Live From Springfield USA Podcast

Ted Dryden
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We’re back and bringing you real stories, real voices, and real conversations from the heart of Springfield, Ohio. In this first episode of our revitalized podcast, we dive into the history of Springfield, USA, its past iterations, and what’s ahead.

  1. Aug 12

    From Seventh Grade Teachervto Springfield Health & Fitness: Alexis Fourman's Story

    When Alexis Fourman was on her 13th year of teaching seventh-grade social studies at Graham Local Schools, a Springfield institution came up for sale — and the business partner she trusted handed her the keys.In this episode of Live From Springfield USA, Alexis sits down with host Josh Taylor to talk about leaving the classroom, stepping into the role of owner and face of Springfield Health & Fitness, and the decision she and her partners made on day one: not to change much at all. We get into the wide range of classes the gym offers — from Kickboxing and Body Pump to Silver Sneakers Balance, Resilience, Spinning, Swirk dance, and Alexis's own Flex and personal-training roster — the member stories that keep her showing up (weddings, high-school reunions, and grandkids who need someone who can keep up), the gym's nearly 10-year run in Springfield's downtown on North Limestone Street, and what Alexis thinks people get wrong about Springfield, Ohio.If you've ever wondered who's behind the desk at one of Springfield's most loved gyms, this one's for you.

  2. Aug 12

    Happy Half Marathon: Springfield's Community Race That Started With a Cause

    What started as a family training run became Springfield's most spirited community event. 🏅 In this episode, Ted sits down with Alex Maloney and Chris Meister — the race directors behind the Happy Half Marathon — to tell the full story behind one of Springfield's most beloved annual traditions. In 2011, Alex's father Mike Maloney was diagnosed with cancer. The family trained for the Columbus Marathon to help raise money for his treatments. He passed before they could run. But instead of stopping, they started something. In 2012, the Happy Half Marathon was born — and it hasn't stopped since. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:00:00 — Welcome to Live From Springfield USA00:27 — The origin story: Mike Maloney, cancer, and a training run01:44 — COVID, going virtual, and surviving when others didn't02:21 — The original training run: Springfield High to Yellow Springs03:25 — How Mike's legacy shaped the race's mission05:01 — Why moving the race to downtown Springfield mattered06:33 — How the downtown move changed energy for businesses & spectators07:31 — Balancing elite competition with a party for everyone08:39 — The finish line, Mother Stewart's & Jazz and Blues Festival10:54 — How race funds get to the Springfield Regional Cancer Center11:35 — The volunteer story: 250–300 volunteers, nearly 1:1 ratio14:01 — The Kids Fun Run and next-generation runners15:22 — "On race weekend, Springfield feels like ___"16:46 — The drummer who ran the race and played the finish line stage17:58 — What's new and improving for 202619:24 — The full race route: Heritage Center → Westcott House → Wittenberg → Ridgewood → downtown23:51 — What to say to someone on the fence about registering25:02 — How to get involved: run, volunteer, or just show up25:48 — Race dates and events breakdown26:11 — Rapid fire: favorite post-race food, running playlist, finish line song29:41 — One word to describe Springfield: "Underrated"30:22 — Why they keep coming back to Springfield even though they've moved away --- 🗓️ RACE WEEKEND: AUGUST 7 & 8, 2025📦 Packet Pickup + Kids Fun Run — Friday, August 7th🏃 5K + Half Marathon — Saturday, August 8th🥞 Post-race pancake breakfast at Mother Stewart's🎷 Same weekend as the Jazz & Blues Festival 💛 All proceeds benefit the Springfield Regional Cancer Center --- 🌐 LINKS & INFO:Register, volunteer, or learn more: https://www.happyhalfmarathon.comFollow Happy Half Marathon: @HappyHalfMarathon on Facebook & Instagram --- 📺 ABOUT LIVE FROM SPRINGFIELD USA:Live From Springfield USA is your local podcast celebrating the stories, people, and moments that make Springfield, Ohio worth talking about. From community builders to local legends — we talk to the people making it happen. 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.📱 Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/livefromspringfieldusa🌐 More at: centercity.studio --- #HappyHalfMarathon #Springfield #ChooseHappy #LiveFromSpringfieldUSA #SpringfieldOhio #HalfMarathon #RunSpringfield #CommunityFirst #SpringfieldRegionalCancerCenter #Podcast #OnlyInSpringfield #OhioRunning #LocalPodcast #CommunityRace

  3. Jul 25

    “Just Come In and Sit Down” Ted's Open-Door Vision for Springfield | Live From Springfield USA

    For years, Ted Dryden was the man behind the curtain. This week, he steps in front of it.Host Josh Taylor sits down with Ted — the videographer, studio owner, and new steward of the Live From Springfield USA brand — for an honest conversation about taking the reins of Center City Studio, the 4,000-square-foot creative space tucked into the heart of downtown Springfield (yes, there’s a real bank vault inside).Ted opens up about stepping out of the background after Chad Wilson’s move to the United Way, why he’s committed to telling truthful — not “Pollyanna” — stories about Springfield, and his open-door vision: a platform where everyday people, community leaders, and passionate “subject matter experts” can come sit down and share what they love about this city.It’s a conversation about vulnerability, using your own voice, and building something open-handed for the community — plus the inspiring story of Nasir, a former Springfield High student now headed into Wright State’s MFA film program.If you’ve got a Springfield story worth telling, this one’s an invitation.▶ WATCH & LISTEN 🌐 Website: https://livefromsusa.com 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0b4ub8Cfl7yfO0iMUd6Yle 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-springfield-usa-podcast/id1664549859📩 WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Got a story, a passion, or something you’re building in Springfield / Clark County? Reach out via our Facebook or Instagram (Messenger), or email livefromsusa@gmail.com.⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 The vision, in Ted’s words 0:29 Meet Ted — the man behind the curtain 0:54 Taking the reins from Chad Wilson 2:09 Inside Center City Studio (and the bank vault) 3:49 Seven episodes and the itch to do more 5:13 Building “the vault”: an unbranded, unhosted space 6:45 The turning point: why truthful storytelling matters 8:41 Springfield’s reputation vs. reality 9:57 Open-handed leadership & getting comfortable on camera 11:05 An open platform for everyday experts 13:30 Passion vs. business: keeping the lights on 14:43 The studio at work: community projects 16:56 Learning to tell your own story 19:26 Ten years from now: the legacy Ted hopes to leave 20:22 Advice for anyone nervous to sit down 21:41 10,000 eyeballs — and growing the brand 22:03 “It’s not really live” (and neither is SNL) 23:50 Nossier’s story: from Springfield High to Wright State’s MFA 27:23 How to get on the podcastLive From Springfield USA is a community media project spotlighting the people, places, and stories that make Springfield, Ohio worth talking about. GO. MAKE. TALK.#Springfield #SpringfieldOhio #ClarkCounty #LiveFromSpringfieldUSA #CenterCityStudio #LocalPodcast #CommunityStories #Ohio #Podcast #SpringfieldOH

  4. Jul 25

    From Storage Room to Dream Gym: Quinnton Howard's Jiu-Jitsu Journey | Live From Springfield USA

    What happens when a guy who got choked out three times by a high school girl on his very first day of Jiu-Jitsu turns that humbling moment into a full-blown obsession — and eventually his own gym? In this episode, host Josh Taylor sits down with Quinton Howard, owner of Fifth Shield Grappling Club in Springfield, Ohio, for a raw and inspiring conversation about transformation, faith, entrepreneurship, and what it really means to build something from nothing. From an unlisted basement storage unit to a thriving grappling community, Quinton's story will fire you up whether you're into martial arts or not.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🥋 ABOUT QUINNTON HOWARDQuinnton Howard is the owner and head coach of 5th Shield Grappling Club, a no-gi Jiu-Jitsu gym located inside the Commerce Point Building in Springfield, Ohio. After discovering Jiu-Jitsu in 2018 during a weight loss journey — inspired by Joe Rogan's podcast — Quinton became obsessed with the art and dedicated years to training, competing, and eventually coaching. A brown belt practitioner, Quinton is known for his innovative "constraints-led approach" to coaching, which replaces traditional drilling with live, game-based training. He runs the gym alongside his wife Kaitlynn, and together they're building a community that welcomes everyone from competitive wrestlers to first-time beginners.⏱️ CHAPTERS0:00 — Cold Open: Powerful Teaser Soundbites0:32 — Introduction: Welcome to the Show, Quinnton!1:00 — Family Life: Meeting Wife Kaitlynn & Her Role at the Gym1:50 — Fatherhood: Raising Two Young Boys in the Grappling Life2:37 — Career Before the Gym: Working as a Baker4:08 — Generational Progress: Mom's 3 Jobs & Covering Ground for His Sons5:32 — The Baker Job as Accidental Business School6:17 — Josh's Entrepreneurial Journey: Car Detailing During Covid7:19 — Your Business Reflects You: Energy, Leadership & Showing Up8:26 — Finding the Gym Space: The Chain of Referrals That Changed Everything11:43 — Faith & Movement: "God Takes 10 Steps for Every 1"13:45 — Delayed Gratification: Working a Year With Nothing to Show15:28 — What is Grappling / Jiu-Jitsu? A Beginner's Breakdown17:42 — Self-Defense Reality Check: The Gi vs. No-Gi Street Fight Debate18:33 — The Gym's First 4 Months: Living the Dream19:52 — Quinnton's Origin Story: Weight Loss, Joe Rogan & The High School Girl21:59 — Obsession & Character: Humility as a Superpower23:40 — Self-Directed Development: The Purple Belt Turning Point26:09 — Leg Locks & Strategy: The Art of Multi-Directional Dilemmas28:11 — Becoming a Coach at Queen City29:52 — Personalized Training Philosophy: Meet People Where They Are33:04 — The Constraints-Led Approach (Deep Dive): Flipping the Script on Traditional Training40:23 — No Unsolvable Problems: A Leadership Philosophy40:38 — Why Springfield + No-Gi Market Opportunity42:58 — Fifth Shield Branding: The Story Behind the Name44:24 — Kids Program Deep Dive: Evil Backpack, Dragon & Castle47:41 — Jiu-Jitsu & Daily Life: Discipline Builds Mental Fortitude49:03 — Personal Transformation: From Being Bullied to Finding Manhood50:54 — Future Goals: "I'm Just Getting Started"52:45 — Message to People on the Fence: Free Week Trial, No Pressure54:31 — Closing: Building Community at Commerce Point━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🔗 CONNECT WITH 5th SHIELD GRAPPLING CLUB📍 Location: Commerce Point Building (Basement), Springfield, Ohio📱 Instagram: @5thshieldgrapplingclub 🌐 Facebook: Fifth Shield Grappling Club🥋 Free Week Trial — No experience needed, just show up!🎙️ CONNECT WITH LIVE FROM SPRINGFIELD USA🌐 Website: https://livefromsusa.com/📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@livefromspringfieldusa📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/springfieldusatv📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/springfieldusatv/👊 ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?Hit that SUBSCRIBE button and turn on notifications 🔔

  5. Jul 25

    The Arts Are Springfield's Secret Weapon | Krissy Hartman | Live From Springfield USA Ep. 3

    The arts aren't just entertainment — they're the heartbeat of a community. 🎭🎨🎵In Episode 3 of Live From Springfield USA, we sit down with Krissy Hartman, Executive Director of the Springfield Arts Council, to talk about her lifelong journey in the arts, what makes Springfield's arts scene unlike anywhere else in the country, and why 2025 is a landmark year.Krissy breaks down:✅ How a childhood audition for Annie set the course of her entire life✅ Why she chose Springfield over New York City — and never looked back✅ The Summer Arts Festival's 60th anniversary (the longest-running admission-free festival in the country)✅ The collaborative Ragtime in Concert production this spring✅ Why the arts are a universal language that breaks down barriers of age, race, and background✅ What Springfield loses if organizations like the Arts Council disappear✅ Her message to young women pursuing leadership roles🗓️ KEY DATES:• Ragtime in Concert — May 2 & 3 | Clark State Performing Arts Center | FREE (tickets required)• Summer Arts Festival Kickoff / 60th Anniversary Celebration — May 29• Summer Arts Festival — June 11 – July 11 | Veterans Park | FREE admission (Wednesday – Sunday each week)🎟️ Reserve tickets & learn more: SpringfieldArtsCouncil.org📱 Follow the Springfield Arts Council on FacebookConnect With Us🌐 Official Website: https://livefromsusa.com📸 Instagram: @LiveFromSpringfieldUSAFB: https://www.facebook.com/springfieldusatv/[Sponsorships]Interested in reaching Springfield’s most engaged audience? View our sponsorship packages here: https://livefromsusa.com/sponsors🎙️ Live From Springfield USA is a podcast and video series dedicated to highlighting the people, places, and stories that make Springfield, Ohio one of the most unique communities in the Midwest.🕐 Chapter Markers00:00 - Introduction & Why the Arts Matter01:45 - Krissy's Origin Story: Auditioning for Annie at Age 403:30 - Why the Arts Are a Universal Language05:10 - From Cleveland to Springfield: How Krissy Found Her Home07:45 - Wittenberg, Hairspray & Falling in Love with Springfield10:20 - The Springfield Arts Council: What It Does & Why It Exists13:00 - The Summer Arts Festival: 60 Years of Free Community Art17:30 - Surviving COVID & Keeping the Festival Alive20:00 - What to Expect at the Summer Arts Festival24:15 - Why Free Admission Changes Everything27:00 - Ragtime in Concert: A Massive Spring Collaboration34:00 - The Arts as Empathy & Community Building39:30 - Springfield's Future: The Next 20-25 Years44:00 - Advice for Young Women in Leadership47:30 - What Springfield Loses Without the Arts Council52:00 - Why You Should Visit Springfield This Summer55:30 - Key Dates, Tickets & How to Get Involved58:00 - Closing Thoughts(Note: timestamps are approximate based on the transcript flow — scrub through and adjust before publishing)

  6. Jul 25

    The Truth About Fitness & Anxiety | Ryan Kibler (Evergreen Fitness)

    In this episode of Live from Springfield USA, host Josh Taylor sits down with Ryan Kibler, the founder of Evergreen Fitness. Ryan shares his 15-year journey in the fitness industry—from working at a local Footlocker to hand-picking equipment from across the country to build one of Springfield’s most dedicated training facilities.Ryan dives deep into the "unspoken" side of fitness: how exercise acts as a regulator for the nervous system, the reality of managing business-owner anxiety, and why "skin in the game" is the secret ingredient to client success. Whether you are a local Springfield resident or an aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with insights on discipline, community, and the power of delayed gratification.Connect with Evergreen Fitness: https://www.instagram.com/evergreenfitnessspringfield/Location: Springfield, OHServices: 24/7 Access, Personal Training, Nutrition CoachingInstagram: [Insert Link]Key Moments in this Episode:00:00 - Meet Ryan Kibler: 15 Years in Springfield Fitness01:45 - The Mindset of a Self-Made Business Owner03:15 - Overcoming Chronic Health Issues through Nutrition07:30 - Why "Free" Doesn't Work: The Importance of Skin in the Game11:40 - The Transition from Trainer to Gym Owner14:10 - Why Nutrition is 80% of the Battle15:45 - Exercise as Medicine for Depression & Anxiety22:10 - Real Talk: Handling the Panic of Opening a Business26:30 - The 0 to 100 Trap: How to Actually Build Discipline32:45 - Evergreen Fitness: Membership & Training Info36:50 - Hand-Picking Equipment & Community over CompetitionSubscribe for more stories from the Springfield community!#SpringfieldUSA #EvergreenFitness #FitnessMindset #GymOwner #HealthAndWellness #SmallBusinessGrowth

  7. Jul 25

    First Friday Downtown Springfield Guide (Bonus Episode) | Nash Bash + Local Spots

    Downtown Springfield is a great place to visit — and it’s especially true on First Fridays.In this bonus episode of Live From Springfield USA, our team hits Downtown Springfield to spotlight four local businesses that supported Nash Bash and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Drive, benefiting United Way of Springfield and surrounding regions.We’re highlighting these businesses so you know how you can support them — and why you should be a part of the Downtown Springfield community.Featured stopsReimagine Gifts — “Spa, stationery & style”Firefly Boutique — ladies clothing + accessories + gift optionsViva La Fiesta — First Friday fundraiser drink (“Tropical Parton”)Açaí bowls at 30 N Fountain — community-focused local business storyGet involvedHave an event, business, artist, or nonprofit we should feature?Comment below, tag us, or DM us — we’re building the calendar.Subscribe for more Springfield stories: www.livefromsusa.comFollow Live From Springfield USA: https://www.facebook.com/springfieldusatv#SpringfieldOhio #DowntownSpringfield #FirstFriday #SupportLocalChapters:0:00 – First Friday in Downtown Springfield0:47 – Reimagine Gifts (Spa, Stationery & Style)4:27 – Firefly Boutique (Shopping Stop)5:18 – Viva La Fiesta (The "Tropical Parton" Drink)6:22 – Açaí Bowls at 30 N Fountain (Jillian’s Story)9:42 – United Way: Nash Bash & Imagination Library

  8. Jul 25

    Springfield Shows UP for the Youth 🔥 | Dance Stomp Shake 2026

    Live From Springfield USA was on the ground at the 6th Annual Dance Stomp Shake at the Clark State Performing Arts Center — and Springfield did NOT disappoint! 🎉From jaw-dropping performances by the city's youngest dancers to an official City Proclamation honoring Behind the Curtain Dance Studio, this night was a celebration of everything that makes Springfield special.We caught up with:💃 Behind the Curtain Dance Studio — celebrating 12+ years of building confidence, creativity, and community through dance (jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, tumbling, musical theater & more!)🎗️ BATS Program (Bringing Awareness to Students) — middle and high schoolers from 10 Springfield schools spreading the message of mental health awareness and suicide prevention🏆 First Place winners bringing home the trophy for Springfield!This is what Springfield is made of. Real people. Real community. Real love. ❤️📍 Clark State Performing Arts Center | Springfield, OH🎙️ Stay tuned to Live From Springfield USA for more stories from the heart of our city.👇 Subscribe so you never miss a moment: @livefromspringfieldusa  #SpringfieldOhio #DanceStompShake #LiveFromSpringfieldUSA #BehindTheCurtainDanceStudio #BATSProgram #YouthArts #CommunityLove #SpringfieldArts #SupportLocal #DanceCompetition

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We’re back and bringing you real stories, real voices, and real conversations from the heart of Springfield, Ohio. In this first episode of our revitalized podcast, we dive into the history of Springfield, USA, its past iterations, and what’s ahead.

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