In this episode, we sit down with Rick Thurmond, the driving force behind Charlotte's transformation into a thriving music city. Rick takes us through his fascinating journey from sports writer in Tallahassee to his two decades at Charlotte Magazine, and eventually to his current role at Charlotte Center City Partners where he founded Music Everywhere CLT. We dive deep into the challenges and opportunities of developing Charlotte's music ecosystem, from supporting independent venues to changing the city's late-ticket-buying culture.

Rick shares the inspiring story behind Confluence Music Conference, the Carolinas' premier music industry gathering that's becoming Charlotte's answer to South by Southwest. He talks about the moment he realized Charlotte needed a dedicated music conference, the unexpected growth they've experienced in just three years, and his vision for the future. We also explore what makes Charlotte unique as an emerging music city, the importance of buying tickets early to support local venues, and why industry professionals from across the country are taking notice of what's happening here.

Whether you're a music lover, an industry professional, or simply someone who cares about Charlotte's cultural development, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intentional work being done to put Charlotte on the map as a creative capital. Rick's passion for building community through music is infectious, and his insights remind us that everyone has a role to play in supporting the local music scene.

Lauren Goodell joins the show to discuss her journey from enterprise sales at Microsoft and Salesforce to founding Zinnia, an AI-powered sales platform built around human-first selling.

She and Robbie explore the evolving role of AI in sales, the importance of genuine connection, and why technology should amplify—not replace—human relationships.

A thoughtful conversation for founders, sales leaders, and anyone navigating growth in an increasingly automated world.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

Don’t forget to subscribe to EVRYBDY in Charlotte on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and share it with your network.

Charlotte Locals – Get Featured on the Podcast! Are you doing something interesting in the Charlotte community? We’d love to hear your story! Reach out to be featured on the EVRYBDY in Charlotte podcast.

Businesses – Need Podcast & Video Services? For businesses in Charlotte, NC looking for high-quality podcast and video production, EVRYBDY Studios offers professional services to bring your ideas to life. Contact us to learn more!

On this episode EVRYBDY in CLT, Robbie Shaw sits down with AI expert and StealthX founder, Drew Burdick.

Robbie and Drew dive into the future of AI and whether it will be the world changing business tool that many hope for or the not so popular doom and gloom sci-fi movie! Drew is a self proclaimed techno optimist and predicts (and hopes for) the former.

Drew expands on why his company chose podcasting as a core business driver and how it has fundamentally changed client relationships.

He shares his strategy for generating A+ quality content consistently and the immense value of aligning with trusted production partners like EVRYBDY Studios.

This conversation is a must-listen for any business owner looking to educate around AI and the use of podcasting as a serious marketing and lead-generation tool.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

Don’t forget to subscribe to EVRYBDY in Charlotte on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and share it with your network.

Charlotte Locals – Get Featured on the Podcast! Are you doing something interesting in the Charlotte community? We’d love to hear your story! Reach out to be featured on the EVRYBDY in Charlotte podcast.

Businesses – Need Podcast & Video Services? For businesses in Charlotte, NC looking for high-quality podcast and video production, EVRYBDY Studios offers professional services to bring your ideas to life. Contact us to learn more!