Melissa interviews Mandy Becker, owner of Swagger Boutique, a women’s style destination in Wake County with locations in Raleigh and Cary. Becker shares how a beloved South Georgia gift shop inspired her, how she earned an engineering degree at Georgia Tech, opened Swagger as a gift store in 2002, and expanded into clothing in 2011 after customer requests. She explains what boutique ownership is really like, including unexpected friendships and learning business without formal classes, with support from her husband. Becker breaks down how and where she shops markets (Atlanta for gifts; Dallas and Vegas for clothing), how delivery timing affects buying, and how she forecasts trends while selecting for Swagger’s broad age range. She highlights upcoming trends like butter yellow, chocolate brown, polka dots, stripes, zebra, scarves, brooches, chunky jewelry, and outerwear, plus how social media and live selling shape the business.

00:00 Meet Mandy and Swagger

02:17 Origins and Early Inspiration

03:41 Engineer to Gift Shop Owner

04:29 Pivot to Clothing Boutique

05:40 Retail Realities and Relationships

07:34 How Fashion Markets Work

10:45 Trend Forecasting and Customer Fit

16:22 Spring Summer Trend Report

18:45 Easy Closet Refresh Tips

20:07 Color Analysis and Teen Feedback

22:03 Passing Down the Boutique

22:43 Who Picks Trend Colors

24:04 Fall Outerwear Forecast

25:21 Swagger Vibe in 3 Words

26:20 Confidence and Body Positivity

27:08 Social Media and Live Shopping

32:15 Five-Year Vision for Swagger

33:37 Lightning Round Favorites

35:52 Where to Shop and Follow

37:24 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Host Melissa interviews Frank Yarborough, creator of Frankie B’s pimento cheese, just days before the Pimento Cheese Festival in Downtown Cary Park. Frank shares how he grew up with his mother’s pimento cheese, learned the family recipe after she passed, and refined it into three flavors with a focus on traditional Southern taste, Duke’s mayonnaise, and a spreadable, dense consistency. He describes early public tastings outside his Academy Street home, the strong festival response, and moving into an inspected commercial kitchen before selling officially. Frank discusses festival sales goals, local retailers and restaurants now carrying the product, ideas for serving pimento cheese, and future plans that may expand into Southern baked goods like chocolate and lemon meringue pies.

00:00 Meet Frankie B

02:08 Family Recipe Roots

03:57 From Sharing to Flavors

04:39 Festival Buzz Takes Off

07:26 Branding and What Makes It Different

09:25 Selling Out and Scaling Up

14:33 Going Legit Commercial Kitchen

16:16 Why Cary Owns Pimento Cheese

17:11 Downtown Cary Life Changes

19:16 Fencing In Privacy

20:02 Roots in Downtown Cary

21:04 Festival Crowds and Traffic

21:36 Judging Pimento Cheese

23:00 Duke's and Family Legacy

24:17 Best Ways to Eat It

27:33 Beyond Pimento Cheese

29:22 Growing Frankie B's

32:13 Where to Buy and Ship

33:29 Wrap Up and Thanks

Storyteller and Grammy/Emmy-nominated writer-producer Maxim Langstaff discusses his decades behind the scenes with music legends including John Denver and Beatles producer George Martin, describing how his John Denver Wildlife Concert work led to a 16–17 year collaboration with Martin on a live stage/film project exploring Sgt. Pepper’s creative process. He reflects on the changing, overwhelmed modern media landscape and how artists are shaped by myth versus truth. Langstaff connects his conservation roots and time in New England wilderness to his debut novel “Sasq'et,” a cinematic, women-centered adventure using Sasquatch as a device to explore identity, nature, and unanswered questions, blending fiction with researched science and history. He shares how the book emerged nonlinearly while living in a remote Maine cabin and traveling cross-country with his dog, Kemo. “Sasq'et” releases April 7, with the audiobook as well.

00:00 Meet Maxim Langstaff

02:35 Behind the Music Legends

06:44 George Martin and Sgt. Pepper

09:57 Industry Then and Now

12:02 John Denver and Conservation

19:18 From Documentaries to Fiction

22:11 Truth Best Left Unknown

22:34 Writing Finds Its Path

23:34 A Woman’s Journey

24:13 Sasquatch as Metaphor

26:06 Belief Versus Science

28:45 Native Names and Origins

30:37 From Book to Screen

32:29 Craft of Storytelling

35:26 Release Date and Audiobook

36:46 Lightning Round Favorites

40:26 Casting and the Dog

43:23 Final Thanks and Farewell

Join us as we dive into the world of card collecting with Tara and Adam Reynolds, the masterminds behind Triangle Area Trading Cards. From childhood nostalgia to serious collecting, they share their journey from avid collectors to successful business owners running a beloved local hub in North Carolina. The couple recount their initial foray into card trading, their challenges of moving from a corporate job to entrepreneurship, and the tight-knit community they've built around their passion. Learn about the evolution of the trading card industry, their biggest finds, future aspirations, and the joy of bringing families together through this timeless hobby.

00:00 Meet the Card Pros

02:30 Adam’s First Packs

04:09 First Big Pull

05:56 From Passion to Business

08:06 Opening the First Store

09:28 Early Challenges and TCG Shift

10:54 Outgrowing the Space

14:04 How the Hobby Changed

16:38 Getting Started at the Shop

18:23 Avoiding Collector Burnout

19:27 Trading Online vs. In Store

20:01 Breakers and Live Auctions

20:48 The Shop Community Vibe

22:27 Biggest Collection Purchases

24:20 Babe Ruth Signed Baseball

25:58 Balancing Hobby and Business

27:35 Advice to Younger Self

28:48 Future Plans and Growth

29:59 Lightning Round Favorites

32:36 LEGO Collecting and Minimalism

33:59 Where to Find the Shop

35:01 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Join us as we dive deep into the inspiring story behind That's Spot On!, a board game created by friends Linda Pelnik and Sue Dohm. Discover how their shared love for family game nights led to the creation of a game that captured hearts at the New York Toy Fair. Linda and Sue discuss the origins of their friendship, the challenges of manufacturing, securing spots in mom-and-pop stores, and navigating the complexities of the game industry. Don't miss their fascinating journey filled with highs, lows, and plenty of laughs as they bring their creative visions to life.

00:00 Meet the Inventors

02:48 From School Friends to Co-Founders

04:15 Fixing Liar's Dicexsxw

05:09 New Mechanics and Game Board

07:11 Learning Manufacturing from Scratch

08:17 Designers and Industry Help

10:19 Marketing and Grassroots Sales

13:32 New York Toy Fair Breakthrough

16:57 Working with a Friend

18:09 Shipping Delays and Tariffs

19:42 Canals and Shipping Chaos

20:16 Founders' Backgrounds and Skills

21:36 Toy Fair to Warehousing

22:37 Box Size and Shelf Space

23:41 Next Game Spot and Snap

24:36 Trade Shows and Cutting Costs

26:03 Creative Process and Advice

27:45 Family Playtesting Support

28:49 Lightning Round Game Night

31:18 Where to Find That's Spot On!

32:12 Shoutouts and Wrap Up

Jason, creator of the “Today in the Quay” Facebook page, shares how he built a positive hub for Fuquay-Varina updates over 12 years, growing to about 30,000 followers. He discusses moderating the page, highlighting youth sports and local business openings, and supporting standout athlete Sarah Strong’s early recognition. Jason also reflects on Fuquay-Varina’s rapid growth, community events, new attractions, and excitement around the upcoming Target, and he plugs his Facebook page and newsletter with over 7,000 subscribers.

00:00 Meet Today in the Quay

02:59 Why He Started It

04:36 Fuquay Growth and Vibe

05:38 Courtroom vs. Facebook

06:58 Spotlight on Youth Sports

08:25 The Sarah Strong Story

14:52 Businesses and Local Buzz

17:04 Awards and Wide Reach

20:52 Balancing It All

22:32 Favorite Annual Events

23:51 24 Hours in Fuquay

25:46 Target and What’s Next

28:15 Where to Follow and Newsletter

29:26 Wrap Up and Thanks

Host Melissa Wistehuff takes “What’s Up, Wake” on a rink trip to Invisalign Arena, the Carolina Hurricanes’ practice facility, for a conversation with Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook. He discusses watching the Olympics (and rooting for Canada), his pick for a Hurricanes siren guest (Sylvester Stallone), and how he describes the team’s passionate, unexpectedly electric fan base and playoff tailgating. Martinook talks about recharging off the ice with his wife and three kids, what he watches at home, and his love of restaurants, including favorites from Scott Crawford. He shares an ideal Raleigh food day, dream alternate careers, reality-show survival picks among teammates, perspectives on hockey fights and dental care, his walkout song choice, memorable moments at Lenovo Center, and a perfect family day in Raleigh.

01:01 Show Welcome and Setup
01:36 Rink Trip Introduction
02:19 Olympics Allegiances
03:43 Who Sounds the Siren
04:23 Canes Fans and Tailgates
05:37 Family Life Recharge
06:58 Kids' Movies and TV
08:34 Foodie Life at Home
09:30 Best Food Cities on the Road
11:05 Scott Crawford and Favorites
13:04 Perfect Raleigh Food Day
14:30 Dream Job and Reality TV
16:27 Fights and Dentist Talk
18:22 Walkout Song and Big Moments
20:03 Perfect Raleigh Family Day
21:02 Thanks and Sign Off

In this episode of 'What's Up, Wake,' we delve into the heart and culture behind one of MacGregor Village's beloved gourmet sweet shops, Asali Desserts & Cafe. Host engages in a heartfelt discussion with owner Hanadi Asad, exploring how her Palestinian heritage, artistic inclinations, and personal tragedies have shaped her entrepreneurial journey. From her start in a licensed home kitchen to the courage needed to open a storefront, Hanadi Asad shares insights on balancing family, overcoming fears, and bringing unique Mediterranean desserts to the community. She offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and reflects on the community's response to her endeavors. Don't miss this inspiring story of passion, resilience, and artistic innovation.

00:00 Introduction to the Sweet Episode

02:04 The Origin Story of Asali Desserts and Cafe

05:02 From Pharmaceuticals to Pastries

06:06 Balancing Passion and Practicality

08:15 Challenges and Inspirations

13:47 Family Involvement in the Business

17:16 Cultural Influences on Business

17:55 Struggles with Language and Hospitality

18:29 Creating a Welcoming Environment

19:24 Cultural Comparisons and Challenges

20:43 Exploring Palestinian Desserts

22:31 Personal Favorites and Unique Recipes

24:32 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

26:55 Reflections on Timing and Challenges

28:55 Future Plans and Personal Growth

31:34 Concluding Thoughts and Encouragement