The People of Peoria Podcast

How a group of Peoria area volunteers are giving our local veterans an experience of a life time. And how one Scottish woman can out whit the FAA and track down the love of her life airman. https://www.facebook.com/GreaterPeoriaHonorFlight?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Secret tunnels, speakeasies and steak dinners till 4:00 am! Fitting for any full length feature, in this week’s episode you’ll hear the story of a rebirth of a Peoria legend. Join us on another wild adventure as we dive under Main Street and hear all about how they plan to cater to the often forgotten about, hiding in plain sight.

In a small shop in Morton, Illinois, Lisa is using her happy place to bake some of the coolest cookies in the area. Between the two of them, they are cranking out an extraordinary amount of sweets. Take a listen to the cookie queen! https://bakedblessingsbylisa.com/contact-information https://instagram.com/bakedblessings?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==

Get your selfie on! Down In the heart of downtown Peoria the selfie space is lit up! Whether you want a picture in a tub full of balls, in the jungle room, and the scream room, or the mirror room. Plan your next event with Renee at The Selfie Space. https://www.facebook.com/SelfieSpacePeoria?mibextid=LQQJ4d Selfie Space (309) 634-6812

What happens when you get a master’s degree in Zoology? Well you wind up saving one of Peoria’s historic treasures and buy a camera shop! Join us for another fun filled episode as Reagan and Tyler sit down with Peoria Camera Shop’s owner, Ava Kamm, and learn how this photographer took a leap of faith and kept the doors open for this more than 84 year old Peoria business. https://www.peoriacamerashop.com/

What happens when everyone’s favorite host skips out on an episode….? Shhh… it’s That Guy’s Secret! Reagan and Tyler are joined by guest co-host Stephen Graves and sitting down with the legend himself, Aaron Selburg. Find out what happens when you give a four year old all the suits he could ever want, and why a tailor is the best investment you could ever make! https://thatguyssecret.com/

Luisa Gomes talked to us about how the Busey Bank bridge center helps individuals with financial coaching. Everything from improving your credit score to buy your dream home to setting up retirement for yourself. And most importantly, the services are completely free even to non-Busey customers! Check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BuseyBankBridgeCenter?mibextid=LQQJ4d

How do you become the best cheese cake baker in all the land?… study broadcast journalism, work as a dispatcher, attempt to glue back a beard at a mortuary, sprinkle some teaching over it all and of course… listen to your wife! Join us for another incredible conversation with serial entrepreneur Harreld and find out why he has the Midas touch. “Harreld is a cheesecake artisan and exemplifies the ability to turn a dream into a successful business,” said Amanda Beadles, Director of Economic Development for the City of Chillicothe. “Our community is proud that Harreld chose Historic Downtown Chillicothe as its home for Triple Dipple’s one-of-a-kind experience. Our unique local businesses make Chillicothe, Illinois, a destination.” ( Discover Peoria ) https://www.madmacscoffee.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TripleDipples/

What happens when everyone agrees that cinematography is magic? The gang winds up in the basement (that is most definitely not his mother’s) of Hoop House Creative’s founder Connor Parkhaust. Tune in this week for a wild conversation on everything from weddings to horror movies and what the heck a cat cafe has to do with it. https://hoophousecreative.com/

A divorce coach, ceramic artist, and real estate investor walk into a bar... Katie Vanderburg hosted the team a MUSE in Morton (headquarters for all her and her husbands many and varied businesses) and we talked everything from what it means to start a business, grow a business, and sell that business while always keeping a eye out for interests to grow and evolve!--

We sat down with J.D with Discover Peoria to find out what really is Discover Peoria about and what do they do. There is so many different opportunities they have to offer that we don't think most of you guys know about! https://www.peoria.org/

Mike opened his doors to The People of Peoria Podcast to explain how Youtube landed him at the hottest new donut shop around! There is a passion with donuts and Mike certainly has that! https://www.facebook.com/bigmikesdonutscoffee/ https://big-mikes-donuts-coffee.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

Baseball has been in Peoria for years and has had some great professional players come through during those years. Justin Fletcher has paved the way for his youth baseball/softball athletes to learn and play the game with passion. From lessons in high school all they way to having your own brand of bats! This episode is a great side of Justin that shows the mentor he truly is to the Peoria surrounding areas. https://www.oxwoodbatco.com/ https://www.teamoxwood.com/blank-page-18 https://www.fletchershittingcenter.com/ Justin Fletcher (309) 309-696-5323 fletchershittingcenter@gmail.com

Single ingredient treats that are also healthy is what Bear Bites is all about! We had the chance to sit down with Samm and learn more about the operations behind the local dog food store. If your looking for dog food or healthy treats for your animal you have a local store right down the road! https://bearsbites.net/

We sat down with Greg with Agape Counseling and we went into may topics covering the struggle of mental health in todays world. We learn many things about Agape and how long Jeff and Reagan can last taking cold showers! This episode is one that we're very proud and can't thank Greg enough for the hour he spent teaching us and helping the Peoria Community know more about the struggles of Mental Health. https://www.agapecounselors.net/ Go to the website to learn about Agape Counseling and more about Greg.

This week we got a chance to catch up with Zion Coffee’s owner, Savannah Hattan. We talked about where Zion has been, where Zion is going and how coffee is just the beginning. Join us for a conversation at one of Peoria’s favorite gathering spots and get a peak at what makes it a staple that’s here to stay. https://www.zioncoffeeco.com/coffee-bar https://www.thetablepeoria.com/calendar/breakfast-bird-house-workshop

The gang took the short hop across the river and sat down with Tate of Jonah’s Seafood House. Talked about everything from the epitome of “family business”, the proper way to eat an oyster, and how hospitality has and will always be about the people. If you're hungry, pull up a seat and join us for another episode! https://www.jonahsseafood.com/

We sat down with the person who is all about "No Scraps Left Behind" with Aareon of Twistedaways! A different form of art that Twistedaways has to offer. Aareon gives us the inside of how and why he started Twistedaways. - Instagram @twistedaways https://www.twistedaways.com/

We had an great time talking ART in a BIG way with Mae Gilliland Wright of Big Picture Initiative, Peoria's 501(c)(3) organization centered around using art and creative experiences to bring about social and economic change. Join us as we talk augmented reality, and how even the most serious science enthusiasts are, in fact, artists in their own right. Always a good time when we're talking beautifying the city we all know and love, even better when residents get to be a part of its creation! Instagram: @bigpicturepeoria Facebook: Big Picture Peoria www.bigpicturepeoria.org

Karen Lewis decided to switch up the restaurant industry with an exciting event center. Although you can walk in and get pizza any day of the week they will have special events with local chefs, music, and drinks. It's such a unique and interesting business. We are excited to share with you guys. Be sure to check out The Table with the links below. https://www.thetablepeoria.com/