Buying Local Podcast

Michael Nelson
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

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. 3d ago

    The Literacy Breakthroughs Changing Special Education | Buying Local #78

    What if every child could learn to read—even those who are nonverbal? In this episode of Buying Local, special education teacher and literacy specialist Lauren Leuzinger shares how structured teaching, communication devices, and a "presume competence" mindset are helping autistic students unlock literacy and independence. Learn why reading is never out of reach, how AAC devices support communication, and what parents and educators can do to create meaningful learning opportunities. Connect with Lauren by sending her an email at lauren@nourishingmindstutoring.com and learn more about Nourishing Minds Tutoring at nourishingmindstutoring.com. 00:00 Introduction to Lauren Leuzinger 00:51 Lauren's role as a special education teacher 02:20 Teaching communication and language development 04:29 How Lauren found her calling in special education 06:49 The structured TEACCH teaching approach 08:31 Why literacy became Lauren's passion 09:24 Can nonverbal students learn to read? 11:08 Real-world literacy success stories 13:42 Making reading fun and stress-free 14:35 Understanding AAC communication devices 18:13 How educators assess understanding in nonverbal students 19:19 "Behavior is communication," explained 21:10 Supporting new special education teachers 23:28 The biggest literacy misconception Lauren wants to change 25:29 Resources for teaching literacy at any age 27:30 Literacy opportunities for autistic adults 30:16 Why spelling unlocks communication potential 33:54 "Presume competence" and setting high expectations 34:34 How to connect with Lauren and Nourishing Minds Tutoring Follow Buying Local: Website: buyinglocal.us X (Twitter): x.com/buyinglocalny Facebook: facebook.com/buyinglocalny Instagram: instagram.com/buyinglocalny LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/buyinglocal/

    36 min

  2. Jun 8

    Inside the Ballston Spa Farmers' Market 2026 Season | Buying Local #77

    Mike Nelson sits down with Steve Miraglia, Market Manager and Board Secretary of the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association, to discuss the 2026 market season, local vendors, Peach Fest, community events, and why Ballston Spa continues to be one of the Capital Region's most vibrant destinations. Learn how the BPA supports local businesses, attracts visitors downtown, and creates experiences that bring residents and visitors together throughout the year. Whether you're looking for fresh produce, artisan goods, live music, family activities, or local food vendors, this episode highlights everything happening at the Ballston Spa Farmers' Market and beyond. Connect with Steve and learn more about the Ballston Spa Farmers' Market at ballston.org/farmers-market. 00:00 Introduction and Meet Steve Miraglia 00:27 What the Ballston Spa BPA Does 01:12 Supporting Downtown Businesses 02:08 Why Ballston Spa Continues to Grow 03:55 Membership Benefits and Community Involvement 04:57 Major BPA Events Throughout the Year 05:53 Movies in the Park and Summer Concerts 06:16 The Popular Way We Were Car Show 08:17 How the BPA Organizes Community Events 09:31 Ballston Spa Farmers' Market Overview 10:26 Vendors, Food Options and Live Music 11:28 Why Ballston Spa Has Such a Unique Small-Town Feel 12:20 Market Size and Vendor Participation 13:24 Local Farms and Longtime Market Vendors 14:17 How Peach Fest Helped Grow the Market 15:34 Why New Businesses Choose This Market 17:02 New Vendors and Yoga at the Market 18:34 Peach Fest and Autumn Fest Return in 2026 20:24 Craft Vendors, Soaps and Artisan Products 21:27 Opening Day Details and How to Attend 22:02 Where to Follow the Market and Get Updates Follow Buying Local: Website: buyinglocal.us X (Twitter): x.com/buyinglocalny Facebook: facebook.com/buyinglocalny Instagram: instagram.com/buyinglocalny LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/buyinglocal/

    23 min

  3. May 8

    The Secret to Repairing Bad Credit | Buying Local #76

    In this episode of the Buying Local podcast, Mike Nelson sits down with Chris and Ron to uncover how everyday Americans are combating the affordability crisis by repairing their credit scores. Discover expert strategies for disputing report inaccuracies, understanding credit utilization, and taking back your financial buying power. To learn more about improving your financial health, visit Chris Mastantuono and Ron Monaco at Requalify 360: requalify360.com. 0:00 Introduction to the Buying Local Podcast 0:24 Meet Chris and Ron 1:20 Introducing Requalify 360 3:26 How Credit Impacts Affordability 4:57 The Credit Coaching Process 6:50 Why Free Credit Apps Are Stale 9:16 Credit Score Compression Explained 11:01 The Impact of Credit Utilization 12:05 Turning Car Rejections into Solutions 14:42 Overcoming the Fear of Checking Credit 16:38 Deep Dive: The Credit Audit 18:27 Formulating a Financial Blueprint 20:53 The Missing Education in Financial Literacy 23:45 Building a Path to Financial Freedom 26:35 How to Start Responsibly 29:37 Where to Find Requalify 360

    32 min

  4. May 1

    30 Years of Impact: Inside Ndakinna Education Center | Buying Local #75

    In episode 75 of the Buying Local podcast, James Bruchac returns to the show to talk about over 30 years of youth camps, survival education, and cultural storytelling at Ndakinna Education Center. From wilderness skills to Native traditions, he shares how hands-on outdoor experiences are shaping more confident, capable kids in today’s world. Learn more about Ndakinna Education Center and their programs at ndakinnacenter.org. 0:00 Welcome back James Bruchac 1:10 Celebrating 30+ years of youth camps 2:20 How the camps grew organically 3:05 Core skills: shelter, fire, and nature awareness 4:18 Summer camps overview and age groups 5:29 Teaching fire-making safely 6:06 Creating a full sensory outdoor experience 7:00 Family ancestry and Abenaki heritage 8:33 Preserving stories and cultural knowledge 9:42 Why these skills matter more than ever 10:10 Post-COVID growth and shifting age groups 11:10 Martial arts programs and expansion 12:41 Student and athlete success stories 14:22 Sunday Survival Series and adult classes 17:17 Field trips, community programs, and events 22:11 Summer camp logistics and how to sign up

    25 min

  5. Apr 24

    How Jay Ingleston Emotionally Connects With Readers | Buying Local #74

    In episode 74 of the Buying Local podcast, Author Jay Ingleston returns to the show to talk about his latest book, “Just for Today: Small Words for Heavy Days”, his evolving writing process, and the emotional impact of creating work centered around grief, growth, and connection. The conversation dives into everything from self-publishing and AI tools to the challenges of writing fiction and the mindset shifts that have shaped his career. Find Jay Ingleston and his books on Amazon, and follow him on social media by searching “Jay Ingleston” for his latest writing and content. 0:00 Intro and Jay’s return to the show 2:00 Audiobooks, AI voices, and recording struggles 4:00 Writing challenges, dyslexia, and early books 6:00 Commas, punctuation, and evolving as a writer 8:00 Using AI for editing and proofreading 10:00 How Jay’s writing process has changed over time 12:00 Editing struggles and maintaining story continuity 14:00 Writing fiction vs. quote-based books 17:00 Developing his psychological thriller 19:00 Burnout, breaks, and the writing grind 21:00 The emotional impact of “The Dad Clock” 23:00 Letting go of outcomes and mindset shifts 26:00 Grief, loss, and personal experiences shaping writing 28:00 Reading excerpts from Just for Today 30:00 How the grief book came together 33:00 Book performance, rankings, and validation 36:00 Self-publishing challenges and Amazon process 38:00 TikTok growth and content strategy 40:00 Where to find Jay and closing thoughts

    45 min

  6. Apr 14

    Inside the World Awareness Children’s Museum | Buying Local #73

    In episode 73 of the Buying Local podcast, host Mike Nelson sits down with Bethanie Lawrence to explore how the World Awareness Children’s Museum is bringing global culture and creativity to kids in the local community. They dive into nonprofit leadership, navigating challenges like the pandemic, and the importance of arts education in childhood development. Learn more about Bethanie Lawrence and the World Awareness Children’s Museum on their website at worldchildrensmuseum.org. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn by searching for the World Awareness Children’s Museum. 0:00 Intro and guest welcome 2:00 History and mission of the museum 4:00 What makes the museum unique (arts vs STEM focus) 6:00 Age ranges and who the museum serves 8:00 Bethanie’s background and move to the area 10:00 Becoming executive director 12:00 Leading through the pandemic 14:00 Running a nonprofit like a business 16:00 Revenue streams and community support 18:00 Leadership style and managing teams 20:00 School partnerships and outreach programs 22:00 Annual gala and fundraising efforts 24:00 How local businesses can contribute 26:00 Summer hours and tourism impact 28:00 Summer camps and youth programs 30:00 Final thoughts and how to get involved

    32 min

  7. Apr 10

    Declutter Your Life & Mind with Brandon Dewyea | Buying Local #72

    In episode 72 of the Buying Local Podcast, Mike sits down with Brandon Dewyea as she shares how her work as a stylist and wellness professional helps people feel more confident, organized, and mentally at ease. From decluttering your environment to experiencing vibroacoustic therapy, this conversation explores how rest and simplicity can transform your daily life.  Find Brandon on her website at findyourmoxie.net or email her directly at inquiretomoxie@gmail.com to book a session. 0:00 Intro & guest welcome 0:30 Brandon’s background & business (Moxie) 1:10 From personal training to styling & organization 2:10 Discovering vibroacoustic therapy 3:00 What vibroacoustic therapy actually is 4:30 Benefits: anxiety, sleep, nervous system reset 6:00 What a session feels like 7:10 Choosing tracks & first-time experience 9:55 What you hear during a session 11:00 Frequencies & how they affect the body 12:30 Meditation, relaxation & shutting off your mind 14:30 Adding red light therapy 16:45 Locations & how sessions work 18:40 How Brandon ties all her services together 22:50 Business philosophy & trusting the process 24:45 Where to find Brandon & closing thoughts

    27 min

  8. Apr 3

    Visual Storytelling: The Creative Journey of Todd Bailey | Buying Local #71

    In episode 71 of the Buying Local podcast, host Mike Nelson catches up with creative powerhouse Todd Bailey to discuss his fascinating evolution from a performing musician to a Forbes-published photographer and fractional CMO. They dive deep into the impact of AI on content creation, the wild world of muscle cars, and why small businesses benefit immensely from fractional marketing leadership. You can connect with Todd and check out his extensive portfolio at tbphotopix.com. 0:00 Introduction and Welcoming Todd Bailey 0:43 Todd's Creative Journey: From Music to Photography 1:36 Evolving into Video and Digital Marketing 3:07 The Value of High-Quality vs. Mediocre Content 4:29 Getting Published in Forbes Magazine 5:34 The Ingenuity of Composite Team Photography 7:46 Balancing Photo, Video, and Marketing Services  9:48 Navigating AI in the Content Creation Space  13:37 The Dangers of Bad AI Headshot Generators  15:50 Saratoga Auto Museum and the Don Yenko Muscle Car Project 18:35 Thoughts on the Tesla Cybertruck 19:28 Returning to Music: From Retirement Homes to Rock Shows 21:46 Working with Big Brands vs. Small Businesses  23:25 Exciting Video Projects: Hanging off Trucks and YouTube Channels  26:12 What is a Fractional CMO and Why Do You Need One?

    30 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
    128
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michael Nelson
  • Show Website
    Buying Local Podcast