Episodes

On the occasion of Columbus being named the highest in visitor satisfaction in the midwest by JD Power and Associates, host Tim Fulton moderated a panel at the Columbus Metropolitan Club to discuss the study, its impact, and how Columbus can capitalize on it. Shownotes: JD Power and Associates Press release on the award Columbus Metropolitan Club Experience Columbus Experience Columbus blog post on the award Certified Tourism Ambassador Program The post Visitor Satisfaction in Columbus appear...

We all want to tell stories. Larry Smith, the creator of Six Word Memoirs helps people do that. We sat down to talk about the project, Larry’s background as a journalist and storyteller, and why he and his wife, noted author Piper Kerman, choose Columbus as their home. Shownotes: Smith Magazine Six Word Memiors Might Magazine POV Magazine The Moth Dick and Jane Project Musicologie Hot Chicken Takeover Arts and College Preparatory Academy Six in the City Big thank you to our sponsor this week,...

To kick off our neighborhoods series, we’re starting with one of Columbus’ largest, the Hilltop. On the occasion of their newly completed Camp Chase Trail, Jody Dzuranin and Betty Jaynes sat down to discuss the new trail, the renaissance that they’re fighting for on the Hilltop, some of the sensitivities and perceptions that the westside faces, and what they’re doing to demonstrate the buying power of the neighborhood. Shownotes: Camp Chase Trail Friends of the Hilltop Keep Columbus Beautiful ...

This week, we explore the craft scene in Columbus with maker maven Megan Green who heads up the Midwest Craft Con and Craftin’ Outlaws. It’s a discussion about the business of craft, the many hats you wear in business, and the plethora of offerings the Columbus craft community has to offer. Shownotes: Midwest Craft Con (Promo code: CRAFTCBUS) Craftin’ Outlaws Stinky Bomb Soap Wholly Craft Crafty Mart (Akron) Handmade Arcade (Pittsburgh) Independents’ Day Alison Rose The Smithery Red Giraffe...

To wrap up the year, I sat down with the co-founders of Columbus Underground to talk about the best-read stories of the year on the site, how they do their work, and why they got rid of the discussion boards. Shownotes: Episode on Issue One Short North Development Smart Cities Grant Transit Columbus Development at 15th and High IKEA Holy Chicken! Cat Cafe Hot Chicken Takeover investment Kiva Columbus Downtown Development Festival Roundup Tangier Outlet Mall The post 2016 Year in Review appear...

The terrible fire in Oakland, California sparked discussions in Columbus about the safety of our artist communities. Chris Sherman, the development director for the largest of those communities, 400 West Rich, sat down to talk about the history of the building, how they keep their tenants and guests safe, and why it’s important to keep having these conversations. Shownotes: 400 West Rich The fire at Ghost Ship in Oakland, CA Strongwater Robert Eickholt Franklinton Arts District Junctionview St...

Tis the season for a cocktail. Two of Columbus’ best mixologists, Joe Peppercorn from Little Rock Bar and Josh Rice from Bodega, talk about the bar scene in Columbus, what makes a good cocktail list, how to be a good patron, and the evolution of the Short North bar scene. Shownotes: Little Rock Bar Giuseppe’s Ritrovo Bodega Beatles Marathon The Tree Bar Basi Italia Curio United States Bartenders Guild Cicerone Certification Program Bar Smarts Death and Co: Modern Classic Cocktails (Amazon) In...

This week, we’re shopping local. On the occasion of the holiday season, we sat down with two people immersed in the movement. First up, Timothy Wolf Starr discusses the recently rebranded Small Business Beanstalk, now called Connects Columbus. Then, Lynn Stan, co-founder of Celebrate Local, has a wide-ranging conversation on the inherent difficulty in quantifying the value of buying, shopping, and sourcing local. Shownotes: Connects Columbus Celebrate Local Steiner and Associates ECDI episode ...

Stop asking why and start asking how. That’s the lesson from comedians Amber Falter and Brian Doney. We talk this week about the Columbus comedy scene, how they work, and their current tour. Shownotes Brian Doney Shrunken Head Whiskey Bear Comedy Shadowbox Live Hashtag Comedy Big thank you to our sponsor this week, Art Makes Columbus Columbus Makes Art. The post Comedy in Columbus appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

Get a breakdown of the local election issues and candidates before going to the polls. Shownotes: Columbus Voted Bond Issues Columbus City Schools Levy COTA Levy The post Fall 2016 Local Election Preview appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

We’ve talked about what it’s like to run your own business and be an entrepreneur. But what if you’re just getting started? This week, representatives from ECDI talk about how they help businesses get going and the financing options that they have available. Our first interview is with Founder & CEO Inna Kinney, who shares the story of ECDI and talks about the classes, assistance, and programs that they offer to entrepreneurs. The second interview is with ECDI President Steve Fireman who talks ...

Columbus is home to the nation’s largest resident theater company, Shadowbox Live. Meta-performer Amy Lay sits down to talk about her craft, the importance of play, and why she chose Columbus. Shownotes: Shadowbox Gallery of Echoes The fourth wall David Mack Big thank you to our sponsor this week, Art Makes Columbus Columbus Makes Art. The post Shadowbox’s Amy Lay appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

There are three things that matter in real estate: location, location, location. While that adage is true, there are a couple more things to know about the Columbus real estate market. In this week’s episode, we are talking with Marc Conte from the Downtown Special Improvement District to talk about the real estate landscape in Downtown — how it changed, how it’s growing, and why we have some catching up to do. After that, we have an in-depth conversation with local realtor Joe Peffer on the in...

Starting a business isn’t easy. Truly knowing your role in it is harder. Compton Construction CEO Blake Compton talks about the lifecycle of being a business owner and the virtue of coaches and mentors. Shownotes: Brexton Construction Columbus Building and Zoning Services Columbus Area Commissions Columbus Small Business Concierge Proposal for Pavey Square | Current Pavey Square Plan Columbus Land Bank Mastermind Groups Vistage Group Big thank you to our sponsor this week Best Bites: Burgers,...

How do you take your coffee? You sure? We sat down with two roasters, Crimson Cup and Brioso Coffee, to talk about what makes a good cup of coffee, a bad cup of coffee, fair trade, and a little about running a small business. Shownotes: Specialty Coffee Association of America Coffee Quality Institute Crimson Cup Innovation Lab Seven Steps to Success The Columbus Coffee Experience Big thank you to our sponsors this week, Crimson Cup and Destination Donuts. The post Coffee Talk appeared first o...

How can students be empowered? The Dick & Jane Project thinks they have a solution: songwriting. Their literacy program partners middle school students with professional musicians to create radio-ready songs; and a little confidence in the process. Shownotes: Dick & Jane Week The songs Maza Blaska didi Betsy Ross The post The Dick & Jane Project appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

How can we make Columbus a true hub for visual art? We tackle that and more with artist and educator Bryan Christopher Moss in this week’s episode, recorded live at Independents’ Day. Shownotes: Donks CCAD Billy Ireland Cartoon Research Library Wexner Center for the Arts Columbus Museum of Art Pages Program Leap Before You Look: Black Mountain College Jeff Smith Aminah Robinson Big thank you to our sponsor this week, Julep. Get tickets to their sneak preview party here. The post Artist Bryan ...

Formerly known as AIDS Resource Center Ohio, Equitas Health is a state-wide organization that seeks to be the gateway to good health for those at risk of or affected by HIV/AIDS, for the LGBTQ community, and for those seeking a welcoming healthcare home. We sat down with Bill Hardy, president and CEO, to discuss the history of the organization, its evolution, what it does, and get details on their bi-annual benefit, Art for Life. Shownotes: Equitas Health Art for Life Aspire Fenway Health Whit...

When a group of people that are dedicated to making Columbus awesome get together you get a festival with more than just beers and bands. Independents’ Day, coming up September 17th and 18th in Franklinton, puts the creative spirit of Columbus on display. Organizers Adam Brouillette and Patrick Locy talk about the festival’s origins, evolution, and why they do it. Shownotes: Independents’ Day Zones Vendors Spotify playlist Volunteer opportunities BlockFort Franklinton 400 West Rich Columbus ...

It was not a good summer for movies. That’s according to Hope Madden, Columbus Underground’s movie reviewer who, in anticipation of the unofficial end of the summer movie season, talks this week about the dearth of big-budget films that came out this season and a couple of gems that are worth your time. Also on tap this week, a short interview with John Daugherty, the Executive Director of the Columbus Film Commission. We talk about the commission, what it does, what it doesn’t do, and how we c...

What’s it like to own a restaurant and what drives people to do it? This week, we sat down with two restauranteurs with very different perspectives. First up, Sangeeta Lakhani, co-owner of The Table who speaks from her perspective on dealing with customers, employees, and the city. Then, an interview with Joe Deloss, founder and head fryer of Hot Chicken Takeover (currently the reigning Best Food Truck in Columbus), who talks a bit about chicken but primarily focuses on his human resources mode...

People like the idea of living without a car. Why don’t they? This week’s episode has it’s foundation in an interview Cleve Ricksecker, the executive director of the two Downtown Special Improvement Districts (SID). We discuss SIDs, commuter culture in Columbus, and have a frank discussion about the race and class lines here. Cleve’s passion for a transit-based lifestyle inspired us to also sit-down with two carless Columbusites: Jacob Taylor and Zach Henkel. Resources: downtowncolumbus.com ...

The creative amalgam that is Counterfeit Madison inspires many in Columbus. We talk about her upcoming show, how the show came to be, how Counterfeit Madison came to be, the Columbus music scene, and other things around town that you should be checking out. Resources: What Happened Miss Simone on Netflix Nina, the Nina Simone biopic Counterfeit Madison Meets Nina Simone: A Celebration of Blackness Soul Dope Music Festival Chip Willis Steam Kitchen Mary Lynn Gloeckle Columbus Gay Mens’ Chorus...

How do you rebuild after you lose everything? We sit down with Robert Grimmett, the founder and CEO of Robert Mason Company, to discuss day-to-day operations, how Robert Mason got started, how it evolved, and how it was rebuilt after a shocking loss. Big thank you to our sponsor this week, Best Bites: Tacos on Aug 18th. Tickets on sale now. The post Robert Mason Company appeared first on The Confluence Cast.