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!
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!
Speaker 1:
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta, where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, stacey Risley.
Speaker 2:
Hello friends and neighbors, Welcome to North Atlanta's Good Neighbor Podcast. Today I'm here with Gary Falcon with Foot Solutions in Brookhaven. Hi, Gary, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:
Thank you, Stacey. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:
It's a pleasure to have you on and the name kind of gives it away a little bit. But tell us about Foot Solutions, tell us about your business.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, absolutely. You know it's kind of funny On the surface we look like a shoe store. People come in and look through the window and see shoes on the shelves. Really, we are a health and wellness business. Foot Solutions is really dedicated to improving our customers' quality of life, really by reducing pain and keeping people mobile and active and doing the things that they love. And we do that with custom and over-the-counter orthotics, with quality footwear all the things that we need just to keep people mobile and active.
Speaker 2:
Wonderful and I think people underestimate that. I mean, I know if you've ever been 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 more and so tell, tell our listeners about your journey into into this business. I'm going to back up again and say, 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 a retail store, you know. But that you're really a health and wellness business and so like I really want to hone in on that a little bit.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, no, I appreciate that it's so. So this was kind of an unexpected turn for me. Prior to this business, I've been in IT. I have an IT consulting company, and for 25 years I was helping people set up computer software and doing training and that kind of thing. What began to happen over time?
Speaker 3:
And there are a few things that contributed to this but over time, as the industry changed, I was doing more and more work online. I was doing more and more work online. I wasn't seeing people face-to-face, and I found a few years ago that I really just didn't have the same passion for it as when I started, and so I wanted to get into a business that number one. I was seeing people and working with people face-to-face, but I wanted to do something that I felt was really making a difference, that was, making a material difference in people's lives day-to-day. And so I was introduced, through a friend of mine, to the owners of Foot Solutions, and when they began telling me about what they do, it just sort of immediately resonated.
Speaker 3:
So part of this is I've, since my early 20s, I've been a recreational runner, and so you know, I've been through the foot pain and the knee pain and all the things that come Like. It was great until probably I don't know towards my late 30s, early 40s. All of a sudden, these aches and pains began cropping up and so immediately, like I knew, I understood the value of having the right footwear and I had dealt with plantar fasciitis and having the right insert resolves all of that. So I knew that this made a difference for people. And then there's a little bit of a technology component to it as well which appealed to me. But there was a lot about the business that I just thought, yeah, you know what I? I could do this and be excited about this.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, you mentioned planar spasiitis. I had a very close friend who who struggled. Actually I've had two very close friends who have had that and that is a crippling you know condition it can be. You know one one of them had to have surgery, ended up having to have surgery with that and you said that that can be corrected with the, with the. I did not even know that an insert could could help those those types of serious types of problems like that.
Speaker 3:
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't stand, you can't walk, and you know there are a number of things that the insert can be a big part of that having the right supportive footwear, obviously, stretching and icing and there are other things to do as well, but it can take a long time to resolve. It can take a long time to heal. So having that right structure is a big part to that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah Well, and it resonated with me when you just said you know that you've been a recreational runner. You know, and I ran track in high school and used to get just painful, painful shin splints. You know, and I guarantee that had I had on different shoes, I probably would not be the case.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, yeah. So much of it really comes back to your feet, right. How is your foot moving and what's the alignment of your ankle? That can determine a lot.
Speaker 2:
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 in medical sales and I've sold mostly to chiropractors. So I'm not not, you know, lessening the importance of of proper spinal alignment, but it really does. I in fact I had. Well, when I was in that career I sprained my ankle really badly and one of the chiropractors was saying, like he that I was working with, like did something to my foot, like pulled, like aligned. I didn't even know that you could align your foot. But then he also one of the the very next recommendation was a particular type of shoe.
Speaker 2:
You know that it was, and he's the one who taught me how important that it really is to turn it on to me but that it really lines up with what you're saying. I mean, it does all kind of start there, especially if you're super active, you know, and you're constantly. You know it's tough on your joints and tough on the rest of your body. You're saying you know it wasn't until your late thirties and forties that you start to feel the effects of that and I can't imagine I'm exactly the same way. I'm 48 now, and if I had started at an early age knowing these things, I wonder, would I be in way less pain now? Because I kind of think I would.
Speaker 3:
It's hard to know, but it's never too late, we can always help, and I appreciate you bringing up chiropractors. It's funny. One of the things that I'm enjoying most about having this business is working with chiropractors and physical therapists and orthopedists and all these folks that, yeah, maybe they are working on like your knees, your hips, your back, but the feet are the foundation of all of that is out just trying to be in the community talking with physical therapists and chiropractors about how having the right kind of footwear, the right alignment, sometimes an orthotic, how having those things can really help alleviate a lot further up the chain, not just directly issues with the feet.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I think a lot of people need to be educated on this. You know, I mean that that that really, um, it can affect so much more than just your feet. But you know, I, I can attest to that myself for sure. Well, are there any other myths or misconceptions? I think we kind of just touched on one, that spinal alignment is the key to alignment.
Speaker 2:
but you know, are there any other myths and I'm sure there are lots of them with your, your industry, your industry that you would like to clear up with our listeners today?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, so. So a couple of things come to mind actually. So three minutes. I'm going to start with a technical one. I tend towards education myself, and so one of the things that we've seen a lot of in recent years is kind of the rise of these really soft, highly cushioned shoes. Is kind of the rise of these really soft, highly cushioned shoes. And I think there's a myth out there that the solution for foot pain is to put your foot in something that has a lot of soft, spongy material underneath it. And while those shoes feel great when you first put them on, they're not necessarily the best thing for you in terms of mobility and standing on your feet all day.
Speaker 3:
You know, if you think about if you're. You know, think about when you're at the beach. Right, you're lying on your beach telling you decide you want to go for a walk down to the pier. That's a half mile down the beach. Are you going to walk through the really soft, dry sand at the top of the beach? Are you going to walk down to the wet sand where it's a little bit more firm and compacted?
Speaker 2:
This is such a great analogy. First of all, I was a teacher also in my past life. And this is great, I mean because, yeah, you're so right, I would think soft shoes would be better, but you're exact. That is such a great comparison. Like you're not going to want to walk through that soft sand. That's a lot of work.
Speaker 3:
Exactly. It's putting extra strain on all of your muscles, right? So when you're having to stand and move, there's nothing wrong with some cushioning Right. We to stand and move, there's nothing wrong with some cushioning right. We want to be comfortable, but having a supportive surface is going to be much more conducive to allowing us to to not feel so fatigued, and so so it just to be in such pain at the end of the day. So there's myth number one.
Speaker 2:
Very. I really love so I'm already loving number one because that is like I think that I mean I definitely would have thought that that softer was better, just because it is more comfortable initially. You know what I mean, but in long term I can see. I totally see your point and I love your analogy that I always go to the hard sand.
Speaker 3:
Right, exactly.
Speaker 2:
I just want my feet in the water, but that is so much easier to walk on, so All right. So what's myth number two All right.
Speaker 3:
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 say orthopedic shoes, people think of, like Herman Munster right, they think of these big, funky, awful looking shoes. So myth number two is that comfortable shoes have to be ugly shoes.
Speaker 1:
So myth number two is that comfortable shoes have to be ugly.
Speaker 3:
And really it's important, right? If we sell somebody a pair of shoes 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 work with major national and international brands. Right, these are Mephisto and Gabor and Dansko and Rockport. These are, I'm going to say, regular shoes. They're all well-constructed, but they are designed not just to be comfortable but to be something that you want to put on and you want to wear. So don't be afraid if somebody says, oh, you should go, get an orthopedically correct shoe, get something comfortable, it can still look okay.
Speaker 2:
I love Herman Munster. I'm glad you said that. That is yeah, they are not all ugly.
Speaker 3:
For sure, for sure. No, we like, we, yeah, we, we want people to be excited about the footwear. So, you know, it's, that's an important part. And I'd say, the third common myth is that orthotics are only beneficial for seniors or for people 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. We do work with seniors as well, because orthotics can help with specific conditions and balance and all kinds of things.
Speaker 3:
But you know, nobody needs to, nobody wants to be in pain, right, and whether that's pain in your feet or even, you know, knees, hips and back, all of that can sometimes be traced back down to the feet. And so you know service workers, folks working in warehouses and restaurants, who are just on their feet a lot, and they're, you know, they come in tired at the end of the day. Well, there are things that we can do to help so that they don't feel so tired at the end of the day, right? Doctors and nurses, all sorts of folks that are on their feet a lot. So those, I think, are some important myths that I hope we can dispel.
Speaker 2:
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 thought that myself, you know, and it will, and I think it's more just that that is when it's at that point when you're a senior and you're having all this pain, and then that's you know, because you maybe have been wearing the wrong shoes for a lot of years. You know, maybe you know, I'm hoping that if people get in there younger and before there's an injury, before they're having the pain, but if they're active I'm very active outdoors, I'm a big hiker and I really want to be sure that I'm able to do it for a long, long time to come, and I'm 48. So we're close to wanting to give it all up.
Speaker 2:
So, I think that that is great, that you're here and can clear those up. That might be the most important question I ask you today, thank you. Well, so we're going to shift gears now, though, and let's let our listeners learn about the man behind the business. Tell us about more about Gary Falcon. Tell us, what do you like to do for fun when you're not working?
Speaker 3:
Sure, I appreciate that. Yeah, so I am married, coming up on 29 years next month.
Speaker 2:
Congratulations.
Speaker 3:
Thank you. Thank you, and my wife and I both love music, so we both sing in the chorus in our synagogue. We are often actually we were recently empty nesters as well, so now we're going back out to hear live music a lot more. We're fortunate to be right around the corner from Eddie's Attic, which is fun, so we're there a lot, okay.
Speaker 2:
I just got to throw in a plug here. I love Eddie's Attic and my daughter does their open mic night sometimes. My daughter's a musician. So the fact that you live in Decatur like right around the street from Eddie's Attic is very, 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 and it's I love it. It's just a great, that's a great place, so shout out Eddie's Attic.
Speaker 3:
It's a point of pride. My wife and I were there opening weekend, so we've been going to. Eddie's attic since, yeah, yeah, since the beginning.
Speaker 2:
And when was that? When was that? I can't have it Like. What year would you?
Speaker 3:
get 92, maybe 93, right around there. Yeah, so Eddie Owen had been at Trackside Tavern where there was a great independent music singer songwriter, thing going on and then open up
Speaker 2:
that club and that's a whole nother podcast episode probably. Yeah, no, but super cool. That really is a neat place and they've really done a great job catering to local musicians and huge honor when my daughter that she was a finalist. It was so exciting oh, that's great yeah, it is and they have just great talent there other days of the week as well. So all right. So you love the music and the local music scene.
Speaker 3:
Absolutely yeah. And you know I I still enjoy running, I still get out there, which is wonderful. You know that's that's fun. And then you know when, when we can, my wife and I enjoy scuba diving. It's something that we started doing years and years ago. So when we can, we like to go down, we like warm water. So the Caribbean is good, the Keys, but when we can get in the water, that's always nice too.
Speaker 2:
Nice, I think you might be. Kiana will have to correct me if I'm wrong. She's behind the scenes, but I think he's our first scuba diving. I think you're the first person who has said that that's something that they enjoy. I mean, I get a lot of traveling and I get a lot of the live music, but scuba diving you're our first scuba diver, gary.
Speaker 1:
Oh cool.
Speaker 2:
And what's your wife's name? Let's give her a shout out too, teresa, absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2:
Gary and Teresa are our first Cuba divers. That's very cool. Well, so I'm going to shift gears again and this is something a little more serious. But, um, when you know we all go through trials and tribulations in life and um and and have it's tough, right, but it's been a difficult challenge that you've been through that you can say now, for having been through that experience and come out on the other side of it, you're stronger or better for that today.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I appreciate that question. So you know, I think, a significant life experience, and certainly not one that's necessarily unique, but that was really significant and it shifted my perspective. A lot is I, um, I. I lost my father last year to frontotemporal dementia. Um, and like, like other forms of dementia, it is a progressive, it's terrible, right, it's a progressive disease and over the course of about a decade I saw my father decline and it began, I think, this process of thinking about number one, quality of life. But also, time is short and how can I have an impact? What can I do that's going to make a difference for folks? Can I do that's going to make a difference for folks? And I think the seeds of I'm not going to call it dissatisfaction, but the seeds of me getting restless with my old job, with my old business, I think really were influenced pretty strongly by this experience and seeing what happened with my dad.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, dementia really is. It's tough, you know, but my parents are aging and like rapidly and and my dad has some dementia. 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 um, it's it's very sad and heartbreaking. So I'm glad that you were able to take that experience and and spin it into a new perspective on 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, is elderly, but he's, I mean, it's too short. You know, it's just um and I love, love that and that you were taking something difficult and making something positive out of that, and I'm sure your dad is smiling down on you for that as well.
Speaker 3:
Thank you and best wishes to you with, with, with your dad and your and your family.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, thank you. I appreciate that as well. Well, is there anything else? We'll get back to to business again. Is there anything else you would like our listeners to know about your business about? About foot solutions?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, you know I, at the end of the day, one of the things we say a lot in the story is, you know, feet. Feet are the foundation of your health, right, and and? And we mean that in a literal way right, it's. It's like the foundation of a house, right? If the foundation isn't solid, right, the the walls are going to crack or the doors aren't going to open, you're like you're going to have problems with. Foundation isn't solid. And it's the same thing physiologically right. If our feet aren't correct, right, that's going to affect not just pain in the feet but also further up in our knees, hips and back and so forth. But really, when I think about health and wellness, we talk about feet being the foundation.
Speaker 3:
When folks are in pain, the world gets smaller, right? If I get home at the end of the day and maybe it's just that my feet ache, but now I'm a little less likely to go work out or if my back is hurting, I'm not going to go do gardening or go for a hike or take my dogs for a walk. You think about, you know, travel, right, the travel plans that I make, the things I might do with friends. We start limiting ourselves when we're uncomfortable and it even affects, I think, your mind. Right, you're, you're. I know, when I'm in pain I get a little grumpy, I don't necessarily want to be social, and so, you know, your world gets, gets smaller, and my, my hope is that we can all live expansive lives for as long as possible. So so, at the end of the day, that's where my heart is, where we want, to want to help people live expansive lives and and I think, strangely, but but importantly foot health is a part of that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, well, I think the phrase that you said, you know feet are the foundation of say that one more time, because that was good.
Speaker 3:
I don't want to misquote it. Yeah, feet are the foundation of your health.
Speaker 2:
Feet are the foundation of your health and, yeah, that makes perfect sense. Absolutely Well, if our listeners want to learn more and they want to get in touch with you, gary, and foot solutions, what's the best way for them to reach out?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, thank you. Well, first of all, we are glad for you just to stop in Our store. It's right at I-85 and North Druid Hills Road. It's the side you can still get to. North Druid Hills is a little under construction, but when you come off 85, go the only direction you can and we're right there. And yeah, we're open Tuesday through Sunday and you can also go on the website footsolutionscom. And if you want to schedule an appointment, we do take appointments and that allows us to make sure that we have somebody dedicated. One of our staff will be able to dedicate an hour just to working with you, but we're happy to take walk-ins anytime as well.
Speaker 2:
Wonderful. And is that a free consultation? Is that a?
Speaker 3:
Absolutely. Yeah, it's a free consultation. Yeah, we always like to start with a quick assessment. We've got a really again some cool technology that lets us see what's going on, but we want to sit down and talk and make sure we understand what's happening before we can start making recommendations on here's footwear. Here's a kind of insert that's going to work best for you.
Speaker 2:
Well, that is great information for all. I appreciate you being on here today. And Great information for all.
Speaker 3:
I appreciate you being on here today and y'all go see Gary in Brookhaven. Thank you, thank you, it's been a pleasure. I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 2:
It really has been a pleasure. Thank you so much. Well, and that's all for today's episode, Atlanta. I'm Stacey Risley with the Good Neighbor Podcast. Thanks for listening and supporting the local businesses and nonprofits of our great community.
Speaker 1:
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta. To nominate your favorite local businesses, visit gnpnorthatlantacom. That's gnpnorthatlantacom.
