S3 Ep64: 64. "The Life of an Entrepreneur" – A Conversation with Kurt Tobias, Founder of Choona Clothing

Join us in this special crossover episode as Lisa Marie Burwell, Editor-in-Chief of VIE Magazine and host of the VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart and Soul podcast, sits down with Jordan Staggs, Editor at VIE Magazine and host of the VIE Book Club podcast. This episode invites listeners to take an exclusive look inside VIE’s vibrant history and rejoice in key moments that built the brand and created 16 years of legacy. Learn about the origins of VIE’s publishing days through its parent company, The Idea Boutique®, from creating Sister Schubert’s cookbook to a poetry collection by William E. Wade, and the process of creating The Seaside Style® coffee-table book. The Seaside Style® book spotlights Daryl Rose Davis’s perspective and creativity as she and her husband, Robert Davis, pioneered the New Urbanist town of Seaside, Florida, and intentionally curated each store there. Then, dive into VIE’s luxury coffee-table books, HOME and COOK, which celebrate the local interior design, architecture, and culinary creatives in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, (also known as 30A) and its surrounding areas. Jordan shares her experience speaking with diverse authors on the first season of the VIE Book Club podcast and her recent experience interviewing songwriter Patrick Davis and attending Songwriters in Paradise in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Each of these projects have been penned or podcasted with the intention of service and capturing the unique essence of each person and brand VIE works with. It all goes back to storytelling with heart and soul. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viebookclub // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com PURCHASE COOK - COCKTAILS. CUISINE. CULTURE by VIE PURCHASE HOME - INSPIRATIONS FOR HOME AND LIFE by VIE For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

As a budding outdoorsman growing up in northern Virginia, Kurt Tobias never dreamed of founding a clothing brand one day. While fishing and fashion might not seem to mesh, Tobias and his team at Choona have proved that technical wear for the avid sportsman can be more than just khakis and cargos. The company’s lightweight, stylish, and functional clothing has already become a favorite among sportfishing enthusiasts, hikers, and beach bums alike along the white-sand Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida. In this episode of VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart and Soul, Tobias shares his heart-centered journey from working in engineering to moving to Destin, Florida, and founding Choona. This fateful decision allowed him to fill a missing niche: representing the Panhandle lifestyle with outdoor-centric men’s clothing. This epiphany, in conjunction with Tobias’s great love for all things outdoors, led to the birth of a brand. His mission focused on creating activewear products that he would like to wear and protecting the planet as much as possible in the process. With a purpose and following that extends well beyond the Panhandle, Choona has partnered with nonprofit Give30A; with each garment purchased, malnourished children in Leon, Nicaragua, will be given five free meals, extending consumers’ impact. We invite you to tune into this episode to receive entrepreneurial guidance and firsthand wisdom from Tobias on what it means to fill a gap in the industry in a sustainable, ethical, and pragmatic way, all while keeping heart and soul at the forefront. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH KURT: Website: choonaclothing.com Instagram: @choonaclothing @kurtledove A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

Arix Zalace, a renowned filmmaker, longtime Florida Panhandle resident, and owner of AZA Productions, joined the VIE Speaks lineup to share his creative vision for the upcoming feature film The Paper Bear. In partnership with social entrepreneur and philanthropist Sean Couch, Zalace honed a shared vision to protect and preserve the Panhandle’s natural wonders. Beyond a mere film, The Paper Bear represents a preservation movement aiming to raise awareness about the region’s immense biodiversity. Viewers will be taken on a captivating coming-of-age adventure (for both boy and bear) and learn to view the world through the eyes of the area’s majestic native black bears. The film is a powerful tool that aims to illuminate the Panhandle’s extraordinary natural heritage and foster a deep connection with its ecosystems. During the filming process, Arix had the remarkable opportunity to live alongside a family of black bears, gaining invaluable insights into their behaviors, their vital role within the ecosystem, and the urgent need to protect them. The Paper Bear entertains and aims to inspire a profound appreciation for the Panhandle’s biodiversity and instill a commitment to its preservation. This episode will leave you with a newfound respect and admiration for the creatures who share our neighboring forests, offering a fresh perspective on the dedication required to execute this premier conservation piece in media. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH ARIX: Website: thepaperbear.org Instagram: @thepaperbearfilm A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

Discover all that Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort has to offer as it celebrates 50 years in 2024! On the latest episode of VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart and Soul, host Lisa Marie Burwell sat down with Sandestin Director of Marketing Communications April Sarver to reflect on all Sandestin has accomplished over the years. Sarver shares insights, from working behind the scenes on the widely renowned Hotel Effie to the promising future of Sandestin, including a sneak peek into exciting new projects on the horizon. With private label beers and wines, a lush nature-filled golf courses, peaceful spas, and luxury accommodations, it’s safe to say that Sandestin has become a significant placemaker in the Northwest Florida community and beyond. We invite you to learn more about the newly renovated Beach Club, the recently completed "coastal elegant" luxury condominiums at Osprey Point, and the extensive history of Sandestin as you tune into this episode of VIE Speaks. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH APRIL: Website: sandestin.com Instagram: @sandestin A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

This week on VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart and Soul, John Wellborn, the founder of Live Well 30A, shares his life story about risk-taking in pursuit of purpose. An entrepreneur and visionary at heart, Wellborn had an epiphany on his twenty-eighth birthday while working at a corporate job in Atlanta; on the surface, he had everything, but his intuition told him to choose a different path—one he truly loved. He banked everything on a "one-year experiment," selling his home and insurance agency, and moved to the affluent beach communities along Florida's Scenic Highway 30A. Spending a year putting himself first inspired him to pursue building a legacy of a well-lived life. The manifestation led him to create Live Well 30A, High Tide, and Coast/Coast Kids, merchandise brands that inspire people to choose a life they love. Please tune in for an inspiring conversation on discovering what it looks like to live as an individualist and how embracing this mindset often leads to unprecedented, miraculous rewards. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH JOHN: Website: livewell30agear.com Instagram: @livewell30a A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

Meet a renaissance woman who created and defined her own destiny, reaching pinnacles of success and glamour usually only found in movies. High fashion and beauty icon Vicky Tiel knows all about how to live a "real" life, and she has the stories, victories, and photos to prove it. This fashion designer and renegade defied convention and crafted the world’s first miniskirt in a world of 1960s ankle-length standards, letting boldness be her guide. Her client list includes some of Hollywood's elite, from designing looks for Elizabeth Taylor to Ursula Andress, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Julia Roberts's iconic red "Pretty Woman" dress, and more. Join us for a lively discussion with Vicky Tiel as she recounts her life journey, spanning from her experiences as a designer in Paris to her feature on the cover of VIE's Fashion Issue in August 2023, accompanied by numerous anecdotes from her legendary past and present. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH VICKY: Website: https://vickytiel.com/ Instagram: @vickytiel A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

On this episode of VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart and Soul is Madra McDonald, the visionary/founder behind M Public Relations, a premier boutique public relations firm in Northwest Florida. With over a decade of expertise, Madra is passionate about spotlighting clients to increase and maximize their brand awareness through thoughtful and strategic social and traditional programs. Today, she shares what she has learned forging her path and creating her own company, her experience as a VIE cover girl, advice for moms and young entrepreneurs on overcoming adversity, how reconnecting with her faith has given her the strength to continue forward with the support of a community, and much more. Tune in for an insightful and inspirational conversation on Madra’s wealth of life experiences, including the reflections that led her to become an incredible mom, creative, and entrepreneur. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH MADRA: Website: m-publicrelations.com Instagram: @madrapr @mpublicrelations A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

On this episode of VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart and Soul, Derek McMahon of 4x4 Fitness, the VIE Team’s personal trainer, joined the line-up. 4x4 Fitness was founded by former NFL player and Buffalo Bills fullback, Zach Olstad to bring the gym and support to you, in the comfort of your own home or backyard; while 4x4 Fitness offers training in the Nashville area, Derek heads the company operations in 30A. While new fitness goals can seem daunting, the mentorship from Derek and 4x4 trainers offers convenient, personalized workouts brought directly to you to make your workout goals attainable. This episode offers an insight into every aspect of fitness, the importance of finding a trainer who values integrity and understands the goals and needs of each client, and how group fitness sessions have improved the overall wellness and quality of life of the VIE staff. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH DEREK AND 4x4 FITNESS: Website: www.4x4fitness.com Instagram: @4x4mobilefitness A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected].

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation has been connecting wine enthusiasts to raise money benefiting children in need in Northwest Florida since 2005. Recently, VIE Speaks host, Lisa Marie Burwell, sat down with Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation's (DCWAF) President, Karah Young, to talk all things wine and fundraising. Karah has been with the organization since she graduated from college and has deeply embedded herself in the organization and the missions of the charities that the Foundation supports. DCWAF strives to make it easier for the charitable organizations in our area to focus on their main missions by providing them with operating funds. Since 2005 DCWAF has donated more than $32 Million to Northwest Florida children's charities by hosting world class wine and culinary events. Speaking of, prepare for an exquisite evening at Camp Creek Inn hosted by Gerald & Lisa Burwell with VIEMagazine! Betz Wine partners up with Domaine Della in support of CVHN! Check out Karah's full episode now available wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to visit dcwaf.org to learn more about auction patron packages and browse their 2024 pairings lineup. LET’S CONNECT:  Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com   CONNECT WITH DCWAF: Instagram: @dcwaf  Website: dcwaf.org A special thank you to Rose & Company for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected]

Discover the enchanting allure of Walton County, where both locals and tourists are captivated by the indescribable charm of its landscapes and beaches. In this engaging episode, Matt Alagrin and Kelli Carter from Walton County tourism unveil an exclusive and never-before-heard perspective on the rich history, vibrant culture, and fascinating stories that define this picturesque destination. From connections with the Muscogee Indians, who have inhabited this land for generations and shared their origin stories, to their takes on marketing and capturing the essence of Walton County, this episode dives well beyond the seascape to provide depth and breadth to how you personally connect with South Walton. LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH WALTON COUNTY TOURISM Website: waltoncountyfltourism.com A special thank you to @rose_and_co_flowers and @coastfurniture for sponsoring today’s episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected] and [email protected]