When Carlos Jorge and Nathalie Simmons Jorge talk about healthcare, it goes far beyond checkups and prescriptions. For them, medicine is equal parts science, integrity and human connection.

Their Charlotte-based practice, Companion Health, PLLC, was built on a belief that the best care is rooted in research and compassion, and that sometimes the most powerful thing a doctor can say is, “I don’t know —  I have to look into that more.” As entrepreneurs, clinicians and community members, the Jorges have shaped a model of care in their concierge practice that puts people first while navigating the complex business of modern medicine.

The Jorges moved to Charlotte in 2002 after completing medical training and business school. What began with Carlos serving uninsured and underinsured patients in the city’s growing Hispanic community has evolved into a practice that balances medical expertise with entrepreneurship and a deep commitment to doing what’s right for each patient. Today, Carlos serves as chief medical officer, and Nathalie serves as CEO.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, the Jorges share how they navigate the rise of social media health advice and focus on evidence-based care, the challenge and importance of saying, “I don’t know” in medicine and what it’s like blending medicine and business as both physicians and entrepreneurs.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

The Jorges received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025. Find out more about the 40 Over 40 awards by going to Ledger40over40.com.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

After more than 20 years in Charlotte’s corporate banking world, Kristen Winkle Beck made the leap into the nonprofit sector. Today, she leads Social Venture Partners Charlotte (SVP), a venture philanthropy organization that supports emerging nonprofits by combining grant funding with business expertise and professional networks.

Beck says many nonprofits are started by passionate community members who see a need but could benefit from connections to people who can help them get off the ground. SVP helps fill that gap, pairing funding with skilled volunteers who can strengthen infrastructure and strategy, ensuring local organizations can grow their impact. One of SVP’s most visible programs is SEED20, an annual pitch competition and year-long learning experience that equips nonprofit leaders to share their innovative ideas.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Beck sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to talk about the needs and challenges of nonprofits, the history and impact of Social Venture Partners and how its SEED20 program empowers social entrepreneurs.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Kristin Winkle Beck. For more information on Social Venture Partners Charlotte, visit svpcharlotte.org.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Crimson Park Digital. For Charlotte businesses, getting noticed and staying visible is tougher than ever. That’s where Crimson Park Digital comes in: a boutique marketing agency delivering bespoke strategies for advertising, content, social media, and search engines. They're helping bold, service-focused brands get seen, capture demand, and turn attention into revenue. Ready to bolster your marketing this Fall? Visit CrimsonParkDigital.com to get started.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

How do you get more done in a world that never stops pulling at your attention—without burning out? In this episode, we talk with Brie Chrisman, the founder and CEO of Boss Co Ops, who brings her background in operations, project management and Six Sigma expertise to share practical strategies for boosting productivity while keeping your sanity intact.

Brie explains why our brains get overwhelmed, what “executive dysfunction” really means and how small shifts in your day can have an outsized impact on your focus and energy.

Whether you’re juggling a demanding job, a family schedule, or both, this episode will give you actionable tools to reclaim your focus and make real progress on what matters most.

About Career Boost: This is part of a September 2025 series in The Charlotte Ledger called “Career Boost,” designed to help professionals sharpen their skills, grow their careers and thrive in the workplace. Each installment offers practical tips and expert insights on everything from leadership and productivity to communication and personal branding. It’s smart, actionable guidance for anyone looking to take the next step in their career.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Crimson Park Digital. For Charlotte businesses, getting noticed and staying visible is tougher than ever. That’s where Crimson Park Digital comes in: a boutique marketing agency delivering bespoke strategies for advertising, content, social media, and search engines. They're helping bold, service-focused brands get seen, capture demand, and turn attention into revenue. Ready to bolster your marketing this Fall? Visit CrimsonParkDigital.com to get started.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

In today’s workplace, your online presence is just as important as your resume. LinkedIn has become a cornerstone of how careers grow: it’s where opportunities surface, reputations are built and connections turn into fruitful business relationships.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Amy George of Charlotte-based By George Communications talks with The Ledger’s Tony Mecia about how professionals at every stage can use LinkedIn to strengthen their careers. Amy, who helps clients refine their profiles and presence, shares insights on how to make the platform work for you — whether you’re job hunting, networking or building credibility in your field.

This episode is packed with practical tips that professionals can apply right away to strengthen their LinkedIn presence and, by extension, their careers. It’s useful, real-world advice that can help you look better online, connect more effectively and open doors to new opportunities.

About Career Boost: This is part of a September 2025 series in The Charlotte Ledger called “Career Boost,” designed to help professionals sharpen their skills, grow their careers and thrive in the workplace. Each installment offers practical tips and expert insights on everything from leadership and productivity to communication and personal branding. It’s smart, actionable guidance for anyone looking to take the next step in their career.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com

Being good at your job isn’t enough. At some point, every professional is asked to step out from behind the spreadsheets, codes or reports and communicate — whether it’s presenting to leadership, giving feedback to a colleague or rallying a team around a shared vision. That’s where careers are made or stalled.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, The Ledger’s Tony Mecia talks with Lou Solomon, founder of Charlotte-based communications training company Interact Studio and an expert in helping leaders communicate with authenticity. Lou shares practical strategies to move from subject-matter expert to communicator, using tools like storytelling, brevity and honest dialogue to build influence and trust.

This conversation offers practical tips on how better communication can help you grow in your career.

About Career Boost: This is part of a September 2025 series in The Charlotte Ledger called “Career Boost,” designed to help professionals sharpen their skills, grow their careers and thrive in the workplace. Each installment offers practical tips and expert insights on everything from leadership and productivity to communication and personal branding. It’s smart, actionable guidance for anyone looking to take the next step in their career.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Find out more about The Charlotte Ledger at TheCharlotteLedger.com.

When Charlotte-based entrepreneur Gilberto Bergman describes asbestos removal, he makes it sound like a mix of science, construction and public health. His company, Bergman Brothers Staffing, provides trained, certified workers for jobs that require the safe handling of hazardous materials like asbestos, lead and mold. These jobs, he explains, aren’t just dirty or technical — they’re lifesaving.

“You know you’re doing something that is going to protect the well-being of the people in that building,” Bergman said.

Bergman’s journey into the field wasn’t planned. Originally from Nicaragua, he moved to the U.S. as a teenager, eventually landing in Charlotte, where he and his brother started a staffing business. When his brother left, Bergman kept the company going and gradually steered it into a highly specialized niche.

Nearly 25 years later, Bergman Brothers is bidding on projects from Texas to Hawaii and working on federal sites across the country. For Bergman, it’s both a business and a calling.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, in an interview with host Steve Dunn, Bergman shares the joys of entrepreneurship and finding his purpose, how toxic materials like asbestos are removed in an environmentally safe way, his journey from Nicaragua to the U.S., and his plans for the future.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

Bergman received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025. Find out more about the 40 Over 40 awards by going to Ledger40over40.com.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

Maintaining strength and mobility isn’t just about looking fit—it’s about preserving independence, health and quality of life as we age. Muscles naturally begin to change around midlife, with metabolism slowing and the body losing some of its ability to build or maintain mass.

Without attention, that shift can lead to less strength, more fatigue, and a higher risk of chronic conditions. But experts say muscle longevity—the ability to keep muscles strong and functional well into later years—is possible with the right habits.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, The Ledger’s Tony Mecia talks with orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Robert Morgan about how aging affects muscle, what people can do to counteract the decline, and why it’s never too late to start.

This episode is a recording of the third session of the free “Move Well, Live Well” webinar series, brought to you by The Charlotte Ledger and OrthoCarolina. This summer, we’re bringing you a three‑part series designed to help you stay strong, mobile, and pain‑free as you age. Each session features practical advice from experts you can use right away.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Robert Morgan. Click here for more information on the “Move Well, Life Well’ webinar series.

Other podcasts in the series:

Part 1: "Improving your muscle health, with OrthoCarolina's Dr. Barrett A. Little"

Part 2: "Understanding arthritis and easing the aches, with OrthoCarolina's Dr. Michael Bates"

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Arthritis is one of the most common conditions people face as they age, often bringing pain, stiffness and limits on mobility. But while many assume it’s an unavoidable part of getting older, experts say there are steps people can take to slow its progression and even reduce the risk of developing it in the first place.

From lifestyle choices like exercise and weight management to newer treatment options, the conversation around arthritis is shifting from inevitability to prevention and management.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Dr. Michael Bates, a Charlotte orthopedic surgeon recognized as a 2023 Top Doctor by Charlotte Magazine, sits down with The Ledger’s Tony Mecia to explain what arthritis is, dispel common myths, and share practical advice.

This episode is a recording of the second session of the free “Move Well, Live Well” webinar series, brought to you by The Charlotte Ledger and OrthoCarolina. This summer, we’re bringing you a three‑part series designed to help you stay strong, mobile, and pain‑free as you age. Each session will feature practical advice from experts you can use right away.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Michael Bates. Click here for more information on the “Move Well, Life Well’ webinar series.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by OrthoCarolina, a leading orthopedic care center based in Charlotte. For more information or to book an appointment with an expert, visit OrthoCarolina.com.

This episode is a recording of the first session of the free “Move Well, Live Well” webinar series, brought to you by The Charlotte Ledger and OrthoCarolina. This summer, we’re bringing you a three‑part series designed to help you stay strong, mobile, and pain‑free as you age. Each session will feature practical advice from experts you can use right away.

Whether you're managing joint pain on the pickleball court, staying active as you age or just trying to stay strong between TV episodes, Barrett A. Little, MD, has the answers on how to keep your muscles strong and active at any stage of life that you’re in, including movement, nutrition, supplements and proactive care.

Little is a board‑certified sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon with OrthoCarolina based in Fort Mill and Rock Hill. He has more than 15 years of experience treating athletes of all ages, specializing in shoulder and knee arthroscopy, joint and fracture care, and general sports orthopedics. He also serves as the team physician for Winthrop University Athletics.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Barrett Little. Click here for more information on the “Move Well, Life Well’ webinar series.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Lewis Donald, better known as “Sweet Lew,” is the classically trained chef behind Sweet Lew’s Barbecue in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood. After two decades in fine dining and country clubs, including an apprenticeship at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, Donald traded white tablecloths for wood smoke in 2018, opening a counter-service spot dedicated to Carolina barbecue and community.

At Sweet Lew’s, the focus is on simplicity, consistency and tradition: whole pork shoulders, brisket, ribs and house-made sausages smoked entirely over wood, alongside nods to multiple regional styles like South Carolina hash and rice, Lexington-style chopped pork and both red and white slaws. Donald says the goal is to be Charlotte’s go-to neighborhood barbecue joint — approachable, unpretentious and the kind of place where memories are made over smoked meats.

In this episode, Donald shares how his fine dining skills translate to the pit, what he’s learned running a neighborhood barbecue joint and why he’s passionate about pushing North and South Carolina barbecue into the national spotlight.

For more information on Sweet Lew’s, visit SweetLewsBBQ.com.

This podcast episode is part of a series highlighting winners of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 awards, which honor and celebrate often unheralded people over the age of 40 who are making important contributions to Charlotte. It’s hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. Donald received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.