Browse Episodes
How to Read Books: From Choosing the Right Title to Knowing When to Quit
Carrie is back this week with a solo episode diving into business books! And don’t let that scare you if you’re not a huge book person; Carrie takes that into account and gives practical tips even if you don’t want to sit down and read a book cover to cover! Carrie tells us how to…
Philosopher, Chemist, Entrepreneur: Soapy Jones of Left Hand Soap Co.
Soapy Jones, founder of Left Hand Soap Company, is on the Localist this week to dive into the world of natural, locally crafted soap and self care products. Soapy (yes, that’s her real legal name!) began making soap for gifts as a college grad, and it quickly turned into a business. Soapy describes moving the…
Permits Are Not Punk Rock: Cutting through the Red Tape with Burrito Punx
Matt Seward and Tim Frazier join the podcast this week to give us the punk rock details behind the creation of Burrito Punx, the burrito delivery company in Birmingham. Burrito Punx was a product of the pandemic — it started out as an underground operation out of Matt’s kitchen, but they both knew they wanted…
Being Your Client’s BFF with Steph Whitaker of Engaged Wedding Library
This week we’re joined by Steph Whitaker, owner and creator of Engaged Wedding Library. Steph knew from personal experience how overwhelming wedding planning can be and set out to make it easier for other brides. Steph and Carrie get into how Engaged works, how Steph came up with this model, and how it has evolved…
Starting a Business? What to Expect from Your Friends, Family & Spouse
If you go into business for yourself, you probably know it will impact your relationships in some way, but you may not know exactly what to anticipate. Carrie breaks down what you might expect from friends, family, random people you meet at a party, and everyone in between. As a former small business owner, Carrie…
Entrepreneurship & Marriage: Mini Episode with Jessica Hinton
Jessica Hinton of Empress Stationery is back on the Localist podcast with a mini episode! Jessica was in the wedding industry for a decade before getting married and ultimately bringing her husband on board to work with Empress. We talk about the huge life shift she experienced in the early days of Empress, and how…
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?