White Fence Living

Justin Rush
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"White Fence Living: Real stories from New Albany, Ohio, hosted by a local dad, youth sports coach and community member. From community leaders to everyday voices, we share what makes 43054 tick—with a history sprinkle, no politics. Uncurated chats over the white fences."

  1. 4D AGO

    Lighting Up Lives With Intentional Giving

    What does real support look like when a cancer diagnosis hits the middle of ordinary life? We dive into the story behind the Karen Wellington Foundation and explore how “fun” becomes care: dinners that taste like freedom, concerts that shake off chemo fog, Disney pools where a mom laughs with her kids and forgets she’s bald for an afternoon. It’s not about escaping reality; it’s about restoring it, one intentional moment at a time. We talk through how the foundation flips the script on traditional aid by asking a simple question—what does fun look like to you?—and letting recipients lead. That opens space for hyper-personal gifts: a steakhouse night plus Adam Sandler tickets, front-row seats at a game, or no‑travel experiences that feel easy and joyful. You’ll hear how a podcast nomination turned into a full-circle moment, how a crew of exhausted installers found new energy to put holiday lights on a widowed dad’s home, and why anticipation itself is a powerful medicine for families. Along the way, we highlight partners and pathways that expand impact without adding friction: in‑kind hotel nights and miles, buy‑one‑give‑one music therapy, and grants that land with uncanny timing. A volleyball team reading a surprise nomination to their coach on Pink Day shows how communities can see and celebrate their own. We also share chapter stats, the renewed 2026 focus on “impact with intention,” and practical ways to nominate someone without bureaucracy or second-guessing their timeline. If this moved you, help us spread it. Nominate a woman living with breast cancer, offer in‑kind support, or share this episode with a friend who needs hope. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what joy would you send first? Support the show

    1h 5m

  2. 12/17/2025

    From Montreal Ice To New Albany Roots: Hockey, Family, And Real Estate

    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. Support the show

    1h 23m

  3. 11/19/2025

    New Albany Then And Now: Sports, Growth, And Giving Back

    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? Support the show

    1h 41m

  4. 11/05/2025

    How A Neighborhood Garden Grew Into A Lifeline For Local Food Pantries

    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. Support the show

    1h 23m

  5. 09/24/2025

    From Patient to CEO: Joe Apgar's Pelotonia Journey

    What happens when 7,500 cyclists, 3,000 volunteers, and tens of thousands of spectators come together for a common cause? Something truly extraordinary.  Joe Apgar, CEO of Pelotonia and a cancer survivor himself, takes us behind the scenes of the organization that has raised over $320 million for cancer research at The James Cancer Hospital. His personal journey from testicular cancer diagnosis during his senior year of college to leading one of the most successful fundraising movements in cancer research exemplifies the full-circle impact Pelotonia creates. The magic of Pelotonia lies in its unique funding structure – corporate sponsors underwrite all operational costs, ensuring 100% of participant-raised dollars go directly to research. This model has funded breakthroughs ranging from life-saving drugs to the country's first FDA-approved telehealth clinical trial, which allows patients anywhere to participate without relocating near a research hospital. New Albany has been instrumental to Pelotonia's success since its earliest days, consistently producing more participants and fundraising than almost any other zip code. The community's embrace of the event – from decorated streets to emotional "spirit stations" where patients thank riders – creates powerful moments that transcend the physical challenge of cycling. As Pelotonia expands beyond its flagship Ride Weekend to include gravel rides, hiking events, and kids' rides across twelve communities, the organization maintains its laser focus on excellence while evolving to engage more people in its mission. The recent recruitment of Dr. Kimron Rathmel, former director of the National Cancer Institute, to lead The James signals even greater possibilities ahead for cancer research in Columbus. Ready to be part of something bigger than yourself? Visit pelotonia.org to discover how you can contribute to groundbreaking cancer research through riding, volunteering, or donating to this remarkable community movement. Support the show

    52 min

  6. 09/17/2025

    The Business of Beauty: Building an Art Gallery from Scratch

    What does it take to build a thriving art gallery from the ground up? Hayley's journey offers a masterclass in following your passion against all odds. Growing up on Long Island with its breathtaking beaches, Hayley developed an early love for beauty and creativity through museum visits with her art-teacher sister. While her corporate marketing career took her around the world, art remained her true passion—using paychecks to buy paintings while friends splurged on luxury cars and vacations. Life took a dramatic turn when she received a lifetime achievement award in her mid-forties. Reflecting on her father's passing at 47 and her constant travels away from her young children, Hayley realized something needed to change. A synagogue fundraiser where she organized an art auction revealed an unexpected truth: New Albany residents loved buying original art. Just like that, a business plan was born. The Hayley Gallery opened on November 8, 2007—her father's birthday—with an overwhelming response of 500 attendees. Then came the 2008 recession. Hayley cashed in retirement accounts, sold jewelry, and made countless sacrifices to keep her dream alive, driven by commitment to the artists who trusted her with their work. Today, the gallery represents 90 diverse artists, each with remarkable stories—from Adam Culp, who creates art inspired by his experience of blindness before cornea transplants, to Sean Augustine, who found healing through art after military service. The gallery has become more than a business; it's a community where artists' stories of transformation inspire visitors and collectors alike. Come visit the Hayley Gallery, where you'll be greeted by Maddie the gallery dog and surrounded by beautiful, meaningful art in an inviting atmosphere that breaks down the intimidation often associated with art spaces. As Hayley tells visitors, "You're standing in my dream." Support the show

    57 min

  7. 09/10/2025

    Designing Accessibility: Aaron's Form 5 Journey

    What if the solution to a complex challenge isn't what experts assume, but what users actually need? Aaron Westbrook discovered this truth firsthand, born without his right hand in a world where representation for people with limb differences was practically non-existent. Aaron's story begins in New Albany, where his family has deep roots going back to the 1940s. As a tech-savvy teenager who served as unofficial tech support for family members, Aaron's life changed when he gained access to his high school's 3D printer. With remarkable initiative, he approached a teacher he'd never met, explaining his research and asking for help. By the end of his sophomore year, Aaron had created his first 3D-printed prosthetic arm—and discovered his life's purpose. Just three months after high school graduation, Aaron founded Form 5, a nonprofit organization creating adaptive products for people with limb differences. Now celebrating its eighth anniversary, Form 5 has pioneered an approach fundamentally different from the prosthetics industry. Rather than developing expensive, high-tech devices that look impressive but offer limited practical value, Aaron listens to what users actually need for specific activities. This philosophy led to Form 5's innovative COFAB (Collaboration and Fabrication) workshops, where individuals with limb differences collaborate with college students and industry mentors to develop custom solutions. The results have been transformative—from helping a marching band member hold a trumpet to enabling a woman to ride a bike for a cancer fundraiser. Form 5's signature innovation, the Bike Arm Adapter, represents a paradigm shift in adaptive technology. Unlike traditional prosthetics that attach to the person, the adapter connects to the bicycle handlebar and features a sizing system similar to shoes. This approach makes the product more affordable, adaptable, and sustainable—outgrown adapters can be returned and repurposed. Aaron's vision extends beyond those missing limbs to include people with neuromuscular diseases, stroke, arthritis, and Parkinson's. Through Form 5, he's become "the person I needed growing up," creating representation and tools that were missing from his own childhood. Connect with Form 5 at their finish line celebration on September 13th at North High Brewing in Westerville as Aaron completes his 190-mile fundraising ride from Indianapolis to Columbus, and help them reach their $100,000 goal to expand their life-changing work nationwide. Support the show

    43 min

  8. 08/20/2025

    AI, Innovation, and Community: A Conversation with Brad Griffith

    What if technology could bridge equity gaps instead of widening them? In this thought-provoking conversation with Brad Griffith, founder of Buckeye Innovation, we explore how purposeful technology is transforming lives in unexpected ways. Brad takes us on a journey from his early days as one of the first tenants in New Albany's business incubator to building applications that help students with disabilities find meaningful employment and assist justice-involved individuals in clearing their records. His passion for using technology to solve real human problems shines through in every project he describes. The discussion tackles AI head-on, offering a refreshingly balanced perspective. "Is AI a threat? Yes, but there are so many other threats to business," Brad explains. Rather than fearing technological evolution, he embraces it while recognizing where humans still maintain the creative edge. "AI is built to give you the most likely answer. It's not saying 'I'm going to look at a totally different industry and see how it applies here.'" Perhaps most intriguing is Brad's successful implementation of a four-day work week at Buckeye Innovation. When he announced plans to grow revenue by 25% while cutting work hours by 20%, skeptical colleagues questioned his logic. His response? "The behaviors that enable us to cut our work week back by 20% are the same behaviors that will enable us to grow." This philosophy of intentional rest and focused productivity challenges conventional wisdom about how we structure our work lives. The conversation weaves together business innovation, family life, and community involvement, revealing how technology can enhance human connection rather than diminish it. Whether you're a business leader, technology enthusiast, or simply curious about creating more purpose-driven work, you'll find valuable insights in Brad's approach to technology that serves humanity. Ready to rethink how technology can be used for good? Subscribe now and join our community of innovators making a difference through purposeful work. Support the show

    1h 13m
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About

"White Fence Living: Real stories from New Albany, Ohio, hosted by a local dad, youth sports coach and community member. From community leaders to everyday voices, we share what makes 43054 tick—with a history sprinkle, no politics. Uncurated chats over the white fences."

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Rush
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 White Fence Living
  • Show Website
    White Fence Living