El Futuro provides comprehensive mental health services in a bilingual environment to thousands of individuals and families across North Carolina. During the conversation, Mary and Justin talk about the organization's mission, how they've adjusted their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of Mary's favorite client stories.

On Thursday, December 15, in collaboration with Rubies at Five Points, the Buddy Ruski team is hosting a dance party fundraiser to bring awareness and raise funds for El Futuro. This is the second time Buddy Ruski and Rubies have teamed up to raise money for local community organizations. Find out more about the event here.

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Victoria is a journalist and multimedia producer based in Durham, North Carolina. She shares what it's like growing up as the child of immigrants, moving from North Jersey to Clemmons, North Carolina at age 7, and how being a "restaurant kid" shaped her relationship with food and food culture. (3:04)

Victoria would go on to study Journalism and Spanish at UNC-Chapel Hill with ambitions to publish magazine features. She recalls learning the strict publishing standards that she's still a stickler for to this day, and having to pass "the test" that terrified many aspiring journalists. (19:51)

After college, she became a contributing writer, and eventually the Food Editor, at INDY WEEK, a Triangle-based alt-weekly newspaper. Victoria credits her editors with giving her the freedom to explore different aspects of the food industry, including working conditions for farmers and factory employees, and the history behind some of our favorite dishes. (46:01)

When she's not on the search for her next feature, Victoria performs with the DJ collective Mamis and the Papis. (1:13:42) Shout out Bad Bunny!

Victoria publishes stories using a variety of media disciplines including podcasts and documentary film. "Her work aims to dispel myths about the Global South—its people and places—against the backdrop of complex social, political and personal histories." You can find links to her work on her website.

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Byrne graduated from Clemson with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2007, one year before the housing crisis. 5 years later, he would leave his career as an engineer to pursue his MBA at UNC-Chapel Hill in Real Estate Finance and Development. (19:32) After traveling around different communities (The Bay Area, Houston, Atlanta), Byrne began to realize that development is as much about architecture as it is psychology, and that many of us are more YIMBY elsewhere but NIMBY at home. (22:12)

To close out our conversation, Byrne and I walk through the typical development process and where community can, and should, get more involved. (48:04)

You can learn more about Jed's work at oakcityCRE.com.

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

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Mark's origins begin in Kingsport, Tennessee where his interest in food and nutrition started when his father was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes. He became the food guru of his family, learning about healthy eating habits and nagging his parents to try new ways of cooking to support his father's health. (2:03) In turn, Mark learned about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship through his parents -- his parents owned a jewelry store. (14:14)

Mark attended Davidson College where he double majored in English Literature and Philosophy with a concentration in Film Studies. (19:19) His interest in storytelling ultimately lead to a career in journalism after graduated. It was during his time at Yes! Magazine in Seattle that Mark met a mentor who persuaded him to join the Peace Corp. (31:13)

While volunteering in Zimbabwe, Mark desperately missed one of his favorite foods: peanut butter. After watching local farmers using peanuts for other types of foods, he took a shot at making his own homemade peanut butter. "Not to toot my own horn, but it was so delicious." (35:17)

Eventually, Mark took a job working for Counter Culture coffee and moved to Durham. It was in his backyard in 2010 where Mark's craving for freshly-made peanut butter resurfaced. After remembering the peanut butter he made in Zimbabwe, Mark decided to take the leap and co-founded Big Spoon Roasters with his now-wife Megan. Big Spoon was a nickname Mark's father held because of the way he ate big spoonfuls of peanut butter right out of the jar (39:59)

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

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Anna spent her childhood in Durham after being adopted from South Korea at 3 months old. Her interest in the culinary arts started early in life, watching cooking shows with her father and using food as a centerpiece for good times with her friends. (4:52)

After graduation, Anna enrolled in culinary school at Johnson & Wales before venturing out to the west coast to further explore a career in food and level up her skills at a number of restaurants. (23:33) Clove & Hoof, a whole-animal butcher shop and restaurant in Oakland, left a lasting impression on Anna. It was here that visions for her own business began to materialize.

Eventually, Anna moved back to her hometown to start Moonbelly Meat Company, a woman-owned sausage and charcuterie business serving locally sourced, humanely raised pork products. (38:47) We talked about the distinct branding for Moonbelly, why ethical, local sourcing is so important to the company's values, and the joy Anna gets from experimenting with different recipes, even for things as simple as hot dogs.

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Erik is a transportation expert and urban planner from the mean streets of Beantown Boston, Massachusetts. He developed an affinity for maps and geography at a young age, always paying close attention to his surroundings as he traveled around his hometown by foot, bus, or subway. (1:39)

Eventually, that passion led Erik to a decade-long position at GoTriangle after receiving his Master’s degree in urban planning from UNC-Chapel Hill. (21:55)

No conversation about transportation in the Triangle region is complete without mentioning our failed light rail project. If you’re looking for brief, obligatory light rail comment, here it is. (45:06)

Erik and I bring a certain amount of bias to this conversation, as we both serve on the board of directors at Bike Durham, a non-profit focused on transforming our transit system to make it safer and more equitable. We close out our conversation with Erik talking about his specific work on the Transit Equity Campaign, which you can learn more about at bikedurham.org/transit. (57:00)
***

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Jay is a musician hailing from Johnstown, Pennsylvania where his knack for music began with the smooth sounds of the accordion. (4:36) After high school, Jay took a hiatus from music. He earned a degree in biomedical engineering and eventually became a science teacher in the only other place that would hire him besides his hometown. That’s right: Durham Public Schools. (16:30)

After he left teaching, Jay reconnected with his love for music following a brief run at being a screenwriter. (23:58) We covered his influences (33:01) and what it was like building a music scene in 2010 Durham (45:53) This is where our stories crossover. Jay and my fabled roommate Tom Rau, a recurring character on this show, played in a band together in the early 2010s. I had the pleasure of seeing Jay perform on multiple occasions. We spent nights together talking about music, life, and of course, Durham.

Since 2016, Jay has lived in Idaho where he recently ran for political office. He said he was apathetic towards politics for most of his life, but the results of the 2016 election prompted him to become more involved. (1:16:58)

Check out Jay’s music on Bandcamp: https://jkutchma.bandcamp.com

***

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Over the last couple of years, Raleigh city government has been in a bit of turmoil, from the election schedule being changed, to calls for a special election to unseat the current mayor prior to the end of her term. Dr. Ruth and I decided to keep things focused on his particular candidacy and what motivates him as a leader and nominee. If you are interested in following the full story, both the News & Observer and Indy Week have done great reporting on the topic locally.

Thanks again to Kat at Let’s Talk Durham for collaborating with me on this episode.
***
As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

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Fess is a rapper and entrepreneur hailing from Baltimore, Maryland but has called Durham home for most of his life. He is one of the first people I met on the scene way back in the early aughts when he was performing as part of the rap duo Toon & The Real Laww under the alias Professor Toon. Good times… good times.

We talked about overcoming childhood traumas and how those early experiences shaped the rest of his life and his music. As a student at Durham School of the Arts, Fess says being a “theatre kid” is where he developed his love for the stage. It wasn’t until years later that his love and knack for rapping would catch up.

Recently, Fess has pivoted into other creative endeavors including talent management and podcasting while still finding time to continue honing his craft as a musician.
***
As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Josh is a comedian and writer based in New York City. He and I became fast friends during my first stint as a teacher with Putney Student Travel, an experiential learning program based in Vermont.

We talk about his picturesque upbringing in New Jersey, playing music at an early age with his older brother Michael, and why every kid in his school was fighting to get into Yale.

From there, we get into his time as a student at Amherst College, teaching with Putney, and the power that “Putney Magic” has on its students as well as its leaders.

Finally, we cover what it takes to be a content creator, and how the addicting pursuit of social media success ultimately leaves you empty. Over the pandemic, Josh has become somewhat of an Internet sensation with his “Rhythms of Comedy” series, racking up millions of views and even a spot on The Tonight Show. But internet fame isn’t all it’s cut out to be. What exactly IS internet fame cut out to be?

Josh on TikTok: @joshplaysdrums
Josh on IG: @josh_harmon_
Josh on YouTube: Josh Harmon
***
As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Mike is an arborist by trade but an artist at heart, based in New York City.

He is the co-founder of Across the Margin, a media and publishing company founded in New York City. Mike and I met through our mutual friend, and my long-time roommate, Tom Rau.

We cover Mike’s upbringing in the Northeast, his college years at Virginia Tech, the idea of “manifest dismantling,” and being fangirls of Jenny Odell. Mike had the pleasure of interviewing Jenny on his show a couple of months ago.

We also talked about what it takes to run a media company in the digital age. Storytelling is a core tenet of Across The Margin, as it is here at Buddy Ruski, so we were really vibin’. Hope you enjoy!
***
As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and support the show financially through a subscription at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Margaret is a marketing specialist based in Durham, North Carolina.

We shared a lovely conversation about growing up in Montana, her origins in Oregon, that one summer in Prague (spicy) and how she got to Durham in 2009. Margaret led Public Relations for Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (what is now Discover Durham) from 2010-2012, during a pivotal time in Durham’s recent history. She’s been a champion of freelancers and gig workers for years through her work leading the Freelance League of NC and beyond.
***
As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Nevy is one of the many characters in the Runaway Extended Universe. He and I had the pleasure of working together during my tenure at the company, including a stop in Charlotte for our New Carolina tour back in 2017.

He and I talked about how he got into DJing, who his inspirations are in the industry, and how he’s been able to maintain during COVID. Obviously, we’ve all been stuck at home and like many of you, Nevy has been reflecting on the past, trying to live in the present while planning for an uncertain near future.
***
As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends and consider supporting the show and other projects on Patreon at patreon.com/buddyruski.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Saleem is a videographer based here in Durham, North Carolina. He is incredibly wise and considerate, always tinkering and experimenting. He never settles for the status quo and is constantly thinking about how we can improve everyday life through an outta the box approach. You’ll hear some of that in our conversation as we discuss the future of education, why empathy is important to fostering strong communities, and how technology has changed his own approach to filmmaking.

You can follow his work at kidethnic.com.
***
As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends and consider supporting the show and other projects on Patreon at patreon.com/buddyruski.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast and so much more at BuddyRuski.com. Make it a part of your regular content digest.

Danny is a retired rapper and lifelong Durhamite. His journey as a musician is one to be admired for his perseverance through the ever-changing media landscape that indie artists rely so heavily on. Danny didn’t start getting into hip-hop until high school. His story as a professional hip-hop artist began at North Carolina Central University in the classroom of 9th Wonder, acclaimed producer and former member of Little Brother. In 2019, Danny announced he would step away from music after feeling burnt out. You can still find his witty humor and keen observations on Twitter and Instagram at @yaboydannyblaze.
***

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends and support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/buddyruski.

You can always find new episodes of this podcast plus so much more at BuddyRuski.com.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Nicole is the founder of Empower Dance Studio in downtown Durham. She is a Durham native, born and raised. As a young person, Nicole swore off working as a teacher or opening a dance studio, but fate had a different plan. After graduating from Hollins University with a degree in Psychology, Nicole became a dance teacher with Durham Public Schools. After spending years working with youth in her community, Nicole founded Empower Dance Studio as a means to have a more direct impact on the lives of her students.
***

You can always find new episodes of this podcast plus so much more at BuddyRuski.com.

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends and support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/buddyruski.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Bernard is the co-founder, CEO and CTO of Loanwell, a financial tech company headquartered in American Underground in Durham. Originally from Marietta, Georgia, Bernard made his way to the Triangle for undergraduate school at UNC Chapel-Hill before moving to Durham to help found a church and start his journey as an entrepreneur. He comes from a family of entrepreneurs and learned the value of persistence and creativity at an early age. We compare and contrast the entrepreneurial landscapes of Durham and Atlanta, how they've grown, and what they're missing to increase economic diversity.

With the little free time he has left, Bernard enjoys a good pick-up basketball run and spending time with his newborn daughter.
***

You can always find new episodes of this podcast plus so much more at BuddyRuski.com.

As always, thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, be sure to share with your friends and support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/buddyruski.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

Rose is a passionate political organizer currently serving as the Vice President of Durham Democratic Women. Similar to my interview with David on episode 12, my guest is a born-and-raised Durhamite. We revisit some of her favorite and most informative childhood memories in the Bull City before diving into her work at DDW and examine what it takes to get people out to the polls.

If you would like to learn more about Rose's work, check out durhamdemwomen.org. We also encourage you to check out You Can Vote, a nonpartisan group in North Carolina aimed at increasing voter turnout.
***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring new conversations with intriguing people.

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David and I are childhood friends from the same Watts-Hillandale neighborhood in Durham. We reminisce about the good ol' days growing up in Durham and how early exposure to the complexities of communities shaped our upbringing. Then, I ask David about being a "one and done" player at Duke alongside Kyrie Irving and falling in love with documentary filmmaking after falling out of love with basketball.
***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring new conversations with intriguing people.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @buddyruski

We talk about home schooling and geek out over WhoSampled.com while Cameron tries to explain to me what the heck VaporWave is. We also talk about his musical influences and what he looks for in a sample. Then, as a special treat, Cameron shares a small sample of his new upcoming EP, Colony.

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring new conversations with intriguing people.

Follow on Twitter and IG: @buddyruski

We talk about a few taboo topics including sex work, identity, nude retreats, and pornography, to name a few. It's a conversation that will enlighten even the most "woke" among us. I'm grateful that Bliss took the time to break it down for me AND she provided the White Claw. A true hero.

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all uniquely human.

Follow on Twitter and IG: @buddyruski

We talk about growing up in Durham, vaulting onto the hip-hop scene at an early age, updating the Chamber of Commerce in the 21st Century, and why being intentional when designing a city's future is important.
***

There is a brief introduction that ends at 03:17 if you'd like to skip straight to the interview.

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

Follow on Twitter and IG: @buddyruski

We talk about growing up in Durham, his early career as an amateur filmmaker, being a tour guide in Europe, what makes good storytelling, and how Marvel has changed the industry for years to come.
***

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The two of us discuss Durham in 2018, what went well, where we can improve, and look ahead to Mayor Schewel's State of the City Address.

The full video can be seen here.

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

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We talk learning to take no bull in New Jersey and moving to Durham over Raleigh and Chapel Hill because no one likes a wine and cheeser. We also talk founding the Clarion Content (which you should support along with this show), the circumstances that created a powerful movement in Durham at the turn of the decade and what it was like covering it.

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

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We talk being a Masshole from New Hampshire, living on a commune with her family in Carrboro, and opening a space for weird artists in downtown Durham at the start of the "renaissance."

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

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We talk Hurricane Katrina and moving from NOLA to NC, his growing passion for the arts while a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, the story behind HYPE, a web-series set to debut in January 2019, and why he hates Marvel movies. Things may have gotten heated...

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

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We discuss his upbringing in Maryland as a first-generation American, his Thai heritage and experience living in Thailand after high school, his inspiration for the crazy art he produces, and why we should all be more thankful.

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

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Thank you for listening! I’m excited to bring new energy to this show and more, with your participation, of course.

The two of us take a trip down memory lane to learn more about growing up in Connecticut, college, and his time overseas. Then, we talk about the “Independence Day” that led Toriano to his wife Serena and their future together as life partners and business co-conspirators.

***

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

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Thank you for listening! I’m excited to bring new energy to this show and more, with your participation, of course.

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If you would like to get new episodes in your inbox each week, the best way to ensure you don’t miss out is signing up for the newsletter.

Thank you for listening! I’m excited to bring new energy to this show and more, with your participation, of course.

Each week, you’ll find new episodes at BuddyRuski.com featuring conversations with intriguing people as we unlock the truths that make us all unique.

You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram.

If you would like to get new episodes in your inbox each week, the best way to ensure you don’t miss out is signing up for the newsletter.

Thank you for listening! I’m excited to bring new energy to this show and more, with your participation, of course.

Support the show on Patreon here.

You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram.

If you would like to get new episodes in your inbox each week, the best way to ensure you don’t miss out is signing up for the newsletter.

Thank you for listening! I’m excited to bring new energy to this show and more, with your participation, of course.