The Localist with Carrie Rollwagen

Today, we're welcoming artist Morgan Jones Johnston, who discusses her intuitive approach to creativity, her new workbook "Create Anyway: The Average Person's Guide to Igniting Your Creative Spark" and the importance of fostering authentic human connections during the rise of AI. She emphasizes the value of continuous promotion, the significance of creativity beyond traditional art forms and her g...

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen talks with Alana Harmond, the creator of Frosted by Lane, about her journey in starting a side hustle selling decorative fake cakes. Alana shares her challenges in transitioning from product drops on Instagram to a Shopify store, the technical and logistical hurdles she has overcome and her strategies for budgeting and marketing. She also disc...

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen talks with physical therapist Jimmy Dunn about his clinic, The Total Joint. Dunn emphasizes a personalized, holistic approach to physical therapy, focusing on one-on-one care, community engagement and evidence-based treatments. The conversation also highlights challenges in the industry and the importance of effective marketing and professiona...

This episode of The Localist features Brooks Veazy and Gabe Scott discussing the origin and evolution of Ladybird Taco, a breakfast taco concept with a focus on exceptional service. They emphasize the importance of creating a positive culture and meaningful experiences for both their staff and customers. The episode delves into their journey, from developing quality tortillas to expanding their bu...

In this episode of The Localist, Carrie talks with Johnny Grimes about his journey in restoring the music venue WorkPlay and his involvement in various business ventures like Furnace Fest and Wheelhouse. They discuss the importance of fearlessness, core values and community in business, and Johnny's hands-on approach to renovation and management.  

In this episode, host Carrie Rollwagen talks with Katherine Thrower about her journey and expertise in organizing and hosting events through her venue, Workshop Local. Katherine shares insights on creating effective and engaging environments for various events, from small meetings to large retreats. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration, community and detailed planning.

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen talks with Josh and Mel Cosio, founders of Cala Coffee, exploring their journey fueled by coffee and community. They discuss the heart behind Cala Coffee, how they started the business and their expansion into brick-and-mortar locations, detailing the importance of branding, architecture, and their coffee cart in scaling the business.

This episode features a conversation between host Carrie Rollwagen and Michael Greene, co-owner of Faraway Theater. They discuss the origins of Faraway Theater and improv group Gladys, Michael's journey through the improv world, the group's approach to teaching improv and fostering a community, the business aspect of running the theater and the different courses and benefits it offers. Michael del...

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen chats with Meredith Robinson and McCall Hardison, who also host a podcast called A Little Bookish and work together at Little Professor Bookshop in Pepper Place. The episode opens with a discussion on podcasting — their reasons for podcasting, what it's like to host a podcast while working in a role that allows them to connect personally with...

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen talks with Daniel Drinkard, owner of Seasick Records, about owning a local music store and balancing the revival of vinyl with the practicalities of offering CDs and tapes. They delve into the community-centric events of Record Store Day, the thoughtful approach to merchandising, and the importance of fostering a welcoming atmosphere for music...

The Localist is back! Tune in to this brief update episode to hear Carrie talk about the return and plans for the upcoming season. In this episode of the Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen announces our podcast's return from an extended hiatus and shares plans for new weekly episodes every Tuesday. Highlights of the upcoming season include celebrating Record Store Day and Independent Bookstore Day, a...

This week, Carrie is in conversation with her husband, Russell Marbut. Russell is the new co-owner of the jiu jitsu gym Ohm Jiu Jitsu, and today, the couple talks about how business ownership impacts family and friends of the entrepreneur. Russell and Carrie use real examples to show how opening a business can be tough on relationships. Carrie also says a bittersweet goodbye (for now). Find full s...

This week, Carrie interviews brand new business owners DJ Wright and Russell Marbut, founders of the new Birmingham gym Ohm Jiu Jitsu. They talk about whether or not the market for jiu jitsu is saturated, how the partners found their space and navigated the world of new business ownership, and we even touch a bit on how marriage impacts business (Russell is Carrie's husband!). Find full show notes...

On today's episode, Carrie introduces a free game of Buy-Local Bingo — download a copy at carrierollwagen.com and make buying local this season even more fun. We also shares a year in review, complete with Carrie's favorite Localist episodes of 2022, favorite books she's read this year, and a few local things she's bought that made the year better. Find full show notes at localistpodcast.com.   Ge...

This week, Carrie laments Black Friday and Cyber Monday and longs for the simpler (but maybe more stressful) moments at independent shops. To get us thinking local, she's sharing a story of working retail at a bookstore and coffee shop over the Christmas season. Full show notes at localistpodcast.com.   Get the free Localist Guide to Coffee Shops in Birmingham: tinyurl.com/bhamcoffeeshop   Listen...

This week, we're celebrating Thanksgiving with a story perfect for getting into the holiday spirit on your road trip, or for playing while getting the stuffing and pies ready. Carrie also shares one of our favorite local shopping traditions, plus a free guide to finding the best local coffee shops in Birmingham. Full show notes at localistpodcast.com .   Get the free Localist Guide to Coffee Shops...

This week, Carrie recounts her experience as a copywriter for Southern Progress, Church Street Coffee & Books and several small businesses. She shares how to brainstorm names, where to get inspiration, how to navigate legal issues and how to find out if other people are already using the name you want. Find full show notes at localistpodcast.com.   Sign up for our mailing list to get the Localist...

This week, we turn the tables — our host, Carrie Rollwagen, becomes the guest this week as she answers listener questions about running a coffee shop. Alana Harmond interviews Carrie about her time opening and co-managing Church Street Coffee & Books in Mountain Brook. The two discuss how to build a menu, how to make money running a coffee shop — they even get into the saga of the famous Breakup C...

This week, we're welcoming Ruth Oneya of Ruth Oneya illustrations. Ruth is an artist who creates live paintings for weddings. Ruth's business really started to grow when one of her TikTok videos went viral, but that success created the (good) problem of having too many emails (hiring an assistant has really helped). We also discuss why she doesn't use watercolor for live paintings, and how an intr...

Carrie's dad, Mike Rollwagen, is a thoughtful intellectual, but he's not into technology — like, not even a little bit. So on today's podcast, he asks her all his questions about podcasting: Why does it seem like everyone has a podcast? How do algorithms impact a podcast? How do listeners express loyalty? And how exactly do you put a podcast together? Listen in, and find full show notes at Localis...

This week, we're talking with Beth Doyle, owner of The Collective, a salon in Birmingham's Pepper Place neighborhood.  Beth brings her creative passion to both her hairdressing skills and her business. She started as a teacher, and one of her salon's main goals is to support new stylists through an associate learning program, complete with curriculum and multiple levels. Carrie and Beth talk about...

This week we're talking with Jenny Otwell, owner of Magic City Organics, a curated market of select CBD products in Birmingham, AL. There are a lot of misunderstandings surrounding the world of CBD and hemp-derived products, but Jenny breaks down how they handle that and educate their customers on the benefits of using their wide variety of products. Jenny describes the hurdles they've had to over...

This week we're chatting with James Little, owner of Filter Coffee Parlor in the Five Points neighborhood in Birmingham. Filter opened in 2019, not long before the pandemic began. We learn how the business had to pivot (and pivot again!), and how they've landed on their sustainability-focused ethos, as well as how they relay that to their customers. Filter is also focused on providing work-life ba...

This week we're chatting with Bryn Carey, founder and CEO of Ski Butlers. Ski Butlers has been in business since 2004 and has been known for their legendary customer service ever since. Bryn dives into the origin of Ski Butlers, how he expanded in the beginning, and how he continues to expand every year by constantly keeping their core values top of mind. Bryn is passionate about the environment a...

This week, we're diving into the ins and outs of business law with attorney Tripp Watson. Dealing with lawyers can be intimidating, but Tripp breaks down what to expect, what to look for when seeking legal advice and how to best utilize legal counsel. It can be tempting to use sites like LegalZoom, but it's not right for every situation! Tripp breaks down when you can use template sites and when y...