In our last episode of the year we have JD Harris, the owner of the very popular Charlotte apparel brand, Glory Days!! This episode was the perfect way to end the year as we talked about him crashing a wedding, working with his creative hero, and building a brand that is recognized all over Charlotte. JD represents so many things we should all carry with us into the new year. He is passionate about what he does, he has been willing to take risks, he is full of joy, and he never settles. ...

Our episode with Valentina was so fun and full of energy as we learned more about her journey as a Pastry Chef and her business La Bonbonniere. She has some of the best cookies and desserts in the city and is known to sell out quickly at markets around the city. Valentina thought that she was walking away from baking completely when she moved to Charlotte from Venezuela, but a new baby and supportive husband helped her rediscover that love and passion, and now Charlotte is benefiting fr...

This episode was a really special one because we got to chat about one of our favorite topics with Matt Simpkins and Tom Bogan of Oaklore… Bourbon!! We also got to enjoy some while shooting and that is a first we will always remember. Before they were owners of a distillery making bourbon, they were two dads, walking their kids to the bus stop every day who realized they both loved bourbon. From there grew a great friendship that you can see very easily in the episode. They have g...

For the last episode of our Voices of Camp North End series, we had a fun conversation with Mike Salzarulo, the co-owner of Tipsy Pickle, in Camp North End. Mike is also the co-owner of Protagonist Beer and owner of Antagonist, a coffee shop and cocktail bar opening in 2026. Mike shared his deep passion for hospitality with us, and you can see that passion when you go to one of his establishments. He also has a one of a kind love story with his wife, because they have known each other ...

On the second episode of our Voices of Camp North End series, we sat down with Michelle Fernandez inside her one of a kind airstream. Michelle is the owner of La Bodeguita, a craft cafe in Camp North End, and a mental health therapist. Michelle has a captivating story that covers a unique childhood, early life obstacles, and incredible discovery. Art has been a consistent part of her life and as a therapist she has created something beautiful to allow people to reconnect with their yout...

On the first episode of our Voices of Camp North End mini series, we got a chance to kick it with former professional soccer player turned urbanist, Tesho Akindele. Tesho is the development analyst for Camp North End and the perfect person to introduce our conversation about Came North End. Tesho has constantly followed the fire in his heart and because of this he is already living his second dream career. From dropping out of college with a semester left to get drafted, to a 9 year pro...

On this episode of Queen City Unleashed we get to sit down with Monica Warren who is an amazing example of someone who has made Charlotte her home and found a way to turn her hobby into a business! She is the owner of Pretty Perfect Style and she creates beautiful jewelry that could stand alone as art pieces. Monica shares her story of how she got to Charlotte and the boredom that led to her taking a jewelry making class. We also spend some time talking about personal style and the trut...

It would be hard for anyone to find a bigger cheerleader of Charlotte than Clayton Sealey, and that is who we had the chance to talk to on this episode. Clayton is from Charlotte, left for some years while still keeping an eye on his city, and now is back making a difference in so many ways. Clayton is a voice for city government, urban development, walkable cities, the arts and is known to have an occasional hot take. In everything he does, you can see that he cares deeply about Charlo...

We got the chance to sit down with a longstanding pillar of the Charlotte restaurant industry, Chef Bruce Moffett. Chef Bruce is the owner of the Moffett Restaurant Group that includes Barrington’s, Good Food on Montford, Stagioni, and soon to open Sala. There are so many chefs in our city now who have spent time learning and growing in one of Bruce Moffett’s restaurants, so his impact can be seen and tasted all across our city. He dives into the history of the Charlotte food scen...

We are excited to share our episode with Makayla Binter, who is a Creative Catalyst for Charlotte is Creative, a talented artist, and a pillar in the Charlotte arts community. She is one of the most vibrant individuals you could ever be around and she consistently exudes joy. Makayla was often told she would not be able to make a living with art, but she has proven all those people wrong and has become a huge supporter of artists all across Charlotte. She is one the best connectors our city h...

We are back after taking some time to celebrate our first 25 episodes of Queen City Unleashed with Emmy Award Winner Shevaun Bryan!! Shevaun is a news anchor on WBTV and has been in the industry, around the country, for a long time. She is passionate about telling important stories and we are lucky to get to chat with her, right off the Emmy win. Shevaun has interviewed big names like Lebron James and Dwayne Wade and even interned with DJ Khaled back in the day! She has worked in big ...

For our 25th episode of Queen City Unleashed we have Kayleigh Ruller, a Food Writer who writes for national and local publications. Kayleigh loves food and writes about it in a way that gives people a better appreciation for the food around them. She has highlighted some of the biggest names in food in Charlotte but she has the same pride when it comes to the smaller names! Kayleigh is one of the most authentic people you will meet and it shows in how she presents herself in her work a...

On this episode we sat down with Tim Edwards, the founder of Splatter Charlotte and co-founder of Residency Charlotte! Tim is one the most fun interviews we have had on the podcast. His humor and passion make for great stories that we know you will enjoy. Splatter Charlotte is one of the most fun date activities in Charlotte and it is special because you get to take the art home. Tim and his team have thought about everything to make this an unforgettable experience. He also is behind b...

This episode is really special because it is about a non-profit we are a part of. We got to chat with Leslie Leitner, who is the Community Engagement Associate for Supportive Housing Communities (SHC). Supportive Housing Communities is a local non-profit on a mission to end homelessness and human suffering in the Charlotte area by providing permanent, supportive, and affordable housing to Charlotte’s most vulnerable neighbors. The work this organization is doing is truly amazing and making a ...

We had the chance to sit down with a man of many talents and interests, Bryan Li! Bryan Li! Bryan is one of the co-owners of Open Rice, co-founder of Residency Charlotte, and a founder and producer of Shameless Improv. Bryan has such an interesting story that you will enjoy listening too. He grew up in Honk Kong, he has started multiple restaurants, he fell in love with improv comedy and he loves providing amazing experiences. Bryan is also a big advocate for local arts and is a huge pa...

We had the opportunity to talk to Chef Sam Diminish on our twenty-first episode of Queen City Unleashed. Chef Sam is the Executive Chef of Restaurant Constance and Owner of Your Farms Your Table! He has been recognized around the city multiple times and was recently a James Beard semi-finalist. He is passionate about supporting local farms and also about being a voice for the voiceless when it comes to sobriety. Our conversation was so encouraging, because no matter what he has been t...

In our twentieth episode of Queen City Unleashed, we sat down and talked to Yaz Humaideh, the owner of Sip City Market and Bottle Shop! His bottle shop has become a place of community, where people from all walks of life come to hang out. From coffee, beer and sake, to ping pong and board games, Sip City has it all. The thing that really sets Sip City apart is Yaz! He loves people and connecting with folks. He is the ultimate people person and loves building relationships with his...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we had the chance to sit down with Chef Alyssa Wilen, owner and namesake of Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen! Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen offers cooking classes for different kinds of cuisines and skill levels. It is a great activity to do with friends, coworkers, or for a date night! You will leave educated and full from a great meal you cooked yourself. Chef Alyssa is from Charlotte and has come up in the food scene, but decided that she could have a differen...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we got to sit down with a Charlotte legend, Manolo Betancur, who owns Manolo’s Bakery, Artisen Vegelatos, and runs We Care 4 non-profit. Manolo’s Bakery is an institution in Charlotte that serves breads, cakes, and deserts from many hispanic countries. Manolo shared his incredible story of immigrating from Columbia, starting off cleaning dishes, to now having a very successful bakery. He is constantly giving back to his community and find ways to use...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we got to sit down with Steven De Falco, one of the co-owners of Pizza Baby and Flour Shop. His restaurant, Pizza Baby West, was recently named one of the Top 50 Pizza restaurants in America, by an independent guide in Naples Italy. Steven’s Italian upbringing has led him on an incredible life journey which has seen him go from New York, to Italy, to Miami and now Charlotte. Steven cares not just about food but the entire experience. You will o...