The Pod of DC

What does it take to help guide a school system that serves more than 180,000 students and manages a $4 billion budget? For Melanie Meren, it started with showing up. Serving her second term on the Fairfax County School Board, Melanie represents the Hunter Mill District and helps make decisions that shape the educational experience of families across one of the largest school systems in the nation...

Antonia Le bridges yoga, mindfulness, and accessible wellness to create inclusive, community-centered spaces that blend mindful movement with real-life accessibility. On this episode of the pod, Antonia stops by The Pod to walk through posture, breath, and mindfulness. Having found yoga in mid-life, I’ve always appreciated the space she gives each student to create real change, reminding us to mee...

Colton Turner is the founder of StudyHouse Education, an innovative academic support center helping students develop the study skills and executive functioning strategies they need to thrive. With more than 17 years of experience working with students, Colton built StudyHouse to support learners who may struggle with organization, ADHD, or traditional classroom structures. With a background in psy...

Matthew Burnell is the Founder and CEO of Clickbid, an event management software that provides nonprofits a "crazy simple" all-in-one platform for mobile bidding, ticketing, and donor engagement. On this episode of the pod, Matthew and I contrast the capabilities of AI with human-centered fundraising, re-emphasizing that fundraising is rooted in emotional truth and that in-person events...

As we close out 2025, it is a pleasure to welcome April Monet to The Pod of DC. April is the founder of 48x and the 48 and Forward Foundation, focused on empowering individuals to create pathways for personal growth and impact. On this episode, April shares her unique journey coming of age as a competitive athlete in the heartland of America and the challenges she faced along the way. After injuri...

First jobs, first homes, weddings, and watching our kids grow from birthday candles to graduation caps—our lives are shaped by the moments that stitch our stories together. And for us bicentennial Gen X’ers, the next thread in the tapestry is the big 5-0h. On this episode of the pod, Rick reconnects with friend and former college professor Michael Mafodda — a creative thought leader and storytelle...

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band isthe oldest professional musical organization in the United States, performing at the pleasure of the President since 1801. Performing at over 500 events annually, the Marine Bandbrings its renowned musical excellence to presidential inaugurations, state funerals, state arrival ceremonies, Friday Evening Parades, and throughout communities across th...

Inspired by the 40th anniversary of We Are The World —America’s greatest musical one-night stand— The Pod of DC hit the road in March this year for a live show packed with games, prizes, and live podcast conversations. One featured raffle prize was a behind-the-scenes tour of The Pod of DC studio with a featured conversation on the pod. The lucky winners that night were Larry and Jennifer Taxon. F...

Adrian Conforti is a songwriter and former touring musician who founded the band Soulys in the early 2000s. On this episode of the pod, Adrian visits the studio with guitar in hand to perform his original track, “You’re Into Me” and reflect on the wild ride that music—and life—has taken him on. We talk musical influences, the heartbreak that sparked a creative wave, developing a following on the r...

Rick recaps what's been happening this Summer with a quick nostalgic look back at middle school and details on a side quest to Jim Thorpe, PA.

As conversations around AI continue to shape our present and future, I sat down with Aaron Berkey—co-founder and managing partner of Okeanos, a venture capital firm with a community-first approach to investing, to explore the intersection of family, business, and purpose in a rapidly evolving world. On this episode of the pod, Aaron shares the power of positive reinforcement in parenting, the need...

Kev Legend is a dynamic entrepreneur and global growth coach. With expertise in corporate leadership, financial planning, and world travel, Kev empowers others to unlock their potential and embrace a life without limits. On this episode of the pod, Kev drops the studio to share his journey from the Naval Academy through to the transformative experiences that led him to live and coach abroad from B...

Marta Bota is a creator of looks, confidence, and moments. She has spent nearly four decades as a professional makeup artist helping people show up as their best selves—on stage, on camera, and in life. She has also spent decades as a community advocate and philanthropist. Marta has rocked the crowns of both Virginia and D.C., stepping into her first pageant at 51. That’s when our paths first cros...

The all-female, 200% rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut that is MAAM is back on The Pod of DC since being spotlighted as the very first interview guest back in 2020. To get things rolling, founding members St. P & YY turn the studio into an intimate, tiny desk-style concert with a soulful cover of Alabama Shakes’ This Feeling —featuring an unexpected (and possibly hazardous) bongo cameo from Rick, who v...

There comes a time when the call must be heeded to revisit one of the most significant moments in Gen X pop culture history: the star-studded 'check your ego at the door' collective recording known as "We Are The World," which took place following the American Music Awards on the evening of January 28, 1985. (A quick tip of the cap to the captivating Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop,...

You know it when you hear it. Timeless, feel-good rock, deep soul grooves, and dancefloor anthems set to a windy, oceanic backdrop. You know it when you see it. Feathered hair tucked under a captain's hat, aviators, tropical shirt, scarves, ascots, maybe a tropical drink melting in your hand. All the sights and sounds of this millennium's favorite retrospective, fictional genre known and loved as...

Next up on the pod, Dr. Gil Segev, a cosmetic surgeon in the Washington, DC, metro area who's as skilled with a laser as he is with a punchline. On this episode, Gil drops by the studio to chat about navigating DC's infamous speeding cameras to his recent adventure south of the border (spoiler: he came back with a small pharmacy as a souvenir). We dive into Gil's journey in medical aesthetics, wha...

Russ Johnson is an MC and beatmaker in the DMV. On this special Halloween edition of the pod, Russ stops by the studio to share some original spooky jams to commemorate the holiday and talk all things beats, rhymes, and Halloween. We kick off the show with an exclusive - an original theme for the pod Russ put together from a scratch track I sent him earlier in the year. Coming up as a battle MC fr...

On this episode of the pod, Fantasy Football Champion and Bottom Dweller Rick Bernstein takes you into one of his 3 fantasy football drafts and shares his pick process and final picks at each position starting from the first round (edited down a bit, of course). Killing time between picks, Rick reminisces about the highs and lows of his longest-running league which celebrated its 25th season this...

Jummie Moses is the creator, host, and spirit behind the podcast "Shifting Dimensions," where themes of spirituality, religion, consciousness, the paranormal, and technology are explored in fascinating conversations. From an early age, Jummie pondered life's biggest questions about purpose, life, and death, and in 2020, it was time for her to take her passion towards the spiritual an...

Diego Mariscal is the Founder and CEO of 2Gether International, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization that is the leading startup accelerator for disabled founders worldwide. On this episode of the pod, Diego shares his journey, from forging partnerships with influential figures like Judy Heumann, to tackling workplace stigma head-on. Diego details how his vision and determination led to groundbreak...

Sara Quinteros and Juli Shesser are registered dietitians and nutrition experts in Washington, DC. With March being National Nutrition Month, Sara and Juli stopped by the studio to share their expertise in managing food and nutrition choices for individuals and families. On this episode of the pod, Sara and Juli break down how to navigate nutrition in a fast-paced world, the ever-changing landscap...

On this spontaneously recorded and minimally edited and mixed podcast, Rick shares some thoughts about the start to 2024, the therapeutic nature of podcasting, how The Pod of DC was conceived, and how podcasting can help unleash your true voice.

On this final pod of 2023, Rick reflects on his firsts this year, waxes nostalgic on how technology has evolved in helping us capture those moments throughout the year, and shares quick clip recaps from inspiring individuals featured on the pod in 2023. On behalf of The Pod of DC, we wish you all a happy and healthy New Year, and we'll talk soon in 2024!

Dave Moya is the owner of The Moya Group, the parent company of Three Stones Residential, one of the top real estate teams at Keller Williams Metro Center in Arlington, Virginia. We recorded this episode in Dave's newly set up podcast studio and discuss his candid takes on the current state of real estate, how adaptability and curiosity has helped propel his career, his approach to educating his c...