FXBG Neighbors Podcast

Dori Stewart
  • 5.0 (1)
  • BUSINESS

Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast

  1. EP #156 A Local Guide To ArtsLIVE! Concerts And Ballet

    4D AGO

    EP #156 A Local Guide To ArtsLIVE! Concerts And Ballet

    Fredericksburg has an arts engine that’s been running for 37 years, and it’s bigger than most people realize. We’re joined by Debbie Tripp, vice president of ArtsLIVE!, to tell the story of how a nonprofit founded in 1988 by world-renowned harpist Heidi Lehwalder keeps bringing world-class performing artists to Fredericksburg, VA while still making room for local musicians, students, and community programs. We walk through the upcoming ArtsLIVE! schedule so you can actually plan your nights out: the Chamber Music Festival at Trinity Episcopal Church (including a student performance from the Young Artists Live competition), plus standout events like Avery Ballet, an organ concert at St. George’s, and genre-spanning nights that reach into Broadway and brass. If you’ve been searching for live music in Fredericksburg, classical music concerts, chamber music festivals, or unique cultural events near you, this lineup is packed with options. Debbie also pulls back the curtain on what ArtsLIVE! does beyond the stage: youth support through its music competition, Arts in Motion community outreach, and the real constraint holding arts growth back in town, limited performance spaces. We end with a clear invitation for listeners who want to get involved, attend, and help build a stronger arts scene right here at home. Subscribe for more Fredericksburg stories, share this with a friend who loves live performance, and leave a review to help more neighbors find the show. Debbie Tripp ArtsLIVE! artsliveva.org thearts@artsliveva.org +1 540-310-0817 904 Princess Anne St, Ste C8, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, Virginia

    11 min
  2. EP #155 How CrossFit Forward Builds Strength And Belonging In Fredericksburg

    5D AGO

    EP #155 How CrossFit Forward Builds Strength And Belonging In Fredericksburg

    CrossFit gets labeled as intimidating fast, but the truth is a lot more practical and a lot more welcoming. We’re joined by Jessica Sullivan, owner of CrossFit Forward in Fredericksburg, VA, to unpack what CrossFit actually is: functional fitness coached in a group setting, scaled to the person in front of you, and built to help you move better in everyday life. We talk through the structure of a typical class from the warm-up to a strength portion to a shorter conditioning finish, plus how coaches adjust movements and loads so beginners can train safely without feeling singled out. Jessica also shares how CrossFit Forward serves a wide range of athletes, including teens, kids, and masters members over 60, which reinforces the big takeaway: you don’t need to be fit to start, you start where you are and build from there. The heart of the conversation is community. Jessica explains what it means when people know your name, notice when you’ve been gone, and support you through real life, from meal trains and celebrations to showing up when someone is going through grief. If you’ve been curious about joining a CrossFit gym in Fredericksburg but worried you won’t fit in, this story will give you a clear picture of what day one can feel like. Subscribe for more local business stories, share this with a friend who needs a push to start, and leave a review so more Fredericksburg neighbors can find the show. Jessica Sullivan CrossFit Forward crossfitforward.com jessica@crossfitforward.com +1 540-993-3472 5933 Plank Rd, Ste J, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, 22407

    11 min
  3. EP #154 Inside Zoe Freedom Center And The Services That Save Lives

    5D AGO

    EP #154 Inside Zoe Freedom Center And The Services That Save Lives

    A big purple van drives through Fredericksburg carrying Narcan, and behind it is a simple idea that can save lives: remove barriers, show up fast, and treat people with real worth. We’re joined by Dana Brown, co-founder and executive director of Zoe Freedom Center, a local nonprofit providing free addiction services, trauma-informed support, and practical help for neighbors who are ready for a next step. Dana breaks down what Zoe actually offers, from certified substance abuse counseling and peer support to therapeutic groups and a mobile harm reduction unit focused on overdose reversal for opioids like fentanyl and heroin. We also talk through what it looks like when someone walks in for help: meeting immediate needs like detox placement, then building a personalized plan that goes deeper than “white-knuckling” sobriety. Dana shares her own recovery story, including years of homelessness and addiction, and how that journey shaped Zoe’s four pillars: renewing minds in Christ, building healthy relationships, developing dreams, and serving others. We also dig into Zoe’s women’s home and why long-term restorative care, up to two years, can be the difference between short-term stability and lasting freedom. If you care about addiction recovery in Fredericksburg VA, harm reduction, Narcan access, and faith-based community support, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe for more local stories, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Dana Brown Zoe Freedom Center zoefreedomcenter.org linktr.ee/zoefreedomcenter info@zoefreedomcenter.org +1 540-388-2748 Book: a.co/d/0amITDy7 4107 Lafayette Blvd. Ste. 4, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, Virginia

    13 min
  4. EP #153 A Regional Food Bank Is The Backbone Of Local Hunger Relief

    5D AGO

    EP #153 A Regional Food Bank Is The Backbone Of Local Hunger Relief

    “Food bank” sounds simple until you realize most people are picturing the wrong thing. We sit down with Dan Maher, President and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, to explain the real engine behind hunger relief in our area and why a pantry and a regional food bank play very different roles in getting food to neighbors who need it.  Dan walks us through how a Feeding America network food bank serves as a centralized warehouse and distribution hub for Planning District 16, supporting Spotsylvania, Stafford, Caroline, King George, the City of Fredericksburg, and part of Orange. We talk about how the organization secures food through federal food contracts and retail food recovery partnerships, then coordinates deliveries and pickups with hundreds of partner pantries and agencies. If you’ve ever wondered how donated food moves from a grocery store to a local distribution site, this conversation makes the logistics clear and human.  We also dig into what keeps the system running: funding for infrastructure, volunteer power for packing and distribution, and advocacy that makes sure hunger stays visible to the wider community. Dan shares why SNAP enrollment support matters alongside charitable food assistance and why investing in the regional food bank strengthens every local pantry connected to it.  If you’re a neighbor or business owner looking for a meaningful way to help, start at fredfood.org to volunteer, donate, or schedule a tour. Subscribe, share this episode with someone in Fredericksburg, and leave a review with the biggest thing you learned. Dan Maher Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank fredfood.org info@fredfood.org +1 540-371-7666 3631 Lee Hill Dr, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, 22408

    11 min
  5. EP #152 Building A Local Lifeline For Maternal Mental Health

    APR 27

    EP #152 Building A Local Lifeline For Maternal Mental Health

    Postpartum depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it shows up as intrusive thoughts, isolation, and the terrifying feeling that you’re failing at the very moment you’re supposed to be “glowing.” We’re joined by Veronica Jones, founder of Unspoken Mothers, a Fredericksburg-area nonprofit created to raise awareness around maternal mental health and connect parents to real, local help. Veronica takes us back to 2020, when she had her first child during COVID and didn’t realize she was experiencing postpartum depression. She shares what finally pushed her to talk to her doctor, how she found her way back through intentional daily choices, and why she later wrote The Part They Left Out using the journal entries she wrote while she was in the darkest part of it. It’s an honest conversation about what mothers often keep unspoken and why naming postpartum anxiety and depression early can change everything. We also dig into the practical support Unspoken Mothers is building right now: the annual Maternal Mental Health 5K in downtown Fredericksburg at Old Mill Park (May 9), the Unspoken Mothers Initiative that helps moms access partner resources like therapists and movement-based healing, and the Unspoken Mothers Cafe pop-up at the YMCA in Caroline where parents can breathe, connect, and reset. If you care about maternal mental health, local nonprofits, and building stronger community support in Fredericksburg VA, this one will stick with you. Subscribe for more local stories, share this conversation with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Veronica Jones Unspoken Mothers unspokenmothers.com unspokenmothersinfo@gmail.com

    12 min
  6. EP #151 How A Mobile Veterinarian Brings Whole-Life Care To Your Door

    APR 27

    EP #151 How A Mobile Veterinarian Brings Whole-Life Care To Your Door

    Your pet shouldn’t have to suffer through a car ride, a noisy lobby, and a rushed 15-minute slot just to get quality veterinary care. We’re joined by Dr. Lindsey Aebli, founder of Auravet - Mobile Veterinary Care, a new locally owned mobile veterinary practice serving Fredericksburg with a simple idea: bring whole-life care to the doorstep and meet families where they are. We talk through what mobile veterinary care really looks like day to day, including in-home wellness exams, puppy and kitten visits, sick appointments, and the kind of hospice and end-of-life support that’s often most humane at home. Dr. Aebli also shares the surprisingly wide range of patients Auravet can help, from dogs and cats to small farm animals like goats, sheep, alpacas, mini pigs, and even the occasional chicken, plus horses in the right situations. If you’ve been searching for a “mobile vet near me” in Fredericksburg, this conversation lays out who it helps most and why the experience can be calmer for pets with anxiety or mobility challenges. We also dig into the bigger philosophy behind the practice: building a sustainable veterinary business that treats staff well, protects work-life balance, and creates room for real connection with clients. Dr. Aebli explains spectrum-of-care medicine, why “gold standard or nothing” can push people away from getting help, and how transparency around pricing, estimates, and payment plans through Cherry can keep care accessible. If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss future local business spotlights, share the episode with a pet-owning neighbor, and leave a review to help more Fredericksburg listeners find the show. Dr. Lindsey Aebli Auravet - Mobile Veterinary Care auravetcare.com team@auravetcare.com  540-300-1309

    16 min
  7. EP #150 How To Plan College Early And Pay Less

    APR 27

    EP #150 How To Plan College Early And Pay Less

    College planning doesn’t fall apart because families don’t care, it falls apart because they start too late and chase the same obvious scholarships everyone else sees. I’m joined by Dr. Christie Wilson of Invest N Others to talk about what changes when you treat college admissions, college funding, and career exploration as a long game you can actually win. We get into the real work behind scholarships and why “middle school” is not an exaggeration when it comes to building options. Dr. Wilson shares her own path to earning a full scholarship to Hampton University in electrical engineering, then explains how that experience turned into a mission to help other families find money, strengthen student profiles, and build practical skills that matter in school and at work. We also talk about professional development services like executive coaching, leadership development, conflict resolution, and effective communication training, because college and career success are connected. You’ll hear what it looks like to start with a free 30-minute consultation, how a tailored plan helps students stand out, and why exposure matters so much, from hands-on STEM activities to simple college visits during everyday travel. Dr. Wilson also shares her newest tool, the free AI-powered Hidden Gem Scholarship Finder app, built to surface local and niche scholarships for high school, college, grad school, certifications, vocational school, and even career changers. If you know a parent who’s stressed about tuition or a student who needs a clearer path, share this conversation with them, then subscribe and leave a review so more families can find it. What’s the earliest age you think college planning should start? Christie Wilson Invest N Others LLC investnothers.com info@investnothers.com +1 571-310-1764

    15 min
  8. EP #149 How Personalized Nutrition And Habits Create Lasting Change

    APR 27

    EP #149 How Personalized Nutrition And Habits Create Lasting Change

    You know that moment when motivation is high, you’ve got a plan, and then real life hits at 9 p.m. with stress, cravings, and the familiar spiral of “I blew it”? We get it, and so does Coach Jenna from Veteran Empires Integrated Wellness. She joins us to talk about the one thing most wellness programs miss: ongoing human support that helps you stay steady when the week gets messy.  Jenna breaks down how her integrated wellness coaching works, starting with a free consultation and moving into a personalized plan based on your needs. We talk nutrition coaching, fitness training, and behavior change, plus what it means to avoid cookie-cutter programs that fade after a few weeks. She shares how she considers chronic disease, diabetes, autoimmune issues, and inflammation, including when an anti-inflammatory diet may be a smarter starting point than another round of restriction and cardio punishment.  Her story brings the message home. Jenna’s passion for positive coaching started in the military helping soldiers build consistency, and it deepened after her own lupus and autoimmune struggle forced her to rethink health from the inside out. We also get into “food noise,” perfectionism, and the myth that you have to have everything figured out before you begin. The takeaway is practical and hopeful: progress is built with habits, grace, and a support system you can actually reach when it matters.  If you’re searching for a Fredericksburg wellness coach, personal trainer, or sustainable weight loss support, this conversation will help you ask better questions and choose a plan you can live with. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs real support, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show. Jenna McCranie Veteran Empires Integrated Wellness veteranempires.com 575-640-3681

    17 min
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About

Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast

Information

  • Creator
    Dori Stewart
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 FXBG Neighbors Podcast
  • Show Website
    FXBG Neighbors Podcast