What’s Up Dunwoody

Podcast 309 – Dunwoody’s Comeback Clinic for Soccer Dads and Teen Athletes – Daniel Bodkin   Dunwoody now has a hidden gem that’s bridging the gap between pro-level rehab and local athletes. Daniel Bodkin runs ProActive Athletic Performance, a modern sports science clinic folks around Atlanta are calling the "comeback lab." Daniel has tested NFL stars like Andrew Luck and RG3, and now he’s helping...

Podcast 308 – Why Light Up Dunwoody Moved to the Donaldson-Bannister Farm – Jimmy Economos and Tim Brown   Light Up Dunwoody is leaving the Burger King parking lot behind and heading to the Donaldson-Bannister Farm. It’s a serious vibe upgrade. Jimmy Economos of EEP Events and DHA President Tim Brown share how the event outgrew the Village and found a new home with more space for reindeer, a stage...

Podcast 307 – Local Businesses Team Up to Launch the Sounds of Dunwoody – Nida Mudd & Miguel Romero   Sounds of Dunwoody is turning the Shops of Dunwoody into a live music stage this Saturday, October 18th. From 3–10 PM, you’ll catch student bands from Dunwoody High and Mount Vernon School, rock covers from PDL Atlanta, and a headlining set from the high-energy Francisco Vidal Band. They’re ai...

Podcast 306 – Start Your Personalized Health Journey with Real Data – Ravi Kahan – TY HealthSpan   Dunwoody has a new health hub coming, and it’s flipping the script on wellness. TY HealthSpan, launched by local entrepreneur Ravi Kahan, mixes high-tech testing with real-life coaching, all under one roof. This place gives you a full snapshot of your health with DEXA, VO2 Max, and RMR scans. But the...

Podcast 305 – How Saint Luke’s Pumpkin Patch Powers Dunwoody Robotics – Emmy Knight & Paige Holliman   The Pumpkin Patch at Saint Luke’s isn’t just a fall photo op. It’s the main fundraiser for Dunwoody High’s Wildcat5e Robotics team. Student leader Emmy Knight and parent volunteer Paige Holliman explain how this small but mighty team builds 100+ pound robots and competes across Georgia, all p...

Podcast 304 – Spirits for Spruill and the AMPLIFY Mural Selection – Alan Mothner   Spruill Center for the Arts is turning heads again with craft cocktails, public art, and serious community energy. CEO Alan Mothner returns to talk about Spirits for Spruill, the gallery’s fall celebration happening October 25. The big reveal is the 6th AMPLIFY mural, selected from 157 national submissions. This yea...

Podcast 303 – Holiday HQ Preview and Dunwoody’s Busiest Day of the Year – Mark Galvin   Dunwoody is officially “Holiday HQ,” and Mark Galvin from Discover Dunwoody is back with a full rundown of why the season hits different here. Black Friday draws massive crowds to Perimeter Mall, one of the largest malls in the Southeast, and kicks off a packed calendar of events, light tours, and festive marke...

Podcast 302 – What the Student Assignment Project Could Mean for Redistricting in Dunwoody – Andrew Ziffer – DCSD Board   Two developments are shaping the conversation around Dunwoody schools this Fall. Friday night football is finally coming to DHS. After decades of playing at North DeKalb Stadium, Dunwoody High School will soon have bathrooms, a press box, and the 3,000 seats required to host tr...

Podcast 301 – Dunwoody Rallies for Play Your Heart Out at the JCC – Lauren Nelson and Jamie Steuer   Lauren and Jamie, two Dunwoody High School students, are volunteering with heart—literally. They're helping spread the word about “Play Your Heart Out,” a high-energy pickleball fundraiser hosted at the MJCCA to support Save a Child’s Heart, an Israeli nonprofit that provides life-saving heart surg...

Podcast 300 – Why Perimeter Center Defines Dunwoody – Mark Galvin with Discover Dunwoody   Perimeter Mall isn’t just a place to shop, it’s the backbone of Dunwoody’s economy. Mark Galvin from Discover Dunwoody returns with all the local scoop, including why the mall still matters more than ever. It’s Dunwoody’s biggest taxpayer, a major job hub, and a magnet for out-of-town visitors. Nearly 9 out...

Podcast 299 – The DHA’s Social Shift to Connect the Community – Julia Frament   The Dunwoody Homeowners Association is stepping into a new chapter, and Julia Frament is at the heart of it. She’s bringing fresh energy to DHA’s social media, creating a stronger online presence with regular updates. She’s also part of a team working on a refreshed membership approach that will introduce tiered option...

Podcast 298 – Dunwoody’s New Family Fun Destination - Big Play ATL - Valerie Inglesby   Dunwoody is getting a game-changer with Big Play ATL. Opening this fall at Mount Vernon Road and Dunwoody Club Drive, this massive indoor entertainment hub packs bowling, laser tag, mini golf, VR, and arcade games. It is all tied together with a full restaurant and bar serving fresh salads, salmon and craft coc...

Podcast 297 – A New Era Begins for Wildcat Football – Coach Matt Schmitz   Wildcat Football has a new leader, and Coach Matt Schmitz is ready to take the program to the next level. With more than 20 years of experience, he’s stepping into the head coach role at Dunwoody High with big plans. He’s building on Coach Mike Nash’s legacy while bringing his own energy and approach. He’s not just coaching...

Podcast 296 – How Dunwoody Has Attracted 44 Restaurants In the Last 3 Years – Mark Galvin with Discover Dunwoody   Dunwoody isn’t just growing. It’s booming with flavor. In just three years, 44 new restaurants have opened across the city, and they’re not your average fast-food joints. These are chef-driven kitchens, local favorites, and unique dining spots choosing Dunwoody for a reason. Mark Galv...

Podcast 296 – How Dunwoody Has Attracted 44 Restaurants In the Last 3 Years – Mark Galvin with Discover Dunwoody   Dunwoody isn’t just growing. It’s booming with flavor. In just three years, 44 new restaurants have opened across the city, and they’re not your average fast-food joints. These are chef-driven kitchens, local favorites, and unique dining spots choosing Dunwoody for a reason. Mark Galv...

Podcast 295 – A Proactive Approach to Long-Term Family Wellness – Wilson Family Chiropractic    Wilson Family Chiropractic has been helping Dunwoody families feel, move, and live better for over 15 years. From prenatal care and sports injuries to that nagging desk-job back pain, their focus is long-term wellness through high-tech tools like laser therapy, shockwave, and digital x-rays. It’s not ju...

Podcast 294 – The Ashford Lane Bar That Celebrates the Bad Boys of Sports – Mara Mullen – Streakers   Dunwoody has never seen a sports bar like this. Streakers at Politan Row leans into the wild side of sports, with wall-to-wall scandals, jello shots in syringes, and cocktails named after the most notorious names in the game. It’s fun, bold, and completely different from anything else around.   It...

Podcast 293 – Moondog Grows From Dunwoody Growlers to Chamblee Dog Friendly Pub – Tommy Burda   Moondog Growlers holds a special place in my heart. It was the first on-location interview Justin and I ever recorded back in the early podcast days. Fast forward to today and owners Tommy and Felicia Burda have spread that same welcoming Dunwoody vibe to Chamblee with Moondog Pub & Grub. Tommy swor...

Podcast 292 – How a Podcast and a Couple Facebook Groups Built a Digital Community in Dunwoody – Matt Weber   Julia Frament from @mrandmrsdunwoody asked to interview me for the podcast this week, so this episode is going to give you even more Matt than usual. It was fun reminiscing on the early days of What’s Up Dunwoody in 2018.   Seven years ago, we launched a podcast nobody listened to, and I s...

Podcast 291 – Discover Dunwoody’s Website Makeover and Club World Cup Comes to Atlanta – Mark Galvin   Dunwoody just got a digital upgrade. Mark Galvin from Discover Dunwoody joins to show off their new website, designed to make finding events, booking hotels, and exploring the city way easier. It’s brighter, faster, and loaded with fresh content including blogs, local guides, and a search tool th...

Podcast 290 – Leadership Perimeter Sparks a Journey to Dunwoody City Hall – Catherine Lautenbacher   Catherine Lautenbacher never saw herself running for office. But after years of leading the Leadership Perimeter program, she found herself pulled into public service. Now representing District 1 on Dunwoody City Council, Catherine focuses on community safety, connectivity, and building up future l...

Podcast 289 – How Dunwoody Oktoberfest Starts With the 4th of July Parade – Denice Dudley & Katie Prellwitz   Dunwoody’s favorite fall festival is kicking marketing off early this year. Denice Dudley, the lead organizer of Dunwoody Oktoberfest 2025, and main sponsor Katie Prellwitz from Leverage Communications are using the city’s biggest summer stage, the 4th of July Parade, to build buzz for...

Podcast 288 – Smart Branding and Apartment Density Transformed Chamblee Over the Last Decade – Van Pappas   Chamblee has rebranded, reimagined, and revitalized itself. Van Pappas shares how smart city planning and a bold branding push turned an industrial corridor into one of North DeKalb’s hottest areas. The key? Apartment density, a clear identity, and big community pride. Van was there from the...

Podcast 287 – Steel Gateway Signs and Matt’s Sold-Out Trolley Tour – Mark Galvin with Discover Dunwoody Matt’s birthday trolley tour has already sold out! If you want to Rediscover Dunwoody, you’ll have to hop on next month’s ride. Mark Galvin from Discover Dunwoody joins Matt to talk about everything popping up around town—starting with those new steel gateway signs. He breaks down who paid for t...

Podcast 286 – Empowering Patients During Cancer Treatment with myFriendMD – Dr. Sarah Friend Dunwoody’s Dr. Sarah Friend is bringing something new to cancer care. Through her virtual service myFriendMD, she gives breast cancer patients and their families what the medical system often cannot. Time, clarity, and emotional support. With over a decade of experience including years at Emory’s Winship C...