Vero Beach Podcast - Meet Your Neighbors. Support Local. ™

Message Brian & Shawna What does it mean to truly find your place in a community? Calah, founder of Vero Beach Moms Nonprofit , takes us on a heartfelt journey through her experiences raising children in this charming coastal town and her mission to create spaces where every mother feels valued and seen. The conversation begins with what makes Vero Beach special, its preserved small-town atmos...

Message Brian & Shawna What happens when one woman's personal health struggles transform into a mission to support an entire community of mothers? Calah's journey with the Vero Beach Moms nonprofit reveals the power of vulnerability, relationship-building, and creating safe spaces where women can truly find their place. At the heart of this conversation lies a simple but profound mis...

Message Brian & Shawna Behind every thriving community lies a story of personal transformation. For Calah Milliman, founder of Vero Beach Moms non-profit , that journey began with a simple realization: "I can't be the only one who needs this." What started eight years ago as a Facebook group seeking to create a judgment-free zone for mothers has evolved into a mission-driven non...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wonder what makes a community so special? Spencer from DIGG Gardens reveals the magic of Vero Beach in this conversation that goes far beyond plants and gardening. Spencer paints a vivid picture of Vero's unique character. In this place, you might find a Ferrari at one stoplight and a lifted beat-up pickup truck at another, creating a charming juxtaposition tha...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wonder what actually happens behind those Instagram-perfect garden center photos? Spencer from DIGG Gardens pulls back the curtain on the reality of running a thriving plant business where no two days are ever the same. The carefully planned workday that suddenly derails when equipment breaks down. The logistical nightmare of maintaining nearly 100 tires across truc...

Message Brian & Shawna The verdant world of Vero Beach's plant community comes alive as Spencer Porteous, owner of DIGG Gardens , welcomes us into his memorabilia-filled  headquarters. Against a backdrop of family heirlooms, including his grandfather's 1940s two-man saw and a Scottish rocking chair from the 1700s, Spencer reveals the roots of his botanical journey. From childhood mem...

Message Brian & Shawna What makes a community the perfect place to launch a business? In this episode, Ashley from Apricot Lane Boutique shares her why, and it's something we continue to hear echoed throughout the town. Having moved from Connecticut to Florida years ago, Ashley found herself drawn to Vero Beach for its unique ability to maintain a small-town atmosphere despite continuous...

Message Brian & Shawna Step behind the racks and discover the fascinating world of boutique ownership through the eyes of Ashley, the passionate owner of Apricot Lane Boutique in Vero Beach . During this conversation, Ashley pulls back the curtain on juggling motherhood, caring for both a four-month-old baby and a 17-year-old daughter, while running a fashion boutique. What makes this boutique...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wondered what it takes to leave the corporate world behind and open your own boutique? Ashley Borenz of Apricot Lane Boutique in Vero Beach shares her journey from big box retail manager to independent business owner. After 15 years in Vero Beach and years working alongside her husband at Lowe's, Ashley took the entrepreneurial leap. Her motivation wasn't...

Message Brian & Shawna The success story of sea turtle conservation in Vero Beach isn't just about scientists; it's about an entire community making conscious choices. Kendra Bergman, founder and executive director of Coastal Connections , shares how the organization has become woven into the fabric of Vero Beach over the past decade. When Hurricane Milton struck, Coastal Connections...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wondered what makes those colorful ribbons and stakes appear on Florida beaches during turtle season? Kendra from Coastal Connections pulls back the curtain on sea turtle conservation in this enlightening second installment of our three-part series. Running a marine conservation nonprofit requires remarkable versatility. During nesting season (March-October), the te...

Message Brian & Shawna Meet Kendra Bergman, marine biologist and founder of Coastal Connections , who's passionate about protecting the endangered sea turtles of Vero Beach. From a chance childhood encounter with a green turtle in Hawaii to establishing a thriving conservation organization, Kendra's journey reveals how dedication and community involvement can create remarkable change...

Message Brian & Shawna Finding your tribe in a new city can be one of life's greatest challenges, especially for adults. When Danielle moved to Vero Beach, leaving behind her tight-knit friend group in Westfield, she discovered firsthand how challenging it can be to build new social connections, particularly for women. While men had golf clubs and fishing spots to forge friendships, women...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wondered what makes a boutique fitness studio truly special? Danielle, owner of REsistance Fitness Studio in Vero Beach , pulls back the curtain on creating a fitness experience that goes beyond just workouts. Dive into REsistance's creative "Christmas in July" programming, where holiday cheer meets fitness goals through themed spin classes like &quot...

Message Brian & Shawna What happens when you blend psychology, creativity, and fitness expertise into one dynamic space? Danielle Kireyczyk, founder of REsistance Fitness Studio in Vero Beach , joins us to share her remarkable journey from Massachusetts fitness instructor to Florida studio owner. Remember that intimidating feeling of walking into a fitness class for the first time? Danielle ha...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wondered if that nagging hip pain might be connected to something else? Or why healthcare often feels so disconnected from our real lives? Ashley from Breeze Pelvic Health joins us to transform how we think about our bodies and healthcare delivery. Ashley takes us behind the scenes of her mobile pelvic floor physical therapy practice, where she literally carries a 5...

Message Brian & Shawna Taboo topics and awkward silences have no place in healthcare, especially when they prevent us from addressing issues that affect our daily lives and wellbeing. That's what makes this conversation with Ashley Murray, founder of Breeze Pelvic Health, so refreshingly important. Ashley demystifies pelvic floor therapy with clarity and compassion, explaining that her wo...

Message Brian & Shawna In Part Three, we'll dive into the heart and soul of Walking Tree Brewery with founders Mike and Brooke as they unpack their powerful mission statement: "Staying rooted in practice, promise, and people." This candid conversation reveals how a personal art project evolved into an iconic brewery logo, and why mangrove roots perfectly symbolize their commitme...

Message Brian & Shawna What does it truly take to run a successful craft brewery? The Walking Tree Brewery founders pull back the curtain on the daily realities of their business, a world where passion for great beer meets the unglamorous tasks of plumbing repairs and navigating outdated alcohol regulations. This candid conversation reveals how Walking Tree's journey evolved from their in...

Message Brian & Shawna Tucked away in Vero Beach sits an extraordinary 24,000 square foot piece of World War II history that nearly faced demolition. Instead, it became the home of Walking Tree Brewery , a testament to what happens when passion meets perseverance, even during tough economic times. Meet Mike and Brooke, the husband-and-wife team who transformed this abandoned 1940s naval aviati...

Message Brian & Shawna What happens when a hometown you once called "Vero Zero Beach" becomes the perfect place to build your dream business? Amanda from Level Yoga takes us on her journey from skeptical local to passionate small business owner, revealing how Vero Beach transformed before her eyes into a community of extraordinary support and connection. Growing up in Vero Beach, Ama...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wondered what it takes to run a successful yoga studio? Amanda from Level Yoga Studio pulls back the curtain on her entrepreneurial journey, revealing the surprising balance of teaching, practicing, and business management that fills her days. Despite founding and running two successful yoga locations, Amanda remains committed to teaching four classes weekly while m...

Message Brian & Shawna Discovering how yoga can transform both body and mind is at the heart of our conversation with Amanda Steadman, owner of Level Yoga Studio . As she celebrates an impressive 10-year milestone with her Vero Beach studios, Amanda reveals how a dark period of her life evolved into a thriving community space that's changing lives. As Amanda explains, yoga's transfor...

Message Brian & Shawna Ever wondered about the real Florida beyond theme parks and beaches? Pull up a chair and pour yourself something smooth as Ray, owner of Indian River Distillery, takes us on a captivating journey through Vero Beach's colorful past. Ray's Florida roots run deep. His pioneering family settled on John's Island in 1903, well before Indian River County even exi...

Message Brian & Shawna What happens when passionate craftsmanship meets Florida's unique environment and rich history? At Indian River Distillery in Vero Beach, Ray and his team aren't just making spirits—they're bottling the essence of the Treasure Coast itself. From the moment you step into their "tasting room" (not a bar, as they'll kindly remind you), you&apos...