On the Made of Savannah podcast, host Dee Daniels is on-location at the West Broad Bandshell in Historic District Savannah, 514 MLK Jr Blvd welcoming Mahogany Bowers (CEO/Executive Director) with the newly launched Coastal Gullah Geechee and Afro-Caribbean Chamber of Commerce.

Dee invites Mahogany and leaders Dara Jenkins (Vice chair/Secretary), Jahva Walker (Treasurer), and Dr. SallyAnn Gray (International Ambassador) to discuss the new chamber’s purpose, rooted in representation, heritage, and commerce across the coastal corridor of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Bowers explains Gullah Geechee cultural distinctives, including dialect, traditions, and contributions to regional foodways such as shrimp and grits and red rice, while Gray highlights growing Caribbean representation in Savannah, including hundreds of Jamaican teachers and expanding Caribbean-owned businesses.

They announce a grand opening event on Friday, August 7 at 6:00 PM at West Broad Bandshell on MLK Jr. Blvd featuring culture, networking, storytelling, and performances, and share how to join via social media and the chamber website.

LEARN MORE WITH THESE LINKS:

LEARN MORE ABOUT COASTAL GULLAH GEECHEE AFRO-CARRIBEAN CHAMBER

BECOME A MEMBER

COASTAL GULLAH GEECHEE AFRO-CARRIBEAN CHAMBER EVENTS

VISIT WEST BROAD BANDSHELL

PROUDLY PRODUCED BY DEE DANIELS MEDIA

HUGE THANKS to our PARTNER this season - Ethan Allen Savannah.

Shop Ethan Allen's furniture store today in Savannah, GA, at 5525 Abercorn St., just 10 minutes from Savannah’s historic downtown. We offer a broad range of furniture and accessories, including quality living room furniture, dining room furniture, bedroom furniture and home décor. Create the look you'll love from classic to contemporary with free interior design help from our design pros. Call us at 912.629.9940.

The Made of Savannah podcast is a creative production of Corcoran Austin Hill Realty!

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to Made of Savannah

01:13 Meet the Chamber Team

02:09 Why the Chamber Started

06:38 Gullah Geechee Culture Explained

10:06 Sponsor Break Ethan Allen

12:51 Afro Caribbean Representation

15:17 Grand Opening at Bandshell

18:28 What to Expect August 7

21:16 Membership and How to Join

22:17 Meet a Member Business

23:17 Legacy Member Spotlight

24:10 Faith and Team Support

25:37 Proven Track Record

26:42 Board Vision for Growth

29:08 Culture and Belonging

32:19 Who Membership Serves

35:31 Kickoff Event Details

36:37 Thanks and Gullah Geechee Dialect

40:12 Podcast Outro and Realty Ad

In this delightful episode of the Made of Savannah podcast, host Dee Daniels sits down with Maxie McCoy, an acclaimed writer and ghostwriter, to discuss her journey to Savannah, the inspirations behind her writing, and her most recent novel, 'Daisy.'

Maxie shares her experiences of moving from San Francisco, discovering the warm and welcoming culture of Savannah, and how an article led her to uncover the fascinating life of Juliette Gordon Lowe. They discuss the depth of Juliette's challenges, the community she built, and how these elements inspired Maxie's writing.

The conversation also delves deep into the emotional and arduous process of writing fiction, facing rejection from major publishing houses, and how Maxie found resilience and purpose by following her passion. She reflects on her love for Savannah's vibrant creative community and her dedication to helping other writers bring their stories to life through ghostwriting.

The episode is filled with heartwarming anecdotes, creative insights, the importance of storytelling, and an inside look at Maxie's collaborative efforts in the literary world. This discussion is a blend of inspiration, humor, and practical advice for aspiring writers.

Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode:

Meet Maxie

Check out Maxie's BOOKS

Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

The Made of Savannah podcast is a creative production of Corcoran Austin Hill Realty!

Host Dee Daniels records onstage at Front Porch Improv with co-founder, improviser, and instructor Bri Halverson, who reflects on building a permanent home after years of being nomadic and emphasizes gratitude for audiences and a “fountain” energy approach.

Bri outlines Front Porch’s offerings: weekly shows every Friday and Saturday, workshops and applied improv for organizations, adult and kids classes, camps, private shows, stand-up, and a free local show, plus the Savannah For Morons interactive trolley tour. She details ACTS, Front Porch’s nonprofit arm partnered with Brightside Casa, delivering trauma-informed, evidence-based improv tools for under-resourced youth through an eight-week program focused on social-emotional regulation and role-play scenarios, funded partly by a City of Savannah grant and fundraising.

Bri also shares improv fundamentals, handling off-the-wall suggestions, scholarship efforts, casting and auditions, and a new Second Circle Club for neurodivergent men seeking social-skills practice and funding.

THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON 6 SPONSOR: ETHAN ALLEN SAVANNAH

LEARN MORE WITH THESE LINKS:

CHECK OUT FRONT PORCH IMPROV

FRONT PORCH IMPROV: SHOW INFORMATION

FRONT PORCH IMPROV: CLASSES

SAVANNAH FOR MORONS TOUR INFO

LEARN MORE ABOUT FRONT PORCH IMPROV A.C.T.S.

PROUDLY PRODUCED BY DEE DANIELS MEDIA

HUGE THANKS to our PARTNER this season - Ethan Allen Savannah.

Shop Ethan Allen's furniture store today in Savannah, GA, at 5525 Abercorn St., just 10 minutes from Savannah’s historic downtown. We offer a broad range of furniture and accessories, including quality living room furniture, dining room furniture, bedroom furniture and home décor. Create the look you'll love from classic to contemporary with free interior design help from our design pros. Call us at 912.629.9940.

The Made of Savannah podcast is a creative production of Corcoran Austin Hill Realty!

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to Savannah

00:19 Meet Bri Halverson

01:14 Finding a Home Stage

03:03 Fountain Energy Culture

05:11 Everything Front Porch Offers

07:14 Savannah For Morons Tour

09:25 Sponsor Ethan Allen

13:08 ACTS Program Deep Dive

18:18 Comedy Calendar Expansion

20:48 Improv Styles and Training

22:55 How Improv Really Works

26:36 Handling Wild Suggestions

30:30 Punching Up in Comedy

31:26 Pop Culture and Diversity

33:28 Casting and Show Formats

36:15 Improv as Team Sport

40:05 Getting Started and Regulation

44:29 Second Circle Club Pitch

47:36 Space for Arts and Community

52:05 Viewpoints and Mullet Show

55:01 Wrap Up and Sponsor Outro