The heart of a hometown isn’t a map; it’s the people who keep its stories alive. Lauren joins us to chart New Albany’s journey from fields and single-campus days to a thriving, intentionally planned community where a preserved mill becomes a brewery, a new roundabout reroutes semis, and a Friday night crowd can still feel like family. Her path runs through athletics—cross country, basketball, track, high jump—and a Hall of Fame induction, but the real wins come from team chemistry, mentorship, and the way a student section can lift a program for years.

We dig into the details that define place: Ely House tours, Maplewood Cemetery names, taco pizza after reunions, and the great debate over how to pronounce Bevelheimer. Lauren breaks down how youth sports look now—specialization, facilities that need to catch up, and the simple fix that a second track could bring. She’s honest about coaching culture shifts and the rising focus on mental health, especially for girls navigating pressure in an always-on world. Through it all, the one-campus model keeps New Albany feeling close, even as class sizes balloon.

The conversation turns to service and why it matters. Real estate, for Lauren, is a vehicle to invest in neighbors, not a highlight reel of listings. She launched She Rises, a women-led gathering built on resilience and tangible giving, channeling funds to Buddy Up For Life and next year to children’s health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. It’s local, visible impact that honors loss with action, and it rests on a simple credo: service to others is the rent we pay for our room on earth. Come for the sports and small-town lore, stay for the blueprint on how to grow without losing your soul. Subscribe, share with a New Albany friend, and tell us: what tradition would you protect first?

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A few rows of tomatoes. That’s all it took to spark a movement that now feeds families across Central Ohio with fresh, organic produce grown by neighbors who care. Catherine Duffy joins us to share how she and her husband Sean turned pandemic downtime into Garden for All, a year-round operation that donates tens of thousands of pounds of food to local pantries while building a stronger, kinder community.

We get into the origin story—three 25-foot rows, a kitchen scale, and a simple promise to help—and follow the growth to a dual-site model: a third-acre garden beside All Saints and a three-acre organic farm near Johnstown. Catherine explains how high tunnels keep lettuce, kale, and collards coming through winter; why cut-flower beds exist for pollinators and for dignity; and how a “grow to request” approach ensures pantries receive culturally familiar foods people actually want. The conversation tackles rising food insecurity even in affluent zip codes, the ripple effects of budget cuts on fresh produce supply, and the health impact of getting real vegetables onto dinner tables.

We also dig into the nuts and bolts: organic practices without certification, tractors and efficiency at small-farm scale, cold storage logistics, and coordinating deliveries across partners with different schedules. Along the way, Catherine highlights municipal composting as an easy on-ramp to sustainability and shares how companies, families, and students can plug in. No green thumb required—there are roles for harvesting, packing, arranging bouquets, and leading with heart.

If you’ve driven by the garden and wondered what’s happening behind the fence, this is your invitation. Join a tour, bring your team for a volunteer day, donate backyard surplus, or contribute funds that turn seeds into meals. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves community impact, and leave a review to help more neighbors discover Garden for All.

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What happens when 7,500 cyclists, 3,000 volunteers, and tens of thousands of spectators come together for a common cause? Something truly extraordinary.

Joe Apgar, CEO of Pelotonia and a cancer survivor himself, takes us behind the scenes of the organization that has raised over $320 million for cancer research at The James Cancer Hospital. His personal journey from testicular cancer diagnosis during his senior year of college to leading one of the most successful fundraising movements in cancer research exemplifies the full-circle impact Pelotonia creates.

The magic of Pelotonia lies in its unique funding structure – corporate sponsors underwrite all operational costs, ensuring 100% of participant-raised dollars go directly to research. This model has funded breakthroughs ranging from life-saving drugs to the country's first FDA-approved telehealth clinical trial, which allows patients anywhere to participate without relocating near a research hospital.

New Albany has been instrumental to Pelotonia's success since its earliest days, consistently producing more participants and fundraising than almost any other zip code. The community's embrace of the event – from decorated streets to emotional "spirit stations" where patients thank riders – creates powerful moments that transcend the physical challenge of cycling.

As Pelotonia expands beyond its flagship Ride Weekend to include gravel rides, hiking events, and kids' rides across twelve communities, the organization maintains its laser focus on excellence while evolving to engage more people in its mission. The recent recruitment of Dr. Kimron Rathmel, former director of the National Cancer Institute, to lead The James signals even greater possibilities ahead for cancer research in Columbus.

Ready to be part of something bigger than yourself? Visit pelotonia.org to discover how you can contribute to groundbreaking cancer research through riding, volunteering, or donating to this remarkable community movement.

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