In this episode of The Southern Shmooze, Grant sits down with Ester Shamba, founder of Gratitwood, to talk about creativity, entrepreneurship, community, and the story behind the business she’s built.

Ester’s work through Gratitwood is rooted in transforming wood into meaningful, handcrafted pieces, but the conversation goes well beyond what she makes. Grant and Ester dig into how Gratitwood came to be, what it takes to turn a creative idea into a real business, and the experiences that have shaped Ester along the way.

They talk about the realities of building something from the ground up, finding your place in Atlanta’s small-business community, staying connected to the purpose behind your work, and what she’s learned as Gratitwood has grown.

It’s a conversation about craftsmanship and entrepreneurship, but also about the people and stories behind the local businesses we interact with every day.

And that’s really what The Southern Shmooze is all about: getting to know the neighbors behind the businesses, organizations, and ideas that make Atlanta feel like Atlanta.

A little behind-the-scenes note: This episode took almost six months to get on the books. Schedules didn’t line up, life happened, and we just kept following up until we finally made it happen. A pretty good reminder for anyone building a business, a relationship, or really anything: patience and follow-through go a long way.

👉 Find Ester and Gratitwood in The Southern Shmooze Directory: https://pro.southernshmooze.com/pro/gratitwood

👉 Learn more about Gratitwood: https://www.gratitwood.com/

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If you’re enjoying The Southern Shmooze, please take a second to follow, rate, and leave a review. It helps more Atlanta neighbors discover the show and the people, businesses, and stories shaping our community.

In this episode of The Southern Shmooze, Grant sits down with longtime friend and Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari.

Grant and Liliana have known each other for about 15 years, long before City Hall entered the picture. That history makes this conversation a little different. Rather than just talking politics, they dig into Atlanta itself: how the city has changed, what’s happening in our neighborhoods, what it’s actually like trying to get things done at City Hall, and where Atlanta goes from here.

Liliana has represented Atlanta’s District 5 since taking office in 2022, serving communities across much of East Atlanta. During her time on Council, her work has touched housing, pedestrian safety, parks and greenspace, homelessness, neighborhood infrastructure, access to groceries, and other issues that show up in the everyday lives of Atlantans. Liliana Bakhtiari | Atlanta City Council

Grant and Liliana talk about the wins, the frustrations, the things residents may not realize are happening behind the scenes, and some of the challenges Atlanta still needs to figure out.

It’s also a conversation between two people who have watched Atlanta grow and change together for a decade and a half which means there are plenty of stories along the way.

Whether you live in District 5 or on the other side of the city, this one is ultimately about the place we all call home and the people trying to shape what comes next.

👉 Learn more about Liliana Bakhtiari

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If you’re enjoying The Southern Shmooze, please take a second to follow, rate, and leave a review. It helps more Atlanta neighbors discover the show and the people shaping our community.

In this episode of The Southern Shmooze, Grant sits down with Molly Berg, who helps small businesses navigate the rapidly changing and often confusing world of artificial intelligence.

Even though this episode was recorded only a week ago, the AI landscape is already evolving. New tools, concerns, and possibilities emerge every day, making it difficult for business owners and the rest of us to know what deserves our attention.

Grant and Molly explore the good, the bad, and everything in between. They discuss how AI can help small businesses, where it can create risks, and what people should understand before jumping in. They also examine the growing number of data centers in and around Atlanta and what that expansion could mean for our local community.

Molly shares practical strategies that every business owner and every neighbor should know, even if they have no interest in using AI themselves. Whether we embrace it, avoid it, or remain skeptical, AI is already changing the businesses, workplaces, and communities around us.

👉 Learn more about Molly: mollyberg.co

👉 Connect with Molly on LinkedIn: Molly Berg

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👉 Subscribe to The Southern Shmooze Newsletter: The Southern Shmooze Newsletter

If you’re enjoying The Southern Shmooze, please take a second to follow, rate, and leave a review. It helps more Atlanta neighbors discover the show and the people shaping our community.