July 11, 2024 • 21 mins
Curious about how the right footwear can transform your life? This episode promises eye-opening insights as we chat with Gary Falcon from Foot Solutions in Brookhaven. Gary takes us on his incredible journey from IT consulting to becoming a foot health advocate, sharing how his passion for meaningful human interactions led him to create a wellness hub that goes beyond selling shoes. Learn the secrets behind custom orthotics and quality footwear that can alleviate common issues like plantar fasciitis and shin splints. Gary’s personal experiences as a recreational runner add depth to our discussion on the importance of proper footwear for overall well-being and mobility.
But that's not all—prepare to have your misconceptions about foot health and orthotics debunked! Gary expertly explains why supportive surfaces often trump highly cushioned shoes and reassures us that orthopedic shoes can be both stylish and comfortable, thanks to brands like Mephisto, Gabor, and Dansko. We also explore the diverse benefits of orthotics for people of all ages, including athletes and those who spend long hours on their feet. To top it off, Gary shares heartfelt stories about his family, his love for the local music scene in Decatur, and how his father's battle with frontotemporal dementia fuels his mission to make a difference through Foot Solutions. Don't miss this enriching episode!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta,
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, stacey Risley.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hello friends and neighbors, Welcome to North
Atlanta's Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today I'm here with Gary Falconwith Foot Solutions in
Brookhaven.
Hi, Gary, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Thank you, Stacey.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's a pleasure to have you on and the name kind of
gives it away a little bit.
But tell us about FootSolutions, tell us about your
business.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, absolutely.
You know it's kind of funny Onthe surface we look like a shoe
store.
People come in and look throughthe window and see shoes on the
shelves.
Really, we are a health andwellness business.
Foot Solutions is reallydedicated to improving our
customers' quality of life,really by reducing pain and
keeping people mobile and activeand doing the things that they
love.
And we do that with custom andover-the-counter orthotics, with
(00:55):
quality footwear all the thingsthat we need just to keep
people mobile and active.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Wonderful and I think people underestimate that.
I mean, I know if you've everbeen running and you're in a not
a quality shoe, you know how,how many problems that can cause
you know.
So I am interested to hear moreand so tell, tell our listeners
about your journey into intothis business.
(01:21):
I'm going to back up again andsay, real quick, I'd love that
you said you're really, you know, on the surface you look like a
shoe store, you look like aretail store, you know.
But that you're really a healthand wellness business and so
like I really want to hone in onthat a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah, no, I appreciate that it's so.
So this was kind of anunexpected turn for me.
Prior to this business, I'vebeen in IT.
I have an IT consulting company, and for 25 years I was helping
people set up computer softwareand doing training and that
kind of thing.
What began to happen over time?
And there are a few things thatcontributed to this but over
(01:58):
time, as the industry changed, Iwas doing more and more work
online.
I was doing more and more workonline.
I wasn't seeing peopleface-to-face, and I found a few
years ago that I really justdidn't have the same passion for
it as when I started, and so Iwanted to get into a business
(02:19):
that number one.
I was seeing people and workingwith people face-to-face, but I
wanted to do something that Ifelt was really making a
difference, that was, making amaterial difference in people's
lives day-to-day.
And so I was introduced,through a friend of mine, to the
owners of Foot Solutions, andwhen they began telling me about
what they do, it just sort ofimmediately resonated.
So part of this is I've, sincemy early 20s, I've been a
recreational runner, and so youknow, I've been through the foot
(02:42):
pain and the knee pain and allthe things that come Like.
It was great until probably Idon't know towards my late 30s,
early 40s.
All of a sudden, these achesand pains began cropping up and
so immediately, like I knew, Iunderstood the value of having
the right footwear and I haddealt with plantar fasciitis and
having the right insertresolves all of that.
So I knew that this made adifference for people.
(03:03):
And then there's a little bitof a technology component to it
as well which appealed to me.
But there was a lot about thebusiness that I just thought,
yeah, you know what I?
I could do this and be excitedabout this.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, you mentioned planar spasiitis.
I had a very close friend whowho struggled.
Actually I've had two veryclose friends who have had that
and that is a crippling you knowcondition it can be.
You know one one of them had tohave surgery, ended up having
to have surgery with that andyou said that that can be
corrected with the, with the.
I did not even know that aninsert could could help those
(03:35):
those types of serious types ofproblems like that.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
So yeah, absolutely, we, we, we see it every week in
the store and yeah, yeah,plantar fasciitis it is, it's
debilitating, right, you can'tstand, you can't walk, and you
know there are a number ofthings that the insert can be a
big part of that having theright supportive footwear,
obviously, stretching and icingand there are other things to do
as well, but it can take a longtime to resolve.
(04:00):
It can take a long time to heal.
So having that right structureis a big part to that.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah Well, and it resonated with me when you just
said you know that you've been arecreational runner.
You know, and I ran track inhigh school and used to get just
painful, painful shin splints.
You know, and I guarantee thathad I had on different shoes, I
probably would not be the case.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, yeah.
So much of it really comes backto your feet, right.
How is your foot moving andwhat's the alignment of your
ankle?
That can determine a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I think a lot of people think of alignment all
being about the spine and really, you know, I used to, like you,
I had a career change.
For a brief stint I was inmedical sales and I've sold
mostly to chiropractors.
So I'm not not, you know,lessening the importance of of
(04:55):
proper spinal alignment, but itreally does.
I in fact I had.
Well, when I was in that careerI sprained my ankle really
badly and one of thechiropractors was saying, like
he that I was working with, likedid something to my foot, like
pulled, like aligned.
I didn't even know that youcould align your foot.
(05:15):
But then he also one of the thevery next recommendation was a
particular type of shoe.
You know that it was, and he'sthe one who taught me how
important that it really is toturn it on to me but that it
really lines up with what you'resaying.
I mean, it does all kind ofstart there, especially if
(05:36):
you're super active, you know,and you're constantly.
You know it's tough on yourjoints and tough on the rest of
your body.
You're saying you know itwasn't until your late thirties
and forties that you start tofeel the effects of that and I
can't imagine I'm exactly thesame way.
I'm 48 now, and if I hadstarted at an early age knowing
(05:57):
these things, I wonder, would Ibe in way less pain now?
Because I kind of think I would.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It's hard to know, but it's never too late, we can
always help, and I appreciateyou bringing up chiropractors.
It's funny.
One of the things that I'menjoying most about having this
business is working withchiropractors and physical
therapists and orthopedists andall these folks that, yeah,
maybe they are working on likeyour knees, your hips, your back
, but the feet are thefoundation of all of that is out
(06:26):
just trying to be in thecommunity talking with physical
therapists and chiropractorsabout how having the right kind
of footwear, the right alignment, sometimes an orthotic, how
having those things can reallyhelp alleviate a lot further up
the chain, not just directlyissues with the feet.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, I think a lot of people need to be educated on
this.
You know, I mean that that thatreally, um, it can affect so
much more than just your feet.
But you know, I, I can attestto that myself for sure.
Well, are there any other mythsor misconceptions?
I think we kind of just touchedon one, that spinal alignment
(07:05):
is the key to alignment.
but you know, are there anyother myths and I'm sure there
are lots of them with your, yourindustry, your industry that
you would like to clear up withour listeners today?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah, so.
So a couple of things come tomind actually.
So three minutes.
I'm going to start with atechnical one.
I tend towards education myself, and so one of the things that
we've seen a lot of in recentyears is kind of the rise of
these really soft, highlycushioned shoes.
Is kind of the rise of thesereally soft, highly cushioned
shoes.
And I think there's a myth outthere that the solution for foot
(07:35):
pain is to put your foot insomething that has a lot of soft
, spongy material underneath it.
And while those shoes feelgreat when you first put them on
, they're not necessarily thebest thing for you in terms of
mobility and standing on yourfeet all day.
You know, if you think about ifyou're.
You know, think about whenyou're at the beach.
Right, you're lying on yourbeach telling you decide you
want to go for a walk down tothe pier.
That's a half mile down thebeach.
(07:57):
Are you going to walk throughthe really soft, dry sand at the
top of the beach?
Are you going to walk down tothe wet sand where it's a little
bit more firm and compacted?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
This is such a great analogy.
First of all, I was a teacheralso in my past life.
And this is great, I meanbecause, yeah, you're so right,
I would think soft shoes wouldbe better, but you're exact.
That is such a great comparison.
Like you're not going to wantto walk through that soft sand.
That's a lot of work.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Exactly.
It's putting extra strain onall of your muscles, right?
So when you're having to standand move, there's nothing wrong
with some cushioning Right.
We to stand and move, there'snothing wrong with some
cushioning right.
We want to be comfortable, buthaving a supportive surface is
going to be much more conduciveto allowing us to to not feel so
fatigued, and so so it just tobe in such pain at the end of
the day.
So there's myth number one.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Very.
I really love so I'm alreadyloving number one because that
is like I think that I mean Idefinitely would have thought
that that softer was better,just because it is more
comfortable initially.
You know what I mean, but inlong term I can see.
I totally see your point and Ilove your analogy that I always
go to the hard sand.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Right, exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I just want my feet in the water, but that is so
much easier to walk on, so Allright.
So what's myth number two Allright.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
So myth number two and this is big picture I think
there's still in in people when,when you say comfortable shoes,
or particularly if you sayorthopedic shoes, people think
of, like Herman Munster right,they think of these big, funky,
awful looking shoes.
So myth number two is thatcomfortable shoes have to be
ugly shoes.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So myth number two is that comfortable shoes have to
be ugly.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
And really it's important, right?
If we sell somebody a pair ofshoes that they don't like, that
they don't want to wear,they're just going to sit in the
closet.
And the good news is we workwith major national and
international brands.
Right, these are Mephisto andGabor and Dansko and Rockport.
These are, I'm going to say,regular shoes.
(09:54):
They're all well-constructed,but they are designed not just
to be comfortable but to besomething that you want to put
on and you want to wear.
So don't be afraid if somebodysays, oh, you should go, get an
orthopedically correct shoe, getsomething comfortable, it can
still look okay.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I love Herman Munster .
I'm glad you said that.
That is yeah, they are not allugly.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
For sure, for sure.
No, we like, we, yeah, we, wewant people to be excited about
the footwear.
So, you know, it's, that's animportant part.
And I'd say, the third commonmyth is that orthotics are only
beneficial for seniors or forpeople with injury.
We work with people of all ages, we work with elite athletes,
we work with a lot of, you know,just active adults.
(10:41):
We do work with seniors as well, because orthotics can help
with specific conditions andbalance and all kinds of things.
But you know, nobody needs to,nobody wants to be in pain,
right, and whether that's painin your feet or even, you know,
knees, hips and back, all ofthat can sometimes be traced
(11:02):
back down to the feet.
And so you know service workers, folks working in warehouses
and restaurants, who are just ontheir feet a lot, and they're,
you know, they come in tired atthe end of the day.
Well, there are things that wecan do to help so that they
don't feel so tired at the endof the day, right?
Doctors and nurses, all sortsof folks that are on their feet
a lot.
So those, I think, are someimportant myths that I hope we
(11:22):
can dispel.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, those are three great ones and I do think that
there is that, you know,misconception that orthopedics
are for, you know, seniors.
So you know that's, you know.
Years ago I would have thoughtthat myself, you know, and it
will, and I think it's more justthat that is when it's at that
(11:43):
point when you're a senior andyou're having all this pain, and
then that's you know, becauseyou maybe have been wearing the
wrong shoes for a lot of years.
You know, maybe you know, I'mhoping that if people get in
there younger and before there'san injury, before they're
having the pain, but if they'reactive I'm very active outdoors,
I'm a big hiker and I reallywant to be sure that I'm able to
(12:09):
do it for a long, long time tocome, and I'm 48.
So we're close to wanting togive it all up.
So, I think that that is great,that you're here and can clear
those up.
That might be the mostimportant question I ask you
today, thank you.
Well, so we're going to shiftgears now, though, and let's let
(12:30):
our listeners learn about theman behind the business.
Tell us about more about GaryFalcon.
Tell us, what do you like to dofor fun when you're not working
?
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Sure, I appreciate that.
Yeah, so I am married, comingup on 29 years next month.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Congratulations.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Thank you.
Thank you, and my wife and Iboth love music, so we both sing
in the chorus in our synagogue.
We are often actually we wererecently empty nesters as well,
so now we're going back out tohear live music a lot more.
We're fortunate to be rightaround the corner from Eddie's
Attic, which is fun, so we'rethere a lot, okay.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I just got to throw in a plug here.
I love Eddie's Attic and mydaughter does their open mic
night sometimes.
My daughter's a musician.
So the fact that you live inDecatur like right around the
street from Eddie's Attic isvery, very cool.
That's it.
That place has been around.
You know I'm an Atlanta native.
That's it.
It's been around forever andit's I love it.
It's just a great, that's agreat place, so shout out
(13:31):
Eddie's Attic.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
It's a point of pride .
My wife and I were thereopening weekend, so we've been
going to.
Eddie's attic since, yeah, yeah, since the beginning.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
And when was that?
When was that?
I can't have it Like.
What year would you?
Speaker 3 (13:44):
get 92, maybe 93, right around there.
Yeah, so Eddie Owen had been atTrackside Tavern where there
was a great independent musicsinger songwriter, thing going
on and then open up
Speaker 2 (14:02):
that club and that's a whole nother podcast episode
probably.
Yeah, no, but super cool.
That really is a neat place andthey've really done a great job
catering to local musicians andhuge honor when my daughter
that she was a finalist.
It was so exciting oh, that'sgreat yeah, it is and they have
just great talent there otherdays of the week as well.
So all right.
So you love the music and thelocal music scene.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Absolutely yeah.
And you know I I still enjoyrunning, I still get out there,
which is wonderful.
You know that's that's fun.
And then you know when, when wecan, my wife and I enjoy scuba
diving.
It's something that we starteddoing years and years ago.
So when we can, we like to godown, we like warm water.
So the Caribbean is good, theKeys, but when we can get in the
water, that's always nice too.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Nice, I think you might be.
Kiana will have to correct meif I'm wrong.
She's behind the scenes, but Ithink he's our first scuba
diving.
I think you're the first personwho has said that that's
something that they enjoy.
I mean, I get a lot oftraveling and I get a lot of the
live music, but scuba divingyou're our first scuba diver,
gary.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Oh cool.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
And what's your wife's name?
Let's give her a shout out too,teresa, absolutely yeah.
Gary and Teresa are our firstCuba divers.
That's very cool.
Well, so I'm going to shiftgears again and this is
something a little more serious.
But, um, when you know we allgo through trials and
tribulations in life and um andand have it's tough, right, but
(15:30):
it's been a difficult challengethat you've been through that
you can say now, for having beenthrough that experience and
come out on the other side of it, you're stronger or better for
that today.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Yeah, I appreciate that question.
So you know, I think, asignificant life experience, and
certainly not one that'snecessarily unique, but that was
really significant and itshifted my perspective.
A lot is I, um, I.
I lost my father last year tofrontotemporal dementia.
Um, and like, like other formsof dementia, it is a progressive
(16:02):
, it's terrible, right, it's aprogressive disease and over the
course of about a decade I sawmy father decline and it began,
I think, this process ofthinking about number one,
quality of life.
But also, time is short and howcan I have an impact?
(16:23):
What can I do that's going tomake a difference for folks?
Can I do that's going to make adifference for folks?
And I think the seeds of I'mnot going to call it
dissatisfaction, but the seedsof me getting restless with my
old job, with my old business, Ithink really were influenced
pretty strongly by thisexperience and seeing what
(16:43):
happened with my dad.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, dementia really is.
It's tough, you know, but myparents are aging and like
rapidly and and my dad has somedementia.
It's not severe yet but it's.
It's tough from start to finish.
You know you watch them um,become less of who they were and
(17:06):
um, it's it's very sad andheartbreaking.
So I'm glad that you were ableto take that experience and and
spin it into a new perspectiveon you know how can you better
the world and your life and life, lives of others?
You know, because life is short, you know.
Even you know my, my dad is, iselderly, but he's, I mean, it's
(17:30):
too short.
You know, it's just um and Ilove, love that and that you
were taking something difficultand making something positive
out of that, and I'm sure yourdad is smiling down on you for
that as well.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Thank you and best wishes to you with, with, with
your dad and your and yourfamily.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, thank you.
I appreciate that as well.
Well, is there anything else?
We'll get back to to businessagain.
Is there anything else youwould like our listeners to know
about your business about?
About foot solutions?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Yeah, you know I, at the end of the day, one of the
things we say a lot in the storyis, you know, feet.
Feet are the foundation of yourhealth, right, and and?
And we mean that in a literalway right, it's.
It's like the foundation of ahouse, right?
If the foundation isn't solid,right, the the walls are going
to crack or the doors aren'tgoing to open, you're like
you're going to have problemswith.
Foundation isn't solid.
And it's the same thingphysiologically right.
(18:25):
If our feet aren't correct,right, that's going to affect
not just pain in the feet butalso further up in our knees,
hips and back and so forth.
But really, when I think abouthealth and wellness, we talk
about feet being the foundation.
When folks are in pain, theworld gets smaller, right?
If I get home at the end of theday and maybe it's just that my
feet ache, but now I'm a littleless likely to go work out or
(18:47):
if my back is hurting, I'm notgoing to go do gardening or go
for a hike or take my dogs for awalk.
You think about, you know,travel, right, the travel plans
that I make, the things I mightdo with friends.
We start limiting ourselveswhen we're uncomfortable and it
even affects, I think, your mind.
Right, you're, you're.
I know, when I'm in pain I geta little grumpy, I don't
necessarily want to be social,and so, you know, your world
(19:08):
gets, gets smaller, and my, myhope is that we can all live
expansive lives for as long aspossible.
So so, at the end of the day,that's where my heart is, where
we want, to want to help peoplelive expansive lives and and I
think, strangely, but butimportantly foot health is a
part of that.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Yeah, well, I think the phrase that you said, you
know feet are the foundation ofsay that one more time, because
that was good.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
I don't want to misquote it.
Yeah, feet are the foundationof your health.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Feet are the foundation of your health and,
yeah, that makes perfect sense.
Absolutely Well, if ourlisteners want to learn more and
they want to get in touch withyou, gary, and foot solutions,
what's the best way for them toreach out?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Yeah, thank you.
Well, first of all, we are gladfor you just to stop in Our
store.
It's right at I-85 and NorthDruid Hills Road.
It's the side you can still getto.
North Druid Hills is a littleunder construction, but when you
come off 85, go the onlydirection you can and we're
right there.
And yeah, we're open Tuesdaythrough Sunday and you can also
go on the websitefootsolutionscom.
(20:10):
And if you want to schedule anappointment, we do take
appointments and that allows usto make sure that we have
somebody dedicated.
One of our staff will be ableto dedicate an hour just to
working with you, but we'rehappy to take walk-ins anytime
as well.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Wonderful.
And is that a free consultation?
Is that a?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Absolutely.
Yeah, it's a free consultation.
Yeah, we always like to startwith a quick assessment.
We've got a really again somecool technology that lets us see
what's going on, but we want tosit down and talk and make sure
we understand what's happeningbefore we can start making
recommendations on here'sfootwear.
Here's a kind of insert that'sgoing to work best for you.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Well, that is great information for all.
I appreciate you being on heretoday.
And Great information for all.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I appreciate you being on here today and y'all go
see Gary in Brookhaven.
Thank you, thank you, it's beena pleasure.
I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It really has been a pleasure.
Thank you so much.
Well, and that's all fortoday's episode, Atlanta.
I'm Stacey Risley with the GoodNeighbor Podcast.
Thanks for listening andsupporting the local businesses
and nonprofits of our greatcommunity.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast
North Atlanta.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses, visit
gnpnorthatlantacom.
That's gnpnorthatlantacom.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta,
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, stacey Risley.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hello friends and neighbors, Welcome to North
Atlanta's Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today I'm here with Gary Falconwith Foot Solutions in
Brookhaven.
Hi, Gary, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Thank you, Stacey.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's a pleasure to have you on and the name kind of
gives it away a little bit.
But tell us about FootSolutions, tell us about your
business.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, absolutely.
You know it's kind of funny Onthe surface we look like a shoe
store.
People come in and look throughthe window and see shoes on the
shelves.
Really, we are a health andwellness business.
Foot Solutions is reallydedicated to improving our
customers' quality of life,really by reducing pain and
keeping people mobile and activeand doing the things that they
love.
And we do that with custom andover-the-counter orthotics, with
(00:55):
quality footwear all the thingsthat we need just to keep
people mobile and active.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Wonderful and I think people underestimate that.
I mean, I know if you've everbeen running and you're in a not
a quality shoe, you know how,how many problems that can cause
you know.
So I am interested to hear moreand so tell, tell our listeners
about your journey into intothis business.
(01:21):
I'm going to back up again andsay, real quick, I'd love that
you said you're really, you know, on the surface you look like a
shoe store, you look like aretail store, you know.
But that you're really a healthand wellness business and so
like I really want to hone in onthat a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah, no, I appreciate that it's so.
So this was kind of anunexpected turn for me.
Prior to this business, I'vebeen in IT.
I have an IT consulting company, and for 25 years I was helping
people set up computer softwareand doing training and that
kind of thing.
What began to happen over time?
And there are a few things thatcontributed to this but over
(01:58):
time, as the industry changed, Iwas doing more and more work
online.
I was doing more and more workonline.
I wasn't seeing peopleface-to-face, and I found a few
years ago that I really justdidn't have the same passion for
it as when I started, and so Iwanted to get into a business
(02:19):
that number one.
I was seeing people and workingwith people face-to-face, but I
wanted to do something that Ifelt was really making a
difference, that was, making amaterial difference in people's
lives day-to-day.
And so I was introduced,through a friend of mine, to the
owners of Foot Solutions, andwhen they began telling me about
what they do, it just sort ofimmediately resonated.
So part of this is I've, sincemy early 20s, I've been a
recreational runner, and so youknow, I've been through the foot
(02:42):
pain and the knee pain and allthe things that come Like.
It was great until probably Idon't know towards my late 30s,
early 40s.
All of a sudden, these achesand pains began cropping up and
so immediately, like I knew, Iunderstood the value of having
the right footwear and I haddealt with plantar fasciitis and
having the right insertresolves all of that.
So I knew that this made adifference for people.
(03:03):
And then there's a little bitof a technology component to it
as well which appealed to me.
But there was a lot about thebusiness that I just thought,
yeah, you know what I?
I could do this and be excitedabout this.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, you mentioned planar spasiitis.
I had a very close friend whowho struggled.
Actually I've had two veryclose friends who have had that
and that is a crippling you knowcondition it can be.
You know one one of them had tohave surgery, ended up having
to have surgery with that andyou said that that can be
corrected with the, with the.
I did not even know that aninsert could could help those
(03:35):
those types of serious types ofproblems like that.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
So yeah, absolutely, we, we, we see it every week in
the store and yeah, yeah,plantar fasciitis it is, it's
debilitating, right, you can'tstand, you can't walk, and you
know there are a number ofthings that the insert can be a
big part of that having theright supportive footwear,
obviously, stretching and icingand there are other things to do
as well, but it can take a longtime to resolve.
(04:00):
It can take a long time to heal.
So having that right structureis a big part to that.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah Well, and it resonated with me when you just
said you know that you've been arecreational runner.
You know, and I ran track inhigh school and used to get just
painful, painful shin splints.
You know, and I guarantee thathad I had on different shoes, I
probably would not be the case.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, yeah.
So much of it really comes backto your feet, right.
How is your foot moving andwhat's the alignment of your
ankle?
That can determine a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I think a lot of people think of alignment all
being about the spine and really, you know, I used to, like you,
I had a career change.
For a brief stint I was inmedical sales and I've sold
mostly to chiropractors.
So I'm not not, you know,lessening the importance of of
(04:55):
proper spinal alignment, but itreally does.
I in fact I had.
Well, when I was in that careerI sprained my ankle really
badly and one of thechiropractors was saying, like
he that I was working with, likedid something to my foot, like
pulled, like aligned.
I didn't even know that youcould align your foot.
(05:15):
But then he also one of the thevery next recommendation was a
particular type of shoe.
You know that it was, and he'sthe one who taught me how
important that it really is toturn it on to me but that it
really lines up with what you'resaying.
I mean, it does all kind ofstart there, especially if
(05:36):
you're super active, you know,and you're constantly.
You know it's tough on yourjoints and tough on the rest of
your body.
You're saying you know itwasn't until your late thirties
and forties that you start tofeel the effects of that and I
can't imagine I'm exactly thesame way.
I'm 48 now, and if I hadstarted at an early age knowing
(05:57):
these things, I wonder, would Ibe in way less pain now?
Because I kind of think I would.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It's hard to know, but it's never too late, we can
always help, and I appreciateyou bringing up chiropractors.
It's funny.
One of the things that I'menjoying most about having this
business is working withchiropractors and physical
therapists and orthopedists andall these folks that, yeah,
maybe they are working on likeyour knees, your hips, your back
, but the feet are thefoundation of all of that is out
(06:26):
just trying to be in thecommunity talking with physical
therapists and chiropractorsabout how having the right kind
of footwear, the right alignment, sometimes an orthotic, how
having those things can reallyhelp alleviate a lot further up
the chain, not just directlyissues with the feet.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, I think a lot of people need to be educated on
this.
You know, I mean that that thatreally, um, it can affect so
much more than just your feet.
But you know, I, I can attestto that myself for sure.
Well, are there any other mythsor misconceptions?
I think we kind of just touchedon one, that spinal alignment
(07:05):
is the key to alignment.
but you know, are there anyother myths and I'm sure there
are lots of them with your, yourindustry, your industry that
you would like to clear up withour listeners today?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah, so.
So a couple of things come tomind actually.
So three minutes.
I'm going to start with atechnical one.
I tend towards education myself, and so one of the things that
we've seen a lot of in recentyears is kind of the rise of
these really soft, highlycushioned shoes.
Is kind of the rise of thesereally soft, highly cushioned
shoes.
And I think there's a myth outthere that the solution for foot
(07:35):
pain is to put your foot insomething that has a lot of soft
, spongy material underneath it.
And while those shoes feelgreat when you first put them on
, they're not necessarily thebest thing for you in terms of
mobility and standing on yourfeet all day.
You know, if you think about ifyou're.
You know, think about whenyou're at the beach.
Right, you're lying on yourbeach telling you decide you
want to go for a walk down tothe pier.
That's a half mile down thebeach.
(07:57):
Are you going to walk throughthe really soft, dry sand at the
top of the beach?
Are you going to walk down tothe wet sand where it's a little
bit more firm and compacted?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
This is such a great analogy.
First of all, I was a teacheralso in my past life.
And this is great, I meanbecause, yeah, you're so right,
I would think soft shoes wouldbe better, but you're exact.
That is such a great comparison.
Like you're not going to wantto walk through that soft sand.
That's a lot of work.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Exactly.
It's putting extra strain onall of your muscles, right?
So when you're having to standand move, there's nothing wrong
with some cushioning Right.
We to stand and move, there'snothing wrong with some
cushioning right.
We want to be comfortable, buthaving a supportive surface is
going to be much more conduciveto allowing us to to not feel so
fatigued, and so so it just tobe in such pain at the end of
the day.
So there's myth number one.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Very.
I really love so I'm alreadyloving number one because that
is like I think that I mean Idefinitely would have thought
that that softer was better,just because it is more
comfortable initially.
You know what I mean, but inlong term I can see.
I totally see your point and Ilove your analogy that I always
go to the hard sand.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Right, exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I just want my feet in the water, but that is so
much easier to walk on, so Allright.
So what's myth number two Allright.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
So myth number two and this is big picture I think
there's still in in people when,when you say comfortable shoes,
or particularly if you sayorthopedic shoes, people think
of, like Herman Munster right,they think of these big, funky,
awful looking shoes.
So myth number two is thatcomfortable shoes have to be
ugly shoes.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So myth number two is that comfortable shoes have to
be ugly.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
And really it's important, right?
If we sell somebody a pair ofshoes that they don't like, that
they don't want to wear,they're just going to sit in the
closet.
And the good news is we workwith major national and
international brands.
Right, these are Mephisto andGabor and Dansko and Rockport.
These are, I'm going to say,regular shoes.
(09:54):
They're all well-constructed,but they are designed not just
to be comfortable but to besomething that you want to put
on and you want to wear.
So don't be afraid if somebodysays, oh, you should go, get an
orthopedically correct shoe, getsomething comfortable, it can
still look okay.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I love Herman Munster .
I'm glad you said that.
That is yeah, they are not allugly.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
For sure, for sure.
No, we like, we, yeah, we, wewant people to be excited about
the footwear.
So, you know, it's, that's animportant part.
And I'd say, the third commonmyth is that orthotics are only
beneficial for seniors or forpeople with injury.
We work with people of all ages, we work with elite athletes,
we work with a lot of, you know,just active adults.
(10:41):
We do work with seniors as well, because orthotics can help
with specific conditions andbalance and all kinds of things.
But you know, nobody needs to,nobody wants to be in pain,
right, and whether that's painin your feet or even, you know,
knees, hips and back, all ofthat can sometimes be traced
(11:02):
back down to the feet.
And so you know service workers, folks working in warehouses
and restaurants, who are just ontheir feet a lot, and they're,
you know, they come in tired atthe end of the day.
Well, there are things that wecan do to help so that they
don't feel so tired at the endof the day, right?
Doctors and nurses, all sortsof folks that are on their feet
a lot.
So those, I think, are someimportant myths that I hope we
(11:22):
can dispel.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, those are three great ones and I do think that
there is that, you know,misconception that orthopedics
are for, you know, seniors.
So you know that's, you know.
Years ago I would have thoughtthat myself, you know, and it
will, and I think it's more justthat that is when it's at that
(11:43):
point when you're a senior andyou're having all this pain, and
then that's you know, becauseyou maybe have been wearing the
wrong shoes for a lot of years.
You know, maybe you know, I'mhoping that if people get in
there younger and before there'san injury, before they're
having the pain, but if they'reactive I'm very active outdoors,
I'm a big hiker and I reallywant to be sure that I'm able to
(12:09):
do it for a long, long time tocome, and I'm 48.
So we're close to wanting togive it all up.
So, I think that that is great,that you're here and can clear
those up.
That might be the mostimportant question I ask you
today, thank you.
Well, so we're going to shiftgears now, though, and let's let
(12:30):
our listeners learn about theman behind the business.
Tell us about more about GaryFalcon.
Tell us, what do you like to dofor fun when you're not working
?
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Sure, I appreciate that.
Yeah, so I am married, comingup on 29 years next month.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Congratulations.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Thank you.
Thank you, and my wife and Iboth love music, so we both sing
in the chorus in our synagogue.
We are often actually we wererecently empty nesters as well,
so now we're going back out tohear live music a lot more.
We're fortunate to be rightaround the corner from Eddie's
Attic, which is fun, so we'rethere a lot, okay.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I just got to throw in a plug here.
I love Eddie's Attic and mydaughter does their open mic
night sometimes.
My daughter's a musician.
So the fact that you live inDecatur like right around the
street from Eddie's Attic isvery, very cool.
That's it.
That place has been around.
You know I'm an Atlanta native.
That's it.
It's been around forever andit's I love it.
It's just a great, that's agreat place, so shout out
(13:31):
Eddie's Attic.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
It's a point of pride .
My wife and I were thereopening weekend, so we've been
going to.
Eddie's attic since, yeah, yeah, since the beginning.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
And when was that?
When was that?
I can't have it Like.
What year would you?
Speaker 3 (13:44):
get 92, maybe 93, right around there.
Yeah, so Eddie Owen had been atTrackside Tavern where there
was a great independent musicsinger songwriter, thing going
on and then open up
Speaker 2 (14:02):
that club and that's a whole nother podcast episode
probably.
Yeah, no, but super cool.
That really is a neat place andthey've really done a great job
catering to local musicians andhuge honor when my daughter
that she was a finalist.
It was so exciting oh, that'sgreat yeah, it is and they have
just great talent there otherdays of the week as well.
So all right.
So you love the music and thelocal music scene.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Absolutely yeah.
And you know I I still enjoyrunning, I still get out there,
which is wonderful.
You know that's that's fun.
And then you know when, when wecan, my wife and I enjoy scuba
diving.
It's something that we starteddoing years and years ago.
So when we can, we like to godown, we like warm water.
So the Caribbean is good, theKeys, but when we can get in the
water, that's always nice too.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Nice, I think you might be.
Kiana will have to correct meif I'm wrong.
She's behind the scenes, but Ithink he's our first scuba
diving.
I think you're the first personwho has said that that's
something that they enjoy.
I mean, I get a lot oftraveling and I get a lot of the
live music, but scuba divingyou're our first scuba diver,
gary.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Oh cool.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
And what's your wife's name?
Let's give her a shout out too,teresa, absolutely yeah.
Gary and Teresa are our firstCuba divers.
That's very cool.
Well, so I'm going to shiftgears again and this is
something a little more serious.
But, um, when you know we allgo through trials and
tribulations in life and um andand have it's tough, right, but
(15:30):
it's been a difficult challengethat you've been through that
you can say now, for having beenthrough that experience and
come out on the other side of it, you're stronger or better for
that today.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Yeah, I appreciate that question.
So you know, I think, asignificant life experience, and
certainly not one that'snecessarily unique, but that was
really significant and itshifted my perspective.
A lot is I, um, I.
I lost my father last year tofrontotemporal dementia.
Um, and like, like other formsof dementia, it is a progressive
(16:02):
, it's terrible, right, it's aprogressive disease and over the
course of about a decade I sawmy father decline and it began,
I think, this process ofthinking about number one,
quality of life.
But also, time is short and howcan I have an impact?
(16:23):
What can I do that's going tomake a difference for folks?
Can I do that's going to make adifference for folks?
And I think the seeds of I'mnot going to call it
dissatisfaction, but the seedsof me getting restless with my
old job, with my old business, Ithink really were influenced
pretty strongly by thisexperience and seeing what
(16:43):
happened with my dad.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, dementia really is.
It's tough, you know, but myparents are aging and like
rapidly and and my dad has somedementia.
It's not severe yet but it's.
It's tough from start to finish.
You know you watch them um,become less of who they were and
(17:06):
um, it's it's very sad andheartbreaking.
So I'm glad that you were ableto take that experience and and
spin it into a new perspectiveon you know how can you better
the world and your life and life, lives of others?
You know, because life is short, you know.
Even you know my, my dad is, iselderly, but he's, I mean, it's
(17:30):
too short.
You know, it's just um and Ilove, love that and that you
were taking something difficultand making something positive
out of that, and I'm sure yourdad is smiling down on you for
that as well.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Thank you and best wishes to you with, with, with
your dad and your and yourfamily.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, thank you.
I appreciate that as well.
Well, is there anything else?
We'll get back to to businessagain.
Is there anything else youwould like our listeners to know
about your business about?
About foot solutions?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Yeah, you know I, at the end of the day, one of the
things we say a lot in the storyis, you know, feet.
Feet are the foundation of yourhealth, right, and and?
And we mean that in a literalway right, it's.
It's like the foundation of ahouse, right?
If the foundation isn't solid,right, the the walls are going
to crack or the doors aren'tgoing to open, you're like
you're going to have problemswith.
Foundation isn't solid.
And it's the same thingphysiologically right.
(18:25):
If our feet aren't correct,right, that's going to affect
not just pain in the feet butalso further up in our knees,
hips and back and so forth.
But really, when I think abouthealth and wellness, we talk
about feet being the foundation.
When folks are in pain, theworld gets smaller, right?
If I get home at the end of theday and maybe it's just that my
feet ache, but now I'm a littleless likely to go work out or
(18:47):
if my back is hurting, I'm notgoing to go do gardening or go
for a hike or take my dogs for awalk.
You think about, you know,travel, right, the travel plans
that I make, the things I mightdo with friends.
We start limiting ourselveswhen we're uncomfortable and it
even affects, I think, your mind.
Right, you're, you're.
I know, when I'm in pain I geta little grumpy, I don't
necessarily want to be social,and so, you know, your world
(19:08):
gets, gets smaller, and my, myhope is that we can all live
expansive lives for as long aspossible.
So so, at the end of the day,that's where my heart is, where
we want, to want to help peoplelive expansive lives and and I
think, strangely, but butimportantly foot health is a
part of that.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Yeah, well, I think the phrase that you said, you
know feet are the foundation ofsay that one more time, because
that was good.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
I don't want to misquote it.
Yeah, feet are the foundationof your health.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Feet are the foundation of your health and,
yeah, that makes perfect sense.
Absolutely Well, if ourlisteners want to learn more and
they want to get in touch withyou, gary, and foot solutions,
what's the best way for them toreach out?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Yeah, thank you.
Well, first of all, we are gladfor you just to stop in Our
store.
It's right at I-85 and NorthDruid Hills Road.
It's the side you can still getto.
North Druid Hills is a littleunder construction, but when you
come off 85, go the onlydirection you can and we're
right there.
And yeah, we're open Tuesdaythrough Sunday and you can also
go on the websitefootsolutionscom.
(20:10):
And if you want to schedule anappointment, we do take
appointments and that allows usto make sure that we have
somebody dedicated.
One of our staff will be ableto dedicate an hour just to
working with you, but we'rehappy to take walk-ins anytime
as well.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Wonderful.
And is that a free consultation?
Is that a?
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Absolutely.
Yeah, it's a free consultation.
Yeah, we always like to startwith a quick assessment.
We've got a really again somecool technology that lets us see
what's going on, but we want tosit down and talk and make sure
we understand what's happeningbefore we can start making
recommendations on here'sfootwear.
Here's a kind of insert that'sgoing to work best for you.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Well, that is great information for all.
I appreciate you being on heretoday.
And Great information for all.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I appreciate you being on here today and y'all go
see Gary in Brookhaven.
Thank you, thank you, it's beena pleasure.
I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It really has been a pleasure.
Thank you so much.
Well, and that's all fortoday's episode, Atlanta.
I'm Stacey Risley with the GoodNeighbor Podcast.
Thanks for listening andsupporting the local businesses
and nonprofits of our greatcommunity.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast
North Atlanta.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses, visit
gnpnorthatlantacom.
That's gnpnorthatlantacom.
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