Coffee With Strangers artwork

Coffee With Strangers

132 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 30 ratings

Coffee with Strangers RVA is your new Monday morning routine. With interviews from fascinating people in Richmond and look ahead at the week's events, Coffee with Strangers will get your week off the right start.

You know those people in RVA who we've all followed on social media, liked pictures of their cats, seen them in a crowd and thought, 'Man, I'd like to have coffee with that guy.', well, it's those people who join Kelli Lemon for coffee every Monday, somewhere in Richmond.

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Episodes

Urban Hang Suite Is More Than A Coffee Shop In Richmond VA

October 26, 2020 02:30 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MB

This week we're at Urban Hang Suite to celebrate Kelli and team on the two year anniversary of UHS. Through getting started to a global pandemic and racial protests and riots outside their front door, UHS has stayed open and more importantly, solidified itself as more than an a coffee shop.

AnnMarie Grohs - Let's Move, Richmond

October 13, 2020 02:30 - 4 minutes - 4.26 MB

This week we're catching up with CWS alum AnnMarie Grohs. AnnMarie was one of the first true strangers we had on the show. Back in 2015 Boho Studios had been open for about 18 months and had only one location. See what's changed in that time and how the pandemic has had an impact.

Hamilton Glass - Richmond Is Exploding

October 05, 2020 02:30 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MB

Kelli's at Urban Hang Suite to grab drinks with artist Hamilton Glass. Ham's art has already graced some notable buildings in Richmond, now his Mending Walls project is putting artists together to do the same while tackling the civil injustices of our time. Season 11 is presented by Chesapeake Bank memberfdic

Nate Daniels - So You Want To Be A Pro In Richmond

September 21, 2020 03:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MB

After stints in the NFL and a successful career in the Arena Football League, including a 2005 American Bowl championship with the Richmond Bandits, Nate Daniels decided to put roots down in Richmond and begin working with the next generation of professional athletes.

Richmond Is The James River

September 14, 2020 02:30 - 7 minutes - 6.9 MB

Kelli's in Shockoe Bottom and along the James River to experience notable points in the River's contributions to Richmond's history as well as visit with Justin Doyle from the James River Association on the health of the River and how it impacts our city.

Melody Short - Richmond, Where Black Entrepreneurs Can Learn, Grow And Own

September 09, 2020 03:00 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MB

This week we're catching up with CWS alum Melody Short. We had Melody on the show back in June of 2017 and, wow, a lot has changed for her since then. She's launched the Richmond Night Market and recently launched the Jackson Ward Collective with Rasheeda Creighton and Kelli. Despite the change in careers over the three years, her commitment to serving her community has remained central to who she is and what she does.

Eric Jackson - Richmond Is Black Beer

August 31, 2020 02:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MB

Kelli's at Triple Crossing downtown to grab drinks with Eric Jackson. Originally from Portsmouth, Eric's been in Richmond just over two years and already had an impact on the craft beer scene and been central to sharing the Black message among the craft beer industry.

Melissa Face - Richmond Could Grow From Reading And Listening

August 24, 2020 02:30 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MB

Looking for something more relevant to offer her students for summer reading, Melissa Face, a teacher and writer, assigned The Hate U Give. The parallels between Angie Thomas' 2017 fictional book and present day Richmond though are clear.

Richmond Is Bill "Bojangles" Robinson

August 17, 2020 03:00 - 3 minutes - 3.37 MB

Kelli's in Jackson Ward to visit the area where Bill "Bojangles" Robinson grew up, check out The Jefferson Hotel where he was discovered, and visit his monument in Jackson Ward celebrating his life.

Ashley Hawkins - Richmond is Re-contextualizing Monument Ave.

August 10, 2020 02:08 - 4 minutes - 4.07 MB

Kelli and Matt are back at Marcus-David Peters Circle to visit with past guest Ashley Hawkins of Studio Two Three to hear what they're doing to re-contextualize Monument Ave.

Scott Wayne - Richmond Is Brokern & Beautiful

August 03, 2020 02:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MB

Kelli's on the southside to grab drinks with Scott Wayne at Canvas, a destination for meaningful virtual or in-person meetings and events which Scott's owned since 2017. Kelli and Scott talk monuments, how to move Richmond forward and all that makes it magical.

Season 11 is about Intention and Inclusivity

July 27, 2020 01:59 - 4 minutes - 4.15 MB

Kelli's visiting Marcus-David Peters Circle to experience the scene and share a message about season 11 of Coffee with Strangers. This season is about intention. Sharing the stories of people, places, business and culture in Richmond who are working intentionally to make this city inclusive. Stay tuned.

Paul Trible - Richmond Is A Hidden Urban Gem

November 11, 2019 03:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MB

Kelli's downtown on Broad Street to grab coffee with Ledbury co-founder and CEO Paul Trible. Paul's originally a Newport News guy who after finishing business school in Oxford, at the start of the recession, decided to open a luxury men's shirt company in Richmond.

Joey Darragh - Richmond Is The Craft Beer Capital Of The World

October 28, 2019 02:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

Kelli's in Scott's Addition to meet Joey Darragh of Vasen Brewing. Joey's the president and co-founder of Vasen. This northern Virginia boy spent time at Apple and Tesla before giving up the tech/startup life to move back to VA and open Vasen with his cousin.

Dj Lonnie B And Aliyah The DJ - Richmond Is For Fmaily Business

October 21, 2019 02:00 - 5 minutes - 4.59 MB

Kelli's downtown in the studios of Spin 100 for coffee with Aliyah the DJ...AND...to hear from her dad, DJ Lonnie B how he's passing the torch to Aliyah.

Paige Mudd - Richmond Is Always Improving

October 14, 2019 02:00 - 24 minutes - 22 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to grab coffee with Paige Mudd. Paige just celebrated 20 years at the Richmond Times-Dispatch where this girl from Delaware has worked her way for intern to Executive Editor.

Amber Drew - Making Moments That Matter In Richmond

October 07, 2019 02:30 - 43 minutes - 40 MB

Kelli's at TopGolf to grab coffee with TopGolf's marketing manager Amber Drew. Amber's the face of the area's newest entertainment spot leading a team that creates moments that matter for everyone who comes through.

Reba Hollingsworth - Richmond Is Family

September 30, 2019 02:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MB

Kelli's at Blachard's Coffee to grab coffee with Reba Hollingsworth. This Texas girl is more than morning anchor on CBS6, she's also an entrepreneur with a few tricks up her sleeve, or should we say her leg?

Lisa Sims - Richmond Is A Charming City

September 23, 2019 02:30 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MB

Kelli is at Pop's to grab coffee with Lisa Sims. Lisa's the CEO of Venture Richmond the downtown organization behind some of the most exciting events and festivals in RVA.

Cole & Charisma - Richmond Is Accessible And Accepting

September 16, 2019 02:30 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MB

Kelli’s rollin' into Pop's to grab coffee with Cole & Charisma. Cole & Charisma are creators and hosts of the Roll with Cole & Charisma YouTube channel bringing awareness to disabilities and promoting accessibility in Richmond and beyond.

Rachel DePompa - Richmond Is A Good Blend Of Old And New

August 26, 2019 02:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MB

Kelli’s in Shockoe Bottom to grab coffee with Rachel DePompa. Rachel's an investigative reporter with NBC12 and host of the How We Got Here podcast. When she's not busy covering injustices or shacking sticks she's cheering on the Capitals and exploring RVA with her family.

Nathan Burrell - Richmond Is An Urban Outdoor Oasis

August 12, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB

Kelli’s at Pony Pasture to have coffee with Nathan Burrell. Nathan is the superintendent of the James River Park system, keeping the park ready for the two million visitors a year who come through.

Aliyah Battle - Richmond Is A Work In Progress

August 05, 2019 02:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MB

Kelli’s at the Spin100 studios to have coffee with Aliyah Battle. Known as Aliyah the D.J., Aliyah’s the daughter of DJ Lonnie B but at 15 years old, Aliyah’s already making a name for herself.

Becky Crump - Compassionate People Unite In Richmond

July 29, 2019 02:00

Kelli's riding around with Church Hill with Becky Crump to learn more about how this girl from Matthews, VA came to Richmond and how she founded Mindful Mornings and The Giving Wall, two movements having an impact on Richmond's social good scene.

Becky Crump - Compassionate People Unite In Richmond

July 29, 2019 02:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MB

Kelli's riding around with Church Hill with Becky Crump to learn more about how this girl from Matthews, VA came to Richmond and how she founded Mindful Mornings and The Giving Wall, two movements having an impact on Richmond's social good scene.

Kelli & Matt July 8 Update

July 08, 2019 01:59 - 1 minute - 2.22 MB

Kelli and Matt give an update on Season 10.

Charm School - There's An Ease About Richmond

July 01, 2019 01:59 - 37 minutes - 51.1 MB

Kelli's walking down Broad Street to have coffee with Alex and Meryl, owners of

Megan Wilson - I Still Catch That Vibe In Richmond.

June 24, 2019 02:29 - 40 minutes - 55.8 MB

Kelli is at Pop’s to grab coffee with Megan Wilson. Megan’s better known as Sweet Sauce, her blog that covers style, travel, fashion and dope spots for all those things in Richmond...so it was about time for Kelli to caught up with her for coffee.

Josh Wright - Richmond Is A Slice Of Florence

April 22, 2019 02:00 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MB

Kelli is at Pop's to grab coffee with Josh Wright. Josh is...wait for it...the owner of Pop's not the mention the chef, cook, baker and all around mastermind of Pop's, except for when his mom puts him in line.

Lance Lemon - I Think About Coming Back To Richmond

April 15, 2019 04:00 - 45 minutes - 62.7 MB

Kelli's getting picked up at Urban Hang Suite by Matt and Lance Lemon...yep, Lance as in, her brother Lance! She has no idea this is happening though. We roll cameras through the whole surprise and then visit with Lance on the drive over to Chesapeake Bank to say hello to those great folks.

Candace Burns - Discover Yourself In Richmond

April 08, 2019 02:00 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MB

Kelli's at Pop's for coffee with Candace Burns. Candace is the evening anchor on CBS6 but there's a lot more to this girl from Michigan than breaking news and basketball.

Kelli Lemon - Comfortable Yet Uncomfortable In Richond

March 25, 2019 01:19 - 7 minutes - 9.86 MB

Kelli's at Pop's for episode 100 of Coffee with Strangers to grab coffee with...wait for it...Kelli Lemon. Kelli's a social entrepreneur in town and as of the taping of the episode was voted second in the city to most embody the spirit of RVA.

Ted Elmore - Now Is The Time To Be In Richmond

March 18, 2019 01:24 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to grab coffee with Ted Elmore. Ted's the president of the Bridge Park Foundation, the non-profit with plans to reconnect communities that are separated from the City Center.

Todd Nuckols - People Want You To Win In Richmond

March 11, 2019 01:05 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to grab coffee with Todd Nuckols. Todd's the Executive Director of Lighthouse Labs, the startup accelerator that's helped put the RVA startup community on the map and earn some national attention.

Yewande Austin - Richmond Is An International City

March 04, 2019 03:00 - 28 minutes - 39.3 MB

Kelli's at Pop's grab coffee with Yewande Austin. Yewande is a social entrepreneur whose work is spreading change from Richmond to Nigeria. She runs the Global Institute for Diversity and Change, and the Change Rocks Foundation which produces soci-economic empowerment programs around the world.

Faith Wilkerson - Richmond Is Love And Fun

February 25, 2019 03:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MB

Matt's at Urban Hang Suite to have coffee with Faith Wilkerson. Faith's the owner of Unlocking RVA, the full service event planning and promotions company she started three years ago to help people find out what's going on around RVA. She's also an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond and great friends with Kelli, which we why we had LikeTheFruit sit this one out.

McKenzie Payne - Richmond Is A Treasure Box

February 18, 2019 03:00 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to have coffee with McKenzie Payne. McKenzie is the founder of Mac's Smack, the socially responsible small batch balms inspired by nature made right here in Richmond.

Damon Jiggetts - Richmond Is Full Of Potential

February 11, 2019 03:30 - 21 minutes - 30.1 MB

Kelli's at Pop's for grab ☕️ with Damon Jiggetts. Damon is the Executive Director of the Peter Paul Development Center in Church Hill. His 9-5 is all about helping families & children in the East End and his 5-9 is about seeking solutions for the city.

Miranda Anderson - Richmond Is Arts, Culture And Local

February 05, 2019 02:00 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to grab coffee with Miranda Anderson. Miranda's originally from Utah and only been in Richmond a couple years but a couple years in and she's already a part of Richmond's creative scene.

Alexandra Hicks - Richmond is for Nerds

January 28, 2019 04:00 - 18 minutes - 25.4 MB

Kelli’s at the Urban Hang Suite to grab coffee with Alexandra Hicks. Alex is an accountant by day but in her off time is the founder and operator of Nerd Squad, a local nonprofit dedicated to boosting literacy and cultivating of love of reading.

Brian Marks - Richmond Is A Great Mix Of Urban And Nature

January 21, 2019 04:00 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to grab coffee with Brian Marks. Brian is the founder of Bonfire, the platform that allows users to raise funds for their organization or sell custom apparel and co-founder of Belle Isle Moonshine. Both companies are Richmond-based but have reach across the world.

Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House - Community Helps Deliver Hope

January 14, 2019 09:00 - 4 minutes - 6.05 MB

The Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House offers an amazing service to families who have loved-ones in care at St. Mary's Hospital. Imagine having a loved-one injured or needing treatment hours away from home and you don't have the resources to stay in a hotel the whole time to be by their side at the hospital. The Reinhart Guest House is that home away from home for families who come to St. Mary's.

Michael Millions - Richmond Has Its Own Textures

January 07, 2019 08:00 - 50 minutes - 69 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to gab coffee with hip hop musician Michael Millions. Michael's been part of the Richmond hip hop scene for almost 20 years and has no plans of slowing down. His work has been covered by every major hip hop publication, except Rolling Stone (but that's coming). He's got a dope hidden gem for Richmond pizza and so much more.

Update from Kelli & Matt on episode 100

June 11, 2018 02:20 - 9 minutes - 18.3 MB

Kelli and Matt sit down for a quick update on how the team is coming with episode 100.

Parney - We're All Coming Together To Make Richmond Better

April 09, 2018 08:00 - 42 minutes - 77.1 MB

Kelli's the Diamond to grab coffee with Todd Parnell, otherwise known as Parney. Parney's the Vice President and COO of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Over the past 9 years he's been a huge part of bringing baseball back to RVA and making Squirrels baseball something for everyone.

Dorrie Smith - Muslces Not Required In Richmond

April 02, 2018 02:25 - 32 minutes - 59.7 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to grab coffee with Dorrie Smith. Dorrie's a gym owner, fitness trainer and body builder who'd been working at VCU until 2017 when she went full time into fitness.

Jesse Vaughan - There's Something Going On In Richmond

March 26, 2018 02:28 - 36 minutes - 66.9 MB

Kelli's downtown at Pop's to grab coffee with Jesse Vaughan. Jesse's a filmmaker known for his work on In Living Color and having won 29 Emmys but when he's not in LA or on set, he's on campus at Virginia State.

Amy Black - Richmond's Always been About Ink

March 12, 2018 02:25 - 33 minutes - 60.9 MB

Kelli's in Carytown to grab coffee with Amy Black. Amy's been in Richmond for 20 years and has been tattooing for 18 of those. Today she's got a full schedule of appointments ranging from full back or arm designs to mastectomy tattoos for breast cancer survivors.

Big Herm - Richmond Is Diverse And Welcoming

March 05, 2018 03:06 - 33 minutes - 61.1 MB

Kelli's downtown to grab coffee with Herman Baskerville otherwise known as Big Herm. Herm's the owner of Big Herm's Kitchen & Catering on 2 Street in the heart of Jackson Ward and if you saw her article in Boomer magazine, you know what a staple Big Herm's is to Richmond's southern soul food scene.

Scott Garka - Making Richmond All It Can Be

February 26, 2018 04:06 - 33 minutes - 61.9 MB

Kelli's at Pop's to grab coffee with Scott Garka. Scott's the president of Culture Works, a non-profit helping brand Richmond as a regional arts & culture destination that the world is noticing.

Twitter Mentions

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