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Hello Hello

Hello Hello

Rogers Heating & Cooling

The Rogers Radio Podcast is a weekly show highlighting the people and local business owners in the South Boston, Virginia area. Tune in each week to learn more about Rogers Heating & Cooling, and all of the amazing guests we interview!

243 - Feeding Kids, Building Community: The Story Behind Clarksville's Backpack Buddies
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  • 243 - Feeding Kids, Building Community: The Story Behind Clarksville's Backpack Buddies

    What happens when the school cafeteria closes on Friday—but a child still needs to eat all weekend?

    In this episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers visits St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Clarksville, Virginia, to sit down with Dottie Thaxton and Rebecca Brooks and learn about the community effort behind Backpack Buddies.

    The program began after Dottie learned about a similar initiative serving food-insecure children. What started with the thought that Clarksville might be able to help 10 children quickly grew into a community-wide effort involving local churches, volunteers and schools. The first year, Backpack Buddies provided weekend food for approximately 50 elementary students. Today, that number has grown to nearly 80 elementary students each week, with additional support reaching middle and high school students.

    Each Friday, children receive bags filled with shelf-stable milk, juice, pasta, vegetables, fruit, cereal, ramen, mac and cheese, snacks and other foods to help carry them through the weekend. The group has even begun working toward providing food during the summer when students don't have access to school meals.

    But keeping the program going takes an entire community.

    It costs approximately $275 per year to provide one child's bags, and supporting close to 80 elementary students requires more than $22,000. Volunteers donate money, purchase food, pack hundreds of bags and deliver them to the schools every week.

    And there is a very important date to put on your calendar:

    October 10 | 4–7 PM

    The fourth annual Oktoberfest fundraiser will feature German food, beer and wine, music, a silent auction, raffle items and more—all while raising money and awareness for Backpack Buddies and Feeding Our Kids. Tickets are $25, with advance purchase encouraged.

    Because, as Dottie says in this episode:

    "Kids need to eat."

    And when a community comes together, we can make sure they do.

    Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com

    Wed, 16 Sep 2026 - 22min
  • 242 - More Than a Gift Shop: The Heart Behind Main Street Art Collective

    What happens when you create a business around things that make people feel good, bring people together, and have a story behind them?

    In this episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers heads to Downtown Danville, Virginia, to visit Main Street Art Collective and sit down with owner Cheryl Sutherland.

    What started as Cheryl's dream of owning a gift shop has grown into something much bigger—a space filled with local artists and makers, one-of-a-kind gifts, classes, pop-ups, Danville treasures, and a community of people Cheryl has brought together over the last eight years.

    Cheryl shares how she finds the artists and makers featured throughout the store, why customers are increasingly drawn to gifts with meaning and a story, and how Main Street Art Collective has become a destination for both locals and visitors exploring a growing Downtown Danville.

    We also talk about the store's growing lineup of classes—from painting and knitting to sourdough bread making—as well as pop-ups and new ways Cheryl continues to bring people together.

    But one of the most meaningful moments comes when Cheryl talks about the future.

    When asked about her five-year plan, her answer is refreshingly simple: she doesn't know—and she's given herself permission to be okay with that. As long as the business continues bringing her joy, serving others, and feeling like the place she is meant to be, that's enough.

    Whether you're looking for the perfect gift, want to try something creative, or simply love discovering the people and businesses making our communities special, this is an episode you'll want to watch.

    Sign up for classes here: https://mainstreetartcollective.com/class-schedule

    Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com

    Wed, 09 Sep 2026 - 13min
  • 241 - From One Little Red Building to a Lynchburg Icon: The Joe Bean's Story

    If you've spent any time in Lynchburg, Virginia, chances are you've driven past a little red building with a line wrapped around it—or you already have a Joe Bean's order you swear by.

    But do you know how it all started?

    For the first-ever Lynchburg business featured on the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers sits down with Mike and Cheyenne from Joe Bean's to hear the story behind one of the area's most recognizable local businesses.

    The story begins in 1999 when owner Linda was on a fly-fishing trip in Montana and stopped at a tiny drive-thru coffee shop that had been converted from an old film-developing kiosk. Lynchburg didn't have drive-thru coffee at the time, and she came home thinking: Lynchburg needs one of these.

    In November 2000, the first bright-red Joe Bean's opened on Timberlake Road. More than 25 years later, that one little building has grown to eight locations, with conversations already happening about where location number nine could be.

    Mike and Cheyenne share the stories behind the growth, the people who make Joe Bean's what it is, their commitment to supporting other local businesses, and the internal mission that guides their team every day: "We deliver smiles."

    And, of course, we talk coffee! ☕️

    From viral creations and year-round flavors to the September Butterscotch Brownie flavor of the month, Cheyenne and Mike share their personal Joe Bean's orders—and a few tips for finding your own.

    Whether Joe Bean's is already part of your morning routine or you've never been, this episode will make you appreciate the story behind that little red building even more.

    Check out the Joe Beans shop: https://www.joebeans.coffee/shop

    Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com

    Wed, 02 Sep 2026 - 25min
  • 240 - 6 Hours Without My Phone Changed My Perspective on Life

    What happens when you're forced to sit still for six hours—with no phone, no work, no distractions, and absolutely no control over your schedule?

    For Alyssa, an unexpected day of jury duty turned into one of the most eye-opening experiences she's had in a long time.

    In this solo episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa shares what happened when she reported for jury duty for a major local trial expecting to be dismissed quickly—only to spend nearly the entire day inside the courthouse without access to technology.

    At first, all she could think about were the meetings she was missing, the podcast she was supposed to record, childcare arrangements, work, and everything else waiting for her outside those courthouse doors.

    Then something unexpected happened.

    She started talking to people.

    Without phones to scroll, emails to answer, or notifications demanding attention, a room full of strangers began having actual conversations—about their families, jobs, weekends, favorite shows, and their lives. And somewhere in those six hours, Alyssa realized just how much technology may be taking away from the human connections happening right in front of us.

    The experience also brought an unexpected lesson in perspective. Everyone in that courthouse had somewhere else to be and something happening in their own life—some far more significant than a missed meeting or disrupted schedule.

    Sometimes the days that completely ruin our plans end up teaching us exactly what we needed to learn.

    Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com

    Wed, 26 Aug 2026 - 20min
  • 239 - More Than a Stage: How Smokestack Theatre Is Creating a Place to Belong

    What if a theater could be more than a place to watch a show? What if it could become a place where people discover confidence, creativity, community—and somewhere they truly belong?

    In this episode of the Hello Hello Podcast, Alyssa Rogers travels to Smokestack Theatre in Danville, Virginia, to sit down with Josh and Sarah and learn about the story, mission, and growing impact of this local theater.

    Josh shares how Smokestack was created with a vision that went far beyond producing great shows. From the beginning, the goal was to create opportunities for young people, welcome new faces into theater, and build a creative space where everyone could feel included. Today, more than 100 volunteers help bring that vision to life each year.

    Sarah also shares the powerful story of her son, Sam, who first came to Smokestack as an introverted young person looking for a place to fit in. Two years later, he's involved in multiple productions, working behind the scenes, developing new skills, building relationships, and growing in confidence.

    You'll also hear about upcoming productions like The Mousetrap, Smokestack's popular Haunted History Tours, improv, youth opportunities, sensory-friendly performances, volunteer opportunities, and the many ways you can get involved—even if stepping onto a stage isn't your thing.

    Whether you're an experienced performer, have a child looking for somewhere to belong, or simply want to support the arts in our region, there's a place for you at Smokestack.

    More information: https://thesmokestack.org/

    Hello Hello is Powered by Rogers Heating & Cooling: www.callrogers.com

    Wed, 19 Aug 2026 - 28min
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