The Perrysburg Podcast is three years old! 🎉

In episode 155, I'm celebrating the third anniversary of The Perrysburg Podcast with a look back and a look ahead.

This solo episode has four parts: gratitude, stats, lessons learned, and what's next. I thank listeners, my family, my guests, my sources of information, the City of Perrysburg's former and current Public Information Officers, my podcast coach Dave Jackson, and everyone who has helped support the show over the last three years.

I also share podcast stats, including download numbers, countries reached, and the most downloaded episodes on podcast players and YouTube.

In the lessons learned section, I reflect on five takeaways from three years of local podcasting, including the importance of not waiting to do meaningful things, the reality of dealing with trolls, and the magical things that can happen because of a podcast.

Finally, I share what's next: The Perrysburg Podcast will continue as a monthly show beginning in August 2026, with a new collaboration with Historic Perrysburg Inc. and more local stories to come.

Links from this episode

• Dave Jackson and the School of Podcasting https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/
• The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast
• Historic Perrysburg Inc https://www.historicperrysburg.org/
• Perrysburg Rotary Club https://www.perrysburgrotary.org/
• Sign up for The Perrysburg Podcast's newsletter on https://www.perrysburgpodcast.com/newsletter
• Follow the podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@perrysburgpodcast
• Email me: kim@perrysburgpodcast.com
• The Perrysburg Podcast Episode 107: Interview with Bishop Neil Baird and Youth Leader Quinten Dworczyk (from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
• The Perrysburg Podcast Episode 117: Meet the Candidates for Perrysburg City Council (November 4, 2025 Election)
• The Perrysburg Podcast Episode 78: Prime IV Hydration and Wellness (Medical Series Part 1 of 4)
• The Perrysburg Podcast Episode 22 on YouTube: Walking Tour of 101-131 Louisiana Avenue with Perrysburg Historian Richard Baranowski
• The Perrysburg Podcast Episode 40 on YouTube Interview with Pastor Dan Gildner (Grace Church Perrysburg).
• The Perrysburg Podcast Episode 32 on YouTube: Interview with Brian Miller from maumeeriverwalleyerun.com
• Lorenzo Melchor and The Nerdball Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6XQGn14JJsuFuOfLWYd32e
• Emma Skaggs and The Talk of Town Center Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/0SJEugxgFtkesQIpoEB4i5
• John Thompson and The Foot of the Rapids Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fort-meigs-historic-site-what-to-see-and-do-with/id1695422935?i=1000764224215
• Laura Winters from Miracle in Time Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miracle-in-time/id1815539984

In this episode of The Perrysburg Podcast, I share the story of how a foot injury led me to become a lap swimmer at the Fort Meigs YMCA at age 35 — and how that journey introduced me to my swim coach and friend, Mary Chris Kay.

Mary Chris helped me learn how to "speak swim," build confidence in the water, and become part of a swim community at the Y. She has taught kids, coached adults, encouraged beginners, supported competitors, and helped make the pool feel like a place where people belong.

I also talk about the newly created Mary Chris Kay Aquatics Fund, which honors Mary Chris and gives community members a way to support swimming and aquatics programs at the Fort Meigs YMCA.

Links from this episode

• Mary Chris Kay Aquatics Fund https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/ymca-and-jcc-of-greater-toledo/endowment-gift-donation-form
• Fort Meigs YMCA https://www.ymcatoledo.org/branch/fort-meigs/
• The Greater Toledo Community Foundation https://toledocf.org/
• Sign up for The Perrysburg Podcast's newsletter on https://www.perrysburgpodcast.com/newsletter
• Follow the podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@perrysburgpodcast
• Email the host: kim@perrysburgpodcast.com

In this episode of The Perrysburg Podcast, I speak with Tramain Rayford, Founder and CEO of The Program Inc., a Northwest Ohio nonprofit organization dedicated to helping boys become men. To learn more, visit https://www.programinc.org/.

Released on Father's Day 2026, this conversation explores the impact that mentors, role models, and positive relationships can have on young people growing up in father-absent homes. Tramain shares how his own life experiences inspired him to create The Program Inc. and discusses the organization's work providing mentoring, life skills training, workshops, career exploration opportunities, and community experiences for boys ages 8 to 18.

Along the way, you'll hear stories about overcoming fear, discovering new opportunities, and the power of investing in the next generation. Whether you're a parent, mentor, volunteer, business owner, or simply someone who cares about young people, this episode offers an inspiring look at an organization making a difference throughout Northwest Ohio.

Quotes mentioned in this episode

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." — Frederick Douglass

"If boys don't learn, men won't know." — Douglas Wilson

"Bloom where you're planted" — Unknown

Links for this episode

The Program Inc. website https://www.programinc.org/

The Program Inc. Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheProgamInc

The Program Inc. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theprograminc

The Program Inc. events page https://www.programinc.org/events

The Program Inc. donation page https://www.programinc.org/donate

The Program Inc. volunteer page https://www.programinc.org/volunteer

• Sign up for The Perrysburg Podcast's newsletter on https://www.perrysburgpodcast.com/newsletter
• Follow the podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@perrysburgpodcast
• Email the host: kim@perrysburgpodcast.com