Betsy Harris was born healthy in October 2023. By four months her parents had noticed one leg looked different, and the answer seemed simple: a completely dislocated hip nobody caught at birth. She was casted, she started physical therapy, and the milestones still didn't come. At fourteen months her orthopedic surgeon suggested genetic testing. The results took until August, and the neurologist in New Orleans came back with congenital muscular dystrophy, a rare neuromuscular disorder affecting nerves, muscles and brain. She didn't know of another child anywhere with Betsy's specific mutation. Amanda Harris works in medicine and had never heard of it. Within two months, she and Tyler had started a nonprofit.

Tyler and Amanda walk Andrew through what happens after a diagnosis with no treatment behind it. They explain how a few hundred emails built Betsy a medical team running from Boston Children's to the University of Iowa, how researchers at Atrium Health are breeding mice with Betsy's exact mutation so a therapy can finally be tested, and how Facebook groups led them to about ten families worldwide, including a mother in Ireland who'd been alone with this for five years. They also talk about the elephant sound Betsy makes when she's happy, which other CMD kids make too, and which became the logo. Their first Elephant Run at Jones Park raised over $70,000. The inaugural Fight CMD Golf Classic is November 16 at Windance Country Club in Gulfport, with registration at fightcmd.org under Get Involved.

1. The Delayed Diagnosis

A dislocated hip caught at four months looked like the whole explanation, and it cost them time. Betsy was casted, treated and put in therapy, and the missed milestones got written off as a consequence of the hip. It took until fourteen months and a surgeon's suggestion of genetic testing to find out something else was going on.

2. Nobody Is Coming

Pharmaceutical companies don't develop drugs for ultra-rare disease, so the Harrises were told plainly that there was nothing available, no one knew how long Betsy would live, and the only certainty was that it would get worse. That's the moment the nonprofit starts. Fight CMD exists because the alternative was waiting.

3. The Community Is the Research Budget

Over $70,000 came in at a first-year 5K, from a Gulf Coast town where fifty-plus businesses signed on. That money is what funds the mouse model at Atrium Health, and the mouse model is what makes testing a therapy possible. If it works, it's the first therapeutic approach ever attempted for this form of CMD.

00:29 What CMD actually is

00:57 A healthy baby and the milestones that don't come

01:34 One leg looks different at four months

02:05 A dislocated hip nobody caught at birth

02:58 The surgeon suggests genetic testing

04:46 Waiting on results until mid August

05:11 The diagnosis in New Orleans

05:59 A local nonprofit points them forward

06:35 Why nobody develops drugs for ultra rare disease

07:29 Time is not on Betsy's side

08:30 Raising a child who is nonverbal

09:41 Getting the best team we could get

11:14 Boston Children's sends them to Iowa

12:44 The world's guru has no case like it

14:47 Why it had to be these two parents

16:39 Building mice with Betsy's mutation

18:57 Where the elephant came from

19:59 Finding ten families around the world

21:21 A fifteen year old and a sixteen year old

23:11 Swallowing, feeding tubes, and quality of life

24:20 Toward a full gene replacement

25:23 A turnout the timing guy had never seen

27:38 Second annual Elephant 5K, May 15, 2027

27:54 The Golf Classic, November 16

In this episode of Bottled Up, Andrew Allen talks with Lindsey Binion, a rebranding strategist and owner of Lindsey Binion Creatives. Lindsey shares her journey from being an artsy kid in Mobile to running her own branding business. They discuss the process of rebranding Andrew Allen's company, Allen Beverages, and explore how branding is more than just a logo. It is about knowing your company's identity and communicating it clearly. Lindsey explains the importance of consistency and strategy in branding, and they touch on how AI tools can help but cannot replace the creativity and personal touch of a human designer. The episode also dives into how businesses can stand out, evolve, and connect with their audience through thoughtful brand strategy.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Branding Is More Than a Logo

Andrew Allen and Lindsey Binion emphasize that branding runs much deeper than a visual logo. It encompasses a company's values, personality, messaging, and the overall customer experience. Lindsey describes how she helps businesses uncover what makes them unique and communicate it consistently across all touchpoints so the brand resonates with both current and future customers.

2. The Importance of Customization in Branding

The process of developing the Allen Beverages logo shows the value of a tailored approach. Lindsey walks through the in-depth steps involved, including vision boards and multiple logo iterations, demonstrating that a brand should reflect the company's unique strengths and local identity. The result is a suite of strategic assets distinctly aligned with what Allen Beverages stands for.

3. AI Is a Tool, Not a Substitute for Strategy

While AI and platforms like ChatGPT make design tools more accessible, both speakers agree these solutions lack the human insight required for authentic, differentiated brands. Lindsey points out that AI can help with implementation, but true differentiation and effective branding come from intentional, human-led strategy and creativity that cannot be replaced by automated tools.

In this heartfelt episode of Bottled Up, host Andrew Allen sits down with Glenn Haggerty, Chief Development Officer and managing partner of Gulf Islands Water Park. Glenn shares how his sports-focused upbringing in New Orleans, with three older brothers and a competitive drive shaped on the baseball field at LSU, laid the foundation for his leadership style. From managing a Kinkos store to navigating the unique world of water parks, he offers an honest look at the highs, lows and splashes of building and running a successful seasonal attraction.

Listeners will enjoy behind-the-scenes stories about overcoming challenges, embracing technology, fostering strong teams, and creating lasting family memories. Glenn also shares practical visitor tips, like the best days to attend for fewer crowds and better value, along with how to purchase tickets and stay connected with Gulf Islands and Blue Bayou Water Park.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Transferable Leadership Skills

Glenn Haggerty explains how his competitive upbringing and college baseball experience at LSU taught him essential skills in teamwork, discipline, and motivation. These lessons have directly shaped his management approach, from his early days at Kinkos to leading a dynamic water park team.

2. Evolving Water Park Business Model

Running a water park requires sharp business strategy. Glenn discusses how Gulf Islands has embraced modern tools like dynamic pricing, robust e-commerce, and active social media management. These innovations help maximize value for guests, streamline operations, and keep the park ahead in a weather-dependent, seasonal industry.

3. Community and Guest Experience Focus

At its heart, the park is about people. Glenn and his team are deeply committed to serving their local community by providing first jobs for young people and creating a safe, joyful space where families can unplug, connect, and build cherished summer memories together.

Show Overview

00:00 Growing up with older brothers and friends

05:52 Balancing academics and athletics

09:11 Transitioning into corporate store management

10:12 Leadership and team dynamics

13:13 Challenges of management

16:24 Setting healthy workplace boundaries

20:13 The life-changing call that led to water parks

25:21 Building Gulf Islands Water Park

26:15 When a lease signing fell through

29:29 Traveling between Chicago and New Orleans

34:31 Implementing technology to enhance the guest experience

38:40 Creating unforgettable water park moments

41:52 Promoting Blue Bayou's first year

43:19 Marketing ideas and business insights