South Baltimore Now!

Recorded on September 11th, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, at Marine Hall on Fort Avenue in Locust Point, this episode of South Baltimore Now sits down with longtime South Baltimore residents Luis Martinez, Jr. and his wife, Lauren Elizabeth.

Luis served in the Marine Corps and spent time at Camp Lejeune, later building a career in commercial construction and calling South Baltimore home. Years later, an infected tooth led to an oral cancer diagnosis that a doctor immediately connected to his time at Camp Lejeune. As Luis fought through surgery, recovery, and now a second diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer, Lauren became a full-time advocate, founding the Lejeune Justice Project to fight for veterans and families left behind by a VA disability system that hasn't updated its presumptive conditions list since 2017.

This is a conversation about military brotherhood, an unexpected health battle, and one family's fight to turn their own hardship into lasting change for thousands of other Camp Lejeune veterans.

Connect With Us

South Baltimore Now Podcast
🌐 https://southbaltimorenow.transistor.fm/
🌐 southbmore.com

The Lejeune Justice Project
📘FACEBOOK

A Note From Us

If this episode moved you even a little, don't just close the tab. Luis and Lauren aren't asking for sympathy, they're asking for momentum. Here's how you can help this week:

1. Follow the Lejeune Justice Project on Facebook
2. Talk about this episode. Send it to someone who served, or to anyone who might know a Camp Lejeune veteran still stuck in the VA claims process. You never know who's one conversation away from getting the help they need.
3. Keep reading southbmore.com and tuning in here. Stories like this one are why we do this podcast, and your support is what lets us keep telling them.

This fight is bigger than one family, but it started with one family standing up. Thanks for listening, and thanks for helping us carry this story forward.

In this episode of the South Baltimore Now podcast, we sit down with John Shea and Brendan O’Brien—two South Baltimore neighbors who are blending decades of high-level financial expertise with a deep-rooted love for their community. Together, they’ve launched Old Irish Guys Financial, a venture built on the idea that sound financial advice should be as accessible as a conversation with a neighbor.

The journey to this partnership began in the world of institutional finance. Brendan’s roots go back to the "late 1900s" at Leg Mason before he transitioned to the independent side with LPL Financial. Meanwhile, John’s career kicked off at State Street Bank, where he managed public pension funds before eventually serving as the Director of Development for the Baltimore Family Alliance. After years of navigating the complexities of large-scale finance, they’ve "hung up their own shingle" to focus on what matters most: providing neighbor-to-neighbor coaching right here on the peninsula.

While both John and Brendan are Boston natives, they’ve found their true home in South Baltimore. They discuss the "hooks" that kept them here, choosing to raise their families in the heart of the city rather than retreating to the suburbs. Their commitment is visible in their support for local institutions like Francis Scott Key and Federal Hill Prep, proving that families don't have to move once their kids hit third grade. From volunteering at local sports to advocating for walkable turf fields, they are proof that community involvement and city living go hand-in-hand.

Net Worth & Chill

This philosophy of accessible advice extends to their new podcast, The Penny and the Pint. They’ve coined the phrase "Net Worth and Chill" to help couples navigate the often-stressful conversations surrounding money and significant others. Whether they are helping clients consolidate "pots of money" scattered across old 401(k) plans or offering a 30,000-foot view to balance retirement, college savings, and the inevitable home repairs of city life, John and Brendan are focused on the big picture.

Learn More:

• Website: oldirishguysfinancial.com
• Podcast: Look for The Penny and the Pint on all major podcast platforms.

* Shout Out to Liv's Tavern for hosting us to record in-person. Delicious food, fantastic staff and perfectly poured pints - Thank You! 

• (00:00) - Pub Setup and Introductions

In this episode, we welcome back District 11 Councilman Zac Blanchard for his third appearance on the show. Zac reflects on his first full year in office — a year that included becoming a father for the second time on inauguration night — and breaks down the major issues shaping South Baltimore and Downtown Baltimore today.   The conversation covers everything from the explosion of smoke shops, to the city’s sweeping housing package, to the future of Downtown, to the day‑to‑day realities of representing one of Baltimore’s most active districts.   Episode Highlights 

• A wild first month: Zac’s son was born the same night he was sworn in, kicking off a year of balancing newborn life with the demands of public office.
• Learning the job: From 4 a.m. work sessions to building a new staff, Zac shares what the transition into city government really looked like.
• Why smoke shops exploded: He explains the legal loopholes, synthetic cannabis issues, and market forces behind the surge — and how new zoning rules aim to rein it in.
• Housing reform at scale: Zac breaks down the city’s Housing Options & Opportunities package and what it means for rowhomes, small apartment buildings, parking requirements, and neighborhood character.
• Parking minimums clarified: He addresses concerns from South Baltimore residents and explains what actually changes (and what doesn’t).
• Downtown’s crossroads: A candid look at office vacancies, competing districts, public space challenges, and why Downtown’s health matters to every neighborhood.
• Lexington Market progress: Zac shares details on a new multi‑agency effort he’s leading to tackle vacancy and improve conditions around the market.
• Neighborhood‑level wins: From code enforcement to youth vaping concerns, Zac talks about the hands‑on work his office is doing across District 11.

What We Discuss 

• The transition from candidate to councilmember
• Balancing family life with public service
• How committee work shapes legislation
• The process of drafting and negotiating bills
• The smoke shop zoning package and youth vaping concerns
• The city’s housing package and zoning modernization
• Parking requirements and development flexibility
• Downtown Baltimore’s challenges and opportunities
• Vacancy, graffiti, and quality‑of‑life issues
• How residents can engage with Zac’s office

Councilman Zac Blanchard — Contact Information Website: https://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/content/zac-blanchard
Phone: 410‑396‑4816
Email: [email protected]    Office Address:
100 Holliday Street
Room 516
Baltimore, Maryland 21202   SouthBMore.com Website: https://www.southbmore.com
Podcast inquiries & sponsorships: [email protected] 

Nate and Kevin close out the year with a full breakdown of the biggest stories shaping South Baltimore in 2025 — from major development updates and new restaurants to youth sports growth and the major events coming in 2026. If you follow Baltimore neighborhoods, real estate, restaurants, or waterfront redevelopment, this episode brings you everything you need to know.

• Baltimore Peninsula / Port Covington — Bank OZK land updates, new construction, leasing, Locke Landing growth, and rumored 2026 retail

YouTube: https://youtu.be/xYE8zgLCPsM

For daily updates on Baltimore development, real estate, restaurants, and neighborhood news, visit:

Like, follow, rate, and share the show to help strengthen independent local reporting in South Baltimore.

For podcast or advertising inquiries:

In this episode of South Baltimore Now!, host Nate Carper sits down with Gabe Bustos, co-founder of Hector Home Services Marketing. They dive into the company's unique journey and its mission to help local, family-owned home service businesses succeed.

Gabe shares his personal motivation, revealing that past business failures in music and education due to a lack of marketing knowledge inspired him to help others who are skilled at their trade but need help with promotion. This passion for service is what led Hector Home Services Marketing to focus exclusively on the home services industry.

While the company has clients across the U.S., most of their clients are located right here in Maryland. Gabe and Nate discuss how smaller to mid-sized cities and suburbs provide a great environment for businesses to quickly improve their Google ranking and compete with larger corporations.

Hector Home Services Marketing specializes in Google marketing and lead generation, with a focus on helping businesses rank high on Google Maps and managing Google ad products.

Gabe offers a free, no-obligation video analysis for potential clients. His team will analyze a business's online presence and provide clear, actionable steps to improve their ranking and performance.

Links

In this episode of the South Baltimore Now podcast, host Nate Carper interviews Karen Kindig, the owner of The Womb Room. Karen shares her journey from being a therapist to owning The Womb Room, a business offering prenatal and postpartum support, lactation consulting, and parental classes. Karen discusses the importance of community and support during and after pregnancy and highlights some of the unique services offered by The Womb Room, including placenta encapsulation and virtual therapy sessions. She also shares valuable advice for expecting parents on feeling empowered and prepared for childbirth. Tune in to learn more about the impact of this local business on the South Baltimore community.

About The Womb Room

The Womb Room is a community perinatal health and wellness center in Baltimore, Maryland. They offer a wide range of services to support families locally and online.

· Website: https://www.wombroom.mom/ 

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewombroom_baltimore/ 

Contact

· The Womb Room: [email protected]

· Nate Carper: [email protected]

· Like, Subscribe, Leave a review -  www.southbmore.com 

This special summer episode of the South Baltimore Now podcast features Nate, Rob Wahl, and Julie Carper discussing sponsorship opportunities for the South Baltimore Youth Soccer League's (SBYSL) Fall 2025 season. Your support directly impacts over 700 young soccer players across Baltimore by funding player stipends, providing essential soccer infrastructure, enabling free programming, and developing a youth referee program. Learn about various sponsorship tiers, branding opportunities (including jerseys and social media), and how businesses can connect with the community while supporting youth sports.

Key Takeaways - 

SBYSL's Reach: Entering its 21st year, SBYSL serves almost 500 families and over 700 individual players from 90 schools and 30+ zip codes across Baltimore.

Impact of Sponsorships - 

Financial Assistance: Ensures accessibility for all families by providing player stipends, with over $5,000 in assistance given to 30+ players this year.

Infrastructure: Funds goals and equipment at local parks like Latrobe and Riverside.

Youth Development: Supports free soccer clinics, instruction, outings, and a referee development program for local kids to learn skills and earn money.

Tiered Options: Various levels available to suit any business budget.

Brand Visibility: Recognition through league-wide communications, logo/verbiage on player jerseys, and social media promotion.

Community Connection: Opportunity for businesses to set up booths at Saturday games to promote products and services directly to attendees.

Expanded Exposure: Unlike single-team sponsorships, SBYSL offers branding across entire league divisions (8-15 teams), maximizing reach to over 60 teams and five divisions.

Act Now! Opening day is September 6th at Latrobe Park. To have your business promoted on jerseys by then, contact SBYSL within the next week.

Relevant Links:

Learn More & Sign Up: sbysl.com/sponsors

Email for Sponsorships: [email protected]