Browse Episodes
Relationships Come First at Son of a Butcher
In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen talks with Brian McMillan and John Litzinger of The Son of a Butcher, a Birmingham-based butcher shop that grew out of Evans Meats during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as curbside meat sales quickly turned into a thriving retail shop in Pepper…
How LUCA’s Business Advisors Go Beyond Basic Accounting
In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Jordan Pridemore, Director of Strategic Development at LUCA, an accounting and advisory firm that takes a modern, people-focused approach to finance. Rather than focusing solely on tax season or compliance, LUCA works as an embedded partner for small businesses—offering real-time financial insights, tech-savvy…
Build Your Social Circle with The Gathering Lab
Show Notes In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen speaks with Janet King, founder of The Gathering Lab—a social wellness initiative designed to address the growing difficulty of forming meaningful relationships as adults. Janet shares how her background in community engagement and her personal experience as a new mom led her to explore…
Opening a Second Location with The Electric
In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Laura Smith, co-owner of The Electric, a neighborhood sandwich shop that recently expanded from Bluff Park to Avondale. Laura shares the story of how she and her husband, Ben, launched the original Electric just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit—navigating unexpected delays, a DIY…
Built on Beverage: Michael Sellers Is ALL Good
Show Notes In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Michael Sellers, a key figure in Birmingham’s craft beverage scene and co-founder of Good People Brewing. Michael shares exciting updates on his latest projects, including the revival of the beloved Ghost Train brand and the launch of a new lifestyle-focused beverage…
Redefining the Retail Experience with Nan Curated
Show Notes In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen interviews McCall Harwell, founder of Nan Curated, a Birmingham-based monthly vintage pop-up. McCall shares how she transformed a barbershop into a boutique-like shopping experience with intentional design, curated fashion, and a welcoming atmosphere. With no prior retail experience, McCall relied on her background in…
About the Localist Podcast
@crollwagen on InstagramA conversation with local makers and independent entrepreneurs.
Author and local business advocate Carrie Rollwagen invites mom-and-pops, freelancers, side hustlers, and start-up founders to talk about the ins and outs of how they got their start, the pros and cons of owning your own business, how they handle the hard stuff, and yes, even the mistakes they’ve made along the way. Carrie and her guests get into the nitty-gritty details: staffing, funding, hiring, and inspiring — and everything in between.
First-hand accounts of running a business
As a former small business owner, Carrie knows the struggles and triumphs of owning a business first-hand, and that experience helps her ask questions that are often ignored — questions about failure as well as success, and details about exactly how entrepreneurs face challenges, grow their businesses and work with their staffs.
The Localist Team
Carrie Rollwagen
Host
Carrie produces and hosts the podcast. She’s author of the Localist book, co-founder of Church Street Coffee & Books and VP of Infomedia.
Taylor Davis
Show Runner
Taylor keeps the podcast running and makes sure the rest of us stay on track. She’s also a videographer, photographer and marketing specialist.
Jen Tucker
Outreach Manager
Jen handles booking for the podcast and makes sure guests are prepped and welcomed when they visit our studio.
Alana Harmond
Promotions Manager
Alana manages our YouTube channel and handles show notes, as well as helping concept our promotions strategies.
The Localist Reviews
A Gem! I just discovered this podcast and let me tell you, I’m glad I did! The conversations are natural and easy going but you can also tell that Carrie has put a lot of thought and care in her questions. And I love that she’s also in Alabama!
ChelseaR83
A Must-Listen for Those Who Love Local! So excited to listen to Carrie’s new podcast! Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer or just looking to get inspired — Carrie offers a wealth of information from the many skills she’s picked up throughout her diverse careers. I can’t wait to hear who she brings on The Localist!
SarahCook323
Great Podcast! I just happened upon this podcast and It is really good. It gives really great tips and I especially liked the newest podcast about maintaining company culture in the current work from home environment.
Fun for a dollar
Carrie has an obvious talent for storytelling and making an interview more of an engaging conversation. I’ve been a listener as well as a podcast guest and I’m in awe of Carrie’s ability to connect her guests’ experiences with something helpful and relevant to a wide range of listeners, whether or not they are local to Birmingham, Alabama. I also strongly suggest her book if you are into localism!
Tacheek
Lovely listen — I loved the “In Search Of The Perfect Storefront.” I found it entertaining, yet super informative. I even took notes, who am I?