Sarasota Stories

Most of us think of our life’s work in terms of career. It may be as an employee, business owner, or civic leader. Still, it’s a career. But there are some professions where the work is much more of a calling. These professions usually attract professionals that want to serve by providing extraordinary care and dignity that is required to serve a fellow human being in great need.

Today my guest is Debbie Mason, President of The Tidewell Foundation and Executive Vice President of Tidewell Hospice. She joined Tidewell Hospice in October 2019 bringing experience in philanthropy, strategic planning, communications, and organizational management. 

She’s responsible for providing leadership and management of Tidewell’s philanthropic and earned revenue services, including the Tidewell Foundation, the Treasures resale stores, and other earned revenue ventures. 

In this episode, you’ll learn…

• Why Debbie chose a career in philanthropy.
• What most people don’t know about Tidewell.
• The difference between helping adults and children during the grieving process.
• How far Tidewell’s reach is local.
• How you can get involved

… and much, much more.

I’m so glad you joined us today and as always it is my hope that you will listen, learn and connect!

It’s not an uncommon story: you grow up working in the food industry as a kid and years later, all grown up, you get to own your own place -- in this case an Irish Pub in Washington DC. But if owning that pub requires you to work an 18-hour day it can be a very hard way to make a living. 

So what to do? Sell the pub, move to Venice Florida and start a new venture in the wings and hot sauce space. And that’s exactly what one enterprising man did.

My guest today is Andy Duffy owner of First and Ten Hot Sauce. It’s a recipe he perfected while living in Washington D.C. where his wings and sauce won multiple awards in Food & Wine Magazine, Best of D.C., and Washington City Paper. Not an easy task in such an incredibly competitive food category I’d say.

If you like hot sauce and budding success stories you won’t want to miss today’s episode.

You learn ...

• What it’s like to own your own Irish Pub in D.C.
• Some of the notable politicians & celebrities who came by.
• How Duffy -- as his friends call him — created his award-winning hot sauce recipe.
• Why he left and moved to Venice.
• What new flavors he intends to create next.

… and much, much, more!

Thank you for spending your valuable time with us as it is always my hope that you will listen … learn … and connect!

One of the reasons I started the Sarasota Stories podcast was to connect more people with their neighbors. So it is quite gratifying to me to see other businesses doing the same thing and in the process strengthening community ties.

My guest today is Ashley Millington, a Founder of the Meadows Farmers Market. It started in October of 2021 and is open on Sunday's 10-2 pm. This market already has 30+ vendors selling food, produce, and other artisan creations in a beautiful shaded area of the Meadows community.

In today's episode, you'll learn...

• Where the idea of a farmers market for the Meadows neighborhood came from.
• What personally attracted Ashley to help start a farmers market.
• What Ashley discovered in the few months the market has been open.
• How to become a vendor.
• How Ashley and the Board of directors hope to expand the market.

... and much, much more!

It is so gratifying to us that you would stop by and as always it is my hope that you will listen... learn ... and connect!

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Even if you're not a business executive or business owner you should definitely know about the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC) because of the incredible impact they make on our community. If you ARE a business leader who is thinking of expanding or considering relocating to our county then you are at a significant competitive disadvantage if you don't know who they are.

So it is my pleasure to have two key leaders from the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC) on my show. As you will find the EDC, as it is more commonly known, is one of Sarasota’s most important catalysts for economic opportunities. They connect entrepreneurs, business leaders, and major corporations to new and existing development opportunities. Whether it is for expanding an existing enterprise or relocating a business to Sarasota County, they can help.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn…

• The role of the Economic Development Corporation.
• Its critical importance to Sarasota County.
• How they help local businesses expand.
• How they help businesses wanting to relocate to our area.
• The barriers they face in helping businesses.
• Why even non-executives should know about the EDC.
• How you can connect and support the EDC.

… and much, much more …

Thank you for joining us today and as always, it is my hope that you will listen, learn and connect!

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Old images die hard. When I was young the circus came to town once a year. Performances of flying trapeze, wild animals from Africa, and clowns that could do the most hilarious stunts are still etched in my mind. It was strictly entertainment of course.

How times have changed! While the flying trapeze artists and clowns are still an integral part of our own circus arts here in Sarasota, the animals are long gone.

But what has been added is quite frankly an amazing array of options beyond the world-class performances that anyone can connect with directly.

Here to talk about these incredible options is Jennifer Mitchell, Executive Vice President/COO of The Circus Arts Conservatory.

In today's episode, you'll learn ...

A brief history of Sarasota's circus heritage

How The Circus Arts Conservatory started

Seasonal performances anyone can attend

Personal training to learn safe and fun aerial skills

Summer camps for youths

...and much, much more!

Thank you for stopping by today. While you're here, I encourage you to listen ... learn ... and connect!

Ever wonder what a US soldier fighting in Iraq does during their downtime? You study up on quality wines of course! Sound strange to you? Sounded strange to me too until I met one former soldier who decided to educate himself on all things wine as he prepared to join his fiancé in the California wine culture after his tour was up. 

Years later and after a move to the Sarasota Area with his now-wife, he continues “first-hand research” on the local wine culture and shares his findings with a very cool blog he and a friend started two years ago.

Today, I am very pleased to welcome Eric “Vigo” Onstad of The Unassuming Wine Bros blog.

Vigo and his good friend, Patrick started writing their blog in 2020 in order to be a local resource and provide a fun way to learn and discover new wines. Each month they feature a wine that could be from anywhere in the world then share their findings with their readers. They also share the price they paid and where to buy these wines locally. If you want to increase your wine knowledge then you won’t want to miss today’s episode.

In today's episode. you’ll learn

* What prompted Vigo to learn about wines in the most inhospitable surrounding.

* How he met his co-writer and why they started decided to start a wine blog.

* How they choose wines to write about.

* What you'll learn from reading their blog.

* And much, much more …

I’m so glad you joined us today and as always it is my hope that you will listen, learn and connect!

People often have misconceptions about the Opera— it is too stuffy, too expensive, you have to get dressed up AND you can’t even understand the words because it’s all in Italian...or certainly not English.

None of these are true as I found out. Attending the opera is affordable — a little more than the local movies — plus, you can come as you are. So if you were ever curious about what the opera is really like, you won’t want to miss today’s episode.

Today my guest is Richard Russell, General Director of the Sarasota Opera.

After a very successful career as Citigroup’s Vice-President and Global Webmaster for eCommerce serving 30 emerging markets countries in Latin America, Asia, Central, and Eastern Europe, and Africa, Richard eventually came back to his first love — Opera.

Since 2012 Richard has led the Sarasota Opera and increased individual giving by over 50%, more than doubled its endowment and completed its world-renowned Verdi Cycle. 

Mr. Russell managed the construction and fundraising for the new Steinwachs Artist Residences for Sarasota Opera, which encompasses 30 units housing up to 70 artists.

He also negotiated and managed the purchase of stock of over 30,000 opera costumes, representing 135 separate productions to increase Sarasota Opera's inventory of costumes available for its own use and for rentals to other opera, theater, and film companies.

In this episode you will learn:

• Where Richard’s love for Opera originally came from.
• Why people still hold several misconceptions about attending Opera.
• Why Opera is the most demanding stage art form.
• Performance milestones that set the Sarasota Opera apart.
• The first performance you should see if you are new to the Opera.

… and much, much more.

I’m so glad you joined us today and as always it is my hope that you will listen, learn and connect!

Sarasota Opera

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Frankly, I’m sick of talking about Covid. It has been an incredibly disrupting force to everyone’s life, including festival organizers. 

They love the music and the people they promote and they want to get back to work. One music festival has been missing from Sarasota for the past two years --but no more.

With renewed energy and enthusiasm one of the best festivals in the entire United States is coming back on April 15 and you definitely don’t want to miss it.

Today I am very pleased to have Nick Katana, vice president of the Rights of Spring Festival better known as ROSFEST.

As Nick shares, ROSFEST is one of North America’s longest-running and most renowned art-rock music festivals. During its 16-year tenure, ROSFEST featured over 160 bands from around the world. 

Returning after 2 long years without live music, we couldn’t be happier to head into 2022 with a new Board of Directors, a fresh vision, and most importantly, three days of groundbreaking, mind-melting live shows to remind us why ROSFEST rocks!

In this episode, you’ll learn …

• How ROSFEST started.
• The band lineup with iconic artists you see and hear
• The dates and incredible venue where it all happens.
• The after-show party.

… and much, much more!

As always, I’m so grateful you joined us today and it is my hope that you will listen, learn and connect!

It is true that most businesses don’t survive past 5-years. But one family-owned business in West Bradenton has been going strong for over 50.

Today, I am very pleased to welcome Susan Higbee of The Chop Shop in West Bradenton. Susan is one of the family owners at this iconic butcher and grocery store. Since 1971 The Chop Shop has been a Bradenton mainstay serving high-end meats which come from family ranches located in the USA ONLY. They have an award-winning delicatessen, a grocery stocked with hard-to-find items plus, sourced wines from local vineyards and popular labels to bring together a collection to impress for all occasions.

In this episode, you’ll hear one thing most people don’t know about Susan… what it is like growing up in a family-owned business… how Susan and her team were able to navigate the pandemic… how they’re addressing supply-chain food shortages and inflation today … and much, much more!

I’m so glad you joined us today and as always it is my hope that you will listen, learn and connect!

It is not uncommon for many faith-based leaders to leverage Biblical teachings to run their businesses. The most well-known in this area is the national fast-food restaurant Chick-fil-A which has several locations in the Greater Sarasota Area.

But where can a locally-based business leader go to get training and support to implement Christian principles in their businesses?

Today I am very pleased to welcome Jennifer Klobuchar. Jennifer is the on-site coordinator for Legacy Business Leaders at Bayside Community Church. With a diverse background in both ministry and business, Jennifer will share with us: what the Legacy Business Leaders program is and why Bayside decided to get involved… What her role is and how does she determine which participants are the right fit … What's the commitment on the side of the participants … Where listeners can go to find out more… plus you'll even hear about Jennifer’s budding film acting career.

I’m so glad you joined us today and as always it is my hope that you will listen, learn and connect!”