Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

This week on The Southern Shmooze, Grant sits down with his good friend Jean Carlos, a talented Brazilian pastry chef whose journey has taken him from Brazil all the way to Food Network's Holiday Baking Championship!

Jean has spent more than a decade building a career around his passion for baking, bringing creativity, incredible flavors, and a little Brazilian flair to everything he makes. Along the way, he's worked in professional kitchens, built a life in the United States, and earned the opportunity to compete on national television.

Grant and Jean talk about his upbringing in Brazil, how he discovered his love for baking, the challenges and opportunities of pursuing a dream in a new country, and what it was really like competing under pressure on Food Network.

It's a conversation about friendship, following your passions, embracing where you come from, and believing in yourself even when the road ahead isn't entirely clear.

And that's what The Southern Shmooze is all about: getting to know the people, hearing their stories, and celebrating the connections that make our communities special.

👉 Follow Jean Carlos on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeancarls.a/

👉 Join The Southern Shmooze Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesouthernshmooze

👉 Visit The Southern Shmooze: https://www.southernshmooze.com/

If you're enjoying The Southern Shmooze, please take a moment to follow, rate, and leave a review! It helps more people discover the show and the wonderful stories we're sharing.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

In this episode of The Southern Shmooze, Grant sits down with Laura Witte of Truth and Lending at Highland Mortgage to talk about homeownership, entrepreneurship, community, and the people behind the businesses that make Atlanta special.

Laura has been helping people navigate mortgages since 1998, but her journey into the industry started with her own experience as a first-time homebuyer. After feeling dismissed and overlooked by a lender, Laura decided she wanted to do things differently and built her career around helping people understand their options and feel supported through one of life's biggest financial decisions.

Today, Laura and her team at Truth and Lending help buyers throughout Georgia navigate the mortgage process, while Laura remains deeply involved in the Atlanta community she calls home.

Grant and Laura talk about her path into the mortgage business, what she's learned after nearly three decades in the industry, the realities of buying a home, and why relationships and community have remained such a big part of the way she does business.

It's a conversation about mortgages, but also about entrepreneurship, treating people well, and building a business that's genuinely connected to the community around it.

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.

👉 Find Laura and Truth and Lending in The Southern Shmooze Directory: Truth and Lending Shmooze profile

👉 Learn more about Truth and Lending: Truth and Lending

👉 Join The Southern Shmooze Facebook Group: Join the community

👉 Subscribe to The Southern Shmooze Newsletter: Subscribe here

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.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

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/

👉 Join The Southern Shmooze Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSouthernShmooze

👉 Subscribe to The Southern Shmooze Newsletter: https://thesouthernshmooze.substack.com/

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.