Living In The Ozarks

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with John Lepant, owner of Craft Axe Throwing in downtown Springfield, Missouri, to talk about what it actually takes to go from employee to franchise owner — and build a business that keeps people coming back. We cover the unlikely path from Papa John's to escape rooms to axe throwing, what he's learned about people, pricing, and persistence, and why genuine connection is the hardest part of ownership nobody talks about.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Nick Sibley — Ozarks musician, songwriter, and jingle writer — to talk about a 50-year career built entirely outside the spotlight. We cover how he accidentally launched a jingle business in Springfield in the early '70s, what it was like demoing songs for Wayne Carson that ended up recorded by Elvis and Willie Nelson, and why his son Captain is now touring with Lee Greenwood.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Mark Steiner, founder of Gig Salad — the largest event entertainment marketplace in the US and Canada — to talk about what it actually takes to build something from scratch over 23 years. We cover how a lucky break on a New York film set set Mark on a path that eventually landed him in Springfield, and how he turned a simple directory idea into a platform that connects performers and event planners across North America.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with the B2Z Films crew — Bill Cover and Bryan Powers — along with Keith Putnam, a professional filmmaker who recently moved to the area from LA, and Tiffany Powers, Bryan's wife, to talk about making a complete short film in just 48 hours for SATO48, the Springfield and the Ozarks film festival. We cover how they run a creative team with no director and no ego, why music and sound effects are their biggest strength, and why they lean into Southwest Missouri instead of imitating Hollywood.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Jeff Clinkenbeard and Jaw, co-founders of SATO48, Springfield's 48 Hour Film Challenge, to talk about building a 22-year nonprofit around supporting filmmakers instead of charging them. We cover their arms-length approach to judging and their stance on free speech and AI — and why it matters to the creative community across the Ozarks.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

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In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Ben Tegeler, Executive Director of Ozark Greenways, to talk about what it takes to build a truly connected trail system across the Springfield region. We cover the major projects in motion — from the Chadwick Flyer and Fellows Lake loop to millions in newly funded corridors — and why Ben believes trails aren't a recreational amenity, but essential infrastructure for every demographic, every age, and every income level.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Brian Hood, Springfield native, Army veteran, CIA contractor, and author, to talk about what it takes to keep living when life gets dark. We cover the identity crisis men face after leaving the military, the power of gratitude and the pause, and why checking on your brothers might be the most important thing you do this week — and why it matters deeply to men across the Ozarks and Southwest Missouri.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Katrina and Alec Hagan, founders of Sensitively Sweet Bakery and The Safe Spoon Café, to talk about how a lupus and alpha gal diagnosis became the unlikely origin story of an allergen-free food business. We cover Katrina’s five-year health journey, how she taught herself to bake without gluten, dairy, eggs, or nuts, and how word-of-mouth from a Facebook group turned into a Farmers Market staple and eventually two brick-and-mortar locations serving the Springfield and Nixa areas.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Lucas Walker, a Springfield-based business consultant with ten years in the field, to talk about what it actually takes to help small business owners grow. We cover why practical beats clever every time, how personal development and business success are inseparable, and what the Ozarks market taught Lucas about going national.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Victor McNeary, owner of Vine and Vibes, to talk about his journey as an entrepreneur and his vision for a zero-proof event center in Springfield, Missouri. We cover community engagement, nonprofit collaboration, and how his space is creating opportunities for connection and growth across the Ozarks.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people behind the work shaping our region.