Project Next Media

A lot is riding on tomorrow’s election in Indiana.

On Project Next, Dustin Cerda and Sarah Blessing break down TIFs, backroom deals, and how decisions made with little public input can affect funding for our schools, roads, and emergency services.

Hoosiers deserve transparency, accountability, and a government that puts everyday people first, not special interests.

🗳️ Election Day is November 3! Polls are open 6 AM–6 PM. Contact your county clerk for voting information.

No matter your political party, our communities, our children, and our future are worth paying attention to. 🇺🇸

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

How’s Your Existential Dread? 😬 Election Anxiety, Fear, and Finding Hope

With Election Day just eight days away, Sarah Blessing and Ellen Morrison Kelly are feeling the anxiety! Both are on the ballot November 3, and both are wondering how we keep fighting for a better future when the world around us feels increasingly frightening.

But this conversation goes beyond election anxiety.

Why are so many of us feeling this existential dread?

Sarah and Ellen talk about how those in power seem to have forgotten what actually matters in life. Instead of community, love, our children, our environment, and investing in a better future, we see too much focus on money, power, control, and bullying others.

And when so much of what’s happening feels outside our control, how do we keep it from overwhelming us?

How do we stay informed, keep pushing for positive change, and still find happiness and hope in our everyday lives?

Join Sarah and Ellen for an open conversation about fear, frustration, hope, and what really matters.

We want to hear from you! How are you handling everything happening in our country? What helps you cope with the anxiety and uncertainty?

And don’t forget to VOTE next Tuesday, November 3! 🗳️

Regardless of what happens on Election Day, the work of building stronger communities and a better future continues. We’re not giving up.

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 IS OUR GOVERNMENT SO CORRUPT?

Sarah Blessing, James Coogle, and Dustin Cerda discuss how 9/11 changed their trust in government, who profits from war, and why we need more transparency about our tax dollars.

Corruption isn’t just a national problem. It happens locally, too, and that’s where we can start fixing it!

Instead of feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or hopeless, what can WE do to create real change?

We share practical ways everyday people can get involved and hold government accountable.

Watch, share, and tell us YOUR ideas! Our children deserve a better future, and doing nothing isn’t an option!

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

🚨 ARE ELECTIONS SAFE IN INDIANA? AND HOW DO WE FIX WHAT’S BROKEN?

Sarah Blessing sits down with Marcey Wisman, Democratic candidate for Floyd County Clerk, for an eye-opening, honest, and surprisingly fun conversation about elections, government accountability, and the future of Indiana!

🗳️ 572 Floyd County voters were affected by an early voting ballot error that left a county commissioner race off their ballots.

How did this happen? How can we prevent it from happening again? And why is having an honest, competent, nonpartisan election administrator so incredibly important?

But this conversation goes WAY beyond elections!

💰 Where are our tax dollars going? Sarah and Marcey discuss concerns about missing public funds, government transparency, accountability, and whether Indiana residents are getting the answers they deserve. They also question transparency under Governor Mike Braun’s administration.

🇺🇸 How do we fix Indiana? From the importance of county clerks and the Secretary of State to the people making decisions in Indianapolis, this episode explores what accountability, integrity, and genuine public service should look like.

❤️ And perhaps the most important conversation of all: How do we stop the hate, fear, bullying, and division?

Disagreeing with someone’s politics doesn’t make them a monster. Communities are stronger when people treat one another with dignity, compassion, and respect.

Sarah and Marcey had never met before this interview, making their first conversation an especially enjoyable part of the episode!

We can disagree without hating. We can demand accountability without losing compassion. And we can build communities where EVERYONE matters.

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 met Sarah Blessing in Palmyra this morning for door knocking and an interview about cleaning up Indiana’s financial problems. If we can help get Jessica elected, can we be more transparent with our tax dollars?

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

This Project Next is one you need to watch.

Sarah sits down with independent journalist Tom LoBianco of 24sight News to catch up on his years-long investigation into Life Church, lead pastor Nathan Peternel, his son Jonathan Peternel, and Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.

What started as one disturbing criminal case has grown into a much bigger story.

Jonathan Peternel pleaded guilty to four felony counts involving more than 200 videos of child sexual abuse material.

Then former members of Nathan Peternel’s youth ministry began coming forward. They described disturbing sexual conversations, treatment of teenagers, and experiences they say harmed them for years. Some now call themselves the “Survivors of Stormfront.” Nathan has not been criminally charged over these allegations.

And then there is Micah Beckwith — Indiana’s lieutenant governor, a friend and longtime associate of Nathan Peternel, and a pastor at Life Church. Beckwith’s office has also faced a separate controversy after LoBianco reported allegations that members of Beckwith’s staff viewed a sexually explicit AI deepfake of an Indiana lawmaker’s wife. Beckwith has denied that happened.

Meanwhile, pastors, staff, and families have continued leaving Life Church.

How is this allowed to happen? Who holds powerful church leaders accountable? What happens when sex, religion, politics, and power become tangled together? And how do we protect our children when the people we are supposed to trust are the ones raising serious concerns?

Tom has spent years digging, talking to people, finding records, and following this story wherever it leads.

Watch as Sarah and Tom break down what he has uncovered, what former members are saying, what is still unanswered, and why this story matters.

Please support Tom LoBianco and the incredibly important work being done at 24sight News⁠.

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

Clark County has been rocked by scandal after scandal. How do we clean it up and earn the public’s trust back?

Sarah Blessing sits down with Clark County Sheriff candidate Tim Deeringer to talk about the Jamey Noel scandal, problems with EMS and 911, corruption and accountability, community policing, the ICE detention center, Flock cameras, and mass surveillance.

How do we make sure this never happens again?

Tim came in person for this important conversation. Watch it, and tell us what you think.

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

🚨 What happens when technology starts taking away our freedom?

Data centers. Flock cameras. Mass surveillance. These issues are showing up in communities across America, including ours.

Today on Project Next, Dustin Cerda and Sarah Blessing talk about something even bigger: what regular people can actually do about it.

We don’t have to roll over and accept every loss of freedom. We don’t have to be senators or members of Congress to make change.

Dustin and Sarah are helping start movements in their own communities, and you can do it, too.

🇺🇸 We the People still have power. Freedom belongs to all of us. And sometimes change starts with a few neighbors who decide to stand up.

Watch, share, and find out how you can start where you live. 💜

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

WE ARE NOT POWERLESS.

It may feel like we’ve lost our voice in Washington. In Indiana, it can feel the same way.

But locally? We still have power.

Sarah Blessing sits down with her close friend Adam Schneider, candidate for Harrison County Council District 3, to talk about something we ALL need to understand:

If we want our power back, we start at home.

Your town. Your city. Your county.

We share real stories of regular people speaking up, talking to local leaders, and actually creating change.

Stop waiting on Washington to fix everything. Learn how YOU can make a difference right where you live.

Local first. State next. National after that.

💜 This is how we get our voice back. Together.

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

What does it really mean to serve?

Join Sarah Blessing as she sits down with her new friend Kayla, a Navy veteran who served 10 years on active duty as an Aerographer’s Mate (AG), working with weather and ocean conditions to support Navy missions.

Kayla shares why she joined, what her job was like, and some of the amazing places her service took her, including Japan and Germany.

They also talk about something many of us may not fully understand: the sacrifice that comes with military service. Service members don’t always get to speak freely about what is happening or simply walk away when they disagree with a mission. They have a duty to serve and protect, even when that can be incredibly difficult.

The conversation also looks back at Vietnam and Korean War veterans, mental health, and how our understanding of what veterans need has changed over the years.

Most of all, this is a conversation about learning to hold two ideas at once: We can be deeply thankful for the people who serve and the sacrifices they make, while still asking hard questions of our government and working to do better.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about the real people behind the uniform—and what their service means.

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