Small Towns: Unscripted

Small Towns Unscripted
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  • Culture et société

Welcome to Small Towns: Unscripted, a podcast celebrating the heart of the Lake Chelan Valley community. Whether you're new to the area or from families who arrived here on covered wagons, this is a space for voices of all ages and backgrounds. We believe every connection, old or new, weaves a unique thread into our shared lives. Through authentic conversations, we aim to honor stories, bridge generational gaps, and foster genuine relationships. Join us in building a stronger, more vibrant community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Our mission is to build relationships.

  1. -1 j

    Dr. Bob Jankelson: The Visionary Who Brought Italy to Chelan | Tsillan Cellars

    There are certain people who don't simply live in a community—they help shape what that community becomes. And today on Small Towns Unscripted, we have the privilege of sitting down with one of those people. Dr. Bob Jankelson’s story begins on an original Washington family homestead, where he and his twin brother were raised by their grandmother without running water or indoor plumbing. It was there, doing farm chores, that Bob learned a philosophy that has followed him throughout his life: you can choose to enjoy the work in front of you—or you can choose not to. Bob chose to enjoy it. That work ethic would take him a very long way from that family farm. He graduated with honors from the University of Washington Dental School, built a remarkable career in dentistry and medical research, founded Myotronics Research, authored textbooks and scientific articles, developed groundbreaking medical technology, and ultimately delivered more than 600 lectures at medical and dental universities around the world. But then came Lake Chelan. Bob first fell in love with this valley as a University of Washington student in 1957. Nearly four decades later, he retired here—and instead of simply enjoying retirement, he began looking at what was happening to the community around him. Chelan's small orchards were disappearing. Bob believed that if this valley was going to preserve its agricultural heritage, it needed another chapter. His answer was grapes. Beginning in 1998, he started purchasing distressed orchard properties along Chelan's South Shore, eventually assembling 127 acres. And in 2000, he began creating what would become Tsillan Cellars. Today, Tsillan Cellars is one of the defining destinations of the Lake Chelan wine industry—recognized as Washington Winery of the Year in 2020, with Sorrento's earning international recognition as a destination restaurant. But I think the more important part of Bob's story is what all of that represents. Long before Lake Chelan became known as a wine destination, Bob saw what this valley could become. He believed agriculture could be preserved rather than abandoned, that tourism could extend beyond the traditional summer season, and that world-class wine, food, music, architecture and agriculture could all come together right here in Chelan. Now, approaching his 88th year, Bob is thinking about something else: stewardship—and what it means to pass the baton to the next generation. So today isn't just a conversation about Tsillan Cellars. It's about growing up on a Washington homestead. It's about science, entrepreneurship, agriculture, risk, vision and reinvention. It's about watching Lake Chelan change—and having the courage to help shape that change. And maybe most importantly, it's about what we leave behind when it's finally time to hand that stewardship to somebody else. This is exactly the kind of story Small Towns Unscripted was created to tell. Dr. Bob Jankelson, welcome to Small Towns Unscripted.

  2. 21 août

    Fire, Family & Second Chances: Ryan Peterson’s Apple Cup Story

    Today on Small Towns Unscripted, we’re sitting down with someone whose story is really about family, resilience, gratitude, and finding your way back home. Our guest is Ryan Peterson, who, along with his wife, owns and operates one of Lake Chelan’s longtime restaurant institutions — the Apple Cup Cafe. Ryan was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, and moved around the country quite a bit as a kid. His dad, Larry, worked in the hospital industry and would move from place to place helping turn operations around. But restaurants were already in the Peterson family. Then one day, Ryan’s grandfather, Bud Peterson, called his dad and told him there was a restaurant for sale in Chelan. That restaurant was the Apple Cup Cafe. Larry and Diane Peterson took a leap of faith, bought the restaurant from Don Keller, and moved their family to Chelan. Ryan was seven years old, and for a while they even lived in an apartment behind the restaurant. As a kid, Ryan remembers the perks pretty well — pancakes, burgers and milkshakes — and growing up during the summers in Chelan was about as good as it gets. But like a lot of kids from small towns, at 18 Ryan couldn’t wait to leave. His journey after Chelan included some difficult years. Ryan is very open about struggling with addiction at a young age. Eventually, his dad stepped in and did what was essentially an intervention, telling him it was time to get treatment. Ryan listened — and it changed the direction of his life. He’s now been sober for 16 years. That experience eventually led Ryan to help open addiction treatment facilities, where he did a little bit of everything — painting walls, answering phones, and even driving what he affectionately called the “Druggy Buggy,” taking people in treatment to events, appointments and wherever else they needed to go. Eventually, Ryan found his way back home. At 27, he and his wife took their own leap of faith and bought the Apple Cup Cafe. They became partners in business and in life, and today they’re raising three kids — a daughter and two sons. And then life tested them. They survived COVID and the enormous challenges it created for the restaurant industry — and then the Apple Cup caught fire. Ryan and his wife initially planned to rebuild, spending tens of thousands of dollars on design and planning before realizing that taking on that level of debt simply wasn't the right decision for their family. So they adapted. Ryan kept his staff working, the community helped them find a temporary home at the Community Center, and eventually Ryan and his wife created a new home for the Apple Cup — with a waterfront setting, outdoor dining, and a new chapter for a restaurant that has been part of Chelan for generations. Ryan will tell you he likes challenges. They motivate him to work harder, evolve and keep moving forward. But when you really talk to him, what stands out isn't the restaurant or even everything he's overcome. It's gratitude. Gratitude for his wife, his three kids, his family, his employees, and the community he once couldn't wait to leave — but was fortunate enough to come home to and raise his own family in. Ryan is humble, genuine, hardworking, and not afraid to talk about the difficult parts of his story. And that’s exactly what Small Towns Unscripted is all about. Ryan Peterson — welcome to the show.

  3. 14 août

    Chelan’s South Lakeshore — Rooted in Apples, Built to Adapt | Tom Burnett & Bub Watson

    There are some stories about Lake Chelan that can only be told by the people whose families lived them. On this episode of Small Towns Unscripted, we sit down with lifelong Lake Chelan orchardist Tom Burnett, along with returning guest Bub Watson, to reminisce about growing up, farming, raising families and adapting to generations of change along Lake Chelan’s South Shore and Twenty-Five Mile Creek. Tom takes us back to the beginning. His grandfather came from a wheat-farming family near Pomeroy and, before settling in Chelan, hauled oranges in California, hauled apples and worked for Sears in Wenatchee. He eventually purchased the family ranch near Twenty-Five Mile Creek, where six children were raised and four generations of the Burnett family would follow. The original orchard looked nothing like today’s high-density plantings. Trees were spaced roughly 40 by 40 feet, with Winesap, McIntosh and Rome Beauty among the varieties. Before local packing sheds, apples sometimes had to be hauled all the way to Seattle. Tom’s grandfather later became one of the original board members of the Tree Top cooperative, and the family became longtime Blue Chelan growers. Tom and Bub remember the good old days of Twenty-Five Mile Creek, including a time before the county finished blasting through the rock and completing the road into Chelan. Tom attended the small Twenty-Five Mile Creek school from kindergarten through eighth grade, when children living up the lake learned together in their own community. We also touch on the tragic 1945 school bus accident and the generational impact it had on South Shore families. More than 80 years later, it remains part of the history and memory of families forever affected by that day. The Robinsons. The Davidsons. The Hales. The Watsons. The Burnetts. And many others. These families didn’t simply own property along the South Shore. They built lives, raised children, farmed, helped their neighbors and created a community long before Lake Chelan became the destination it is today. Tom and Bub also take us through decades of change in the apple industry. Tom took over the family orchard right out of high school after his father’s health forced him to retire relatively young. Bub began planting orchard in 1978. Both remember horticultural meetings, new pruning techniques and constantly adapting to changing markets. They watched the industry become increasingly difficult. That helped begin a cycle familiar to generations of growers: pull established orchards, borrow against the farm, plant higher-density blocks and chase new varieties—sometimes discovering the market had changed again by the time those trees reached production. They also remember when your packing shed was part of your identity. Blue Chelan, Trout and others weren’t simply businesses. Growers had tremendous loyalty and pride in their sheds, along with plenty of friendly competition. We talk about the people whose labor made these orchards possible and how the workforce evolved, including Roberto, who has worked alongside Tom for 38 years and witnessed multiple transformations of the same land. Some South Shore water rights reach back to the homesteading era. The Watson family’s First Creek water rights date to 1893. Tom and Bub remember open irrigation ditches, gravity-fed systems and the transition to pumps and modern irrigation. That water didn’t just grow apples—it helped protect farms and homes. Tom experienced his first major wildfire around 1970, and irrigation water repeatedly proved invaluable when fire threatened the South Shore. It’s a reminder that small towns can disagree about almost anything, but when fire, tragedy or hardship arrives, neighbors have a remarkable way of becoming family again. Tom also talks candidly about the economics of today’s apple industry and what ultimately led his family to leave commercial orchard production and take the property in a different direction. Unfortunately, the Burnett story isn’t unique. Generational orchard families throughout the Chelan Valley face similar decisions as labor, operating expenses, replanting costs, land values and difficult apple markets put increasing pressure on the traditional family orchard. For Tom, leaving commercial orchard production wasn’t the end of his connection to Twenty-Five Mile Creek. He went on to spend roughly 25 years at Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, running the concession, helping visitors and remaining connected to the community where he grew up. This episode is about apples, but it’s really about much more. It’s about family, farming, water, fire, neighbors, change, survival and adaptation. Most of all, it’s two old friends remembering a Lake Chelan that fewer and fewer people today had the opportunity to experience.

  4. 7 août

    Renee & Linda McClellan: Family, Orchards & a Lifetime in the Chelan Valley

    Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. Today's conversation is a special one for me, and a little more personal. I'm sitting down with Lorene “Renee” McClellan and her daughter, Linda McClellan, to talk about family, orchards, and a lifetime of history here in the Chelan and Manson area. Renee comes from a generational Quincy-area family. Her father passed away when she was just two years old, and when Renee was around four, she and her older sister Janet moved to Chelan. She was still just a little girl, but Chelan would become home and the place where so much of the rest of her life would unfold. Renee was just 16 years old when she met Charles “Kip” McClellan. That meeting began a relationship that would become more than 60 years of marriage, two children, Doug and Linda, and a lifetime of working side by side. There's also a close connection between our families. Linda's grandfather and my grandfather on my dad's side were brothers, making Kip and my dad, Donald McClellan, first cousins. Kip was born in Missouri in 1930 and came west to Manson as a young boy. Interestingly, my grandmother Daisy also came to the Chelan Valley from Missouri as a young girl, making the journey by covered wagon. So there's a lot of family history and some interesting connections that we get to explore in this conversation. Kip and Renee built a life together around family and agriculture. At one point, they farmed more than 100 acres of apple orchards throughout the Valley. Kip also kept books for other farmers, prepared taxes, and operated a custom spraying service for orchardists throughout the area. And Renee was right there alongside him. Like so many women of that generation, she raised their family, worked seasonally sorting and packing apples, helped support the farm, and did whatever needed to be done. Renee and Kip were a team. But what stands out to me isn't just what they accomplished or how many acres they farmed. It's the kind of people they were. Kip was a genuinely gentle, kind and selfless man who was always willing to help somebody else. And Renee carries those same qualities today. Sadly, Kip eventually passed away after living with dementia. When you hear Renee talk about him, you quickly understand how deep their relationship was. She shared that there's not a day that goes by that Kip isn't still with her in some way, as she thinks about him and the life they shared together. Today, Renee lives with her granddaughter, not far from the orchard and home where so much of that life took place. She'll turn 90 years old this October, and when you listen to her, I think you'll be struck by just how sharp, resilient and incredibly grateful she is. Renee is a remarkable example of resilience, gratitude and grace. After nearly 90 years of life—with all the hard work, change, love and loss that comes with it—she still has an incredible appreciation for the life she's lived, the people she's loved and the memories she carries with her. And I think that's something that stays with you long after this conversation is over. This episode is certainly about orchards and old Chelan and Manson, but it's really about much more than that. It's about family, marriage, hard work, community, loss, resilience and gratitude. It's also about a generation of orchard families who worked together, depended on their neighbors, raised their kids in the orchards and helped shape this Valley into what it is today. And that's exactly why we started Small Towns Unscripted—to sit down, listen, and preserve the stories and voices of the people and families who helped make our small towns what they are. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Renee and Linda McClellan, on Small Towns Unscripted.

  5. 31 juil.

    Introducing Real Estate Unscripted #1 : Beyond "The Market"

    Welcome to a brand-new monthly segment of Small Towns Unscripted called Real Estate Unscripted with Nicole Turner and me. Before we jump into real estate, it's worth talking about why Small Towns Unscripted exists in the first place. After losing both of my parents in 2020 and 2021, I realized how quickly stories can disappear. Every person has a unique journey, and I wanted to create something that would preserve the stories of the people who have shaped our communities. The goal has never been just to interview people—it has been to help us know one another instead of simply knowing of one another and help unite our community. That same philosophy carries into real estate. I've spent nearly four decades in real estate, working buyers, sellers, project development, and one thing I've learned is that no two transactions are ever the same and the real estate industry is always evolving and reshaping itself. Real estate isn't just about buying and selling property. It's about people, relationships, problem-solving, creativity, and helping clients navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. In this segment, Nicole and I will go beyond the headlines and dive into what is really happening in today's "market". We'll talk about local trends, financing, contracts, land development, negotiations, technology, AI, marketing, and the myths that often surround real estate in the Lake Chelan Valley. We'll also share stories from behind the scenes because writing an offer is often the easy part. Getting a transaction to the closing table takes teamwork, experience, advocacy, and an incredible network of professionals working together. We'll discuss how our valley has evolved, how COVID changed the market, why today's buyers are more diverse than ever, and how marketing has become much more than putting a sign in the ground. Today we're not just selling homes—we're introducing people to a community and a lifestyle. Most importantly, we'll talk about people. Every buyer, seller, broker, lender, builder, business owner, and affiliate brings a different perspective, and we believe there's something to learn from everyone. Our hope is to make Real Estate Unscripted a regular part of Small Towns Unscripted, joining you one Friday each month. We'll bring you honest conversations, practical insights, local market updates, and behind-the-scenes stories that help make sense of an ever-changing industry. Whether you're buying, selling, investing, or simply curious about real estate in our valley, we hope you'll join us each month as we continue telling the stories that connect our community. Welcome to Real Estate Unscripted.

  6. 24 juil.

    Ryan Allen | Humble & Driven: Faith Over Fear, Boise State Entrepreneurship & Chelan Roots

    Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. I'm Russ McClellan, alongside my co-host Nicole Turner. Today we're joined by Ryan Allen, a young entrepreneur whose story is proof that success isn't determined by age—it's determined by initiative, work ethic, and having the courage to simply get started. Born in Wenatchee and raised in the Lake Chelan Valley, Ryan graduated from Chelan High School in 2023 and is now entering his senior year at Boise State University, where he's majoring in Business Management and Business Entrepreneurship. While balancing a full college schedule, Ryan has built a successful small business from the ground up, demonstrating that entrepreneurship isn't something you wait to pursue after graduation—it's something you learn by doing. At Boise State, Ryan has become a respected leader within the Greek community, receiving the prestigious "Man of the Year" award for his leadership, character, and dedication to mentoring fellow students. Serving as a Pledge Conductor, he has helped guide new members through one of the biggest transitions of their lives, emphasizing integrity, accountability, respect, and what it means to become a gentleman both on campus and beyond. Ryan is also the founder and owner of Rhino Repair & Removal, a company he launched with little more than a trailer, a handful of tools, and the willingness to work harder than everyone around him. What began with one social media post offering junk removal and odd jobs quickly turned into a thriving business built almost entirely through word-of-mouth referrals and the support of the communities in both Chelan and Boise. Today, Rhino Repair & Removal provides a wide range of services including junk removal, property cleanup, fire mitigation, brush and tree removal, hauling, demolition, handyman services, home maintenance, and countless projects that help homeowners protect, improve, and maintain their properties. Ryan has experienced firsthand the highs and lows of entrepreneurship—the uncertainty, the long hours, the lessons learned, and the rewards that come from taking a leap of faith. More importantly, Ryan is the son of Keith and Kyla Allen, longtime Lake Chelan Valley residents who instilled in him the values of hard work, humility, gratitude, and treating people the right way. He credits his parents, his younger brother Jacob, and his family for helping shape the man he is becoming, and he often speaks about the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors, staying grounded, and never forgetting where you came from. Today we'll talk about growing up in Chelan, navigating high school during the COVID years, leaving home for college, finding purpose through leadership, launching a business while still in school, the realities of entrepreneurship, and why Ryan believes that sometimes the hardest part isn't succeeding—it's simply having the courage to begin. Ryan, welcome to Small Towns Unscripted.

  7. 17 juil.

    Reinvention, Resilience, and Coming Home to the Chelan Valley | Erin Gavin

    Welcome back to Small Towns Unscripted. I'm Russ McClellan, alongside my co host, Nicole Turner. Today we're joined by Erin Gavin, a third generation Chelan native whose family has deep roots in the history of the Lake Chelan Valley. On his father's side, Erin's grandfather, Wilbur "Babe" Gavin, purchased the Lake Chelan Mirror in 1937 after working for the Cashmere Valley Record. His son, Rick Gavin, carried that legacy forward for decades, and like many family businesses, there was hope that Erin would someday become the third generation to continue the family newspaper. But life had a different plan. On his mother's side, Erin's grandfather, Kristjan Gudmundson, was an orchardist on Wenatchee Heights, reflecting another family legacy deeply connected to North Central Washington. Together, both sides of his family helped shape Erin's appreciation for the people, history, and character of the Lake Chelan Valley. After graduating from Chelan High School, Erin attended Bellevue Community College, where his journey truly began. His path eventually led him to California, where he spent years building a career in action sports, publishing, television, media, design, entrepreneurship, marketing, and sales. Along the way, he traveled throughout North America and abroad, collecting unforgettable experiences and embracing opportunities that shaped both his career and his perspective on life. Today, Erin is writing a new chapter back where it all began, reconnecting with old friends, building new relationships, and continuing to reinvent himself while once again calling Chelan home. During our conversation, I made the comment, "Adversity breeds clarity, if you let it." Looking back on Erin's journey, that simple statement really captures the spirit of this episode. Like so many of us, his life reminds us that when one door closes, another often opens. Sometimes the path we never planned becomes the one we're ultimately meant to follow. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and enjoy our conversation with Erin Gavin on Small Towns Unscripted.

  8. 10 juil.

    Kellen Jones | Manson Native, Chief Wapato John Descendant, Author of Addiction X

    Episode 82 of Small Towns Unscripted features one of our most fascinating and meaningful conversations yet as Nicole and I sit down with Kellen Jones, a 37 year old Manson native, father of two daughters, self published author, and counseling student at Grand Canyon University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Counseling. Kellen is the great grandson of Bill Evans, one of the most respected and well known members of the Chelan and Entiat Tribes, whose dedication to preserving the history and culture of his people left a lasting legacy. Chief Wapato John, often referred to as the Godfather of Lake Chelan, was Bill Evans' great grandfather, making him one of Kellen's direct ancestors. Together we explore the remarkable life and legacy of Chief Wapato John and the important role he played in shaping the Lake Chelan Valley. After coming to the valley from the Entiat area in the late 1800s, he is credited with planting some of the first apple trees in the region using seeds brought from the Walla Walla area. Although he never learned to read or write, he became a successful businessman by conducting business through pictures and symbols, proving that vision and determination can overcome tremendous obstacles. One of Chief Wapato John's greatest contributions was his commitment to faith and unity. He founded the first church at Mill Bay in Manson where both Native Americans and white settlers worshipped together. At a time when integration was uncommon, the church became a powerful symbol of acceptance, shared faith, and community. We also discuss his son, Chief Peter Wapato, and his grandson, Louis Wapato, who became one of the first Native American attorneys from the Wapato people. Kellen shares stories of growing up between Wenatchee and Manson, splitting time between his mother in Wenatchee and his father, Jamie Jones, in Manson. He talks about spending much of his childhood outdoors, the differences between growing up in Wenatchee and Manson, his family roots including his grandfather from Louisiana, and the experiences that shaped the man he is today. We also explore Wapato Heritage: The History of the Chelan Entiat Indians by Tom Hackenmiller, an incredible book preserving the stories, photographs, illustrations, and history of the Chelan and Entiat people. Kellen brings treasured family heirlooms into the studio, including more than 100 year old Bibles that belonged to Bill Evans and Bill's brother, offering a tangible connection to his family's remarkable past. The conversation then turns to one of the biggest challenges facing our communities today, mental health and addiction. Kellen hopes to one day open a counseling practice in the Lake Chelan Valley and believes there is no one size fits all approach to recovery. We discuss individualized treatment, holistic approaches to healing, the role of pharmaceutical medicine, emerging research surrounding psychedelic assisted therapies including psilocybin, DMT, ayahuasca, and ibogaine, and society's contrasting views of alcohol and marijuana. Kellen also introduces his self published novel, Addiction X: The Beginning, the first book in a planned series. Written through the eyes of a college student working in a treatment center, the novel challenges conventional thinking about addiction and recovery while encouraging readers to recognize that every person's path to healing is different. One of the most powerful moments of the episode comes when Kellen shares the dream involving his ancestor, Chief Wapato John, that inspired him to quit drinking alcohol and completely change the direction of his life. It is a moving story about faith, purpose, and personal transformation. We also briefly touch on the historical events surrounding the Chelan Falls Massacre as documented in Wapato Heritage by Tom Hackenmiller and discuss why preserving the history of the Chelan and Entiat people is so important for future generations. This episode is about history, heritage, faith, family, resilience, recovery, and the courage to change. Whether you are passionate about Lake Chelan history, Native American heritage, mental health, addiction recovery, or simply enjoy authentic conversations with remarkable people from our communities, this is an episode you will not want to miss. Kellen leaves us with one simple but powerful message for anyone waiting to make a change in their life. Do it today. We hope you enjoy Episode 82 of Small Towns Unscripted.

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Welcome to Small Towns: Unscripted, a podcast celebrating the heart of the Lake Chelan Valley community. Whether you're new to the area or from families who arrived here on covered wagons, this is a space for voices of all ages and backgrounds. We believe every connection, old or new, weaves a unique thread into our shared lives. Through authentic conversations, we aim to honor stories, bridge generational gaps, and foster genuine relationships. Join us in building a stronger, more vibrant community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Our mission is to build relationships.

Informations

  • Création
    Small Towns Unscripted
  • Années d’activité
    2026
  • Épisodes
    88
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Small Towns: Unscripted
  • Site web de l’émission
    Small Towns: Unscripted