What happens when two friends set out to build a network, and end up building a family instead?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long, co-founders of The Southern C, a community that has spent over a decade bringing together entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners from across the South. Cheri and Whitney share how their careers in Southern magazine publishing led them to start a blog together, and how a simple idea to connect with fellow business owners grew into in-person events that now define a movement.

They talk honestly about their very first event, a summit that survived a sideways rainstorm and became a story their community still tells today, and how they've grown and pivoted through the years, from swag bags packed in a living room to hosting summits, retreats, and workshops across the South. Cheri and Whitney also open up about what it really takes to build a business with your best friend, from learning to pick up the phone instead of texting to knowing when to say no.

The conversation closes with an exciting announcement: The Southern C is sunsetting its Sea Island chapter, and celebrating with a tribute night in honor of one of their community's biggest inspirations.

This is a conversation about connection, community, and building something that outlasts any single event.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Welcome & meet Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long
• 3:00 - Life before The Southern Sea: their career journeys
• 9:00 - Sideways rain and the first-ever Southern Sea event
• 25:00 - What people don't see behind the scenes
• 39:00 - Sunsetting Sea Island and a special tribute night

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Southern Sea community, summits, retreats, and workshops
• The Southern Sea's upcoming Palm Beach event
• Final Sea Island summit, January 2027

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Links: Emily McCarthy | Designer Fashion & Lifestyle Brand Joy Club Podcast on Instagram

1. The Southern Sea
2. Cheri Leavy
3. Whitney Long
4. Emily McCarthy
5. Joy Club Podcast
6. women in business
7. entrepreneur community
8. small business events
9. Savannah Georgia
10. female founders