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. 4d ago

    How David Globerson Built a Career as a Full-Time Illustrator | Buying Local #83

    Meet David F. Globerson, founder of DFG Illustration, as he shares how he built a full-time career creating custom pet portraits, fine art, brewery labels, children's book illustrations, and more. He also discusses the future of artists in an AI-driven world, why human-made artwork still matters, and how relationships helped grow his business in Upstate New York. Learn more about David and commission artwork at www.dfgillustration.com. 0:00 Introduction to David F. Globerson & DFG Illustration 0:43 Becoming a full-time commission illustrator 2:21 How pet portraits unexpectedly became a business 5:00 Creating meaningful artwork for clients 6:00 Gallery shows, original artwork & commissions 7:10 Building DFG Illustration during the pandemic 9:48 Dave's portrait painting process from photo to canvas 12:42 Improving the client experience through better systems 14:03 The pressure of delivering meaningful artwork 16:04 How long custom paintings actually take 18:22 Beer labels, children's books & saying yes to opportunities 21:51 Networking and growing through relationships 25:29 Why human-created art matters in the age of AI 32:48 The future of DFG Illustration 34:34 Where to find David and his artwork Follow Buying Local: Website: buyinglocal.us Facebook: facebook.com/BuyingLocalNY Instagram: instagram.com/BuyingLocalNY Twitter/X: x.com/BuyingLocalNY LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/buyinglocal/ #BuyingLocal #DFGIllustration #PetPortraits #Illustration #UpstateNY

  2. Jul 10

    Pelvic Floor Therapy Explained with Emily Dumont | Buying Local #82

    Emily Dumont, owner of Poppy Physical Therapy, joins Buying Local to explain pelvic floor therapy, common symptoms people ignore, why pelvic floor dysfunction affects both women and men, and how personalized treatment can improve quality of life. Learn why leaking, pelvic pain, back pain, hip pain, and other symptoms are not simply "part of life" and what treatment options are available. Learn more about Poppy Physical Therapy at poppyphysicaltherapy.com and discover more local business stories at buyinglocal.us. 0:00 Introduction to Emily Dumont & Poppy Physical Therapy 0:28 What pelvic floor physical therapy actually treats 1:16 Why Emily opened her own practice 2:00 The limitations of traditional healthcare & insurance 3:43 Why longer appointments lead to better patient outcomes 4:53 The surprising connection between foot mechanics and pelvic floor issues 6:24 Why treating the root cause takes time 8:02 Why pelvic floor therapy is finally becoming mainstream 10:21 Cash-pay vs. insurance: how Poppy Physical Therapy works 13:25 Running a new healthcare business while treating patients 16:13 Moving into a larger office and expanding treatment space 17:21 Symptoms that could signal pelvic floor dysfunction 19:59 Emily's mission to help more patients recover 20:54 Where to find Poppy Physical Therapy 21:22 New patients, appointment availability & closing thoughts Follow Buying Local Facebook: facebook.com/buyinglocalny Instagram: instagram.com/buyinglocalny Twitter/X: /x.com/buyinglocalny LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/buyinglocal #PelvicFloorTherapy #PhysicalTherapy #WomensHealth #SaratogaSprings #BuyingLocal

  3. Jul 3

    How Saratoga Changed the American Revolution | Buying Local #81

    Join us as Bill Teator, Executive Director of Campaign for Saratoga 250, dives into America's monumental 250th anniversary and the pivotal role the Battles of Saratoga played in the Revolutionary War. Discover how the new Saratoga Revolutionary Experience app uses augmented reality to bring local history to life, connecting families with the courageous figures who shaped our nation. Learn more about upcoming local events and initiatives by visiting the Campaign for Saratoga 250 at saratoga250.com.  0:00 Introduction to Bill Teator & America's 250th Anniversary 2:22 The Courage Required to Sign the Declaration 4:15 Patriot vs. Loyalist Perspectives in New York 7:43 Reconnecting With the Ideas of the Founding Era 10:07 Launching the Saratoga Revolutionary Experience 13:13 Utilizing Augmented Reality for Historical Storytelling 16:08 Remembering the Massive 1927 Bicentennial Gathering 18:16 General Burgoyne's Advance Down the Hudson Valley 21:59 General Kosciuszko and the Defense at Bemis Heights 23:49 Benedict Arnold's Charge and the First Surrender 26:26 The Global Impact: What if Saratoga Was Lost? 29:06 How the Victory Secured the Crucial French Alliance 32:13 Upcoming July 4th and Saratoga Race Course Events 34:06 Darley Newman's PBS Event & Fall Reenactments 36:16 Concluding Thoughts and Where to Listen Connect with Buying Local: Website: buyinglocal.us Facebook: facebook.com/buyinglocalny Instagram: instagram.com/buyinglocalny Twitter/X: x.com/buyinglocalny LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/buyinglocal  #Saratoga250 #AmericanRevolution #SaratogaSprings #BuyingLocal #LocalHistory

  4. Jun 26

    Caribbean Cuisine Meets Billiards in Queensbury, NY | Buying Local #80

    In this episode of Buying Local, Mike Nelson sits down with Neelo Jaikeran, co-owner of Queensbury Billiards & Café, to discuss building a family-friendly billiards hall, restaurant, and event venue in Queensbury, New York. Neelo shares how she and her husband, Kevin, turned a passion for pool into a growing local business known for leagues, tournaments, private events, and authentic Caribbean and Guyanese cuisine. Learn about entrepreneurship, community networking, local business growth, and what it takes to run both a pool hall and a full-service restaurant in Warren County. Learn more about Queensbury Billiards & Café at queensburybilliards.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram! 00:00 Introduction and meeting Neelo Jaikeran 00:49 What is Queensbury Billiards & Café? 01:51 Bringing Caribbean food to Queensbury 03:18 Why Kevin started a billiards hall 04:20 Leaving a banking career for entrepreneurship 04:58 Transitioning into the business full-time 05:53 Wearing every hat as a small business owner 06:49 Networking through local chambers of commerce 08:40 Authentic Guyanese and Caribbean menu items 10:19 Learning the restaurant business from scratch 12:10 Family-friendly billiards and community engagement 13:02 Pool leagues, tournaments, and local competition 15:00 Private parties, team building, and special events 16:44 The challenge of marketing a local business 17:58 Why networking matters for entrepreneurs 19:08 Growth, future plans, and business outlook 19:39 Where to find Queensbury Billiards & Café 21:43 How good is Neelo at pool? 22:19 Final thoughts and community appreciation Connect with Buying Local buyinglocal.us  Facebook: facebook.com/buyinglocalny  Instagram: instagram.com/buyinglocalny  X/Twitter: x.com/buyinglocalny  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/buyinglocal  #QueensburyNY #SmallBusiness #CaribbeanFood #WarrenCountyNY #BuyingLocal

  5. Jun 12

    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/

  6. 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/

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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
    133
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michael Nelson
  • Show Website
    Buying Local Podcast