One tangled mic cable led to a wide‑open conversation with Jean‑Luc Grand‑Pierre that hits harder than a blue line check. We go from Montreal’s big‑city pulse and Haitian family roots to the quiet advantages of Columbus and why New Albany’s 20‑minute radius just works when you’re juggling practices, school runs, and careers. Jean‑Luc traces his path from junior hockey at 16 to the NHL and then into real estate, showing how he built a second act by shadowing mentors, investing in relationships, and giving his reputation time to grow.

The heart of the story is youth sports. We break down the real costs of hockey—ice time, gear, and the logistics few families see—and the programs that make it possible for more kids to try. His best coaching tip is disarmingly simple: start with skating, even figure skating, to build edges and balance before pucks and sticks. That approach keeps kids confident and curious. We also press on the culture of early specialization, elective surgeries for teens, and the myth that more is always better. Multi‑sport seasons build durable athletes and stronger minds, and they protect joy—an underrated competitive edge.

We also zoom out to the modern game. The Eastern Conference is unusually tight, parity is real, and college hockey has become a premier route to the NHL. NIL isn’t the enemy; unmanaged expectations are. Jean‑Luc’s take on pressure—from missed kicks to viral moments—lands with empathy and experience. To cool down, we trade New Albany favorites, from Fox in the Snow to Rocky Fork’s trails, and use golf as a metaphor for the mind: on the range it’s even, under tournament stress it’s decided between the ears.

If you care about hockey, parenting, or building what’s next, you’ll hear a practical playbook threaded through every story: learn your edges first, embrace mistakes, and keep the joy front and center. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find it.

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The heart of a hometown isn’t a map; it’s the people who keep its stories alive. Lauren joins us to chart New Albany’s journey from fields and single-campus days to a thriving, intentionally planned community where a preserved mill becomes a brewery, a new roundabout reroutes semis, and a Friday night crowd can still feel like family. Her path runs through athletics—cross country, basketball, track, high jump—and a Hall of Fame induction, but the real wins come from team chemistry, mentorship, and the way a student section can lift a program for years.

We dig into the details that define place: Ely House tours, Maplewood Cemetery names, taco pizza after reunions, and the great debate over how to pronounce Bevelheimer. Lauren breaks down how youth sports look now—specialization, facilities that need to catch up, and the simple fix that a second track could bring. She’s honest about coaching culture shifts and the rising focus on mental health, especially for girls navigating pressure in an always-on world. Through it all, the one-campus model keeps New Albany feeling close, even as class sizes balloon.

The conversation turns to service and why it matters. Real estate, for Lauren, is a vehicle to invest in neighbors, not a highlight reel of listings. She launched She Rises, a women-led gathering built on resilience and tangible giving, channeling funds to Buddy Up For Life and next year to children’s health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. It’s local, visible impact that honors loss with action, and it rests on a simple credo: service to others is the rent we pay for our room on earth. Come for the sports and small-town lore, stay for the blueprint on how to grow without losing your soul. Subscribe, share with a New Albany friend, and tell us: what tradition would you protect first?

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A few rows of tomatoes. That’s all it took to spark a movement that now feeds families across Central Ohio with fresh, organic produce grown by neighbors who care. Catherine Duffy joins us to share how she and her husband Sean turned pandemic downtime into Garden for All, a year-round operation that donates tens of thousands of pounds of food to local pantries while building a stronger, kinder community.

We get into the origin story—three 25-foot rows, a kitchen scale, and a simple promise to help—and follow the growth to a dual-site model: a third-acre garden beside All Saints and a three-acre organic farm near Johnstown. Catherine explains how high tunnels keep lettuce, kale, and collards coming through winter; why cut-flower beds exist for pollinators and for dignity; and how a “grow to request” approach ensures pantries receive culturally familiar foods people actually want. The conversation tackles rising food insecurity even in affluent zip codes, the ripple effects of budget cuts on fresh produce supply, and the health impact of getting real vegetables onto dinner tables.

We also dig into the nuts and bolts: organic practices without certification, tractors and efficiency at small-farm scale, cold storage logistics, and coordinating deliveries across partners with different schedules. Along the way, Catherine highlights municipal composting as an easy on-ramp to sustainability and shares how companies, families, and students can plug in. No green thumb required—there are roles for harvesting, packing, arranging bouquets, and leading with heart.

If you’ve driven by the garden and wondered what’s happening behind the fence, this is your invitation. Join a tour, bring your team for a volunteer day, donate backyard surplus, or contribute funds that turn seeds into meals. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves community impact, and leave a review to help more neighbors discover Garden for All.

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