ThriveIN Wabash County

Protecting Indiana's Outdoors: Inside the Life of a Conservation Officer When most people hear the words  Indiana Conservation Officer , they probably think of someone checking fishing licenses or making sure hunters are following the rules. But the job is much bigger than that. On this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Adam sits down with Indiana Conservation Officer  Tevin Tomlinson  to t...

What does it mean for a community to thrive, and how does that progress show up in everyday life? In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Alex, Adam, and Christine explore what’s moving Wabash County forward, what challenges remain, and why people may experience the same community differently. At the heart of the conversation is one question:  What does thriving look like individually? We wan...

In this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, Alex sits down with Casey Crouse, Co-Founder and Executive Director of New Shoe Day, to explore the heart behind the organization and its partnership with the Community Foundation of Wabash County’s Imagine Early program. Casey shares how New Shoe Day began, the inspiration that turned an idea into action, and how that vision is making a difference here i...

In this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, Christine sits down with retired educators Jan Roland and Connie Gorman for a conversation about family, education, leadership, and a lifetime of giving back to the community they call home. Jan and Connie share what it was like to raise their families in Wabash County, build careers in education, serve on local boards, and mentor the next generation of c...

What happens when you put an Indiana deer biologist, an avid deer hunter and a curious community host around the same table? You get a conversation that goes far beyond hunting. In this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, Adam Stakeman is joined by Indiana DNR State Deer Project Leader and Biologist Dr. Joe Caudell, along with special co-host and avid deer hunter Clint Kugler. Joe gives us a behind...

WelcomeIN: Building a Wabash County Where Everyone Belongs What does it take to create a community where people don't just move in, but feel like they truly belong? On this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Christine and Alex sit down with  Mackenzie Coulter-Kern, Director of the Wabash County Diversity Coalition , for a conversation about belonging, population growth, workforce attraction,...

There's a new face leading the  Wabash County YMCA —and he's also one of the newest residents of Wabash County. Steven Stanfield recently stepped into the role of CEO of the Wabash County YMCA, bringing with him a new perspective, new ideas, and a fresh set of eyes on both the YMCA and the community it serves. On this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, Adam sits down with Steven to get to know the...

What happens when you've spent decades putting a value on Wabash County? Host  Alex Downard  sits down with  Bob and Kristi Lundquist , a husband-and-wife power couple who have spent decades working in real estate and appraisals and building a business rooted right here in Wabash County. Bob and Kristi have had a front-row seat to an industry that looks dramatically different today than when t...

Christine shares the studio with Cam and Katie Beauchamp and their adorable 6-month-old son, Miles, for a conversation about what it really means to call a place home. For Cam and Katie, Wabash County is more than somewhere they live—it’s somewhere they are intentionally building a life. They share their story of starting a family, finding connection in their community, and discovering the differe...

Why Not Here? — How One Game of Pickleball Sparked a Bigger Idea On this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, Adam sits down with Tim McLaughlin to talk about his connection to North Manchester, raising a family in the community, his involvement in the Manchester Chamber, owning The North Manchester News-Journal, career with Thorne Insurance, and the many ways he has chosen to get involved. They als...

What started as a dream is becoming a $18.7 million reality in Wabash County. In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Alex takes Christine and Adam behind the vision for the  Canal Street Artist Collective ; what it is, why it matters, and how the project has progressed from an idea to a transformative development. Christine and Adam ask the “nosey” questions everyone else is wondering: How d...

What happens when the person who once needed a second chance becomes the person helping others find theirs? On this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Alex sits down with  Melissa Campbell , whose personal journey from a life marked by struggle and addiction to active recovery has given her a powerful perspective on helping others rebuild their lives. Today, Melissa works with inmates in Wabash...

Volunteerism, community spirit, and giving back are values that can be passed from one generation to the next. In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Christine sits down with Billy, Crystal and 16-year-old Gavin Lester to talk about their family’s commitment to the community they call home. The Lesters share why they choose to get involved, volunteer and invest their time and talents in Waba...

What started as a fun way of celebrating a 50th birthday amongst friends has grown into one of Wabash County's signature annual events. In this episode of ThriveIN Wabash County, hosts Adam Stakeman and Christine Flohr welcome two men who were there from the very beginning—Bill Rauh and Mike Paul. Sixteen years ago, a small group of cyclists set out to celebrate Bill's 50th birthday with a...

What happens when two college students spend their summer living, working, and investing in a community they barely knew? In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Christine sits down with  Rosalyn Knauer (Manchester University)  and  Amelia Glosson (Grace College) , two college students serving as Visit Wabash County interns through the  Wabash County Fellowship Program . Together, they reflec...

Ever wonder what happens after the hosts stop talking and the microphones are turned off? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, Alex, Adam, and Christine turn the tables and sit down with ThriveIN Podcast Producer, Kim Morrow. Kim shares how she found her way into the world of podcast production and editing, what she enjoys most about helping tell local stories, and what it's really like...

On this episode of ThriveIN, Alex sits down with fellow podcaster Nate Spangle, host of the Get IN podcast, for a conversation about Indiana, small-town life, and the stories that make communities thrive. Nate shares what first inspired his passion for exploring Indiana's cities, towns, and hidden treasures, and how that passion eventually led to the creation of Get IN. Along the way, he refle...

For more than 50 years, Dave Phillips has been a trusted pastor, mentor, chaplain, coach, and friend to countless people throughout Wabash County. Dave served as Senior Pastor of Wabash Friends Church from 1975 to 2010 and continued serving part-time through 2023. During his ministry, he helped launch community-impacting programs, including the Access Youth Center, Life Center, 85 HOPE, and Friend...

What happens when young adults choose a path that doesn’t come with a roadmap? In this episode of the ThriveIN Podcast, Adam sits down with Erin McGouldrick and Owen Stakeman — two young adults who graduated from local high schools and chose unconventional journeys in search of purpose, growth, and perspective. Erin shares her experience thru-hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and the lessons lea...

What does it look like when healthcare goes beyond treating illness and begins investing in the well-being of an entire community? In this episode of  ThriveIN , Christine sits down with Lori Augustus , Executive Director of Southeast Operations,  and  Kari Adams, Practice Administrator  of Bowen Health, to explore the organization's remarkable journey—from its beginnings in the 1960s to its b...

In this special hosts-only episode, Alex Downard, Adam Stakeman, and Christine Flohr take a break from interviewing guests and spend time catching up with each other—and with you. The trio shares some BIG personal and professional updates, reflects on lessons learned from the incredible guests they've welcomed to the podcast, and discusses how those conversations have challenged, inspired, and...

On this episode of the ThriveIN Wabash County Podcast, Alex sits down with Adam Penrod, the Town Manager of North Manchester. Adam’s heart for his town and the people who call it home shines through in the way he leads and serves each day. Rooted in a strong work ethic that began on his family’s dairy farm — which is still in operation today — Adam shares how hands-on learning, faith in community,...

ThriveIN Host Christine sits down with Judge Benjamin Vanderpool, Judge Robert McCallen, and Probation Officer Abby Schuler for a meaningful conversation about the purpose and positive impact of  Problem Solving Court  within our local judicial system. Together, they discuss how the program first began, the vision behind it, and how it works to support individuals who are seeking a second chance a...

Golf courses are about more than scorecards — they’re about community and for Etna Acres, FAMILY. In this episode of  ThriveIN Wabash County , Adam Stakeman sits down with Devin and JoDee Dale, the owners of  Etna Acres Golf Course , to talk about family, entrepreneurship, and the legacy of a small-town golf course. The Dales share the story behind Etna Acres, what it takes to operate a seasonal b...

On this episode of the ThriveIN Podcast, Alex sits down with Wabash High School’s 2026 Valedictorian, Victoria Koselke, and Salutatorian, Andrea Stout, to talk about what it’s like growing up and graduating in a small community like Wabash. Victoria and Andrea reflect on the relationships, opportunities, and experiences that shaped their high school journey while sharing gratitude for the teachers...