Episode 189 features Christina Dezzi of DizziesDills.

Christina discussed her journey of creating Desi's Dills, a small-batch, homemade pickle business with over 12 unique flavors. She shared how her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start making pickles after helping a customer, which eventually grew into a successful business. Christina highlighted her passion for creating new flavors, such as the Philly Dilly, and her expansion into various delis and vendors. She also mentioned upcoming events and locations where her pickles will be available, emphasizing her focus on providing samples to attract customers.

Christina discussed the challenges of running Desi's Dills, including managing inventory, meeting demand, and dealing with supply chain issues. She expressed a desire to expand beyond food trucks by opening a small retail space where she could offer a variety of pickle-based products and other food options. Rich inquired about future plans for the business, and Christina shared her vision of eventually having a dedicated space to showcase and sell her products.

www.DezzisDills.com - Instagram

Honerable Mentions"

P.J. Whelihans

Colonial Market

Guy's Foods

Paganos

Anthony's Takeout

A1 Beer Barn

The Shops on Mill

The Nook

Niko's Steaks

Skinny Joey's

Angelo's Pizzeria

Italian Delight

Stogie Joes Tavern

Anthony's Ristorante

Barnaby's

Wawa

Rich Shane

Episode 188 features Paul Hewes and Zach Beaver of the Delaware County Historical Society.

The Delaware County Historical Society, celebrating its 130th anniversary, engages in preserving and promoting local history through various programs. Paul and Zach discussed their lecture series, which offers free, outdoor, BYOB-style events twice monthly from April to June and September to October, featuring historians and experts on Delaware County history. They also highlighted their location at 9 West Front Street in Media, where they are open Tuesday through Thursday, and emphasized the importance of advance notice for research requests.

The group discussed the rich history of Delaware County, highlighting key facts such as Martin Luther King Jr. attending seminary in Chester, the discovery of the FBI's domestic spying program there, and the area's significance as a shipping industry hub during World War II. They also mentioned the invention of the Slinky in Delco and the recent announcement of Norwegian Cruise Lines opening a port in Tinicum. Paul and Zach shared their passion for local history, which was sparked by their families' interest in the area's past. They emphasized the importance of preserving and learning about the region's history, noting that many significant events and structures are often overlooked by residents and visitors alike.

9 West Front Street, Media PA 19063 - 610-750-0622 - www.PADelcoHistory.org - Instagram

Honorable Mentions:

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Apollo Pizza

Trio Cold Cuts

A Cut Above

Little Anthony's

Pinocchio's Restaurant

Romano's Pizzeria

Wawa

Booth's Corner Farmers Market

Rich Shane

Episode 187 features Mona Malik of Cracked Bell Construction.

Mona explained that Cracked Belt Construction is a full-service design-build firm located in Delaware and Chester Counties, specializing in kitchen and bath remodels, as well as additions. She described her background, including her work on the Liberty on the River development project, and emphasized her commitment to transparency and availability for clients. Mona highlighted the company's one-stop-shop approach, where clients work with a single project manager throughout the entire process.

Mona discussed current trends in home remodeling, highlighting the rise of smart home technology such as smart mirrors, automated lighting, and garage door openers, which she noted are more affordable than many people expect. She also explained that one-colored bathrooms, particularly gray with white, are becoming outdated, with modern homeowners preferring spa-like features like special tiles, rainfall showerheads, and minimalist designs with hanging pots and pans. Mona expressed her passion for the work and described her collaborative team of male colleagues as a supportive family environment, acknowledging that women often make the final decision.

484-366-7563 - Facebook

Honorable Mentions:

Delco Steaks

Pica's Restaurant

Taff Treats

Wawa

Media, PA

Rich Shane

Episode 186 features Kevin Crane of Vertex Business Solutions.

Kevin Crane, co-owner of Vertex Business Solutions with his wife Phyllis, discussed how the company helps business owners increase profits through AI services, including credit card machine setups, POS systems, and AI receptionists. Kevin explained that Vertex provides free consultations to identify business pain points and offers solutions to generate additional revenue, such as finding qualified leads and implementing customer loyalty programs. He shared his entrepreneurial journey, which began at a young age and included owning a childcare center, a karate school, and now Vertex. Kevin emphasized the importance of giving back to the community and highlighted how Vertex aims to help businesses thrive in the competitive landscape by leveraging AI to improve efficiency and profitability.

www.VertexBusiness.group - 610-517-4007

Honorable Mentions:

Genoa Pizza & Grill

Leo's Steak Shop

Pat's Pizza & Pasta

Wawa

Access Granted

Rich Shane

Episode 185 features Amani Jackson of Royal Blush Bar.

Rich interviews Amani Jackson, owner of Royal Blush Bar, a luxury mobile bar company that provides handcrafted bar experiences for weddings and corporate events. Amani explains that Royal Blush Bar's philosophy of true luxury is the absence of worry, aiming to relieve hosts of event planning stress. Amani shares her background as a bartender with over 20 years of experience and her own negative wedding planning experience, which inspired her to create a service that values customer feedback and delivers quality experiences.

Amani discussed her event services, including Royal Blush Bar's mobile trailer and educational branch, Royal Blush Academy of Spirits and Wellness, which offers mixology classes and corporate team-building sessions. She highlighted their versatility in catering to various events like weddings, birthdays, and celebrations of life, often partnering with food trucks. Amani also introduced their newest addition, a slushy cart, perfect for warm weather events and offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

(445) 247-6288 - www.RoyalBlushBar.com - Instagram

Honorable

Springfield Mall

Rich Shane

Episode 184 features Lakeata Camara and Ruthie Panakkal of Home Away From Home Adult Day Center.

Rich Shane welcomed Lakeata Camara and Ruthie Panakkal from Home Away From Home Adult Day Center to discuss their dementia care services. Ruthie explained that the center provides respite care for individuals with dementia, Parkinson's, and other dementia-related conditions, offering a day center where families can drop off their loved ones for care until evening pickup. The center's origins stem from Lakeata's personal experience caring for her grandfather, who had dementia, leading to the idea of establishing a business to better serve the community. Ruthie also mentioned that the center engages clients in activities tailored to their routines and needs.

The discussion focused on Home Away From Home Adult Day Center, a facility providing care for individuals aged 60 and above with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia. Lakeata and Amrutha described the center's activities, which include games, arts and crafts, and dancing, aimed at maintaining cognitive function and social connections. They emphasized the importance of creating a home-like environment and providing family involvement. The center is currently certified to serve meals but asks clients to bring their own food for now. The facility is located in Media, PA, and offers tours every Tuesday, with potential clients required to complete paperwork if they wish to enroll.

www.HomeAwayAdultCare.com - 1211 N Providence Rd, Media, PA 19063 - (610) 566-1319

Honorable Mentions:

Van Horn's Steaks

Stephen's on State

Wawa

Rich Shane

Episode 183 features Kathy Parkinson of The Grange Estate.

Rich and Kathy discussed the Grange Estate, its history, and its current role as a house museum and vintage shop. Kathy shared details about the estate's Revolutionary War significance and its preservation by local efforts in the 1970s. They discussed the Grange's holiday decorations and events, including a Christmas train display and Santa room.

www.TheGrangeEstate.net - 143 Myrtle Ave, Havertown, PA 19083 - (610) 446-4958 - Instagram

Honorable Mentions:

Havertown Pizza

Pica's Restaurant

Wawa

Rich Shane

Episode 182 features Trung Nguyen of WSI and Joey Mazza of The Pennyworth Group.

Rich, Joey, and Trung discussed the evolution and applications of artificial intelligence (AI), with Trung explaining that AI has become more accessible and advanced, particularly with platforms like ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot, Google's Gemini, Grok, Perplexity, and Claude. They highlighted the importance of choosing the right AI platform for business and personal use, noting that while ChatGPT is popular, other platforms have unique strengths, such as Gemini's advancements in creativity. Joey emphasized the value of sticking with a chosen AI model once it meets one's needs, advocating for upgrading to paid versions for enhanced privacy and security. Rich and Joey reflected on their past discussions about AI adoption, with Joey sharing his experience of easily integrating AI into his business.

Joey and Trung discussed the adoption and potential of AI in business, comparing it to the early days of smartphones. They emphasized that AI is a tool that requires training and understanding to maximize its benefits, such as improving productivity and decision-making. They highlighted the importance of exploring AI's capabilities and sharing knowledge within communities like WSI to enhance its use in businesses.

Honorable Mentions:

Leo's Steak Shop

Wawa

Linvilla Orchards

Rich Shane