Building Bellingham Building Bellingham
-
- Business
-
What does it take to build a business in Whatcom County? Each month, host Leo Cohen sits down with the people behind your favorite Bellingham businesses to discover who they are, how they got started, what inspires them, and how they overcame the challenges they’ve faced along the way.
-
Jesse Parker - Doc Swinson's | Season 5, Episode 7
Meet Jesse Parker, Master Blender at the award-winning Doc Swinson's American whiskey brand. In this episode, we hear how a 20-something kid won a national gin award, how a small business that began with ten casks has grown to an operation with thousands of casks, how a small distillery in Ferndale is ranking - and winning - in national and international industry competitions, and how imagination, commitment to quality, and a vision for American whiskey is driving everything that happens at Doc Swinson's.
Follow the show:
https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ -
Matt Mini - Funky's Hot Sauce | Season 5, Episode 6
Meet Matt Mini, THE Funky of Funky's Hot Sauce; he's a master of creating artisanal hot sauces with a zing of garlic or a fruit-forward sweetness that still packs a lot of heat.
In this episode, we hear about his years of developing recipes, how he moved from kitchen to kitchen (and how narrow the temperature range has to be for fermented foods), about the Carolina Reaper sauce that won the 2022 Screaming Mimi award and catapulted his hot sauces into national recognition, and how Stellar Fuzz made it onto Season 23 of Hot Ones.
Follow the show:
https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ -
Charmae Scheffer - Rover Stay Over & Puget Hound | Season 5, Episode 5
Meet Charmae Scheffer; she's a high-energy people lover with a passion for caring for dogs while their parents are at work or on vacation. In this episode, we hear how Charmae juggled raising seven kids while growing a fledgling business, how the Whatcom County zoning code changed due to the Scheffers' efforts, and how Charmae works to develop the next generation of hard workers who will be an asset anywhere they go.
Follow the show:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbellingham6747 -
Andi Vann - Pure Bliss Desserts | Season 5, Episode 4
Meet Andi Vann; she's a high-energy dessert aficionado with a passion for giving joy to others through yummy treats. In this episode, we hear how she left a corporate consulting job to work as an independent baker, how she and Nick renovated their cafe on a shoestring budget, and how she approaches each day with a customer-first mindset.
Follow the show:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbellingham6747 -
Clarito Zapanta - IAJ Media | Season 5, Episode 3
Meet Clarito Zapanta; he's a filmmaker, director and executive producer with an affinity for Air Jordans and a passion for creating TV and feature film productions right here in Bellingham. In this episode, we hear how he and Kristina grew IAJ Media from a marketing agency into a full-time film studio, how he dug deep into personal development, and about how he created an entire world for his film in progress: Egress.
Learn more about the show:
Website: https://www.livebellinghamnow.com/building_bellingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbellingham6747 -
Emile Diffley - Banter Hospitality | Season 5, Episode 2
Meet Emile Diffley; he's the 28 year-old owner of Banter Hospitality, a counter-service restaurant known for its bright atmosphere and iconic breakfast burrito. In this episode, we learn about Emile's history working in different cities, his passion for quality food and smooth operations, and the challenges to providing a unique-yet-familiar food experience in Bellingham.
Learn more about the show:
Website: https://www.livebellinghamnow.com/building_bellingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbellingham6747
Customer Reviews
Favorite pod
Only getting better and better!
Highlights the best of bham!
5 stars!!
haven’t listened to an episode yet.
Great podcast
Listening to Building Bellingham is like hanging out with a friend who has connections with all sorts of businesses in and around Bellingham in Whatcom County. It’s so interesting to hear from these business owners and how they have become integral parts of our community. Leo has a natural curiosity that leads him to ask the right questions. A great listen for anybody ranging from future entrepreneurs anywhere to folks new to Whatcom County to long-time residents who are curious about our favorite businesses origin stories.