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In this episode of Lowcountry Revolutionaries, Bill talks with Natasha Walstra — LinkedIn Strategist, Business Coach, and founder of NearPoint Strategies — about how to make LinkedIn actually work for your business without resorting to sleazy tactics or endless cold outreach.

Natasha’s REALationship Growth Method™ flips the script: use LinkedIn to build real trust and clarity, then move those connections off the platform into the conversations and relationships that genuinely grow revenue. After helping hundreds of entrepreneurs and executives, she proves that authentic human connection consistently outperforms performative posting and aggressive pitching.

Whether you’re a founder who’s been burned by “bro marketing,” an executive trying to show up consistently, or simply tired of LinkedIn feeling like a waste of time, this conversation delivers practical, no-fluff strategies you can use immediately.

Key takeaways include:

• Why trust and relationships still beat algorithms
• How to turn visibility into qualified opportunities
• Shifting from “posting” to profitable, human-centered networking
• The mindset that makes LinkedIn feel effective instead of exhausting

If you’re building something real in the Lowcountry and want to grow through authentic connections, don’t miss this one.

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Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

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Jada Willis — entrepreneur, CEO strategist, author of Pantless Nation, and co-host of the Lead Through It podcast — joins us to talk about her latest innovation: The Hard Conversations AI Toolkit.

After founding and exiting Willis HR and running a recruiting agency, Jada now helps business owners and executives across Charleston, Columbia, Bluffton, and beyond build stronger, more sustainable organizations. In this episode, she dives deep into her new training offering — The Hard Conversations AI Toolkit — a practical, AI-powered resource designed to help leaders navigate the toughest workplace discussions with confidence, clarity, and humanity.

Jada shares her hard-won lessons from scaling businesses, exiting successfully, and supporting leaders through the messy realities of growth, remote/hybrid teams, and organizational health. Expect candid stories, strategic insights, and actionable tools you can apply immediately.

Whether you're a founder, CEO, or manager who dreads difficult conversations, this episode delivers the playbook for leading with both strength and empathy in today’s environment.

Key Topics:

• The Hard Conversations AI Toolkit — what it is and how it helps leaders
• Lessons from building, scaling, and exiting HR and recruiting businesses
• Mastering remote work culture and team dynamics
• Practical leadership strategies for real-world challenges

Guest Links:

• The Hard Conversations AI Toolkit & Jada Willis Consulting: https://jada-willis.mykajabi.com
• Author of Pantless Nation: HR Guidance for Mastering Remote Work: https://www.amazon.com/Pantsless-Nation-Guidance-Mastering-Remote/dp/1948604760
• Co-host of Lead Through It podcast: https://leadthroughit.buzzsprout.com/2508479

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

Belgian-born entrepreneur and international marketing veteran Fred Pirenne joins us to share how he’s bringing game-changing technology to the Lowcountry as CEO of OhmIQ.

With deep experience managing the $1.2 billion AEG brand at Electrolux, co-founding a Swedish martech startup, and consulting for global leaders like Volvo and Scandinavian Airlines, Fred brings a truly global perspective to building and licensing OhmIQ’s patented Ohmic Array heating technology.

OhmIQ delivers instant, scale-free, ultra-efficient electric heating for water, coffee, hydronic systems, and industrial applications — a smarter, cleaner way to heat that’s poised to transform households and businesses worldwide.

In this conversation, Fred opens up about the journey from managing billion-dollar appliance brands to leading a Charleston-based tech company, the challenges and opportunities of commercializing deep tech, the power of international networks, and what it takes to scale innovative energy solutions from the Lowcountry onto the global stage.

If you’re interested in energy innovation, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, or how bold international talent is fueling Charleston’s tech ecosystem, this episode is packed with hard-won insights and forward-looking vision.

Guest Links:

• OhmIQ: https://ohmiq.com

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

Physical therapist turned self-taught AI builder Colin Highland joins us to share the raw journey behind Workforce Wave, a Mt. Pleasant, SC-based enterprise voice-AI company that’s redefining how businesses handle customer calls.

Colin designs voice agents that don’t sound like agents — practical AI teammates that truly understand intent, answer calls with confidence, and protect the critical handoffs where trust gets lost. Whether it’s keeping leads from falling through the cracks or scaling customer support without losing the human touch, Workforce Wave builds systems real businesses can rely on.

In this episode, Colin opens up about his unconventional path from hands-on patient care to building enterprise AI, the hard lessons of going from clinician to founder, and his insights on the evolving human-AI relationship. We dive into the triumphs and pitfalls of launching a voice-AI company in the Lowcountry, why authentic intent recognition matters more than ever, and what it takes to turn technical capability into real business value.

If you’re a founder, operator, or business leader tired of dropped calls and robotic customer experiences, this conversation delivers actionable wisdom from the front lines of Charleston’s AI scene.

Listen now and discover how voice AI is becoming the reliable frontline for growing businesses in the Lowcountry.

Guest Links:

• Workforce Wave: https://www.workforcewave.com
• Colin Highland: https://colinhighland.com

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

Hey Lowcountry builders — in this special "mixtape" episode of Lowcountry Revolutionaries, we’re cutting straight to the heart of what every founder needs: real, battle-tested networking strategies that actually move the needle in Charleston’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Podfather pulls the best advice clips from powerhouse conversations with:

• Aaron DeBenedetto (Founder of Mustard Growth & Southern Charm Ceremonies) — on getting out of the home office, showing up authentically, and surrounding yourself with smarter people.
• Jenny Trudeau (Executive Director & Co-Founder of Parents Partnership) — on building your village, finding passionate people who share your mission, and why you can’t do it all alone.
• Erin Pacitti (Founder of Boundless Marketing Co.) — practical, no-BS insights on fostering genuine relationships that fuel growth.
• AJ Richichi (Chief Corporate Development Officer at Humanly) — on high-impact connections, corporate-founder alignment, and playing the long game in the Lowcountry.

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling, this episode distills the raw truth from the Lowcountry Wisdom playbook: show up, offer value, follow up, and build community as your ultimate force multiplier. No fluffy theory — just the patterns that separate the dreamers from the doers in Chucktown Startups.

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Support the show

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

In this dynamic return episode of Lowcountry Revolutionaries, we welcome back bilingual marketing powerhouse Roxana Massie — Cumulus Media marketing consultant, founder of Spanglish Connector (powered by the Spanglish Small Business Association), and creator of Latina Pitch Live.

Roxana is firing on all cylinders with a packed June lineup designed to empower entrepreneurs and bilingual founders across the Lowcountry, as well as business owners looking to partner and collaborate in both markets. Her mission is clear: “WE ARE THE BRIDGE CONNECTOR.”

• June 10 — Latina Pitch Live - Cannon Distillery
• June 16 — Spanglish Connector Workshop – Cumulus Media N. Charleston
• June 17 — Latina Pitch Live New Location Launch – La Sensacion Latina PR Restaurant

Whether you’re refining your pitch, expanding your network, or looking to show up authentically in the Chucktown Startups ecosystem, Roxana delivers practical, high-energy guidance on crafting compelling stories, building cultural fluency, and turning preparation into podium moments that open doors.

We dive into the real work behind creating inclusive spaces, the power of showing up consistently, and why bridging languages and communities isn’t just good business — it’s how the Lowcountry keeps rising. From pitch coaching to ecosystem building, Roxana shares the unfiltered lessons on momentum, representation, and turning ideas into action.

If you’re a founder ready to level up your visibility, connect with like-minded builders, or take the stage with confidence, this is the episode that gets you in the room — and ready to shine.

If you want to learn more about SSBA here is the website https://spanglishsba.com/

Intro pre-roll

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Support the show

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

After a distinguished 37-year career in federal service — including time in the U.S. Air Force, Bureau of Prisons, and 28 years with U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Dean Martin retired in December 2025 and answered a new calling: ensuring no child in the Lowcountry has to sleep on the floor.

In this powerful episode of Lowcountry Revolutionaries, Dean shares his journey of discovery of his passion for Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). Hear how after volunteering at the 1,000th bed build in Frederick, Maryland, he knew this was the work he was meant to do next.

Now serving as Fundraising Manager for the Charleston chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Dean is on a mission to build and deliver beds for children in need across the Lowcountry. It’s a story of service, reinvention, and community impact — proving it’s never too late to start something that truly matters.

Dean opens up about the transition from structured government work to grassroots nonprofit leadership, the power of showing up, and why community service has become his post-retirement purpose.

Resources Needed to Scale Impact:

• Twin-size bedding and comforters
• 2,500 sq ft warehouse space (or suitable storage)

If you can help with donations, space, volunteers, or partnerships, reach out through the Charleston chapter:

https://shpbeds.org/chapter/sc-charleston/

https://linktr.ee/jackoc77

This episode is a reminder that the next generation of Lowcountry Revolutionaries isn’t just building businesses — some are building beds, dignity, and brighter futures for local kids.

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

In this heartfelt episode of Lowcountry Revolutionaries, Bill Billotte sits down with Crystal Bovell, the new Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Summerville. What began in 1982 as a grassroots effort by dedicated community leaders, clergy, and health professionals has grown into a vital Lowcountry lifeline—now delivering over 1,300 nutritious meals per week to homebound residents, along with friendly well-checks and meaningful personal connection.

Crystal shares her real journey stepping in to lead and scale a beloved nonprofit with four decades of history: the challenges of consistent funding, volunteer recruitment and coordination, expanding reach in Summerville’s rapidly growing community, and adapting to the evolving needs of the Lowcountry. She dives into why proper nutrition remains essential for disease prevention and overall health, why the human connection is just as powerful as the meal itself, and the entrepreneurial mindset required to steer a mission-driven organization into its next era of impact.

Whether you’re a founder, nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, or someone passionate about Lowcountry community, this episode is packed with practical lessons on persistence, partnership building, and creating lasting change—one meal, one neighbor, and one conversation at a time.

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

In this powerful return episode of Lowcountry Revolutionaries, we welcome back bilingual marketing powerhouse Roxana Massie — Cumulus Media marketing consultant, founder of Spanglish Connector (powered by Spanglish Small Business Association), and creator of Latina Pitch Live.

Roxana is gearing up for her high-impact Spanglish Connector Workshop on May 19th, where she’ll help entrepreneurs sharpen their pitches down to a crisp 10 minutes — the exact preparation needed to stand out and advance to the June Latina Pitch Live event.

Whether you’re a bilingual founder, a first-time pitcher, or someone ready to bridge cultures and command the room, this conversation delivers raw, actionable insights on storytelling, confidence, cultural fluency, and turning your idea into an irresistible pitch that investors and partners can’t ignore.

Roxana shares lessons from building Spanglish Connector, the power of authentic representation in the Lowcountry entrepreneurial ecosystem, and why showing up prepared in your own voice changes everything.

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Support the show

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

Send us Fan Mail

After more than 20 years as a finance and accounting leader—including her role as Plant Controller at a Charleston manufacturing facility—Roxana Massie walked away from corporate stability in late 2021 after losing her job to chase entrepreneurship. Then life hit hard: health challenges, a serious car accident, and circumstances that forced her to close the business she had poured everything into.

In this raw and inspiring conversation, Roxana shares the painful setbacks, the lessons from rebuilding after losing it all, and her powerful comeback. Today she’s a bilingual marketing consultant with Cumulus Media, founder of Spanglish Connector (powered by the Spanglish Small Business Association), and the creator of Latina Pitch Live—a platform designed to help not just the Latino entrepreneurship market but also  other underrepresented small business founders to pitch, scale, and thrive in the Lowcountry and beyond.

Bill and Roxana talk about the real cost of entrepreneurship, the importance of community for bilingual and multicultural founders, and how she’s turning personal adversity into a movement that lifts up the next wave of Chucktown startups.

If you’ve ever had to start over—professionally or personally—this episode will remind you why resilience, connection, and the right support system are everything in the Lowcountry entrepreneurial journey.

Key Topics:

• Transitioning from corporate finance to full-time entrepreneurship
• Navigating health setbacks, business closure, and rebuilding
• Building Spanglish Connector and Latina Pitch Live for underrepresented founders
• The power of bilingual marketing and community in Charleston’s startup ecosystem

Intro pre-roll

Outro post-roll

Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71