The Localist Podcast

A Podcast for Local Businesses (and the People Who Love Them)

Wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey — whether your business is already thriving, you’re getting excited about your first big idea, or you’re interested in learning more about local business — you’ll find your community on the Localist podcast with Carrie Rollwagen.

The Localist

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Happy Links: A Business Founded in Friendship

Sabrina Smith and Hannah Stallings of Happy Links

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with guests Sabrina Smith and Hannah Stallings, the dynamic duo behind Happy Links, a jewelry business specializing in permanent jewelry and ear piercing. Sabrina and Hannah share their journey from discovering permanent jewelry during a vacation in Colorado to establishing their own business centered…

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Finding Additional Revenue for Your Small Business

Carrie Rollwagon

This episode focuses on finding additional revenue streams for small businesses, a topic that’s relevant whether a business is thriving or facing financial challenges. Carrie shares personal experiences from her time managing and co-owning bookstores, offering insights into how creative ideas, like hosting events and selling tickets for book recommendation nights, helped generate revenue. She…

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Beyond the Brick and Mortar with Duquette Johnston

Duquette Johnston

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen speaks with musician and small business advocate Duquette Johnston about the evolution of his business, Club Duquette. Duquette recounts how the store, initially a brick-and-mortar establishment in Birmingham’s Woodlawn neighborhood, transitioned into an online store and lifestyle brand. Duquette and his wife, Morgan Jones Johnston, started…

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Building a Creative Resource with Morgan Jones Johnston

Morgan Jones Johnston

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Morgan Jones Johnston, a full-time artist and creator of the workbook “Create Anyway: The Average Person’s Guide to Igniting Your Creative Spark.” The workbook was inspired by a widespread feeling of unease and longing for fulfillment, and it aims to help people recognize…

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Starting a Side Hustle with Frosted by Lane

Alana Harmond

In the episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen interviews Alana Harmond about her journey in creating a successful side hustle. Alana began her business, Frosted by Lane, by launching an Instagram account and selling products within 24 hours. She started with product drops on Instagram, taking payments through Venmo, and later transitioned to a…

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The Total Joint: Where PT Gets Personal

Jimmy Dunn

In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Jimmy Dunn, the owner of The Total Joint, a physical therapy clinic with a personalized approach. Dunn discusses the variety of services offered at his clinic, such as appointment requests, free consultations and information on physical therapy and orthopedic surgery. He emphasizes the…

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About the Localist Podcast

@crollwagen on Instagram

A 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 in a bookstore
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.

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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.

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Jen Tucker
Outreach Manager

Jen handles booking for the podcast and makes sure guests are prepped and welcomed when they visit our studio.

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Alana Harmond
Promotions Manager

Alana manages our YouTube channel and handles show notes, as well as helping concept our promotions strategies.

The Localist Reviews

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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?

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