Shows
We Are Lake NormanNostalgia Chocolates: How One Taste Changed EverythingWhat happens when a mortgage broker from Syracuse takes a sailing trip to Grenada and tastes real chocolate for the first time? For Tyler Cagwin, it sparked a complete life transformation.In this episode of We Are Lake Norman, host Ryan Webber sits down with Tyler, the founder of Nostalgia Chocolates in Huntersville. Tyler shares his incredible journey from working 15 years in his family's mortgage business to roasting cocoa beans and crafting bean-to-bar chocolate by hand.You'll hear about Tyler's chocolate education—from taking online courses to flying to Oregon for a two-week ap...
2025-12-0142 min
Good Morning LKNWednesday, August 27th, 2025LIVE | Good Morning LKN | WSIC News AppTune in to the harmonious waves of laughter and lively banter as our charismatic hosts, Mamie Lee and Justin Ckezepis, bring the energetic pulse of Lake Norman to your ears. Today's Show includes - ICATS Traffic Report with Jeff Luxom at 7:18am and 8:18am - Word of The Day at around 7:22am - Tyler Cagwin - Owner | Nostalgia Chocolates | nostalgiachocolates.com - Bill Russell | LKN Chamber President and Host of 'Town Talk', Wednesday's at 4pm on WSIC - Brandi...
2025-08-271h 28
Om TravelersEpisode 26- Mackenzie RiversWhen I started exploring the possibilities of making small batches of chocolate, I thought I was onto something. I had not heard of the world of bean to bar or craft or artisan chocolate. I was soon to realize that there had been a bean to bar industry long before me and I soon learned to truly appreciate the craft that the pioneers before me created. The bean to bar chocolate world at its root is created to make lives better- here at home, at the place of origin and for all the places in b...
2023-04-011h 19
Om TravelersEpisode 25- Mike JohansenI will be the first to admit I am a sucker for a good lifestyle brand. You give me some dreams, some great photos and a cool Instagram account and I’ll be pulled in. The cherry on top is when the lifestyle has been lived by the visionary and whatever they are selling kicks ass.Mike Johansen was basically born on a beach. He spent time growing up on Nantucket and went to college in California. On top of all of that, he has a golden retriever and a yellow jeep sweatshirt that perfectly matches my...
2023-03-0842 min
Om TravelersEpisode 24- Laura ThornOften, the biggest champions of an area are the ones who grew up there. It is not typically the case that someone who has lived all over the world makes a career out of trying to boost the success of a small city and change the way it is viewed by people on the outside looking in.Laura Thorn is a champion of all. As I learned more about her story, she has a made a life based around helping others. Most recently Laura has teamed up with Aldea Gerard to create the pilot episodes of...
2023-02-0146 min
Bean to BarstoolBean to Barstool Bite Sized: 5 Minutes with Tyler Cagwin of Nostalgia ChocolateIn this episode of Bean to Barstool Bite Sized we talk with Tyler Cagwin, co-founder and chocolate maker at Nostalgia Chocolate in Syracuse, New York. Tyler loves craft beer almost as much as he loves craft chocolate, and has a particular affinity for IPAs, so he decided to infuse a chocolate bar with the character of Chinook hops from The Bineyard hop farm. Here Tyler talks about the process for developing his Hop Aged bar.You can listen to the full interview with Tyler as well as Chad Meigs at The Bineyard here.Check out...
2022-11-1505 min
Om TravelersEpisode 23- Leslie GlennYes, this episode starts off with another Costa Rica connection. While sitting around the breakfast table at Blue Spirit in Nosara Costa Rica one morning on a retreat in December of 2021 my friend Tom turned to me and quietly said“Hey, you know Leslie?”“Yes” I replied“Did you know she was an X Games snowboard athlete and had videos of her snowboarding on the internet?”“No way man. Little Leslie?”“Yeah dude, for sure.”Leslie Glenn may not be 6 feet tall but she is a vi...
2022-08-2952 min
Om TravelersEpisode 22- Tiffany CagwinWe often measure our happiness based on events that happen to us. Vacation, birthdays, our animals, sunny days and so on. We are on a high while surfing or swimming in the ocean or skiing down a giant mountain but then when we return to life we hit a wall and yearn for the next time we can escape. It is easy to pay for experiences that provide us happiness. What we rarely think about is how our health can affect our day-to-day wellbeing.In full disclosure, I am absolutely not the definition of good eating...
2022-08-1557 min
Om TravelersEpisode 21- Danielle BeggTraveling for a yoga retreat is sort of like going to a friend’s birthday party with a pinata. When the pinata breaks open there is all sorts of stuff that comes out. Most likely though, you are bound to walk away from the pinata, or the scramble on the ground to get the goods, with some things you like.Yoga retreats bring many different types of people together. We all attend for various reasons. Maybe it is our teacher who is leading the retreat, maybe we need a change in our lives so we travel so...
2022-06-2852 min
Om TravelersEpisode 20- Walker CollinSometimes you just happen to be in the right place and eaves dropping at the right time and you end up meeting an awesome human being.While in a coffee shop in Stonington Maine in the summer of 2021, I was standing behind Walker and heard another gentleman ask him how his tours had been going. When their conversation ended, I of course inquired about the tours because, well who doesn’t love a good tour!As it turns out, Walker had recently purchased an old lobster boat and was running tours around the ar...
2022-03-1849 min
Om TravelersEpisode 19- Teddy DroserosWe spend a lot of our lives thinking about what has happened in the past and what we plan to have happen, or worry will happen in the future. I find myself caught in this spiral frequently. As a yogi and a yoga instructor I try hard to be patient with my thoughts and understand the patterns that develop from my past and ultimately influence my present and my future. In yoga, these thought blocks are commonly called Samskaras.I first found out about Teddy Droseros in 2018. Teddy has created an unbelievable project to help adults...
2022-03-1144 min
Om TravelersEpisode 18- David NilsenI met David through my mentor and great friend Mackenzie Rivers of Map Chocolate. David has his own podcast called Bean to Barstool and it is all about craft beer and craft chocolate. These are truly two of my favorite things in the world.I love to daydream. Listening to Davis podcasts bring the same type of inspiration I try to put into my chocolate bars. I want people to take some time, slow down and let their mind travel to the places where the cacao is grown. When I listen to David speak of hops...
2022-03-0447 min
Om TravelersEpisode 17- Kyle Bellinger (Osito Coffee & Cacao)“Osito exists to champion coffees of the single growers and grower associations throughout all of Colombia. They work to cultivate long standing relationships between roasters and farmers all built on a basis of fair pricing and unparalleled quality.”I have been following Osito Coffee for a while on social media when one day I stumbled across a post announcing that they were about to import their first ever work with cacao from Colombia. I just had a feeling there was something about this cacao that was special and had a story to be. I quickly reached out...
2022-02-2557 min
Om TravelersEpisode 16- Eric Sharvelle (Buena Nota Imports)On this episode we talk to Eric Sharvelle from Buena Nota Imports. They specialize in promoting and importing high quality cacao from one of my favorite places on earth, Costa Rica. The Hacienda Azul cocoa beans were the very first ones I ever roasted and toiled with. I spent countless hours screwing up tempering in my early months of making chocolate. Even still, there was beauty in the bars. The flavor is very chocolate forward with some honey and light red fruit notes at the end. For most people, this chocolate is extremely comforting and relatable.
2022-02-2137 min
Om TravelersEpisode 15- Joe AltierWe are back!!! Episode 15 brings our first repeat guest. My very good friend Joe Altier AKA Just Joe. It has been 15+ years since we first met and it is safe to say a lot has changed in both of our lives.Entertainer, athlete, inspiration and father- Joe brings a lot of love and light into the worlds of the people he touches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-02-0745 min
Om TravelersThe Podcast Is ReturningThe show is back with guests literally from around the world. Not only will we continue to dive deep into the lives of inspiring people, but this season we will also be taking a closer look at the people who work to make our world run. From farmers to restaurant owners to people in healthcare and nutrition. Hit subscribe and get ready for the return of Om Travelers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-01-2401 minBean to BarstoolNostalgia Chocolate (Ep. 30)“I use [chocolate tasting] as a bit of a yogic moment to find some peace and quiet and sit back and enjoy what I’m eating.” - Tyler Cagwin, Nostalgia ChocolateWhen I talk to chocolate makers or other chocolate professionals about the tasting experience, what drew them to chocolate, and what happens when they close their eyes with a piece of chocolate on their tongues, nostalgia is the word that comes from their lips more often than any other. So if a chocolate maker is going to use that word in their company name, they better know w...
2021-11-0255 min
Clean Slate FarmNostalgia Chocolate with Tyler CagwinTyler Cagwin is on a mission to create great chocolate....from scratch. It's called Bean to Bar, which means Tyler goes to incredible lengths in making chocolate. He sources beans from all over the world. Did you know it takes three four days before the chocolate is ready for you to enjoy? Is it good? You bet it is. Go find some and get chewin'!
Visit Nostalgia Chocolate to learn more about Tyler and his great chocolate and follow him on Instagram. @nostalgiachocolates.
Sky Armory Night Market information. A great evening of food and crafts an...
2019-10-1500 min
Om TravelersEpisode 14- Madeline JhawarI’ve been strangely flooded with random images of Sicily as we come up on the 1-year anniversary of our trip there. I’ve been seeing vivid images of different vistas, ocean scenes, people and I’ve actually been getting some of the tastes showing up in my mouth. I’ve never had this happen to me before. I’m not exactly sure why it’s happening but as I have been thinking about the trip it has left me with a huge desire to travel again. We do have some upcoming trips – back to Costa Rica in December and then we wi...
2019-09-201h 06
Om TravelersEpisode 13- John Timmerman & Lyndsay DillonThis episode is a little longer than some of the others but every minute is worth it. John Timmerman and Lyndsay Dillon started a blue jean company based on the shapes of fit bodies. As someone who goes to CrossFit classes 6-7 days a week, I can speak to the struggle to find pants in general but more so jeans that fit the right way. Well folks, this problem has been solved. 2 people with no background in the clothing industry aside from wearing clothes started this awesome company. From design, to R&D to doing the d...
2019-01-281h 16
Om TravelersEpisode 12- LaJuan WhiteThe first episode of what is now season 2 of Om Travelers is with the awesome LaJuan White. LaJuan is the principal of Lincoln Middle School in Syracuse. She is also a licensed funeral director and awesome person. She is a native of Brooklyn and made her way to Syracuse, NY a few years ago and instantly starting changing the lives of her students and the greater community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2019-01-071h 08
Om TravelersEpisode 11- Dan TagliamonteWhen I was in my twenties my mind was not focused on creating my own business. Looking back, I wish it had been but that's what hindsight does to you. Dan was chasing a dream of playing professional hockey when one day he realized that wasn't what he wanted. Through conversations with his friends, some supportive, many not, he decided that hats a t-shirts were where his future was. He has created a lifestyle brand that aligns with his idea of a life well lived. Check him out at www.seaculturebrand.com, on Instagram @seaculturebrand and Facebook.com/seaculturebrand. The...
2018-05-0455 min
Om TravelersEpisode 10- Ashley CoxThere are not many people that I have met in my life with a spirit and personality as big as Ashley Cox. She always greats you with a smile and genuinely cares about how you are doing. If you saw her every day, I am pretty sure you would never know when she was having a bad one. We sat down at Roji Tea Lounge in Syracuse and she shared her passion for music, her daughter and a career path that has always involved performing at some level. Check her out on Instagram @ashleycoxmusic and @professionalvictims. Her website is www...
2018-05-0258 min
Om TravelersEpisode 9- Ed Ten EyckEd's life, like many of ours, was often relatively unhealthy through out his younger years. He was a high level baseball player through out his teens and college years and attended college on a baseball scholarship. After one too many injuries, he left his bat and ball on the field and returned home to Pompey NY where is began working for his fathers construction company. After years of eating poorly and drinking too frequently Ed decided it was time for a change. He and his now wife gathered their belongings and headed down south. Ed started walking, then running, then...
2018-04-011h 18
Om TravelersEpisode 8- Derek Vargas & Aliza SeeberAliza and Derek come from pretty different backgrounds. Alize was born, raised and settled in Syracuse, NY. Derek is a native Brooklynite who has had various jobs all over the country. One common theme throughout their lives was their interest in technology and the way that ever changing world impacts everyone's daily lives. Throughout the course of their careers they have both seen the impact that the work environment can have on a persons happiness across all aspects of their world. Together they started Spark Orange in an effort to bridge the technology gap and also create a really cool...
2018-03-1557 min
Om TravelersEpisode 7- Cliff CareyOwning your own clothing store has always seemed to me to be one of the coolest things you could do! For my personality though, it has always seemed to risky to even begin to think about. I am a baby! Where to begin? It seems that is where all of my bright ideas begin and end. For Cliff Carey, where to begin leads to a stream of ideas and avenues on how to make things happen. Cliff isn’t from Syracuse but he believes in what our community stands for like he was a life long soul from here. After fi...
2018-03-0157 min
Om TravelersEpisode 6- Tim O'SheaWhat if every pedal stroke was a dime that could help someone else? This is the way that Tim O’Sheas life functions. While he was out during a long-distance bike ride, he started thinking of ways that his passion for riding and running could somehow benefit others. From here a few close friends and he devised a plan to climb as many high peaks in the Adirondack Park as he could in 24 hours. About a year later, he rode his bike in -4-degree weather to Lake Placid, NY, then climbed Mt Marcy where it was -30 degrees al...
2018-02-1559 min
Om TravelersEpisode 5- Inka TuononenInka is from Finland. Born and raised. She is what you envision- blond hair, fair skin and blue or green eyes. According to her, that’s the norm. Her story becomes very different from the norm after losing a job she loved while living in China. Her story takes her to Bali, Peru, back home to Finland, Guatemala and finally to Blue Osa in Costa Rica where we met her.Her Dharma is to share love and light through yoga and she lives her life always finding her highest excitement. She feels that if people don't li...
2018-02-0140 min
Om TravelersEpisode 4- Blue Osa Retreat RecapTodays episode is a very special one to me since it’s a bonus episode and recap of our recent yoga retreat to Blue Osa in Costa Rica. This was a special 10 days for Tiffany and I mostly because she and I led the retreat together and we had 36 amazing people around us sharing in the experience and emotions of the week. For some it was a healing time, for others it was a break from the regularities of life and a chance to find some peace. For some others it was just a chance to see a beautiful co...
2018-01-2633 min
Om TravelersEpisode 3- Ken NicholsPrior to having Kens name given to me, I had never heard of him. That’s because Ken is one of the many people in our lives doing good and living a positive life quietly. From the daily mandala on his website paired with an inspirational quote to his work supporting the arts in our community for both kids and adults. We spend time today talking about happiness, what it takes to live a happy life and also making an effort to enhance the lives of those around us. In my personal opinion, his greatest act is the scholarship of so...
2018-01-1529 min
Om TravelersEpisode 2- Eric HinmanEric has been known in the fitness community in upstate NY for many years now. He is an Ironman, CrossFitter, runner, biker and behind all of that a very accomplished businessman. Most people only know parts of Eric's story and although we don’t cover him cover to cover today, he does offer a lot of information about his path to following his dreams and continually creating the life that he see’s as his dream. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-12-2849 min
Om TravelersEpisode 1- Just JoeJoe Altier aka Just Joe, sits down to discuss where his music comes from, the path that he took to follow his dreams and where he see's his future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-12-1948 min