Small Towns: Unscripted

From the Seattle Mariners dugout to building a business and raising a family in Lake Chelan! On this episode of Small Towns Unscripted, Russ McClellan and Nicole Turner sit down with Joe Plouf and his nine-year-old daughter, Avery, for a fun and heartfelt conversation about family, baseball, business, and finding a place to call home. Joe grew up in Bothell, Washington, and spent six years working...

Everyone has an opinion about the real estate market. But how much of what we're hearing is reality, and how much is simply perception? In this episode of Small Towns: Unscripted, we sit down for an unfiltered conversation about what's really happening in North Central Washington real estate, from Lake Chelan and Manson to Wenatchee, Entiat, and beyond. We tackle the question everyone se...

Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted! Well, Nicole, here we are — 100 episodes! When we started this podcast, I'm not sure either of us knew exactly where it would take us, but it's been quite a ride! We've shared some great stories, had a lot of laughs, tackled some controversial subjects, and met some incredible people along the way. And to everyone who's watched, listened,...

What happens when you follow your curiosity, embrace life's unexpected turns, and discover that your greatest passions were never part of the original plan? Join Russ McClellan and Nicole Turner for Episode #96 of Small Towns Unscripted as they sit down with chef, musician, and creative entrepreneur Justin Araya to explore his journey from Southern California to the small-town communities of...

Today on Small Towns Unscripted, we have the privilege of sitting down with a gentleman who has lived through nearly a century of American history, witnessed incredible changes in our world, and, perhaps most importantly, helped shape the lives of generations of young people right here in the Lake Chelan Valley. Mr. Ron Huffer will celebrate his 98th birthday next month, on November 16th. Born in...

Today on Small Towns Unscripted, Nicole and I sit down with someone who brings an incredible amount of optimism, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit to the Lake Chelan Valley, David Donovick. David is the owner of TLC Marine, a business he purchased from longtime owners Tony and Liz Hawkins and that will celebrate 30 years in business next year. But what makes David’s story so interesting is that h...

On this episode of Small Towns Unscripted, Nicole and I sit down with 25-year-old Jake Lodwig, a young entrepreneur who has called the Chelan and Manson area home since he was eight years old. Jake graduated from Manson High School, and like a lot of young people, his path after graduation wasn’t exactly a straight line. He considered getting his real estate license, spent some time pursuing model...

On this episode of Small Towns Unscripted, Nicole and I sit down with Mark and Tami Garvin and their daughter, Lexi Garvin-Sargent, the family behind Tipsy Canyon Winery in Manson. This episode also has a special personal connection for me. Lexi is married to Ryan Sargent, the son of one of my very good friends, “Everyone’s Bud” Bill Sargent. I've known the Sargent family for years, so gettin...

In this episode of Real Estate: Unscripted on Small Towns: Unscripted, Russ McClellan and Nicole Turner dive into the real-world factors shaping the local real estate market across Chelan County and North Central Washington. From the immediate economic and tourism impacts of wildfire season to the growing complexities of homeowner’s insurance and appraisal challenges, Russ and Nicole break down wh...

She couldn't have known then that the place she discovered as a 19-year-old would eventually become such an important part of her life. Mary Lynn went on to work her way through the University of Washington, earning a bachelor's degree with a double major in Communications and English. Professionally, she built a career around something she seems to have always understood naturally—bring...

There are certain people who don't simply live in a community—they help shape what that community becomes. And today on Small Towns Unscripted, we have the privilege of sitting down with one of those people. Dr. Bob Jankelson’s story begins on an original Washington family homestead, where he and his twin brother were raised by their grandmother without running water or indoor plumbing. It wa...

Today on Small Towns Unscripted, we’re sitting down with someone whose story is really about family, resilience, gratitude, and finding your way back home. Our guest is Ryan Peterson, who, along with his wife, owns and operates one of Lake Chelan’s longtime restaurant institutions — the Apple Cup Cafe. Ryan was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, and moved around the country quite a bit as a kid. His...

There are some stories about Lake Chelan that can only be told by the people whose families lived them. On this episode of Small Towns Unscripted, we sit down with lifelong Lake Chelan orchardist Tom Burnett, along with returning guest Bub Watson, to reminisce about growing up, farming, raising families and adapting to generations of change along Lake Chelan’s South Shore and Twenty-Five Mile Cree...

Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. Today's conversation is a special one for me, and a little more personal. I'm sitting down with Lorene “Renee” McClellan and her daughter, Linda McClellan, to talk about family, orchards, and a lifetime of history here in the Chelan and Manson area. Renee comes from a generational Quincy-area family. Her father passed away when she was just two yea...

Welcome to a brand-new monthly segment of Small Towns Unscripted called Real Estate Unscripted with Nicole Turner and me. Before we jump into real estate, it's worth talking about why Small Towns Unscripted exists in the first place. After losing both of my parents in 2020 and 2021, I realized how quickly stories can disappear. Every person has a unique journey, and I wanted to create somethi...

Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. I'm Russ McClellan, alongside my co-host Nicole Turner. Today we're joined by Ryan Allen, a young entrepreneur whose story is proof that success isn't determined by age—it's determined by initiative, work ethic, and having the courage to simply get started. Born in Wenatchee and raised in the Lake Chelan Valley, Ryan graduated from Chelan...

Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. I'm Russ McClellan, alongside my co host, Nicole Turner. Today we're joined by Erin Gavin, a third generation Chelan native whose family has deep roots in the history of the Lake Chelan Valley. On his father's side, Erin's grandfather, Wilbur "Babe" Gavin, purchased the Lake Chelan Mirror in 1937 after working for the Cashmere V...

Episode 82 of Small Towns Unscripted features one of our most fascinating and meaningful conversations yet as Nicole and I sit down with Kellen Jones, a 37 year old Manson native, father of two daughters, self published author, and counseling student at Grand Canyon University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Counseling. Kellen is the great grandson of Bill Evans, one of the most respected and we...

This week on Small Towns Unscripted, Russ McClellan and Nicole Turner welcome Erik Cooper, owner and winemaker of Vibe Cellars, one of the most talked-about boutique wineries in downtown Manson, Washington, just minutes from Lake Chelan. If you've searched for Vibe Cellars, Lake Chelan wineries, wine tasting in Manson, or the best wineries to visit in Chelan wine country, this episode tells t...

Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. I'm Russ McClellan. One of the things I enjoy most about this podcast is the opportunity to sit down with people whose life experiences provide a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our communities. Today's guest is Thomas Tupling. Born in Chelan and raised in Mansfield as part of a multi generational farming family, Thoma...

On this episode of Small Towns Unscripted, Russ McClellan and Nicole Turner sit down with a true pillar of the Manson and Lake Chelan Valley community — Doug England. Doug graduated from Manson High School in 1965 and has spent a lifetime helping shape the future of agriculture, local government, and the community he calls home. From serving 45 years as Manager of Manson Growers to serving three t...

Norm Manly has spent a lifetime serving others—first on the water, then in the community. Born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, Norm's love for the maritime industry began as a young boy riding tugboats with his father, Harry Manly, a tugboat captain. After graduating from Wilson High School in 1961, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a Quartermaster aboard a minesweeper during the early ye...

Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. I’m Russ McClellan, alongside Nicole Turner, and today’s conversation may be one of the most important we’ve had yet because the apple industry truly is the heart and soul of our valley. Today we sit down with Jared England, President of Manson Growers and a fifth-generation member of a family whose roots in the Lake Chelan Valley date back to the late 1800s...

From East Coast roots to the vineyards of the Lake Chelan Valley, Don and Judy Phelps have lived a life shaped by hard work, reinvention, family, science, and a willingness to adapt through changing times. Don grew up in rural New Hampshire in a large family of ten children, with 24 years separating the oldest and youngest siblings. His parents carried the mindset and work ethic forged during the...

Marty Morris’ story is deeply tied to the history and transformation of Manson and the Lake Chelan Valley. Born in Chelan in 1949, Marty came from humble beginnings rooted in the old “fruit tramp” era of the American West. His father, a fur trapper from Nebraska, and his mother from South Dakota traveled the country following seasonal agricultural work before eventually settling in the Chelan Vall...