Ryan McEvoy, owner of Jeff’s Bagel Run locations in Wake Forest and Rolesville (with a Raleigh shop opening near Glen Lake), shares how his experience helping build the uBreakiFix franchise led him into the bagel business and helps fund his nonprofit, 127 Haven. He explains 127 Haven’s James 1:27-inspired model in Uganda: rescuing orphaned children from the streets and raising them in permanent family homes with Ugandan parents and legal guardianship rather than operating an orphanage. Ryan recounts how relationships through African Children’s Choir connected him to Lynette, the home’s mother, and shares stories of rescued children now thriving. He discusses navigating local culture, government support, and ways to donate via 127haven.com, noting funds go directly to the family’s monthly needs.

00:00 Meet the Bagel Founder

02:08 Who is Jeff

02:57 From Phone Repairs to Franchises

04:21 Why Bagels in Raleigh

05:18 Business Skills That Transfer

06:21 Favorite Bagel Orders

06:55 What Is 127 Haven

08:14 Building Families Not Orphanages

09:27 Why Uganda and Lynette

11:42 A Miracle Before the Trip

13:48 Growing the Home Model

16:17 Navigating Red Tape Abroad

17:28 Staying Humble and Safe

18:54 Why Uganda Matters

19:50 Making a Difference Starts Small

21:22 Ways to Get Involved

22:04 Gladys and the First Kids

24:41 Rethinking Orphanages as Family

28:25 Legacy and Ripple Effect

30:24 What's Next for Jeff's Bagel Run

31:36 How to Support 127 Haven

33:51 Closing Thanks and Bagel Banter

Join us as we dive into a conversation with Jody Donaldson, owner of Alloy Personal Training and host of The Progress Zone podcast. Discover the key to sustainable growth in fitness and life, as Jody shares his journey from a real estate business owner to a fitness entrepreneur, author, and podcast host. Learn about the importance of consistency, the mindset needed for long-term success, and how small, daily actions lead to significant progress. This episode is packed with insights on entrepreneurship, fitness, personal growth, and practical steps to unlock your full potential.

00:00 Meet Jody Donaldson

02:20 Many Hats and Origins

03:05 Why Fitness Franchise

04:09 Progress Zone Explained

06:13 Passion Into Business

07:09 Consistency Over Perfection

08:44 Common Progress Pitfalls

09:39 Alloy Training Model

13:06 Longevity Strength Focus

16:39 Motivation Versus Habits

18:00 Podcast Guests and Topics

20:04 Book Blueprint and First Step

22:45 Advice for Young Adults

26:04 Where to Find Jody

26:37 Final Thanks and Wrap

Melissa interviews Mandy Becker, owner of Swagger Boutique, a women’s style destination in Wake County with locations in Raleigh and Cary. Becker shares how a beloved South Georgia gift shop inspired her, how she earned an engineering degree at Georgia Tech, opened Swagger as a gift store in 2002, and expanded into clothing in 2011 after customer requests. She explains what boutique ownership is really like, including unexpected friendships and learning business without formal classes, with support from her husband. Becker breaks down how and where she shops markets (Atlanta for gifts; Dallas and Vegas for clothing), how delivery timing affects buying, and how she forecasts trends while selecting for Swagger’s broad age range. She highlights upcoming trends like butter yellow, chocolate brown, polka dots, stripes, zebra, scarves, brooches, chunky jewelry, and outerwear, plus how social media and live selling shape the business.

00:00 Meet Mandy and Swagger

02:17 Origins and Early Inspiration

03:41 Engineer to Gift Shop Owner

04:29 Pivot to Clothing Boutique

05:40 Retail Realities and Relationships

07:34 How Fashion Markets Work

10:45 Trend Forecasting and Customer Fit

16:22 Spring Summer Trend Report

18:45 Easy Closet Refresh Tips

20:07 Color Analysis and Teen Feedback

22:03 Passing Down the Boutique

22:43 Who Picks Trend Colors

24:04 Fall Outerwear Forecast

25:21 Swagger Vibe in 3 Words

26:20 Confidence and Body Positivity

27:08 Social Media and Live Shopping

32:15 Five-Year Vision for Swagger

33:37 Lightning Round Favorites

35:52 Where to Shop and Follow

37:24 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Host Melissa interviews Frank Yarborough, creator of Frankie B’s pimento cheese, just days before the Pimento Cheese Festival in Downtown Cary Park. Frank shares how he grew up with his mother’s pimento cheese, learned the family recipe after she passed, and refined it into three flavors with a focus on traditional Southern taste, Duke’s mayonnaise, and a spreadable, dense consistency. He describes early public tastings outside his Academy Street home, the strong festival response, and moving into an inspected commercial kitchen before selling officially. Frank discusses festival sales goals, local retailers and restaurants now carrying the product, ideas for serving pimento cheese, and future plans that may expand into Southern baked goods like chocolate and lemon meringue pies.

00:00 Meet Frankie B

02:08 Family Recipe Roots

03:57 From Sharing to Flavors

04:39 Festival Buzz Takes Off

07:26 Branding and What Makes It Different

09:25 Selling Out and Scaling Up

14:33 Going Legit Commercial Kitchen

16:16 Why Cary Owns Pimento Cheese

17:11 Downtown Cary Life Changes

19:16 Fencing In Privacy

20:02 Roots in Downtown Cary

21:04 Festival Crowds and Traffic

21:36 Judging Pimento Cheese

23:00 Duke's and Family Legacy

24:17 Best Ways to Eat It

27:33 Beyond Pimento Cheese

29:22 Growing Frankie B's

32:13 Where to Buy and Ship

33:29 Wrap Up and Thanks

Storyteller and Grammy/Emmy-nominated writer-producer Maxim Langstaff discusses his decades behind the scenes with music legends including John Denver and Beatles producer George Martin, describing how his John Denver Wildlife Concert work led to a 16–17 year collaboration with Martin on a live stage/film project exploring Sgt. Pepper’s creative process. He reflects on the changing, overwhelmed modern media landscape and how artists are shaped by myth versus truth. Langstaff connects his conservation roots and time in New England wilderness to his debut novel “Sasq'et,” a cinematic, women-centered adventure using Sasquatch as a device to explore identity, nature, and unanswered questions, blending fiction with researched science and history. He shares how the book emerged nonlinearly while living in a remote Maine cabin and traveling cross-country with his dog, Kemo. “Sasq'et” releases April 7, with the audiobook as well.

00:00 Meet Maxim Langstaff

02:35 Behind the Music Legends

06:44 George Martin and Sgt. Pepper

09:57 Industry Then and Now

12:02 John Denver and Conservation

19:18 From Documentaries to Fiction

22:11 Truth Best Left Unknown

22:34 Writing Finds Its Path

23:34 A Woman’s Journey

24:13 Sasquatch as Metaphor

26:06 Belief Versus Science

28:45 Native Names and Origins

30:37 From Book to Screen

32:29 Craft of Storytelling

35:26 Release Date and Audiobook

36:46 Lightning Round Favorites

40:26 Casting and the Dog

43:23 Final Thanks and Farewell

Join us as we dive into the world of card collecting with Tara and Adam Reynolds, the masterminds behind Triangle Area Trading Cards. From childhood nostalgia to serious collecting, they share their journey from avid collectors to successful business owners running a beloved local hub in North Carolina. The couple recount their initial foray into card trading, their challenges of moving from a corporate job to entrepreneurship, and the tight-knit community they've built around their passion. Learn about the evolution of the trading card industry, their biggest finds, future aspirations, and the joy of bringing families together through this timeless hobby.

00:00 Meet the Card Pros

02:30 Adam’s First Packs

04:09 First Big Pull

05:56 From Passion to Business

08:06 Opening the First Store

09:28 Early Challenges and TCG Shift

10:54 Outgrowing the Space

14:04 How the Hobby Changed

16:38 Getting Started at the Shop

18:23 Avoiding Collector Burnout

19:27 Trading Online vs. In Store

20:01 Breakers and Live Auctions

20:48 The Shop Community Vibe

22:27 Biggest Collection Purchases

24:20 Babe Ruth Signed Baseball

25:58 Balancing Hobby and Business

27:35 Advice to Younger Self

28:48 Future Plans and Growth

29:59 Lightning Round Favorites

32:36 LEGO Collecting and Minimalism

33:59 Where to Find the Shop

35:01 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Join us as we dive deep into the inspiring story behind That's Spot On!, a board game created by friends Linda Pelnik and Sue Dohm. Discover how their shared love for family game nights led to the creation of a game that captured hearts at the New York Toy Fair. Linda and Sue discuss the origins of their friendship, the challenges of manufacturing, securing spots in mom-and-pop stores, and navigating the complexities of the game industry. Don't miss their fascinating journey filled with highs, lows, and plenty of laughs as they bring their creative visions to life.

00:00 Meet the Inventors

02:48 From School Friends to Co-Founders

04:15 Fixing Liar's Dicexsxw

05:09 New Mechanics and Game Board

07:11 Learning Manufacturing from Scratch

08:17 Designers and Industry Help

10:19 Marketing and Grassroots Sales

13:32 New York Toy Fair Breakthrough

16:57 Working with a Friend

18:09 Shipping Delays and Tariffs

19:42 Canals and Shipping Chaos

20:16 Founders' Backgrounds and Skills

21:36 Toy Fair to Warehousing

22:37 Box Size and Shelf Space

23:41 Next Game Spot and Snap

24:36 Trade Shows and Cutting Costs

26:03 Creative Process and Advice

27:45 Family Playtesting Support

28:49 Lightning Round Game Night

31:18 Where to Find That's Spot On!

32:12 Shoutouts and Wrap Up

Jason, creator of the “Today in the Quay” Facebook page, shares how he built a positive hub for Fuquay-Varina updates over 12 years, growing to about 30,000 followers. He discusses moderating the page, highlighting youth sports and local business openings, and supporting standout athlete Sarah Strong’s early recognition. Jason also reflects on Fuquay-Varina’s rapid growth, community events, new attractions, and excitement around the upcoming Target, and he plugs his Facebook page and newsletter with over 7,000 subscribers.

00:00 Meet Today in the Quay

02:59 Why He Started It

04:36 Fuquay Growth and Vibe

05:38 Courtroom vs. Facebook

06:58 Spotlight on Youth Sports

08:25 The Sarah Strong Story

14:52 Businesses and Local Buzz

17:04 Awards and Wide Reach

20:52 Balancing It All

22:32 Favorite Annual Events

23:51 24 Hours in Fuquay

25:46 Target and What’s Next

28:15 Where to Follow and Newsletter

29:26 Wrap Up and Thanks