Let Go of Aunt Sue's Chair: Patina's Amanda Mertins on Designing a Home You Love

Susan Gregg Gilmore on the 10-Year Road to The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush

Host Jane Khodos Beyer welcomes novelist and former journalist Susan Gregg Gilmore to The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria Podcast to discuss Gilmore’s career pivot from freelance journalism (including the LA Times and Christian Science Monitor) to fiction writing at 40 with no prior fiction experience. Gilmore describes her messy, scene-based drafting process, finding inspiration in everyday life, and the publishing path of writing a book, securing an agent, and submitting to publishers. She recounts the 10-year journey to write The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush, inspired by a tombstone reading “Leonard Bush’s leg, 1923,” including balancing a full-time real estate career, receiving painful feedback from her agent, and reshaping the novel through a Novel Writing 101 workshop. Gilmore shares advice for writers (time in the chair, thick skin), explains the book’s hopeful premise, and celebrates winning the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction, then ends with Old Town favorites and where to buy the book. 00:00 Meet Susan Gilmore 01:48 Pivot to Fiction at 40 03:10 Journalism Roots 04:41 Writer Joys and Struggles 06:02 Messy Novel Process 07:58 Finding Inspiration 10:00 Leonard Bush Spark 12:07 Ten Year Rewrite 16:12 Revision and Writing Space 17:30 Praise and Harsh Reviews 19:29 Publishing Journey Next 19:46 Publishing Pathway 21:20 Advice For Writers 22:18 Building Thick Skin 24:05 Holding The Book 25:06 Winning Willie Morris 26:30 Hopeful Message 27:58 What She Reads 28:45 Micro Memoir Substack 30:13 Old Town Lightning Round 32:52 Where To Buy Around Old Town and beyond: * Josephine: 400 King St | josephineoldtown.com [http://josephineoldtown.com] | IG: @josephineoldtown * Tatte Bakery & Cafe: 115 King St | tattebakery.com [http://tattebakery.com] | IG: @tattebakery * Comfort One Shoes: 201 King St | comfortone.com [http://comfortone.com] | IG: @comfortone * Old Town Books: 106 N St Asaph St | oldtownbooks.com [http://oldtownbooks.com] | IG: @oldtownbooks Let’s Stay in Touch Email us at podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com [podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.   The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community. © 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

48 Teams. 40 Days. One Old Town: Andrew Giuliani on FIFA World Cup 2026

Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force for FIFA World Cup 2026, sits down with host Jane Khodos Beyer to pull back the curtain on the most complex security and logistics operation in American sports history. From his days playing golf at Duke to serving in the Trump White House and running for governor of New York, Andrew's path to leading the federal effort behind a 48-team, 78-game, 40-day tournament is anything but ordinary. Andrew breaks down exactly what it takes to coordinate eight federal agencies, state and local law enforcement partners across 11 host cities, and counterparts in Mexico and Canada, all while protecting 1.6 billion viewers and making sure the world sees American exceptionalism on full display. Plus: why Old Town Alexandria was chosen as the home base for Team Croatia, how fans can still get tickets, and — because Jane and Andrew are both proud New Yorkers — who actually makes the best pizza. Plus, a lightning round on their favorite places around Old Town. 00:00 World Cup Stakes Intro 01:24 Meet Andrew Giuliani 02:58 Security Scale Explained 07:15 Task Force Structure 10:05 Trilateral Host Coordination 12:27 Tickets and Fan Festivals 15:10 Croatia Picks Old Town 17:56 Croatia in Town Impact 20:23 Why Soccer Rules Globally 22:31 Soccer Boom America 22:47 World Cup Sparks MLS 23:23 Womens Game Surge 24:00 2026 World Cup Outlook 24:26 New York Pizza Pivot 24:51 Iconic NYC Slices 25:44 West Village Pizza Tour 26:49 Old Town Pizza Taste 27:43 Soccer Terms Banter 28:14 Old Town Lightning Round 29:15 Coffee Dinner Drinks Picks 31:50 Game Watching Spots 32:29 Closing Thanks And Teamwork   Around Old Town and Beyond Cooper Mill Pizza: IG: @thecoopermill Landini Brothers: IG: @landinibrothersinc Swings Coffee: IG: @swingscoffee Mia's: IG: @mias_italian_kitchen Thompson Italian: IG: @thompsonitalian Josephine: IG: @josephineoldtown Barca Pier & Wine Bar: IG: @barca_alx The Study at the Morrison House: IG: @thestudyalx Augie's: IG: @augiesbeergarden Call Your Mother Deli: IG: @callyourmotherdeli   Stay Connected Email us at podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com [podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com] To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and a review.   Instagram: @peopleyoumeet.oldtownalx The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community. © 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

Does Peppa Pig Give Kids a British Accent? And Other Questions for Speech Therapist Rachel Moon

Rachel Moon, founder of Remedy Speech Therapy, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to share her journey from early intervention specialist to private practice owner. Rachel breaks down what speech-language pathology covers, from articulation disorders and language delays to autism and stuttering, and offers practical guidance for parents of young children. Rachel walks us through key developmental milestones parents should watch for in the first two years of life, the power of reading aloud and reducing screen time, and how to make the most of educational shows like Ms. Rachel and Danny Go! She also addresses common parental concerns about bilingual households, accent development, and when to seek a professional evaluation for speech impediments. Remedy Speech Therapy is a boutique pediatric speech and occupational therapy practice offering personalized, evidence-based care that nurtures confidence, connection and communication - one child at a time. To learn more about Remedy's speech therapy, occupational therapy, myofunctional therapy, literacy groups, literacy tutoring, k-5 tutoring, feeding therapy and much more, please visit https://www.remedyspeechtherapy.com [https://www.remedyspeechtherapy.com]. Timestamps: 00:00 When Kids Start Talking 01:05 Meet Rachel Moon 02:30 What Speech Therapy Covers 03:41 Milestones and Red Flags 04:42 Reading and Play Tips 05:29 Screen Time Done Right 06:58 Sounds Kids Grow Into 08:00 Bilingualism and Delays 09:47 Accents and Environment 11:55 Building Remedy Practice 13:04 Finding Therapy and Classes 14:17 Old Town Lightning Round 15:44 Wrap Up and Thanks Around Old Town and beyond: • Remedy Speech Therapy: Old Town Alexandria | remedyspeechtherapy.com [http://remedyspeechtherapy.com] | IG: @remedyspeechtherapy • Landini Brothers: 115 King St | landinibrothers.com [http://landinibrothers.com] | IG: @landinibrothers • For Five Coffee: 1800C Diagonal Rd | forfivecoffee.com [http://forfivecoffee.com] • Happy Place: Waterfront, Old Town Alexandria | IG: @happyplaceoldtown

Let Go of Aunt Sue's Chair: Patina's Amanda Mertins on Designing a Home You Love

Amanda Mertins, co-owner of Patina Polished Living, Old Town Alexandria’s beloved home goods and interior design shop,  joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to talk about a life spent making spaces feel like home. From setting the table at elementary school dinner parties and rearranging furniture in her tiny bedroom, to building a thriving retail and design business alongside her partner Kim, Amanda shares how passion, persistence, and a head for economics turned a lifelong instinct into a 14-year-old business. Amanda breaks down her signature approach to editing a home, how she walks through every room before touching a thing, spots the hidden gem gathering dust in a guest room, and gives clients permission to finally let go of Aunt Sue’s chair. She shares her philosophy on mixing vintage and new, high and low (in both interiors and fashion), the two things you should always spend money on, why you should never buy a sofa online, and the design rules she loves to break. She also talks about the reality of running a retail store in Old Town: the joy of installation day, the grief of broken deliveries, and the partnership that has kept Patina thriving for over a decade. TIMING: 00:00 What Makes Home 01:32 Amanda’s Design Origins 04:42 Launching Patina 06:38 Retail Reality Check 08:21 Editing Homes Superpower 13:29 Inside the Storehouse 16:48 Paint Color Shortcuts 18:53 Retail Joy and Client Reveals 23:52 Installation Day Magic 27:44 Client Reactions and Referrals 28:22 Sourcing Trips and Vintage Finds 29:41 Estate Sales and Market Hustle 30:26 Retail Grunt Work Realities 33:00 Designing for Family and Heirlooms 34:42 When Husbands Drive Design 37:09 Investing in Quality Furniture 38:07 Old Town Lightning Round 41:55 Personal Style Over Trends 44:14 Designing Semi Permanent Choices 46:59 Podcast Praise and Farewell   AROUND OLD TOWN AND BEYOND: Patina Polished Living: 111 S Columbus St [https://www.google.com/maps/search/111+S+Columbus+St?entry=gmail&source=g] | patinapolishedliving.com [http://patinapolishedliving.com] | IG: @patinapolishedliving Indochen: 1615 King St [https://www.google.com/maps/search/1615+King+St?entry=gmail&source=g] | indochen.com [http://indochen.com] | IG: @indochenva Monogram Logistics: monogramlogistics.com [http://monogramlogistics.com] | IG: @monogramlogistics   LET’S STAY IN TOUCH Email us at podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com [podcast@peopleyoumeetinoldtown.com]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. THE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community. © 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.

She Was Supposed to Be a Doctor. Now She Conducts at Carnegie Hall

Marie Bucoy-Calavan, the Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to share her remarkable journey from a Filipino immigrant household to the conductor's podium at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Marie recounts how parental pressure to pursue medicine or law gave way to a deep love of music, and how a mentor's belief in her at age 21 set her on the path to earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Marie explains why Washington, D.C. is a "choral mecca" — home to a thriving ecosystem of choral ensembles — and highlights the incredible venues across the region where live choral performances come to life. She also speaks passionately about musical education for young children, the Mozart effect, the Suzuki method, and hidden classical music gems in beloved children's shows like Bluey and Danny Go. And she shares what it means to lead the Choral Arts Society to Carnegie Hall for the concert, From Darkness to Light.   Timing: 00:00 A Baton and Harmony 00:59 Meet Marie Bucoy-Calavan 01:03 How We Met in Old Town 01:32 Finding the Conductor Path 04:11 Arts Career Doubts 05:37 From Piano to Many Instruments 08:53 Empathy for the Orchestra 09:57 Doctorate and Training 11:10 DC as Choral Mecca 12:33 Best Venues and Joining Choirs 14:45 Carnegie Hall and New Programs 15:59 Kids and Early Music Exposure 19:39 Singing Toys to Choirs 20:05 Kids Chorus Options 21:42 Danny Go Movement Songs 23:24 Bluey Classical Easter Eggs 27:07 Taylor Swift Parallels 29:11 Live Performance Stamina 30:33 Handling Mistakes Onstage 32:00 Old Town Lightning Round 33:27 Closing Thanks and Culture   Around Old Town and beyond: •       Maman: 500 King St | mamannyc.com [http://mamannyc.com] | IG: @mamancafe •       Café du Soleil: 1723 Connecticut Ave NW | IG: @cafedusoleildc •       Le Refuge: 127 N Washington St, Alexandria | IG: @lerefugealexandria •       Orangetheory Fitness Alexandria: 1101 King St | orangetheory.com [http://orangetheory.com] | IG: @orangetheoryfitness •       Choral Arts Society of Washington: choralarts.org [http://choralarts.org] | IG: @choralarts •       Levine Music: levinemusic.org [http://levinemusic.org] | IG: @levinemusic •       Children's Chorus of Washington: childrenschorusofwashington.org [http://childrenschorusofwashington.org] | IG: @childrenschorusdc •       The Strathmore: 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda | strathmore.org [http://strathmore.org] | IG: @strathmore •       The Kennedy Center: 2700 F St NW, Washington DC | kennedy-center.org [http://kennedy-center.org] | IG: @kennedycenter