li...

In this episode, the crew chats about why supporting local businesses really matters, how to market smarter (not harder), and why getting involved in your community is such a big deal. Heather Alto from the Central Virginia Business Coalition stops by to share some great takeaways from a recent home show—spoiler: it’s all about making real connections, not just handing out freebies. They also talk...

In this episode of Talk Local To Me, the conversation focuses on what's happening around the region, the power of music, and how local organizations are making an impact. With Heather out this week, the show kicks off with a spotlight on the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. Ula Kauppi, executive director, joins us to share the orchestra’s history, upcoming events, and how they’re working to engage th...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, host Heather Alto chats with a great lineup of guests about all things local—businesses, community support, and health services. Heather shares the scoop on some upcoming events like a business summit and the Central Virginia Home and Garden Show, and talks about why networking and supporting local really matter. Linda Brake from Bedford Ride drops in to talk a...

On this episode of Talk Local To Me, hosts Heather Alto and Mike Norfield from the Central Virginia Business Coalition chat about why community engagement and networking matter for local businesses. They give the scoop on upcoming events like coffee talks and the Lead On Summit, highlighting how collaboration can open new doors. Special guests Mary Purcell from Five Rings Financial and Gardenia He...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, host Mike Norfield, owner and director of Visiting Angels of Lynchburg, dives into the local business scene in Lynchburg, Virginia. He’s joined by Jennifer Adams from Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites, along with Heather from the Central Virginia Business Coalition (CVABC), to chat about the power of networking and community connections. They cover some exc...

In this episode, we’re diving into local business events and opportunities in Central Virginia! Heather Alto from the Central Virginia Business Coalition (CVABC) shares the scoop on networking events like coffee talks and the Lead On Summit. Mike Norfield from Visiting Angels talks about why community involvement matters, and Phillip Pantana from Perimeter Roofing VA joins us to chat about the lat...

On this week’s episode of Talk Local To Me, we’re diving into the shift to spring and all the exciting events coming up! From networking meetups and the Lead On Business Summit to the Home & Garden Show and Empower Women series, there’s a lot happening in the community—including the buzz around the annual Business Awards Dinner. We’re also breaking down health insurance, with a focus on Medica...

On this week’s episode of Talk Local To Me, we’re covering everything from local business events to the benefits of a clean workspace and creating a positive workplace culture. Heather shares details about upcoming Central Virginia Business Coalition events, including the annual business awards dinner and the Lead On Summit. We also chat with Amy Collier from Elite Pro Cleaning, who shares how her...

This week on Talk Local to Me, we covered everything from business growth and community engagement to the joys (and challenges!) of animal husbandry. Heather shared exciting upcoming events from the Central Virginia Business Coalition (CVABC), including networking sessions, a business banquet, and a home and garden expo. Samantha Simmons from S & S Services joined us to break down tax filing a...

In this episode of Talk Local to Me, hosted by Heather Alto, the focus is on community engagement and supporting local businesses. The show begins with a promotional message from Intuit TurboTax, followed by Heather discussing her dislike for cold weather and the absence of her co-host Mike. She highlights upcoming networking events by the Central Virginia Association of Business Coalition (CVABC)...