Browse Episodes
Tech Startup Fundrage Turns Passion into Profit
This week we’re welcoming Maria Underwood, founder of the Chrome extension Fundrage that follows along as you read the news and allows you to donate to related nonprofits in real time. Maria had virtually no tech experience after a career in nonprofits, but decided to found Fundrage in 2017. Maria shares how she got started…
A Bookstore that Serves the Prison Community
This week we’re talking with Johnny Ardis, board member of Open Books and The Prison Book Project, a used bookstore and 501c3 nonprofit in Pensacola that sends books to inmates across Florida. We dive into the origin story of both the bookstore and the nonprofit and how it has evolved over the years, including how…
Q1 Review: How to Assess Your First Quarter of 2022
This week we’re sharing a new quarterly series where we review the highs and lows from the previous quarter. Carrie has experimented with a ton of different systems and has honed it down to a few steps that work both personally and professionally. We break down why reviewing a quarter is better than longer or…
How to Get Website Visitors — and What to Do with Them
We’re welcoming back Pam Sanderson, Director of Account Development at Infomedia, to dig into the mysteries of increasing website traffic. Pam has over a decade of experience and shares her knowledge on what you need to consider before you build or redesign your website, and tips to make Google happy (and thus send people to…
Misinformation, Cyber Attacks and Small Business
You’ve probably heard more about cyber attacks and hacking in the past few days in light of the war between Russia and Ukraine. These are scary words! That’s why we brought Michael Stuckey back on to break down what this can mean for us and our small businesses. We dive into how misinformation can be…
What to Do When Your Year Already Feels Off-Track
Is it just us, or has the first quarter of 2022 felt like walking through mud? Ok, we know it’s not just us, and that’s exactly what we’re diving into on this week’s episode. Carrie breaks down some of the reasons we may be feeling like this, and other factors that may be contributing to…
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!
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!
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.
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!
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?