Start Local

What makes a town truly welcoming? We head to southern Chester County to meet with Daniel Embree, Executive Director of Kennett Collaborative, to explore how placemaking, events, and people shape a stronger, more inclusive community in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Daniel shares the organization’s mission and why collaboration is at the heart of their work. We discuss Daniel’s own journey from artist to nonprofit leader, and the value of telling personal stories in public spaces. From Kennett Brewfest, Daniel paints a beautiful picture of his corner of our community.

Our Partner

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Kennett Collaborative

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennettcollaborative/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennett.collaborative
• Volunteer: kennettcollaborative.org/volunteer
• Donate: kennettcollaborative.org/support
• Brewfest Tickets: https://www.kennettbrewfest.com/
• Unicorn Across the Street: https://kennettcollaborative.org/stories/the-unicorn-across-the-street/
• Daniel Embree on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielembree/

Local Shops and Organizations

• Great places to eat and shop (Business Directory): kennettcollaborative.org/explore
• KSQ Farmers Market: https://www.ksqfarmersmarket.com/
• Shoppe Marché: https://www.instagram.com/shoppemarche
• Camp Dreamcatcher: https://campdreamcatcher.org/
• Kennett Area Community Service: https://kacsimpact.org
• The Garage Community and Youth Center: https://www.garageyouthcenter.org
• YoungMoms: https://www.youngmomschestercounty.org

Related Episodes

• Spearheading the Organization of a Community Brewfest with Jeff Norman

Note: The photo of Daniel used in the episode artwork is by Dylan Francis.

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

For many, music is as much a part of life as breathing. We drop the needle on a conversation with Shawn Cephas, owner of Forever Changes, a record store in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Shawn shares how his deep love for and expansive knowledge of music has driven him to open a shop that is as much a space to learn about music as to buy records. We explore the intimate connection that Shawn’s family has with music. Through our conversation, Shawn offers a lesson in music history as we journey through genres. Whether you’re a lifelong collector or just getting into the groove, this episode strikes a chord.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Forever Changes

• Website: foreverchangesrecords.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/forever.changes
• Forever Changes on Facebook
• Bluesky: @foreverchangespxv.bsky.social

Additional Links

• WXPN
• Steel City Café
• Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS)
• Ann’s Heart
• Kit’s Closet

Local Music Venues

• The Fenix Bar & Lounge
• SoulJoel’s (at SunnyBrook, Pottstown)
• SunnyBrook Ballroom
• The Gem

Bands and Artists Mentioned

We linked to the Wikipedia page for all the artists below. We invite you to check out their music wherever you listen.

• Hüsker Dü
• Black Flag
• Minor Threat
• Rites of Spring
• Metallica
• Slayer
• Anthrax
• Death
• Big Star
• The Clash
• The Jam
• The Smiths
• R.E.M.
• Talking Heads
• Ramones
• Depeche Mode
• The Cure
• Bad Brains
• My Morning Jacket
• Belle and Sebastian
• Chappell Roan
• Death Cab for Cutie
• The Postal Service
• Cat Power
• Mannequin Pussy
• Soccer Mommy
• Blondshell
• Bully
• Florence + The Machine
• Greta Van Fleet
• Madonna
• Duran Duran
• Taylor Swift
• Ray Charles
• Luther Vandross
• Poco
• Buffalo Springfield
• Jethro Tull
• Japanese Breakfast
• Black Pumas
• Maya Delilah
• Adele
• Lorde
• Culture Club
• Charlie Parker
• Duke Ellington
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Bill Evans
• Paul Motian
• Scott LaFaro
• Mac Miller
• Suki Waterhouse
• Steve Lacy
• N.W.A.
• Dr. Dre
• Ice Cube
• Prince
• Jimi Hendrix
• Movie: High Fidelity

Record Labels

• Blue Note Records
• Original Jazz Composers (OJC)
• Riverside Records

Transcript

The transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

Continuing our run of conversations with local producers, we sit down with Olga and Brian Dressler, the owners and cider makers at Dressler Estate. We learn about their branch to bottle approach to making local cider. We hear about their recently opened tasting room in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and their vision for this new home. We talk cider production, label making, and the business of a running a cidery. Pour yourself a glass of their finest and tune in for a great conversation.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Dressler Estate

• Website: dresslerestate.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/dresslerestate
• Facebook: facebook.com/DresslerEstate

Additional Links

• East Branch Brewing
• Station Taproom
• Bottleroom
• Rosie’s Kettlecorn
• Downingtown Main Street Association
• Downingtown Farmers’ Market
• Chestnut Hill Farmers’ Market
• Rittenhouse Farmers’ Market

Related Start Local Episodes

• Farming Grapes and Making Local Wine with Anthony Vietri
• Spearheading the Organization of a Community Brewfest with Jeff Norman

TRANSCRIPT

The transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

Southeastern Pennsylvania is not typically at the top of the list of renowned wine regions of the world. Yet that is exactly why we stopped into the tasting room at Va La Family Vineyard. We sat down Anthony Vietri, farmer and wine maker, to learn how his family has been farming the land in Avondale, Pennsylvania for almost one hundred years. We talk about his approach to farming grapes and crafting unique and complex wines flowing from the local terroir. If you're into wine and looking for a wonderfully different and refreshing discussion about wine and the business of wine, this is a conversation to savor.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Va La Family Vineyard

• Website: valavineyards.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/valavineyards
• Facebook: facebook.com/VaLaVineyards

Additional Links

• Shellbark Hallow Farm
• Canine Partners for Life
• Stroud Water Research Center

Related Start Local Episodes

• Training Service and Companion Dogs with Kirstin Downie
• Conducting World-Leading Fresh Water Research with John Jackson

Transcript

The transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

In times of uncertainty, the desire for financial security is universal. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Patti Brennan, founder and CEO of Key Financial, a wealth management firm based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Patti shares practical ideas for navigating turbulent markets. We explore her unique career path from ICU nurse to nationally recognized financial advisor. We dig into her people-first leadership style, and the values that shape her firm – now managing $2.5 billion in assets. We also dive into her new book, Am I Going to Be Okay?, published by Forbes.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Key Financial

• Website: keyfinancialinc.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/KeyFinancialInc
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/key-financial-inc
• Patti Brennan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/keyfinancialinc
• Patti’s Book: Am I Going to Be Okay?

Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC)

• Chester County Economic Development Council
• Seedcopa
• Hire One
• ITAG
• Supporting the Local Business Community with Michael Grigalonis

Additional Links

• Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital
• Top-Rated Health Care and Well-Supported Staff with Karen Pinsky, MD and Ed Callahan

Transcript

The transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

The snack business is competitive to say the very least. It may even be cut-throat. Creating a snack that people want is hard enough, but getting it into the market and on store shelves takes even more grit. We chased down Brendan Cawley, founder and CEO of Righteous Felon, a meat snack company with deep roots in Chester County. We interrogate Brendan about jerky, biltong, and meat sticks, exploring their R&D, manufacturing, and distribution processes. We talk about online sales, and of course, how the company was an outgrowth of a side hustle for a bunch of middle schoolers in Downingtown.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Righteous Felon

• Website: righteousfelon.com
• Instagram: @righteousfelon
• Facebook: facebook.com/RighteousFelon
• Tiktok: @righteousfelon
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/righteous-felon

Local Beer Distributors

• Exton Beverage
• Beermill
• Lou Beverage
• Waywood Beverage
• Victory Brewing

Local Restaurants and Stores

• Leone’s Pizza
• Crop’s Fresh Marketplace
• Kimberton Whole Foods

Farm and Meat Processors

• Stoney Point Snacks
• Roseda Black Angus Farm
• 44 Farms
• Certified Peidmontese

Additional Links

• Natural Lands
• Downingtown Main Street

Transcript

A full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

Enticed by her delicious ice cream and kitchens creations, we had to talk with Melinda Shaw, founder and owner of Hangry Bear Creamery in Kennett Square. Melinda shares how her love of food and background in hospitality led her to open a unique ice cream studio that goes far beyond scoops and cones. We dip into the science behind real ice cream, the importance of using local ingredients, and how community partnerships have shaped her business. From boozy shakes to a wonderfully eclectic yet family-friendly meals, Melinda offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a creative and community-focused creamery.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Hangry Bear Creamery

• Website: hangrybearcreamery.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/hangrybearcreamery
• Facebook: facebook.com/hangrybearcreamery
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@hangrybearcreamery

Local Food and Drinks Companies and Organization

• Old Stone Cider
• Creekside Coffee Roasting Co.
• UDairy Creamery (University of Delaware Creamery)
• Berkey Creamery (Penn State Creamery)
• LC Farms (Oxford, PA)

Additional Links

• SCORE (Chester & Delaware Counties)
• Calabrese Performing Arts
• Fulton Bank
• WMMR (Radio Station)
• Centered Clay Studio

TRANSCRIPT

The transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

Located in southern Chester County, Oxford, Pennsylvania, is a charming small town that is rich in history and poised for revitalization and growth. We sit down with Pauline Garcia-Allen, the Borough Manager of Oxford, to explore what makes this town so special. From its diverse community to its evolving downtown and economic development efforts, Pauline shares how she and other local leaders are working to support residents, attract businesses, and navigate a complexity of challenges, including the expansion of the Route 1 corridor. Tune in for an inside look at Oxford’s transformation and why now is the time to keep an eye on this up-and-coming gem.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

The Borough of Oxford

• Borough website: oxfordboro.org
• Careers: oxfordboro.org/jobs
• Facebook: facebook.com/oxfordboroughpa
• Instagram: instagram.com/theboroughofoxford

Additional Links

• Neuchatel Chocolates
• Octoraro Hotel and Tavern
• Oxford Mainstreet
• SILO
• The Creamery of Kennett Square
• Lincoln University
• Oxford Neighborhood Services Center
• Oxford Arts Alliance
• Oxford Area Historical Association
• Herr's
• Pillar Real Estate Advisors

Related Start Local Episodes

• Running a Commercial Real Estate Firm with Eric Kuhn

TRANSCRIPT

The episode transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it available.

While Chester County is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and open spaces, preserving that natural beauty – and the wildlife that thrives within it – requires constant effort. We speak with Kate Etherington, President and Executive Director of Willistown Conservation Trust, about the dedication and strategy behind this vital work. This local land trust leads initiatives in land protection, bird conservation, watershed stewardship, habitat restoration, and sustainable farming. In our conversation, Kate shares insights into these efforts and how people of all ages can get involved, learn, and contribute to the Trust’s mission.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Willistown Conservation Trust

• Website: wctrust.org
• Events: wctrust.org/calendar
• Newsletters: wctrust.org/connect
• Facebook: facebook.com/wctrust.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/wctrust
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/willistown-conservation-trust
• YouTube: youtube.com/user/WillistownCT
• Bird-friendly coffee program

Additional Links

• Stroud Water Research Center
• West Chester Food Cupboard
• Malvern Buttery
• Thorncroft
• Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources (PADCNR)
• Gryphon Coffee Co

Related Start Local Episodes

• Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andrea Youndt
• Conducting World-Leading, Innovative Fresh Water Research with John Jackson

TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

There’s something special about the glow of a historic theater marquee, the scent of fresh popcorn, and the magic of a film flickering on the screen in a century-old venue. But keeping The Colonial Theatre thriving takes more than nostalgia – it demands passion, strategy, and dedication. Executive Director Jennifer Carlson takes us behind the scenes of running this iconic venue. Whether you’re a film buff, a live music fan, or just love a good comeback story, this episode shines a spotlight on the power of community, creativity, and a really great theater.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

The Colonial Theatre

• Website: thecolonialtheatre.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/thecolonialtheatre
• Instagram: instagram.com/thecolonialtheatre
• YouTube: youtube.com/user/thecolonialtheatre
• Suggest films: [email protected]
• New York Times article about Blob Fest (16-Jul-2024)

Area Theaters and Organizations

• Phoenixville Film Festival
• Ambler Theater
• Bryn Mawr Film Institute
• Walnut Street Theater
• Theater Organ Society of Delaware Valley

Additional Links

• Rising Sun Presents
• Orion Communities
• People’s Light and Theater
• Wyck Historic House, Garden, and Farm
• Connecticut River Museum

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.