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.

Before Doug Madar helped launch Carolina Crown into one of the world’s top drum and bugle corps, he was simply a young music enthusiast captivated by the intensity and precision of the activity. Though he never marched himself, Madar became a lifelong supporter and, in 1990, co-founded the Fort Mill-based corps with just 57 members, homemade uniforms and used horns.

Today, Carolina Crown is celebrated for its unmatched horn line, dynamic shows and the passion of its performers, many of whom are college-age musicians from across the globe. Beyond the field, Crown also hosts NightBEAT — a premier competition that draws more than 11,000 fans each year and showcases the very best of the activity.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Madar shares how Carolina Crown grew from a small local group to a world-class ensemble, why drum corps is both an art and a life lesson and the values that keep performers and fans dedicated to the activity.

Madar received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025. For more information on Carolina Crown, visit CarolinaCrown.org.

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. Find out more about the 40 Over 40 awards by going to Ledger40over40.com.

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

Off the coast of North Carolina lies one of the world’s most treacherous stretches of sea — a place where shifting shoals, sudden storms and centuries of shipwrecks have earned it the name “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

In July 2025, The Charlotte Ledger ran a series with that same name — researched and written by journalist Mark Washburn — that explores the region’s lore through wartime sinkings, devastating hurricanes, pirate legends, lost treasure and enduring nautical mysteries.

Washburn recently spoke in front of an audience at The Sharon at SouthPark retirement community about his research process and what he learned along the way. He was interviewed by Ledger assistant editor Lindsey Banks, and we recorded the conversation for anyone who wants to listen and dive deeper into the series.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Washburn discusses the inspiration behind the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” series, how he approached the research and the surprising discoveries he made along the way.

To read the full series, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com and subscribe today.

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

Running a large parks system in a fast-growing county might sound overwhelming, but for Nick Walker, it’s exactly the kind of challenge he was looking for. The former Memphis parks director took over as head of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation in February 2025 and now oversees more than 290 parks, greenways and facilities across 22,500 acres.

Since arriving in Charlotte, Walker has been getting to know the system from the inside out. He’s toured parks, met staff and listened to residents’ feedback as the department begins updating its master plan — a process that will help shape future investments in parks, sports fields, pools and community centers. While the county has made major progress in recent years — completing more than 50 of 85 planned projects — Walker says the demand still outpaces what’s currently in place.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Walker sits down with The Ledger’s Lindsey Banks to talk about his vision for the county’s parks and recreation system, the challenges of managing a growing park system, and upcoming projects he’s excited about. They also discuss what drew Walker to Charlotte, big-picture needs like more ball fields and pools, and the accuracy of the NBC sitcom “Parks & Rec."

Today’s 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.

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

What happens when a major foundation suddenly triples its giving?

In this episode, we talk with Tom Lawrence, CEO of The Leon Levine Foundation, about the decision by the 3rd-largest foundation in the Carolinas to boost its annual grantmaking to $100 million.

Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Lawrence and board chair Michael Tarwater about how the move fulfills Leon Levine’s longtime vision, what kinds of organizations stand to benefit and how the foundation is navigating this turning point.

Lawrence shares insights on giving priorities, how funding decisions are made, and what the surge in grant-making means for communities across the Carolinas.

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