Queen City Unleashed

For our 25th episode of Queen City Unleashed we have Kayleigh Ruller, a Food Writer who writes for national and local publications. Kayleigh loves food and writes about it in a way that gives people a better appreciation for the food around them. She has highlighted some of the biggest names in food in Charlotte but she has the same pride when it comes to the smaller names! 

Kayleigh is one of the most authentic people you will meet and it shows in how she presents herself in her work and and even in how she dresses, as she recently told us. One of our favorite things about her is that she is also a story teller! Whether it is telling the stories of Chefs or digging into the ghost Blanche Reynolds, she does a great job of taking you on a journey with her writing. 

Tune in to hear her in her element... telling great stories and and painting pictures we love to follow!!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

On this episode we sat down with Tim Edwards, the founder of Splatter Charlotte and co-founder of Residency Charlotte! Tim is one the most fun interviews we have had on the podcast. His humor and passion make for great stories that we know you will enjoy. 

Splatter Charlotte is one of the most fun date activities in Charlotte and it is special because you get to take the art home. Tim and his team have thought about everything to make this an unforgettable experience. He also is behind bringing the idea of singing in the car with your friends to a large scale with Residency Charlotte. Their different theme nights with local live musicians create experiences you will not want to end. 

Tim is also a part of Shameless Improv, with recent guest Bryan Li, and he will be a part of the upcoming show we are doing together. Anyone would really enjoy this episode, so give it a listen and let us know what you think!!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

This episode is really special because it is about a non-profit we are a part of. We got to chat with Leslie Leitner, who is the Community Engagement Associate for Supportive Housing Communities (SHC). Supportive Housing Communities is a local non-profit on a mission to end homelessness and human suffering in the Charlotte area by providing permanent, supportive, and affordable housing to Charlotte’s most vulnerable neighbors.

The work this organization is doing is truly amazing and making a big difference in our city! Everything they do is about supporting the neighbors that are often forgotten in Charlotte. When we say we want to “Share the Voices of Charlotte” we also mean these voices. We are honored we get to highlight SHC and the neighbors they walk through life with. 

They have great volunteer opportunities to do with friends or with co-workers, and they have great events where your participation makes a difference in the lives of the people they serve. We hope you enjoy this episode and that the work touches your heart like it did ours a year ago. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

We had the chance to sit down with a man of many talents and interests, Bryan Li! Bryan Li! Bryan is one of the co-owners of Open Rice, co-founder of Residency Charlotte, and a founder and producer of Shameless Improv. 

Bryan has such an interesting story that you will enjoy listening too. He grew up in Honk Kong, he has started multiple restaurants, he fell in love with improv comedy and he loves providing amazing experiences. Bryan is also a big advocate for local arts and is a huge part in creating a space for creatives from all walks of life. 

You will enjoy hearing Bryan’s passions come out in this episode and lucky for us, we will be collaborating with him and his Shameless Improv group to have a show to raise money for a non-profit!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

We had the opportunity to talk to Chef Sam Diminish on our twenty-first episode of Queen City Unleashed. Chef Sam is the Executive Chef of Restaurant Constance and Owner of Your Farms Your Table! He has been recognized around the city multiple times and was recently a James Beard semi-finalist. He is passionate about supporting local farms and also about being a voice for the voiceless when it comes to sobriety. 

Our conversation was so encouraging, because no matter what he has been through, Chef Sam is still positive and making a difference in his community around him. He started off the episode by calling himself “a friend”, and by the end of this episode he may feel like your friend too. 

You definitely don’t want to miss this episode to hear all about his journey and even hear the fun story of how he ended up being the personal chef for NFL Running Back Christian McCaffrey!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

In our twentieth episode of Queen City Unleashed, we sat down and talked to Yaz Humaideh, the owner of Sip City Market and Bottle Shop! His bottle shop has become a place of community, where people from all walks of life come to hang out. From coffee,  beer and sake, to ping pong and board games, Sip City has it all. 

The thing that really sets Sip City apart is Yaz! He loves people and connecting with folks. He is the ultimate people person and loves building relationships with his customers. He calls them his family and in this interview you will clearly see why. 

Tune in to this episode to hear about the things he has learned about himself, his love of people and hospitality, and how he tricked his parents into moving to America! You will absolutely love Yaz by the end of the episode. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we had the chance to sit down with Chef Alyssa Wilen, owner and namesake of Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen! Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen offers cooking classes for different kinds of cuisines and skill levels. It is a great activity to do with friends, coworkers, or for a date night! You will leave educated and full from a great meal you cooked yourself. 

Chef Alyssa is from Charlotte and has come up in the food scene, but decided that she could have a different impact on food in Charlotte. Her and her team of trained chefs, help give others the confidence to cook great meals at home. She does all this while working alongside her life partner, business partner, and husband Andrew. Chef Alyssa also had the chance to compete on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay.

Whether you know how to cook or want to learn, Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen is a great experience that everyone should try! Tune in to hear her full story. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we got to sit down with a Charlotte legend, Manolo Betancur, who owns Manolo’s Bakery, Artisen Vegelatos, and runs We Care 4 non-profit. Manolo’s Bakery is an institution in Charlotte that serves breads, cakes, and deserts from many hispanic countries.

Manolo shared his incredible story of immigrating from Columbia, starting off cleaning dishes, to now having a very successful bakery. He is constantly giving back to his community and find ways to use his voice to speak up for the vulnerable. The adversity he has faced is more than most of us will face in a lifetime, but when you talk to him, he is full of joy and hope for a better tomorrow. 

Manolo is a Charlotte hero who is constantly making our city better, and we are honored to be able to have him on. 

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we got to sit down with Steven De Falco, one of the co-owners of Pizza Baby and Flour Shop. His restaurant, Pizza Baby West, was recently named one of the Top 50 Pizza restaurants in America, by an independent guide in Naples Italy. 

Steven’s Italian upbringing has led him on an incredible life journey which has seen him go from New York, to Italy, to Miami and now Charlotte. Steven cares not just about food but the entire experience. You will often find him talking to guests in the dining room or working in the kitchen, making sure their bread is perfect. 

Steven has an infectious energy about him and we just know you will enjoy getting to meet the young old soul that he is!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed

Heather Siblik is the Founder of DishCourse. A company that helps to create community and new friendships for people in Charlotte with events. She is also part of a really cool dance organization that fuses dance and color guard. She may or may not have won silver at Worlds!!


Making friends in a new city can be hard, and this wasn’t any different for Heather. Her unique approach to gathering small groups of people, who share a common interest, has led to great experiences and friendship for so many individuals. 

Fun Fact: In high school, Heather threw out that Charlotte might be a place she wanted to live, long before she even really knew anything about Charlotte… and now it is her home!

Heather's story is one you will enjoy, so make sure you check out the whole episode and follow DishCourse. If you are looking to make friends, check out their website for an event that works for your interest!!!

Website: qcunleashed.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qcunleashed

Instagram: www.instagram.com/qcunleashed/

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@qcunleashed