NOAH GIBNEY IS AN ESTABLISHED MUSICIAN ON HIS WAY TO PROFESSIONAL STARDOM – AND HE’S ONLY 16 YEARS OLD! I had the pleasure of catching an impromptu performance by Noah at the Habitat Berks Birdhouse Challenge. I was definitely infatuated with the vibe and knew I had to meet him one day. Lucky for me, I was actually contacted by a friend of his to p…

Immortality does not exist. Eventually, it will be our time to move on to the next chapter, whatever that is depending on your beliefs. Lately, it's been on my brain based on the news I've received or events I've experienced. it gets you to think on many different levels. My own mortality weighs on me daily. I know what I need to do to improve, but…

DAN CLOUSER IN AN AUTHOR, BLOGGER, PODCASTER, SPEAKER, AND ADVENTURE SEEKER. The first time Dan was on Fred Talk, we spoke about him and his wife Sandy selling all of their possessions and leaving the normal routine of everyday life. Fast forward a couple of years and he’s back with a new book release, podcast, and more stories than you can count. …

I have a hard time saying no. I am often asked to attend events, contribute to community efforts, or simply give money, and the first word out of my mouth is always, Yes! But this time, it was almost more of a benefit to me than the actual organization asking for help. I had the amazing opportunity to interview Candace Nelson at the 2023 Greater Re…

Jack Gombach is a relentless optimist and an advocate for Reading, PA, and its surrounding communities. I only met Jack a couple of times around town, but I love his vibe. He always has a smile on his face and is all about making his community better - one of my favorite traits! It was entertaining and informative being able to sit down with Jack a…

Visiting Charleston, SC was definitely an eye-opening experience. What I originally thought was going to be a trip full of overeating and complaints about walking, ended up being more than I could ever expect. Charleston was built on slave labor for almost two centuries. It was a key port for slavery, so much so that 80% of African Americans can po…

Anthony Matz is the photographer and eye behind Berks County Views and one of my go-to photographers for FXV Digital Design. I was asked to participate in Career Day for Wyomissing Schools a year or so ago and I saw a gentleman with the same style in eyewear that I have. After chatting for a bit, I found out he was a freelance photographer and was …

Brian Adams is the owner of The Art Room in West Reading, PA, and one of my most valued allies when it comes to philanthropy and making change. I met Brian two years ago when he contacted me to participate in The Awesome Toy Drive. Since then, we've always had the best conversations in his shop. We talk about small business, spill the tea on the av…

Aaron Simser is the owner of Artistic Visions Wildlife in Douglassville, PA, and a badass United States Marine. Aaron was introduced to me by a friend of mine in the restaurant business. I was ignorant to the world of hunting and taxidermy, but I received a quick education when I was asked to visit Artistic Visions Wildlife. Words can't even begin …

English Bradley is a passionate, overly-organized community member, and Administrative Manager at BCTV in Reading, PA. I met English a few years back at a networking event and we've been friends ever since. Her passion for community and outgoing positive attitude make it easy to have her in your circle of friends that help lift you to higher levels…

Brad Coley is an agent with Goosehead Insurance located in Reading, PA. Brad was a successful insurance agent with a local company when he started to see signs that the times were a changin'. To his dismay, he was let go and was a man with "no home, " only armed with years of insurance industry experience. Brad describes being upset, shocked and co…

John Whitehall is an entrepreneur and sales consultant with over 35 years of experience coaching high-performing and winning sales organizations in a variety of industries. When John and I get together, the stars align. The amount of knowledge he encompasses is astronomical and I always leave our conversations with more nuggets that help me with my…

Beth McCormick is the owner and operator of Tri-Boba Food Truck, a small business she started to give her autistic son a chance. When her son turned 16, Beth decided to try and help her son get involved in the workforce. To her dismay, there weren't many vocational opportunities for not only her son but other kids with disabilities. With her vocati…

Alec Reinert is the Director of Operations at Science Explorers, focusing on shaping the minds of youth through STEM education. Alec and I have been friends for years and are apparently mistaken for brothers! He's a community pillar and asked for my involvement in 2019 when I founded the Awesome Toy Drive. Fast forward to 2023, and he is now a memb…

Rachel Romig is the Senior Director of Events and Special Programs at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance and the owner of Just Breathe Wedding and Event Planning. I was lucky enough to connect with Rachel on LinkedIn after she sent me a message about an upcoming GRCA event. I knew her from gracing local magazine covers and being a community leade…

Alexis Kessaris is a Pelvic Floor Therapist at Core Health Chiropractic. Have you ever heard of pelvic floor therapy? I just found out this existed when I met the wonderful Alexis Kessaris. She filled me in on the specialized therapy's “ins and outs” and how it is not just for women. It may be embarrassing to most men if you're having "male problem…

Brad Stephenson is an award-winning entrepreneur and CEO of New Castle Lawn and Landscape. And this means absolutely nothing! And it's not a dig because the worth Brad brings to the table is not in business but instead in human development and belief in oneself. Our conversation was one of the most transparent in the 74 times I've done this podcast…

ATTENTION! THIS IS NOT A REPEAT! We don't usually wait to bring back a guest. Still, I was so enamored by his story that I forgot the selfish reason I wanted Sir Hamilton Newton on this show - voiceovers. Hamilton started as a local DJ on the ones and twos, got gigs at prestigious radio stations around the country, and has now excelled in his caree…

Tricia Williams is the founder of Social Clover Marketing. For many of us, COVID was a huge bummer. But for some, it was a new opportunity. Tricia was furloughed from her employer at the time with no timeline for return. Instead of sitting on her laurels, she decided to start a new business where her talents could be used to give her the freedom sh…

Sir Hamilton Newton is a DJ, Voiceover Artist, Fighter, and Survivor. When I first sat down to speak with Hamilton, I figured we would do the usual routine of where you’re from, where you’ve been, etc. But what I didn’t expect was full transparency. Hamilton has lived not one but many lives in his short span of time here on Earth, and he’s made it …

Adam Serrano is a freelance artist originally from Brooklyn, NY, currently residing in West Reading, PA. Adam is influenced by anything from graffiti to hip-hop to sci-fi. He's known locally for his incredible mural work in Lancaster, PA, logo designs, album artwork, and he's personally created not one but two original pieces for FXV Digital Design…

Kevin Kolb is the founder of Soul Recovery Academy in Bernville, PA. His new podcast, 6:47 with Kevin, helps get your day started by motivating you to achieve positivity by fighting through the pain, hurdles, and challenges we all have daily. Kevin and I have that type of relationship where we build each other by using our skill sets to help each o…

Russell Farbiarz is the owner of Antanavage Farbiarz, PLLC in Hamburg, PA. Russell has been a friend of mine for over ten years now, and there isn't anything I don't know about him. But it was great to FINALLY sit down and discuss how he is on a mission to ensure Berks County is prepared for the inevitable! Russell also has an AWESOME new podcast, …

Annabelle Bowers is the owner of AB Photography in Reading, PA. Annabelle grew up being one of the kids in the high school art room surrounded by creatives. She became passionate about taking photos and decided to sharpen her skills in college. After having her first child, she started AB Photography to ensure she was a present mom while making a l…

Alex Bernhard is the owner of New Age Hoops in Reading, PA. New Age Hoops was founded by Alex Bernhard in 2016 to develop young players into the best version of themselves through basketball. What Alex discovered was a need to not only develop the player's skills but their mindset as well. It's been an absolute pleasure to watch Alex and New Age Ho…

Don Carrick is the owner of Studio 413 Photography in Reading, PA. We met at a networking event back in 2016 and we’ve been friends ever since. Don is known for making Berks County professionals look confident and charming. His magic powers include producing the perfect headshot, donating his time to community organizations, and making his clients …

I’ve made it a point to make 2023 the greatest year of branding I will ever have for my company FXV Digital Design. Self-reflection is a great way to be honest with yourself when it comes to any part of your life and I’ve been doing it a ton lately. I finally opened up myself and my company to other opinions, ideas, and creativity. This seems like …

My latest Fred Talk Flow episode wraps up the 2022 Awesome Toy Drive! The drive ended with 1,325 gifts collected and $2,000 donated to Opportunity House and Olivet Boys & Girls Club! This year began with a little worry. Tags were not leaving as quickly as in the past, but with the addition of 20 more locations, we were able to beat last year’s numb…

JD Turner is the owner of Holistic Skateshop in West Reading, PA. I first met JD a few years back when my daughter asked for a skateboard. We headed over to Holistic and had one of the greatest customer experiences of my life. He took the time to ask my daughter the appropriate questions and set up a board custom just for her - but that wasn't the …

Ethan Lasher is the owner of Ethan Lasher's Auto Detailing. I enjoyed my time with Ethan on the podcast because he gives me hope! At such a young age he has made some pretty large life decisions, yet I am envious of the confidence he had while making those moves. Born and bred here in Berks County, Ethan set a goal for himself to own his own auto-d…

Erik Arizmendi is the owner of Comālli Taqueria, the tastiest taco joint in town! Erik started his journey towards earning the title of Taco King in 2015 with a canopy tent and an Al Pastor machine. He kicked up his game in 2019 by purchasing his first taco truck, and quickly found himself with a brick-and-mortar spot in West Reading before the yea…

Shawn Borelli is the owner of Borelli Designs and ProCore Contracting here in Berks County and a man I considered competition. After coincidentally hanging out with him on a pontoon boat, I quickly found out competition is a lame reason not to befriend someone. Fast forward a few months and a weekend trip in Delaware, and I am quickly realizing Sha…

This week’s guest is David Hall, a videographer, musician, and a dude that dreams it and creates it. I wanted to have David on the show because his social media accounts are filled with images of a structure called a nonagon, which if you don’t know is a nine-sided polygon. It’s in the middle of a forest here in Pennsylvania and David plans to not …

This week’s guest is Meggan Kerber, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Alvernia University. Meggan and I go back to the days of Bethany Children's Home. She called me in to do some website work and a new friendship was born. Fast forward a few years and a couple of careers, and she's here enlightening me with her thoughts on c…

This week’s guests are Marcy Tocker and Stephanie Smith of Grey Muzzle Manor For the past year and a half, I've had to struggle with mental health. Two major events that happened in my life made me question everything I ever was as a person, man, father, husband, and friend. I quickly began to think negatively about most of my relationships and I w…

This week’s guest is Javier Ramos, owner and creative director of A Night with Javier. The source of the proverb 'The devil is in the details' is often attributed to the German/American architect Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. This is almost certainly a misattribution. The expression derives from an earlier German proverb - "Der liebe Gott steckt im det…

This past weekend I visited the city of St. Louis. I checked out the Cardinals and crossed off ballpark number 14 on my list. Busch Stadium is an excellent place to catch a game and be amongst some of America's most die-hard, rabid fans. The vibe is jumping in Downtown St. Luis when the red birds are playing, and it made my personal Top 5 list when…

This week’s guest is Eddie Rodriguez, entrepreneur and sales guru! Working in the automotive sales industry for over 20 years, Eddie grew to become one of the most successful salesmen in the game! Making six figures was a walk in the park, but believe it or not - HE QUIT! Ya see, COVID actually gave Eddie the gift of staying home and that’s when he…

This week I hosted my very first two events at FXV Digital Design. I was nervous. I was scared. How bad was I going to be up there speaking to a small group of peers and friends? I felt like I tanked! But session two came around and the outcome was different. I also drove hours to hang out with my Uncle in Brooklyn. We decided to get together befor…

If you want to grow and become a better version of yourself, uncomfortable situations need to be part of your routine. This week I plan on holding two in-person website seminars to jumpstart the next chapter of my career and my life. It's the unknown and the uneasiness you put yourself in that makes goals so awesome to achieve. If I've learned anyt…

This week’s guest is Ed Burns, entrepreneur, marketer extraordinaire, sales guru, and all-around awesome dude! Starting his journey at the University of Miami, Ed figured out college wasn’t for him. He ended up coming back to Berks and grabbing his degree locally before stepping up to the plate to face LIFE. Ed is in love with learning. So much so …

This week’s guest is Andre Young, motivational teacher, author, and founder of You Evolving Now, LLC. I recently had the pleasure of watching Andre speak for the first time at an event and my mindset has evolved ever since. From the moment you wake up, to the minute you lay your head back down, gratitude, attitude, and love should be consistent par…

This week I'm talking about your SOUL! You need to take the time to make sure your SOUL is filled with all the goodness it needs so you can continue to enjoy the ride we call life. I also speak about letting go of the negative and listening to the future of America - they actually know what they're talking about!…

This week’s guest is Crystal Seitz, President of Pennsylvania’s Americana Region, and Berks County’s #1 Cheerleader. Crystal is a native of Berks County and knows the importance of being a positive impact where you live. She is a firm believer in supporting organizations and causes that provide a benefit to one’s community, as well as going out and…

This week's flow is all about self-care and having the courage to be selfish! We need to stop putting others before ourselves in all aspects of our lives. It's damaging to our mental health and can lead to stress that damages our well-being. Take it from your Uncle Freddy, no one is more important than YOU!…

This week’s guests are Justin Parker and Amanda Drange of The Cage! A couple of years back I was a co-host of a show called “The Cage” with Justin and Amanda on an app called Stationhead (check it out if you don’t know.) We had the best times meeting up on a weekly basis and discussing music, pop culture, and whatever else we felt was worth the tim…

This week’s guest is Trish Evangelista, owner of Babylon Crossfit in Babylon, NY. Looking for a way to keep herself fit after college sports, Trish was introduced to CrossFit, and the rest they say is history. She fell in love right away and decided to make her newly found passion her career. But how do you grow a business you purchased on the eve …

This week's flow features local authors right here in Reading, PA. I only spoke about four, but I'm sure there's more! Make sure you leave your favorite local authors in the comments. I'm also enamored by the Master of Puppets phenomenon created by the latest season of Stranger Things and I LOVE LEGO!…

This week’s guest is Branden Moyer, CEO and President of Homecare Solution and the Founder of Uncle B’s Bees. Now Branden wasn’t always the successful entrepreneur he is today, he actually had dreams of designing and building theme parks for Disney. Now, you always have to start somewhere, and for Branden - it was in the bathroom. Though his initia…

This week's flow is all about America. We just celebrated a long holiday weekend and unfortunately, many Americans question what there is to celebrate. Here's a quick rundown on why it's a privilege to be American, and why you should be proud and thankful you wake up every morning in the USA.Von Freddy Vásquez