Browse Episodes
Building a Business from the Vending Machine up with The Little Red Print Shop
Show Notes In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen chats with Jessica Leitch, the creative behind The Little Red Print Shop — a Birmingham-based linocut artist whose $1 art vending machine has become a local favorite. Jessica shares how a simple Instagram scroll led to the idea of selling tiny hand-printed works from…
Designing a Work Life You Actually Enjoy
In this solo episode of The Localist, Carrie Rollwagen explores what to do when work starts to feel monotonous or unfulfilling — whether you’re an employee or a business owner. Inspired by the book Designing Your Work Life, she introduces a practical exercise that helped her rediscover purpose and progress in her day-to-day tasks —…
The Business of Belonging with Jesús Méndez
In this episode of The Localist, Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Jesús “Chuy” Méndez, one of the forces behind Salud Taqueria, Adiõs Bar, and a growing list of standout spots in Birmingham’s food and drink scene. Chuy shares how his people-first mindset transformed him from a curious bartender into a multi-concept business owner, building restaurants…
Should You Hire a Business Consultant?
In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen shares her personal experience hiring a business consultant and how just a few hours with the right advisors helped her rediscover direction and purpose in her work. She shares what she learned from two different meetings — one focused on brand strategy with consultant Emily Wells,…
Sandwich Pop-Up Deli Olé on Design, Branding and Hospitality
In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Alex Stern, the creative force behind the pop-up sandwich concept Deli Ole.. Alex shares how a passion for hospitality, design and community connection fueled the evolution of Deli Ole from intimate rooftop dinners to wildly popular sandwich experiences hosted at some of the…
An Introvert’s Guide to Public Speaking
In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen explores public speaking from an introvert’s perspective, offering practical strategies to make it more manageable. She acknowledges the challenges many introverted business owners face when speaking in public or even appearing on social media — something she’s personally experienced despite her frequent work in front of…
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?