Heart of the City is a podcast about the people behind the places you love. Hosted by Amy Walters, each episode is an honest, bold conversation with entrepreneurs, makers, and community builders who’ve poured everything into building something of their own.
We go beyond the storefronts and into the story—talking about the why behind the work, the highs and lows of starting something from scratch, and the moments that change everything. It’s raw, unfiltered, and as real as it gets.
Small Business. Big Stories.
New episodes weekly.
Jules Downum has built a career around seeing possibility where others might not—and creating experiences that make people feel something. As the founder of Understory and the creative force behind Search Party, a month-long arts takeover on top of a downtown Chattanooga parking garage, she’s bringing together nearly 60 artists and dozens of local organizations to transform an unexpected space into a place for connection.
In this episode, Jules shares the story behind Search Party, the psychology of creating experiences that surprise us, and what it takes to trust your intuition when you’re creating something that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else. She also opens up about the painful experience of letting go of something she had built, navigating the uncertainty that followed, and giving herself permission to get quiet before figuring out what came next.
It’s a conversation about creativity, intuition, community—and what can happen when we make space for ourselves and others to belong.
30 Sept 2026
The Courage to Own It
At just 26, Caroline Lewis went from working at Lawson House to owning it—an opportunity she never expected and, as she’ll tell you, one that terrified her.
This week, Caroline joins Amy to talk about stepping into ownership before she necessarily felt ready, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning to trust what she knows to be true about herself as a marketer and a leader. They also get into the pressure business owners feel to wear every hat, the power of finding the right people to fill the ones that aren’t yours, and Caroline’s belief that marketing doesn’t have to feel salesy to be effective.
It’s a conversation about taking the risk, trusting your strengths, showing up for people, and finding the courage to truly own your place at the table.
16 Sept 2026
Smashboyz
Smashboyz
Who has been a guest on Heart of the City
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Zach McDonald
Cole Webster
Allie Holland
Stephanie Palmer
Charlie McGinness
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
21,918
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
11 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
59
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
31
Contact Heart of the City
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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