Whiskey & Wisdom

Hosted by Whiskey & Wisdom

Entrepreneurship Society Culture EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

218

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Discussing life's most fascinating topics over a good glass of whiskey.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 12, 202659 min

The Simple Longevity Lessons Nobody Teaches You | evry day club

One spontaneous interview with a ripped 78-year-old went viral—and completely changed the direction of evry day club. Now founders Evynn and Ryan are interviewing fit older adults to uncover the simple habits that actually support a longer, healthier life. In this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum sit down with the founders of evry day club, a growing wellness platform that helps people make healthier everyday choices through tested food, home, and beauty recommendations. Evynn and Ryan share how their backgrounds in nursing, medical sales, music, and content creation came together—and why they believe healthy living should feel practical instead of overwhelming. The conversation covers their 80/20 philosophy, reading product labels, managing stress, building a searchable wellness website, growing a Substack email list, creating content people actually watch, and the surprising longevity lessons they’ve learned from fit older adults. Their biggest lesson is simple: if you don’t move it, you lose it. This conversation is about more than extending your lifespan. It’s about protecting your quality of life, staying capable as you age, and building habits you can sustain. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wisdom for honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and people building something that matters. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and Guests 01:09 How Evynn and Ryan Connected 01:46 Wine Talk and Reading Labels 03:42 Meet the Founders 04:59 The Origin of evry day club 07:17 Making Clean Living Simpler 09:09 From Nursing to Longevity Content 11:32 Training, Pilates, and Personal Fitness 14:55 Scaling Their Content Workflow 17:32 Building the Website and Substack 20:41 The Interview That Went Viral 23:04 How They Interview Fit Older Adults 28:23 Camera Gear and Editing Setup 30:40 Why Raw Content Wins 31:27 Growth Plans and Budget Decisions 32:15 Trying to Understand YouTube 34:24 Events, Travel, and HYROX 39:15 Scripting Content and Staying Compliant 41:10 Favorite Workouts and Training Splits 44:27 Moving Cities and Dreaming About Travel 45:25 How They Define Success 47:25 Longevity Lessons From Older Adults 53:41 Advice to Their Younger Selves 54:30 Stress, Balance, and the 80/20 Rule 58:25 Where to Find evry day club 59:12 Final Thoughts #Longevity #HealthyLiving #EvryDayClub

August 5, 202651 min

Why Good Humans Make Great Leaders | Jody Fletcher

Jody Fletcher helped lead Navy organizations of up to 45,000 people. His biggest leadership lesson was simple: how you treat people directly affects how they perform.After nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy—including service as a corpsman alongside Marine Corps Recon and MARSOC—Jody became a command master chief and senior enlisted advisor to two- and three-star generals.In this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Jody joins Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum to discuss the leadership principles behind his book, Good Humans Make Great Leaders.Jody explains why leadership skills must be deliberately developed, what separates a good human from a merely effective performer, and why authority alone will never create a great team. The conversation covers self-awareness, boundaries, relationship-building, difficult personnel decisions, optimism, and the principle of “first do no harm.”The crew also pours Jefferson’s Ocean Voyage 24 and debates whether aging bourbon at sea actually changes the flavor—or simply creates a better story.If you lead a team, own a business, serve in the military, or want to become someone others can trust, this conversation is for you.Subscribe to Whiskey & Wisdom for honest conversations with people building businesses, leading others, and making an impact.Find Jody Fletcher’s book, Good Humans Make Great Leaders, wherever books are sold—and leave a review after reading.CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction00:51 Jefferson’s Ocean Pour02:04 Does the Voyage Change the Flavor?04:14 Jody’s Navy Origin Story06:09 From the Teams to Command Master Chief08:17 Why Jody Stayed Past 20 Years13:26 Learning Leadership Later in His Career14:34 Officer vs. Enlisted Career Paths19:50 Why Good Humans Make Great Leaders23:06 How the Book Is Structured24:52 Creating a Conversational Leadership Book25:56 What Makes Someone a Good Human?26:27 Assuming Positive Intent27:07 Leadership, Boundaries, and Candy27:37 Why Would Anyone Want to Lead?28:50 Building the Super Team30:22 First, Do No Harm31:48 Hiring People and Making Hard Decisions33:58 The Right Way to Let Someone Go38:26 Defining Success After Military Service43:38 Control the Controllables44:56 The Discipline of Optimism46:34 Where to Buy the Book47:46 The Reality of Publishing a Book50:25 Final Thoughts and Book Reviews51:22 Jefferson’s Ocean Afterthought#Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #WhiskeyAndWisdom

July 29, 202641 min

Becoming a Full-Time Artist… By Accident

Wilmington muralist Alexia Campbell painted nearly 40 murals in about three years—and she scales her designs onto massive walls without using a projector. In this episode, Alexia reveals the freehand process behind her murals, the Instagram momentum that helped turn art into a business, and how she balances large commercial projects, architectural drafting, motherhood, surfing, and faith.Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum sit down with Alexia Campbell of Board Meeting to trace the journey from her first mural at Fu’s barber shop to major Wilmington-area projects at Lakeside Fitness, Hidden Grounds, and beyond. Alexia explains how she moves a design from her iPad to a wall, what she learned from painting brick and floors, which projects challenged her most, and why success means more than getting bigger jobs.If you have seen one of Alexia’s murals around Wilmington, tell us which one is your favorite in the comments.Subscribe for more honest conversations with the people building, creating, and making an impact across Wilmington and coastal North Carolina.CONNECT WITH ALEXIAInstagram: @_board.mtg_FOLLOW WHISKEY & WISDOMYouTube: @whiskey.wisdomInstagram: @whiskey.and.wisdomCHAPTERS00:00 Meet Wilmington Muralist Alexia Campbell 01:36 From Architecture to Art 02:30 Her First Mural and Early Breaks 03:35 Turning Instagram Into a Mural Business 04:41 How She Paints Massive Murals Freehand 06:45 Her Biggest Walls at Lakeside Fitness 09:16 Developing a Signature Style 10:21 Coffee Shops and Recognizable Wilmington Walls 12:04 Favorite Murals and Hard-Won Paint Lessons 16:24 Balancing Motherhood, Art, and Surfing 18:09 Coffee Favorites and Food Talk 19:46 Architectural Drafting and Mural Work 21:40 Recent Projects 22:14 What to Know Before Painting Floors 22:55 The Kids Crash Story 24:09 Her Roots and Move South 25:19 Jewelry and Work Gear 26:35 Gloves, Paint, and Cleanup 27:52 How Faith Influences Her Art 29:50 Alexia’s Definition of Success 30:45 Her Daughter’s Mini Business 31:46 What She Listens to While Painting 36:15 Advice to Her Younger Self 37:20 The Hidden Grounds Murals 40:04 Where to Find Alexia 40:56 Final Thoughts#WilmingtonNC #MuralArtist #WilmingtonArt

July 22, 202635 min

Big Rye, Big Proof & Bad Guesses

Blind Barrels Release 17 “Vision Quest” (Fred Minnick 2nd Edition) | Big Rye, Big Proof & Bad Guesses On the Whiskey and Wisdom podcast, the hosts welcome returning Blind Barrels guest Chris Lecoe for Blind Barrels Release 17, Fred Minnick’s second edition “The Vision Quest,” themed around classic ’80s films. They taste four whiskeys blind, debate color, aromas, mash bills, ages, and proofs, and discover they’re repeatedly off—especially with several high-proof ryes that drink smoother than expected. Bottle A is revealed as Leiper’s Fork Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whiskey (5 years, 100 proof, 70% corn/15% rye/15% malted barley). Bottle B is a 95% rye from Somerset, PA at 121.6 proof (5 years). Bottle C is Hard Truth Distilling (Nashville, Indiana) rye blend (4 & 6 years, 5-year statement, 120.2 proof, 94% rye/6% malted barley) and becomes their top pick. Bottle D is a Pinhook True Small Batch Blind Barrels Blend (6 years, 115 proof, 75% corn/15% rye/10% malted barley). They also discuss Leland Brewing’s new releases, plans for a liquor license, and a restaurant nearing opening. 00:00 Blind Barrels Returns 01:00 Pour A First Impressions 02:44 Reveal A Leiper's Fork 03:48 Vision Quest Theme 04:37 Pour B Rye Surprise 06:09 Reveal B 121 Proof Rye 08:27 Pour C Sweet Spice 11:44 Reveal C Hard Truth Rye 12:46 Side Talk Rum Renames 14:48 Pour D Oaky Blend Guess 17:54 Reveal D Pinhook Blend 19:11 Bottle Looks vs Taste 19:46 Dusty Old Fitz Find 20:58 Virginia Black Regret 22:51 Flushed Bottle Hall 23:41 New Beer Releases 23:59 Foggy Nights Numbers 26:24 Distribution Growth 27:25 Kolsch Disaster Story 29:38 Brewer Team Shoutout 30:42 Liquor License Plans 32:40 Food Talk Tangent 34:16 Final Wrap and Thanks

July 1, 202647 min

From Coast Guard Life to Costa Rica Retreat

Chris and Sadie Busch join Whiskey & Wisdom in Surf City to share their wild journey from Hawaii to New York, North Carolina, and eventually Costa Rica. After a rapid Coast Guard transfer during COVID, financial pressure pushed them to rethink their future and start investing in real estate. They talk through their first rental property mistakes, lessons from long-term rentals, Airbnb strategy, 1031 exchanges, and the process of buying and renovating a home in Costa Rica. Their story also includes a Belize honeymoon that sparked a bigger dream, plans for an eco-focused retreat, Sadie’s conservation and sea turtle work, Chris’s goal of becoming a firefighter, and the unforgettable rescue of six abandoned puppies in Costa Rica. This episode is about risk, purpose, marriage, real estate, conservation, and building a life with intention. Chapters 00:00 Surf City Setup 00:52 Pregnancy and No Whiskey 02:04 Meet Chris and Sadie 03:18 Coast Guard Orders and Moving Fast 05:32 Sea Turtles and Marine Work 08:05 Hawaii to New York Pivot 10:39 Babymoon Back in Hawaii 11:51 How Real Estate Started 14:51 Sadie’s Name Backstory 17:44 Belize to Costa Rica Dream 23:04 First Rental Property Mistakes 24:00 Trading Up With 1031 Exchanges 25:43 Red Flags in the Neighborhood 29:11 DIY Renovation Crunch Time 30:26 Haunted House Hunt 31:16 Rescuing Puppies in Costa Rica 36:28 Choosing the Costa Rica Location 39:24 Buying and Renovating Abroad 42:54 Defining Success 45:52 Advice to Younger Self 47:10 Final Thanks and Wrap

June 24, 202639 min

Chill Pretty Boutique: The Surf City Salon + Boutique Building Real Community

Chill Pretty is more than a boutique. It is a one-stop salon, boutique, and community space built around style, connection, and making women feel welcomed. On this episode of the Whiskey and Wisdom Podcast, Chris Kellum and Tyler Yaw are on location in Surf City, North Carolina with Amber and Michelle, the owners of Chill Pretty Boutique. Chill Pretty is more than a boutique. It is a one-stop salon, boutique, and community space built around style, connection, and making women feel welcomed. Amber shares how her longtime hair career led her to open a small two-chair salon with a boutique attached, and how rapid growth pushed the business into a larger space. Michelle shares how their partnership formed organically as neighbors and turned into a thriving local brand. In this conversation, we talk about building a salon and boutique business, creating a strong community culture, weekly yoga, supporting military families, buying trips to the Vegas market, boutique inventory strategy, Surf City business growth, loyal customers, Black Friday events, and what success really looks like when you are leading a team and serving your community. Whether you love small business stories, boutique fashion, salon culture, Surf City, Topsail Island, or local entrepreneurship, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at how Chill Pretty Boutique is growing with intention. Follow Chill Pretty Boutique online and visit them in Surf City, NC. Subscribe to Whiskey and Wisdom Podcast for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, business owners, and community builders. Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 Podcast On Location 01:00 Meet Chill Pretty Owners 01:10 Amber’s Salon Journey 02:17 Finding a Business Partner 04:24 Why Add a Boutique 05:49 Brand Name and Loyal Clients 07:41 Community Vibe and Yoga 09:30 Growing Online the Right Way 11:26 Staying Local Not Franchising 12:27 Surf City Shop Strip Culture 13:59 Buying Strategy and Vegas Market 15:30 Style Aesthetic and Quality 17:19 Merchandising and New Inventory 19:12 Sizing and Future In-House Line 20:44 What Excites Them Daily 21:21 Why Mondays Rock 22:33 Favorite Colors and Neutrals 23:09 Color Theory and Workwear 24:06 Next Growth Ideas 25:30 Manifesting New Businesses 27:30 Kids as Motivation 30:28 Going Viral on Instagram 32:27 Advice to Younger Self 34:10 Black Friday Beach Party 35:41 Defining Success and Team 36:42 Where to Find Chill Pretty 38:11 Wrap Up and Thanks

June 17, 202633 min

She Got Rejected by Gyms—Now Her Events Sell Out

Kingdom Athlete Founder Kellie Schiller joins Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum on the Whiskey & Wisdom Podcast to share how a simple faith-based clothing brand evolved into a thriving community movement centered around fitness, faith, and purpose.Kellie discusses launching Kingdom Athlete during her husband's military deployment, overcoming repeated rejection from local gyms, hosting her first fitness and devotional events, and growing a brand focused on helping people strengthen both their bodies and their faith.The conversation covers entrepreneurship, event planning, apparel manufacturing, Christian business ownership, handling setbacks, and redefining success through impact rather than income.Along the way, the crew samples Tapped Maple whiskey and dives into lessons on resilience, marriage, community building, and staying faithful when the path isn't clear.In this episode:• The origin story of Kingdom Athlete• How rejection helped grow the brand• Building sold-out fitness events• Faith and entrepreneurship• The future of Kingdom Athlete apparel• Marriage, military life, and perseverance• Why success isn't what most people thinkConnect with Kellie Schiller and Kingdom Athlete:Website: KingdomAthlete.comInstagram: @kingdomathletecoSubscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, business owners, and community leaders.#KingdomAthlete #ChristianEntrepreneur #FaithAndFitness #WhiskeyAndWisdom #ChristianBusiness #FitnessCommunity #Entrepreneurship

June 10, 20261 hr 3 min

Wedding Photographer Exposes the Biggest Wedding Industry Lies | Leigh Roberts

Chris Kellum and Tyler Yaw welcome back wedding photographer Leigh Roberts for a candid conversation covering sobriety, wedding industry trends, photography hot takes, and what happens when a wedding professional plans her own wedding. Leigh shares her journey of being sober for one year and seven months after a major health scare, discussing the lifestyle changes, nutrition adjustments, supplements, and daily habits that helped her regain her health. She also reflects on her decision to elope after spending nearly 14 years photographing weddings, explaining why she and her husband chose a small, intimate celebration that cost roughly $6,000.The conversation dives deep into the realities of modern weddings, including rising costs, vendor pricing, wedding-industry politics, and the trends Leigh believes should disappear. She discusses everything from polka-dot wedding aesthetics and intentionally crooked photos to preferred-vendor cliques, DJ choices, and the pressure couples face when planning their big day. Leigh also shares practical advice for couples navigating family dynamics, vendor relationships, and wedding-day expectations.On the photography side, Leigh offers strong opinions on delivering RAW images, the importance of editing, flash photography, second shooters, drone coverage, venue lighting, and the ongoing Canon versus Sony debate. The episode wraps with memorable wedding horror stories, discussions on AI's impact on photography, and valuable insights for anyone planning a wedding or working in the wedding industry.Timestamps00:00 Meet the Guest Leigh 00:53 Sober and Holistic Reset 02:04 Vaccine Injury Recovery 04:37 Lifestyle Changes and Food 05:45 Backyard Gym and Cooking 07:15 Eloping After 14 Years 09:33 Wedding Trends Pet Peeves 12:26 Wedding Costs and Pricing 15:19 Gen Z Vendors and Identity 20:45 Music Choices and DJs 25:03 Preferred Vendor Cliques 28:46 Shot List Hot Takes 28:58 Dress Shot Debate 29:55 Venue Lighting Matters 32:46 Second Shooters Strategy 35:00 Wedding Horror Stories 41:14 Trends, Flowers, and Cake 43:42 Flash, Film, and Gear 47:25 Canon vs Sony Switch 53:58 Pricing RAWs and AI 01:00:53 Family Dynamics Checklist 01:02:27 Wrap Up and GoodbyeKey TakeawaysWhy Leigh chose to elope after nearly 14 years of photographing weddings.The wedding trends she believes are overrated and ready to disappear.How sobriety and lifestyle changes transformed her health and daily life.The truth about wedding photography pricing and vendor costs.Why professional editing is a critical part of photography.Her thoughts on second shooters, drones, flash photography, and venue selection.Canon vs Sony: which system she prefers and why.Real wedding-day horror stories and lessons learned from years in the industry.How AI may change the future of photography and creative work.Practical advice for couples planning a wedding without unnecessary stress.

June 3, 202640 min

How a Coffee Truck Turned Canned Lattes Into a Local Phenomenon

What does it take to build one of Wilmington's most talked-about coffee brands?On this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum sit down with Caitlyn Goff, owner of Grounds of Grace Coffee Truck. From canned lattes and coffee flights to seasonal flavors and faith-driven branding, Caitlyn shares how she built a growing business that has become a community favorite.We discuss sourcing local coffee beans, learning the craft of espresso, creating unique menu items, leveraging social media, building strategic partnerships, and staying true to your values while growing a business.Whether you're a coffee lover, entrepreneur, or someone pursuing a dream of your own, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.🥤 In this episode: • How Grounds of Grace got started • The rise of canned lattes and coffee flights • Creating seasonal coffee flavors • Building a faith-based brand • Social media growth strategies • Lessons from entrepreneurship • Future plans for expansionSubscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and community leaders.00:00 Why Everyone Loves Grounds of Grace 01:12 The Canned Latte Craze 02:42 Why Start a Coffee Truck? 03:57 Learning Espresso From Scratch 05:50 Seasonal Flavors That Keep Customers Coming Back 07:32 Why Coffee Flights Work 08:54 Funding the Dream 09:57 How Their Canned Lattes Are Made 12:22 Clean Ingredients and Better Syrups 14:04 The Faith Behind Grounds of Grace 18:40 Building Community Through Partnerships 22:21 Branding the Truck 23:30 Coffee Preferences and Favorites 24:52 What Europe Gets Right About Coffee 28:30 New Summer Flavor Launches 29:38 Where to Find Grounds of Grace 31:07 Defining Success and Future Growth 35:47 Advice to Her Younger Self 37:03 What's Next for Grounds of Grace 39:09 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

May 27, 202647 min

Why Moms Are Flocking to This Wilmington Fitness Community

What started as a few moms getting together for movement and connection has grown into one of Wilmington’s fastest-growing postpartum fitness communities.On this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Chris Kellum and Tyler Yaw sit down with Brooke Pereira, founder of The Mamalates Group, to talk about motherhood, postpartum fitness, community building, and helping moms feel less alone after having kids.Brooke shares how mommy-and-me Pilates classes, stroller workouts, and weekly walks turned into a movement bringing together dozens of moms across Wilmington — including a recent event with nearly 90 attendees.The conversation dives into:Postpartum fitness strugglesBuilding community after motherhoodMaking gyms less intimidating for moms“Babes and Barbells” at LakesideStarting imperfectlyBalancing motherhood and entrepreneurshipBrooke’s vision for coaching and online programsWhether you’re a parent, fitness enthusiast, entrepreneur, or someone trying to build meaningful community, this episode delivers practical insight and honest conversation.