Queen City Unleashed

Our guest for this episode is someone that we think is a rising star in Charlotte because she is willing to just go for it, even if that “it” is a hot dog bar crawl. We are excited to have Olive join us on the blue couch and share all the lore. 

You might know her as the hotdog girl or the lightrailed girl… but she would say she is just a person trying to make friends and build community in Charlotte. Her hotdog bar crawl is one of the coolest and most random things to happen this year and it quickly made us fans of hers. Now she is planning a holiday bar crawl and we are sure that one will be a lot of fun as well. 

Get ready for a very funny episode! I promise that you haven’t listened to a podcast episode with more talk about hotdogs. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

For the first time ever, we are excited to be bringing back some of our favorite guests for a reunion episode. Get ready to welcome back Caiti, Jordan, and Michelle in a very fun and honest episode!

These three Women are not just small business owners, but they are also incredible community builders, and true friends of Queen City Unleashed. We spent this episode talking about being business owners in this economy, the sacrifice to build community, and our culture in Charlotte. 

Make sure you go back and check out their individual episodes to learn more about their businesses and their journeys.

This episode is sponsored by Cavella Apartments, which is where we got to shoot this episode. Cavella is an apartment close to Camp North End, Foundation Supply, NoDa Brewing Company, Sprouts and other local favorites.

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

Coming up next on QC Unleashed, is professional basketball player Deja Kelly, who just won the inaugural UpShot Championship with the Charlotte Crown, while winning MVP and leading the league in points and assists!!

Deja has been a proven winner from high school to college, and recently she signed a developmental contract with a WNBA team. Deja was also in college when NIL became official and she shared some insane stories of some of the partnerships she secured in her career. 

Deja shared the different steps of her journey with us, what is like playing with The Crown and living in Charlotte, and what she hopes to do in her career. This was a special one to shoot and you will definitely enjoy it. 

This episode was shot in the Skylounge of The Bond on Mint, which is a sponsor for the Charlotte Crown. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

Our next guest is Ashley Stroehlein, and she might be the best partner to have at sports trivia because she has covered so many of them. Ashley is a freelance sports host and reporter for so many different sports and she is about to get a lot busier with the start of football season. 

Ashley’s journey to where she is now is so unlikely from what she studied in college. While a lot of reporters would study sports media, journalism, or even English, Ashley studied Math… but sports were always in her heart. Her path to get to where she is now is so unique, but a great reminder of following your dreams and doing anything to get there. 

Do not be surprised if you see this face on your TV this season, because she might just be covering your favorite team on a Saturday or Sunday!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

We are back from our break with a very special guest, Daniel Gibson from Nice Day! If you are wondering why he sounds familiar, it is because Daniel is the Managing Director of Nice Day, who is our podcast sponsor. 

Daniel, and his wife Blandine, have built something really special with Nice Day and their impact can be seen all across the city. He shared some of their wins with us, but also was really honest about their challenges in the beginning. He was also dropping gems about culture and community in our city and society. 

This episode was really special because Daniel is a great friend that I genuinely enjoy spending time with. In this episode, I also dropped a HUGE announcement, so you really don’t want to miss this. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

We have arrived at the 50th episode of the Queen City Unleashed podcast!! 

This episode is really special for a number of reasons… We shot this episode live at Front Porch, we talked to THE PEOPLE of Charlotte, and we had a few special faces that you might remember, come by and catch up with us. 

This episode is full of hot takes, Charlotte favorites, small business talk, and so much more. The people who sat down really brought it and we couldn't be happier to showcase the many voices of the people of Charlotte!

Thank you for being a part of our first 50 episodes! We can’t wait to see what is ahead of us and look forward to having you on the journey. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

We are coming up on our 50th episode and are excited to have Marques Johnson (MJ), of Two Scoops Creamery, as our guest for episode 49!

Two Scoops is the biggest local ice cream chain in Charlotte and they are known for their rotating creative ice cream flavors. MJ started Two Scoops with two of his best friends and in 10 years it has taken them on a journey that none of them would have expected. 

Two Scoops really cares about the Charlotte community and we loved hearing some of the different ways they use ice cream to give back. So, go ahead and find your closest location and go grab some of their amazing ice cream!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

Yoooo!!! We are so excited to have Cory Wilkins as our next guest on the podcast. It’s been a long time coming and this episode did not disappoint. 

Cory has become a trusted voice in our city with his platform Tha Daily Special, especially when it comes to food. He has helped so many small businesses in Charlotte and is known to have fun with an occasional April fools joke 😂

Cory is so authentic and really cares about the mom and pop shops in our city!! He’s making a difference in Charlotte and chatting with him was a joy. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

To wrap up our Beyond The Plate series, we traveled across state lines to Wild Hope Farms to interview Farmer Peanut!

Wild Hope Farms distributes fresh produce all over North and South Carolina, and you have probably eaten something from their farm in one of the many restaurants they serve in Charlotte. 

This episode is really cool for us because we have been a part of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with Wild Hope Farms for about 2 years. 

We had so much fun down on the farm and this is definitely one of our most special episodes! 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

Up next on our Beyond The Plate series, we have Lisa Mathews who is the Executive Director of The Bulb. 

The Bulb is a nonprofit, mobile farmers market, that distributes produce to underserved communities in and around our city! Lisa started off as a volunteer, sorting produce and helping at markets, and now she leads the organization. The work they do is transformational for so many in our city.

In this episode we learned so much about the needs in our community and what we can do to help. We are also excited to be volunteering with The Bulb as part of this episode!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed