FXBG Neighbors Podcast

Dori Stewart

Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast

  1. EP #135 A Veteran Entrepreneur Explains How Fitness Becomes Purpose

    13H AGO

    EP #135 A Veteran Entrepreneur Explains How Fitness Becomes Purpose

    Your gym can be more than a room full of equipment, and your fitness can be more than a before-and-after photo. I’m joined by Rich Brown from Honor Bound Fit, a veteran-owned functional fitness gym in Fredericksburg that trains people for the long game: fewer breakdowns, more capability, and a body that still works decades from now. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by “hardcore” fitness culture, Rich makes a clear case for strength, conditioning, and smart programming that’s built for everyday life, not circus tricks. We also get practical about rucking, one of the simplest ways to build zone 2 cardio and real-world endurance: walking with weight in a backpack on purpose. Rich shares how Honor Bound Fit uses rucks to bring people together and serve the community, including Ruck With Pups on March 21 at Pratt Park with local humane organizations. You show up, walk at a steady pace, and bring dog food to donate while shelter dogs get time out of kennels. Then we zoom out to the bigger mission through the Guidon Foundation: Ruck Hunger on April 11 supporting the Fredericksburg Food Bank, the yearly Guidon22 ruck tied to veteran and first responder suicide prevention, and a mentorship push to connect veterans and first responders with at-risk youth. Rich doesn’t just talk about leadership, he challenges other large gyms and organizations to step up and do more locally. If you care about Fredericksburg small business, functional fitness, rucking, and service-driven community, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a new tribe, and leave a review with the cause you’d ruck for. Rich Brown Honor Bound Fit honorboundfit.com rich@honorboundfit.com (571) 494-8069 45 Centreport Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, Virginia

    15 min
  2. EP #134 A Nuclear Lab Designer Retires And Becomes A Historical Novelist

    13H AGO

    EP #134 A Nuclear Lab Designer Retires And Becomes A Historical Novelist

    A single brown highway sign on I-95 sent Joyce Miller down a path she didn’t expect, and it led straight to a new historical fiction novel rooted in Fredericksburg-area history. Joyce joined us to share the story behind Mrs. Scary Melchers, inspired by Corinne Mackle Melchers, an artist connected to the Gary Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont. Corinne’s work and ambition existed in a world that often asked women to step back, and Joyce explains what drew her to a figure who helped build a celebrated career while her own art stayed in the shadows. We also talk about Joyce’s unconventional route to becoming an author. After a 30-year career as a mechanical designer in a scientific, male-dominated field at Jefferson Lab, she retired in 2019 and finally gave writing the time it deserved. Joyce breaks down what helped her move from “I’ve always wanted to write” to actually finishing books, including how curiosity, research, and persistence turn a real life into a compelling novel. If you’re searching for writing advice, motivation for a career change, or a reminder that creativity doesn’t expire, this conversation delivers. Then we zoom out into the interests that keep her grounded and inspired, from greyhound adoption advocacy to painting and museum visits. Joyce also teases what’s next: a new historical fiction project sparked by the Chicago Art Institute’s miniature rooms and the surprising women behind them, including connections to early forensic science training. Subscribe for more local stories, share this with a friend who loves Fredericksburg, Virginia history, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Joyce A. Miller Local Author joyceamiller.com

    15 min
  3. Ep #133 How A Fredericksburg Garden Turned Into An Award-Winning Sauce Brand

    13H AGO

    Ep #133 How A Fredericksburg Garden Turned Into An Award-Winning Sauce Brand

    A backyard garden can be a business plan if you listen closely enough. Rita Witte from Always Flavored joins us to share how “too many hot peppers” turned into a Fredericksburg, VA food brand that now spans a downtown shop and 350+ retail locations. We talk about the real work behind the leap from home batches to certified production, farmers markets, festivals, and getting onto store shelves without losing what made people fall in love with the flavors in the first place. We also dig into Rita’s food service roots, from becoming a restaurant general manager at 18 to leading teams, learning on the job, and finding mentors in unexpected places. One of my favorite moments is her story from IKEA food service, where a staff-menu program and a Black History Month menu lead to a barbecue sauce recipe that goes on to win awards. If you care about local entrepreneurship, restaurant leadership, or how great recipes become great products, you’ll hear a lot to borrow. And if you think Always Flavored is “just hot sauce,” we clear that up fast. The mission is flavor not just heat, and the shop menu proves it with sandwiches, paninis, breakfast, and new items always on the way. Rita also shares how community giving, nonprofit support, and taking customer feedback seriously helped create true loyalty from her “flavor fans” in downtown Fredericksburg on Caroline Street. If you enjoy these local business stories, subscribe, share this with a Fredericksburg foodie, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show. Rita Witte Always Flavored hello@alwaysflavored.com alwaysflavored.com +1 540-690-4423 619 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, 22401

    13 min
  4. EP #132 From Lunch Cups To Wedding Carts Without Stress

    14H AGO

    EP #132 From Lunch Cups To Wedding Carts Without Stress

    Charcuterie is everywhere right now, but most people still wonder the same things: How much do I need, how do I order, and can it actually be affordable for a real-life budget? We answer those questions with Lenair Ballard from Graze Craze Fredericksburg, a charcuterie catering company with a brick-and-mortar shop in Central Park Fredericksburg. We talk through what you can grab for lunch, how online ordering and easy pickup works, and why boards have become one of the simplest ways to feed a group without cooking. From there, we get practical about options. Lenair explains how customers choose board sizes and popular styles like classic, keto, and vegetarian, plus what happens when your guest list grows beyond a small gathering. We break down grazing table catering for cocktail hours and large events, and we also explore one of the most fun trends we’re seeing in wedding catering: a mobile charcuterie cart where a “grazologist” builds cups on-site, sometimes with a custom monogram for the couple. We also zoom out to the business story. Graze Craze is locally owned and operated, but the nationwide franchise scale helps with consistent sourcing, strong vendor relationships, and competitive pricing that can surprise people when you look at cost per person. If you’re planning a birthday, bridal shower, girls’ night, family reunion, or a wedding in Fredericksburg VA, this conversation gives you a clear roadmap for hosting without stress. Subscribe for more local business stories, share this with a friend who loves to host, and leave us a review so more neighbors can find the show. Who should we feature next? Lenair Ballard Graze Craze grazecraze.com info@grazecraze.com +1 321-825-2226 1507 Central Park Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, 22401

    11 min
  5. EP #131 Free Clothes, Stronger Community

    14H AGO

    EP #131 Free Clothes, Stronger Community

    What happens when a city’s extra shirts, shoes, and hoodies become a lifeline instead of landfill? We sit with the founder of Fredericksburg Free Closet to share how a donated cargo van, a few rolling racks, and a lot of heart evolved into a mobile, zero-cost clothing shop serving neighbors with dignity. From free market tables to school events and community dinners, we unpack a simple system that gets quality clothes where they’re needed fast—and keeps the flow moving through smart partnerships and weekly redistribution. We explore how the project grew from a handful of men’s shirts into a network that includes trendy donations from local consignment stores, outdoor gear for people living unsheltered, and small appliances for families setting up home. The conversation goes deeper than donations: we talk about why casual wear is the top request, why men’s clothing is chronically short, and how small luxuries like lotions and perfumes restore confidence. We also spotlight surprising leverage points—bikes that turn commutes into job security, and quarters that turn an outfit from disposable to durable by unlocking access to laundry. Looking ahead, we share the vision for a free storefront and a clever pilot: transforming a storage unit into a pop-up boutique with a “red carpet” entrance to test hours, access, and demand. Along the way, you’ll hear how a background in design and personal finance blogging primed our guest to build a lean, human-centered operation fueled by grants, gift cards, and community donations. If you’ve ever wondered where your “extra” can do the most good, this story shows how fast and personal impact can be when neighbors help neighbors. Want to get involved, donate clothes or cash, or find help? Visit fxbgfreecloset.org, text the number on the site, or stop by a Monday or Tuesday pop-up to see your gift land in real time. If this moved you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review—then tell us: what will you pass on next? x FXBG Free Closet fxbgfreecloset.org x@freecloset.org (540) 642-0048

    19 min
  6. EP  #130 Guarding Your Home: Inside Burke And Burke Insurance

    22H AGO

    EP #130 Guarding Your Home: Inside Burke And Burke Insurance

    A family crest, a knight with a shield, and a beeper-era origin story collide in a candid conversation with Kim Oztuna of Burke and Burke Insurance. We dig into what it takes for a local agency to thrive for four decades while staying human, accessible, and relentlessly focused on education. From Alexandria to Fredericksburg, Kim shares how a small, family-owned team scaled to four offices without losing the heart that keeps neighbors walking through their doors. Kim opens up about her journey from restaurant work to licensed insurance pro and why teaching clients is still the most powerful policy feature. We unpack the real drivers behind rising premiums—supply chains, labor costs, medical inflation, and complex car tech—and clear up the myth that aging vehicles automatically mean falling rates. Then we get tactical: bundling home and auto for multi-policy savings, opting into telematics for behavior-based discounts, and shaping homeowners coverage so replacement cost and deductibles fit real life rather than guesswork. The story goes beyond numbers. Burke and Burke’s community giveback turns every referral into support for the GAD Youth Center, investing in teens who often miss out on after-school resources. We also map out the agency’s full slate of products—personal lines, business owners coverage, and life insurance—and how a veteran staff brings decades of insight to claims, renewals, and those “do I have enough coverage?” moments. If you value service over the cheapest teaser quote and want clarity on how to save without sacrificing protection, this conversation is your roadmap. Subscribe for more local brand spotlights, share this episode with a neighbor who keeps asking why their rate went up, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Got a question about bundling, telematics, or setting the right limits? Drop us a note—we’d love to help. Kim Oztuna  Burke and Burke Insurance dot.cards/oztunak  burkeandburkeinsurance.com info@burkeandburkeinsurance.com +1 703-751-1001 4115 Annandale Road, Annandale, VA, United States, Virginia

    13 min
  7. EP #129 Inside Dynamic Medical Centers’ Bold Expansion

    23H AGO

    EP #129 Inside Dynamic Medical Centers’ Bold Expansion

    What if your doctor’s office felt more like a community and less like a system? We sit down with Dr. Dannielle VonDerLinden, podiatrist and president of Dynamic Medical Centers, to explore how a trusted foot and ankle practice evolved into a comprehensive, non-operative musculoskeletal hub serving Fredericksburg and beyond. The story isn’t just a rebrand; it’s a blueprint for expanding services while keeping heart. We talk about the decision to move from Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center to Dynamic Medical Centers and what that means for patients: integrated non-operative sports medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and interventional pain medicine under one roof. Dannielle shares the daily rhythms that protect culture—morning huddles, reading the mission, and celebrating a patient win—to ensure every visit feels personal, not corporate. If you’ve ever felt like “just a number,” this conversation shows how a clinic can scale without losing its soul. Dannielle traces her path from Florida training to Fredericksburg practice, the leap to entrepreneurship, and the long-game value of podiatry: hands-on care, long-term relationships, and sustainable work-life balance. She opens up about losing both parents to addiction and how grief reshaped her leadership with empathy and resolve. That experience drives a simple North Star—exceed expectations when patients choose the team to be part of their care—and a practical care model that favors non-operative solutions first, with targeted interventions when they matter most. We also step outside the clinic. Dannielle’s love for travel, skiing, and local hikes reflects a belief that motion is medicine. Her pride in the region—access to mountains, beaches, and DC culture, anchored by Fredericksburg’s small-town warmth—underscores why a neighborhood-based medical center can make a big-city impact. Whether you need sports injury care, PT or OT support, interventional pain guidance, or expert foot and ankle treatment, you’ll find coordinated expertise and a team that knows your name. If this resonates, share it with a neighbor, subscribe for more local stories, and leave a review with one word that defines great care for you. Your feedback helps more people find patient-first healthcare close to home. Dr. Dannielle VonDerLinden Dynamic Medical Centers dynamicfootandanklecenter.com contactus@dynamicfac.com +1 571-418-8670 9010 Lorton Station Blvd, Suite 270, Lorton, VA, United States, 22079

    17 min
  8. EP #128 From Dutch Roots To A Million Tulips

    MAR 10

    EP #128 From Dutch Roots To A Million Tulips

    Spring doesn’t start on a calendar—it starts when a field explodes into color. We sit down with Bloomia CEO Werner Jansen to explore how a Dutch-rooted company built America’s largest cut tulip operation right here in King George County, supplying roughly 120 million stems a year to retailers like Whole Foods, Kroger, Wegmans, and Publix. Werner pulls back the curtain on hydroponic tulip growing—no soil, no pesticides, just carefully balanced water and nutrients—showing why this sustainable method yields cleaner stems, consistent quality, and longer vase life. From there, we share a first look at Bloomia’s new Tulip Festival, planned for mid to late April, when one million tulips will open for a pick-your-own experience across two consecutive weekends. Picture walking vibrant rows, choosing your stems, and then grabbing a bite from local food trucks while enjoying live music and pours from regional breweries and wineries. It’s more than a farm visit; it’s a community celebration designed to draw guests from DC, Maryland, Richmond, and Fredericksburg into the broader local economy and the charm of historic downtown. Werner’s journey adds a human heartbeat to the story. Trained in banking and finance and once working for a trading firm in London, he returned to Bloomia, moved to Virginia in 2017, and rose from general manager to owner and CEO as the operation scaled rapidly. His blend of analytical rigor and agricultural entrepreneurship offers practical insights on leadership, sustainability, and building a brand that’s both nationally scaled and locally grounded. Want to join the celebration or stay updated on festival dates and ticket releases? Visit bloomia.com and bloomiaflowers.com, and follow Bloomia on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If this conversation brought a little color to your day, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find the show. Werner Jansen Bloomia bloomia.com bloomiaflowers.com info@bloomia.com + (540) 399-1567 2259 Kings Highway King George, VA 22485 USA

    8 min

About

Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast