The Local Exchange Podcast

Justin Davis has spent his life playing, promoting, and spreading music. From performing as Davis Unplugged across Northwest Ohio to organizing community events, he has dedicated himself to keeping live music alive and accessible. In this episode of The Local Exchange, we sit down with Justin to talk about the journey that brought him here, from his roots in the Delphos/Ottoville area and time in...

Episode 31: Carl Taylor – Lima Bean Chorus Carl Taylor has spent most of his life in barbershop and men’s singing groups and picked up multiple contest wins along the way. He talks about the Lima Beane Chorus, the Lima chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society that has been together since 1946, four-part harmony, life on the risers, and what it takes to keep that sound alive. He also my first gues...

Jeff Givan is a first-time candidate for the Ohio House in District 78, which covers Allen County and part of northern Auglaize County. He is a co-founder of the Lima Pride Alliance. We talk about how the Ohio House works, school funding, healthcare, and why he decided to run. https://jeffgivan4ohio.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JeffGivan4ohio

Matt is back on The Local Exchange. We start with a little Shawnee football, then get into recent issues around Shawnee Schools. After that we talk through where things stand after the first round of the Chief Austin Miller hearing. The Local Exchange Where Northwest Ohio Comes to Talk

Lew Modic is the Democratic candidate for Allen County Commissioner, running against incumbent Brian Winegardner in the November 3, 2026 general election. In this episode of The Local Exchange, Lew talks about what a county commissioner actually does, why he’s running, and the issues he says matter most for Allen County families: jobs, schools, population loss, and getting the county, city, and to...

Episode 27: Joe Wassink – LifeWise, Faith, and the Lifewise 5K In this episode of The Local Exchange , Jon sits down with Joe Wassink of Lima, Ohio. Joe serves with ACTS / TV44 and has been deeply involved with LifeWise Academy in Allen County for years. We talk about the upcoming Lifewise 5K and 1K Fun Run, how LifeWise first got started in the area, and what the program actually looks like for l...

In this episode of The Local Exchange , I sit down with Sov Savors — the Lima-area food reviewer who’s been making serious noise across greater Northwest Ohio. We dig into how he chooses the next restaurant, his process for creating high-quality review videos, and what it takes to stay honest while covering local spots. Sov also opens up about his passion and experience as a filmmaker outside of t...

Dalton J. Smith (attorney who was part of the legal team representing Shawnee Township Fire Chief Austin Miller during last year’s proceedings) joins us to discuss the current situation. In this conversation we cover what can be shared publicly about the ongoing investigation and suspension of Fire Chief Austin Miller, where things stand in the process, what may come next, timelines, public disclo...

In this episode, Jon sits down with Jake Eilerman - lifelong Lima resident, Director of Communications at 419 Live, and the man behind the camera who live-streamed the Shawnee Trustee town hall and Chief Miller’s first hearing, bringing vital transparency to the community. Jake recently stepped away from 13 years in stand-up comedy to focus on his next chapter. We dive into his journey on stage an...

Episode 23: Evan Skilliter In this episode, Jon is joined by Matt — back for his first podcast since Episode 17 — as they sit down with Jon’s brother-in-law, Evan Skilliter. Evan is a Bluffton University alumnus, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, and Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at his alma mater in Bluffton, Ohio. Evan shares his insights on the current culture of youth sports in Ame...

A long time ago in a podcast studio not too far away, Jon sat down with Marc Bowker - Lima’s own comic-book store owner, certified Heroic Coach, and real-life superhero of downtown revitalization. In this epic crossover, Marc steps out from behind the counter at Alter Ego Comics (the beloved downtown Lima institution he’s run since 2005) to talk about building a business that’s survived recessions...

In this episode of Local Exchange, we sit down with Stephanie Ernest, a member of the Bath Local School District Board of Education, to talk about the proposed Bath High School project that is going to be on the ballot in May. We discuss how the project came together, the planning process so far, and the role the school board plays in long-term facilities and financial decisions. Stephanie shares...

Matt and I react to the outcome of Chief Austin Miller’s termination hearing, where all charges were dismissed with prejudice. We share our thoughts on what the decision means for the fire department, the township, and the community moving forward. Originally Posted 12/16/2025

Originally posted 12/13/2025 We share our thoughts on the federal lawsuit filed by Shawnee Township Fire Chief Austin Miller and discuss what it could mean for the township, the fire department, and the community. The conversation focuses on potential implications, the legal process, and why the situation matters moving forward.

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Cross, Treasurer of Shawnee Schools, to discuss the financial landscape of the district. We cover the history behind Shawnee’s past deficit spending, the plan now in place to stabilize the budget, and what the community should understand about how school funding works. Chris walks us through the challenges of maintaining aging buildings, the findings of past...

In this episode we sit down with Todd Washam, Vice President of the Shawnee School Board, to discuss the key issues facing Shawnee Schools. We talk about efforts to improve academics, classroom sizes, staffing challenges, the condition of current school facilities, and how the board approaches long-term planning for the district’s future. Originally Posted 11/29/2025

We recap tonight’s emergency meeting regarding Shawnee Township Fire Chief Austin Miller. We walk through what happened, what questions remain, and how this situation may impact the township moving forward. Originally Posted 11/26/2025

In this episode, Matt sits down with Shawnee boys basketball head coach Mark Triplett to cover a wide range of topics, including his approach to the game, the challenges and rewards of developing young players, and what it means to be closing in on becoming the winningest coach in Shawnee history. Coach Triplett reflects on the 25–0 COVID season, leadership in high-pressure moments, and the values...

In this episode of The Local Exchange, Jon and Matt sit down with Kelly Martino, head of fundraising for the Shawnee Stadium Capital Campaign. Kelly shares the history behind the stadium project, how the effort began, and the challenges and teamwork that have kept it moving forward. The conversation covers how people can get involved, the growth of Shawnee’s youth football program, and the many sc...

In this episode of The Local Exchange, Jon and Matt break down the results of the recent Shawnee Township election — with Kenny Gross and Paul Neff set to take office as trustees in January. They look at voting trends, turnout, and how social media engagement stacked up against the final numbers. The conversation also turns toward what’s next for the community, including key questions around the F...

In this episode of Local Exchange, we sit down with Tug Taviano, a long time Lima native, community connector, and event organizer known for bringing people together through faith, music, and service. Tug shares his personal journey, from his early days in the community to building meaningful relationships with athletes, musicians, and community leaders through Unicent Marketing. We talk about the...

In Episode 7 of Local Exchange, we sit down with John Hollenbacher, a Shawnee resident whose family has been deeply involved in local government for generations. John has been an advocate for positive communication, community engagement, and leading with kindness. He talks about his ties to Shawnee, his experience helping organize the recent Town Hall Meeting, and why he believes in the power of c...

In Episode 6, we sit down with Aaron Cunningham, a graduate of Shawnee High School who fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a firefighter. After a lifetime of public service, Aaron is now focused on giving back to his community as a candidate for the Elida School Board. He talks about his family, his commitment to the community, and the issues currently facing the Elida School District. Aaron...

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Schott, a 26-year veteran of the Shawnee Township Fire Department and lifelong resident of Shawnee. Ryan recently retired in July 2025 and joins us to share insights from his decades of experience as a firefighter. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to serve the community, how the department operates day to day, and the challenges of staffin...

In this episode of Local Exchange, we sit down with Mindy Molaski, candidate for Shawnee Township Trustee. Mindy talks about what makes this community special, from friends and family to the Friday night lights that bring everyone together. She shares lessons from her experience working for Shawnee Schools and volunteering for local levy campaigns and explains how those experiences have shaped her...