Let's Talk--with Michele Hardman

What do you get when you put two long-time friends and fellow cavers in a room together? You get lots of fun and interesting stories. That's just part of what you'll learn when you listen to this conversation with Gary Roberson and Gordon Smith, while visiting Cave Country owner Sherri Nail and the gang. Give it a listen.

How much do you know about the Indiana State Festivals Association Scholarship Pageant? Listen to my conversation with the 2023 Queen, Claire Bishop, and hear about her experience and thoughts about the pageant itself, and some of the fun things she's gotten to do while being an ambassador for the association covering the entire state of Indiana. Learn more about Claire, some of her hobbies, h...

In this episode of Out Of The Blue from Cave Country Canoes, we talk with Karen Swartz, President of the Harrison County Historical Society. Karen is a very enthusiastic person who has a true passion for preserving the rich history of the area. The Historical Society received a grant from a couple sources to produce a documentary and a book on the history of the Blue River and the tremendous impac...

Looking for a tranquil weekend getaway out in the country? Away from traffic, crowds, technology, stress, and the everyday demands of life? Look no further than the cozy cabin at Harvest Inn South in the tiny burg of Taswell Indiana. Leann Corbin has everything here you'll need--all bed linens, towels, even some breakfast foods in the frig if you want to cook something quick and easy and not e...

Do you know what a Hellbender is? It's North America's largest salamander, and in the state of Indiana it can only be found in the Blue River....which just happens to run right past Cave Country Canoes in Milltown. In this month's podcast at Cave Country Canoes, I get to talk with Nick Burgmeier, Extension Wildlife Specialist at Purdue University, and learn more about these interesting...

Beautiful downtown Greenfield Indiana springs into action for the annual Riley Festival, running from October 5-8, 2023 this year. Shop from roughly 450 food and craft vendors, listen to live music in different locations throughout the weekend, browse thru the exhibits on photography and the arts, and learn more about the local celebrity that the festival is named after--famed poet James Whitcomb...

Cave Country Canoes is well known for their Summer concert series, and packs in quite a crowd to enjoy a wide variety of music out on the lawn. From classic to modern country, to folk, to psychedelic rock....there's a style that fits everyone here. In this podcast, your host, Michele Hardman, sits down with a couple of local musicians to talk about their music and some of the places they'l...

The fact that the Blue River in southern Indiana has the highest quality rating in the state is pretty impressive in itself, but there are so many other interesting facts and features that go along with it too.  Cassie Hauswald, Director of Freshwater Programs from the Sam Shine Foundation, shared a ton of cool things with us in this podcast.  Such as--some of the breeds of fish that are...

Cave Country Canoes in Milltown is now a woman owned business and continues to grow and improve, adding an ice cream and coffee shop with outdoor seating for the Spring of 2023.  With 700 canoes and kayaks, 8 shuttle buses, live music and a campground, it's the perfect place to relax with nature for a weekend.  Listen to this podcast with Owner Sherri Nail and Manager Tonya Hood as they...

Looking for someplace to relax and chill out?  You need to spend some time in the quaint little river town of Madison Indiana.  The Main Street stretches for several blocks and is packed with locally owned shops and boutiques, yet it still has this laid-back, small town feel to it.  And just a couple of blocks away is the gorgeous River Walk that lets you meander at your own pace al...

I'm on the road quite a bit, both for my writing and for some of my other work, and people are always asking me where I've been or about a particular restaurant I've posted about.  I love to explore the smaller towns and find the locally owned diners and cafes.  The unique shops, the fascinating people.  So after several suggestions from my listeners, I'm starting a travel series of...

You know how some places just make you feel at home?  The atmosphere is peaceful and relaxed.  That's how I feel at the Ramsey Hotel and Convention Center in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.  This was already a nice hotel, but they started a major renovation at the first of 2022, and I stopped back in for a visit in early May to check on the progress.  New furniture, lighting, flooring...

So what all is there to do in Perry County Indiana?  And where is it?  It's in the far southern part of the state, along the Ohio River, and packed with cute boutiques, great restaurants, coffee shops, homemade ice cream, train rides, cabins to rent right along the river, history, and lots of fun events all throughout the year.  Of all of the 9 counties in the state that the massive...

Do you really know what the Chief Deputy does at your Sheriff's Department?  I was lucky to spend some time talking with Gregg Taylor with the Lawrence County Indiana department, and heard about his 25 year career there, his 10 years as their D.A.R.E. Officer, and more.  Take a few minutes and listen to this podcast and learn more about Gregg, and how his love and passion for his job and...

You have lots of options for lodging when you visit Pigeon Forge Tennessee, but not all of them have the welcoming feel of a comfy home like the Ramsey Hotel and Convention Center does.  From the two-sided fireplace and comfortable furniture in the lobby, complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cider, a nice breakfast buffet, indoor swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor firepit, bar, and more,...

Often times there's a cultural stigma with things like mental health issues, domestic violence and Dementia.  People feel uneasy letting anyone know they're struggling with any of these things.  The Rural Dementia Network is making a strong effort to alleviate this by offering free information and assistance to anyone who wants it.  In this podcast conversation, you'll learn signs t...

Did you know there's a beautiful 43 acre park in northern Lawrence County Indiana?  It's located on the former Avoca State Fish Hatchery property, in the small burg of Avoca, and is now being ran by Marshall Township.  Although the fish hatchery is no longer in operation, the park still remains for the public to use.  It's a very tranquil place, with large shade trees, picnic tables...

Did you know that Hoover's Candy Shop has been around in the Bedford, Indiana area since 1908?  Amazing!  After several different owners throughout the years, it's still in the family.  Jenny Purcell and Amanda Childers purchased it at the start of 2021 and have really taken off with it since then.  You may see their food truck at numerous festivals and vendor shows around sout...

So what's the real estate market like in the summer of 2021?  What do you need to do before you even start looking at properties?  How much work and improvements do you really need to do before you list your home for sale?  Can you get pre-qualified for a loan? And what's involved with that?  What can you do if your credit isn't where it need to be?  Hear helpful answers t...

Especially if you live in a more rural area, who are usually the first people to show up when you have any kind of emergency?  Your local volunteer fire department crew is always there long before an ambulance or law enforcement arrives.  They're there for us in all sorts of sickness, health problems, accidents, fires and more, and we all need to be so thankful for their dedication and s...

Are you feeling overwhelmed with all the day-to-day responsibilities of running your business? All the payroll, financials, taxes, and more.         Carla Brock at Brock's Bookkeeping & Tax Service can help take some of that stress off of you.  In this podcast, she'll explain some of the services she offers, which also include Quickbooks consulting....

Chances are, you've heard of Young Living Essential Oils.  But did you know this company also makes a multitude of other daily used products?  Things like shampoo, body lotion, aluminum free deodorant, laundry soap, dog treats, and more.  What makes these any different or better than anything else on the market?  The fact that they're all made from the natural plants and oils t...

There's a fun, high energy fitness studio in Bedford Indiana that you need to check out.  They offer a wide assortment of classes like PiYo (a combination of pilates and yoga), Piloxing (a combination of pilates, boxing and dance), Pound (cardio drumming with sticks), Cardio Chix, and more.  If you're out of shape or think you're too old for any of this, think again.  All classes ca...

If you're even thinking about divorcing your spouse, do yourself a favor and schedule a consultation with Michelle Gregory.  She can coach you to be better prepared.  Chances are, there are lots of things that you haven't thought about that you need to take care of ahead of time, and she can give you all sorts of suggestions to make things go much smoother.  Maybe you're not quite r...

What's the shelf life of fudge and fresh caramels?  Find out on this podcast.  Do you love to collect cookbooks?  Get a copy of one that         Alyssa Rice published of over 100 recipes from area cooks from Owen County Indiana.  Want to support a local business that produces quality candies and also dog treats?  Hear what Tom Rice f...