The Charleston Marketing Podcast

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May 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Charleston Marketing Podcast, the podcast that dives deep into the world of marketing, with a specific focus on the vibrant city of Charleston. Join us as we explore the strategies, trends, and success stories that shape the marketing landscape in this historic and captivating coastal city. Each episode of The Charleston Marketing Podcast brings you exclusive interviews with local marketing experts, industry thought leaders and Charleston entrepreneurs who have harnessed the power of effective marketing in the Lowcountry and beyond. From strategic communication, social media, PR, digital strategy and everything in between, we uncover valuable insights and actionable tips for our listeners.

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May 22, 2026Episode 1647 min

How The Drop In Turns Movement Into Belonging w/ Gillian Zettler

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Most workouts promise a better body. We’re more interested in what happens when movement gives you your people.We sit down with Gillian Zettler, co-founder of The Drop In, to talk about building a Charleston wellness studio that treats connection as the mission. Gillian shares how the loneliness epidemic and the “transactional” feel of many gyms pushed her and co-founder Chandler Frisbee to design joyful, movement-based spaces where newcomers feel brave enough to walk in, even if they’ve never touched a spin bike, a yoga mat, or a dance floor. We also unpack the origin of their first big pop-up, why they launched in January, and how a clear purpose can beat fancy branding when you’re starting from scratch.Gillian brings hard-won insight from leading the Charleston Wine and Food Festival and from early career years in scrappy radio promotions. We get practical about brand building, partnerships, and intentional community, plus the tough stuff founders don’t always say out loud: financial insecurity, identity shifts after a big job, and the pressure to “keep climbing.” She also draws a sharp line between real wellness and the snake oil that’s flooding the market, emphasizing trust, expertise, and human-scale hospitality.If you care about wellness marketing, experiential marketing, and building community in Charleston, you’ll leave with ideas you can actually use. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a third place, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

May 19, 2026Episode 1540 min

How Charleston Is Quietly Becoming An Innovation Hub

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Charleston is easy to love for its charm, food, and coast but that surface story can hide what’s actually being built here. We sit down with Jason Brown and Reagan Falvey from the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) to pressure-test a big claim: is Charleston becoming a real innovation hub that can earn the Silicon Harbor name, or are we just repeating a flattering narrative?We get specific about the numbers and the nuance. CRDA’s innovation scorecard shows Charleston punching above its weight, ranking far higher in innovation-driven performance than its population rank would suggest. We talk about what “innovation” really means across Charleston’s economy, from aerospace and advanced manufacturing to life sciences, logistics, defense, and port modernization. You’ll hear why outside capital is paying attention, why anchor institutions and world-class employers matter for startup gravity, and why an ecosystem can feel strong while still needing better coordination.We also dig into the real friction: plugging newcomers into the network, retaining talent as costs rise, and building the “connective tissue” that makes access to capital, mentorship, and resources feel seamless. Jason and Reagan share how CRDA thinks about intentional growth, why quality of jobs matters, and what needs to go right over the next five to ten years including deeper venture capital relationships and stronger commercialization pathways.If you care about Charleston economic development, startup ecosystem growth, venture capital, and the future of Silicon Harbor, this conversation is your map. Subscribe, share this with someone building in the Southeast, and leave a review with your take: what would make Charleston’s innovation story undeniable?South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

May 7, 2026Episode 1448 min

From Project Manager To Pageant Titleholder: A Real Playbook For Building A Public Personal Brand While Growing Your Career w/ Analise Healy

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.A personal brand can open doors, but only if it’s built on something real. We sit down with Analise Healy, Miss South Carolina Collegiate America and a project manager at Momentum Marketing, to unpack what it actually looks like to grow your career while your life is increasingly public. From the “how does the crown stay on” moments to the serious work behind being a titleholder, Analise shares the habits and mindset that keep her grounded and effective.We dig into her pageant journey from the high-pressure Miss USA system in New York to finding the right coaching, bouncing back from disappointing placements, and ultimately earning her state title in South Carolina. Analise explains why confidence is built through reps, how interview prep forces real self-knowledge, and why you “never truly lose” if you leave with lessons, relationships, and a clearer reason to come back stronger.Then we zoom into the marketing side: managing clients across industries, staying detail-oriented, and building trust through fast response times and direct phone calls when things get complicated. She also shares practical time management tactics, plus a thoughtful take on using AI tools like ChatGPT for social media brainstorming without losing your voice. At the heart of it all is her community service platform, MusicLink Foundation, which connects underprivileged kids to free or reSouth Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

April 23, 2026Episode 1357 min

The Relationship Revolution And The Rise Of One-To-One ABM w/ Sloan Newman

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Most marketing advice still starts with “get more leads.” We want to start somewhere more honest: the accounts you already know can change your year if you build the right relationships. That’s why we brought on Sloan Newman, author of The Relationship Revolution and an account-based marketing leader working in global B2B tech, to unpack what one-to-one ABM actually looks like when it’s done well.We talk through the shift from shouting into the void to building trust deep in the funnel, where marketing partners with sales and account teams week after week. Sloan breaks down the ABM tiers (programmatic, one-to-few, and one-to-one), why definitions get messy in modern marketing, and how a simple framework like the three Rs (reputation, relationship, revenue) helps you build credibility, expand what clients know you can do, and shorten sales cycles with real personalization. We also touch on AI in B2B marketing, not as hype, but as a practical tool for focus and smarter execution.Then we go behind the scenes on the author journey: pitching publishers, negotiating rights, cutting drafts, surviving edits, and the hustle of getting a business book into the world. Along the way, Sloan shares stories from Charleston to Seattle to the fencing strip, including a mindset shift that applies to both sport and strategy: stop reacting to the weapon and start reading the person.Listen, share this with someone who owns pipeline, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review. What part of ABM do you want to get better at next?The Relationship Revolution by Sloan Newman - Buy your copy today.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

April 14, 2026Episode 1237 min

How MUSC Turns Clinical Problems Into Funded Startups

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Most people talk about “fixing healthcare” from the outside. We wanted the view from inside the machine. So we sat down with Todd Headley, CEO of the Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization at MUSC, and Bob Crutchwell, Managing Director of the 1824 Fund and the South Carolina Health Innovation Fund, to unpack how healthcare innovation actually gets built, tested, protected, and funded in Charleston.We walk through MUSC’s commercialization pipeline, from clinicians and researchers spotting real problems to a structured process of assessing market need, product-market fit, and scalability. Todd shares how the Zucker Institute sources a huge volume of new ideas each year, why not every innovation should become a startup, and what it takes to move from an early concept to pilots and clinical trials. Bob explains why MUSC created a venture fund, how non-dilutive funding like SBIR and STTR can push a company farther before raising private capital, and what “escape velocity” looks like when a team is ready to build commercial momentum.We also get specific about what makes something investable in health tech and life sciences: intellectual property strategy, defensibility, milestones, and the realities of healthcare workflows. Then we zoom out to the future, including value-based care, care at home, rural access, and how AI in healthcare and agentic AI could speed deSouth Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

April 9, 2026Episode 1153 min

You Can Build A Personal Brand Without Selling Out w/ Barbara Skidmore

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.If you’ve ever wondered why some creators feel instantly trustworthy while others feel like walking ads, this conversation puts language to it. We’re joined by Charleston creator and consultant Barb Skidmore, the voice behind Blushing Alpacas and the owner of Outside Center Consulting, to talk about what authenticity actually looks like in personal branding and influencer marketing.We get into the real mechanics of turning content into a business: choosing brand partnerships you’ll genuinely use, setting expectations around deliverables, and understanding the hidden labor behind a “simple post.” Barb also shares what she sees from the brand side as someone who runs social media marketing for restaurants, catering companies, and real estate, including how to keep up with Instagram Reels and TikTok trends without losing your voice. We also dig into paid media basics, like when boosting helps, when targeted ads matter, and how goals like reach, clicks, and conversions change the plan.Then we go to the part businesses rarely hear out loud: comment pods, bots, and inflated engagement. Barb explains what to look for, what questions to ask before you pay, and why great content still has value even when the audience signals are messy. You’ll also pick up travel hacks using Google Flights alerts and deal tools, plus the mindset that keeps her work sustainable.Subscribe for more Charleston marketing insights, share this with a business owner who hires influencers, and leave a review with your biggest creator red flag or best partnership.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

March 26, 2026Episode 1044 min

Holistic Tech Advice w/ Elliott Friedman

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Tech problems rarely start as tech problems. They start as messy decisions, unclear ownership, and tool sprawl that quietly turns into risk. We’re joined by Charleston-based business and technology advisor Elliott Friedman, who’s lived on every side of the table: founder, operator, CTO, and now a trusted guide for professional service firms and private equity teams navigating growth and complexity. We dig into what “holistic” advising really means in practice. Elliott shares the red flags he looks for when a company is headed for trouble, from leadership teams treating technology as a grudging expense to organizations dragging hidden tech debt and paying for SaaS bloat they barely use. We also talk about the difference between building clean systems from day one for a new firm versus reverse-engineering legacy environments during private equity due diligence, where the goal is to reduce risk and create long-term value. Then we tackle the topic everyone’s wrestling with: AI. Elliot breaks down ethical AI use for CPAs and other regulated professionals, why dumping sensitive client data into consumer tools is dangerous, and why “AI” can sound confident while being completely wrong. He also tells the story of “vibe coding” a purpose-built CRM on a flight, proving that the right-sized tool can beat a bloated platform when you only need a tight workflow that your team will aSouth Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

March 17, 2026Episode 927 min

Cloud Architecture That Actually Grows Businesses

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.AI is moving so fast that most teams feel like they’re drinking from a fire hose, but the real advantage still comes from fundamentals: solid cloud architecture, clear data flows, and a plan that ties technology to business outcomes. We sit down with Will Horn of GDNA, an experienced technologist and AWS partner, to unpack what he calls the Agentic Cloud and how AI agents are changing the way companies build, automate, and scale.We get specific about what “cloud transformation” means for different organizations. For startups, it’s about nimble prototypes, SaaS unit economics, and architecture that can survive growth. For SMBs, it’s often legacy modernization, operational efficiency, and turning messy processes into digital systems that can be measured and improved. For enterprises, it’s innovation velocity, cost efficiency, and opening new markets without ballooning labor or risk.Will also shares a powerful framework he calls the Minimal Viable Journey, a way to map how data moves through a business and where value is created or lost. That lens makes AI strategy far more practical: it helps you prioritize the right use cases, understand data readiness for LLMs, and avoid building “cool” tools that never deliver ROI. We close by zooming out to the Charleston tech ecosystem, how to plug in locally, what’s missing, and what could be possible over the next two years.If you found this useful, subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a founder or operator who’s trying to make sense of AI agents, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

March 12, 2026Episode 851 min

Great Marketing Starts With Honest Numbers And Clear Focus w/ Joe Brugeman

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Search is turning into a single question, ad platforms keep getting more expensive, and “going viral” still does not guarantee sales. So what actually cuts through the noise and drives growth for a real business in Charleston? We sit down with Joe Brugman, Director of Sales and Strategy at Media Beast Marketing Group, to unpack the practical side of modern digital marketing: what matters, what to ignore, and how to lead clients with honesty when the numbers get uncomfortable.We talk about the BEAST framework Joe uses to explain what strong marketing looks like in the real world: budgeting, expertise, attribution, strategy, and transparency. That leads to the messy parts agencies and brands have to face, like why better cost per acquisition does not always mean you should lower spend, how to avoid novelty over function, and how message gaps show up when your culture and service delivery do not match your brand promise. Joe also shares a smart competitive tactic for positioning: read your competitors’ one-star reviews to find what the market hates, then build your differentiation around fixing it.The conversation goes deeper with a nonprofit marketing sprint from Campaign In A Day, including lessons from building a sensitive, community-driven campaign for the Ari Foss Foundation. We close with a clear-eyed look at AI and marketing, from “search everywhere optimization” tSouth Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...

February 26, 2026Episode 71 hr 1 min

How Home Team BBQ Mixed Smoke, Music, and Community Into A 20-Year Brand w/ Founder Aaron Siegel

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Craving a story where smoke, music, and community share the same plate? We sit with Aaron Siegel, founder of Home Team BBQ, to trace how a fine-dining chef built a family-first barbecue brand that reimagined what a neighborhood joint can be. From the ingenious “Kid Alley” that won over parents to the creative freedom that brought tacos, nachos, and brisket into the mix, Aaron shows how you evolve a tradition without losing its soul.We talk about the roots of the Home Team name and the manifesto that still guides the brand’s choices—live music, watch parties, easy outdoor hangs, and a menu that balances chef-driven technique with the speed people need. Aaron opens up about the early grind, the mistakes that taught him to slow down, and the leadership moves that kept talent for nearly a decade or more. If you’re building a hospitality brand, the takeaways are clear: trust your experience, design for real life, and invest in a culture that people want to stick with.What sets this conversation apart is the impact. Holy Smokes has become a major waterfront festival that benefits Hogs for the Cause, helping fund pediatric cancer care, including a million-dollar oncology wing in Greenville. Purpose-led specials like Queso for Clayson and Tacos for Tom turn everyday orders into meaningful support for blood cancer and ALS. Add a robust catering engine, collaborations with local pitmasters, and a steady hand through rapid expansion, and you get a blueprint for growth that feels good and scales smart.Hungry for more stories like this? Follow the show, share with a friend who loves barbecue or branding, and leave a quick review so others can find us. Your support helps bring more conversations that feed both the palate and the community.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...