What were you doing at 18? For Makenzie Morgan, the answer was becoming a licensed real estate agent and beginning to build a career in an industry where many of the people around her have decades more experience. On this episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers sits down with Makenzie, who describes herself as the youngest Realtor in Danville, Virginia, to talk about ambition, family, real estate, and what happens when you decide what you want early—and actually go after it. Real estate has been part of Makenzie's life for as long as she can remember. Her dad is a real estate investor, her grandfather worked in construction, and entrepreneurship was part of her upbringing. By 11th grade, a conversation with her dad helped her realize real estate might be more than something she grew up around—it could become her career. She graduated high school at 17, waited until she was eligible to become licensed at 18, passed the exam on her first attempt, and got to work. Her first transaction under contract came only about two months after becoming licensed—and fittingly, her first client was her dad. Nearly a year later, Makenzie says she's been involved in about 11 transactions and is determined to keep growing. But Makenzie is also candid about one of her biggest challenges: looking young in an industry where experience matters. Instead of running from it, she's learning how to combine the knowledge and experience of her brokerage with her own energy, technology skills and determination to build her reputation. In this episode: 🏡 Why Makenzie chose real estate instead of college 🎓 Getting licensed at just 18 years old ❤️ The influence her dad has had on her life and career 🔑 Closing her first real estate transaction 📈 Building momentum during her first year 👀 Overcoming assumptions about being a young Realtor 🏠 What buyers and sellers should know before entering the market 🤝 Why she believes real estate is ultimately about relationships 📱 How she's using social media and technology to grow 🌆 What she's seeing happen in Danville 🚀 And where she wants her career to go next Whether you're 18, 38 or 68, Makenzie's story is a reminder that you don't have to wait for someone else to decide you're ready to start building the life you want. Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com
What happens when two friends knock on your door, tell you to grab some hard-soled shoes, and inform you that learning to clog is "not a request"? For Jerry Lovelace, it turned into a journey lasting more than 50 years. On this episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers sits down with longtime Green Grass Clogger Jerry Lovelace to hear the incredible story behind a group that started with a bunch of college students simply trying to have fun—and went on to help transform the world of clogging. Jerry began dancing with the Green Grass Cloggers in 1972 while attending East Carolina University. The group combined clogging steps with square-dance formations, began creating steps of their own, and developed a style unlike what competition judges were accustomed to seeing at the time. One of those original steps? The Jerry Step. Jerry created it himself, and because members of the Green Grass Cloggers later traveled and taught internationally, he says dancers around the world have learned the step that bears his name. Jerry takes us back to the early days when the group would dance anywhere they could find a place to perform. He shares stories of performing alongside legendary musicians, traveling to festivals, confusing competition judges with their unconventional style, and the unforgettable moment at Union Grove when the reaction from the enormous crowd made them feel, in Jerry's words, like "The Beatles." And now he's helping bring that tradition home. On October 10, the Green Grass Cloggers return to The Prizery for an evening of old-time music and dance. Before the evening performance, they'll also offer a free clogging workshop at 2:30 PM where beginners of all ages can learn the basic steps. No clogging experience required! And yes...Jerry even attempts to teach Alyssa a few steps during the episode. 😂 This isn't just an episode about dance. It's about friendship, tradition, community and what can happen when something you do simply because you love it becomes part of your life's story. Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com
What happens when the school cafeteria closes on Friday—but a child still needs to eat all weekend? In this episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers visits St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Clarksville, Virginia, to sit down with Dottie Thaxton and Rebecca Brooks and learn about the community effort behind Backpack Buddies. The program began after Dottie learned about a similar initiative serving food-insecure children. What started with the thought that Clarksville might be able to help 10 children quickly grew into a community-wide effort involving local churches, volunteers and schools. The first year, Backpack Buddies provided weekend food for approximately 50 elementary students. Today, that number has grown to nearly 80 elementary students each week, with additional support reaching middle and high school students. Each Friday, children receive bags filled with shelf-stable milk, juice, pasta, vegetables, fruit, cereal, ramen, mac and cheese, snacks and other foods to help carry them through the weekend. The group has even begun working toward providing food during the summer when students don't have access to school meals. But keeping the program going takes an entire community. It costs approximately $275 per year to provide one child's bags, and supporting close to 80 elementary students requires more than $22,000. Volunteers donate money, purchase food, pack hundreds of bags and deliver them to the schools every week. And there is a very important date to put on your calendar: October 10 | 4–7 PM The fourth annual Oktoberfest fundraiser will feature German food, beer and wine, music, a silent auction, raffle items and more—all while raising money and awareness for Backpack Buddies and Feeding Our Kids. Tickets are $25, with advance purchase encouraged. Because, as Dottie says in this episode: "Kids need to eat." And when a community comes together, we can make sure they do. Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com
What happens when you create a business around things that make people feel good, bring people together, and have a story behind them? In this episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers heads to Downtown Danville, Virginia, to visit Main Street Art Collective and sit down with owner Cheryl Sutherland. What started as Cheryl's dream of owning a gift shop has grown into something much bigger—a space filled with local artists and makers, one-of-a-kind gifts, classes, pop-ups, Danville treasures, and a community of people Cheryl has brought together over the last eight years. Cheryl shares how she finds the artists and makers featured throughout the store, why customers are increasingly drawn to gifts with meaning and a story, and how Main Street Art Collective has become a destination for both locals and visitors exploring a growing Downtown Danville. We also talk about the store's growing lineup of classes—from painting and knitting to sourdough bread making—as well as pop-ups and new ways Cheryl continues to bring people together. But one of the most meaningful moments comes when Cheryl talks about the future. When asked about her five-year plan, her answer is refreshingly simple: she doesn't know—and she's given herself permission to be okay with that. As long as the business continues bringing her joy, serving others, and feeling like the place she is meant to be, that's enough. Whether you're looking for the perfect gift, want to try something creative, or simply love discovering the people and businesses making our communities special, this is an episode you'll want to watch. Sign up for classes here: https://mainstreetartcollective.com/class-schedule Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com
If you've spent any time in Lynchburg, Virginia, chances are you've driven past a little red building with a line wrapped around it—or you already have a Joe Bean's order you swear by. But do you know how it all started? For the first-ever Lynchburg business featured on the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers sits down with Mike and Cheyenne from Joe Bean's to hear the story behind one of the area's most recognizable local businesses. The story begins in 1999 when owner Linda was on a fly-fishing trip in Montana and stopped at a tiny drive-thru coffee shop that had been converted from an old film-developing kiosk. Lynchburg didn't have drive-thru coffee at the time, and she came home thinking: Lynchburg needs one of these. In November 2000, the first bright-red Joe Bean's opened on Timberlake Road. More than 25 years later, that one little building has grown to eight locations, with conversations already happening about where location number nine could be. Mike and Cheyenne share the stories behind the growth, the people who make Joe Bean's what it is, their commitment to supporting other local businesses, and the internal mission that guides their team every day: "We deliver smiles." And, of course, we talk coffee! ☕️ From viral creations and year-round flavors to the September Butterscotch Brownie flavor of the month, Cheyenne and Mike share their personal Joe Bean's orders—and a few tips for finding your own. Whether Joe Bean's is already part of your morning routine or you've never been, this episode will make you appreciate the story behind that little red building even more. Check out the Joe Beans shop: https://www.joebeans.coffee/shop Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com