Sincerely, Your Small Business

Jess Norby
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

You’ve always wanted to get to know your favorite local business owners. But with everyone’s busy schedules, it can be hard to actually sit down and chat with each other and learn about the dreams, setbacks, successes, failures, and everything in between! All of which help shape us into the humans we are today.The Sincerely, Your Small Business podcast is your window into the lives and identities of small business owners that you support year-round. What inspires them, what makes them tick, and what has helped them grow as business owners, parents, community members, and friends.It’s a way to get to know them, so that when you DO run into one another at the grocery store, park, or place of business, you’ll know that at the end of the day, we can all build relationships and connect with one another through shared experiences.

  1. Sep 21

    Chris LeBlanc of Nola Builds

    ABOUT CHRIS LEBLANC (OWNER + FOUNDER): Chris LeBlanc has led Nola Builds since 2014. Originally from New Orleans- hence the name- he loves how “Nola Builds” naturally starts a conversation and reflects both his roots and his approach to community-focused work. Chris studied at Louisiana Technical College and PVCC before graduating from the UVA McIntire School of Commerce, blending hands-on construction experience with strong business and project management skills. With over two decades in the industry, Chris is known for his practical, solutions-oriented mindset and his ability to make complex projects feel straightforward. He lives in Albemarle County with his wife and children and continues to guide Nola Builds with the values of transparency, craftsmanship, and lasting client relationships. Big takeaways from this chat: - Gratitude goes a long way, in business and for your team - Communicate, communicate, communicate! - Business ownership is not without compassion, grace, and acknowledging that every client interaction involves human emotion, not just a transaction Learn more about Nola Builds here, and follow them on Instagram! Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

  2. Sep 7

    Amy Shawley Paquette

    Amy Shawley Paquette is a Virginia-based painter inspired by the natural world. Each one of her paintings begins with a walk in nature, taking in the environmental elements and collecting memories and experiences to apply to her work. Birds are her primary subject matter and she loves pairing them with botanical, landscape, and texture elements. She works from her own photos to create colorfully detailed and richly layered paintings. Amy most frequently paints in watercolor but her favorite medium is oil paint, especially when layered over textured acrylic surfaces. Birds became Amy’s focus after moving to Virginia in 2014, they were a constant companion right out the window or on walks, so she started researching species and documenting sightings with photographs and sketches.  She has since become an avid birder, not only in her region of central VA but all across the US.  Building collections of paintings around different families or groups of birds is one of her favorite things, and more birds are getting added to her catalog each year. Amy's formal education is a BA in Art History (’03), but after her time at Boston University she ended up working closely with art materials for two decades - first in art supplies stores, then as an educator for Golden Artist Colors. From 2008-2022 she taught, lectured, and demonstrated how to use artist’s paints across southern California and the DMV area. This experience connected her with area artists, and for the last two years she ran Waxwing Art Works, a small art gallery connected to her Cville art studio that supported local and regional artists and makers. Amy moved studios this Summer to shift more energy back to her growing wholesale business and painting process. Note: As of late August 2026, Amy has closed the brick-and-mortar gallery location. The spirit of the gallery will live on through pop-up shows, so make sure you're following her on Instagram to learn more! Our conversation explores how: - Amy worked through the realities of running a creative business with multiple revenue streams - The role of intuition and joy in deciding what to keep - How rejection, grief, and parenthood have shaped Amy’s path For more information, please visit: www.amyshawleypaquette.com or find her on Instagram at @amyshawley. Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

  3. Aug 24

    Lauren DiFrank of Bella Ballerina Highland Creek

    Lauren DiFrank is the owner of Bella Ballerina Highland Creek, a Bella Ballerina franchise serving families in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Since opening the studio four years ago, she has built a thriving community centered on helping young children grow in confidence, creativity, and a love of dance. A cancer survivor and widow, Lauren also serves on the Board of Directors for the 24 Foundation, where she advocates for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their families. She is passionate about creating exceptional customer experiences, building strong teams, and growing a purpose-driven business that makes a lasting impact on the families it serves.   In this episode, Lauren shares her wisdom and perspectives on empowering people (instead of micromanaging them), practicing clear communication, and how grace, flexibility, and boundaries are what make small business (and life) sustainability possible. Learn more here: Bella Ballerina Highland Creek website Follow Bella Ballerina Highland Creek on Instagram! Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

  4. Aug 10

    Chris Martin of Florosa

    Christina Martin (Chris) is the baker and owner of Florosa, a commissary bakery & flower farm based in Charlottesville, VA. A third-generation Nicaraguan American, she draws on her heritage to create Latine and Hispanic–inspired pastries, pan dulce, and desserts that honor traditional foodways while reflecting the landscapes and seasons of Virginia. She bakes with locally milled flour, eggs from her backyard flock, and herbs, flowers, and produce grown on her certified urban farm and sourced from nearby farmers. Florosa pastries and edible flowers can be found daily at JBird Supply, as well as through catering and cakes for events, meetings, and weddings. While working in the industry, Chris earned an AS in Baking & Pastry and a BS in Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship from Johnson & Wales University. As a queer community member, she volunteers with Charlottesville Pride and serves as an ambassador for CHOW, supporting wellness and mental health in the hospitality industry. In our conversation, Chris reflects on her journey as a small business owner, discussing the evolution of the bakery and emotional challenges of entrepreneurship. We touch on the impact of relationships on business success and the balance between ambition and realism in entrepreneurship (something not talked about enough, maybe!). Big takeaways: - "I am nothing without the women who came before me" - Asking for help is not a shortcoming but a strength - Simple living outside of work can bring joy, fulfillment, and presence  Connect with Chris: Instagram: @byflorosa Website: byflorosa.com Listen to the first time Chris was on the show HERE. Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

  5. Jul 29

    Christian Pfeiffer of More Than A Cup

    Christian is the founder of More Than A Cup, a premium mobile coffee bar serving the Charlotte Metro area. Starting in high school and throughout college, Christian worked in private clubs serving weddings, baby showers, and more. In college he studied civil engineering.  After two years with a civil engineering firm, Christian realized the moments that moved him weren't behind a desk. They were in front of people. More Than A Cup was born from that realization: that coffee, done right, is never just a drink. It's a connection point, a celebration, a reason to gather.  Today, Christian brings a white-glove café experience directly to weddings, corporate events, and special occasions across Charlotte. One intentional cup at a time. Website: morethanacup.com Instagram: instagram.com/_morethanacup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morethanacup Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

  6. Jul 13

    Caroline Addington of Blue Ridge Barbell

    Caroline Addington is the founder of Blue Ridge Barbell, a community-driven gym in Charlottesville, Virginia. After years as a personal trainer, she opened the gym local lifters had been asking for: one full of focused training, genuine community, and good vibes. Caroline's work sits at the intersection of strength training, business, and community building. She's passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, and creating environments that help people become more capable, resilient versions of themselves. She openly shares the realities of building a brick-and-mortar business—from raising capital and navigating setbacks to developing culture and leading a team with intention. Her mission is simple: build stronger people, stronger communities, and spaces where people can do meaningful work together. Get the Blue Ridge App: 12-Week Get Strong Program in the Blue Ridge App Learn more here: Blue Ridge Barbell Website and Instagram Membership info: 24/7/365 Access for members Day Passes are $15 and Monthly Memberships are $85 Blue Ridge Barbell has lots of strength training classes available, including several that are super beginner friendly!  Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

  7. Jul 6

    [Encore] Ryan Becklund of Botanical

    This episode originally aired in September of 2025. Enjoy! On this episode, discover how Ryan opened a vegan eatery, Botanical, amidst the challenges of the pandemic. You'll hear about the importance of community, the power of confidence, and the joy of creating a supportive environment for both staff and customers.  Ryan Becklund is the owner of Botanical in Charlottesville and Bar Botanical in Crozet, VA.  Both restaurants are 100% vegan and serve a variety of vegan fare, pastries, craft cocktails, coffees, and uncommonly found vegan products.  Ryan lives in Crozet with her partner, dog, and cats (and usually a foster cat or two).  She loves the challenging pace of the food service industry, becoming part of the rare community here in Cville, and spending her tiny amounts of free time with her friends and animals.  Follow Botanical and Bar Botanical on Instagram! Learn more about Botanical here: https://www.botanicalfare.com/ Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

  8. Jun 22

    Allie Redshaw

    In this episode, Allie shows her dedication to community support, quality, and how those have also coincided with her personal growth. Listen to this chat to hear wisdom about resilience, adaptation, intentionality in business, and the importance of community (in both life and business).  From Allie: 4 phrases or words to best describe me because I’ll choose an even number (4) over an odd (3) any day: -family woman -adventurer -technology averse -Loves God & animals  I am a mom to two beautiful daughters, Sawyer & Willow! Together with my culinary school sweetheart, I live in Free Union, VA with our Hen, Wise One, our Great Pyrenees puppy, Como, & our old hound. Peachy. With two chefs in the family, we eat well, adventure big, and always love coming home to our fur and feathered friends. When I am not in the kitchen making bone broth, I am a mountaineer, a rock climber, and an inclusion advocate! I love yoga as a personal practice but also as a career at Hot Yoga Charlottesville and the Contemplative Sciences Center of UVA :) Learn more about C'est Bon Bone Broth here, and follow Allie on Instagram here! Follow Sincerely, Your Small Business on Instagram! Did you enjoy this episode? Please give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!

See All (88)

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

You’ve always wanted to get to know your favorite local business owners. But with everyone’s busy schedules, it can be hard to actually sit down and chat with each other and learn about the dreams, setbacks, successes, failures, and everything in between! All of which help shape us into the humans we are today.The Sincerely, Your Small Business podcast is your window into the lives and identities of small business owners that you support year-round. What inspires them, what makes them tick, and what has helped them grow as business owners, parents, community members, and friends.It’s a way to get to know them, so that when you DO run into one another at the grocery store, park, or place of business, you’ll know that at the end of the day, we can all build relationships and connect with one another through shared experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    Jess Norby
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sincerely, Your Small Business
  • Show Website
    Sincerely, Your Small Business

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