Keith Stanley welcomes outdoor adventure expert James Smith on University City Partners Podcast to demystify outdoor activities for beginners and intermediate explorers. James, co-owner of MyOutdoorJoy, shares his unique insights into making outdoor activities accessible and enjoyable for all, shattering stereotypes and encouraging inclusive participation.

James reveals how his personal experiences as an “unlikely” outdoorsman have fueled his passion for teaching a diverse community basic and advanced outdoor skills. This episode is packed with actionable advice, inspiring stories, and transformative tips that will motivate even the most hesitant individuals to explore the great outdoors.

Does the idea of outdoor adventures intimidate you? Tune in to learn how James Smith and My Outdoor Joy make hiking, camping, and even scuba diving accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of background or experience level.

Join Keith and James as they discuss the empowering journey of becoming outdoor-savvy, and discover how you too can take your first step into nature with confidence and joy.

Episode Highlights:

05:29 - One of the demographics for us that has been surprising is that we are as an organization, we have a membership that's probably 80% women across all racial lines, across all economics.

06:47 - When you're in a group of beginners that are doing something for the first time, it really lowers the stress level. It lowers the intimidation factor for going on a hike.

08:09 - So the first thing I tell people is write down what you want to do. I don't call it a business plan. Write down what you want to do, and then start interviewing people, having questions.

Connect with Keith

LinkedIn

Connect with James

LinkedIn

Keith Stanley sits down with Patrick McManaman, the driving force behind the beloved University City hotspot, Famous Toastery. Together, they explore the unique journey of how this local gem has become an integral part of the community and the secrets behind its culinary successes.

Patrick McManaman shares candid insights about the inspiration and strategic decisions that led to the establishment of Famous Toastery in University City. Both Keith and Patrick discuss the restaurant's commitment to high-quality food, exceptional customer service, and community involvement, setting the stage for an engaging and informative conversation.

Episode Highlights:

03:42 - We've had several large parties come in celebrating their kids' graduations. They come in for birthday parties, office parties, and Christmas parties. We also do after-hours events for wedding receptions and baby showers.

03:54 - It's just the atmosphere of the restaurant and the location and the food and the staff, and everything just kind of draws everybody into wanting to be part of that to have that experience for themselves.

07:44 - I've seen both sides of us grow in the last nine years. The area itself is beautiful, with the water, the college, and all the new developments.

08:23 - For us as a business, it's going to continue to help us grow and get me more involved in community activities. With all these developments and families coming in, it makes us more able to give back to the community as well.

Connect with Keith

LinkedIn

Connect with Patrick

Website

Keith Stanley sits down with David Korany, a dedicated pharmacist and business owner of David's Pharmacy in Charlotte's University area. David shares his journey from studying pharmacy in Egypt to running his own independent pharmacy amid big chain competitors. He opens up about the unique challenges and rewards of being a small business owner, especially during the unpredictable times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tune in to hear how David's commitment to personalized service has fostered strong relationships with customers and allowed his business to thrive. Don't miss this insightful conversation about entrepreneurship, community growth, and the vibrant spirit of University City!

Episode Highlights

01:41 - I was looking to go into engineering school, but then I changed career the last moment because of the idea of wanting your own business and opening your own pharmacy.

02:20 - It is still challenging just to keep up with them, but then by doing different things and what the customer is looking for, so that give me the niche in the business.

05:34 - Make sure you do a good job with the customers and have everything stocked, meet their needs, and that's the best way to do it.

06:25 - I know a lot of people are moving here from big cities like New York, from California, and from Florida and we're growing so fast, so small businesses would do well with the big diverse community that we have.

Connect with Keith

LinkedIn

Connect with David

LinkedIn