Queen City Unleashed

We have one of the OGs in the Charlotte creative scene, we have THE Davita Galloway, owner of Dupp & Swat!!

Davita is a multi-hyphenate artist, community builder, and one of the most authentic guests we have ever had. Her story is special and we are honored she shared it with us. So many artists and creators in Charlotte stand on her shoulders and the work she has put in over the years!

This episode has so many moments that will leave you shocked and laughing!! We had a good time shooting this one. 

You may not know his name, but you definitely know his work because he is behind so many of the really amazing murals we have in our city! Up next on QC Unleashed we have artist Matt Moore. 

Matt loves to create and he takes pride in the messages he can tie into his art! This episode was full of energy because Matt carries such an infectious attitude of positivity and appreciation. We are so glad we get to show the face of one of the many people painting our city and giving it some character!

Addisyn Merrick is a professional soccer player for the Carolina Ascent and she joined us to share her incredible journey and career!

We learned that Addie isn’t just a baller on the field, but apparently can throw down as a baker as well. Her journey to where she is now will make you happy and proud of her for how she fights and stays positive. She understands her position as woman of color in sports and takes pride in being an example to both young girls and boys. We are honored to have her on during Wo...

If you like coffee or coffee shops, then we have a Charlotte Coffee MVP! James Yoder is the Co-Owner of Not Just Coffee and Night Swim Coffee. 

James loves coffee and he also loves people, and that is so evident when you hear him talk about the business and see the different ways his coffee shops create connections. This episode gave us one of our all time favorite moments because we realized that QC Unleashed started in a Not Just Coffee!!

You will enjoy the episode and love hearing the behind the scenes of some o...

As we wrap up our Voices of NoDa series, we are happy to introduce Jake Pfeifer, the owner and head artist of glass blowing studio, Hot Glass Alley. 

Jake has been blowing glass since he was 15 and he is well known in the glass blowing community for his technique, precision, and consistency. The pieces he is able to create out of glass are mindblowing and incredible! He chose Charlotte as the city to move his business to and it is just another great example of what this city has to offer. 

Follow along to hear hi...

Up next on our Voice of NoDa series, we have Food and Beverage power couple Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel!! They are the owners of the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group that includes Michelin Guide restaurants Ever Andalo, Habberdish, and Supperland. 

We learned so much about their journey and their passion for what they do. They are so intentional with every concept they develop and you won’t find anyone in the business who cares about preserving the history of their buildings like they do. 

Their restaurants are some of the best in the city and the Mich...

In our first episode to kick off 2026, and our Voices of NoDa series, we have legendary bartender Bob Peters! Bob is a pioneer in the Charlotte cocktail scene and the Beverage Director at Soul Gastrolounge. 

Bob shared with us so much history about Charlotte and cocktails. He has a deep respect for the classics, but he is known to add his own spin on things. We even got to step behind the bar and make a Bob Peters Sazerac! You won’t want to miss that and you may even want to make it at home.

T...

In our last episode of the year we have JD Harris, the owner of the very popular Charlotte apparel brand, Glory Days!!

This episode was the perfect way to end the year as we talked about him crashing a wedding, working with his creative hero, and building a brand that is recognized all over Charlotte. JD represents so many things we should all carry with us into the new year. He is passionate about what he does, he has been willing to take risks, he is full of joy, and he never settles. 

Tune into t...

Our episode with Valentina was so fun and full of energy as we learned more about her journey as a Pastry Chef and her business La Bonbonniere. She has some of the best cookies and desserts in the city and is known to sell out quickly at markets around the city. 

Valentina thought that she was walking away from baking completely when she moved to Charlotte from Venezuela, but a new baby and supportive husband helped her rediscover that love and passion, and now Charlotte is benefiting from that. 

Check out this episode to hear ho...

This episode was a really special one because we got to chat about one of our favorite topics with Matt Simpkins and Tom Bogan of Oaklore… Bourbon!! We also got to enjoy some while shooting and that is a first we will always remember. 

Before they were owners of a distillery making bourbon, they were two dads, walking their kids to the bus stop every day who realized they both loved bourbon. From there grew a great friendship that you can see very easily in the episode. 

They have gone through a lot to get to w...

For the last episode of our Voices of Camp North End series, we had a fun conversation with Mike Salzarulo, the co-owner of Tipsy Pickle, in Camp North End. Mike is also the co-owner of Protagonist Beer and owner of Antagonist, a coffee shop and cocktail bar opening in 2026.  

Mike shared his deep passion for hospitality with us, and you can see that passion when you go to one of his establishments. He also has a one of a kind love story with his wife, because they have known each other since they were 5 years old. What w...

On the second episode of our Voices of Camp North End series, we sat down with Michelle Fernandez inside her one of a kind airstream. Michelle is the owner of La Bodeguita, a craft cafe in Camp North End, and a mental health therapist. 

Michelle has a captivating story that covers a unique childhood, early life obstacles, and incredible discovery. Art has been a consistent part of her life and as a therapist she has created something beautiful to allow people to reconnect with their youthful curiosity. She is a proud supporter of Camp North End and o...

On the first episode of our Voices of Camp North End mini series, we got a chance to kick it with former professional soccer player turned urbanist, Tesho Akindele. Tesho is the development analyst for Camp North End and the perfect person to introduce our conversation about Came North End. 

Tesho has constantly followed the fire in his heart and because of this he is already living his second dream career. From dropping out of college with a semester left to get drafted, to a 9 year professional career, to sharing his ideas on how to best develop C...

On this episode of Queen City Unleashed we get to sit down with Monica Warren who is an amazing example of someone who has made Charlotte her home and found a way to turn her hobby into a business! She is the owner of Pretty Perfect Style and she creates beautiful jewelry that could stand alone as art pieces. 

Monica shares her story of how she got to Charlotte and the boredom that led to her taking a jewelry making class. We also spend some time talking about personal style and the truth about being a business o...

It would be hard for anyone to find a bigger cheerleader of Charlotte than Clayton Sealey, and that is who we had the chance to talk to on this episode. Clayton is from Charlotte, left for some years while still keeping an eye on his city, and now is back making a difference in so many ways. 

Clayton is a voice for city government, urban development, walkable cities, the arts and is known to have an occasional hot take. In everything he does, you can see that he cares deeply about Charlotte and its success. We were p...

We got the chance to sit down with a longstanding pillar of the Charlotte restaurant industry, Chef Bruce Moffett. Chef Bruce is the owner of the Moffett Restaurant Group that includes Barrington’s, Good Food on Montford, Stagioni, and soon to open Sala. 

There are so many chefs in our city now who have spent time learning and growing in one of Bruce Moffett’s restaurants, so his impact can be seen and tasted all across our city. 

He dives into the history of the Charlotte food scene and shares his 5 pillars that he builds his bu...

We are excited to share our episode with Makayla Binter, who is a Creative Catalyst for Charlotte is Creative, a talented artist, and a pillar in the Charlotte arts community. She is one of the most vibrant individuals you could ever be around and she consistently exudes joy. Makayla was often told she would not be able to make a living with art, but she has proven all those people wrong and has become a huge supporter of artists all across Charlotte. She is one the best connectors our city has!

This episode is...

We are back after taking some time to celebrate our first 25 episodes of Queen City Unleashed with Emmy Award Winner Shevaun Bryan!! Shevaun is a news anchor on WBTV and has been in the industry, around the country, for a long time. She is passionate about telling important stories and we are lucky to get to chat with her, right off the Emmy win. 

Shevaun has interviewed big names like Lebron James and Dwayne Wade and even interned with DJ Khaled back in the day! She has worked in big markets and small markets b...

For our 25th episode of Queen City Unleashed we have Kayleigh Ruller, a Food Writer who writes for national and local publications. Kayleigh loves food and writes about it in a way that gives people a better appreciation for the food around them. She has highlighted some of the biggest names in food in Charlotte but she has the same pride when it comes to the smaller names! 

Kayleigh is one of the most authentic people you will meet and it shows in how she presents herself in her work and and even in how she dresses, a...

On this episode we sat down with Tim Edwards, the founder of Splatter Charlotte and co-founder of Residency Charlotte! Tim is one the most fun interviews we have had on the podcast. His humor and passion make for great stories that we know you will enjoy. 

Splatter Charlotte is one of the most fun date activities in Charlotte and it is special because you get to take the art home. Tim and his team have thought about everything to make this an unforgettable experience. He also is behind bringing the idea of singing in the car with y...

This episode is really special because it is about a non-profit we are a part of. We got to chat with Leslie Leitner, who is the Community Engagement Associate for Supportive Housing Communities (SHC). Supportive Housing Communities is a local non-profit on a mission to end homelessness and human suffering in the Charlotte area by providing permanent, supportive, and affordable housing to Charlotte’s most vulnerable neighbors.

The work this organization is doing is truly amazing and making a big difference in our city! Everything they do is about supporting the neighbors that are often forgotten in Ch...

We had the chance to sit down with a man of many talents and interests, Bryan Li! Bryan Li! Bryan is one of the co-owners of Open Rice, co-founder of Residency Charlotte, and a founder and producer of Shameless Improv. 

Bryan has such an interesting story that you will enjoy listening too. He grew up in Honk Kong, he has started multiple restaurants, he fell in love with improv comedy and he loves providing amazing experiences. Bryan is also a big advocate for local arts and is a huge part in creating a space for creatives from a...

We had the opportunity to talk to Chef Sam Diminish on our twenty-first episode of Queen City Unleashed. Chef Sam is the Executive Chef of Restaurant Constance and Owner of Your Farms Your Table! He has been recognized around the city multiple times and was recently a James Beard semi-finalist. He is passionate about supporting local farms and also about being a voice for the voiceless when it comes to sobriety. 

Our conversation was so encouraging, because no matter what he has been through, Chef Sam is still positive and making a difference in h...

In our twentieth episode of Queen City Unleashed, we sat down and talked to Yaz Humaideh, the owner of Sip City Market and Bottle Shop! His bottle shop has become a place of community, where people from all walks of life come to hang out. From coffee,  beer and sake, to ping pong and board games, Sip City has it all. 

The thing that really sets Sip City apart is Yaz! He loves people and connecting with folks. He is the ultimate people person and loves building relationships with his customers. He calls them his family and in...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we had the chance to sit down with Chef Alyssa Wilen, owner and namesake of Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen! Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen offers cooking classes for different kinds of cuisines and skill levels. It is a great activity to do with friends, coworkers, or for a date night! You will leave educated and full from a great meal you cooked yourself. 

Chef Alyssa is from Charlotte and has come up in the food scene, but decided that she could have a different impact on food in Charl...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we got to sit down with a Charlotte legend, Manolo Betancur, who owns Manolo’s Bakery, Artisen Vegelatos, and runs We Care 4 non-profit. Manolo’s Bakery is an institution in Charlotte that serves breads, cakes, and deserts from many hispanic countries.

Manolo shared his incredible story of immigrating from Columbia, starting off cleaning dishes, to now having a very successful bakery. He is constantly giving back to his community and find ways to use his voice to speak up for the vulnerable. The adversity he has faced is m...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we got to sit down with Steven De Falco, one of the co-owners of Pizza Baby and Flour Shop. His restaurant, Pizza Baby West, was recently named one of the Top 50 Pizza restaurants in America, by an independent guide in Naples Italy. 

Steven’s Italian upbringing has led him on an incredible life journey which has seen him go from New York, to Italy, to Miami and now Charlotte. Steven cares not just about food but the entire experience. You will often find him talking to guests in...

Heather Siblik is the Founder of DishCourse. A company that helps to create community and new friendships for people in Charlotte with events. She is also part of a really cool dance organization that fuses dance and color guard. She may or may not have won silver at Worlds!!


Making friends in a new city can be hard, and this wasn’t any different for Heather. Her unique approach to gathering small groups of people, who share a common interest, has led to great experiences and friendship for so many individuals. 

Fun Fact: In hig...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we got to chat with Ian Holmes. Ian is one of the Owners and Executive Director of New Age Athlete and New Age Flag Football. Ian is also a personal friend, which made shooting this episode a lot of fun. 

Ian has a huge heart for youth football and has been making his mark on the scenes for years, for both boys and girls. With over 1000 kids in his programs, he gets the chance to share his love of his favorite sport with so many. 

We know you wi...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed, we sat down with Larry Swayne, the owner of Wingzza Mambo Sauce! He also has such a vault of knowledge about Charlotte, so we had a great time learning some history.

Wingzza Mambo Sauce, originally comes from the DMV (Maryland, DC, and Virginia). Larry wants Mambo Sauce to be known everywhere and with his company he is definitely spreading the word. 

The adversity that Larry has faced with his different businesses would have probably knocked a lot of us out, but his story is one of resilience and i...

In the first episode of 2025 for Queen City Unleashed, we sat down with Bryan and Kristen Brown, the owners of Benny Ferrovia’s and Benny Pennello’s!

Benny’s Pizza, known for their massive pizzas, originated at Virginia Tech… making this a very full circle episode for host Seyi Olusina, a Virginia Tech graduate. Kristen and Bryan shared the stories of them opening locations here in Charlotte, one of which involved them having a newborn and opening a restaurant at the same time. 

This was such a fun episode which end...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed we sat down to chat with Andrea Ritcher, the owner of Pretty Honest Candles. A black woman owned soy candle company in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Andrea started her soy candle company after experimenting with candles for herself and friends/family. Since then she has been shouted out by Beyonce, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed and many others. She also told us about the challenges she has faced and how she balances all of this with being a wife and mom. 

Tune into this episode to he...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed we sat down to chat with Jordan Dollard, the owner of Esther and Elsa and the woman behind Front Porch Sundays and Nebel’s Alley Night Market. 

Jordan has become one of the biggest voices and advocates of small businesses in Charlotte. She talked with us about some of her hobbies, her favorite spots in the city, and where she thinks there is potential in the city. 

Make sure you tune into this episode to hear about the many ways she supports small businesses and how our support of t...

In the 10th episode of Queen City Unleashed we went to a TV set to interview Mia Atkins, Co-host of WCNC’s Charlotte Today show. 

Mia has known she wanted to be on TV since she was 15 years old and she has worked so hard over the years to get there. From getting her own show 3 days out of college to getting to interview icon Dolly Parton, Mia is truly living out her dream. She cares so much about the city of Charlotte and has a unique position to get to touch so much of it by the...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed we spend some time with Brandon Stirewalt, Director of Operations at Town Brewing Company. 

Brandon taught us so much about brewing, from agriculture, to the science, to the art, to the lack of diversity. His passion for what he does was gushing out in this interview. He also shared some really cool and innovative things that Town Brewing is doing when it comes to making beer. He believes that breweries are the new community centers and when he breaks it down, it becomes easy to agree! Grab yourself a beer a...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed we spend some time with local esthetician, Dani Simonetti, who is a friend and a neighbor. 

Dani shared with us what it was like to leave her corporate job and start a business. She told us how that switch helped her to understand her sexuality as a queer woman. We also got some really easy tips for how we can all take better care of our skin and she gave us a hilarious new way to enjoy museums! Hint… with an adult beverage. This episode is so raw and real but...

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed we get to sit down with local stand up comedian Jordan Centry!

Jordan tells us how he first got into stand up, some of his comedic inspirations, his worst fails and why he runs… it is not why you would think. Seyi also tells a joke that he has been working on for a long time to get Jordan’s approval. This episode is guaranteed to make you laugh so check it out and leave a review!

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed we got the chance to talk with Pedro Oliveria, the founder of P3 Soccer Lab, and private soccer coach in Charlotte. 

He told us all about his journey to America from Brazil, his passion for the game of soccer, and what it is like coaching and playing here in Charlotte. He has some incredible and funny stories of living in Iowa when he first moved here, and having to deal with parents on the team. Check out this episode to hear more!

If you have ever been curious about what the life of a content creator is like then this is the episode for you. Tomi Obebe, a content creator based out of Charlotte, shares with us how she got into the field, her passion for books and her love of pop culture. She also does not hold back from sharing her hot takes!

Tomi is also a personal friend, so the episode is full of the jokes and jabs that good friends have. Check out this episode for a good laugh and unique insights!

In this episode of Queen City Unleashed we interview Shawn Cosner who is an event planner, the founder and CEO of 3rd Rock Events, and a wine connoisseur. 

We got to share a glass of wine and talk about how he started his company, some of the incredible events he puts on in the City, and some Charlotte history. Check out this episode to hear more!