ThriveIN Wabash County

There's a new face leading the  Wabash County YMCA —and he's also one of the newest residents of Wabash County. Steven Stanfield recently stepped into the role of CEO of the Wabash County YMCA, bringing with him a new perspective, new ideas, and a fresh set of eyes on both the YMCA and the community it serves. On this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, Adam sits down with Steven to get to know the...

What happens when you've spent decades putting a value on Wabash County? Host  Alex Downard  sits down with  Bob and Kristi Lundquist , a husband-and-wife power couple who have spent decades working in real estate and appraisals and building a business rooted right here in Wabash County. Bob and Kristi have had a front-row seat to an industry that looks dramatically different today than when t...

Christine shares the studio with Cam and Katie Beauchamp and their adorable 6-month-old son, Miles, for a conversation about what it really means to call a place home. For Cam and Katie, Wabash County is more than somewhere they live—it’s somewhere they are intentionally building a life. They share their story of starting a family, finding connection in their community, and discovering the differe...

Why Not Here? — How One Game of Pickleball Sparked a Bigger Idea On this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, Adam sits down with Tim McLaughlin to talk about his connection to North Manchester, raising a family in the community, his involvement in the Manchester Chamber, owning The North Manchester News-Journal, career with Thorne Insurance, and the many ways he has chosen to get involved. They als...

What started as a dream is becoming a $18.7 million reality in Wabash County. In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Alex takes Christine and Adam behind the vision for the  Canal Street Artist Collective ; what it is, why it matters, and how the project has progressed from an idea to a transformative development. Christine and Adam ask the “nosey” questions everyone else is wondering: How d...

What happens when the person who once needed a second chance becomes the person helping others find theirs? On this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Alex sits down with  Melissa Campbell , whose personal journey from a life marked by struggle and addiction to active recovery has given her a powerful perspective on helping others rebuild their lives. Today, Melissa works with inmates in Wabash...

Volunteerism, community spirit, and giving back are values that can be passed from one generation to the next. In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Christine sits down with Billy, Crystal and 16-year-old Gavin Lester to talk about their family’s commitment to the community they call home. The Lesters share why they choose to get involved, volunteer and invest their time and talents in Waba...

What started as a fun way of celebrating a 50th birthday amongst friends has grown into one of Wabash County's signature annual events. In this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, hosts Adam Stakeman and Christine Flohr welcome two men who were there from the very beginning—Bill Rauh and Mike Paul. Sixteen years ago, a small group of cyclists set out to celebrate Bill's 50th birthday with a...

What happens when two college students spend their summer living, working, and investing in a community they barely knew? In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Christine sits down with  Rosalyn Knauer (Manchester University)  and  Amelia Glosson (Grace College) , two college students serving as Visit Wabash County interns through the  Wabash County Fellowship Program . Together, they reflec...

Ever wonder what happens after the hosts stop talking and the microphones are turned off? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, Alex, Adam, and Christine turn the tables and sit down with ThriveIN Podcast Producer, Kim Morrow. Kim shares how she found her way into the world of podcast production and editing, what she enjoys most about helping tell local stories, and what it's really like...

On this episode of ThriveIN, Alex sits down with fellow podcaster Nate Spangle, host of the Get IN podcast, for a conversation about Indiana, small-town life, and the stories that make communities thrive. Nate shares what first inspired his passion for exploring Indiana's cities, towns, and hidden treasures, and how that passion eventually led to the creation of Get IN. Along the way, he refle...

For more than 50 years, Dave Phillips has been a trusted pastor, mentor, chaplain, coach, and friend to countless people throughout Wabash County. Dave served as Senior Pastor of Wabash Friends Church from 1975 to 2010 and continued serving part-time through 2023. During his ministry, he helped launch community-impacting programs, including the Access Youth Center, Life Center, 85 HOPE, and Friend...

What happens when young adults choose a path that doesn’t come with a roadmap? In this episode of the ThriveIN Podcast, Adam sits down with Erin McGouldrick and Owen Stakeman — two young adults who graduated from local high schools and chose unconventional journeys in search of purpose, growth, and perspective. Erin shares her experience thru-hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and the lessons lea...

What does it look like when healthcare goes beyond treating illness and begins investing in the well-being of an entire community? In this episode of  ThriveIN , Christine sits down with Lori Augustus , Executive Director of Southeast Operations,  and  Kari Adams, Practice Administrator  of Bowen Health, to explore the organization's remarkable journey—from its beginnings in the 1960s to its b...

In this special hosts-only episode, Alex Downard, Adam Stakeman, and Christine Flohr take a break from interviewing guests and spend time catching up with each other—and with you. The trio shares some BIG personal and professional updates, reflects on lessons learned from the incredible guests they've welcomed to the podcast, and discusses how those conversations have challenged, inspired, and...

On this episode of the ThriveIN Wabash County Podcast, Alex sits down with Adam Penrod, the Town Manager of North Manchester. Adam’s heart for his town and the people who call it home shines through in the way he leads and serves each day. Rooted in a strong work ethic that began on his family’s dairy farm — which is still in operation today — Adam shares how hands-on learning, faith in community,...

ThriveIN Host Christine sits down with Judge Benjamin Vanderpool, Judge Robert McCallen, and Probation Officer Abby Schuler for a meaningful conversation about the purpose and positive impact of  Problem Solving Court  within our local judicial system. Together, they discuss how the program first began, the vision behind it, and how it works to support individuals who are seeking a second chance a...

Golf courses are about more than scorecards — they’re about community and for Etna Acres, FAMILY. In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Adam Stakeman sits down with Devin and JoDee Dale, the owners of  Etna Acres Golf Course , to talk about family, entrepreneurship, and the legacy of a small-town golf course. The Dales share the story behind Etna Acres, what it takes to operate a seasonal b...

On this episode of the ThriveIN Podcast, Alex sits down with Wabash High School’s 2026 Valedictorian, Victoria Koselke, and Salutatorian, Andrea Stout, to talk about what it’s like growing up and graduating in a small community like Wabash. Victoria and Andrea reflect on the relationships, opportunities, and experiences that shaped their high school journey while sharing gratitude for the teachers...

On this episode of ThriveIN, Alex sits down with Teresa Galley, Executive Director of the Wabash County Museum, to explore a journey that turned into a calling. From her early days on the Southwood High School Speech Team, serving as an educational outreach program director, to leading the way in museum operations, Teresa’s heart for Wabash County shines brilliantly. She shares how she stepped int...

What started with a plane ticket to Missouri turned into a life built on partnership, purpose, and entrepreneurship for Kyle and Aubrey Williams. In this episode of the ThriveIN Wabash County Podcast, Christine sits down with the duo to explore their journey—from their early days together to the many ventures they’ve built along the way. From a glass bottle business to real estate, construction, d...

What role do parks play in building a thriving community? In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Adam Stakeman sits down with Adam Hall, Superintendent of  Wabash City Parks , to discuss the vision and work behind Wabash’s green spaces. They cover the impact of local parks on quality of life, economic development, and public health, along with current improvements and future plans for the pa...

In this episode of  ThriveIN , Alex and Adam take calls from rural sociologists  Tim Slack  and  Shannon Monnat  to discuss their recent article,  “Six Myths About Rural America.” For years, rural communities have been shaped by simplified — and often inaccurate — narratives about politics, poverty, opportunity, and decline. Dr. Slack and Dr. Monnat break down six of the most common myths and expl...

Alex and guest co-host Conner Hindman sit down with James Davis, owner of Creedence Contracting, LLC, for a conversation about business, craftsmanship, faith, and family. Based in Northern Indiana, Creedence Contracting is built on the belief that quality work and strong relationships go hand in hand. From custom homes and barndominiums to post-frame buildings, additions, garages, concrete work, r...

Hosts Adam and Christine are joined by C athy Gatchel, Chief Development Officer of Honeywell Arts & Entertainment, along with Ranaan Meyer, Artistic Director of Honeywell Arts Academy, and Emily Meyer, Director of Honeywell Arts Academy,  for an episode dedicated to shining a light on the Honeywell Arts Academy. Discover the origins of the Academy, hear about its unique approach to mentorship...