The Confluence Cast

Most entrepreneurs will tell you their business started with a plan. Jacquie Mahan will tell you hers started with a hunch, a deep affection for the autism community, and what she admits was an almost irresponsible amount of self-confidence. Jacquie is the founder of The Awesome Company, a Grove City-based custom screen-printing business that employs autistic adults and is about to turn 10. Her pa...

This is the second of two conversations I recorded with the Democratic candidates for Ohio Secretary of State. If you caught the first one with Dr. Bryan Hambley, welcome back. If not, it’s worth going back to — but this one stands on its own. Today I’m sitting down with State Representative Allison Russo. Russo has been in the Ohio House since 2019, when she flipped a Republican-held...

The 2026 statewide races are officially underway in Ohio, and I sat down with both Democratic candidates for Secretary of State. Today you’re hearing the first of those two conversations. Dr. Bryan Hambley is a leukemia physician at the University of Cincinnati and a political newcomer. He grew up on a small family farm, got pulled into electoral politics through the 2024 anti-gerrymandering...

With petitions filed and the 2026 statewide races now officially underway, a lot of the attention is on the governor’s race — and understandably so — but there’s a primary happening further down the ballot that deserves a real look: the Democratic primary for Ohio Secretary of State. This is an office that most voters don’t spend much time thinking about, but it touches on some o...

With petitions filed and the 2026 statewide races officially underway, Ohio’s political landscape is beginning to take shape. The governor’s race is already drawing national attention, with former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton emerging as the sole Democratic candidate and Vivek Ramaswamy entering the Republican primary with endorsements from both Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican...

Most people experience regional planning only after decisions have already been made. When a new development breaks ground, a transit project is announced, or new housing pops up in our neighborhood. What’s far less visible is the quiet work that happens long before those moments: the data collection, forecasting, mapping, and analysis that help a region decide what it’s actually planning for. In...

We’re doing our unofficial year-in-review. Not the “best of” list, not the most important stories necessarily, just the ones people clicked on, shared, complained about, and wouldn’t stop talking about. We cover everything from parking issues and office buildings converted into apartments to restaurant closings, reopenings, arts leadership changes, and why some headlines travel much farther than o...

When most people think about banking, they picture massive institutions, rigid rules, and transactions that feel anything but personal. But for Jenny Saunders, President of FC Bank, banking is only effective when it’s rooted in relationships; when institutions are visible, accountable, and deeply invested in the communities they serve. Jenny’s path from a small town in Ohio to leading a community...

When most people think about technology, they picture shiny new tools, big-budget builds, and teams of engineers working inside massive companies. But for Brad Griffith, founder of Buckeye Innovation, technology is only meaningful when it’s accessible, especially to the people and organizations who traditionally get left behind. For more than 16 years, Brad and his cross-functional team have been...

When we talk about regional planning, it’s easy to picture dusty binders, endless meetings, or vague talk about “growth.” But for William Murdock, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, the work is a lot more urgent and a lot more human. MORPC is the quiet engine behind how 90 Central Ohio communities prepare for what’s coming next, from housing pressures to transportatio...

What does it take to ensure that Columbus grows in a way that benefits everyone? That question is at the heart of this week’s episode of The Confluence Cast , featuring Tiara Ross, candidate for Columbus City Council District 7. Ross, an attorney and Deputy Chief of the City Attorney’s Property Action Team, brings a deep background in public service to her candidacy. In her conversation with host...

As Columbus continues to grow, so do the questions about who the city truly works for and how well its leaders are listening. I sat down with Jesse Vogel, a candidate for Columbus City Council District 7, to talk about what is working, what is not, and why he believes the city needs to rethink how it represents its residents. Vogel’s path to politics began in eviction court. During the pandemic, w...

When we talk about artificial intelligence, the focus is often on big tech or headline-grabbing breakthroughs. But for Cas Maxwell, co-founder and CEO of AI Owl, the story is much closer to home. His company is helping Ohio’s workforce, schools, and businesses go from AI curiosity to practical integration—backed by state funding and partnerships with Intel and Khan Academy. In this conversation, C...

Columbus’ creative community often comes alive at the intersection of art, risk, and meaning;  a space where organizations like Wild Goose Creative are working to make their mark. In this episode, I sit down with Executive Director Sarah Barr to explore her journey from art educator to leading multi-million-dollar cultural projects, and how Wild Goose fuels the work of emerging and establishe...

How do we take a music community and turn it into a music economy? I sat down with Walker Evans, editor and co-founder of Columbus Underground , to break down the findings of a new study commissioned by the Columbus Music Commission. We dig into the $1.3 billion valuation of our local music ecosystem, what’s working, what’s missing, and what it might mean to create a “music district” in the city....

When you think about economic development, you might picture a groundbreaking, a ribbon-cutting, or a shiny new district. But more often, it looks like slow, steady puzzle-building. This week, I sat down with Padmini Roy-Dixon, Economic Development Director and Regional Innovation Officer at MORPC, who’s been quietly assembling some of the most important pieces for Central Ohio’s future. She share...

Regional planning isn’t just about roads and rails. It’s about building the future of a place, one decision, one partnership, and one policy at a time. In this week’s episode, we sat down with Joe Garrity, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). We talked about how MORPC helps shape the long-term trajectory of Central Ohio...

Marathons are more than just races—they’re complex productions, community rituals, and, at times, catalysts for civic pride. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Darris Blackford, longtime race director of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and Half Marathon. We discussed how the event evolved from a tourism initiative in 1980 to one of the country’s most respected indep...

What does it take to build a more inclusive world—one where individuals with disabilities are supported not just in care, but in community and experience? In this week’s episode, I sat down with Kristyn Butler, founder and CEO of Ability Matters, an agency that provides personalized services for individuals with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on autism. We discussed how Kristyn transitio...

Sometimes, the things that stir the most debate aren’t sweeping policy changes, but whether or not you have to pay a dollar to park near Brassica. This week, we explore what’s resonating most in local media and what those stories reveal about the larger systems we’re all navigating. From the rise of protests at the Statehouse to the ripple effects of new zoning policies, we covered how housing, de...

Leadership is more than just a title—it’s about influence, impact, and the ability to drive meaningful change. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Kate Bauer, the new Executive Director of Leadership Columbus, to discuss the launch of this year’s Signature Program and the vision for the future of leadership in our city. We explored what makes this program a cornerstone for professional and civ...

Daisy Perkins was Ohio’s first Black woman lawyer, a trailblazer who defied expectations and carved out a career in criminal defense at a time when both her race and gender made that nearly impossible. But her story is not one of simple triumph—it’s one of controversy, resilience, and ultimately, downfall. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Jesse Bethea, a freelance features writer at Columbu...

Cities don’t run on autopilot. Every decision—every budget, every policy, every vote—is shaped by the people who step up to lead. A few months ago, I decided to see what it would take to be one of those people, and I wasn’t alone. Densil Porteous and I were two of the many candidates who applied for an open Columbus City Council seat. The process was eye-opening—not just in terms of how appointmen...

The results are in, and the people of Columbus have spoken! In this week’s episode, I sat down with Walker Evans, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Columbus Underground, to dive into the highlights of the Best of Columbus 2024 Readers’ Poll . From the city’s favorite new restaurants and bars to its most beloved cultural institutions and neighborhoods, we explored what makes Columbus shine. W...

Transitions can be transformative, but they’re often filled with uncertainty. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Matt Slaybaugh, an achievement skills coach, playwright, and former artistic director of Available Light Theatre. We explored Matt’s journey from leading a theater company to becoming a coach, helping people navigate change and pursue what matters most. From the principles of posit...