Kearney Area Chamber Podcast

Rylie Mills

The Kearney Area Chamber Podcast is your inside connection to what’s really happening in business and leadership right here in Kearney, Nebraska. Through Chamber Chatter and Let’s Talk About It with Carmen, we’ll keep you in the loop on Chamber updates, upcoming events, and the people moving our community forward. You’ll hear real conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, growth, and the challenges that come with building something that matters.

Episodes

  1. The Question That Started It All

    3D AGO

    The Question That Started It All

    One random hallway question turned into a podcast, and we’re starting exactly where we live: real conversations, small surprises, and practical help for people who want stronger connections. We talk about the spark behind Let’s Talk About It With Carmen, do a quick “rate your day” check-in, and set the tone for a show built on asking better questions. Then we get into the kind of detail you can’t script. Carmen drops the fun fact that she has never had ketchup, and we unpack how a tiny habit can reveal family influence, personal boundaries, and the way we all carry our own defaults. We also play Two Truths and a Lie, because sometimes the fastest way to understand someone is to let them be a little weird on purpose. We also switch gears into community and chamber of commerce life: updates on Leads and YPN events, what’s coming up, and how people can get involved. Finally, we answer a real listener-style question with step-by-step guidance on chamber marketing tools like booking an e-blast and adding a social shout-out, plus the email marketing stats that matter most: list size, open rates, and click rates. If you care about networking, local business growth, and practical promotion strategies that actually get seen, hit play now. Subscribe, share this with a friend who should be in the room, and leave a review, then tell us: what question should Carmen answer next?

    12 min
  2. Chamber Chatter Gunner's Place

    FEB 27

    Chamber Chatter Gunner's Place

    We share how a roadside assist leads into a bigger story: building a specialized childcare center for medically fragile kids and their siblings, and the community effort making it real. Sheila explains the gaps, the licensing maze, and the fundraiser pushing the project across the line. • the regional childcare shortfall and why complex medical needs are excluded • how Gunner’s Place pairs RN and LPN staffing with trained childcare • facility secured and full remodel plan to meet standards • Nebraska licensing steps and unclear ratios for this model • Big Idea win as validation and community visibility • fundraiser details, auction highlights, and where funds go • accepting waivers and offering respite care with notice • siblings welcomed for one-drop convenience and family stability • early-to-late weekday hours with room to expand • where to follow updates: billboard, Facebook, gunnersplace.org, chamber site • Rising Stars as a local leadership and culture builder February 28 at Eunice Conference Center South — Dining with Gunner’s Place. Visit gunnersplace.org or find us on Facebook for details

    18 min
  3. Chamber Chatter Renegade Removal

    FEB 27

    Chamber Chatter Renegade Removal

    A chef-turned-founder, a late-night spark, and a business built around the chore no one wants to do. We sit down with Alex from Renegade Removal to unpack how he turned a single backyard pickup into a 200-property, subscription-based pet waste service that genuinely helps people. From busy families and seniors to pregnant customers and cancer patients, he shows how a simple, reliable routine can restore time, dignity, and peace of mind. We start with community momentum and the Chamber’s new-year slate before diving into the moment Alex saw the gap, designed a logo, grabbed a domain, and opened social channels—then woke up to three paying customers. He breaks down the pricing logic (number of pets, not yard size), the power of automated invoicing, and the mindset that took him from hospital employee to full-time “turd wrangler” in two months. You’ll hear how a playful brand can still deliver like a utility, why trust in local services is everything, and how consistency turned a quirky niche into steady growth. Alex also shares the Big Idea pitch journey, the origin of the Renegade name, and the careful approach to hiring when your team enters backyards. We explore litter box swaps—a first in his region—and thoughtful expansion into rodents and birds while avoiding tech shortcuts that could erode brand integrity. If you’re curious about local entrepreneurship, subscription models, service operations, or the human side of pet care, this conversation brings practical insights and a dose of grit. Enjoy the story, steal the systems, and tell a friend who loves their pets but hates the mess. If this resonated, follow the show, rate us, and share a short review—your feedback helps more curious listeners find conversations like this.

    16 min
  4. Chamber Chatter HOTWORX

    FEB 27

    Chamber Chatter HOTWORX

    Originally Released October 2025

    14 min
  5. Chamber Chatter Applied Connective

    FEB 27

    Chamber Chatter Applied Connective

    Orignally Released September 2025

    24 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

The Kearney Area Chamber Podcast is your inside connection to what’s really happening in business and leadership right here in Kearney, Nebraska. Through Chamber Chatter and Let’s Talk About It with Carmen, we’ll keep you in the loop on Chamber updates, upcoming events, and the people moving our community forward. You’ll hear real conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, growth, and the challenges that come with building something that matters.

Information

  • Creator
    Rylie Mills
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kearney Area Chamber Podcast
  • Show Website
    Kearney Area Chamber Podcast