When the Alabama economy was soaring in February of 2020, the state's unemployment rate was very low. Today, though the pandemic and government assistance, it's nearly as low as it was then. What are employers who desperately need workers doing to find people? Where are the workers? Alabama Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington gives us an update and discusses what employers can do. He'll be a panelist at an upcoming commercial real estate conference where he'll get into further detail. 

Threaded Fastener's culture is a retention tool. Billy Duren is the company president and Chief Motivational Officer. When asked about the company, Billy spends more time describing the culture than the products. Hear how the former company leaders chose an ESOP for the company as they retired and how Billy works to perpetuate the culture day-in and day-out. 

Episode 200!! WooooHoooo!!

Stephen Fitzgerald gave up an enviable career to pursue a passion that began with him building the mountain / gravel bike he always wanted but couldn't find. That passion led to him making bikes for others. Word got out. People showed up. His customers became advocates and followers and his company, per one customer, is now an ethos. That's powerful. Learn what that means and how to make it happen for your own company.

Olivia and Mary Thomas MacKinnon have known since a very young age that they wanted to dance professionally at the highest level their talent would allow. Today they're members of the corps at the New York City Ballet where I chat with them them prior to their nightly holiday performance of the Nutcracker. Born and raised in Mobile, they share their daily practice schedule, their weight-lifting regimen, and their favorite things to do when returning home. 

Michael Ledger runs Mobile's Feeding the Gulf Coast food bank. Kelly Qualls is the VP of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama. Both talk about their programs, what they need from their communities to make them successful, and what their future looks like. Then What's Working producer John Thompson and I talk about the show's plans for 2022. It's the annual Gratitude Show. 

Gabriella Saab's first novel is a smash hit. Her publisher, Harper Collins, thinks so, too, and is prioritizing its publicity. Reviewers are gushing. It's now available in many different languages and is featured in book clubs worldwide. Called The Last Checkmate, the book features a female protagonist, historical fiction, and the game of chess - all trends in today's pop culture. Meet Gabriella and hear our extended conversation on this podcast version of the interview. 

Forester Charles Taylor must keep up with the trends shaping the forestry business today. That includes carbon offset credits, the need for new talent and skilled workers, and the challenges of finding loggers and drivers. Forestry is a HUGE industry in Alabama and this is an important conversation.

It's the annual holiday wine boondoggle. I invite Jim Cox to the studio to sample some great wines to consider for the holidays. He and his wife Carrie run Southern Napa Wines in Daphne, Alabama. We discuss the cool wines of the season, a huge sale of Napa property by friends of his, and sample some goodies. 

REPLAY: Educator Blair Fisher discusses the alarming trend of boys performing poorly in school. Boys are responsible for the vast majority of bad grades, discipline issues, and stand in the front of the line for medications to help them focus. I asked Blair a simple question after watching my daughter's graduation awards day last spring where about twelve girls won awards and only two boys and he offered insight and I had to get him on the air. I say with confidence this is probably the most important show I've done - this issue needs attention. It's a problem. 

Chef Jule creates extraordinary chocolate delicacies in her shop in Fairhope, Alabama. Knowing nothing about high-end chocolate, she takes me on a tasting journey to teach me how her delicacies are made, offering insights on the ingredients she sources from across the US and Europe and even the cocoa trees in Madagascar. If you're looking for a perfect finish to a Thanksgiving meal, take a listen and let Chef Jule offer some delicious ways to cap it off with something truly exceptional.