South Cobb LIVE!

Elise White

Welcome to South Cobb LIVE!, the podcast that spotlights the heart of our community—its small businesses, local events, and vibrant culture. Hosted by Elise White where she brings you inspiring stories from local entrepreneurs, showcase must-attend events, and dive into the unique experiences that make South Cobb a thriving hub. Whether you're a small business owner, a loyal customer, or someone looking to explore the best of South Cobb, this podcast connects you to the people and places shaping our neighborhood. Tune in for engaging interviews, exclusive insights, and special offers that make supporting local as exciting as it is impactful. Subscribe now to join the conversation and discover why South Cobb is the place to live, work, and thrive! 🎙️✨

  1. 08/19/2025

    Crafting Experiences: Keisha Jacobs and the Magic of Great Vibes Events

    In this episode of South Cobb Live, host Elise White interviews Keisha Jacobs, the founder of Great Vibes Events, LLC, an event planning company based in Smyrna, Georgia. Keisha discusses her background as a teacher and her passion for creating unique, interactive experiences that bring people together. She highlights her focus on youth events, especially for middle and high school students, and her annual back-to-school event that encourages youth entrepreneurship. Keisha also shares her commitment to communication and personalization in her event planning services, using music as a key element to enhance the atmosphere. The episode concludes with a fun 'South Cobb Spotlight Sprint' where Keisha associates songs with different themes. Meet Our Guest Keisha Jacobs - Event Planner & Teacher Owner of Great Vibes Events LLCTeacher by day, event planner by passionSpecializes in 6th-12th grade youth eventsTagline: "Come Vibe With Us"Key Topics Discussed The Journey: From teacher to event plannerYouth Focus: Creating events for middle and high school studentsAnnual Back to School Event: Featuring youth entrepreneurs as vendorsKidpreneurs: Supporting young entrepreneurs and teaching business skillsCommunication Style: Believes in over-communication with clientsMusic & Vibes: Using music to elevate every event experienceSignature Services Youth-focused events (6th-12th grade)Wedding planningBrand launchesMilestone celebrationsInteractive experiences that bring people togetherFun Facts Setup Song: "The Sweetest Taboo" by SadeMusic Philosophy: Always incorporates music to create the perfect vibeAtlanta Native: Loves So So Def, Kilo Kilo, and 90s/2000s R&BConnect with Great Vibes Events Website: greatvibeseventsllc.comInstagram: @greatvibesevents22Facebook: Great Vibes Events LLCAbout South Cobb LIVE! Brought to you in partnership with the Gary Hill Network in Smyrna, Georgia. Find us at: Website: www.southcobblive.comSocial Media: All platformsYouTube: South Cobb LIVE! channelWhere community comes to life!

  2. 08/01/2025

    Building Legacies with Terry Graham

    🎯 Episode Summary Host Elise White welcomes Terry Graham, founder of Legacy Builders Wealth Management (South Cobb, GA), for an inspiring conversation about retirement planning and generational wealth. 🔥 Key Takeaways 💡 Start Early: "A common myth is that they can wait...oh, I'm too young to plan for retirement." - Terry Graham 💡 Financial Wellness: "Financial is a self-care. It is a form of wellness." 💡 Keep It Simple: Terry breaks down complex concepts into easy "Barney style" presentations. ⏰ Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 00:36 - Terry's mission with Legacy Builders 01:38 - Debunking retirement myths 03:27 - Personal stories shaping his career 05:52 - Financial planning as wellness 06:33 - Simplifying financial decisions 08:42 - Building Legacy Builders 10:41 - Financial education importance 13:56 - South Cobb Spotlight Sprint 15:40 - Contact info & events 📚 What You'll Learn ✅ Why waiting to plan retirement is a myth ✅ How to build generational wealth ✅ Simple retirement readiness questions ✅ Real client transformation stories ✅ Financial planning as self-care 🎓 Action Steps Start retirement planning TODAYAsk: "Do I have a pension?"Think generationallyAttend educational webinarsReview plans regularly📅 Events Weekly Webinars: Wednesdays: Stock Market Alternatives3rd Saturday: Retirement Planning & Annuities Search "Legacy Builders" on Eventbrite🔗 Connect Website: legacybuilders.us Social: LinkedIn & Facebook - Legacy Builders Wealth Management 💬 Join the Conversation What's your biggest retirement planning question? Comment below! Hashtags: #LegacyBuilders #SouthCobbLIVE #FinancialEmpowerment #RetirementPlanning #GenerationalWealth

  3. 07/21/2025

    Gary Hill Explains Why Waiting Won't Help You Succeed in Sales!

    South Cobb Live + Gary Hill Network Download the Smyrna Guide: https://link.southcobbmedia.com/widget/form/r1AtN4fdWWv4vETVAxXa Episode Overview Host Elise White interviews Gary Hill, founder of the Gary Hill Network and owner of the Smyrna Guide. Discussion focuses on proactive sales approaches, community building, and forging authentic connections for local business success. Guest Profile Gary Hill has anchored Smyrna, Georgia's business community since 1982. Through the Gary Hill Network and Smyrna Guide, he's built extensive local business networks via print advertising and personal relationship building, emphasizing community engagement and mutual support. Key Topics Sales Initiation: Success requires proactive engagement rather than waiting for opportunities. Print Advertising Value: Despite digital dominance, print materials, business cards, and tangible marketing remain essential for visibility and community presence. Spiritual Foundation: Gary's spiritual experiences guide his business philosophy, viewing his work as a calling rather than just career. Community-Centered Networking: Building genuine friendships within business networks, focusing on mutual support over self-interest. Life Integration: Seamless integration of business and personal life, with networking central to identity and purpose. Notable Quotes "Sales is about initiation. It's not about sitting around waiting on something to happen." "Networking is about promoting each other. It's about getting people focused on somebody besides themselves." "My life is the Smyrna Guide one. They're all the same thing." Actionable Takeaways New Businesses: Start with door-to-door networking and one-to-one relationship building. Focus on initiating conversations rather than waiting. Established Businesses: Maintain consistent visibility through print and personal presence. Actively promote network partners for reciprocal relationships. Community Building: Create mutual support systems among local businesses. Use print advertising for lasting presence and show up consistently. Key Insights Gary's decades-long business relationships demonstrate networking's long-term value. Traditional methods like print advertising and face-to-face interactions remain effective in our digital age. Integrating spiritual principles into business practices can positively influence success, while supporting community members ultimately benefits everyone. Episode Highlights Gary's origin story collecting business cards at Dunkin' DonutsSpiritual calling's role in business decisionsLong-standing partnership examplesAdvice for establishing local presenceImportance of community visibilitySouth Cobb Live features community-focused conversations with local leaders and entrepreneurs making neighborhood differences.

  4. 07/10/2025

    Tarryn Sampson of TS Tax & Accounting Services

    "Stop hiding from that IRS letter! As an Enrolled Agent who's saved clients THOUSANDS during audits, here's why ignoring it makes everything worse..." Tarryn Sampson, owner of TS Tax and Accounting Services in Mapleton, Georgia, shares 29 years of tax expertise and reveals how her year-round approach saves South Cobb business owners thousands. Guest Background Tarryn Sampson - Owner & Founder, TS Tax and Accounting Services 29 years in tax preparation (since 1996)Enrolled Agent certified (2020) - can represent clients before the IRSBased in Mapleton, Georgia, serving South Cobb communityKey Discussion Points The "Ostrich Problem" with IRS Letters "I always use the analogy of the ostrich - clients get these IRS letters and they're putting their head in the sand. I'm like, they see you. You just need to go ahead and open it. You can't hide." Why This Matters: Avoiding IRS letters only makes problems worse and more expensive. Beyond "Plugging in Numbers" Tarryn explains her comprehensive approach: "I have a client now, he used to rent a location, now he has a house outside of his property... So now I'm like, okay, so we have depreciation that we can claim." Key Insight: Understanding the complete financial situation enables strategic tax planning. The Round Numbers Red Flag "People always feel like I could give estimated numbers... A lot of round numbers. And I always tell my clients those are red flags. Not everything is in a round number." Real-Time Documentation Strategy "I don't need the details to prepare your return, but I tell my clients you need it in the event that you get audited because trying to recreate the stuff three and four years after the fact is crazy." The Year-Round Advantage Unlike seasonal preparers, Tarryn operates continuously, allowing her to: Stay current on tax law changesProvide ongoing client supportHandle IRS correspondence promptlyKey Takeaways for Business Owners Don't ignore IRS letters - Address immediately with professional helpAvoid round numbers in documentation - they trigger audit red flagsMaintain real-time records - Don't wait until tax seasonStrategic planning beats basic complianceWork with year-round professionals - Seasonal preparers miss opportunitiesAbout TS Tax and Accounting Services Located in Mapleton, Georgia, providing comprehensive tax preparation, IRS representation, and business consulting to South Cobb area businesses and individuals. Featured on South Cobb Live - highlighting strategic tax planning and working with experienced, credentialed tax professionals.

  5. 05/24/2025

    Phenomenal Seafood: A Love Story of Food, Family & Community

    Join host Elise White as she sits down with Chef T and his beautiful wife Mia, the powerhouse couple behind Phenomenal Seafood in Austell, Georgia. From their humble beginnings with a franchise to building their own phenomenal brand, this is a story of love, faith, and incredible food that brings the community together. In this episode, discover how Chef T and Mia transformed their passion for seafood into a thriving restaurant that survived COVID-19 and is now looking toward franchising. Learn about their signature dishes named after family members, their secret ingredient (spoiler: it's love!), and why people drive from as far as Columbus, Georgia just to taste their food. 🍤 What You'll Learn: The evolution from Smacking Good to Mighty Good to Phenomenal SeafoodHow they created a dining experience that goes beyond just takeoutThe story behind their family-named menu itemsTheir business philosophy and future franchising plansWhy consistency and love are their secret ingredients📍 Visit Phenomenal Seafood: Address: 2495 East West Connector, Austell, Georgia Website: phenomenalseafood.com Instagram: @phenomenalseafood 🎵 Weekly Events: Wednesday: $2 OystersThursday: KaraokeFriday: Live MusicSaturday: DJSunday: BrunchDon't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit that notification bell! 🔔 Find South Cobb Live on all platforms: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | and more! #PhenomenalSeafood #SouthCobbLive #AustellGA #SeafoodRestaurant #BlackBusiness #FamilyBusiness #SoulFood

  6. 05/15/2025

    From Struggle to Smyrna Staple: The Untold Story of Varner's Tavern

    Welcome to another episode of South Cobb LIVE!, where we spotlight the heart and hustle of local business owners building community through service, storytelling, and soul. In this episode, Elise White sits down with Nick Hanratty, the co-owner of Varner's Restaurant & Tavern in Smyrna, GA. What started as a post-Taco Mac venture is now a community staple serving wings, burgers, and family vibes for over 17 years. Nick shares his journey from part-time employee to co-owner, how Varner's became a second home for Eagles fans (Fly, Eagles, Fly!), and the powerful impact of building real relationships with guests and staff alike. You’ll hear how this beloved tavern survived the 2008 crash, created generational customer loyalty, and became a local legend—one lemon pepper wing at a time. 🍋🐔 ⚠️ Stick around till the end to learn how YOU can unlock a 15% discount on your next dine-in visit just by dropping one word in the comments! 📌 SHOW NOTES: 00:00 – Intro to South Cobb LIVE & today’s guest 01:15 – The origin story of Varner Tavern 04:45 – Surviving the Great Recession & finding Smyrna at just the right time 07:30 – From employee to co-owner: Nick’s story of grit and growth 10:20 – Building a culture of excellence and real community 13:05 – Eagles fan club, karaoke nights, trivia, and kids eat free Fridays 16:40 – The secret sauce: customer relationships & service-driven leadership 20:55 – Giving back: school PTAs, Milford Youth, and using space for fundraisers 23:00 – Elise’s rapid-fire “South Cobb Spotlight Sprint” 24:15 – Special offer just for YOU — don’t miss it! 👀 📍 Connect with Varner Tavern 🌐 varnerstavern.com 📸 @varnerstavern (Facebook & Instagram) 🎧 Follow South Cobb LIVE! 📲 @SouthCobbLive | @SouthCobbMedia 📍 Bringing community stories to your feed and your heart.

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About

Welcome to South Cobb LIVE!, the podcast that spotlights the heart of our community—its small businesses, local events, and vibrant culture. Hosted by Elise White where she brings you inspiring stories from local entrepreneurs, showcase must-attend events, and dive into the unique experiences that make South Cobb a thriving hub. Whether you're a small business owner, a loyal customer, or someone looking to explore the best of South Cobb, this podcast connects you to the people and places shaping our neighborhood. Tune in for engaging interviews, exclusive insights, and special offers that make supporting local as exciting as it is impactful. Subscribe now to join the conversation and discover why South Cobb is the place to live, work, and thrive! 🎙️✨