Host Jane Khodos Beyer welcomes Chris Ullman to The People You Meet In Old Town Podcast. Chris shares his communications career spanning Capitol Hill, the SEC, the White House, and 18 years building Carlyle Group’s communications function, including working closely with Glenn Youngkin and philanthropist David Rubenstein. He discusses Rubenstein’s “patriotic philanthropy,” including the new museum space under the Lincoln Memorial funded by an $18.5 million gift. Chris also reveals his other life as a four-time international whistling champion—whistling for presidents and vice presidents, performing with orchestras, and whistling “Happy Birthday” daily (about 700 times a year!). He highlights lessons from his books “Find Your Whistle” and “Four Billionaires and a Parking Attendant” and whistles on show. To learn more about Chris and to purchase his books, visit: https://chrisullman.com/. 

00:00 Meet Chris Ullman

01:24 Old Town Connection

01:48 Career in Communications

03:10 Building Carlyle Comms

04:35 Advising After Carlyle

05:41 Working With Youngkin

06:49 Rubenstein Philanthropy

08:23 Lincoln Memorial Museum

09:55 Champion Whistling Origin

11:42 Whistle Meets Day Job

13:25 Find Your Whistle Message

16:27 Oval Office Whistling

19:02 700 Birthday Whistles

21:09 Success Lessons Book

23:16 Purpose And Bridges

25:25 Raise Your Hand

27:08 Go Into Office

28:07 Whistling Warmups

30:35 Happy Birthday Bit

32:01 Anthem And Jazz

33:24 Old Town Lightning Round

35:50 Symphony Season Update

37:01 Wrap Up And Support

Around Old Town and Beyond:

• Misha’s Coffee: mishascoffee.com | IG: @mishascoffee
• Landini Brothers: landinibrothers.com | IG: @landinibrothersinc
• Alexandria Symphony Orchestra: alexsym.org | IG: @alex_symphony
• George Washington Masonic National Memorial: 101 Callahan Dr. | gwmemorial.org | IG: @gwmemorial
• Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall: 4915 E. Campus Dr. | nvcc.edu/schlesinger | IG: @schlesinger_center
• Call Your Mother Deli: callyourmotherdeli.com | IG: @callyourmotherdeli

Stay Connected

Email us at [email protected]

To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/ follow, leave a rating and a review.

Instagram: @peopleyoumeet.oldtownalx

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Host Jane Khodos Beyer welcomes Chris Ullman to The People You Meet In Old Town Podcast. Chris shares his communications career spanning Capitol Hill, the SEC, the White House, and 18 years building Carlyle Group’s communications function, including working closely with Glenn Youngkin and philanthropist David Rubenstein. He discusses Rubenstein’s “patriotic philanthropy,” including the new museum space under the Lincoln Memorial funded by an $18.5 million gift. Chris also reveals his other life as a four-time international whistling champion—whistling for presidents and vice presidents, performing with orchestras, and whistling “Happy Birthday” daily (about 700 times a year!). He highlights lessons from his books “Find Your Whistle” and “Four Billionaires and a Parking Attendant” and whistles on show. To learn more about Chris and to purchase his books, visit: https://chrisullman.com/. 

00:00 Meet Chris Ullman

01:24 Old Town Connection

01:48 Career in Communications

03:10 Building Carlyle Comms

04:35 Advising After Carlyle

05:41 Working With Youngkin

06:49 Rubenstein Philanthropy

08:23 Lincoln Memorial Museum

09:55 Champion Whistling Origin

11:42 Whistle Meets Day Job

13:25 Find Your Whistle Message

16:27 Oval Office Whistling

19:02 700 Birthday Whistles

21:09 Success Lessons Book

23:16 Purpose And Bridges

25:25 Raise Your Hand

27:08 Go Into Office

28:07 Whistling Warmups

30:35 Happy Birthday Bit

32:01 Anthem And Jazz

33:24 Old Town Lightning Round

35:50 Symphony Season Update

37:01 Wrap Up And Support

Around Old Town and Beyond:

• Misha’s Coffee: mishascoffee.com | IG: @mishascoffee
• Landini Brothers: landinibrothers.com | IG: @landinibrothersinc
• Alexandria Symphony Orchestra: alexsym.org | IG: @alex_symphony
• George Washington Masonic National Memorial: 101 Callahan Dr. | gwmemorial.org | IG: @gwmemorial
• Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall: 4915 E. Campus Dr. | nvcc.edu/schlesinger | IG: @schlesinger_center
• Call Your Mother Deli: callyourmotherdeli.com | IG: @callyourmotherdeli

Stay Connected

Email us at [email protected]

To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/ follow, leave a rating and a review.

Instagram: @peopleyoumeet.oldtownalx

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Host Jane Khodos Beyer welcomes novelist and former journalist Susan Gregg Gilmore to The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria Podcast to discuss Gilmore’s career pivot from freelance journalism (including the LA Times and Christian Science Monitor) to fiction writing at 40 with no prior fiction experience. Gilmore describes her messy, scene-based drafting process, finding inspiration in everyday life, and the publishing path of writing a book, securing an agent, and submitting to publishers. She recounts the 10-year journey to write The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush, inspired by a tombstone reading “Leonard Bush’s leg, 1923,” including balancing a full-time real estate career, receiving painful feedback from her agent, and reshaping the novel through a Novel Writing 101 workshop. Gilmore shares advice for writers (time in the chair, thick skin), explains the book’s hopeful premise, and celebrates winning the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction, then ends with Old Town favorites and where to buy the book.

00:00 Meet Susan Gilmore

01:48 Pivot to Fiction at 40

03:10 Journalism Roots

04:41 Writer Joys and Struggles

06:02 Messy Novel Process

07:58 Finding Inspiration

10:00 Leonard Bush Spark

12:07 Ten Year Rewrite

16:12 Revision and Writing Space

17:30 Praise and Harsh Reviews

19:29 Publishing Journey Next

19:46 Publishing Pathway

21:20 Advice For Writers

22:18 Building Thick Skin

24:05 Holding The Book

25:06 Winning Willie Morris

26:30 Hopeful Message

27:58 What She Reads

28:45 Micro Memoir Substack

30:13 Old Town Lightning Round

32:52 Where To Buy

Around Old Town and beyond:

• Josephine: 400 King St | josephineoldtown.com | IG: @josephineoldtown
• Tatte Bakery & Cafe: 115 King St | tattebakery.com | IG: @tattebakery
• Comfort One Shoes: 201 King St | comfortone.com | IG: @comfortone
• Old Town Books: 106 N St Asaph St | oldtownbooks.com | IG: @oldtownbooks

Let’s Stay in Touch

Email us at [email protected]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force for FIFA World Cup 2026, sits down with host Jane Khodos Beyer to pull back the curtain on the most complex security and logistics operation in American sports history. From his days playing golf at Duke to serving in the Trump White House and running for governor of New York, Andrew's path to leading the federal effort behind a 48-team, 78-game, 40-day tournament is anything but ordinary. Andrew breaks down exactly what it takes to coordinate eight federal agencies, state and local law enforcement partners across 11 host cities, and counterparts in Mexico and Canada, all while protecting 1.6 billion viewers and making sure the world sees American exceptionalism on full display. Plus: why Old Town Alexandria was chosen as the home base for Team Croatia, how fans can still get tickets, and — because Jane and Andrew are both proud New Yorkers — who actually makes the best pizza. Plus, a lightning round on their favorite places around Old Town.

00:00 World Cup Stakes Intro

01:24 Meet Andrew Giuliani

02:58 Security Scale Explained

07:15 Task Force Structure

10:05 Trilateral Host Coordination

12:27 Tickets and Fan Festivals

15:10 Croatia Picks Old Town

17:56 Croatia in Town Impact

20:23 Why Soccer Rules Globally

22:31 Soccer Boom America

22:47 World Cup Sparks MLS

23:23 Womens Game Surge

24:00 2026 World Cup Outlook

24:26 New York Pizza Pivot

24:51 Iconic NYC Slices

25:44 West Village Pizza Tour

26:49 Old Town Pizza Taste

27:43 Soccer Terms Banter

28:14 Old Town Lightning Round

29:15 Coffee Dinner Drinks Picks

31:50 Game Watching Spots

32:29 Closing Thanks And Teamwork

Around Old Town and Beyond

Cooper Mill Pizza: IG: @thecoopermill

Landini Brothers: IG: @landinibrothersinc

Swings Coffee: IG: @swingscoffee

Mia's: IG: @mias_italian_kitchen

Thompson Italian: IG: @thompsonitalian

Josephine: IG: @josephineoldtown

Barca Pier & Wine Bar: IG: @barca_alx

The Study at the Morrison House: IG: @thestudyalx

Augie's: IG: @augiesbeergarden

Call Your Mother Deli: IG: @callyourmotherdeli

Stay Connected

Email us at [email protected]

To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and a review.

Instagram: @peopleyoumeet.oldtownalx

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Rachel Moon, founder of Remedy Speech Therapy, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to share her journey from early intervention specialist to private practice owner. Rachel breaks down what speech-language pathology covers, from articulation disorders and language delays to autism and stuttering, and offers practical guidance for parents of young children. Rachel walks us through key developmental milestones parents should watch for in the first two years of life, the power of reading aloud and reducing screen time, and how to make the most of educational shows like Ms. Rachel and Danny Go! She also addresses common parental concerns about bilingual households, accent development, and when to seek a professional evaluation for speech impediments.

Remedy Speech Therapy is a boutique pediatric speech and occupational therapy practice offering personalized, evidence-based care that nurtures confidence, connection and communication - one child at a time. To learn more about Remedy's speech therapy, occupational therapy, myofunctional therapy, literacy groups, literacy tutoring, k-5 tutoring, feeding therapy and much more, please visit https://www.remedyspeechtherapy.com.

Timestamps:
00:00 When Kids Start Talking
01:05 Meet Rachel Moon
02:30 What Speech Therapy Covers
03:41 Milestones and Red Flags
04:42 Reading and Play Tips
05:29 Screen Time Done Right
06:58 Sounds Kids Grow Into
08:00 Bilingualism and Delays
09:47 Accents and Environment
11:55 Building Remedy Practice
13:04 Finding Therapy and Classes
14:17 Old Town Lightning Round
15:44 Wrap Up and Thanks

Around Old Town and beyond:
• Remedy Speech Therapy: Old Town Alexandria | remedyspeechtherapy.com | IG: @remedyspeechtherapy
• Landini Brothers: 115 King St | landinibrothers.com | IG: @landinibrothers
• For Five Coffee: 1800C Diagonal Rd | forfivecoffee.com
• Happy Place: Waterfront, Old Town Alexandria | IG: @happyplaceoldtown

Amanda Mertins, co-owner of Patina Polished Living, Old Town Alexandria’s beloved home goods and interior design shop,  joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to talk about a life spent making spaces feel like home. From setting the table at elementary school dinner parties and rearranging furniture in her tiny bedroom, to building a thriving retail and design business alongside her partner Kim, Amanda shares how passion, persistence, and a head for economics turned a lifelong instinct into a 14-year-old business.

Amanda breaks down her signature approach to editing a home, how she walks through every room before touching a thing, spots the hidden gem gathering dust in a guest room, and gives clients permission to finally let go of Aunt Sue’s chair. She shares her philosophy on mixing vintage and new, high and low (in both interiors and fashion), the two things you should always spend money on, why you should never buy a sofa online, and the design rules she loves to break. She also talks about the reality of running a retail store in Old Town: the joy of installation day, the grief of broken deliveries, and the partnership that has kept Patina thriving for over a decade.

00:00 What Makes Home

01:32 Amanda’s Design Origins

04:42 Launching Patina

06:38 Retail Reality Check

08:21 Editing Homes Superpower

13:29 Inside the Storehouse

16:48 Paint Color Shortcuts

18:53 Retail Joy and Client Reveals

23:52 Installation Day Magic

27:44 Client Reactions and Referrals

28:22 Sourcing Trips and Vintage Finds

29:41 Estate Sales and Market Hustle

30:26 Retail Grunt Work Realities

33:00 Designing for Family and Heirlooms

34:42 When Husbands Drive Design

37:09 Investing in Quality Furniture

38:07 Old Town Lightning Round

41:55 Personal Style Over Trends

44:14 Designing Semi Permanent Choices

46:59 Podcast Praise and Farewell

Patina Polished Living: 111 S Columbus St | patinapolishedliving.com | IG: @patinapolishedliving

Indochen: 1615 King St | indochen.com | IG: @indochenva

Monogram Logistics: monogramlogistics.com | IG: @monogramlogistics

Email us at [email protected]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Marie Bucoy-Calavan, the Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to share her remarkable journey from a Filipino immigrant household to the conductor's podium at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Marie recounts how parental pressure to pursue medicine or law gave way to a deep love of music, and how a mentor's belief in her at age 21 set her on the path to earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Marie explains why Washington, D.C. is a "choral mecca" — home to a thriving ecosystem of choral ensembles — and highlights the incredible venues across the region where live choral performances come to life. She also speaks passionately about musical education for young children, the Mozart effect, the Suzuki method, and hidden classical music gems in beloved children's shows like Bluey and Danny Go. And she shares what it means to lead the Choral Arts Society to Carnegie Hall for the concert, From Darkness to Light.

Timing:

00:00 A Baton and Harmony

00:59 Meet Marie Bucoy-Calavan

01:03 How We Met in Old Town

01:32 Finding the Conductor Path

04:11 Arts Career Doubts

05:37 From Piano to Many Instruments

08:53 Empathy for the Orchestra

09:57 Doctorate and Training

11:10 DC as Choral Mecca

12:33 Best Venues and Joining Choirs

14:45 Carnegie Hall and New Programs

15:59 Kids and Early Music Exposure

19:39 Singing Toys to Choirs

20:05 Kids Chorus Options

21:42 Danny Go Movement Songs

23:24 Bluey Classical Easter Eggs

27:07 Taylor Swift Parallels

29:11 Live Performance Stamina

30:33 Handling Mistakes Onstage

32:00 Old Town Lightning Round

33:27 Closing Thanks and Culture

Around Old Town and beyond:

•       Maman: 500 King St | mamannyc.com | IG: @mamancafe

•       Café du Soleil: 1723 Connecticut Ave NW | IG: @cafedusoleildc

•       Le Refuge: 127 N Washington St, Alexandria | IG: @lerefugealexandria

•       Orangetheory Fitness Alexandria: 1101 King St | orangetheory.com | IG: @orangetheoryfitness

•       Choral Arts Society of Washington: choralarts.org | IG: @choralarts

•       Levine Music: levinemusic.org | IG: @levinemusic

•       Children's Chorus of Washington: childrenschorusofwashington.org | IG: @childrenschorusdc

•       The Strathmore: 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda | strathmore.org | IG: @strathmore

•       The Kennedy Center: 2700 F St NW, Washington DC | kennedy-center.org | IG: @kennedycenter

Ever wondered what's actually on that two-mile-long train rolling through town? Chriss Nielsen has spent 30 years as a freight rail economist and she ended up there entirely by accident. In this episode, she breaks down how goods move across America, why your Amazon package probably crossed three states by rail, and what AI might mean for driverless trains. Then Chriss shares her other passion: At Home in Alexandria, a village-style nonprofit helping neighbors age in place, including the 92-year-old she drives to the gym every Wednesday. Oh, and she grew up trick-or-treating at Dr. Seuss's house. 

00:00 Welcome to Old Town

00:56 Book Club Beginnings

03:39 From Temp to Rail

05:52 Rate Cases Explained

07:49 Rail vs Trucks

10:40 Deregulation Debate

13:05 Big Railroads Today

14:59 Future of Freight

16:53 AI and Driverless Trains

19:46 Amtrak vs Freight

21:04 Amtrak vs Freight Priority

22:46 Why US Rail Lags Europe

23:41 High Speed Rail Reality

25:38 Best Rail Systems Today

26:32 Transit Subsidies Debate

27:23 At Home in Alexandria

28:14 Village Services Explained

31:40 Volunteer Story at the Y

32:58 Dr Seuss Connection

36:38 Lightning Round Favorites

37:42 Markets and Monopoly

38:11 Seuss Railroad Rhyme

38:40 Final Thanks and Wrap 

Around Old Town - places mentioned in this episode:

• Fresh Baguette: 1101 King St | freshbaguette.net | IG: @freshbaguette
• Principle Gallery: 208 King St | principlegallery.com | IG: @principlegallery
• At Home in Alexandria (AHA): 3139 Mt. Vernon Ave | athomeinalexandria.org | IG: @athomeinalexandria

Email us at [email protected]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. 

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

In this episode of People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria, host Jane Khodos Beyer sits down with Anne Metcalf—lobbyist, architectural enthusiast, historic home restorer, and author of Old Town At Home. Together, they explore the rich stories behind Old Town’s iconic homes, from centuries-old construction techniques to the surprising discoveries hidden within their walls.

Anne shares her personal journey—from growing up surrounded by architecture and history to restoring historic properties and advocating for cultural institutions. You’ll hear fascinating insights into what it really takes to preserve these homes, the challenges of renovation, and why protecting architectural legacy matters.

They also dive into:

· The untold history behind Old Town homes

· Real-life restoration stories (including oyster shell fireproofing!)

· The balance between preservation and modern living

· How community, history, and architecture intersect

· The inspiration behind Anne’s book and what may come next

Whether you’re a homeowner, history lover, or simply curious about what lies behind those beautiful Old Town facades, this episode offers a rare look inside one of America’s most charming historic neighborhoods.

00:00 Introduction to Old Town

00:26 Meeting Anne Metcalf

02:06 Growing Up in McLean

02:44 Early History Connections

04:25 Professional Background in Lobbying

05:45 Historic Home Restoration Journey

09:09 Discovering Hidden History

13:16 The Genesis of the Book

15:41 The Book Creation Process

18:47 Uncovering Home Stories

19:10 The Chapman Home Story

21:16 Architectural Styles and Favorites

23:20 Building Community Through Book Clubs

25:16 Lobbying for Museums

28:34 Future Book Projects

30:16 Where to Buy

30:47 Closing Thoughts

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Host Jane Khodos Beyer sits down with Chaz Cirame, founder of Big Fish Recruiting, who specializes in placing top talent in public affairs, public policy, and communications. Chaz shares why LinkedIn applications are basically a black hole, why a handwritten thank-you note is still the ultimate power move, and how AI-generated cover letters are backfiring on candidates in ways they don't expect.

You'll also hear:

• Why networking beats cold applying every single time (the real numbers will surprise you)
• How to negotiate an offer without pricing yourself out
• What employers are doing wrong — and how it's costing them great hires
• Why experience almost always trumps a graduate degree
• The career pivot framework Chaz used himself to leave public affairs and build Big Fish from scratch

Plus book recommendations you'll want to write down: Designing Your Life, Aware, and How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Chaz also shares his favorite spots in Old Town Alexandria — from Bollywood Masala to St. Elmo's Coffee — in our lightning round.

00:00 AI Job Search Mistakes

00:15 Meet Chaz Cirame

01:24 How We Met

02:18 Career Pivot Story

04:27 Designing Your Life

07:15 Hiring Market Reality

09:01 Standing Out in Interviews

11:13 Candidate Interview Donts

13:32 Networking Beats Applying

16:12 Using LinkedIn Wisely

18:53 AI Cover Letter Pitfalls

20:07 AI Resume Pitfalls

21:26 Beating ATS Bots

22:36 Employer Hiring Mistakes

25:45 Offer Negotiation Reality

32:03 What Drives Top Pay

33:44 MBA Versus Experience

37:23 Job Search Timelines

38:35 Networking And Books

40:20 Old Town Lightning Round

41:34 Wrap Up And Contact

Chaz’ favorite places around Old Town:

• St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub: 529 Montgomery St | stelmoscoffeepub.com | IG: @stelmos
• Southside 815: 815 S Washington St | southside815.com | IG: @southside815
• Bollywood Masala: 219 King St | bollywoodmasalaalexandria.com | IG: @bollywoodalexandria

Further Reading Recommendations

• Cirame recommends two pivotal books on career design and self-awareness: "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, and,
• "Aware" by Les Csorba. 

The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.

© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.