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Romeo Travis is an Akron native, former professional basketball player, assistant coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary, and entrepreneur behind The Lodge Approach. He spent 14 years playing professionally across more than 10 countries, winning championships, earning MVP honors, and living a life most people only read about. Then he came home. We sat down to talk about what those 14 years actually did to...

Rob Buchwald is the founder and CEO of Akron Innovations and the AI Catalyst Institute. He spent over 25 years as a CIO in legal and financial sectors before dedicating himself to making sure AI works for everyone, not just the organizations already at the table. In this conversation we talk about what artificial intelligence is actually doing to our infrastructure, our water, our energy grid, and...

Tim Baxter is an artist, entrepreneur, musician, and culture curator based in Akron, Ohio. He owns Baxter's Speakeasy and serves as the Director of Art and Hospitality for the Historic Arts District, and he has spent two decades building spaces, experiences, and community for people who don't always see themselves represented. In this episode we go deep. We talk about what it means to be a creativ...

Margo holds two roles most people would never imagine sharing space in one life. She's the President of Akron City Council, and she's the Executive Director of Sommerville Funeral Homes. One world is built on grief. The other is built on power and disagreement. She moves through both, every single day. In this episode we go past the titles. We talk about loyalty, legacy, and what leadership actual...

Willie McGee | Brotherhood, Legacy & Building from Akron Willie McGee is an Akron native, entrepreneur, and a man who has spent his entire life in service to people and community. From the courts of St. Vincent-St. Mary to seven years as Athletic Director of one of the most storied high school programs in the country, to his current work with LRMR Ventures and the LeBron James Family Foundatio...

Dr. Michael Copeland | Education, Purpose & The Journey of One Determined Educator Dr. Michael Copeland is an award-winning author, educator, entrepreneur, and CEO of Copeland Consults LLC. But before all of that, he’s a man from Cleveland who decided to give his life to the people everyone else walked past. Through a shared belief that education is the great equalizer, we sat down to talk abo...

Megan Hurley | Creativity, Culture & Showing Up Authentically Megan is an entrepreneur, artist, wife, and designer — and so much more. Through a mutual connection and a shared love of coffee, we sat down to talk about her inspiration, her vision, and what’s ahead. From creativity to innovation to culture, this is a conversation about finding your voice and showing up as your full self. Pull up...

Wyterria Thornton | Hospitality, Family Business & Building for Akron Two creatives. One city. Real conversations. Wyterria and Austin are entrepreneurs rooted in Akron, Ohio who came together over coffee to talk about the work, the vision, and the community they’re both committed to. From hospitality to family business, food to culture — this is a conversation about leading with intention and...

Matthew Moore | Entrepreneurship, Purpose & Building Something Symbiotic Two entrepreneurs. Two visions. One shared space. Matthew and Austin found common ground where you might not expect it — and built something from it. In this conversation they go deep on entrepreneurship, the real challenges that come with it, and what it means to lean into your purpose. Leaf and Overnight Success Coffee...

Lauren Noel | Identity, Art & The Choice to Show Up Showing up is a choice, whether through art, politics, or simply being present in your own life. Lauren and Austin sit down to talk about identity and what it really means to show up authentically. They explore how nature has shaped Lauren’s ability to communicate on canvas, how motherhood deepens self-awareness, and how her art transcends th...