A while back, What’s Up Dunwoody was featured in Atlanta Magazine’s Best of ATL issue. It happened in December 2019, and the headline called us “The Edgy Voice of Dunwoody.”
I was really excited about it. But I never really promoted it.
Almost seven years later, Dori Mendel of Totally PR set me straight on episode 341 of the podcast. She said, “That was a big deal.” She called a feature like this “third party validation about the brand that you’ve built,” and said I should write a blog post about it. So here it is.
Yes. What’s Up Dunwoody was featured in Atlanta Magazine’s December 2019 Best of ATL issue, in a spread called “Meet the Local Media” by Katja Ridderbusch. The headline called the podcast “The Edgy Voice of Dunwoody” and featured hosts Matt Weber and Justin Dike. At the time, the Dunwoody podcast had about 120 episodes. Today it has more than 340.
The Interview: Atlanta Magazine’s Questions and Our Answers
When Atlanta Magazine picked us for the piece, freelance journalist Katja Ridderbusch needed to interview Justin and me. She explained it was for a special section that Atlanta Magazine Custom Media produced.
I started thinking about it as only a podcaster would, and asked: instead of doing the interview over the phone, could she come to my house and do it on the podcast? She said yes.
We started by asking a little about her. Katja does public radio in Germany and here, and she called herself a sound snob and loved podcasts. Then we turned it around and she asked all of her questions with the mics rolling. We released the whole thing as episode 133, Atlanta Magazine Interview with Katja Ridderbusch, at whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-133. It went really well, I thought.
Here are some of her questions and our answers, trimmed and lightly edited for length.
Where are you from, and how did you two meet?
Justin: I grew up in Chamblee, off Harts Mill Road, across from Marist. It’s technically Brookhaven now. I lived in Athens for a few years, then moved to Dunwoody to be closer to the grandparents.
Matt: I grew up in Lawrenceville, went to UGA and got a finance degree. I met my wife at a UGA football game, and Justin is her brother. The first time I met him, he sat down and told me Spider-Man 3 was the best movie ever made.
What do you do when you’re not podcasting?
Justin: I make apps. My main focus is PoolDues.com, an all-in-one system for local swim and tennis clubs. Court reservations, member billing, board voting. All the stuff I was doing as a volunteer board member, made more efficient.
Matt: When I got my real estate license here, I realized I needed to learn as much as I could about Dunwoody. People need to know, like and trust you before they’ll trust you as a real estate agent. A podcast felt like the perfect way for them to get to know me.
How did you get into podcasting?
Matt: I’ve listened to podcasts for about ten years. I feel like I’ve learned more from podcasts and Audible than I ever did in school. Before this, I had never even met another podcaster.
How do you find guests and topics?
Justin: Here’s a good example. Heyward Wescott, who’s running for city council, just told me his mom knew all four Beatles, flew on a plane with Jackie O, and met John Kennedy. She’s a Dunwoody resident and she’s 87. Those are stories we can archive so they live on.
Matt: Podcasting can be used for so many things. Like today. You’re interviewing us, and we’re just recording it.
What makes What’s Up Dunwoody different?
Justin: Think about it like a high school podcast. If there was a Dunwoody High School podcast, that’s the one you’d listen to, because all you care about is your friends and the people near you. We embrace that niche.
Matt: And we bring on the right people. The fun people.
Have you ever gotten in trouble for something on the show?
Matt: Yes. A guest said something about another city, and a lot of people got stirred up. It wasn’t something we said. We’re usually very positive.
Justin: We’re almost like Dunwoody evangelists. Discover Dunwoody is paid to do that. We’re not. So I think people trust us a little more.
What are your all-time favorite episodes?
Matt: The Ken Wright episodes. When a former mayor wants to come on your show when you’re just starting, that’s cool. Getting mentioned at the State of the City was really neat. And having Attorney General Chris Carr, a guy from Dunwoody, sit across from us.
Justin: Beverly Wingate, who was almost like a city historian. And Dan Rosenfelt, president of Third Rail Studios. He’s a naturally funny guy with great Hollywood stories. He’s actually put his hand inside the original Kermit the Frog.
What do you love about Dunwoody?
Matt: It’s a city of big neighborhoods. We keep the high rises in the Perimeter area, and a mile away is your house. And pool season is the best thing about Dunwoody.
Justin: There are no community pools. So if you want to swim, you join a neighborhood club. Eventually someone asks you to volunteer. It’s an easy way into community service.
What are your favorite spots?
Matt: Brook Run, right across the street from my neighborhood. A new amphitheater and two soccer fields are coming. I’m also a big fan of Village Burger and Novo.
Justin: The Dunwoody Senior Baseball fields, especially once they add a playground. I have five kids under ten. And Moondog Growlers is a common hangout for us.
Who is your dream guest?
Matt: (without allowing Katja to finish the question) Ryan Seacrest. He’s the biggest name to ever come out of Dunwoody.
Then and Now
When Katja interviewed us, we had about 120 episodes. Justin stepped back from the show in mid-2022. Today the What’s Up Dunwoody podcast has more than 340 episodes. It’s funny looking back on this conversation. So many of my answers would be different now, but it’s almost like a time capsule from the show. The true answers remain the same. I’m still a Dunwoody evangelist like Justin described, but now I get paid to do the show which is a huge perk. I’d do it for free, though.
More than anything, writing this post and listening to the episode again made me miss my partner. We had a lot of fun over the years. Gotta get Justin back on a show to cut it up one last time.
Want to Talk Dunwoody Real Estate?
I’ve been here since 2010. Over 340 episodes of What’s Up Dunwoody, I’ve talked with neighbors, business owners and local leaders from all over this city, and that’s the local knowledge I bring to every buyer and seller I work with.
Text me or call 404-502-8683. No pressure, just a real conversation.
Schedule a call at whatsupdunwoody.com/call
Was What’s Up Dunwoody featured in Atlanta Magazine?
Yes. What’s Up Dunwoody was featured in Atlanta Magazine’s December 2019 Best of ATL issue, in the “Meet the Local Media” spread by Katja Ridderbusch. The headline called the podcast “The Edgy Voice of Dunwoody.
When was What’s Up Dunwoody in Atlanta Magazine?
What’s Up Dunwoody appeared in the December 2019 issue of Atlanta Magazine. It was part of the “Your Guide to the Central Perimeter” section, which covered Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.
What did Atlanta Magazine call What’s Up Dunwoody?
Atlanta Magazine called What’s Up Dunwoody “The Edgy Voice of Dunwoody” and described the podcast as “independent, edgy, and humorous.” The feature included hosts Matt Weber and Justin Dike.
Who hosts the What’s Up Dunwoody podcast?
Matt Weber, a Dunwoody REALTOR® with Real Broker, hosts What’s Up Dunwoody. He launched the show in February 2018 with Justin Dike, who co-hosted until mid-2022. The podcast now has more than 340 episodes.