Browse Episodes
In Search of the Perfect Storefront with Birmingham Brokers Lyndsy Yim and Jackie Hollingsworth
This week, The Localist is diving into the world of choosing a brick and mortar retail space for your small business. Carrie is joined by Lyndsy Yim and Jackie Hollingsworth, both experienced brokers in the Birmingham area and the southeast. Jackie, Lyndsy, and Carrie start off with the things you need to have prepared before…
Entrepreneur, Artist, Activist: Amanda Blake and the BHM Artist Collective
This week on The Localist, Amanda Blake, artist, art teacher, freelancer, and co-founder of the BHM Artist Collective, joins Carrie to talk about life after owning a small business. Amanda shares how what she learned over the course of owning a business stuck with her after selling the business. Amanda then shares about the BHM…
Reinventing Your Business: Second Time Around, Twice As Hard
This week on The Localist, Carrie is tackling the tough topic of reinvention. Every business owner is familiar with the excitement of starting a new adventure, but what do you do when the adventure shifts and you have to rework the idea? Carrie describes her struggles with realizing aspects of a project are no longer…
How to Run an Instagram Giveaway: The Good, the Bad and the Annoying
This week on The Localist, Carrie is diving into her experience hosting Instagram giveaways. Carrie details the handful of giveaways she’s done with her new Instagram account, @ThinkLocalist, including the reasons why she chose to do giveaways, the pros and cons of giveaways, and the factors to consider before doing your own giveaway. Carrie breaks…
Stress and Small Business: Free Pandemic Resources from Alabama Apart Together
This week, The Localist is diving into the mental health aspects of living through a pandemic as a business owner with Vivian Smith Carter, LMFT. Vivian works with Alabama Apart Together, a completely free resource that provides community pandemic support. Vivian gives tips on how to cope with stress, and discusses the importance of connection…
Be a Better Customer: How to Treat the Essential Workers Who Serve Us in the Pandemic
Courtenay Rollwagen is back on The Localist this week to talk about supporting essential workers during the pandemic. Courtenay and Carrie give great tips on how to be a better customer, including best practices for ordering food, what to pay attention to while out and about, and what to do when you see a customer…
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?