Buying Local Podcast

Michael Nelson

Buying Local is a podcast dedicated to showcasing the small businesses, local food markets, and makers that make Saratoga, Warren, and Washington County shine. Hosted by Mike Nelson, each episode uncovers the fantastic goods, services, and stories hidden in your very own community. We’re here to support local economies—and spotlight the people behind the products and companies you love. Buying Local Podcast is powered by Five Towers Media.

  1. 13H AGO

    Jacque Ecuyer Shares How Operation Give Back Honors Local Veterans | Buying Local #68

    In episode 68 of the Buying Local podcast, host Mike Nelson interviews Jacque Ecuyer, founder of the 4s4Life Foundation, about Operation Give Back—a free, all-day military appreciation event at Slickfin Brewing Company featuring live music, food trucks, raffles, and community camaraderie for veterans and their families. Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, the event directs 100% of proceeds to local veteran organizations, fostering appreciation, shared stories, and real support in the Glens Falls/Upper Hudson Valley area. You can find Jacque on Facebook and Instagram (@manupnotshutup), at 4s4life.com, and on the event site at operationgiveback.us.  0:00 Welcome to Buying Local with Mike Nelson 0:40 Introducing Jacque Ecuyer & 4s4Life 1:44 Why purpose keeps us sharp and young 2:30 What is Operation Give Back? 2:56 Fifth anniversary & exponential growth 3:44 Founding partners: Slickfin Brewing & Vested Veteran Grill 4:47 Event vibe: 1,500 people, rain or shine, huge patio 5:41 Raffles, silent auction & sponsor shirts 6:42 How it started over craft beer at the bar 8:51 Community support across Washington, Warren & Saratoga counties 10:29 Zero overhead: venue, bands & food all donated 12:04 Logistics, delegation & dream team 13:58 Choosing local beneficiaries 15:31 Shoutout to Adirondack Vets House 17:42 Future growth & April bowling kickoff “No Pins Left Behind.” 19:32 Shared values with Five Towers Media 21:24 New date: May 16th (between Mother’s Day & Memorial Day) 22:38 Full schedule, free entry, first $1,000 food covered by Adirondack Peer to Peer 23:46 How to get involved, donate, or sponsor 24:58 Moment of silence & emotional guitar Star-Spangled Banner 26:14 Closing thanks & where to find the event

    28 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Support Cornell’s Annual Car Show Benefiting Folds of Honor | Buying Local #67

    In episode 67 of the Buying Local podcast, host Mike Nelson sits down with Casey Cornell, Sean Wilcoxon, Mike Colvett, and Ron Pastino to talk about Cornell’s Used Auto Parts’ annual charity car show and the mission behind it. The conversation explores how the local event is raising money for Folds of Honor while sharing the powerful story of a 9/11 first responder whose family benefited from the organization’s scholarships. Consider supporting Cornell’s Used Auto Parts 4th Annual Car Show benefiting Folds of Honor NY on May 2nd from 9am-3pm. If you’d like to donate or get more information about their sponsorship programs, please message Cornell’s Used Auto Parts on Facebook or call Mike at (518) 812-6282! Help provide scholarships to families of fallen or disabled service members and first responders. 0:00 Introduction and today’s special group format 1:10 What Cornell’s charity car show is all about 2:00 How the event grew from a small gathering to a major fundraiser 3:20 Sponsors and community support for the car show 4:30 Event details: date, location, and what attendees can expect 5:45 Ron Pastino introduces himself and his background in service 6:30 Deploying to Ground Zero after 9/11 7:30 The long-term health effects on first responders 9:10 The diagnosis that changed Ron’s life 10:30 Major surgeries and forced retirement from the State Police 12:00 Life after service and finding a new purpose 14:00 Discovering charities and finding help through Folds of Honor 15:30 How scholarships helped Ron’s children attend college 17:00 Managing long-term health and recovery 20:30 What Folds of Honor is and how it started 22:00 Why community events like the car show matter 24:00 How families can apply for scholarships 26:30 The importance of remembering the ongoing impact of 9/11 27:20 Final thanks and invitation to the car show

    28 min

  3. MAR 3

    Breaking Patterns & Rebuilding Yourself with Karen Carey | Buying Local #66

    In Episode 66 of the Buying Local Podcast, Mike Nelson sits down with intuitive life coach, speaker, and author Karen Carey to explore personal growth, emotional patterns, and the real work behind transformation. The conversation dives into her book Unbroken, unpacking how past experiences shape behavior, why discomfort often signals growth, and how self-awareness helps people rebuild their lives with intention and purpose. Connect with Karen Carey at rubyredroad.com to learn more about her coaching, speaking, and check out her book! 0:00 Welcome & introduction to Karen Carey 1:00 What an intuitive life coach actually does 2:30 Coaching misconceptions and skepticism 5:00 Experience vs. theory in helping people grow 8:30 Why discomfort is necessary for growth 12:30 Kintsugi and the philosophy behind Unbroken 14:30 Recognizing repeating life patterns 17:00 Coping mechanisms and behavioral loops 18:30 Trauma responses and emotional safety 20:00 Relearning how to have fun 22:30 Stress regulation and nervous system awareness 23:50 Writing a deeply personal book 27:00 Vulnerability and sharing your story publicly 35:30 Stop making yourself wrong 39:00 Communication tools and listening skills 41:30 Navigating hard conversations 47:00 Aging, wisdom, and continued growth 48:15 Who the book is for & where to find it 52:30 Final reflections and closing thoughts

    56 min

  4. FEB 20

    Real Estate Law Made Simple with Dan Wade | Buying Local #65

    In episode 65 of the Buying Local podcast, host Matt Knoth sits down with real estate attorney Dan Wade to break down what buyers and sellers need to know to avoid costly mistakes during the home-buying process, from inspections to utilities to title work. He also shares practical tips on protecting your money, managing stress, and making sure your closing goes smoothly. Learn more about Dan Wade and Ianniello Anderson, P.C. at ialawny.com or call (518) 371-8888. 0:00 Introducing attorney Dan Wade 1:52 What a real estate attorney actually does in a transaction 3:36 Why educating clients is a major part of Dan’s process 5:09 Real estate law as emotional support work 6:56 Dan’s unexpected career path (vet school to law) 8:27 How Dan got into real estate law and title work 10:01 Biggest mistakes first-time homebuyers make 10:42 The dangers of waiving inspections 12:28 Seller mistakes: utilities and winter disasters 14:31 Preventing frozen pipes and winter damage 15:57 Buyer mistakes that can ruin financing (jobs, marriage, timing) 17:13 Scam warning: fake deed and “official” letters 18:43 Wiring fraud risks and how to protect your money 20:05 NY STAR program explained (free tax rebate) 22:07 Camps & Adirondack properties: special legal considerations 23:58 Where to find Dan and closing wrap-up

    25 min

  5. FEB 13

    The Power of Structured Networking: Gold Star Referral Clubs | Buying Local #64

    In this episode of Buying Local, Mike and Matthew sit down with Bob Fitch, Chris Leuzinger, and Shawn Moodie to break down how Gold Star Referral Clubs helps business owners grow through structured networking, relationship-building, and consistent referrals. They explain what makes their group different, how meetings are run, and why trust-based connections often outperform traditional advertising.  To learn more about them and Gold Star Referral Clubs, visit goldstarreferralclubs.com. 0:00 Introduction and the topic of Gold Star networking 1:05 Guest introductions (Bob Fitch, Chris Leuzinger, Shawn Moodie) 2:10 Chris explains what Nourishing Minds Tutoring does 3:00 Shawn talks about entrepreneurship and being a credit consultant 4:00 Shawn explains what Gold Star Referral Clubs is 5:20 Breakdown of the weekly meeting structure 6:15 Comparing Gold Star to other networking groups 7:55 “Structured, but still fun” networking environment 8:35 Bob compares networking to “dating” and finding the right fit 10:05 Gold Star is becoming more like a business family/community 12:45 Chris talks about expanding Gold Star into Glens Falls/Queensbury 13:50 Matt shares the “younger perspective” on networking 16:00 Introduction of “cross-clubbing” (visiting other chapters) 16:50 Chris explains how cross-clubbing expands opportunity fast 18:05 Shawn explains the “abundance mindset” and category flexibility 20:20 ROI discussion: how referrals outweigh membership cost 30:35 Real-life example: networking = connecting people who need help 34:55 Mike explains leveraging networks to reach ideal clients 36:55 Best practices: one-on-ones and building trust faster 42:05 Staying “top of mind” and why consistency matters long-term 52:25 Closing thoughts and where to find Gold Star

    54 min

  6. FEB 6

    How Sean Palladino Turns Creativity into Community Impact | Buying Local #63

    In this episode of Buying Local, host Matt Knoth sits down with Sean Palladino, Writer and Councilperson-Elect, to talk about storytelling, spotlighting small businesses, and what it’s like capturing the heartbeat of the Glens Falls community through writing. Sean also opens up about mental health, public service, and why getting involved locally can truly change everything. You can find Sean at seanpalladino.com or follow him on Instagram and Facebook @seanpalladino. 0:00 Introduction to Sean Palladino and his work 1:15 Moving to the area and building a new life in Glens Falls 2:30 Running clubs, civil service work, and finding direction 3:50 Sean’s writing style and process 4:35 Researching businesses and capturing their history 5:55 How Ridge Street and Glens Falls have changed over time 6:30 Arcade Archeology and the power of enthusiasm 8:05 ADHD, detail, and writing in a way that immerses readers 10:00 A behind-the-scenes writing experience at Stinky’s Coffee 11:55 Short films and creative projects outside writing 13:35 Realizing he’s been practicing storytelling his whole life 14:50 Childhood writing, imagination, and creative influence 17:35 Journaling, mental health, and working through struggles 18:55 Sean opens up about his mental health crisis and recovery 20:45 Why he ran for public office (and how easy it started) 23:15 Transparency, council summaries, and public trust 26:05 Feeder Canal cleanup and improving public spaces 28:30 Final takeaway: why democracy requires participation 31:40 Where to find Sean and his work

    34 min

  7. JAN 27

    Mortgages Without the Stress with Ohad Oren | Buying Local #62

    In this episode of Buying Local, host Matt Knoth sits down with Ohad Oren, Licensed Loan Consultant at loanDepot, to break down what actually goes into getting approved for a mortgage without the jargon or pressure. Ohad shares how education, trust, and long-term relationships help buyers navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives with confidence. Connect with Ohad Oren through loanDepot at loandepot.com/loan-officers/ooren, or reach out to him directly on LinkedIn. 0:00 Welcome to Buying Local & introduction to Ohad Oren 2:10 Ohad’s early career: engineering, computer science, and finance 4:45 Life in auto finance and the grind of dealership hours 6:20 Transitioning into mortgages and finding balance 8:05 Customer vs. client: how mortgage relationships really work 10:15 Why real estate agents and lenders must operate in lockstep 12:05 Licensing, regulation, and why mortgage rules matter 14:30 The emotional side of buying a home 16:10 Why “closing fast” isn’t always the buyer’s priority 18:05 Simplifying complex mortgage options for clients 20:10 Expecting surprises in every real estate transaction 22:00 Referral networks and relationship-driven business 23:55 What pre-approval really looks like behind the scenes 26:05 Down payments vs. affordability reality checks 28:20 Understanding closing costs and where the money goes 30:45 How mortgage banks actually make money 33:10 Preparing years in advance for homeownership 36:20 Setting realistic expectations for first-time buyers 39:30 Long-term value of trust and education 42:45 Final thoughts and advice for local homebuyers

    48 min

  8. JAN 19

    How Downtown Dogs Is Redefining Local Pet Care | Buying Local #61

    In this episode of Buying Local, host Matt Knoth sits down with Alisha Stosic, owner of Downtown Dogs Spa & Boutique, to talk about leaving the corporate world, opening a dog-focused business in downtown Glens Falls, and helping revitalize South Street. They discuss the challenges of starting out, the importance of community, and how pets can bring people together in powerful ways. You can find Alicia and Downtown Dogs Spa & Boutique online at downtowndogsspaandboutique.com or by following them on Facebook and Instagram.  0:00 Welcome to Buying Local & introduction of Alicia 0:43 Revitalizing South Street and choosing downtown Glens Falls 1:30 Opening timeline and leaving corporate life 2:15 Why grooming + boutique was the right fit 2:53 What makes the boutique unique 4:27 Shipping products nationwide 5:02 Personal background and early inspiration 5:59 South Street’s transformation and future growth 7:27 Early challenges and building out the space 8:13 Grooming services and specialty offerings 9:53 Community involvement and long-term goals 10:47 Pet loss support group and advocacy work 12:05 Creating a calm, welcoming space for all dogs 14:18 Events, collaborations, and fun community ideas 15:06 Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs 16:24 How to find and follow Downtown Dogs

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Buying Local is a podcast dedicated to showcasing the small businesses, local food markets, and makers that make Saratoga, Warren, and Washington County shine. Hosted by Mike Nelson, each episode uncovers the fantastic goods, services, and stories hidden in your very own community. We’re here to support local economies—and spotlight the people behind the products and companies you love. Buying Local Podcast is powered by Five Towers Media.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Nelson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michael Nelson
  • Show Website
    Buying Local Podcast