Link Ahead with the City of Dublin, Ohio

Dublin stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey as City leadership works to implement the Envision Dublin Community Plan. At the heart of this transformation lies the West Innovation District—our western gateway and the largest tract of undeveloped land remaining in our city. The proposed rezoning of 370 acres within this district represents both opportunity and responsibility. Having...

The legendary Don Barnes, co-founder and frontman of 38 Special, takes us on a riveting journey through five decades of rock and roll stardom. With his signature raspy voice and warm storytelling style, Barnes reveals the fascinating origin of the band's name—a police standoff where an officer threatened to "shoot the lock off" their rehearsal space with his 38 Special revolver. Gro...

What does it take to help lead a city where 99% of residents rate it as an excellent/very good place to live? In this illuminating conversation, we sit down with Mike Barker, Dublin's new Deputy City Manager, as he reflects on his first 100 days in this crucial role. Barker brings a wealth of experience from his 11 years as Public Service Director in New Albany and his earlier career in Weste...

75 episodes is a milestone worth celebrating, and we've marked the occasion with quite possibly our most distinguished guest to date: Barbara Nicklaus, the 2025 Memorial Tournament Honoree and affectionately known as the "First Lady of Golf." Barbara takes us back to 1957 when she met a young Jack Nicklaus on the steps of Mendenhall Lab at Ohio State University – a meeting that woul...

'In a word, our real estate market is wonky' says Brent Swander, CEO of Columbus Realtors and proud Dublin resident. From eye-popping statistics to practical advice for buyers and sellers, this episode delivers valuable insights for anyone interested in our community's real estate landscape. Swander reveals surprising data about Dublin's position in the regional market, includi...

Ronnie Platt's journey to becoming the lead vocalist of rock legends Kansas defies conventional music industry narratives. At 52, after decades behind the wheel of a Chicago delivery truck, he stepped into the spotlight previously occupied by one of rock's most distinctive voices, Steve Walsh. "Better late than never," he quips with characteristic humility that runs throughout...

Ever wondered what actually happens to your recycling after it leaves your curb? Amanda Pratt, Senior VP of Communications at Rumpke, pulls back the curtain on recycling operations at North America's largest and most technologically advanced recycling facility, which is right here in Columbus, Ohio. The Rumpke Recycling and Resource Center, a $106 million investment that opened in 2024, proce...

The artistic heart of Dublin beats strongly through two remarkable conversations showcasing how creativity connects communities both locally and globally. Dr. David Guion, retiring Executive Director of the Dublin Arts Council, reflects on transforming Dublin into a community with more than 70 public art installations ranging from large-scale commissioned works to interactive river boxes – artist-...

Did you know Dubin is the only city in the U.S. — the only one — with a AAA credit rating from four different evaluating services?  Hopefully, this impressive accolade gives you, our residents, peace of mind our City leaders are not only thoughtful managers of your tax dollars but excellent practitioners in putting those dollars to laser-efficient use.   Earlier this month, our leaders gathered at...

The theme for Dublin's 2025 State of the City address is Leading the Way.    This episode is a dynamic preview of the SOTC (a little inside scoop for you!) from our elected officials who truly sweat the details — Dublin City Council members.   Lindsay and Bruce gathered all seven members for a dedicated conversation around these three questions:  How does Dublin lead the way?   What are you t...

Yes, we have a 100-foot bridge on order.  No, it's not coming from Amazon.   But, if you're curious about more than a dozen engineering projects happening all over Dublin from bridges to fiber optics to roundabouts, this is your episode!  Director of Engineering, Paul Hammersmith, is back with Lindsay and Bruce to discuss projects in and around your neighborhood:   U.S. 33 and Post Road,...

They say luck is really when opportunity meets timing. No joke, on THE day we were scheduled to record this episode with the Abbey Theater's Joe Bishara, the Broadway World Awards were announced. For the third straight year, the Abbey was named 'Best Local Theater'. Joe, himself was also recognized as 'Best Director' for the fourth year in a row!  So, there's a lot to...

Dublin is known for our burgeoning restaurant scene, and there’s one local spot our guests can’t get enough of. Lindsay and Bruce have asked countless guests, 'What's your favorite lunch spot?' and the overwhelming top answer is, ’Dublin Village Tavern!’   So, we had a thought: let's invite DVT General Manager Geri Ziemba on the show! It turns out, 2025 marks DVT's 25th ye...

Have you noticed big, new monitors all around the Dublin Community Recreation Center? New cardio machines and free weights? And the super easy way to scan into the Rec Center with the app? There's so much going on, and there's about to be a lot more! A big refresh is beginning that'll bring even more space and programming to your wellness journey. Since so many people look to reset...

Thanks to our loyal listeners, the Link Ahead podcast nearly doubled its download numbers for 2024! It's a credit to our residents who want to stay informed on what's happening, engage in the City processes and stay motivated in keeping Dublin a global city of choice. This episode is special, as we sliced and diced clips from all 23 episodes. We got to meet a wide range of people: City l...

The Dublin Food Pantry served more than 10,000 people last year — our friends and neighbors in our beloved City.  Yes, we're known as a thought-leading, innovation hub nationally with a thriving economy and class leading municipal services but it doesn't mean we're immune to societal challenges.   One of them is hunger.   Dublin reflects the broader data across Ohio in that 1 in 5 y...

“I'm a diplomat more than an activist, and my career journey has been one of understanding.”  That's how Wyandotte Nation Chief Billy Friend describes his role as a leader in service to his tribal community. Chief Friend joins Lindsay and Bruce, in part, to talk about November as National Native American Heritage month. But this conversation goes much deeper as the Wyandotte's roots...

Isn't it only appropriate in the month of November, when we celebrate so much with food, that we get new items added to the list of recyclables that involve food . Those clamshell containers for fruit and eggs are good to go now!   Toss them in your recycle bin.  Same story with pizza boxes.  No need to separate the greasy box bottoms anymore from the tops. Joining Bruce and Lindsay to also t...

The goal to become the most connected community in the U.S. has reached another milestone! Our 'Fiber to Every Home' initiative is underway, and some residents are already connected to this groundbreaking system. Construction began in April of this year and it's really ramping up now. In fact, please be on the look-out for mailers and doorhangers from altafiber because those are def...

Did you know there's a sunken steamship in Lake Erie on the National Registry of Historic Places?  Or, that Ohio is near the top of the list for the most historic sites among ALL 50 states?  City Council Member Amy Kramb brings her encyclopedic wealth of historic knowledge of Dublin, of Ohio and of architecture to Link Ahead, and we promise you'll be smarter because of it!   She's a...

Did you know now is a good time to head to your favorite garden center, as prices are lower? Even though fall is here, you have all kinds of options for a gorgeous autumn garden, and we have a couple of true experts to help you set it up! Tim Fleischer and Matt Guthrie are horticulturists for the City, and you've seen and likely admired their work all over town — from our parks to roundabouts...

A phone call comes into Dublin City Hall many months ago from a local family looking to sell their property and business.  That's how this whole thing began as you'll get the inside scoop from a family member herself.  Fast forward to today, the deal is poised to transform the West Innovation District into a transportation, sports and recreation mecca! Dublin is purchasing nearly 250 acr...

We hope you have heard of Envision Dublin, but if not, don’t worry — this episode is the perfect crash course! Envision Dublin is our city’s comprehensive master plan, a strategic roadmap guiding everything from large-scale developments and transportation initiatives to everyday details like sidewalk design and enhancing safety for our most vulnerable residents. At the heart of these efforts is Je...

Ohio State University Women's Basketball Coach Kevin McGuff has access to the best workout facilities in the country at OSU. But many days, where does he choose to get his sweat on? At the Dublin Community Recreation Center! That says a lot: not just where he and his family choose to live, go to school and prosper but how he stays grounded and connected to our community as a whole. Coach McGu...

He's a YouTube sensation, co-winner of the 2022 Steve Martin Banjo Prize, has toured the world many times and, as the Irish American News put it, 'Enda does things on the banjo that should be impossible.'   He is Enda Scahill and he's been playing the Dublin Irish Festival for 10 years now!  Enda joined Bruce and Lindsay from his studio in Ireland for this episode where he said...