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After a quiet pause, Connect Raleigh returns with a reflection on why these conversations still matter. In this short standalone episode, host Chuck Belden shares why he stepped back, what brought him back, and why the stories of the people building their lives and work in Raleigh matter more than ever. It’s not about growth, headlines, or hype, it’s about people, perspective, and the feeling of belonging that keeps this community connected.

It's not what you know....it's who you know. The Connect Raleigh networking group gives professionals in Raleigh a way to network socially while expanding their professional sphere by focusing on building quality relationships. It's also a fantastic opportunity to highlight who you are, what you do and most importantly...why you do it! Today I get to introduce you to one of our fantastic members Grant Smith, a sales and business development leader here in the area who is excited to meet new connections, build new relationships and explore new opportunities with great leaders and companies in the Triangle area. If this is the first you're hearing of Connect Raleigh, this group is great for long time locals as well as those new to town and is not just for those looking to expand their professional networks. It's for EVERYBODY. We believe everybody, in every profession, can benefit from networking. Meet ups will be a fun, social and informative networking experience often featuring guest speakers from varied aspects of downtown that will open all of our eyes to more possibilities in this great city of ours. Please join us. We look forward to meeting you.

Jolene (Jo) Fender is a French Canadian expat that chose to move to North Carolina after getting a taste of snow birding during her maternity leave. She homeschools her 3 kids and started her own secular homeschool co-op to serve over 30 families currently here in the Triangle. She splits her time as best as she can between homeschooling, managing the co-op, creating social media content and helping others build a community of homeschoolers around them. If she's not doing any of that, you may find her out running, playing soccer, listening to true crime podcasts or camping.After the episode please connect with her to learn more about her experience living here in the Triangle or about her Homeschool Co-Op: @littlefenders on Instagram

A conversation with Billy Richardson is a good conversation to have. He's lived all around the county but chooses to call Raleigh home. He's a veterinarian, financial + business + soccer coach and really passionate about connecting to other humans and building strong relationships where we can help each other grow. He has a strong desire to gain understanding and perspective from the people he meets as we "do life" together. Originally from Elizabethtown, KY he grew up on the backside of Churchill Downs which ignited his interest and desire to become a veterinarian at the age of 12. He's practiced as a veterinarian in Florida, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and back to Raleigh to open Trinity Animal Hospital in Holly Springs on April 5th, 2016. He then sold the business, hit the pause button on veterinary medicine in June 2021 and has been exploring other opportunities along the way and what does it mean to be an entrepreneur. Check out the chat with Billy, go try some of his favorite places around Raleigh and then give him a follow @billydvm because he would love to get to know you and share a good cup of coffee with you.

Today on the Connect Raleigh podcast we get to be Connect Durham...sort of. Our guest Michelle Johnson is with us today to talk about all that is going on around Durham including her brand spanking new DIY studio called Nailed It. I'll also talk a teeny tiny bit about what in the world is happening in the real estate market because it seems to be a little all over the place. If you're looking for more things to do in The Triangle or for more reasons to move here, dig into this podcast. Nailed It’s 32nd location in Durham, NC, is owned and operated by Michelle Johnson, a West Virginia native of Filipino descent. Motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic she, with the help of her husband Russell, fulfilled a life-long dream of owning her own businesses in the spring of 2022. Having lived in Durham for more than twenty years, she was ready to be a more intregal part of the community and provide a fun, inclusive experience in south Durham. In the retail section of the store you will find other small businesses selling their handmade goods in addition to the gifts and signs made in-house. In Michelle’s spare time you will find her planning a special event or family get-away. After you give it a listen, please connect with Michelle at: https://durham.naileditdiy.com  https://www.facebook.com/NailedItDIYDurhamhttps://www.instagram.com/naileditdiydurham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnson-b798784/ And if you want to learn more about the process of buying or selling real estate, or working with a real estate agent, Let's see if we might be a good fit to work together. Take a look down there. 👀 You can find me at: Instagram- http://Www.instagram.com/chuckbelden Facebook- https://Www.facebook.com/chuckbelden Twitter- http://twitter.com/chuckbelden LinkedIn- http://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckbelden Or learn more about how we would work together: ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://calendly.com/chuckbelden/am-i-the-right-agent-for-you

To start with, Michael or Mike as I'm allowed to call him, is a good friend of mine and the kind of guy that you just enjoy being around. He's smart, he's kind, he's funny, a great dad and husband and a HUGE music geek which is kind of cool. He's a partner with NC Planning where he serves as an attorney and business advisor with over twenty (20) years of experience focusing his practice on the representation of individual and business clients and lending institutions in the areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, business planning, commercial lending and contracts. I am licensed to practice in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. He's regularly represents business clients ​in a variety of matters including corporate and other entity formation, company start-ups, mergers, business acquisitions and sales, joint ventures, employee incentive/deferred compensation planning, commercial lending and loan closings, resolution of shareholder disputes and corporate restructuring. In the M&A space, Michael has successfully served as counsel to clients in a variety of industries including, without limitation, professional practice owners (dentists, doctors, lawyers, etc.), construction, industrial/manufacturing, franchises and medical equipment, effectively and efficiently closing deals ranging in size from $50K-$10MM+  As a natural extension of his business transactional work, he also effectively serves as outside general counsel to corporate clients and professional practices, assisting in a breadth of matters ranging from contract review, revision and negotiation to complex corporate planning and dispute resolution. After you listen in on this one, give Mike a connect at: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-a-burger/ Firm: https://ncplanning.com/ also on FB and IG search Nc planning

Cheyenne is a local mom, entrepreneur, and content creator. She runs Triangle Families Explore, a media resource connecting families to high quality experiences in the triangle. Cheyenne is currently in the process of opening her first brick and mortar business, Little Oak Collective, a children's consignment store and community space. She's passionate about connecting community and creating intentional spaces for families.  Her perfect Raleigh day would be brunch at Jubala, mountain biking one the trails near Falls Lake, and drinks at East Bower Cider Co. When she chose to move to Raleigh a huge driving factor of her decision was the desire to be a part of the growth and culture of the city. She felt like Raleigh was approachable enough to go after their dreams and they were right!  Check her out online at: @trianglefamiliesexplore @littleoakcollective_raleigh @alevinsonadventure https://www.littleoakcollectiveraleigh.com

Brandon Baker is the President/CEO of First Tee of the Triangle and has served in the role since 2013. Prior to moving to the Triangle to join First Tee in 2010, he held a variety of roles in the youth development space spanning from programming to marketing and communications in the youth development space. He holds a M.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and despite being born in Maryland and spending years in Virginia, considers the Triangle home!  Brandon is a certified Master Executive through First Tee, a member of the Triangle Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Class of 2016, and the publication also recognized him as a CEO of the Year recipient in 2021.  In his spare time, Brandon enjoys playing golf, good breweries, and spending time his significant other and their two furry family members. Make sure you connect with Brandon at the following: @Bakerbl (Instagram) @FirstTeeTriangle (Instagram + Facebook) LinkedIn - First Tee — Triangle www.FirstTeeTriangle.org And after the episode check out some of his favorite spots around the Triangle at: The Village District Gizmo Brewing Lonerider Trophy Shelly Lake NCSU NC Museum of Art Marbles UNC Duke Shaw University St Augustine's University NC Central University Old Chatham Golf Raleigh Golf Association Pine Hollow Raleigh Country Club Lonnie Poole Golf Course Wendell Falls Farmhouse Cafe North Hills

Danny Rosin is the president of Brand Fuel a brand merchandising agency that delivers brand experiences, ecommerce, inspiration and results while having fun along the way. And that right there seems to be the key to everything important in Danny's life...doing big things while having a blast doing it. I think that is the big take away here. At least it was for me. The conversation with him really helped me look at everything important in my life through another lease and I hope it will for you too. He serves on the board of A Place at The Table, Raleigh’s only “pay what you can” café which is one of the most talked about businesses on this Podcast in Raleigh. I must be surrounded by some really awesome people with many of them sharing a common love of this place so if you've not been there...get there asap. He is on the executive team for The Harvard 100. He is the active co-founder of Band Together, a nonprofit that has donated $12 million to 108 local nonprofits through live concert experiences. Like the title says, he's a Big Time Do Gooder and having a fun time doing it all. Rosin is a tireless community builder who likes starting organizations doing things that matter which is another reason why I connect to him. He is a pathological optimist, hopelessly falling in love with most everyone he meets. His core competencies are in philanthropy, music, sales and marketing and “familying.”  He is married with two daughters who are 14 and 17 and has come to grips with the idea that well-behaved women rarely make history. Truth right there. And today on the Pod we get to talk about all of this and more. You don't want to miss this one. While listening, go ahead and connect with him online at: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/dannyrosin⁠  ⁠https://twitter.com/DannyRosin⁠  ⁠https://www.brandfuel.com/⁠ ⁠https://bandtogethernc.org/⁠ And after the episode, run by some of his favorite people and places around town and see Danny's version of Raleigh. 321 Coffee Gabi's Grounds Carroll's Kitchen Dix Park Pour House Kings Local 506 Innovate Raleigh Creative Mornings F**k Up Nights Lincoln Theater Duke Gardens NCSU UNC Umstead Park Citrix Cyle

Courtney is the owner of a small business in Raleigh called Raleigh Cheesy where they make custom cheese and charcuterie boards for catering options as well as they have a retail location you can pop in for some take home goodies or an educational class. They sprung on the market during Covid and built a very successful business by plugging into and serving their community. Check out Courtney's story and then give her a follow @raleighcheesy on Instagram and Facebook as well as their online presence at www.raleighcheesy.com And after that go check out her favorite places around the Triangle and get a feeling for why she loves it here! Blind Barbor Urban Air North Carolina Zoo Getaway Houses Fenton Colletta  Jolie Plum Cortez Lake Johnson Village District Duke Gardens NC State Arboretum Le Farm Fount Wilmington, NC

The real estate market has been an insanely confusing and ever changing situation over the last few years. The national media says one thing but is that true for each local market? I'm not sure it is. Today, we get to talk with my preferred mortgage lender Patrick O'Connor of Guaranteed Rate. Patrick has been a lender for 20 years and has likely seen it all. In 2005 he moved to Raleigh from Virginia as a single, 20 something and after meeting and falling in love with his now wife...and also the Carolina Hurricanes, he's never looked back and is proud to call the Triangle his home. In this episode we talk more about the actual truth of the local Raleigh market than I have ever discussed on here before. We get into housing inventory, buyer and seller mindset, mortgage financing options and more...but we also talk about golf, hockey and beer to make it slightly less boring to anybody that doesn't care about the real estate market. But if you're following this podcast you probably care a little bit at least about the Raleigh market. Give the episode a good listen, be sure to connect with Patrick at:  IG: @poconnor9, on FB: @PatrickO'Connor  and on LinkedIn: Patrick O'Connor And be sure to go visit some of his favorite places around the Triangle to get a really good feeling of his Raleigh...and then make it your Raleigh. @RaleighIsGrowing Carolina Hurricanes Durham Bulls Carolina Mudcats North Carolina FC Lincoln Theater Red Hat Amphitheater Downtown South Walnut Creek Amphitheater Hopscotch Music Festival Bluegrass Festival Vivace Coquette Cantina 18 Trophy Lonnie Poole Golf Club Finley Golf Club River Ridge Pine Hollow Pinehurst Mid Pines Pine Needles Southern Pines Golf Club Tobacco Road Golf Club NC Farmer's Market Raleigh Parks and Rec Umstead Park Dix Park Roanoke Park Five Points Laurel Hills Lynwood Brewing Concern Neuse River Brewing Bowstring Pizza Oakwood Pizza Box

Libby Taylor started SchoolUp to provide families in Wake County with the knowledge and guidance they need to find the right school for their children. And she's now expanded to Durham County and will be at the coast soon. With first hand knowledge of the challenging intricacies navigating our school system, I can say with certainty that her services are needed. Whether you are new to Wake County, don't have the time, or just need some advice to get you started, her goal is to help families stay informed and feel empowered to choose the right school for their needs. She works hand in hand with your family, looks at your unique goals and desires and then assists you in researching school options that best fit your needs. She has an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and a Masters from UNC. She started her career in education working in Washington D. C. before transitioning to the classroom. She taught in both Wake Co. and Durham Co. before moving on to The National Humanities Center where she planned and coordinated professional development for teachers. She started SchoolUp in 2017 as an independent consulting business helping both local families and those relocating to the area. She spends her days touring schools and talking to parents about their experiences in schools. And today on this episode we get to dive into all of this. On Sunday, March 5 at 3pm she is hosting a very important event that is perfect for families moving to the Raleigh area and interested in learning more about k-12 schools. She will cover all the basics of what you need to know and where to find the right information. From traditional public to magnet, charter, and private she can help you with the information and resources you need to confidently navigate your move. Bring all your questions! You can register for the event on her website at https://schoolupwake.com/events/ and you connect with Libby on Social at: @schoolupwake And after you give this episode a listen be sure to visit some of her favorite places around town to really get a feel for why she calls Raleigh home: Lynwood Brewing Concern: http://www.lynnwoodbrewing.beer/wp/ Crawford & Son: http://crawfordandsonrestaurant.com Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center: https://raleighnc.gov/parks/aquatics Lafayette Village: https://lafayettevillageraleigh.com Sola Coffee: https://www.solacoffee.com Jubala: http://www.jubalacoffee.com Lake Lure: https://www.townoflakelure.com Jolie: https://restaurantjolie.com Colletta (my suggestion): https://www.collettarestaurant.com #raleighschools #raleighnc #wakeforestnc #raleighkids #summercamp #athletics #wakecountyschools  #raleighmoms #athleticcoaching #coaching #summeractivities #kidsactivities #raleighsports #sports #youthfun #wakeforestsportstraining #durhamfootball #raleighkidscamps #durhamsports #raleighbasketball #durhamnc #raleighfootball #wakeforestfootball #wakeforestbasketball #durhambasketball #durhamyouthsports #wakeforestyouthsports #durhamsportstraining #raleigh #raleighrealestate

This is a little shorter version of the podcast where we focus on and highlight different members of the Connect Raleigh networking group on Linked In. We started the LinkedIN group 15 years ago and today it has approximately 8000 local Raleigh professionals. The goal of the group is to build quality relationships by building personal connections because people want to do business with those that they like and trust. There is no better group in Raleigh for networking in a way that actually works. If you're local, come check it out. Today we chat with Trevor who just recently moved from Utah to Raleigh to open Purple Mattress' first retail location in the state. Give it a listen and please comment if you know of anybody that should be featured on the Connect Raleigh podcast.

I've heard a lot about Kiara Ruth over the last few years. Mostly from my wife, whom is one of her biggest fans. But also from her husband Terrance, an alum (is that the right word? Alum? Alumni? Alumnus? Who knows???) of the Connect Raleigh podcast. A few weeks ago my wife Brook, Terrance, Kiara and myself got together for a dinner at my home and once the conversation got rolling I immediately knew that we needed to have her as a guest on the Pod. So here we are. She is a self proclaimed master at multi-tasking and simplifying which sounds like I need to know more about that because I'm a master of multi-tasking and over complicating. I could use some simplifying. She gracefully juggles her life as a mother and wife with her presence as a social media influencer and NC tastemaker. Kiara drifts from mom to mogul effortlessly because she remains authentic and true to her brand in every step. This authenticity means telling her story truthfully, acknowledging faults, and being transparent while growing and learning. Kiara is a mom to Miles who is 7 years old and the wife to Terrance Ruth who is a professor at NC State University and who recently ran for the Mayor of Raleigh, only just barely coming up short. Terrance and I had a great chat a few episodes back. Be sure to check it out after this one. Kiara and her family recently rescued a dog, Oakley who is 4 years old and they have lived in the Raleigh area for 10 years and care deeply for the people here. Check her out at: @the.bananamoonblog on IG @thebananamoon on Twitter www.facebook.com/kiaraRuth/thebananamoon www.linkedin.com/kiaraRuth www.thebananamoon.com Please give this episode a listen and be sure to check out some of Kiara's favorite people and places around Raleigh which was EXTREMELY painful for her to narrow down as she wanted to support EVERYBODY!!: The Bananamoon Blog Terrance Ruth Runologie Oaks & Spokes Bean Sprout 5 Star Triangle Families Explore Women's Social Club Thrive Motherhood Where to be Society Raleigh Plant Swap Read With Me Raleigh So and so books Brook Belden Idle Hour Sola Iris Coffee Lab  Jubala Good Day Good Night The Green Light Hayes Barton Cafe Pizzaria Toro Mofu Death and Taxes Place at the Table Cortez Heirloom Videri Chocolate Factory Fount Coffee & Kitchen Crawford & Son NY Bagel Standard Food Union Special Bread City Market Sushi  M Sushi Stanbury

This conversation with Matt is one from the vault that got unintentionally lost in the move between studios. It was recorded just prior to the opening of Oak + Iron Fitness which has now been open for over a year. Matt holds a BS in Physical Education with a minor in nutrition and technology from East Carolina University. Collegiately he wrestled at NC State University. He was a private personal trainer and managed a fitness studio prior to opening Oak + Iron Fitness. Matt spent 10 years in the corporate world before entering the fitness industry full-time. Matt's experience in sales, marketing, and management allows him to not only understand business, but the challenges posed by the corporate world when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This has helped him develop a unique perspective that has helped shape his vision for Oak and Iron Fitness. Sincere apologies for the delay in publishing the episode but please still give it a listen and give Matt a visit at Oak + Iron. And after he kicks your behind with one of their signature fitness classes, check out some of his favorite places around town like: Stanbury Garland: Now Closed Milton's Pizza Fred Fletcher Park Iris Coffee Lab Sola Coffee (ish) delicatessen  NC Museum of Art Lincoln Theater Red Hat Amphitheater