Wilmington’s business expo has been rebuilt around something more valuable than vendor booths: practical ideas, better conversations, and real business growth.

Matthew Coleman explains why the WilmingtonBiz Expo became Spark ILM—and what Wilmington’s business leaders can expect on October 1.

Matthew is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Wilmington Media + Marketing, home of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. He joins Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum to discuss his path from radio advertising to marketing leadership, the principles that guide his decisions, and the role local media can play in strengthening an entire community.

We break down Spark ILM’s new content-first format, including its economic outlook keynote lunch, 18 workshops across six learning paths, and the Best Places to Work celebration. Matthew also shares how Wilmington businesses are adopting AI, what makes community events successful, and which regional stories deserve our attention.

SPARK ILM 2026

October 1 | 11:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Wilmington Convention Center

Tickets and details: https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/eventDetails?eventID=245

Explore the Greater Wilmington Business Journal:

https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/

If you care about Wilmington’s growth, local leadership, and the people building the Cape Fear region, subscribe to Whiskey & Wisdom and share this episode with someone invested in our community.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Matthew Coleman

01:23 Why We Changed the Intro

02:13 The Candy Break

03:29 Matthew’s Marketing Career

07:43 Goals, Flexibility & Principles

11:16 What Is Spark ILM?

13:28 Event Format & Learning Paths

14:01 Best Places to Work

19:25 Tickets & Event Planning

20:45 AI Workshops & Practical Tools

23:26 Wilmington Leaders Panel

24:31 Humanizing Local Politics

25:48 Defining a Successful Event

28:31 Build Your Own Learning Path

29:47 The Power Breakfast Series

34:44 How to Get Involved With WilmingtonBiz

39:10 Wilmington Business Stories to Watch

41:36 Success, Principles & Leadership

42:49 Advice to His Younger Self

45:09 Where to Follow Matthew

One spontaneous interview with a ripped 78-year-old went viral—and completely changed the direction of evry day club. Now founders Evynn and Ryan are interviewing fit older adults to uncover the simple habits that actually support a longer, healthier life. In this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum sit down with the founders of evry day club, a growing wellness platform that helps people make healthier everyday choices through tested food, home, and beauty recommendations. Evynn and Ryan share how their backgrounds in nursing, medical sales, music, and content creation came together—and why they believe healthy living should feel practical instead of overwhelming. The conversation covers their 80/20 philosophy, reading product labels, managing stress, building a searchable wellness website, growing a Substack email list, creating content people actually watch, and the surprising longevity lessons they’ve learned from fit older adults. Their biggest lesson is simple: if you don’t move it, you lose it. This conversation is about more than extending your lifespan. It’s about protecting your quality of life, staying capable as you age, and building habits you can sustain. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wisdom for honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and people building something that matters.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome and Guests

01:09 How Evynn and Ryan Connected

01:46 Wine Talk and Reading Labels

03:42 Meet the Founders

04:59 The Origin of evry day club

07:17 Making Clean Living Simpler

09:09 From Nursing to Longevity Content

11:32 Training, Pilates, and Personal Fitness

14:55 Scaling Their Content Workflow

17:32 Building the Website and Substack

20:41 The Interview That Went Viral

23:04 How They Interview Fit Older Adults

28:23 Camera Gear and Editing Setup

30:40 Why Raw Content Wins

31:27 Growth Plans and Budget Decisions

32:15 Trying to Understand YouTube

34:24 Events, Travel, and HYROX

39:15 Scripting Content and Staying Compliant

41:10 Favorite Workouts and Training Splits

44:27 Moving Cities and Dreaming About Travel

45:25 How They Define Success

47:25 Longevity Lessons From Older Adults

53:41 Advice to Their Younger Selves

54:30 Stress, Balance, and the 80/20 Rule

58:25 Where to Find evry day club

59:12 Final Thoughts

#Longevity #HealthyLiving #EvryDayClub

Jody Fletcher helped lead Navy organizations of up to 45,000 people. His biggest leadership lesson was simple: how you treat people directly affects how they perform.

After nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy—including service as a corpsman alongside Marine Corps Recon and MARSOC—Jody became a command master chief and senior enlisted advisor to two- and three-star generals.

In this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Jody joins Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum to discuss the leadership principles behind his book, Good Humans Make Great Leaders.

Jody explains why leadership skills must be deliberately developed, what separates a good human from a merely effective performer, and why authority alone will never create a great team. The conversation covers self-awareness, boundaries, relationship-building, difficult personnel decisions, optimism, and the principle of “first do no harm.”

The crew also pours Jefferson’s Ocean Voyage 24 and debates whether aging bourbon at sea actually changes the flavor—or simply creates a better story.

If you lead a team, own a business, serve in the military, or want to become someone others can trust, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe to Whiskey & Wisdom for honest conversations with people building businesses, leading others, and making an impact.

Find Jody Fletcher’s book, Good Humans Make Great Leaders, wherever books are sold—and leave a review after reading.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction

00:51 Jefferson’s Ocean Pour

02:04 Does the Voyage Change the Flavor?

04:14 Jody’s Navy Origin Story

06:09 From the Teams to Command Master Chief

08:17 Why Jody Stayed Past 20 Years

13:26 Learning Leadership Later in His Career

14:34 Officer vs. Enlisted Career Paths

19:50 Why Good Humans Make Great Leaders

23:06 How the Book Is Structured

24:52 Creating a Conversational Leadership Book

25:56 What Makes Someone a Good Human?

26:27 Assuming Positive Intent

27:07 Leadership, Boundaries, and Candy

27:37 Why Would Anyone Want to Lead?

28:50 Building the Super Team

30:22 First, Do No Harm

31:48 Hiring People and Making Hard Decisions

33:58 The Right Way to Let Someone Go

38:26 Defining Success After Military Service

43:38 Control the Controllables

44:56 The Discipline of Optimism

46:34 Where to Buy the Book

47:46 The Reality of Publishing a Book

50:25 Final Thoughts and Book Reviews

51:22 Jefferson’s Ocean Afterthought

#Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #WhiskeyAndWisdom

Wilmington muralist Alexia Campbell painted nearly 40 murals in about three years—and she scales her designs onto massive walls without using a projector. In this episode, Alexia reveals the freehand process behind her murals, the Instagram momentum that helped turn art into a business, and how she balances large commercial projects, architectural drafting, motherhood, surfing, and faith.

Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum sit down with Alexia Campbell of Board Meeting to trace the journey from her first mural at Fu’s barber shop to major Wilmington-area projects at Lakeside Fitness, Hidden Grounds, and beyond. Alexia explains how she moves a design from her iPad to a wall, what she learned from painting brick and floors, which projects challenged her most, and why success means more than getting bigger jobs.

If you have seen one of Alexia’s murals around Wilmington, tell us which one is your favorite in the comments.

Subscribe for more honest conversations with the people building, creating, and making an impact across Wilmington and coastal North Carolina.

CONNECT WITH ALEXIA

Instagram: @_board.mtg_

FOLLOW WHISKEY & WISDOM

YouTube: @whiskey.wisdom

Instagram: @whiskey.and.wisdom

CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Wilmington Muralist Alexia Campbell 01:36 From Architecture to Art 02:30 Her First Mural and Early Breaks 03:35 Turning Instagram Into a Mural Business 04:41 How She Paints Massive Murals Freehand 06:45 Her Biggest Walls at Lakeside Fitness 09:16 Developing a Signature Style 10:21 Coffee Shops and Recognizable Wilmington Walls 12:04 Favorite Murals and Hard-Won Paint Lessons 16:24 Balancing Motherhood, Art, and Surfing 18:09 Coffee Favorites and Food Talk 19:46 Architectural Drafting and Mural Work 21:40 Recent Projects 22:14 What to Know Before Painting Floors 22:55 The Kids Crash Story 24:09 Her Roots and Move South 25:19 Jewelry and Work Gear 26:35 Gloves, Paint, and Cleanup 27:52 How Faith Influences Her Art 29:50 Alexia’s Definition of Success 30:45 Her Daughter’s Mini Business 31:46 What She Listens to While Painting 36:15 Advice to Her Younger Self 37:20 The Hidden Grounds Murals 40:04 Where to Find Alexia 40:56 Final Thoughts

#WilmingtonNC #MuralArtist #WilmingtonArt

Blind Barrels Release 17 “Vision Quest” (Fred Minnick 2nd Edition) | Big Rye, Big Proof & Bad Guesses On the Whiskey and Wisdom podcast, the hosts welcome returning Blind Barrels guest Chris Lecoe for Blind Barrels Release 17, Fred Minnick’s second edition “The Vision Quest,” themed around classic ’80s films. They taste four whiskeys blind, debate color, aromas, mash bills, ages, and proofs, and discover they’re repeatedly off—especially with several high-proof ryes that drink smoother than expected. Bottle A is revealed as Leiper’s Fork Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whiskey (5 years, 100 proof, 70% corn/15% rye/15% malted barley). Bottle B is a 95% rye from Somerset, PA at 121.6 proof (5 years). Bottle C is Hard Truth Distilling (Nashville, Indiana) rye blend (4 & 6 years, 5-year statement, 120.2 proof, 94% rye/6% malted barley) and becomes their top pick. Bottle D is a Pinhook True Small Batch Blind Barrels Blend (6 years, 115 proof, 75% corn/15% rye/10% malted barley). They also discuss Leland Brewing’s new releases, plans for a liquor license, and a restaurant nearing opening. 00:00 Blind Barrels Returns 01:00 Pour A First Impressions 02:44 Reveal A Leiper's Fork 03:48 Vision Quest Theme 04:37 Pour B Rye Surprise 06:09 Reveal B 121 Proof Rye 08:27 Pour C Sweet Spice 11:44 Reveal C Hard Truth Rye 12:46 Side Talk Rum Renames 14:48 Pour D Oaky Blend Guess 17:54 Reveal D Pinhook Blend 19:11 Bottle Looks vs Taste 19:46 Dusty Old Fitz Find 20:58 Virginia Black Regret 22:51 Flushed Bottle Hall 23:41 New Beer Releases 23:59 Foggy Nights Numbers 26:24 Distribution Growth 27:25 Kolsch Disaster Story 29:38 Brewer Team Shoutout 30:42 Liquor License Plans 32:40 Food Talk Tangent 34:16 Final Wrap and Thanks

Chris and Sadie Busch join Whiskey & Wisdom in Surf City to share their wild journey from Hawaii to New York, North Carolina, and eventually Costa Rica. After a rapid Coast Guard transfer during COVID, financial pressure pushed them to rethink their future and start investing in real estate. They talk through their first rental property mistakes, lessons from long-term rentals, Airbnb strategy, 1031 exchanges, and the process of buying and renovating a home in Costa Rica. Their story also includes a Belize honeymoon that sparked a bigger dream, plans for an eco-focused retreat, Sadie’s conservation and sea turtle work, Chris’s goal of becoming a firefighter, and the unforgettable rescue of six abandoned puppies in Costa Rica. This episode is about risk, purpose, marriage, real estate, conservation, and building a life with intention. Chapters 00:00 Surf City Setup 00:52 Pregnancy and No Whiskey 02:04 Meet Chris and Sadie 03:18 Coast Guard Orders and Moving Fast 05:32 Sea Turtles and Marine Work 08:05 Hawaii to New York Pivot 10:39 Babymoon Back in Hawaii 11:51 How Real Estate Started 14:51 Sadie’s Name Backstory 17:44 Belize to Costa Rica Dream 23:04 First Rental Property Mistakes 24:00 Trading Up With 1031 Exchanges 25:43 Red Flags in the Neighborhood 29:11 DIY Renovation Crunch Time 30:26 Haunted House Hunt 31:16 Rescuing Puppies in Costa Rica 36:28 Choosing the Costa Rica Location 39:24 Buying and Renovating Abroad 42:54 Defining Success 45:52 Advice to Younger Self 47:10 Final Thanks and Wrap

Chill Pretty is more than a boutique. It is a one-stop salon, boutique, and community space built around style, connection, and making women feel welcomed. On this episode of the Whiskey and Wisdom Podcast, Chris Kellum and Tyler Yaw are on location in Surf City, North Carolina with Amber and Michelle, the owners of Chill Pretty Boutique. Chill Pretty is more than a boutique. It is a one-stop salon, boutique, and community space built around style, connection, and making women feel welcomed. Amber shares how her longtime hair career led her to open a small two-chair salon with a boutique attached, and how rapid growth pushed the business into a larger space. Michelle shares how their partnership formed organically as neighbors and turned into a thriving local brand. In this conversation, we talk about building a salon and boutique business, creating a strong community culture, weekly yoga, supporting military families, buying trips to the Vegas market, boutique inventory strategy, Surf City business growth, loyal customers, Black Friday events, and what success really looks like when you are leading a team and serving your community. Whether you love small business stories, boutique fashion, salon culture, Surf City, Topsail Island, or local entrepreneurship, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at how Chill Pretty Boutique is growing with intention. Follow Chill Pretty Boutique online and visit them in Surf City, NC. Subscribe to Whiskey and Wisdom Podcast for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, business owners, and community builders. Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 Podcast On Location 01:00 Meet Chill Pretty Owners 01:10 Amber’s Salon Journey 02:17 Finding a Business Partner 04:24 Why Add a Boutique 05:49 Brand Name and Loyal Clients 07:41 Community Vibe and Yoga 09:30 Growing Online the Right Way 11:26 Staying Local Not Franchising 12:27 Surf City Shop Strip Culture 13:59 Buying Strategy and Vegas Market 15:30 Style Aesthetic and Quality 17:19 Merchandising and New Inventory 19:12 Sizing and Future In-House Line 20:44 What Excites Them Daily 21:21 Why Mondays Rock 22:33 Favorite Colors and Neutrals 23:09 Color Theory and Workwear 24:06 Next Growth Ideas 25:30 Manifesting New Businesses 27:30 Kids as Motivation 30:28 Going Viral on Instagram 32:27 Advice to Younger Self 34:10 Black Friday Beach Party 35:41 Defining Success and Team 36:42 Where to Find Chill Pretty 38:11 Wrap Up and Thanks

Kingdom Athlete Founder Kellie Schiller joins Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum on the Whiskey & Wisdom Podcast to share how a simple faith-based clothing brand evolved into a thriving community movement centered around fitness, faith, and purpose.

Kellie discusses launching Kingdom Athlete during her husband's military deployment, overcoming repeated rejection from local gyms, hosting her first fitness and devotional events, and growing a brand focused on helping people strengthen both their bodies and their faith.

The conversation covers entrepreneurship, event planning, apparel manufacturing, Christian business ownership, handling setbacks, and redefining success through impact rather than income.

Along the way, the crew samples Tapped Maple whiskey and dives into lessons on resilience, marriage, community building, and staying faithful when the path isn't clear.

In this episode:

• The origin story of Kingdom Athlete

• How rejection helped grow the brand

• Building sold-out fitness events

• Faith and entrepreneurship

• The future of Kingdom Athlete apparel

• Marriage, military life, and perseverance

• Why success isn't what most people think

Connect with Kellie Schiller and Kingdom Athlete:

Website: KingdomAthlete.com

Instagram: @kingdomathleteco

Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, business owners, and community leaders.

#KingdomAthlete #ChristianEntrepreneur #FaithAndFitness #WhiskeyAndWisdom #ChristianBusiness #FitnessCommunity #Entrepreneurship

Chris Kellum and Tyler Yaw welcome back wedding photographer Leigh Roberts for a candid conversation covering sobriety, wedding industry trends, photography hot takes, and what happens when a wedding professional plans her own wedding. Leigh shares her journey of being sober for one year and seven months after a major health scare, discussing the lifestyle changes, nutrition adjustments, supplements, and daily habits that helped her regain her health. She also reflects on her decision to elope after spending nearly 14 years photographing weddings, explaining why she and her husband chose a small, intimate celebration that cost roughly $6,000.

The conversation dives deep into the realities of modern weddings, including rising costs, vendor pricing, wedding-industry politics, and the trends Leigh believes should disappear. She discusses everything from polka-dot wedding aesthetics and intentionally crooked photos to preferred-vendor cliques, DJ choices, and the pressure couples face when planning their big day. Leigh also shares practical advice for couples navigating family dynamics, vendor relationships, and wedding-day expectations.

On the photography side, Leigh offers strong opinions on delivering RAW images, the importance of editing, flash photography, second shooters, drone coverage, venue lighting, and the ongoing Canon versus Sony debate. The episode wraps with memorable wedding horror stories, discussions on AI's impact on photography, and valuable insights for anyone planning a wedding or working in the wedding industry.

00:00 Meet the Guest Leigh

00:53 Sober and Holistic Reset

02:04 Vaccine Injury Recovery

04:37 Lifestyle Changes and Food

05:45 Backyard Gym and Cooking

07:15 Eloping After 14 Years

09:33 Wedding Trends Pet Peeves

12:26 Wedding Costs and Pricing

15:19 Gen Z Vendors and Identity

20:45 Music Choices and DJs

25:03 Preferred Vendor Cliques

28:46 Shot List Hot Takes

28:58 Dress Shot Debate

29:55 Venue Lighting Matters

32:46 Second Shooters Strategy

35:00 Wedding Horror Stories

41:14 Trends, Flowers, and Cake

43:42 Flash, Film, and Gear

47:25 Canon vs Sony Switch

53:58 Pricing RAWs and AI

01:00:53 Family Dynamics Checklist

01:02:27 Wrap Up and Goodbye

• Why Leigh chose to elope after nearly 14 years of photographing weddings.
• The wedding trends she believes are overrated and ready to disappear.
• How sobriety and lifestyle changes transformed her health and daily life.
• The truth about wedding photography pricing and vendor costs.
• Why professional editing is a critical part of photography.
• Her thoughts on second shooters, drones, flash photography, and venue selection.
• Canon vs Sony: which system she prefers and why.
• Real wedding-day horror stories and lessons learned from years in the industry.
• How AI may change the future of photography and creative work.
• Practical advice for couples planning a wedding without unnecessary stress.

What does it take to build one of Wilmington's most talked-about coffee brands?

On this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum sit down with Caitlyn Goff, owner of Grounds of Grace Coffee Truck. From canned lattes and coffee flights to seasonal flavors and faith-driven branding, Caitlyn shares how she built a growing business that has become a community favorite.

We discuss sourcing local coffee beans, learning the craft of espresso, creating unique menu items, leveraging social media, building strategic partnerships, and staying true to your values while growing a business.

Whether you're a coffee lover, entrepreneur, or someone pursuing a dream of your own, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.

🥤 In this episode:

• How Grounds of Grace got started

• The rise of canned lattes and coffee flights

• Creating seasonal coffee flavors

• Building a faith-based brand

• Social media growth strategies

• Lessons from entrepreneurship

• Future plans for expansion

Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and community leaders.

00:00 Why Everyone Loves Grounds of Grace

01:12 The Canned Latte Craze

02:42 Why Start a Coffee Truck?

03:57 Learning Espresso From Scratch

05:50 Seasonal Flavors That Keep Customers Coming Back

07:32 Why Coffee Flights Work

08:54 Funding the Dream

09:57 How Their Canned Lattes Are Made

12:22 Clean Ingredients and Better Syrups

14:04 The Faith Behind Grounds of Grace

18:40 Building Community Through Partnerships

22:21 Branding the Truck

23:30 Coffee Preferences and Favorites

24:52 What Europe Gets Right About Coffee

28:30 New Summer Flavor Launches

29:38 Where to Find Grounds of Grace

31:07 Defining Success and Future Growth

35:47 Advice to Her Younger Self

37:03 What's Next for Grounds of Grace

39:09 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up