ICONic Talk

ICON Media

Join Mark Francis and Rachel Racey along with their local guests as they chat about community, local happenings, and all things Winchester, Virginia!

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23 episodes
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#189
Thursday · 52 min
189. Trustworthy Financial Advisors
Listen to how a true partnership with a community and those who live in it can translate into a career path where honesty and trust is paramount as Mark and Rachel chat with Financial Advisor, James Imoh, and his Registered Branch Associate, Todd Houser, from Edward Jones. https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/james-imoh Upcoming Events: Oktoberfest - Saturday, September 26, 12:00pm-10:00pm https://friendsofoldtown.org/event/oktoberfest/ Frederick County Farm Crawl - Saturday, September 26, 9:00am-5:00pm https://frederickcountyhomesteaders.com/farm-crawl/
#188
September 10 · 30 min
188. The Status of Fall in Winchester
Mark takes the time to unpack local new updates, seasonal fall things to do in Winchester, give real estate market reports, and share upcoming local events all in one special episode! Upcoming Events: September 12, 1pm-8pm: Fiddles and Fifths https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/fiddles-and-fifths/ September 18, 5pm-10pm: Friday Night Fall Concert https://www.westoaksfarm-market.com/events/friday-night-farm-concert-cazhmiere September 19-20, 10am-5pm: Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/shenandoah-valley-apple-harvest-festival/ September 20, 2pm-3:30pm: Revelutionary War Guided Walking Tour https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/revolutionary-war-guided-walking-tour/
#187
August 27 · 34 min
187. The Local Lo-Down!
Mark and Rachel reconnect and share all things new in their worlds, including updates on local news stories, local real estate news, and upcoming local events as we inch closer to Labor Day weekend! Upcoming Events: - “Thursday on the Farm”, August 27 @ The Homestead Farm at Fruit Hill Orchard https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/thursday-on-the-farm/2026-08-27/ - “Hungry for History” Food Event, August 28 - September 7 https://visitwinchesterva.com/hungry-for-history-food-event/ - “Pickle-Chester”, August 28 @ West Oaks Farm & Market https://www.westoaksfarm-market.com/events/pickle-chester - “First Friday”, September 4 @ Downtown Walking Mall https://friendsofoldtown.org/event/first-friday/2026-09-04/
#186
August 13 · 52 min
186. Improving Winchester One Person at a Time
Learn about the psychoeducational evaluation services provided by Buffie Kulton and Heidi Buckner from Psychotherapy Associates of Winchester, as they discuss their comprehensive methods of analyzing those with academic difficulties, learning challenges, or behavioral concerns for children, adolescents, or adults, all with the goal of creating a pathway to greater life success for their clients. https://www.psychotherapyassociatesofwinchester.com/evaluaton-services Upcoming Events: “Rally on Valley”, Saturday, August 15 https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/rally-on-valley-motorcycle-show/ “Middletown Car, Truck, and Tractor Show”, Saturday, August 15 https://www.middletownva.gov/2026/02/26/middletown-car-truck-and-tractor-show/ “Winchester Greek Festival”, Saturday/Sunday, August 22 and 23 https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/2026-winchester-greek-festival/2026-08-22/
#185
July 30 · 29 min
185. Preparing for the “Empty Nest”
Mark and Rachel swap stories, surprises, and a few hard-earned lessons when preparing for kids to leave the “nest” - parents prepare for their new “normal” and everyone figures out what “independence” really means! Additional podcast on data centers to enhance last episode’s conversation: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519?i=1000778112770 Upcoming Local Events… - Frederick County Fair, July 27-August 1 https://www.frederickcountyfair.com/ - West Oaks “Peaches and Beaches, Saturday, August 1, 11am-5pm https://www.westoaksfarm-market.com/events/peaches-and-beaches-festival - Route 11 “Yard Crawl”, Saturday, August 8 https://www.shenandoahcountychamber.com/Rt-11-Yard-Crawl
#184
July 17 · 31 min
184. The Data Center Debate
Dive into the big current local topic of discussion with Mark and Rachel as they discuss the pros and cons of data centers coming to our local community. Frederick County site: https://www.fcva.us/departments/public-information/dc-faq Winchester Star article: https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/board-to-consider-ordinance-disallowing-data-centers/article_b87af9ff-4836-5293-ad46-91540371fd86.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawTCEeBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExVm1jVkpVVGtrWWl3bHdVc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvwxnzm_-jaJekW3pw8U70Vk9IiArOVa1XpyEjIIRgGH1seG0y5iLunB6dyl_aem_O_E68Wn36UelMabqYAnVeQ Shenandoah Valley Electric Coop https://svec.siraza.net/resources/nps/260603-nps-campaign-2.html Upcoming Local Events: Monty Python Pub Crawl - Friday, July 17 https://friendsofoldtown.org/event/monty-python-pub-crawl/ Shenandoah Summer Music Theater https://www.ssmtva.org
#183
July 3 · 21 min
183. Celebrating the 4th!
Mark and Rachel cover all of the topics of the holiday, including the weather, soccer, local events and even medical tips in the special 4th of July episode. City of Winchester activities: https://www.winchesterva.gov/News-Happenings/Events/Rockin%E2%80%99-Independence-Eve https://friendsofoldtown.org/event/va250-old-town-jubilee/ Frederick County activities: https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/july-4th-celebration/ Soccer song of the summer! https://youtu.be/safzyuZNCGI?is=j6pI-rQqABdTL2OD
#182
June 18 · 13 min
182. World Cup is Here!
Mark records this episode from the beautiful city of Seattle, Washington, one of the cities hosting this summer’s World Cup - and the United States team is showing promise of making this an exciting summer. Learn about Mark’s passions for soccer and some of the upcoming events happening back in Winchester over the next couple of weeks. https://www.ussoccer.com/ Upcoming Events: Friday, June 19 - Juneteenth Celebration https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/juneteenth-celebration-3/ June 14-20 - FredCo’s Love Your Farmer Week https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/fredcos-love-your-farmer-week/ Friday, June 26 - Moonlit Movie Series: Mufasa https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/moonlit-movie-series-mufasa/ Friday, June 26 - MSV at Night: Michelle Lockey https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/msv-at-night-rebecca-porter-the-rhinestone-roses/
#181
June 4 · 35 min
181. Parks and Rec
Mark and Rachel sit down with members of Frederick County’s Parks and Rec Department, Andrew Keefauver (Superintendent of Recreation) and Becky McGraw (Program Supervisor) to discuss all of the many events, activities, and opportunities they offer to our community. https://www.fcva.us/departments/parks-recreation Upcoming Events: Thursday, June 4 - “Sunset Series” at Bowman Library Ampitheater https://www.facebook.com/events/921274610955230/?rdid=hBg3ms9Lh785E0ig&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1B5CBNkqCa%2F Sunday, June 14 - Juneteenth Celebration at MSV https://www.themsv.org/events/juneteenth-celebration-3/
#180
May 21 · 47 min
180. Social Graces in Your Dancing
In a unique episode, Mark and Rachel get inspired by the owner of Social Graces Ballroom Dance Studio, Freddie Ciampi, and one of his dance instructors, Theodora Soutsos, as they share the impact that dancing can have on your overall well-being - and look for a special dance instructional lesson in our video post on YouTube! https://socialgracesballroom.com/?utm_campaign=gmb&utm_source=gmb Healing Field of Honor - https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/healing-field-of-honor-2/ Sunset Series at Bowman Library - https://www.fcva.us/Home/Components/News/News/1686/ Gardens at Night summer series at MSV - https://www.themsv.org/events/gardens-at-night-3/
#179
May 7 · 31 min
179. The Bloom Recap!
Listen to the tales of Mark and Rachel’s Apple Blossom Festival experiences…the good, bad, and the ugly…as they recap and debrief the the last two week’s of Winchester’s most celebrated season! Upcoming Events: May 9-10 - Blandy Farm’s Garden Fair https://blandy.virginia.edu/garden-fair May 9 - Shenandoah University Commencement Ceremony https://www.su.edu/commencement/
#178
April 23 · 35 min
178. Apple Blossom 2026
From nostalgic stories to event highlights and can’t-miss tips, Mark and Rachel cover everything you need to know about the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in this action-packed episode. https://www.thebloom.com/
#177
April 9 · 30 min
177. A Taste of Germany in Our Backyard!
Mark and Rachel sit down with the owners of the local “Twisted Oak Farm Brewery”, Jay and Missy Duvall, as they share their journey of creating the venue, the brews, and the vibes on their farm. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=063d3fd194&attid=0.0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1861847452193688457&th=19d69c64adf88b89&view=fimg&fur=ip&permmsgid=msg-f:1861847452193688457&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ82BGf4JxJg76QbYGkxPbvp-uQfrlWTxj-NgRBnHdwr_xxTFgQlEz1t9fZWuFDpra_7Q0gSLclH_TakJOQ8uWOG5pJQ1XQ_aAmAmr2hWbowTZaX07sJBBQ0YeU&disp=emb&zw Upcoming Events: Friday, April 10: Taylor Pavilion Ribbon Cutting https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/taylor-pavilion-phase-1-ribbon-cutting/ Saturday, April 11: VA250 Walking Tour of Revolutionary War Era Buildings https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=063d3fd194&attid=0.0.3&permmsgid=msg-f:1861847452193688457&th=19d69c64adf88b89&view=fimg&fur=ip&permmsgid=msg-f:1861847452193688457&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ8nhsVm-goe071IBOEu0IrgauzfbMUNvrthsYneoXU4AFV4LtL-fWfcGNCWIeJOh1bNxDPkOSziI2f1SGQVhdgWfdqukfdmBLiTZLvngXoXb4iolAzSIUeDFWM&disp=emb&zw Friday, April 17: VA250 Concert: Music of the Regiment https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/va250-concert-music-of-the-regiment/
#176
March 26 · 38 min
176. Scarleth’s Beauty Bar
Mark and Rachel learn all about a young entrepreneur who has kick-started her nail salon in just her teenage years - listen to how Scarleth Guerrero has taken “Scarleth’s Beauty Bar” to our town of Winchester! https://www.instagram.com/scarlethsbeautybar?igsh=bzFoODg1aGxkeWZu
#175
March 12 · 36 min
175. Spring Time is Here!
Mark and Rachel celebrate the arrival of spring, swapping stories about their favorite outdoor activities at home and around the Winchester area. Upcoming Events: Celtic Fest - Saturday, March 14, 12 PM – 5 PM https://friendsofoldtown.org/event/celtic-fest-2/ First Battle of Kernstown Tour - Saturday, March 21, 9 AM – 4 PM https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/first-battle-of-kernstown-161st-anniversary-tour/
#174
February 26 · 38 min
174. BrandFest Recap
Mark sits down with BrandFest panelist Ross Lehman to recap and highlight key takeaways from the recent community marketing seminar, while special guest Danielle Spriggs joins the conversation to share insights about Winchester’s Restaurant Week, which is happening right now. https://www.mortgagebyross.com https://markfrancisrealtor.com https://iconmedia.cc Upcoming Events : Winchester Restaurant Week https://www.winchesterrestaurantweek.com Shenandoah University - “Catch Me if You Can” https://www.su.edu/performs/event/26-02-catch-me-if-you-can/
#173
February 12 · 40 min
173. Hope on the Horizon
Mark sits down with the CEO of the Winchester Rescue Mission to learn more about what this local non-profit organization is doing to improve the lives of men and women in the community who need not just shelter, food, and clothing, but more importantly the skills and tools for life success. https://www.winrescue.org/ Upcoming Events: February 14 - “Love Letters” at James Charles Winery https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/love-letters-event/ February 22 - VA250: George Washington Birthday Wreath Laying https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/va250-george-washingtons-birthday-wreath-laying-2/
#172
January 29 · 45 min
172. When is Wedding Season?
Learn about a quaint wedding venue in Capon Bridge, as Mark and Rachel chat with John Berry of “Appalachian Wedding Chapel and Boutique” who shares the tales of what life is like to officiate hundreds of wedding ceremonies over the years! https://www.theappalachianweddingchapel.com/ Upcoming Events: January 31 - Groundhog Day Celebration, Bowman Library https://www.handleyregional.org/event/groundhog-day-celebration-bowman-library-41949 February 6 - BrandFest, The HIVE @ Shenandoah University https://iconmedia.cc/
#171
January 16 · 40 min
171. To Casino or Not To Casino - That is the Question!
Mark, Rachel, and Caleb enter in the new year of 2026 by unpacking the article from the Winchester Star about the local EDA proposal to bring a casino and event center to town. Winchester Star article - https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/edas-website-details-pros-cons-of-a-winchester-casino/article_2df7cb72-5a5e-5268-afb5-c4cef0ff3dec.html Winchester EDA site - https://www.developwinchesterva.com/Convention-Center-Casino-Info Upcoming Events: Old Town on the Rocks - https://friendsofoldtown.org/event/old-town-on-the-rocks/ FredCo Eats Restaurant Week - https://www.yesfrederickva.com/living-here/restaurant-week
#170
Dec 20, 2025 · 26 min
170. Special Release - Year in Review Show
Mark and Rachel share their highlights and special moments of 2025 as they discuss topics ranging from pop culture to local insights to special moments from ICONic Talk over the last year.

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