Vero Beach Podcast - Meet Your Neighbors. Support Local. ™

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Welcome to the Vero Beach Podcast—where we share the stories behind the businesses, makers, and dreamers shaping our community. Each week, we’ll sit down with local business owners and community leaders to hear their journeys—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. From family-owned shops to bold startups, you’ll get to “meet your neighbors” and discover what makes Vero Beach such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Because when we know the stories, it changes how we shop, connect and care for our community, Meet Your Neighbors. Support Local. ™ Subscribe now and be part of the story.

  1. Tribe Coffee - BONUS EP: Why Your Coffee Tastes Burnt & How To Fix It

    18H AGO · BONUS

    Tribe Coffee - BONUS EP: Why Your Coffee Tastes Burnt & How To Fix It

    Send us a text Ever wonder why your coffee swings from watery to bitter when you swear you followed the same steps? Join us as Sean, from Tribe Coffee, breaks down the science that separates a forgettable cup from a balanced, sweet, and aromatic brew—no jargon storms, just clear rules you can use today. We start with roast profiles and what they really mean for taste. Light roasts are fibrous and lively, built for longer contact to unlock delicate sugars and acids; dark roasts are carbon-heavy and need quicker extractions to avoid ash and smoke. Freshness is non-negotiable: once a roast creeps past the twelve-week window, oxidation steals the aroma and turns nuance into paper. That history explains why many palates grew up loving “bold” coffees—dark profiles often masked staleness in long supply chains—but specialty coffee is changing that by highlighting origin flavors, from Brazil’s chocolate and nuts to African fruit and florals. Then we get practical with the core framework: dose, contact, and yield. For espresso, think 18 grams in, 36 grams out, in about 27 seconds. For drip, watch the grind: too fine and water pools, scorching grounds and extracting bitterness; too coarse and it rushes through, leaving a flat, weak cup. We share how to choose grind size by method—French press, drip, moka pot, and cold brew—and why light and medium roasts shine in long steeps, while dark roasts need shorter contact. You’ll also hear how modifiers and sugar shape expectations, and how to slowly dial them back so the coffee’s natural sweetness and texture take the stage. Finally, we offer a simple French press routine you can repeat tomorrow: medium grind, thorough saturation, five to seven minutes of patience, then a slow plunge. Want more body? Steep longer. Brewing a lighter coffee? Let it cool slightly before plunging to reveal layered sweetness. Whether you love chocolate-heavy Brazilian lots or fruit-forward African coffees, small, precise tweaks open a bigger world in your cup. If this helped you brew better, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves coffee, and leave a quick review telling us your favorite roast and method. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    17 min
  2. Blue Agave - Part 3: Small Town, Big Heart, Vero Beach

    JAN 2

    Blue Agave - Part 3: Small Town, Big Heart, Vero Beach

    Send us a text What if a beach town chose character over skyline? We sit with Steve of Blue Agave to unpack why Vero Beach still feels like a place you can recognize from one year to the next: low-rise limits protect ocean views, locals trade stories about the days past US 1, and Friday night football can fill a stadium like few small towns can. The result isn’t sleepy; it’s intentional, and it changes how people live, dine, and stay connected. Steve shares how visitors become residents, why so many young locals return after college, and what it’s like to run a restaurant in a town that values independent places over chains. We talk about the Dodgers’ lasting legacy at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, the pride around a state-ranked high school team, and the way streaming a game at the restaurant keeps community energy alive. This is hometown culture at work: sports as social glue, familiar faces at the bar, and a beach that still belongs to the horizon. Growth hasn’t stopped; it just moved west. Old citrus properties and horse lots are giving way to neighborhoods, and with that expansion comes a choice about where to spend time and money. Steve makes the case for shopping local and exploring downtown—grabbing tacos at Blue Agave, comparing notes with other chefs, and keeping the heart of Vero beating. If you’ve ever wondered how a small city can grow without losing what makes it special, this conversation maps the tradeoffs and the wins. Join us, share it with a neighbor, and if you’re nearby, stop by Blue Agave in downtown Vero Beach. If you enjoyed the show, leave a quick review and help more locals find a reason to come back to the places they love. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    6 min
  3. Blue Agave - Part 2: What Community Looks Like When The Dining Room Is Full

    12/31/2025

    Blue Agave - Part 2: What Community Looks Like When The Dining Room Is Full

    Send us a text What makes a small neighborhood restaurant feel bigger than its four walls? We sit with Steve from Blue Agave to explore how a tight, scratch-made menu, steady prep, and honest service can turn a busy night into a smooth one—and a slow season into a lifeline through community support. From the first chop in the morning to the last ticket at close, he shares the simple systems that protect freshness, speed, and sanity. We get into the real-world swings every operator knows: the paradox of being slammed when short-staffed, how transparency buys patience, and why a smaller menu can actually deliver more. Steve walks us through Blue Agave’s visual approach to plating—eyes, nose, taste—spotlighting a made-to-order shrimp ceviche served with crisp flour tortilla strips and bright citrus that reads like a color story. Then we sip through the infused margarita lineup—mango habanero, cucumber watermelon, pineapple jalapeno, a jalapeno-forward house favorite, and a peach-raspberry “grand raspberry”—and talk balance, heat, and refreshment. Innovation stays grounded in comfort. Steve riffs on classics with Mexican ingredients: a “drunken” lasagna dressed in salsa verde, queso, and roja to mirror the Mexican flag, and a tender Mexican meatloaf inspired by his grandmother’s recipe. We also map the rhythms of Vero Beach—how snowbird season shapes traffic, why locals matter in summer, and how a cluster of new Mexican spots nearby raises the bar for consistency and hospitality. Through it all, Steve measures success in a simple moment: a packed room, a team in sync, and guests who feel at home. If you love stories about food, community, and the craft behind a great night out, this one’s for you. Tap follow, share it with a friend who loves a good margarita, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    18 min
  4. Blue Agave - Part 1: How A Hospitality Veteran Built A Beloved Tequila Bar & Mexican Cuisine Kitchen

    12/29/2025

    Blue Agave - Part 1: How A Hospitality Veteran Built A Beloved Tequila Bar & Mexican Cuisine Kitchen

    Send us a text Small rooms can hold big stories, and Blue Agave proves it. We sit with owner Steve Cataldo to trace a path from Lynn, Massachusetts to Vero Beach, from nightclub nights to neighborhood tacos, and from celebrity-filled Vegas halls to a cozy, colorful dining room that locals love. Steve opens up about learning the trade at twelve, working for brands like Bertolini’s at Caesars and Cheesecake Factory, and how those systems and standards shaped his approach to consistency, training, and guest care. The conversation dives into the unlikely origin of Blue Agave—a tequila-first idea constrained by Florida’s licensing rules that evolved into a laid-back restaurant with a tight menu and strong margaritas. Steve shares how he retooled the food without chasing fine dining, leaning on lessons from Italian and steakhouse kitchens to build reliable flavors and better pacing. You’ll hear what makes the room tick: clean lines, sugar skulls, warm service, and the personal touch of a hands-on owner who greets tables, watches drink levels, and fixes problems in real time. We also pull back the curtain on hospitality realities. Supply substitutions can skew flavor. Two call-outs on a Friday can stretch a line to its limit. That’s where leadership and culture decide outcomes. Steve’s mantra—lead with and through your people—means backing staff, reading the room, and inviting honest feedback at the table instead of faceless reviews. If you care about restaurants, customer experience, or building a resilient team, you’ll find practical takeaways and a lot of heart in Steve’s story. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a friend, and if you’re near Vero Beach, swing by Blue Agave for a relaxed night and a well-made margarita. Your support helps more neighbors discover local stories like this one. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    25 min
  5. Tribe Coffee - Part 3: Beacons, Beans, Bull Sharks & Vero Beach Community

    12/12/2025

    Tribe Coffee - Part 3: Beacons, Beans, Bull Sharks & Vero Beach Community

    Send us a text A coffee shop that feels like a living room, a coastline captured at dawn, and a waterway marked so precisely you can sail by starlight—this is Vero Beach through the eyes of people who call it home. We sit with Sean from Tribe Coffee to explore how a small town turns care into culture and strangers into neighbors. We unpack the meaning behind “tribe” and why his shop’s triangle logo nods to tents and mountains: refuge and ascent in one simple shape. From the couches that invite conversation to the fair pricing that says stay a while, Sean shows how design choices can make a room feel like a community. The walls carry the story too, with saturated surf photography by local legend Frank Moore, whose dawn patrol images bring the ocean’s pulse right into the cafe—and remind us how much place shapes people. Out on the water, family life and local rhythm converge. Youth Sailing Foundation practices, Vero Rowing sessions, and weekend runs to the spoil islands set the scene. Sean shares practical ICW wisdom—remember red triangles on the land side, green squares on the seaward side—and why he’s grateful for the Army Corps of Engineers maintaining beacons, bridges, and dredging with near-perfect accuracy along the Great Loop. That reliability keeps night navigation calm and turns maps into trust. Along the way, we celebrate wildlife moments: dolphins, manatees, bull sharks upriver, even manta rays leaping clear of the water. The thread tying it all together is stewardship. Vero’s clean streets and beaches don’t happen by accident; they come from decades of culture, education, and neighbors who speak up and pitch in. From sea turtle protection to simple daily habits, the town proves that small choices add up to a place you want to share. Pour a cup, lean back, and feel how a local cafe, a working waterway, and a caring community can make everyday life feel a little like heaven. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. And if you’re nearby, stop by Tribe Coffee in Vero Beach—say hello, sip slow, and join the tribe. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    17 min
  6. Tribe Coffee - Part 2: Sailing, Coffee, Finding Vero Beach

    12/10/2025

    Tribe Coffee - Part 2: Sailing, Coffee, Finding Vero Beach

    Send us a text What happens when a family trades a fixed address for a 38-foot catamaran, crosses oceans with two kids, and then builds a science-driven coffee roastery in Vero Beach (Tribe Coffee)? We follow the unlikely thread from Atlantic squalls and Bahamas blues to a wholesale operation roasting sweet, clean beans for local cafes and churches. We start with the real math of adventure: a spouse who prefers terra firma, kids who thrive on routine, and the hard lessons learned living small on big water. There are wild moments—tuna tailing the stern for days, a near-miss with a hungry horse—and steady ones, like boat schooling that turned reluctant readers into curious thinkers. Those chapters set the stage for a pivot shaped by years guiding expeditions on Mount Kilimanjaro, where shrinking glaciers are a visible line graph. Up high, we connect climate science to coffee agronomy: why Arabica prefers cool, elevated zones; how caffeine works as a natural pesticide; and what rising temperatures mean for sweetness, bitterness, and farm viability. From there, we land in Vero for practical reasons and a gut feeling. The mangroves offer hurricane shelter; a fast power cat can sprint when the forecast turns sharp. With overhead tight, we build a startup the deliberate way: wholesale first, retail second, and education always. You’ll hear how air roasting strips chaff mid-crack to lower perceived acidity and coax cleaner flavors, why a washed Ethiopian can bloom with citrus while a Brazilian natural leans chocolate and nutty, and how simple brew tweaks—grind size, water chemistry, time—unlock sweetness at home. Along the way, a cruisers’ network, a Canadian friend with a hatchback full of Amazon boxes, and a welcoming marina bus line quietly knit a new life. It’s a story about curiosity that refuses to quit. The ocean taught us patience and attention; coffee rewards the same traits. If you’re into travel, science, or just better mornings, you’ll find threads to pull—climate insights, sourcing choices, roast logic, and the community that forms when you roast for others. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves both maps and mugs, and leave a review with the best cup you’ve had lately—we might feature it next time. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    29 min
  7. Tribe Coffee - Part 1: Cold Brew, High Peaks, New Shores

    12/08/2025

    Tribe Coffee - Part 1: Cold Brew, High Peaks, New Shores

    Send us a text A better iced latte and a better summit push have more in common than you think. We sat down at Tribe Coffee with owner and adventurer Sean Wisdale to dig into the craft behind both: choosing the right roast for cold brew, freezing coffee into blocks to protect flavor, and building systems that hold up under stress. Sean’s journey arcs from South Africa to film crews at Everest Base Camp, to guiding clients on the Seven Summits, to steering a catamaran named African Dream across the Atlantic with his family. The destinations vary, but the method stays steady: control what you can, read the conditions, and move with purpose. Sean breaks down altitude in simple terms—why air pressure forces acclimatization, how hemoglobin rises with smart up-and-down carries, and why mindset is as critical as muscle. He shares the metronome of high places: long hours at a steady pace, positive images to keep breathing smooth, and the humility to wait for a weather window. We connect those lessons to everyday life and to the bar: medium roasts for clarity, steep times for balance, and frozen cold brew blocks to prevent watery endings. Craft becomes a form of risk management, whether you’re fending off frostbite, squalls, or melted ice. When COVID erased bookings and crushed the guiding business, Sean and his wife Catherine pivoted to the ocean. Two years later, they reached West Palm Beach after boat-schooling their kids and navigating storms, currents, and closed borders. It’s a story of resilience that feels practical, not heroic: use data, choose your line, and trust the slow build. If you’re chasing a goal, rebuilding after a shock, or just hunting for a better iced latte, this conversation offers tools you can apply today. If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more neighbors can find it. Your support helps us bring more local stories and big ideas to the table. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    24 min
  8. Treasure Coast Culinary Tours - Part 3: Small Town Vibes & Big Flavor

    11/28/2025

    Treasure Coast Culinary Tours - Part 3: Small Town Vibes & Big Flavor

    Send us a text Hungry for the real Treasure Coast? We sit down with Melisa from Treasure Coast Culinary Tours to trace the counties that define the region, swap stories about Vero Beach’s small-town heart, and spotlight the hidden kitchens that keep locals coming back. From a tiny husband-and-wife seafood market to a beloved legacy like Ocean Grill, we explore why some restaurants endure for decades while others fade after a season. What stands out isn’t just the menu variety—vegan, Italian, Jamaican, classic American, and fresh-caught seafood—but the way hospitality shapes memory. Melisa makes a strong case that service is strategy: guests return to places that notice them, own mistakes, and make them feel welcome. We unpack the hard truths of running a restaurant here, from underestimating operations to the grind of training, margins, and consistency. And we celebrate the places that get it right, proving that a warm greeting can tip the scale more than a fancy garnish. Between bites, we talk about what makes this coast easy to love: quiet neighborhoods, the McKee Botanical Garden’s seasonal beauty, and beaches that stay accessible without costly parking. If you’re visiting or newly local, Melisa shares how to start your food adventure with curated tours that connect you to owners, stories, and surprising flavors across Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. If you’re a restaurateur, there’s a clear invite to partner up and get your spot on the map. Come for the flavor, stay for the community, and leave with a shortlist of places you’ll want to revisit. If you enjoyed this conversation, tap subscribe, share it with a friend who loves coastal eats, and leave us a quick review—it helps more neighbors find the show. Presented by Killer Bee Marketing Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors. Support the show Support The Show Keep It Local. Keep It Going Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom

    10 min
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4.9
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About

Welcome to the Vero Beach Podcast—where we share the stories behind the businesses, makers, and dreamers shaping our community. Each week, we’ll sit down with local business owners and community leaders to hear their journeys—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. From family-owned shops to bold startups, you’ll get to “meet your neighbors” and discover what makes Vero Beach such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Because when we know the stories, it changes how we shop, connect and care for our community, Meet Your Neighbors. Support Local. ™ Subscribe now and be part of the story.

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