FXBG Neighbors Podcast

Dori Stewart

Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast

  1. EP #166 What Would Change If Every Child Learned To Swim

    2d ago

    EP #166 What Would Change If Every Child Learned To Swim

    Summer fun in Fredericksburg can turn risky fast when kids are around pools, rivers, or the beach without strong water safety skills. We talk with Damaris Diaz and LaTasha Madison from Mu Omega Sigma, Fredericksburg Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, about a community based solution that is simple, practical, and overdue: making swim instruction accessible. They share the story behind SWIM 1922, Sigma Gamma Rho’s national initiative launched to increase swimming participation and reduce drowning rates in Black and Brown communities. We dig into why limited access to water safety education is still a real issue, and how a welcoming, free swim clinic can help families build confidence before school breaks for the summer. You’ll also get the on the ground details for Fredericksburg: the second annual SWIM 1922 clinic on Saturday, June 13 from 8 a.m. to noon at Dixon Pool, with registration on Eventbrite. We explain what happens during the clinic, including in water instruction plus a dry safety component, and how partnerships with Fredericksburg Parks and Rec and Tsunami Swim expand what kids can learn in one morning. We also zoom out to the chapter’s broader community service, including their presence at the local Juneteenth event on June 6 at North Stafford High School, where they help provide backpacks and school supplies for K to 12 students. If you want to connect, find Mu Omega Sigma on Facebook and Instagram, and look for the royal blue and gold at community events. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a parent or educator, and leave a review so more Fredericksburg families can find these resources. Damaris Diaz and LaTasha Madison Mu Omega Sigma, Fredericksburg Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority  sgrhomqs1922.com SGRho.MQS@gmail.com Mu Omega Sigma Chapter, P.O. Box 8513, Fredericksburg, VA

    11 min
  2. EP #165 Big Brand Marketing For Small Business

    2d ago

    EP #165 Big Brand Marketing For Small Business

    A great looking website can still fail if no one can find it or if it attracts the wrong clicks. We’re joined by Debby Girvan from Flair Communication, a Fredericksburg digital marketing agency built around one clear promise: help small businesses feel big with strategy that drives real visibility and real leads. We talk through the full stack that supports modern local business marketing, from website design and SEO to optimization for AI visibility. Debby explains why Google Business Profile optimization is often the quickest path to stronger local search performance, how review generation and reputation management build trust at the exact moment customers compare options, and where tools like Google Ads, email marketing, and blog writing fit when you want consistent demand instead of random spikes. Debby also shares her story, from radio news in Washington, DC to years in university marketing, then stepping into entrepreneurship after public service and a run for mayor. Along the way, she learned why “set it and forget it” websites don’t work anymore and why managed websites, continuous optimization, and clear positioning matter more than chasing the latest hype. If you’re a business owner trying to do it all, this conversation will help you focus on what actually moves the needle: authenticity, customer fit, and a marketing system you can sustain. Subscribe, share this with a local owner who needs it, and leave a review. What part of your online presence feels hardest to keep up with right now? Debby Girvan Flair Communication  flaircommunication.com design@flaircommunication.com +1 540-940-2801 807 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, Virginia

    17 min
  3. EP #164 A New Way To See What’s Happening In Fredericksburg

    2d ago

    EP #164 A New Way To See What’s Happening In Fredericksburg

    You can feel it when a town is buzzing, but most of us still struggle to answer one simple question: what’s happening near me right now? We’re joined by Keith Anderson, the founder of Pinvero, a Fredericksburg-based real time event platform that lets businesses, charities, and organizers drop a pin on a live map so locals can instantly see what’s going on around them. We talk through how Pinvero works in plain terms, including the kind of moments it’s built for: a restaurant adding a last-minute band night, a neighbor searching for something to do this weekend, or a community group trying to get the word out fast. Keith also shares the personal path that led him here, from military service to years around gaming and “real world overlays,” and then the turning point during the pandemic when he saw how a lack of local awareness could hurt small businesses that were already fighting to stay open. Privacy comes up for a reason with any location-based app, and we address it head-on. Keith explains what Pinvero does and doesn’t do, how general location is used with permission, and why the product is focused on community connection rather than keeping people glued to a screen. We also cover how brand-new founders think about onboarding, feedback, and pricing, including a freemium tier and free access for 501(c)(3) organizations. If you care about Fredericksburg VA community events, small business marketing, and better ways to discover local happenings, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s always looking for plans, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show. Keith Anderson Pinvero LLC  pinvero.com

    8 min
  4. EP #163 Supply Chain Scholarships That Change Lives

    2d ago

    EP #163 Supply Chain Scholarships That Change Lives

    Supply chain shows up in your life every day, yet most people still think it’s just trucks and warehouses. We’re changing that perspective with Phoebe Kenney, founder and board president of KENCO Technical Assistance and Training Solutions (KENCO TATS), a Stafford, Virginia nonprofit serving the DC metro area with a mission to educate, empower, and encourage the next generation of supply chain management professionals. If you’ve ever wondered how products, services, and public health programs actually get delivered, this conversation makes the career paths and the impact feel real. We talk about the talent gap forming as experienced professionals retire and why representation matters when decisions are made. Phoebe shares what she’s seen across 20 years in supply chain and global work, including why women, minorities, and veterans are often underrepresented in leadership even when they are present in the workforce. We also unpack the surprising truth that veterans already do logistics and operations at a high level, but many don’t realize supply chain management is a strong civilian transition with long-term growth. Along the way, we debunk the “boring” myth and map out how broad the field really is: subcontracts, contracts, negotiation, relationship management, training, capacity development, warehouse operations, and today’s push toward digital transformation. Phoebe explains how responsible AI and better forecasting help teams mitigate risk and build resilient supply chains, and why transferable skills matter more than a perfect resume. If you want to support KENCO TATS, learn about scholarships, or show up to local networking in the Fredericksburg and Stafford area, this is a great starting point. Subscribe, share this with someone considering a career pivot, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show. Phoebe Kenney KENCO Technical Assistance and Training Solutions  kencotats.org pkenney@kencotats.org

    12 min
  5. EP #162 What Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Does For Breathing Sleep And Teeth

    2d ago

    EP #162 What Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Does For Breathing Sleep And Teeth

    Mouth breathing can look harmless until you connect it to snoring, restless sleep, orthodontic relapse, and the daily grind of never feeling fully rested. We sit down with Angela Richwine from Renew Myo (formerly Central Virginia OMT) in Fredericksburg, VA to talk about orofacial myofunctional therapy and why the tongue, lips, and facial muscles can shape far more than a smile. If you’ve ever wondered why braces “don’t stick,” why a child sleeps like they’re fighting the sheets, or why snoring shows up out of nowhere, this conversation gives you a new lens. Angela breaks down the basics in plain language: the goal is training and retraining the muscles of the mouth and face so the tongue can rest on the palate, the lips can stay closed at rest, and nasal breathing can become the default. We talk through the signs parents and caregivers can spot without any equipment, including open-mouth posture, picky or noisy chewing, frequent burping from swallowing air, attention issues, bedwetting, and speech clues that may signal tongue function problems. She also explains tethered oral tissues like tongue ties and why “they can stick their tongue out” is not a real assessment. One of the most powerful moments is a child case story where sleep and bedwetting improve within months through myofunctional therapy combined with the right referrals, including ENT evaluation and orthodontic palatal expansion. We also dig into common misconceptions, what a thorough evaluation looks like, and how Renew Myo coordinates care with dentists, orthodontists, speech-language pathologists, and other providers, sometimes using CBCT imaging to better understand airway and jaw health. Follow Renew Myo on Instagram and Facebook (search Renew Myo or Central Virginia OMT), check out the self-quiz at www.centralvirginiaomt.com, or call 540-369-6044. If this helped you connect the dots, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more families can find the support they need. Angela Richwine Renew Myo  centralvirginiaomt.com connect@centralvirginiaomt.com 540-369-6044

    27 min
  6. EP #161 A Barbers License Can Change A Life

    May 12

    EP #161 A Barbers License Can Change A Life

    A barbershop can be more than a place to get cleaned up. It can be a pipeline to a career, a hub for mentorship, and a real engine for community change. We’re joined by Antoine Carey, owner of Faded and Company Barbershop and Faded and Company Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to talk about how precision cuts and professionalism connect to something bigger: access, licensure, and second chances. Antoine breaks down why a barber license matters, what it takes to train properly, and how building his own barber academy helps develop talent that meets a high standard. We also talk about the Faded Foundation, created to help cover tuition for aspiring barbers and stylists who are blocked by cost. His story makes the mission tangible, especially when he shares how his own licensure journey began through the Department of Corrections and why that experience shaped his focus on opportunity and reentry. You’ll also hear about the shop’s commitment to free haircuts across the community, including recurring days at the Fredericksburg Branch Library, and a bold upcoming fundraiser: a 24-hour haircut marathon (June 1, 10 a.m. to June 2, 10 a.m.). Antoine’s “apples and oranges” idea is simple: come get an “apple” (a haircut) and bring an “orange” (a donation). We close with a powerful reminder that a fresh cut can change how someone walks into the world, and a standout story of a 15-year-old passing the theory exam on the path to licensure. Listen, share this with someone in Fredericksburg who loves local business, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next neighbor story. After you listen, what’s one way you’ve seen a small service create a big ripple? Antoine Carey Faded Foundation  fadedfoundation.org antoine.carey@fadedfoundation.org

    12 min
  7. EP #160 Life Insurance That Actually Protects Families

    May 12

    EP #160 Life Insurance That Actually Protects Families

    Most of us protect our car, our home, and our phone without thinking twice, but we hesitate when it comes to protecting the people who depend on us. That disconnect is exactly what we unpack with Britt Valentine from Valentine Financial Group, a Fredericksburg-based life insurance brokerage built around education and long-term relationships, not pressure and quick sales. We talk through the biggest misconception Britt sees at the kitchen table every week: life insurance is treated like it is optional. She explains why employer-provided coverage is helpful but rarely enough, why stay-at-home parents still need protection, and how age and health can change your options fast. If you have ever thought, “I’ll handle it later,” her real-world stories make the case for starting sooner and locking in better rates while you are healthy. Then we get practical and a little surprising. Britt breaks down “living benefits,” and how some policies can provide help during your lifetime after a serious diagnosis. We also explore how certain permanent life insurance options can build cash value and support retirement planning, major purchases, and financial flexibility. Along the way, Britt shares her own career pivot from school counseling and mental health to financial services and why work environment matters when you are choosing where to grow. If you want clear, local guidance on life insurance, financial planning, and protecting your family’s future, listen now, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and subscribe so you do not miss the next Fredericksburg business story. If you like what you hear, leave us a review and tell us what topic you want next. Britt Valentine Valentine Financial Group valentinefinancialgroup.com admin@valentinefinancialgroup.com 804-944-9233

    17 min
  8. EP #159 Inside Wine And Design Fredericksburg With Michelle Flynn

    May 12

    EP #159 Inside Wine And Design Fredericksburg With Michelle Flynn

    A paint and sip night sounds like pure fun until you remember the two biggest fears most of us carry: “I can’t paint” and “I’m going to mess it up.” We talk with Michelle Flynn from Wine and Design Fredericksburg about why those fears are exactly what her studio is built for, and how a guided class can take you from blank canvas to something you actually want to hang up. Michelle breaks down what guests can expect the moment they walk in, from arriving early to park downtown to getting settled with two included beverages (alcohol is optional) and your own snacks. We also get into everything beyond painting, including resin projects like charcuterie boards, chunky blankets, and the growing menu of creative experiences coming to Fredericksburg. If you’re planning a celebration, we cover kids events through Art Buzz Kids, birthday parties, private party options, and the “bring five” format that lets smaller groups choose the project while still opening the room to the public. Then the conversation takes a sharp turn into real world small business ownership: a debilitating Facebook hack that led to fraudulent charges, tanked visibility, and consumed dozens of hours to fix. Michelle shares specific tips on what to watch for, how to escalate support, and why taking care of yourself outside the business matters as much as any marketing plan. If you love local Fredericksburg businesses, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a creative night out, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show. Michelle Flynn Wine and Design Fredericksburg wineanddesign.com fredericksburg@wineanddesign.com +1 540-809-0899 502 Sophia St, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, 22401

    18 min
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About

Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast

Information

  • Creator
    Dori Stewart
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    166
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 FXBG Neighbors Podcast
  • Show Website
    FXBG Neighbors Podcast