Luke Dennis is the President of Miami Valley Public Media and General Manager of WYSO 91.3 FM, based in Yellow Springs, Ohio. As a non-profit, community-owned public radio station, WYSO is committed to amplifying the voices of the Dayton region. Tune in to learn about how Luke is dynamically leading WYSO, dedicated to furthering its mission of serving the Miami Valley and beyond with information and inspiration that improves lives and builds community. 

Sierra Leone is a writer, storyteller, and teaching artist whose voice has shaped Dayton’s cultural landscape for over 20 years. In 2025, she was named Dayton’s first Poet Laureate, a recognition of her leadership at the forefront of the city’s urban creative arts and spoken word poetry movement.  In this episode, you’ll hear more about Sierra’s journey and the future she wants to create as Dayton’s poet laureate. Stay tuned until the end for two powerful readings she shares just for our listeners!

This special episode was recorded LIVE at the "Get Your Bag Back Financial Literacy Summit" presented by the Omega Community Development Corporation (Omega CDC).   Tune in to hear from a panel of four dynamic local leaders — Jackie Gamblin, Brandon Smith, Clarece Richardson, and Christian Jay Calloway — who each share their personal journey of starting a business, building financial stability, and using creativity to turn challenges into opportunities. Jackie Gamblin is the Founder & CEO of JYG Innovations, a nationally recognized Woman-Owned Small Business. Brandon Smith, also known as “Uncle Boof,” is the co-founder of The Ugly Duckling restaurant in St. Anne’s Hill and the creator of Uncle Boof’s World Famous Pancake Mix.' Clarece Richardson is the Founder & CEO of Rich Taste Catering Services and Co-Owner of RF Food Group. Christian Jay Calloway is a massage therapist and the Founder of Preventive Maintenance LMT. Learn more about Omega CDC here. 

Jonathan McNeal is a filmmaker, philanthropist, and General Manager of The Neon, Dayton’s non-profit, independent art-house movie theater. In this episode, Jonathan shares his journey from film student at Wright State University to film curator, his contagious passion for the shared experience of cinema, and the many innovative ways The Neon is connecting the Dayton community through art and placemaking.

Peter Benkendorf is the founder of The Collaboratory, where Dayton's dreamers and doers gather to move innovative ideas to transformative action. Listen to learn how community initiatives conceptualized at The Collaboratory — from Dayton Sewing Collaborative to Dayton Porchfest — are generating new economic, civic, and creative opportunities and value to promote a healthier, more thriving region.  

Jeff Graley is the President and co-founder of Mile 2, a Human Machine Teaming company operating at the intersection of people, technology, and work. Proudly based in Dayton, Ohio, Mile 2 builds custom software for a range of diverse clients, including startups, Fortune 500 companies, and the U.S. government.A former Air Force audiologist turned entrepreneur, Jeff leads with humility and collaboration. Hear more about his fascinating journey and Mile 2’s people-first approach to creating the future through cutting-edge tech.

Myla Cardona-Jones is the CEO of the Brunner Literacy Center, empowering adults to live better lives through literacy. With over two decades of experience spanning the service, education, marketing, and legal sectors, Myla is recognized as one of the most dynamic leaders in the Dayton region.  Listen to learn more about Myla’s personal journey and her passion for creating a brighter future in the Dayton region through the life-changing power of literacy.

Charlynda Scales is a veteran, serial entrepreneur, author, and in-demand speaker. As the founder and CEO of Mutt’s Sauce, she turned her grandfather's secret recipe into a popular regional food brand. She’s also the Executive Director of the OH Taste Foundation and the 6888 Kitchen Incubator inside the Dayton Arcade, where she provides small food business owners the tools they need to succeed inside and outside of the kitchen.  Listen now to hear how Charlynda’s personal journey fuels her passion for uplifting the next generation of entrepreneurs! 

Rodney Veal is a multidisciplinary artist and one of Dayton’s most passionate advocates for the arts. In his role at ThinkTV & CET, he’s known for hosting the podcast Rodney Veal’s Inspired By and the TV series The Art Show, as well as co-producing the 2024 documentary Willis "Bing" Davis: Reach High & Reach Back. As a self-described “art nerd,” Rodney truly has his finger on the pulse of the region’s dynamic arts and culture scene.  Tune in for this fascinating conversation to learn how Rodney has become one of the most influential arts voices in our region. 

Gabriel van Aalst is the President and CEO of Dayton Live, the region’s home for performing arts, culture, and live entertainment. With a journey that started in Australia and weaved through nearly every continent on the planet, Gabriel finally landed in Dayton, Ohio, in September 2024, lured to our city by our vibrant arts culture and passionate community support.  Listen to learn more about Gabriel and his vision for fueling the next generation of the arts in Dayton.

Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr. has devoted his life to education and public service in the Dayton region. After retiring from Dayton Public Schools with 38 years of service, he began a new chapter as a public servant, first serving as a Dayton City Commissioner before being elected in 2021 as Dayton’s 57th Mayor. Today, he remains focused on the youth in our community, most recently launching the Peace Campaign, a collaborative community effort to reduce violent crime in the city of Dayton.  Listen to learn more about Mayor Mims’ background and his vision for the future of Dayton. 

Andrew Walsh is the author of Lost Dayton, an academic librarian at Sinclair College, and the creator of the popular Dayton Vistas blog. With an encyclopedic knowledge of Dayton's past and a promising vision for Dayton's future, Andrew has a truly unique understanding of what our city once was — and all that it can be.  Be sure to check out Andrew’s book, Lost Dayton, and his blog, Dayton Vistas.

JJ Frigge is recognized globally as the President of Hartzell Propeller, the world leader in advanced aircraft propeller design and manufacturing. He’s also well-known locally as a homegrown success story, channeling his passions back into his Miami County community.  In this episode, hear more about Hartzell’s fascinating history dating back to the Wright Brothers, innovations in the world of electric aviation, and JJ’s take on Creating the Future in his community.  Visit Hartzell Propeller’s website and learn more about Miami County Partners for Animal Welfare.

As the owner and lead story coach of Lore storytelling, Te'Jal Cartwright is harnessing the transformative power of storytelling to help individuals and organizations create connections, build relationships, and foster real community collaboration in Dayton and beyond. Te'Jal is a passionate community advocate and an unwavering champion for the development of Dayton. Tune in for this inspiring and insightful conversation!  Visit the Lore website and follow Te’Jal on Instagram to keep up with the latest storytelling events, classes, and updates.

Kyleen Downes is an independent guitarist/songwriter, music educator, and champion for Dayton's live music community. Our conversation shines the spotlight on Kyleen’s journey as an indie artist, her passion for live performance, and her dedication to empowering the next generation of talent. Listen for clips of Kyleen's original music throughout the episode, including:  "Exhale" "Left on the Pavement" "Tell Me What I Want to Hear" Visit Kyleen’s website to find her music and upcoming shows, and follow her on Instagram.

As President of Omega CDC, Vanessa Ward leads the organization’s mission of breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty by catalyzing change in Northwest Dayton.  Join us for an inspiring conversation all about Vanessa’s journey, the ongoing impact of Omega CDC, and her vision for bringing hope to Northwest Dayton.  Learn more about Omega CDC and follow Vanessa on LinkedIn.  

As the President and CEO of Wright-Patt Credit Union (WPCU), Tim Mislansky has dedicated his career to the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.”   In this episode, we discuss servant leadership, what it means to think creatively in the financial services industry, and how WPCU is building hope and improving the well-being of more than 500,000 members in Central and Southwest Ohio.  Learn more about Wright-Patt Credit Union and follow Tim on LinkedIn.

As the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Miami Valley Meals, Amanda DeLotelle leads a dedicated team that transforms donated and rescued food into nutritious meals for those facing food insecurity.  In this episode, Amanda shares the inspiring story of founding Miami Valley Meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the creativity and care that goes into every meal, and the value of collaboration in building a food-secure future.  See how you can get involved with Miami Valley Meals and follow Amanda on LinkedIn.

Lisa Wagner is the Executive Director of Levitt Pavilion Dayton, a local non-profit with the mission of building community through music, one free concert at a time.  We discuss the transformative power of live music, creative placemaking, and how Levitt Pavilion is intentionally building social bridges and creating a lasting, positive impact within the Dayton community.  Learn more about Levitt Pavilion Dayton and follow Lisa on LinkedIn. Learn more about Creating the Future, a podcast presented by Ohlmann Group. 

Today we’re Creating the Future with Dr. Susan Edwards, the eighth president of Wright State University. As a first-generation college student herself, Sue is personally committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus where all students have the opportunity to succeed.  Listen to our conversation with Sue to learn more about her fascinating background, her dedication to student success, and the future she wants to create right here in Dayton, Ohio.