Macon Atlanta with Brent

The Flips and Twists of Small Business Ownership with Jane Mills, The Little Gym Franchise Owner

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights on better living in Atlanta and discover more ways of mindful living, delivered straight to your inbox📖 Read more about this episode:👉 https://www.maconatlanta.com/ 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:---🎙️ About the EpisodeIn this episode, Brent talks with Jane Mills — a long-time franchise owner of The Little Gym, whose two decades of experience offer an honest, inspiring look at the ups and downs of small business ownership.---⭐ Featured Guest: Jane Mills About the Guest:Jane Mills is a franchisee of The Little Gym, owning kids’ gymnastics gyms The Little Gym of Smyrna and The Little Gym of Decatur. She bought The Little Gym of Smyrna from its original owner after starting as Gym Director, and has since had a 20-year ownership journey that has landed her in The Little Gym Hall of Fame.Connect with Jane:📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thelittlegymofsmyrna/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/tlgdecaturga/---🎙️ Host: Brent MaconBrent Macon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host. As a dad and spiritual seeker, he's passionate about exploring how technology can help us live better, more connected lives.Through his podcast Macon Atlanta, Brent talks with interesting people about big ideas, personal growth, and building a thriving community. He believes in balancing ambition with wellbeing, and using business as a force for good.Connect with Brent:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maconatlanta/🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyBo_7H2OpMjJ2m3mRBDng/🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/MaconAtlanta/📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Macon-Atlanta-61560549557983/?_rdr/--- 📺 About the ShowMacon Atlanta is a podcast exploring big questions, bold ideas, and better living with inspiring Atlantans. Host Brent Macon sits down with innovators and thought leaders from diverse fields to delve into their stories, insights, and visions for creating a better world with more thriving.---👍 If you enjoyed the podcast, please like, comment, and leave a 5-star review to help others discover the show.You can also tweet @MaconAtlanta with your feedback or ideas — we’d love to hear from you 🙏---⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Jane Mills and The Little Gym Story01:05 – Buying the Smyrna Location at 2502:34 – Making It Happen: From Gym Director to Owner03:41 – Early Lessons in Ownership05:03 – From Employee to Franchise Owner05:56 – Growing, Scaling, and Finding Balance08:19 – The Little Gym Landscape in Atlanta09:58 – Leadership Evolution and Delegation12:22 – Family, Balance, and Life as a Business Owner13:23 – The Changing Atlanta Kids Landscape14:09 – Pros and Cons of Small Business Ownership16:21 – Unexpected Moments & Learning on the Go17:36 – Navigating the Pandemic and Keeping the Business Alive20:37 – Lessons from Surviving Crises21:51 – Advice for Aspiring Small Business Owners23:17 – The “Unsexy Business” Myth and Social Media Narratives24:43 – The Rewards and Challenges of Ownership26:09 – 20 Years of Impact: Families, Kids, and Community28:21 – Managing Teams, Responsibility, and Burnout30:00 – The Constant Presence of a Small Business Owner31:28 – The Little Gym’s 50-Year Legacy and Enduring Heart34:09 – Competition, Curriculum, and Staying Relevant37:36 – Gymnastics as Full-Body Development for Kids39:00 – What Babies Actually Do in Gymnastics Classes41:07 – Misconceptions About Gymnastics and “Real” Programs43:18 – Child-Led Learning and the Power of Exploration46:02 – Letting Kids Be Kids: The Freedom to Explore48:20 – Screen-Free Spaces and Modern Parenting50:04 – The Future of The Little Gym and Its Next 10 Years51:57 – What The Little Gym Means to Atlanta Families53:00 – Closing Thoughts and Gratitude---

Sol Dance: From Corporate Burnout to Sacred Movement in Atlanta

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights on better living in Atlanta and discover more ways of mindful living, delivered straight to your inbox: https://www.maconatlanta.com📖 Read more about this episode on: https://www.maconatlanta.com🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gsz6Fd6Nt64[ABOUT THE EPISODE]⭐ Featured Guests: Maya Lemberg and Scott Houston[ABOUT THE GUESTS]Maya Lemberg is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and co-founder of Sol Dance, devoted to helping others feel at home in their bodies and live in alignment with their soul's truth. With 20 years of experience in the healing arts, she blends psychotherapy, somatics, yoga, dance, expressive arts, and Earth-based spirituality into a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach. As a ceremonial facilitator, yogi, and vocalist, Maya creates sacred spaces where individuals and groups can feel, heal, and reconnect with themselves.Scott Houston is a classically trained musician, lifelong dancer, and accredited 5Rhythms teacher who has spent nearly 15 years using dance as a healing modality. As Co-Founder, Director, and Resident DJ of Sol Dance, he creates transformative events rooted in embodiment, sound, and community. Known for his dynamic and intuitive approach to music, Scott weaves dancefloors through every emotional and energetic layer—from stillness to ecstatic release and deep reflection.Connect with Maya and Scott:Website: https://soldancemovement.comWebsite: https://emergehealing.comInstagram: @soldancemovementInstagram: @thescotthoustonInstagram: @emerge.healing🎙️ Host: Brent MaconBrent Macon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host. As a dad and spiritual seeker, he's passionate about exploring how technology can help us live better, more connected lives. Through his podcast Macon Atlanta, Brent talks with interesting people about big ideas, personal growth, and building a thriving community. He believes in balancing ambition with wellbeing, and using business as a force for good.Connect With Brent:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maconatlanta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyBo_7H2OpMjJ2m3mRBDng/Twitter/X: ⁠https://x.com/MaconAtlanta/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Macon-Atlanta-61560549557983/?_rdr/📺 About the Show:Macon Atlanta is a podcast exploring big questions, bold ideas, and better living with inspiring Atlantans. Host Brent Macon sits down with innovators and thought leaders from diverse fields to delve into their stories, insights, and visions for creating a better world with more thriving.---If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a 5-star review / like & comment to help others discover the show. You can also tweet @MaconAtlanta with your feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes, and we'll personally thank you for tuning in 🙏.---Chapters:0:00 Introduction0:49 Leadership Through Sol Dance3:03 Pre-Event Preparation4:48 The Creative Process9:07 Community Energy Example11:42 What is Ecstatic Dance?19:06 Why They Love Sol Dance25:01 Origin Stories Begin26:00 Scott's Journey32:14 Maya's Role and Meeting35:29 Building the Enterprise41:14 Spiritual Partnership48:23 The Need for Sacred Movement57:02 Cultivating Spiritual Underground1:02:12 Finding Your Spiritual People1:14:00 Generational Healing1:15:08 Final Messages1:17:49 Closing#MaconAtlanta #Podcast

Civil Sights: Gene Kansas on Preserving Sweet Auburn's Rich History

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights on better living in Atlanta and discover more ways of mindful living, delivered straight to your inbox: https://www.maconatlanta.com/📖 Read more about this episode on: https://www.maconatlanta.com🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5BKnknrfxlAABOUT THE EPISODE⭐ Featured Guest: Gene KansasGene Kansas is an award-winning historic preservationist, real estate developer, storyteller, and author based in Atlanta. He's the founder of Gene Kansas | Commercial Real Estate, a firm dedicated to culturally connecting people and place by building up history, not over it www.genekansas.com.Gene is also the founder of Constellations, a culturally-based workspace in Atlanta's historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood www.constellations.community. He is the author of Civil Sights (University of Georgia Press, February 2025), a definitive history of Sweet Auburn and the civil rights movement www.civilsights.com.He was the creator and host of the award-winning Sidewalk Radio for five seasons on Atlanta’s AM 1690. Gene has received numerous accolades including the 2016 Ivan Allen Jr. Legacy Award from Georgia Tech and the 2016 Alonzo F. Herndon Business Award.Gene holds a BS in Entrepreneurship from University of Arizona and an MS in Digital Media from Georgia Tech, where he now serves as Advisory Board Member and Vice Chair of the Ivan Allen College.Connect with Gene Kansas:Instagram: www.instagram.com/gene\_kansas/Instagram (Civil Sights): www.instagram.com/civilsights/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gene-kansas-54844b2/🎙️ Host: Brent MaconBrent Macon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host. As a dad and spiritual seeker, he's passionate about exploring how technology can help us live better, more connected lives. Through his podcast Macon Atlanta, Brent talks with interesting people about big ideas, personal growth, and building a thriving community. He believes in balancing ambition with wellbeing, and using business as a force for good.Connect With Brent:Instagram: www.instagram.com/maconatlanta/YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyBo\_7H2OpMjJ2m3mRBDng/Twitter/X: www.x.com/MaconAtlanta/Facebook: www.facebook.com/p/Macon-Atlanta-61560549557983/?\_rdr/📺 About the Show:Macon Atlanta is a podcast exploring big questions, bold ideas, and better living with inspiring Atlantans. Host Brent Macon sits down with innovators and thought leaders from diverse fields to delve into their stories, insights, and visions for creating a better world with more thriving.If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a 5-star review / like & comment to help others discover the show. You can also tweet @MaconAtlanta with your feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes, and we'll personally thank you for tuning in 🙏.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction and Welcome1:31 - Gene's Background: Entrepreneur, Developer, Author3:00 - Moving to Atlanta: A Junior Year Decision5:27 - Atlanta's Evolution: From '95 Olympics to Today's Opportunities7:14 - The Inspiration Behind "Civil Sites"10:53 - Historic Preservation as Business Strategy13:53 - The Research Process: 8 Years and 10,000+ Pages16:32 - The Team Behind the Book: Four Different Editors18:33 - Balancing Real Estate Business with Writing19:38 - Defining Success: Getting Books to Students22:07 - Heron's Restaurant: The Complexity of Integration24:36 - Being a White Author of Civil Rights History26:08 - Reception and Impact Since Publication27:08 - Book Format: Making History Accessible31:24 - Geographic Structure and Landmark Mix32:26 - Personal Growth Through the Passion Project33:27 - Closing and Book Recommendation#MaconAtlanta #Podcast

AI, Human Connection & The Future of Wealth Management | Heather Fortner

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights on better living in Atlanta and discover more ways of mindful living, delivered straight to your inbox: https://www.maconatlanta.com/🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Mq5SiHKkU48⭐ Featured Guest: Heather FortnerHeather is the CEO of SignatureFD, an integrated wealth management firm with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. During her twenty-year tenure at SignatureFD, Heather has executed strategies that have grown SignatureFD's AUM from $250M to more than $9.1B. Her ability to combine strategic oversight in alignment with financial goals and enterprise risk mitigation has led the firm to maintain enterprise valuations, annual growth rates and client retention rates that consistently exceed industry averages. Beyond operational expertise, Heather leverages her graduate degree in professional counseling to help uncover and connect people's passions and talents to build teams that deliver excellent and inspiring client experiences. Heather is a nationally recognized thought leader and is widely sought after for her expertise. Her belief that every person has a purpose in life, which wealth properly aligned can help support, is the cornerstone of SignatureFD's client promise, Net Worthwhile®.Connect with Heather:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SIGNATUREFD_WEALTH/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherfortner/Company: https://signaturefd.com/🎙️ Host: Brent MaconBrent Macon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host. As a dad and spiritual seeker, he's passionate about exploring how technology can help us live better, more connected lives. Through his podcast Macon Atlanta, Brent talks with interesting people about big ideas, personal growth, and building a thriving community. He believes in balancing ambition with wellbeing, and using business as a force for good.Connect With Brent:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maconatlanta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyBo_7H2OpMjJ2m3mRBDng/Twitter/X: ⁠https://x.com/MaconAtlanta/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Macon-Atlanta-61560549557983/?_rdr/📺 About the Show:Macon Atlanta is a podcast exploring big questions, bold ideas, and better living with inspiring Atlantans. Host Brent Macon sits down with innovators and thought leaders from diverse fields to delve into their stories, insights, and visions for creating a better world with more thriving.If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a 5-star review / like & comment to help others discover the show. You can also tweet @MaconAtlanta with your feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes, and we'll personally thank you for tuning in 🙏.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction and overview of the episode00:00:45 - Current economic landscape and wealth transfer00:01:04 - Heather's approach to macro-economic changes00:03:41 - Heather's background and early life00:04:08 - Career journey in financial services00:05:30 - Finding purpose and avoiding boredom00:06:48 - Philosophy on "net worthwhile" approach00:08:44 - Role of advisors in wealth management00:10:03 - Personal money anxieties and handling them00:12:16 - Growth from 250 million to 9 billion in assets00:12:56 - Prioritizing people and wellbeing in business00:14:25 - Maintaining independence and purpose in decision-making00:15:44 - Perspective on AI and technological innovation00:17:34 - Importance of human connection amidst technology00:19:21 - Concerns about younger generations and technology00:21:54 - Discussion on the great wealth transfer00:23:08 - Women's role in wealth transfer decisions00:24:32 - Challenges for the "sandwich generation"00:26:52 - Personal experience with family financial conversations00:28:18 - Advice on having difficult wealth succession conversations00:29:49 - Book recommendations and resources00:30:32 - Hopes for Atlanta's future - education focus00:31:14 - Closing remarks

Georgia's $83 Billion Agricultural Crisis: Kashi Sehgal on Saving Farms, Fighting Waste

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights on better living in Atlanta and discover more ways of mindful living, delivered straight to your inbox: https://www.maconatlanta.com/🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/snqxmYkQV18 ⭐ Featured Guest: Kashi Sehgal is the founder of Retaaza, a hyperlocal food distributor working with Georgia farmers to reduce food waste and increase access to fresh, local food. With a background in technology, Kashi applies innovative approaches to solve systemic issues in our food system, connecting farmers directly with businesses and communities while operating as a B Corp committed to social impact.Connect with Kashi:Instagram: @kashisehgalYouTube: @retaazaTwitter/X: @kashisehgalFacebook: @retaazacoLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/retaazaWebsite: retaaza.com🎙️ Host: Brent MaconBrent Macon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host. As a dad and spiritual seeker, he's passionate about exploring how technology can help us live better, more connected lives. Through his podcast Macon Atlanta, Brent talks with interesting people about big ideas, personal growth, and building a thriving community. He believes in balancing ambition with wellbeing, and using business as a force for good.Connect With Brent:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maconatlanta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyBo_7H2OpMjJ2m3mRBDng/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Macon-Atlanta-61560549557983/?_rdr/📺 About the Show:Macon Atlanta is a podcast exploring big questions, bold ideas, and better living with inspiring Atlantans. Host Brent Macon sits down with innovators and thought leaders from diverse fields to delve into their stories, insights, and visions for creating a better world with more thriving.If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a 5-star review / like & comment to help others discover the show. You can also tweet @MaconAtlanta with your feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes, and we'll personally thank you for tuning in 🙏.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction to Macon Atlanta Podcast0:54 - Current challenges facing Georgia farmers1:31 - Understanding food waste and tariff impacts3:00 - Funding cuts affecting the food system4:12 - How bad is the current situation for farmers?5:11 - How Retaaza started during the pandemic7:11 - The economic impact of 40% food waste7:58 - Retaaza's three-part mission8:52 - Community markets and food access programs9:58 - Paying farmers fair prices for "rescue" produce11:26 - Being the sales and marketing arm for farmers12:47 - Working with Georgia's farming community13:16 - Seasonal eating versus year-round expectations15:21 - Root causes of food waste16:17 - The five truckloads citrus example17:55 - Weather, labor, and other causes of food waste19:20 - Market failures and contract enforcement challenges20:40 - Is the farming industry naturally consolidating?21:34 - Programs to help farmers improve their skills22:24 - What motivates Kashi to work in food systems24:09 - Parallels between farming and education systems25:33 - How technology can help reduce food waste27:03 - Strategic focus through partnerships29:24 - Corporate wellness and "Produce as a Benefit" program31:02 - Innovative pricing models for farmers32:06 - The farmers market rescue program34:32 - Connecting consumers back to their food sources35:32 - Procurement policy reform as the key solution36:45 - Hope for Atlanta's food ecosystem37:52 - Favorite Atlanta restaurants for local food39:05 - Closing thoughts and call to action#MaconAtlanta #Podcast #FoodWaste #GeorgiaAgriculture #LocalFood #Sustainability