Project Next Media

Project Next Media Team

Project Next Media wants to help make your life better by taking out the fear, hate, and division in your news. www.projectnextindiana.com

  1. 12h ago

    Mental Fitness: Beating Perfectionism

    😂 BEATING PERFECTIONISM: Why are we SO mean to ourselves?! This might be one of the most fun Mental Fitness episodes Ellen Morrison Kelley and I have done. We laughed. A LOT. 😂 But we also talked about something that gets into so many of our heads: The pressure to be perfect. Perfect parent. Perfect wife. Perfect employee. Perfect body. Perfect house. Perfect response. Perfect life. And heaven forbid you make a mistake — especially where other people can see it. 😬 But here’s the problem: Human beings are messy. Life is complicated. Most things are gray, not black and white — and NONE of us are perfect. So why do we expect ourselves to be? In this episode, we talk about the toxic messages we absorb from our culture and how easily they become the voice inside our own heads. I share what I’ve learned from being heavily judged online — and how I’ve had to learn to let some of it go. Ellen shares a story about a man who said something absolutely SHOCKING to her while she was walking in a parade. 😳 And we talk about the expectations placed on women — especially the generations of women who came before us — and how much of that baggage we’re still carrying around without even realizing it. Thankfully, Ellen is a retired therapist, because at several points we basically had to ask: WHY DO WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES?! 😂 One idea kept coming back: ❤️ What if we talked to ourselves the way we would talk to our best friend? We would never expect our best friend to be perfect. We wouldn’t tear her apart over every mistake. We’d remind her she’s human, tell her to learn from it, laugh when appropriate, and KEEP GOING. Maybe we deserve that same kindness. This episode is funny, honest, messy and VERY relatable — and I think a lot of people are going to see themselves in this conversation. 🎥 Watch “Beating Perfectionism” and then tell us: What pressure did you spend years putting on yourself that you finally realized you could LET GO? And what do you do when that little voice in your head starts demanding perfection again? 👇 We really want to hear your answers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    Mental Fitness: Beating Perfectionism

  2. 3d ago

    The Math ain't mathing

    The math ain’t mathing — and sometimes all you can do is laugh at the absurdity. 😂 Sarah Blessing and Ellen Morrison Kelley break down the wild world of local government in Floyd and Harrison Counties, where yearly state audits keep raising the same basic question: Where did all the money go? We laugh, we shake our heads, and we talk about just how crazy it is that local governments can struggle to clearly account for taxpayer dollars year after year. But we also get into what regular people can actually do about it. You don’t have to run for office. Grab a friend, go to a local meeting, get dinner afterward, ask questions, and start paying attention to where your money is going. National politics gets all the attention, but local government affects our everyday lives — and it’s one place where showing up can actually make a difference. Come for the ridiculous audit stories. Stay for some surprisingly simple ways we can all help make local government better. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    The Math ain't mathing

  3. Aug 2

    Where Is Our Tax Money Going?

    🚨 Indiana communities are about to face some very difficult financial decisions — and we need to be paying attention. In this episode of Project Next, Sarah Blessing and James Coogle break down what Senate Enrolled Act 1 means for Harrison County and why our county councils and commissioners need to understand what is coming. With less property-tax revenue available than previously projected, local governments, schools, libraries, fire protection and other community services will be competing for increasingly limited dollars. That means now is not the time for careless spending. We talk about Harrison County’s numbers, multimillion-dollar building purchases, and a question taxpayers should always be able to ask: Do we actually need this — and can we afford it? If millions of taxpayer dollars are going toward a building, the public deserves to see the need, the true cost, the alternatives considered, and the long-term impact on our community. SEA 1 is changing the financial reality for local government. Our local leaders need to understand it, plan for it, and start being extremely careful with our money. 🎥 Watch this episode of Project Next. This is one local-government conversation every Hoosier should understand. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    Where Is Our Tax Money Going?

  4. Jul 22

    Why Clark County is Housing ICE Detainees

    What is really happening with ICE in Southern Indiana—and why aren’t more people talking about it? Sarah Blessing sits down with Rhiannon Ryan of Do Something Southern Indiana, a nonpartisan community organization working to educate, organize, and empower local residents around issues affecting Southern Indiana. Together, they take a deep dive into Clark County’s agreement to house ICE detainees in the Clark County Jail, the questions surrounding federal funding for that agreement, and why transparency matters. Reports have raised questions about whether the county is receiving the funding originally expected, making public records requests more important than ever to understand how the program is operating and what taxpayers should know. The conversation also examines the recent ICE operation in Clark County, where at least 28 people were detained over two days—Wednesday and Thursday, July 8-9, 2026—an event that many Southern Indiana residents still know very little about.   Sarah and Rhiannon discuss concerns about local law enforcement’s role, why the upcoming Clark County sheriff’s race could shape the future of the jail’s ICE partnership, and why local elections often have a much bigger impact on our communities than many people realize. Most importantly, this episode is about refusing to give in to hopelessness. Whether you agree or disagree on immigration policy, democracy works best when people stay informed, ask questions, and get involved. Rhiannon shares how organizations like Do Something Southern Indiana—and groups like Indivisible, with chapters across the country—give ordinary people a way to make a difference close to home. If you’ve ever wondered, “What can I actually do?” this conversation is a reminder that change begins locally—and that every community needs people willing to show up, learn the facts, and care about their neighbors. Don’t tune out. Get informed. Get involved. Be part of the solution. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    Why Clark County is Housing ICE Detainees

  5. Jul 22

    Jessica Bailey is the GENIUS running for Indiana State Comptroller

    Jessica Bailey is running for Indiana State Comptroller—and every voter across the state can vote for her. Jessica is a fixer. When she sees a problem, she looks for creative, practical solutions and gets to work making things better. After serving on her local school board, Jessica saw serious problems with how elections were being run in Porter County. It took five days to count the votes in the election she won. She ran for Porter County Clerk, won, and is now finishing her second term. Jessica transformed the clerk’s office, improved election operations and helped develop an app that showed voters wait times at early-voting and Election Day locations. Her team’s work earned statewide and national recognition. Now she wants to bring that same innovation and accountability to the Comptroller’s office, helping Hoosiers clearly understand how our tax dollars are being spent. Jessica is part of an outstanding statewide team with Beau Bayh for Secretary of State and Coumba Kebe for State Treasurer. Watch this episode, meet Jessica and see why she is ready to help clean up Indiana state government. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    Jessica Bailey is the GENIUS running for Indiana State Comptroller

  6. Jul 20

    The Government You're Ignoring is Changing Your Life

    We spend hours every week following national politics, yet many of the decisions that affect our everyday lives are made just a few miles from home. Whether it’s a proposed data center, Flock cameras, public schools, libraries, local development, taxes, or the future of your community, local government is where these decisions often begin. The good news? This is also where your voice can make the biggest difference. In this episode, Sarah Blessing is joined by Floyd County Commissioner candidate Ellen Morrison Kelly to pull back the curtain on how local government really works. Together, they explain why attending a meeting, asking questions, speaking during public comment, or simply staying informed can have a real impact on the future of your town. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by national politics or wondered if one person can really make a difference, this conversation is for you. Stop doom scrolling and start discovering where your time and energy can create real change. What matters most to you—protecting farmland, supporting public schools, strengthening libraries, lowering utility costs, protecting privacy, helping your neighbors, or encouraging responsible growth? Whatever your passion, there’s a place to get involved. Real change doesn’t begin in Washington. It begins with neighbors showing up, paying attention, and working together. Watch this episode to learn why local government matters more than ever—and how you can become part of the solution. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    The Government You're Ignoring is Changing Your Life

  7. Jul 17

    Ethan Sweetland-May/Sarah Blessing community event

    What does it really take to change a community? Sarah Blessing and Ethan Sweetland-May spent nearly 90 minutes exploring that question during a powerful conversation at the historic All-Wool & A Yard Wide Democratic Club—the oldest Democratic social club in the country. Together, they talked honestly about why so many Hoosiers feel unheard, why Indiana has fallen behind on so many measures, and why giving up isn’t an option if we want a better future for our children and grandchildren. This wasn’t about political talking points. It was about people. About hope. About courage. About what everyday citizens can do to build stronger communities and a stronger Indiana. The evening ended with thoughtful audience questions and an inspiring conversation about working together—even when we don’t all agree. If you care about Indiana, your community, and the future we’re leaving the next generation, this is a conversation worth watching. 🎥 Watch, share, and join the conversation. What stood out to you? What do you think it will take to build a better Indiana? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    Ethan Sweetland-May/Sarah Blessing community event

  8. Jul 13

    Do ordinary people still have a voice with Kate Hess Pace

    What if the biggest problem facing America isn’t politics… it’s that we’ve stopped believing in each other? In this powerful Project Next conversation, Sarah Blessing sits down with Kate Hess Pace, Executive Director of Hoosier Action, to explore how everyday people can create real, lasting change in their communities. This isn’t about telling people what to think. It’s about helping people discover that they have more power than they realize. Sarah and Kate discuss: • Why Hoosier Action is political but nonpartisan • How organizing neighbors can accomplish things that individuals cannot • Why we’ve lost so much local control over our communities—and how we can get it back • The importance of supporting local people, local businesses, and local leadership • Why social media profits from fear and division, while real change happens through relationships • Why we need to build a bigger tent, not a smaller one • How meeting people where they are—with curiosity instead of judgment—creates stronger communities • Why there’s still so much reason to hope If you’ve ever felt discouraged by politics or wondered whether one person can really make a difference, this conversation is for you. To learn more about Hoosier Action and find ways to get involved in your community, visit hoosieraction.org, scroll to the bottom of the page, and sign up for their newsletter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

    Do ordinary people still have a voice with Kate Hess Pace
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5
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About

Project Next Media wants to help make your life better by taking out the fear, hate, and division in your news. www.projectnextindiana.com

Information

  • Creator
    Project Next Media Team
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    266
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Project Next Media
  • Show Website
    Project Next Media

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