What started as a few moms getting together for movement and connection has grown into one of Wilmington’s fastest-growing postpartum fitness communities.

On this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, Chris Kellum and Tyler Yaw sit down with Brooke Pereira, founder of The Mamalates Group, to talk about motherhood, postpartum fitness, community building, and helping moms feel less alone after having kids.

Brooke shares how mommy-and-me Pilates classes, stroller workouts, and weekly walks turned into a movement bringing together dozens of moms across Wilmington — including a recent event with nearly 90 attendees.

The conversation dives into:

 * Postpartum fitness struggles
 * Building community after motherhood
 * Making gyms less intimidating for moms
 * “Babes and Barbells” at Lakeside
 * Starting imperfectly
 * Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship
 * Brooke’s vision for coaching and online programs


Whether you’re a parent, fitness enthusiast, entrepreneur, or someone trying to build meaningful community, this episode delivers practical insight and honest conversation.

Why Moms Are Flocking to This Wilmington Fitness Community

Nom Nom Nom’s Rob Stang on Gnomes, New York-Style Deli Life, and Building Community in Wilmington On the Whiskey and Wisdom podcast, Chris Kellum and Tyler Yaw welcome guest Rob Stang of Nom Nom Nom, tasting Penelope Havana whiskey and discussing drink preferences. Rob shares his background from upstate New York, years in retail management, and his shift to entrepreneurship with his wife, leading to three gnome-inspired Wilmington businesses: Nom Nom Nom deli in the Cotton Exchange, Gnome Garden ILM (gnomes, mushrooms, houseplants), and Cape Fear Gnomies Dispensary focused on education and quality. He explains the origin of the gnome/“nom nom” concept, the deli’s New York-style emphasis on fresh-sliced ingredients, Apple Annie’s bread, Jess Bagels from the Bronx, breakfast all day, and empanadas tied to his Puerto Rican heritage. They cover community support, seasonal traffic, new desserts, social handles, and Rob’s views on success and advice to his younger self.

00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro

00:44 Penelope Havana Tasting

02:40 Mixers And Whiskey Habits

03:25 Rob Origin Story Retail To Owner

04:38 Gnome Obsession Explained

08:48 Nom Nom Nom Brand Origin

10:01 Three Gnome Businesses Tour

11:21 Dispensary Education And Market

13:47 What Makes A Real Deli

18:32 Cotton Exchange Community Buzz

20:21 Growth Plans Empanadas Hours

21:55 All Day Breakfast NY Bagels

23:50 Bagels Bread Debates

24:24 Travel Food Mixups

25:19 Too Tired To Cook

25:56 Chicken Coop Chronicles

28:15 Egg Brand And Side Hustle

29:00 Finding Nom Nom Nom

29:50 Empanada Flavor Lab

30:34 Hotdog Cart Upgrade

32:38 Store Collabs And Merch

34:40 Dessert Drops And Specials

37:08 Schmear Vs Cream Cheese

39:12 Defining Success And Advice

42:16 Wrap Up And Where To Go

The Best Deli In Wilmington? Gnome Nom Nom

Most people see wrestling as just a sport.

They’re missing the point.

In this episode of Whiskey & Wisdom, we sit down with John Mills, Southeast NC Wrestling Rep for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), to break down what’s really happening on the mats—and why it matters far beyond competition.

From the rapid rise of girls wrestling to the deeper impact of mentorship, discipline, and faith, this conversation goes beyond sports and into formation.

We cover:

 * Why wrestling is one of the toughest—and most transformative—sports
 * The explosive growth of girls wrestling across North Carolina
 * How FCA is reaching students through its “E3” model (Engage, Equip, Empower)
 * The challenge of leading, mentoring, and building real relationships with young athletes
 * What today’s kids actually need—and why most systems are missing it


If you care about faith, discipline, leadership, or the next generation, this episode hits.

No whiskey this time—just real conversation.

Subscribe for more conversations that blend life, leadership, and perspective.

What Wrestling Teaches About Faith, Discipline, and Manhood

Abbye is back—and this episode doesn’t hold back.

After just a year, Abbye made the decision to sell Ibis. But that was only part of the story. Between running two businesses, navigating a major life transition, and facing a cease-and-desist that’s forcing The Starling to change its name, this might be her most pivotal season yet.

We break down:

 * Why she sold Ibis (and what most people don’t understand about bar ownership)
 * The reality of running a 7-day-a-week hospitality business
 * How Salt and Charm is scaling into its biggest wedding season ever
 * The cease-and-desist that’s forcing a full rebrand of The Starling
 * Feast Weekend events, food experiences from Napa to Spain, and what great hospitality actually looks like
 * The shift from chef to CEO mindset


This is a raw look at entrepreneurship, pressure, and making hard decisions when everything is on the line.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome Back Abbye

01:04 Winter Wins and Feast Plans

02:36 Project X Whiskey Tasting

03:48 Napa Wine Birthday Trip

05:36 Spain Michelin and Food Travel

06:59 Carry On Travel Hacks

08:52 Chicken Tenders Debate

11:23 Building Catering Menus

13:21 Wedding Showcase and Tastings

17:21 Selling Ibis Explained

21:04 Backyard Gym and 75 Hard

24:41 Cornbread Debate

26:23 Cease and Desist Shock

27:42 Picking a New Name

30:04 Too Many Bars Now

33:07 Hospitality That Matters

37:03 Business From Scratch Podcast

42:08 Life as a Business

48:06 Where to Find Them

Follow Abby:

 * The Starling (Queen & Co)
 * Salt and Charm Catering
 * Business From Scratch Podcast


The Starling Is Changing Names?! What Happened… (Abbye McGee)

Plea Deals, Murder Cases, and the Reality of Criminal Defense

Cape Fear Criminal Defense joins Whiskey and Wisdom to break down how criminal cases really work. Drawing from his experience as a public defender, prosecutor, and defense attorney, he explains plea deals, burden of proof, jury selection, murder cases, North Carolina’s death penalty, and the real-world pressures of defending clients when everything is on the line.

Chapter List

00:00 Welcome and guest intro

01:40 Allegedly and burden of proof

03:18 Penelope Project X tasting

06:05 Following a high-profile trial

08:36 Plea deals and sentencing reality

10:59 Death penalty in North Carolina

14:43 From prosecutor to defense attorney

18:53 Starting a private practice

21:37 Affording justice and public defenders

23:22 Law school background and trial training

25:09 Where he practices and conflict cases

26:59 Dismissed murder case and negotiations

30:54 Federal vs. state court differences

31:52 Federal jury duty and voir dire

33:12 Picking the right jurors

33:54 Courtroom characters

35:50 How to dress for court

40:05 Murder and violent caseload

44:01 Poverty, education, and crime

47:19 DA politics and turnover

49:14 Drug trends and fentanyl

53:32 Why defend the guilty

56:49 What success looks like

1:00:01 Testifying at trial

1:02:56 Career advice and burnout

1:04:44 Finding the firm

1:06:41 Socks and jury attention

1:08:20 Bourbon wrap-up

Plea Deals, Murder Cases, and the Reality of Criminal Defense

High-Risk Auto, Underinsured Homes & Legacy: Insurance Wisdom with Jacob Carroll | Whiskey Wisdom Podcast On the Whiskey Wisdom Podcast, co-hosts Tyler and Chris welcome Jacob Carroll, owner and agent of Superior Insurance, while they sip a 115-proof Yellowstone barrel pick and discuss flavor, seasons, and living near the coast. Jacob shares his move from Florida to North Carolina after a seven-day water fast that brought clarity and led to a youth pastor role, then into sales and ultimately insurance, where a mentor encouraged him to start his own agency. He explains helping “harder to insure” drivers (DUIs, points, suspended licenses, credit impacts), rising underwriting scrutiny like unlisted household drivers, and why insurance is required with plates or mortgages. The conversation also covers widespread home underinsurance amid rising values and premiums, replacement cost estimating, ethics, claim realities, and Jacob’s view of success as family legacy, mentorship, and being present for his kids. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:52 Yellowstone Barrel Pick Tasting 02:40 Beach Life and Moving North 06:34 Fasting for Direction 09:11 From Car Sales to Insurance 14:28 Helping High Risk Drivers 20:22 Broker vs Underwriter Explained 23:33 Licensing Rules and New Drivers 26:11 Wilmington Traffic and Driving Culture 30:01 Road Rage Reality Check 31:41 Panic Buying Madness 33:08 Hurricane MRE Memories 35:37 Home Insurance Underinsured 43:16 Claims Limits Ethics 48:00 Advisor Mindset Shift 51:14 Defining Success Legacy 56:41 Mentors Modern Family 58:59 Whiskey Wrap Contact 01:01:27 Advice To Younger Self

Insurance. Faith. Legacy. w/ Jacob Carroll

The Quiet Shift Ending the Bourbon Boom The script explains how bourbon’s decade-long boom—marked by soaring prices, scarcity, secondary-market flipping, and “hunting” culture fueled by online communities—has begun to shift quietly rather than crash. Once overlooked in the 1980s and 1990s, bourbon surged in the early 2010s as consumers sought authenticity and tradition, turning hard-to-find bottles like Pappy Van Winkle and Weller into status symbols. Distilleries expanded and laid down record barrels assuming demand would keep rising, but aging delays mean today’s market is now facing millions of ready barrels while demand softens. Signs include bottles sitting longer, slower price increases, and declining secondary prices. Changing drinking habits—less collecting, more experiences, and more competition from tequila and ready-to-drink options—point to a reset: improved availability, stabilized prices, and renewed focus on enjoying the whiskey itself.

00:00 Bourbon Boom Peaks

00:49 How Hype Took Over

02:17 Scarcity and Secondary Market

03:20 Early Signs of a Shift

03:58 Barrel Glut Reality Check

04:44 New Drinkers New Trends

05:24 Reset and Enjoy Again

05:56 From Hype to Reality

The Bourbon Boom is Over

From Marine Aviator to Podcast Studio Owner: Rich Cardona on Unfilter, Podcasting for Business, and Client Acquisition

Tyler and Chris Kellum host the Whiskey Wisdom Podcast at Unfilter in Wilmington with owner Rich Cardona, a retired Marine helicopter pilot who left Amazon, explored entrepreneurship, and built a podcasting and video business that evolved from remote work into a physical studio designed to make guests “just show up.” Chris shares tasting notes on E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof. Rich discusses enlisting then becoming an officer, early retirement after being grounded from flying due to a seizure, and the challenges of transitioning from military SOPs to civilian leadership. He credits Gary Vaynerchuk as a catalyst for starting interviews and highlights podcasting’s value for relationship-building and content output, but emphasizes realistic expectations and avoiding “podcasting by proxy.” Rich explains positioning podcasts for revenue by interviewing target decision-makers, cites a logistics client closing three deals after six interviews, shares quitting alcohol after a hangover before an interview, and describes Unfilter’s modular set design, rentals, and ideal client fit.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:24 Rich Cardona Backstory

01:28 Unfilter Studio Vibe

02:17 Whiskey Bottle Breakdown

03:25 Early Marine Retirement

05:16 Enlisted to Officer Mindset

07:10 Amazon Exit and Civilian Shift

10:52 Gary V Sparked Podcasting

14:47 Podcasting for Business Growth

18:01 Client Acquisition Podcast Strategy

23:28 Guest Experience and Prep Work

27:07 Co Host Dynamic and Olympics Tangent

30:29 Skating Like Gymnastics

30:50 Hangover Podcast Wakeup

34:40 Quitting Alcohol After

36:09 Drunk Podcast Lessons

37:37 Mocktails And Hop Water

39:06 Building A Modular Studio

43:16 Peerspace Documentary Booking

44:33 Should You Start Podcasting

48:18 Podcast Value For Business

52:26 Teleprompter As A Tool

53:56 Fixing A Stale Show

57:26 Success Family And Freedom

59:17 Advice Focus And Deep Work

01:01:18 Studio Rentals And Clients

01:02:44 Wrap Up And Photos

UNFLTR: Podcasting, Business & Growth

Inside Cinch: Wilmington’s New Billiards Bar with Cocktails, History, and Hands-On Buildout

On the Whiskey and Wisdom Podcast, Chris Kellum and Tyler talk with Haley and Joe in a new location, Cinch in downtown Wilmington. Joe and Haley describe opening Cinch on December 5 after signing the lease in June and completing a roughly six-and-a-half-month buildout that transformed the former Christmas shops space, including extensive demolition and discovering historic features like 1960s dress boxes, a hidden salon in the basement, old deposit slips labeled “US Depository,” and brick walls. They discuss the concept as a high-end but casual hangout with four quality pool tables, a lounge and TVs, and a cocktail program featuring drinks like the Dirty Cinch, “We Should Start a Podcast,” and “Pony Up,” with seasonal additions. They share hours (4:30 daily; 12:30 weekends), free pool Monday–Tuesday 4:30–6 with two drinks, and closing times (12 weekdays, 1 weekends).

00:00 Welcome to Cinch

00:15 Meet Haley and Joe

01:10 Opening Date and Buildout

02:02 From Christmas Shop to Vision

03:05 Signature Cocktails Talk

04:50 From Rum Cow to Underfront

07:00 Why a Billiards Bar

09:03 What Cinch Means

11:30 Building History and Basement

13:05 Design Choices and DIY Build

16:24 Downtown History and Hidden Finds

19:05 Hours Specials and Popular Drinks

20:16 Custom Bar Art

20:56 Curated Cocktail Menu

22:32 Classic Cocktails Explained

24:20 Chain Restaurant Nostalgia

26:36 Why Food Quality Dropped

27:32 No Food and Ghost Kitchen

28:51 Selling vs Building Legacy

32:48 Building the Space

35:41 Pool Table Deep Dive

37:53 Wild Sports Tangent

40:38 Make Drinks and Wrap

It's a Cinch! (Bar & Billiards)

In Tyler Yaw's newest project. He breaks down why Lent is so much more.

Lent as the Original 40-Day Grit Challenge: Leaving the Arena for the Throne

Tyler opens the Applied Faith Podcast by noting that Ash Wednesday marked the start of Lent and challenges listeners not to treat Lent as a watered-down inconvenience or failed resolution. He frames Lent as a 40-day training ground meant to step out of cultural noise, “kill the flesh,” and create space for the spirit, describing fasting as an intentional rebellion against consumerism and instant gratification (endless scrolling, on-demand entertainment, and convenience).

He introduces the “arena and the throne” concept: the gladiator mindset seeks applause in the cultural arena, while the kingdom mindset lives before God as the only true spectator, aligning with Jesus’ teaching to fast in secret. Tyler encourages listeners to use the next 40 days for quiet, disciplined formation and presents his 40-day Kingdom Challenge, built around eight daily disciplines designed to break reliance on the world and anchor participants to the kingdom. He invites listeners to join him, follow along with the daily podcast episodes, subscribe on YouTube, and participate in the community as they pursue resilience and faith leading up to Easter.

00:00 Ash Wednesday Kickoff: Why Lent Matters Again

01:00 Lent as the Original 40-Day Grit Challenge (Not a Diet)

01:44 Fasting as Rebellion Against Consumerism & Instant Gratification

02:41 Arena vs. Throne: Gladiator Mindset vs. Kingdom Mindset

04:00 Fasting in Secret: Leaving the Applause Behind

04:45 A Practical Framework: The 40-Day Kingdom Challenge

05:49 Use the Next 40 Days to Shift Your Trajectory (Join the Challenge)

06:51 Community + Subscribe: Building Applied Faith Together

07:31 Wrap-Up: Daily Episodes, Accountability, and Eyes on the Throne

Applied Faith Podcast: Stop Giving Up Chocolate for Lent

Discussing life's most fascinating topics over a good glass of whiskey.

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