The Joy Club Podcast

In Korean culture, asking someone "Have you eaten?" isn't really about food. It's a way of saying, I care about you. Are you okay?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down in Savannah with Kay Heritage, founder of Big Bon, over a warm honey bear latte to talk about how that one phrase became the foundation of an entire business. Kay shares her story of coming to the United States from South Korea as a teenager, the difficult transition of learning a new language and culture, and the years she spent in the Army that taught her discipline, leadership, and what it means to truly belong to a family.

Kay opens up about the wood-fired pizza truck she started with her daughter Anna in 2016 on a whim, and how it grew into Big Bon, a business built as much around taking care of people as it is around bagels and pizza. She shares the story of an employee who transformed his life over three years working alongside her, the hardest season of the business when she nearly walked away, and the community of fellow Savannah business owners who showed up for her again and again, from a landlord who extended credit to a friend who dropped off pizza boxes without being asked.

This is a conversation about food as love, resilience as an immigrant and entrepreneur, and what it really means to build a business around people.

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What happens when two friends set out to build a network, and end up building a family instead?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long, co-founders of The Southern C, a community that has spent over a decade bringing together entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners from across the South. Cheri and Whitney share how their careers in Southern magazine publishing led them to start a blog together, and how a simple idea to connect with fellow business owners grew into in-person events that now define a movement.

They talk honestly about their very first event, a summit that survived a sideways rainstorm and became a story their community still tells today, and how they've grown and pivoted through the years, from swag bags packed in a living room to hosting summits, retreats, and workshops across the South. Cheri and Whitney also open up about what it really takes to build a business with your best friend, from learning to pick up the phone instead of texting to knowing when to say no.

The conversation closes with an exciting announcement: The Southern C is sunsetting its Sea Island chapter, and celebrating with a tribute night in honor of one of their community's biggest inspirations.

This is a conversation about connection, community, and building something that outlasts any single event.

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What if the bag you carry every day is quietly holding the story of your entire life?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with her longtime friend Elizabeth Seeger, founder and creative director of Satchel, a Savannah-based handbag and accessories brand built on craftsmanship, function, and timeless style. Over a glass of bubbly, Elizabeth traces her path from studying fashion design at SCAD to a brief stint in LA after Hurricane Katrina, and the leap of faith that brought her back to Savannah to open her first storefront at just 23 years old.

Elizabeth shares the surprising, almost accidental origin of Satchel, sewing bags out of her mother's upholstery scraps, and the chance encounter at Hotel Bardo that led to her very first order. She and Emily talk about what makes a design worth keeping for twenty years, the products she's loved that never made it to production, and what running a business for nearly two decades has taught her about resourcefulness, intuition, and knowing when to ask for help.

The conversation closes on something deeply personal: what Elizabeth hopes every Satchel bag carries beyond its contents, and what joy looks like for her in this season of life.

This is a conversation about building something built to last, in business and in life.

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What does it actually take to turn a swatch of fabric into a garment you love to live in?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy takes production on the road to New York City, recording from inside the office of one of Emily McCarthy's manufacturing partners with Assistant Apparel Designer Stella. Surrounded by hundreds of swatches, Emily and Stella pull back the curtain on what really goes into building a collection, from the master list of raw materials, to choosing the fabrics that will define an entire season - as they work on fall and holiday 2027.

Stella walks through the emotional side of design: the fabrics she falls in love with that never make it into a collection, the real cost behind luxury materials like silk and cashmere, and the moment she doubted a fabric that went on to become one of the brand's most beloved prints. She and Emily also get into what customers can't see when they're shopping online, why hand feel matters as much as how a fabric looks, and the ongoing debate between beauty and comfort that shapes nearly every decision they make.

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the science, the risk and the heart that goes into every Emily McCarthy piece before it ever reaches you.

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What if the thing that makes you feel like an outsider is actually your greatest strength?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down in New York City with Mariah Humbert, etiquette coach, entrepreneur, and twice-published author. Mariah shares how being the eldest daughter in a family of entrepreneurs shaped her drive from a young age, and how she left a secure corporate job in fashion retail buying during the pandemic to build a business of her own from scratch.

They talk about how a Saturday etiquette class in New York City turned into an Instagram account, a speaking career, and ultimately two published books, and why Mariah believes etiquette today is less about rigid rules and more about the small, intentional moments that make people feel seen. Mariah opens up about the risk that came with writing her first book, the imposter syndrome she had to work through, and what she's learned about grace, patience, and building authentic relationships along the way.

Emily and Mariah also get into what's ahead, including Mariah's third book, a modern manners guide written for a generation navigating connection in a digital-first world. The conversation closes with Mariah's advice for staying true to yourself in a world that constantly asks you to fit in.

This is a conversation about authenticity, confidence, and the quiet power of showing up as exactly who you are.

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What does it take to build not just one iconic brand, but two?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy travels to New York City to sit down with Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and Frances Valentine, inside the Frances Valentine offices. Elyce shares how growing up on a Kansas farm with an artist mother and a houseful of fashion magazines shaped the entrepreneur she would become, and how a love of vintage shopping as a kid turned into a lifelong eye for timeless style.

They dive into what it really took to build Kate Spade into a household name, the friendship-first culture that shaped both companies, and what young entrepreneurs consistently misunderstand about building a lasting brand. Elyce also opens up about losing her best friend and Kate Spade co-founder, Katie Kate Spade, in 2018, the Love Katie collection born from that loss, and what writing her book, We Might Just Make It After All, taught her about grief, memory, and connection.

Emily and Elyce also get into what's next for Frances Valentine, including a Mary Tyler Moore-inspired collaboration, an upcoming collection with Blair Eadie, and a new Frances Valentine location opening this fall in Charleston, South Carolina. The conversation closes with Elyce’s advice for what every woman should remember when she gets dressed in the morning.

This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and building something meaningful even after everything changes.

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Location - 2237 East Victory Drive

What actually goes into a single piece of clothing before it ever reaches the sales floor?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy launches a brand-new segment with Stella, Assistant Apparel Designer at Emily McCarthy. Stella shares how a persistent portfolio (and a memorable typo) landed her a spot on the creative team. They dive into her SCAD background and expertise, as well as what really happens behind the scenes of a clothing brand. From year-long design timelines, to the all-day fitting sessions where every button, seam, and stitch color gets picked apart.

Emily and Stella talk about the early days, to now. They highlight the custom Italy-inspired belt buckles behind this upcoming collection, and what it took to finally create the "perfect" white tee. They also get into what defines true luxury versus just expensive, why trends like capris and barrel jeans have such passionate opinions in the office, and what brings each of them joy outside of work - from a new puppy to a solo cup of shark teeth on Tybee Island.

This is the first of many behind-the-brand conversations, and Emily and Stella want to hear what you're curious about next.

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Location - 2237 East Victory Drive

What happens when your dear friend also helps build your business?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with Julia Barrett—Director of Business and Brand Development at Emily McCarthy and one of Emily's closest friends for nearly 17 years.

From navigating marriage and motherhood together to growing the Emily McCarthy brand behind the scenes, Julia shares stories that most people have never heard. She talks about the moment she thought Emily had completely lost her mind over buying a building, what it's really like working alongside your good friend, and the lessons she's learned while helping build a nationally recognized lifestyle brand.

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If you've ever wondered what it takes to build a successful brand while preserving a lifelong friendship, this conversation is full of honesty, laughter, and plenty of heart.

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Location - 2237 East Victory Drive

Every creative career has a beginning—and for editorial photographer Kelli Boyd, it didn't start behind a camera.

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with her longtime friend and creative collaborator, Kelli Boyd, to explore the journey that led her to becoming one of the Southeast's most sought-after editorial photographers. From luxury weddings and interior design photography to brand campaigns, Kelli shares the lessons she's learned while building a business rooted in creativity, authenticity, and trust.

Together, they discuss Kelli's unconventional career path, the challenges that shaped her, the business venture that didn't succeed, and why those setbacks became some of her greatest teachers. She also reflects on staying true to her artistic vision in an ever-changing industry and what it's like to document life's biggest moments while being an introvert behind the lens.

Whether you're building a creative business, navigating a career change, or looking for inspiration to pursue your own path, this conversation is filled with honest insights and encouragement.

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Location - 2237 East Victory Drive

Every great brand has an origin story.

In the premiere episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with Julia Barrett, Director of Business and Brand Development—and Emily's friend of 17 years—to share the story behind the brand. From launching a custom stationery business to building a nationally recognized fashion and lifestyle company headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, Emily reflects on the pivotal moments, bold decisions, and lessons that shaped her journey.

Emily opens up about stepping away from the craft that first defined her business, taking a leap of faith to create the company's flagship headquarters, and balancing entrepreneurship with family life. She also shares how listening to the women who wear her designs has influenced every collection, why color and confidence are inseparable, and the daily rituals that help her stay grounded.

Whether you're building a business, searching for creative inspiration, or simply looking for a reminder to embrace more joy in your everyday life, this conversation offers an honest look behind one of Savannah's most recognizable brands.

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If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow The Joy Club Podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little more joy in their day.

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Location - 2237 East Victory Drive