Christine Waldrop has always been known for creating beauty — through blooms, thoughtful gifts, and the quiet strength behind Blluum. In this episode, she shares how she stepped into entrepreneurship later in life, what it’s taken to grow two sides of a business, and how her faith continues to guide every decision she makes.

During this conversation, she also opens up about something even more personal — a hard, raw season she’s walking through right now. It’s brave, emotional, and a reminder that some of the most beautiful things are built in the midst of battle.

This is a story about resilience, strength, and the fierce hope that comes from choosing to fight — to advocate for yourself, to protect your peace, and to believe in healing even when life feels out of control.

This week on Heart of the City, Amy sits down with Sarah Hart — brilliant chef, savvy business owner, incredible hostess, and the creative force behind Hart & Hive Provisions and Queen’s Kitchen.

From catering NASCAR events to opening restaurants and now running two thriving storefronts, Sarah’s journey is one of passion, provisions, and purpose. She shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path, the wild stories from her early career, and the gut instincts that guided her through big business pivots. Along the way, we explore what sets Hart & Hive apart, the culture she’s built with her beloved “Queen Team,” and the role of community through seasons of loss and resilience.

It’s equal parts heart and hustle — and a conversation that shows the real woman behind the storefronts and suppers Chattanooga has come to love.

https://www.hartandhiveprovisions.com/

In this episode of Heart of the City, Amy sits down with Robbie and Jessie, the young, creative couple behind Oak & Twine, an embroidery and screen-printing business making its mark in Chattanooga. From building a brand from scratch in a new city to navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship together, Robbie and Jessie share what it really takes to grow a small business while also growing as a couple. We dive into the business mindset that keeps them moving forward, the challenges no one sees, and the joy they’ve found in building something side by side.

https://www.oakandtwine.com/

In this episode, we sit down with Shayna Webb of @webbchatts — a Chattanooga-based content creator whose rapid rise is rooted in authenticity, local love, and a whole lot of hustle. Shayna shares how she made the leap from her 9–5 into full-time creating, how she handles the comparison trap, and what it’s really like working with local businesses and brands. From wedding content to local gems, Shayna lets us in on the business behind the feed — and what it takes to stay true to yourself while growing online.

One of our most gripping and powerful conversations yet. At 19 years old, Laith Al-Tamimi found himself being held in Iraq—caught in a situation that would force him to risk everything to escape. In this episode, he shares the raw, unfiltered story of that journey, the twists that brought him to America, and how he built a life and business in Chattanooga.

Today, as a master barber, Laith uses his chair to do more than shape appearances—he shares tools, perspective, and encouragement to help men turn challenges into opportunities. He doesn’t just want clients; he wants family, going deep to create genuine connection with every person who sits in his chair. This is a story of resilience, perspective, and the lasting impact one person can have on the lives they touch.

https://www.instagram.com/laithquotes/reels/

Heidi Hefferlin moved to Chattanooga decades ago with a vision—and ended up helping shape the city itself. As co-founder of HK Architects, she’s been a driving force in the revitalization of the Southside, a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry, and a builder of both spaces and community.In this episode, Heidi shares what it means to lead with conviction, the cost and reward of building something that lasts, and why great design is always about more than just buildings. We talk about her thoughts on city planning (and what she’d fix if she could), how she’s navigated gender bias in architecture, and how HK became more than a workplace—it became a home.If you love stories of grit, growth, and grounded leadership, this one’s for you.https://www.hkarchitects.net/

Matt and Monica Smith, the husband-and-wife team behind REV Optimal Living, are redefining what chiropractic care looks like in the South. Their work focuses on nervous system regulation, energetic alignment, and whole-body healing—and in this conversation, they open up about how they’ve built a community around that mission. We talk about the challenges of bringing a nontraditional approach to wellness into a small Southern city, the beauty (and chaos) of working with your spouse and family, and what it really takes to lead people into deeper healing. Vulnerability, intuition, and a whole lot of hustle—it’s all here.

www.revoptimalliving.com

In this episode, we sit down with Olivia Reckert, a local muralist and artist whose bold, colorful work is transforming blank walls into vibrant landmarks all over the city. Olivia shares how she went from knocking on doors to get her first projects to walking away from a full-time job and betting on herself as a creative entrepreneur.

From navigating feedback and finding her style to reminding other artists that there’s room at the table for everyone, Olivia’s story is one of color, courage, and confident creativity.

https://www.oliviareckert.com/

Adam Lozano didn’t set out to own a gym — but over the years, he became the heartbeat of Forte Fitness. In this episode, we sit down with Adam several months into owning the business he’s helped build from the inside out.

From his time in the military to the emotional one-on-one consults that define his approach, Adam shares what strength really looks like, what it means to serve others well, and how fitness can be a deeply personal — even transformational — experience.

This conversation is about leadership, vulnerability, and finding your people — and it just might be the reminder you didn’t know you needed.

Brandon and Christian, co-owners of Sleepyhead Coffee, are former partners turned business partners who’ve built a brand rooted in bold coffee and radical inclusivity. In this episode, they open up about the journey from coffee cart to two thriving locations, what it’s like running a business with your ex, and how they’ve created a space where everyone — no matter who you are — feels welcome. From breakup dynamics to branding wins, this conversation is as real and heartfelt as it gets.