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Richmond’s folklore runs deep — and in this episode we dig up a few of the city’s strangest myths and modern problems side by side. We start with the infamous Richmond Vampire and the buried train beneath Church Hill, exploring how urban legends take root when tragedy and mystery overlap.

From there, the conversation shifts to science: the discovery of fossilized human teeth in Ethiopia, where VCU researchers are helping rewrite the story of human evolution. We talk Australopithecus, Neanderthals, diet, jaw development, and whether “aliens” might simply be future humans reshaped by posture, breath, and environment.

But Richmond always pulls us back to earth. We dive into the reality of the city’s 311 app — from potholes and broken sidewalks to missing trash cans and green space neglect. Why does the city prioritize amphitheaters and meadows while neighborhoods struggle with basic infrastructure?

No topic is too small or too strange: the Texas Beach bridge, Carytown’s Watermelon Festival that somehow forgot about watermelons, and the bigger cultural question of the 80% problem — when public projects and events miss the mark on the very thing they’re supposed to celebrate.

It’s folklore, science, infrastructure, and identity all in one ride: from vampires and hidden trains to fossilized teeth and watermelonless festivals.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

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Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

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instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

We open with the strange saga of Richmond’s forgotten mummy — a body left under bricks for nearly two decades before anyone thought to ask questions. From there, the conversation spirals into the absurd and the political: the story of Eric Morales Garcia, the man who locked government officials in a room as an act of protest, raising questions about rebellion, justice, and whether Richmond could use a little more chaos.

But that’s only the start. We unpack the mystery of the single blue slip-on shoe, a symbol of the city’s 335 unsolved cold cases still haunting RVA. We question why bureaucracies bury stories while communities carry the weight of unanswered history.

The episode veers into the everyday, where the DMV shocks us by being… pleasant? Libraries are suddenly making a comeback, while gyms start to feel like the new churches of modern life — complete with ritual, guilt, and the promise of redemption. And then there are Richmond’s speed humps, designed for safety but now launching cars into the air and sparking neighborhood outrage.

Finally, we turn inward — tackling ADD, TikTok attention spans, and why the 8-hour workday is dead. From the 2 + 8 Method of daily productivity to the struggle of building consistency in a distracted world, we explore how creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone living in 2025 can rethink what focus really looks like.

It’s a ride through the forgotten, the chaotic, and the strangely ordinary. From mummies to modern attention spans, Richmond proves once again that the line between history, culture, and daily life is thinner — and stranger — than we think.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

Veronica Jones never set out to be a massage therapist — she stumbled into it by accident. What began as a way to make money became a calling, a path to healing that combines bodywork, intuition, and holistic care. 

As the founder of Lahma Cumasach, Veronica now guides women and mothers through massage therapy, lymphatic detox, and doula services that focus on rest, restoration, and flow.

In this episode, she shares:

• How being “tricked” into massage school led her to discover her gift
• The moment a client's shoulder injury left them in tears of gratitude and shifted her entire view of the work
• Why massage isn’t a luxury, but essential medicine for stress, trauma, and immune health
• The truth about toxins, breathwork, and why one hour of massage equals six hours of sleep
• Her philosophy on holding space, slowing down, and creating flow in everyday life
• Overcoming imposter syndrome while opening her own studio and business
• What doula care really means, and why mothers need advocacy during childbirth
• The personal birth experience that fuels her mission to help other women
• The origin story of the name Lahma Cumasach — “gifted, empowered hands”

From energy, intuition, and trauma release to entrepreneurship, motherhood, and personal transformation, Veronica’s story is both practical and deeply human. This is an episode about rest, resilience, and the power of touch to restore what the modern world strips away.

Learn more about Veronica and her services:

LahmaCumasach.com 

Instagram @LahmaCumasach

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

We kick off Richmond’s “Hot Boy Summer” with a debate over whether NASCAR’s raw chaos outshines F1’s polished precision, and why endurance athletes willingly subject themselves to cycling’s masochistic grind in the name of “Type II fun.” From there, we stumble into the absurdity of pedestrian planning — jaywalking tickets, newly raised curbs, and the question of whether Richmond is actually designing its streets for people or just pretending to.

VCU’s presence looms large as we dissect the economic boost of move-in week against the reality of gridlock and sanitized public spaces. Carytown’s traffic, Main Street’s curb cuts, and the Boulevard roundabouts all become flashpoints in Richmond’s ongoing tug-of-war between growth and livability.

But it’s not all infrastructure rants. We celebrate the culture that makes this city magnetic — Montana Gold bread worth driving across town for, farmers markets that feel like weekly festivals, and Browns Island’s promise of becoming Richmond’s true cultural stage. Even pro wrestling enters the conversation, as we argue whether WWE is “fake” or just the most brutal form of theater hiding in plain sight.

It’s a ride through Richmond’s identity — half civic critique, half love letter — proving that the city’s summer heat isn’t just about the weather.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

Bradley Jones and Caleb Attalah left the comfort of a big-box retailer to build something better: Reno & Company.

Learn more about Reno & Company:

renoandcompany.com | Call 804-620-7366

In this conversation, they share the pivotal lunch that sparked their business, the values that set them apart, and the lessons learned from years of creating kitchens that pair function with beauty.

We talk about:

• The turning point that made them walk away from corporate life
• Why they refuse to cut corners, even when it costs them
• The role of transparency and communication in every project
• How they collaborate with clients to balance form and function
• The challenges of evolving from top employees to business owners
• What’s next for their growing showroom and brand

If you’re a homeowner in Richmond — or anyone who values craftsmanship, integrity, and thoughtful design — this is a conversation worth hearing.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

From growing up in Richmond, Virginia’s Jackson Ward and the projects of Gilpin Court, to breaking a cycle of incarceration, Tehran “Tye” Jones has lived a story of resilience, redemption, and relentless drive.

In this powerful conversation, Myke sits down with Tye as he opens up about his father’s 28-year prison sentence, the moment fatherhood forced him to change course, and the values he’s instilled in his own children to ensure they never have to face the same hardships.

He shares the pivotal day he became a homeowner — describing in vivid detail the feeling of putting the key into his own front door for the first time — and how that experience inspired him to help others achieve the same life-changing milestone. For Tye, real estate isn’t just about property; it’s about generational wealth, legacy, and creating a foundation for the future.

But Tye’s story doesn’t stop there. He recounts the tragic loss of his father, who died choking on a sandwich in a nursing home without trained staff present to save him. This deeply personal event sparked Tye’s mission to advocate for seniors, protect them from exploitation, and ensure they receive the respect and care they deserve in their final years.

https://tehranjones.homes

[email protected]

https://instagram.com/tehranjonesrealtor

(804) 930-2116

Throughout the episode, we explore:

• How growing up without a present father shaped his approach to parenting.
• The temptation of the wrong hustle vs. the discipline of the right one.
• Why teaching boys to be men is more critical than ever.
• The emotional power of homeownership and its ripple effect on families.
• Hard truths about elder care — and what we can do about it.
• How Tye keeps himself strong mentally, physically, and spiritually to serve others.

Tye speaks with the kind of conviction that comes from lived experience — equal parts motivational and challenging. He doesn’t sugarcoat the struggles, but he also doesn’t let them define him. Instead, he’s built a life and a mission rooted in faith, persistence, and service.

Whether you’re a parent determined to break old patterns, someone chasing the dream of homeownership, or simply a human who cares about how we treat our elders, Tye’s story will leave you inspired.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

We start with Richmond's ambitious plan to fix the James River's decades-long sewage problem, but somehow end up exploring everything from naked beach regulars to ancient pyramid conspiracies. Our studio's wild past as Smitty's bar reveals a darker side of Richmond history involving Leo Joseph Coury, a restaurant mogul turned hitman-hiring fugitive who exploited the gay community in the 1970s.

From there, we journey through America's rebellious origins with the "Mind Your Business" continental dollar designed by Benjamin Franklin, questioning everything we think we know about history and archaeology. Why do mainstream Egyptologists ignore evidence that pyramids align with ancient constellations? How did ancient civilizations like Gobekli Tepe challenge our understanding of human development thousands of years before we supposedly developed advanced societies?

We balance the heavy topics with lighter Richmond culture, celebrating the city's thriving farmer's markets, hidden Maymont Park concerts, and the unique neighborhood vibes that make this river city special. Whether we're discussing Class IV rapids, maker markets, or Mass Effect video games, we keep coming back to how stories shape our understanding of truth. Sometimes the most logical explanation sounds like a conspiracy theory, and sometimes local history is stranger than fiction.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

In this episode, Myke sits down with Katie Brown, a local Richmond founder of Real Food With Gratitude, to dive deep into her journey from corporate sales to building a 70K follower food brand on Instagram. Katie shares the brutal honest truth about content creation, the pivot from photography to video content, and how she monetizes her passion for real food.

https://realfoodwithgratitude.com

What You'll Learn:
• How to transition from a 9-5 job to content creation
• The real strategy behind growing from 0 to 70K followers
• Why most food creators fail at monetization
• The truth about Instagram vs TikTok algorithms
• How to price and pitch brand partnerships
• Why building a website matters more than followers

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

A fire ripped through Shockoe Bottom this week, engulfing The Daily Menu and forcing neighboring businesses to shut their doors. But the story doesn’t end with the smoke. In this episode, we dig into the real issues at the heart of Richmond’s downtown decline—from empty night markets and neglected neighborhoods to the quiet collapse of overhyped concepts and underbaked brands.

We cover:

— The state of Shockoe Bottom fires, and why the farmers market keeps missing

— Kava Club’s closure, niche fatigue, and what marketing should’ve done

— Why Big Wife’s mac & cheese didn’t stand a chance

— How Brittany Anderson is getting it right by reimagining Brenner Pass (and why more should follow her lead)

— The rise of AI artists and how Timbaland’s latest project is dividing the creative world

Some places are burning down.

Others are shutting down.

And a few—like Brenner Pass—are rebranding and starting over with intention.

This is a conversation about what it takes to make something last in a city still trying to figure itself out.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

Welcome to the Vera House podcast — a creative editorial in audio form. No scripts, no segments—just an open conversation at the intersection of culture, brand, creativity, and our journey to building something real in a city like Richmond.

In this one, we cover:

— The new Allianz Amphitheater and why it’s already off to an interesting start

— Pickleball, public art, and the muralist Mickael Broth (@thenightowl) who painted “Not For Sale” over his own work in Downtown Richmond

— A belly button redesign that sparked a weird tech-spec rabbit hole

— Rob Zombie's $9 million dollar compound is for sale

— Why Richmond, VA might just be America’s most under-rated city

— Mountain vs. beach homes, helicopters, and racetrack driveways

— And what it takes to make a place feel like home

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri