Make It Happen

"I'm finally getting back to the woman I was born to be." Diana Patton is a former civil-rights attorney turned coach, advocate, and founder of Rise Advocates Academy — and one of the most magnetic people in T-Town. In this episode, Michael opens with a question he's never asked anyone: "Why are you you?" What follows is an honest, funny, wide-open conversation about id...

Doug Hinebaugh — better known as "Dougie Fresh" — is the conversational photographer whose lens has quietly become the face of everything good happening in Toledo. In this episode, Michael sits down with Doug to talk about leaving town in 2007 convinced anywhere was better, the hard-won sobriety that brought him home, and how a cell-phone car-show hobby turned into a full-time photograph...

Northwest Ohio filmmaker Anthony Wright joins Mike Vanderpool alongside actor Dillon Sickles to talk about his journey from making VHS Star Wars knockoffs as a kid to screening his feature "The Ride to Nowhere" at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Anthony shares what's next with his ambitious new project "The Moonshine Crew," why Toledo's film scene is more alive than p...

Brandon Sehlhorst grew up in Toledo, left to study urban planning in Cincinnati, and came back with a mission — grow this city on purpose. Now serving as Toledo's first-ever Chief Growth Officer, he joins Vince Croci to talk about the mayor's goal of 300,000 residents by 2040, a $20 million shovel ready sites fund, the transformation of Southwyck Mall, and why Toledo's tech and innovat...

What does it actually take to build something in Toledo? In this episode of the Make It Happen Podcast , Danny Dymarkowski shares a perspective rooted in action—not theory. From showing up consistently to building real relationships, this conversation breaks down what it means to create opportunity in a city that’s more open than people realize. Danny talks about the importance of being physically...

What if the next generation isn’t lost… but leading us somewhere better? In this episode of the Make It Happen Podcast , we sit down with Jennifer Kibbe to explore how Gen Z is reshaping the way we think about work, education, and opportunity. From prioritizing impact over income to rethinking how people enter the workforce, this conversation highlights a powerful shift already happening—and what...

Public art isn’t just about murals—it’s about identity, purpose, and how a city tells its story. In this episode of the Make It Happen Podcast , Mike Vanderpool sits down with Dean Davis , one of Toledo’s most influential public artists, to talk about creativity, technology, and what it really takes to build a vibrant community. Dean shares his journey from growing up in Toledo to serving in the N...

In this episode of the Make It Happen podcast, host Vince Croci sits down with Darren Moore, a global logistics entrepreneur and "boomerang" resident who returned to Toledo in 2018. This conversation dives into the vision Darren recently shared in the Toledo Blade regarding where the city is and where it needs to go. Darren explores his perspective on Toledo’s "next phase," inc...

Why does school technology feel harder than it should? In this episode of the Make It Happen Podcast , we sit down with Tech My School to explore what really makes technology work in schools—and why so many well-intentioned efforts fall short. The conversation goes beyond tools and funding to focus on alignment, mindset, and change management. We talk about why some schools with very little make m...

In this episode of Make It Happen , Mike Vanderpool sits down with Dalien Ahiekpor , Senior Technical Account Manager at AWS , for a wide-ranging conversation about careers in tech, cloud computing, and where AI is actually headed. Dalien shares his journey from growing up in Northwest Ohio —including a University of Toledo summer tech camp—to building Amazon fulfillment centers, and eventually mo...

Northwest Ohio just hosted the largest AI conference in the Midwest , and the momentum is real. In this episode, Mike Vanderpool sits down with Tom Bush — founder of Actual Reality Technologies and Empowered AI — to break down Great Lakes AI Week , the rise of AI-powered manufacturing, and how Toledo is becoming one of the most welcoming and activated startup communities in the country. We dive in...

In this episode, I sit down with Gary Thompson of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) to talk through one of the biggest emerging topics in Northwest Ohio: the rise of data centers and what they could mean for our region. We explore: What data centers actually bring to a community The long-term economic opportunities The real threats and challenges often overlooked How communities can prepare fo...

In this episode, we break down a bold new vision for a full Esports ecosystem in Northwest Ohio—starting with a spring Invitational Tournament and scaling all the way to a regional semi-professional league. We explore how Esports can become a real career pathway by connecting colleges, high schools, and even middle-school players through coaching pipelines, regional training hubs, and year-round d...

Justin Beaudry and The AI Collective Toledo Chapter Join us at our events: https://luma.com/toledocodes In this episode, host Mike Vanderpool sits down with Justin Beaudry — technologist, community builder, and co-founder of Toledo Codes — to talk about the launch of the AI Collective Toledo Chapter and the growing movement to make AI accessible to everyone. From the kickoff event at the Thomas an...

Host Mike Vanderpool sits down with Louis Lane , a Toledo-based data professional, for a down-to-earth conversation about data, AI, and life in Northwest Ohio . Together they explore: The difference between a data scientist, data engineer, and data professional How data powers AI (and why cutting through the hype matters) Why every career is becoming a data career Big questions around privacy, own...

Find out more about Nancy and Neuro-osity here: https://neuro-osity.com/ In this episode of Make It Happen , we're joined by Nancy Disbrow—HR leader turned neurodiversity coach and founder of Neuro-osity . We met at the Toledo Tech Loft, where Nancy gave a Loft Talk that had me nodding along... and then wandering off (you’ll get that reference). We dive deep into: What it really means to be ne...

Make It Happen — Featuring James Warnken On this episode of Make It Happen , we’re joined by accessibility advocate and digital strategist James Warnken , who shares his powerful story—from being diagnosed with Stargardt disease at age 9 to becoming a national voice in digital accessibility and inclusive design. James breaks it down with personal insight and practical strategy, helping designers,...

🎙️ Hosted by Vince Corci & Bre Yarnell In this month’s episode, Vince and Bre share everything going on in the Toledo area this June—from festivals and fundraisers to rooftop parties and river cruises. Whether you’re into live music, tacos, tech, or just looking for something new to explore, we’ve got you covered. Highlights include: 🎈 Party in the Park & Hot Air Balloon Glow🛼 Retro Skat...

Step into the rhythm of revival with Bre Yarnell as she hosts Dennis and Darlene Cox and Dougie Fresh at the Toledo Tech Loft. In this heartfelt and high-energy episode, the crew behind Techledo shares the origin story and future vision of Toledo’s free electronic music festival happening June 21 at the Glass City Riverwalk. They talk DJs from Detroit, live art, community love, afterparties, and t...

What’s Happening: May 2025 Hosted by Vince Croci and Breann Yarnell, this month’s episode brings you everything you need to know about events, fun, and tech happening across Toledo and Northwest Ohio. From margarita tastings and Star Wars trivia to birding season, art walks, car shows, tattoo expos, and tech mixers — we’ve got your May calendar packed. 🌟 Highlights: Mud Hens and Rockets at Fifth...

In this month’s episode, we’re diving into the events, opportunities, and energy shaping the tech scene across Northwest Ohio. 📍 Highlights include: BGSU Design Day (May 2) Tech Night at TolHouse (May 13 & 27) GDG Dinner Mixer at Carlos Poco Loco (May 14) Toledo Codes user research event (May 15) The launch of our Intro to Design and Tech course (May 12) A sneak peek at the Applied Innovation...

In this episode of Make It Happen , Mike sits down with Kyle Storer — mechanical engineer, inventor, and co-founder of Ark Web Development — to talk about what it really means to build. From managing large-scale industrial projects to helping small businesses grow online, Kyle shares how curiosity, hands-on learning, and active listening have shaped his journey. They dive into lessons from the Uni...

In this episode of Make It Happen , host Mike Vanderpool sits down with Brent Cousino — a Toledo-based entrepreneur shaped by family legacy, financial wisdom, and a deep commitment to community. From launching startups with his grandfather to navigating med-tech trials, Brent shares real talk on risk, failure, and resilience. He opens up about his passion for financial literacy, the story behind N...

In this episode, we sit down with Jon Snyder to discuss the power of regional collaboration in growing Ohio’s life sciences industry. Representing Ohio Life Sciences—a statewide trade association—Jon shares how initiatives like the Pathfinders networking series are connecting researchers, startups, economic developers, and health institutions across the state. 💡 Topics include: The role of biotec...

On this episode of the Make It Happen podcast, host Mike Vanderpool sits down with Patrick Marchman—a self-described "principal of sustainability"—to talk climate resilience, disaster planning, and why northwest Ohio might be one of the most strategic places to live in a changing world. From his days responding to Superstorm Sandy to his vision for Toledo as a climate-safe haven, Patrick unpacks w...