Hello Frances

Local musician Casey Kearney joins us on the podcast this week! A well-known artist in our community, Casey shares how music was not always a part of the plan. In her adult life, she’s worked in real estate, wedding planning, and banking, but found her calling in the music industry. Although she started her career later in life, she shares how she figured out that music is what she was meant to do.

Nothing feels more vulnerable than practicing creativity, putting your work out into the world, and hoping people will love it. Shantelle and Casey talk about the tough process of consistently creating even when you don’t receive praise for your work. Casey shares how she handles criticism and how she stays confident through setbacks.

Casey shares more about her newest album, “More to the Story.” Her first full-length original album features 11 songs which Casey wrote herself. If you’d like to support Casey, you can learn more about her or purchase her music on caseykearney.com. If you enjoy listening to the Hello Frances podcast, please like, comment, share and subscribe. We’ll talk to you again next week!

In previous years, Shantelle shared her predictions for our industry for the upcoming new year through our blog, newsletter, and podcast. This year she takes the microphone to share that she will now take a step back on sharing industry predictions. Why? Because if 2020 has taught us anything, it's that you never really know what will happen. However, she does share her predictions for herself and our team. Tune in to hear what the Frances Roy Agency team has in store for 2021.

More in this Episode

Although we aren't making predictions for the new year, Shantelle shares a new social media network that our team is watching, and we think you should too! Have you heard of Clubhouse? If not, start with this Social Media Examiner article to learn all about this novel social media platform. After you learn about it, let us know what you think. Will you be joining the new network? Email us at [email protected] to chat about it!

FRA team members Hillaree and Jodie join Shantelle on the microphone this week to discuss this year’s 24 Hours of Creativity for Change. We host this event on December 18 annually in honor of our namesake Frances’ birthday. For the past four years, the Frances Roy team members use their time and talents on this day to complete marketing projects for local businesses. In the past, we have worked with multiple nonprofits, but this year we decided to help small businesses that launched in 2020.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about the three small businesses this year, how we chose these organizations, and our new process for completing these projects in exactly 24 hours. We are honored to support these small businesses during this difficult year! To see the completed projects, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

This week’s guest on the Hello Frances Podcast is Erin Sharkey, owner of City and Clay. Erin and Shantelle “met” on Instagram after Erin reached out to us about our Enneagram & The Workplace series. From there, Shantelle and Erin connected over the journey of starting and owning their own businesses and how Erin started City and Clay with just $100.

Erin started her polymer clay earring entrepreneurial journey with only $100. What started as a way to spend her free time during the pandemic has turned into a successful business. Although Erin’s intention was not to start a handmade jewelry company, she’s found success along the way by following her instincts and observing what was needed in the marketplace.

Erin shares the story behind her brand and how she names her products. She explains the importance of not only being good at your craft but also knowing how to communicate your value to your target audience. View Erin’s creations, including her name Greek collection here. If you have questions for Erin, email us at [email protected] and we will connect you!

Visual artist, animal lover, Enneagram type 4, and Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Education Director Melanie Moore joins us on the Hello Frances Podcast to discuss overcoming creative blocks. As an Enneagram type 4, Melanie is naturally creative and her career requires consistent optimal creativity.

Melanie shares what does (and doesn’t) help cultivate creativity including meditating, stepping out of your comfort zone, and Zentangle, a method of pattern drawing that promotes mindfulness and relaxed awareness. For those who don’t consider themselves to be creative, Melanie encourages listeners that creativity can be cultivated and improved upon if you intentionally practice.

Shantelle and Melanie discuss how overstimulation and stagnation both affect creativity. When certain concepts work for us, sometimes we overuse them making it hard to come up with new material, and on the other hand, when we look for inspiration elsewhere we end up creating work that looks like everyone else’s. Tune into this insightful chat to hear more of Melanie’s thoughts on overcoming a creative rut. You can follow Melanie on Facebook and Instagram and email us any questions for her at [email protected].

Shervin Rassa, the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, joins us on the Hello Frances podcast this week in honor of Giving Tuesday, a global movement encouraging individuals to make a difference in their own communities by donating to local organizations that need the support. Like many, 2020 has been difficult for the children of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, and the organization would greatly appreciate your donations to help them continuously provide for the youth in our community.

Shervin shares the importance of ensuring that the children at the Clubs have fun during their time spent there. Although his team prioritizes learning, they know that in order for the children to foster positive relationships, creativity, and happiness, they need to enjoy their time spent at the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Shantelle and Shervin also discuss the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast’s biggest annual event - the Mac & Cheese Festival. Held at Destin Commons on March 7, 2021, this family-friendly event is one you don’t want to miss. Tickets for the event are on sale now and all proceeds support our community’s youth through the Clubs. Tickets make a great holiday gift, so secure yours now before the event sells out! If you have questions for Shervin, let us know by emailing them to us at [email protected].

Destin local, Zhalman Harris, joins us on the Hello Frances Podcast this week. A former rapper, actor, writer, and photographer with Destin VIP Magazine, his biggest role is founder and president of Aletha’s Legacy, a nonprofit organization founded to give underprivileged children in Liberia and Africa hope and a chance to better education. Zhalman immigrated to the United States 20 years ago, and at the time he was convinced he would never step foot on his home continent ever again.

This week's guest, Danielle Torleym, is a Destin local, a TED speaker, and a fire dancer. Not a combination you hear often, right? After a childhood tragedy, Danielle leans into her grief through the art of fire dancing. She didn’t realize how much this event affected her entire life until she was an adult. On the podcast, Danielle shares a glimpse of her TED talk journey and her creative process. Her emotional story will shock and inspire you.

Tracy Louthain, Director of Marketing and Communications for Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, joins us on the Hello Frances Podcast this week. She and Shantelle record the episode on the balcony of a 10th-floor property in Jade East Towers in Destin to discuss the power in a change of scenery.

As someone who works in very close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, Tracy shares the many benefits of being at the beach. Because many of us work from home, she shares why she highly encourages listeners to change their scenery and work from the beach. Whether it’s a change in scenery, routine, or outlook, changing one thing can alter our days for the better!

Tracy shares how she has personally stayed creative throughout COVID-19 and encourages listeners to change up their routine to do the same. If you’d like your change of scenery to be the beach, visit destinvacation.com to view what Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has to offer. Tracy ends the conversation with a great piece of advice, so we encourage you to listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Soundcloud, or Spotify.

Local entrepreneur Cali Hlavac joins us on the final episode of our Enneagrams & The Workplace series to discuss Enneagram type nine. Cali is a social media marketer, a podcast host, and the Founder and Creative Director of To Do in Destin. Cali is a true type nine and has used the Enneagram to greater understand her personality, strengths, and weaknesses.

Enneagram type nines are known for being easy-going and harmonious. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive, but can tend to be complacent and minimize anything upsetting. As a type nine with an eight wine, Cali has the least common personality type. She shares how she didn’t fully understand the personality traits she possesses until she discovered the Enneagram.

Because type nines tend to be people-pleasers, Shantelle and Cali discuss how managers can ensure their type nine team members are fulfilled and happy in the workplace. They discuss how type nines best like to work, communicate, and process information. If you enjoy this episode, check out Cali’s podcast Spicy Margaritas. She dives into the Enneagram in a few episodes on her show as well.