Bridging The Gap

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Dr. Teri Formanek, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the hand and upper extremity, who sees patients through Madison County Memorial Hospital in Winterset and in Greenfield. Dr. Formanek shares how a farm kid who started in business ended up in orthopedics, why he traded big city...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Megan Barrett about two Covered Bridge Festival favorites: the Kids Zone and the Sunday parade. Megan shares how the Kids Zone moved indoors to The Warehouse on 2nd (included with festival admission), why the corn box never gets old, what families can expect from yard games and a walk...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jared McDonald, Director of the Madison County Historical Complex (History on the Hill), to preview what visitors will find just south of the Covered Bridge Festival grounds. Jared walks through the free museum weekend, the Civil War reenactment and encampment, horse and wagon rides,...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jennifer Frease of the Covered Bridge Festival Committee to preview Madison County's signature October weekend on the Winterset courthouse square. Jennifer shares how a childhood cider booth turned into years of volunteering and vendor planning, what it takes to welcome more than...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Pat Riley, founder of Rainbow Restoration of South Central Iowa in Winterset. Pat shares how a farm kid turned flooring manager built a full service restoration company after the 2008 downturn, why rural communities need local disaster recovery, and what it means to help neighbors aft...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Megan Barrett of the Madison County Foundation for Community Arts. Megan shares how the foundation promotes music, dance, theater, film, and more across Madison County, why strong arts opportunities matter alongside sports and recreation, and how a new community concert series is abou...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Dr. Jason Phelps of Winterset Dental. Jason shares how an Indiana kid found his way through dental school, landed in a small community health center, then built a life and practice in Winterset with partner Dr. James Elliot. They talk root canals and implants, same day crowns, dental...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast, where Madison County's stories and businesses connect. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Carly Wearmouth of Revival Wellness + Weight Loss, a nurse practitioner and Winterset native whose cash-pay clinic on the east side of the square treats obesity, hormone health, and the whole person. In this episode, we cover:...

Fly Iowa

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce podcast, where Madison County's stories and businesses connect. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Brandy and Tamara Bane of You Can't Be Serious, Winterset friends whose road trips, humor, and kindness have become a bright spot for our community and for people they meet along the way. In this episode, we cover: • How B...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Tony Jacobson, owner of Pieceworks Quilt Shop, to explore creativity, craftsmanship, and how a small shop on the Winterset square became a destination for quilters from around the world. From a childhood spent learning to quilt...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Cole, Youth Services Librarian at the Winterset Public Library, to explore how the library has grown into a true community hub, far beyond just checking out books. From weekly story time and the Library of Things to hand...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Hayden Johnson, AmeriCorps member serving with Madison County Conservation, to explore youth environmental education, the wildlife and habitat that make our parks special, and what a year of service looks like from the inside....

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Wade, Chair of the Friends of Winterset Parks and Recreation, and Linda Smith, local historian and member of the planning committee, to explore the story behind Clark Tower and the community effort to celebrate its 100th...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Naven, Madison County Extension Director, and Lindsay, 4-H Coordinator, of ISU Extension and Outreach, to explore 4-H, county fair preparation, and the youth programming that shapes the next generation of leaders in Madi...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Rod Beam, Adjutant of American Legion Post 184 in Winterset, to explore what it means to serve veterans and the community for over five decades. From the Legion's founding pillars to the Madison County Freedom Rock, Rod sha...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Clinton and Kelly Echelman, market managers of the Madison County Farmers Market and owners of Cedar Shake Farm, to explore how a community gathering space, local entrepreneurship, and a passion for fresh produce have transform...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Kayla Reynolds, treasurer of the Madison County Fairboard, to talk about what makes the Madison County Fair such a special tradition and what visitors can expect when the fair returns this year. Now in her 14th year on the boar...

Welcome to  Bridging the Gap , the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Jared McDonald, Museum Director of the Madison County Historical Complex, to explore the stories, artifacts, and historic places that help preserve the rich history of Madison County, Iowa. From historic buildings and rare ar...

Welcome to  Bridging the Gap , the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Lierhof, founder of BTWI (Bits of Technology Wireless Internet), to hear the story of how a lack of internet access in rural Iowa led to the creation of a company that now serves communities across central Iowa. What s...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Katie Sparks of The Bakery Unlimited in Winterset, Iowa. Katie shares the inspiring journey of this beloved family business that has been serving the community for over 41 years. From its unexpected beginnings to becoming a mus...

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with longtime community leader, small business owner, and former Ben Franklin owner Dave Trask to talk about the history, growth, and future of Madison County, Iowa. Dave shares stories from nearly five decades of running a hometown...

Here’s a polished SEO-friendly YouTube description for this episode:Welcome to Bridging the Gap, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Melody Reels, Director of the Iowa Quilt Museum in Winterset, Iowa, to explore the incredible world of quilting, creativity, history, and storytelling. From an...

John Wayne Birthplace & Museum Story | Hollywood History in Winterset, IowaWelcome to *Bridging the Gap*, the Madison County Chamber podcast, where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Brian Downes, Executive Director of the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum in Winterset, Iowa. Brian shares the incredible story behind one of Iowa’...

Welcome to  Bridging the Gap , the Madison County Chamber podcast—where local stories, businesses, and community connections come together. In this episode, we sit down with Tim Nelson of the Wallace Centers of Iowa to explore the incredible legacy of the Wallace family and how their impact on agriculture, science, education, and community still shapes Iowa today. From the origins of Pioneer and H...