Isn't It Lovely? Podcast

Make way for BIG Tracy and Rachel energy in this episode as they are completely honored and wildly enthused to be joined by Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum. Chief Thum brings his signature character and integrity to the conversation as he discusses a worldview and a law enforcement approach that is both empathetic and respectful and one that seeks to restore dignity of all parties involved. Alon...

Tracy and Rachel are honored to sit down with Emmy Award-winning journalist and devoted mother Angela Kennecke for a deeply moving conversation about her beautiful daughter Emily and the extraordinary light she brought to the world. A radiant light with the tender heart and sensitive spirit of an artist, Emily embraced and celebrated each day, until her life was tragically cut short by fentanyl po...

Rachel and Tracy catapult into Season 4 by welcoming Kerri Tietgen, CEO of EmBe (formerly Sioux Falls’ YWCA), to the podcast for a powerful conversation encompassing everything from being a “student of stories and people” to transforming a community. Kerri discusses growing up in a family that modeled identifying community needs and creating impactful solutions, and also shares the inspiration she...

It’s three cheers for the red, white, and blue as Tracy and Rachel welcome favorite Patriot (and future President!) Luke Lindberg to the podcast for a conversation about public service, mentorship, and faith. Christened by one of his own mentors as “driven, but not competitive”, Luke discusses the importance of partnering with and investing in others to achieve maximum positive impact and shares h...

Grab a coffee or a glass of wine, your current Kindle read or favorite paperback, and pull up a chair - it’s time for Season 3’s BONUS episode: a book club party of four as Tracy and Rachel welcome real life book group soulmates and resident bibliophiles Ashley Holen and Alli Veldhouse to discuss their shared passion for all things literary, covering everything from reading as self-care (and how t...

“We just commit to actually doing it and somehow a lot of these things have come to life.” Two local masters of creativity, business owners, and fellow podcasters, Vaney Hariri and Alana Snyder join Rachel and Tracy for this uproarious episode that hits as somewhat of a whimsical love letter to South Dakota. Friends and co-hosts of the 605 Show, Alana and Vaney muse over how and when they became c...

“I believe that life is full of hard stuff and you can either shy away from it…or you can lean into it.” A few months ago, the Isn’t it Lovely? podcast put forth a call on Instagram asking for suggestions for future guests. Many wonderful nominations were submitted, but requests to hear from Sioux Falls-based award-winning teacher, mother, and friend Alison (Ali) Ter Horst won by a landslide. Coin...

“I realize that the more people that you can befriend that are going in the same direction as you … you move faster together.” Respected and adored Sioux Falls-based photographer, business owner, and photography mentor/coach Ashley Buckley captivates Rachel and Tracy in this energetic episode with her inclusive and inspiring business (and life!) model. As an entrepreneur, wife, mother of four, and...

Following a years-long love affair with Look’s Marketplace, an iconic Sioux Falls institution, Rachel and Tracy are elated to welcome co-owner Nick Heineman to the podcast to discuss the history, values, and other behind the scenes tidbits of this beloved market. Nick shares how, together with his fellow owner (and cousin!) Beau Vondra, they assembled a talented team and expanded the business from...

Tracy and Rachel are thrilled to kick off Season 3 of the podcast by welcoming Kaylee Koch to the studio for a candid conversation about the life-changing power of a faith journey. Kaylee shares how a more personal relationship with God transformed the way she sees herself, her relationships, and her life. Through her story she encourages listeners that they can love themselves because they were c...

In this light, fun, and supersized bonus episode, Rachel and Tracy throwback to the 80’s and 90’s featuring special guest and pop culture expert Adam Norenberg! Adam and Rachel proudly sing the concluding lines of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song, while Tracy reveals the life-changing moment she discovered Degrassi Junior High in her middle school health class. Rachel acknowledges her u...

In the penultimate episode of Season 2, Tracy and Rachel are thrilled to sit down for a long-awaited conversation with national business owner, philanthropist, and dear friend, Rory Kelly. After being christened a “local folk hero” less than a minute into the recording session, Rory delves into his past, sharing the pivotal moments and life lessons that led him to embrace faith, family, and a pass...

Tracy and Rachel feel like they are at a comedy show as they sit across from a true power couple, Tim and Megan Meagher. Tim and Megan walk us all through the many twists and turns of how they met and how they eventually became co-owners of Vanguard Hospitality — a group that owns some of the most well-known and beloved restaurants in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Rachel fangirls over Tim’s time as a...

After becoming fast friends during a professional consultation in which he gently informed Tracy and Rachel that they were using their microphones completely wrong, musician and producer Scott Jibben visits the podcast to share how he transformed his lifelong passion for music into a career that includes writing and producing original material, as well as founding and running the Pulse River Recor...

Tracy and Rachel feel as though they are on holy ground as they welcome Call to Freedom founder Becky Rasmussen to the studio for a life-changing conversation about providing healing, restoration, and empowerment to victims and survivors of human trafficking. Becky shares the many tremendous ways Call to Freedom fights for the vulnerable and, with grace and empathy, offers education and encouragem...

Tracy and Rachel welcome local children’s book author Ashley Flynn to the podcast for a conversation about her experiences balancing multiple career opportunities with her growing family, a journey that led to the inspiration for her first book, My Favorite Job is You, a love letter to mothers everywhere. Ashley discusses the creative ways she carved out time in her busy schedule to write and shar...

Tracy and Rachel are thrilled to welcome dear friend and honorary life coach Laura Santos to the podcast. Laura shares what led to her family’s decision to homeschool and pulls back the curtain on the highs and occasional lows of a home-centered lifestyle choice. Laura acknowledges the superpower that is a supportive and egalitarian partner, as well as the agency her children have in their educati...

Despite the technical equipment repeatedly crashing, Rachel and Tracy share a mic and sit across from Becky Weber as she discusses her personal experience with mental health, antidepressants and the intersection of it all with faith, marriage, relationships, and parenting. This raw, beautiful, and practical conversation sheds light on what it is like to grapple with depression and how to be suppor...

There is no shortage of laughter in this conversation as Rachel and Tracy spend a morning with Raena Rasmussen discussing her drive and energy as she runs multiple businesses, dances in all stages of life, and nurtures a beautiful family. Raena discusses friendship within business partnerships. Leotards are mentioned an inordinate number of times. Rachel and Tracy openly wonder if it’s too late fo...

Rachel and Tracy are thrilled to welcome Charlie and Carrie Sanders to the podcast for an uplifting, hopeful conversation focused on identity, reconciliation, and the power of empathy. Rachel says the word “beautiful” approximately 97 times and ponders purchasing a thesaurus. Tracy and Carrie press into the importance of questions, education, and “getting outside of ourselves’ as “we’re here toget...

TW: This episode discusses infertility, pregnancy loss, and infant loss. Tracy and Rachel spend a morning listening to the incredible life story of Megan Bartel. Rachel passes around tissues; Tracy uses the term “high lows” and realizes she needs speech lessons. Megan discusses how she survived childhood cancer, as well as her grief process after the loss of her baby boy Briar Steven just weeks be...

Hours before they catch a flight home to Colorado, Jimmy and Lauren Masters detail the years in the making love story of becoming adoptive parents to their youngest son. Rachel and Tracy join Jimmy in agreement that Lauren is the best; Jimmy and Lauren detail their individual journeys to saying “yes” to fostering and then watching as, “God penned the story.” From getting the initial call about a b...

Tracy and Rachel welcome sisters and entrepreneurs Kayla Thompson and Erin Rallis of Marie and Marie Bridal for a conversation about pursuing dreams and goals, finding balance, and creating a beautiful and meaningful client experience. Kayla and Erin praise their supportive families and honor each other’s strengths; Tracy and Rachel make 90’s references and consider buying wedding dresses for thei...

Palpable joy, energy, and passion permeate the studio as Rachel and Tracy welcome Gretchen Shafer to the show. Gretchen shares her love for the country and people of Haiti, as well as her journey with cancer and how both transformed her perception of motherhood and life. Rachel submits her wish to crown Gretchen Prom Queen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Gretchen details how her trips to Haiti began...

Tracy and Rachel welcome pastor and author Adam Weber for a conversation about authenticity, vulnerability, and empathy. Adam encourages us to love intentionally and embrace brokenness and kindness; Tracy and Rachel fangirl over his wife Becky and extol the groundbreaking virtues of…coffee. Episode Mentions: Website: adamweber.com Instagram: instagram.com/adamaweber/ Love Has a Name: Learning to L...