Project Next Media

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

No one should have to choose between feeding their family and paying their bills.

Across Floyd County, too many of our neighbors are struggling with food insecurity, housing instability, and the rising cost of simply getting by.

For years, the Floyd County Library has been more than just a place to borrow books. It has been a place where people found connection, resources, and hope. Today, community members are fighting to preserve the library’s Community Corner food pantry because they know that for some families, it can make the difference between having dinner or going hungry.

This week on Project Next, Sarah Blessing sits down with Lane Stumler to explore homelessness in Floyd County, the challenges facing the Floyd County Library, and why this conversation matters to every one of us.

This isn’t about politics.

It’s about people.

It’s about asking what kind of community we want to be when our neighbors are struggling.

We’ll talk about:

• Why food insecurity is growing.

• The role libraries can play in serving their communities.

• How local government decisions affect everyday people.

• What each of us can do to help.

Real change starts long before Election Day. It starts by paying attention, showing compassion, volunteering, supporting organizations doing the work, and electing leaders who understand the needs of the entire community—including those who are struggling the most.

If we want stronger communities, we have to be willing to care for one another.

Join us for this important conversation, and let’s ask one simple question:

How can we build a community where no one is forgotten?

If you are able: Please drop off needed food and bathroom items to the Floyd County Food Drive this Saturday, July 11 from 10-12. Brad Meyer is hosting this food drive to help our local communities.

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

NEW PROJECT NEXT EPISODE

Sarah Blessing sits down with Rachel, a former LifeWise teacher, and Zach Parrish from the Secular Education Association for an eye-opening conversation about Rachel’s firsthand experience working for LifeWise.

Rachel explains:

    •    Why she wanted to become a LifeWise teacher.

    •    What she hoped to accomplish.

    •    The concerns that caused her to question the organization.

    •    Her claim that a supervisor instructed her not to accurately report all of the hours she worked.

    •    Why she ultimately chose to leave.

    •    Why she believes it’s important to speak publicly about her experience.

The conversation also explores how local LifeWise programs are funded. Rachel shares her perspective that communities—not LifeWise itself—must raise significant amounts of money to keep these programs operating.

Whether you support LifeWise, oppose it, or are still making up your mind, this episode offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who worked inside the organization. Rachel’s story provides an important perspective for parents, educators, taxpayers, and anyone interested in understanding how LifeWise operates.

A sincere thank you to Rachel for having the courage to share her story, and to Zach Parrish for joining this thoughtful discussion.

Watch the episode and join the conversation. As always, Project Next encourages respectful dialogue, thoughtful questions, and a willingness to listen to different perspectives.

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

For this episode of Project Next, Sarah sits down with her friend Adam Schneider to talk about Corydon’s Fourth Annual Pride Festival and the Netflix documentary Will & Harper.

But this conversation is about much more than a festival or a movie.

It’s about friendship, authenticity, and what happens when we choose compassion over judgment.

Adam is one of the kindest, most empathetic people Sarah has ever known. Over the years, his friendship has helped shape her into a better person. His ability to forgive, accept people where they are, and see the humanity in everyone has challenged her to do the same.

They talk about Adam’s experience growing up and living as a gay man in rural Southern Indiana, helping start Corydon Pride, and why creating spaces where people can be themselves matters.

They also discuss Will & Harper, the powerful documentary that follows Will Ferrell and his longtime friend Harper Steele on a cross-country road trip after Harper comes out as transgender. The film reminds us that behind every label is a human being with hopes, fears, struggles, and a desire to belong.

At its heart, this episode is about a simple idea: when people are free to be their authentic selves, there is less fear, less hate, and more understanding. The more we get to know one another as people, the harder it becomes to judge and the easier it becomes to love.

Join us for an honest conversation about friendship, acceptance, and the courage it takes to be yourself.

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

Sarah interviews her friend Coumba Kebe who is running for Indiana State Treasurer. Coumba is just 31 years old, but she has already built an impressive record of leadership, public service, and financial expertise. We’ll talk about her background, what inspired her to step into public service, and why she believes she’s the right person to serve as Indiana’s next State Treasurer.We’ll also discuss how she was recruited by the Indiana Democratic Party to run for this important statewide office, what it’s been like campaigning across Indiana, and some of the behind-the-scenes moments from the Indiana Democratic Convention.Most importantly, we’ll talk about her vision for Indiana, government accountability, and what she hopes to accomplish if elected.Join us for this fun, informative, and hopeful episode of Project Next. Whether you’re deeply involved in politics or just getting to know the people running for office, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

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

Project Next: A Conversation with Brad Meyer

After a long and demanding election season, Dr. Tim Peck returns to Project Next for the first time since the Democratic primary for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District. Joining Tim and Sarah Blessing is Brad Meyer, the candidate who won that primary and is now preparing to take on incumbent Congresswoman Erin Houchin in November.

What makes this conversation special is not politics—it’s perspective.

Tim and Brad spent months competing for the same seat, but this episode shows what can happen when people put competition aside and focus on a shared purpose. Together, Sarah, Tim, and Brad discuss the challenges facing Indiana and our country, the growing divisions in our communities, and how we can move forward without losing our humanity.

The conversation explores why so many families are struggling, what leaders can do to help, and how we build a future where more people feel heard, valued, and supported. Brad shares his vision for Indiana’s 9th District, while Tim reflects on lessons learned from the campaign trail and the importance of staying engaged even after an election ends.

Most importantly, this episode is about unity. It’s about three people who may have taken different paths but share a common belief: that public service should be about helping others, solving problems, and bringing people together rather than tearing them apart.

Whether you’re interested in politics or simply care about the future of our communities, this is a thoughtful and respectful conversation about leadership, service, and finding common ground in difficult times.

Watch, listen, and join the conversation. The future of Indiana—and our country—depends on people willing to listen, learn, and work 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

In this episode of Project Next, Sarah Blessing sits down with her friend James Coogle, a chef and candidate for Harrison County Council, for an honest conversation about some of the issues affecting our communities today.

They talk about the pressure many people feel to fit in, especially in politics and small towns, and why it can be hard for people to be themselves.

Sarah and James also discuss the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community and why some politicians seem especially focused on issues involving Pride, books, and sexuality. They explore whether social pressure, fear of being different, and the expectation to conform—especially in conservative rural communities—can influence how people talk about and respond to LGBTQ+ issues. The conversation looks at why some of the strongest opposition to the LGBTQ+ community may sometimes come from people who feel pressure to hide parts of themselves or fit a certain public image.

Sarah and James also talk about misinformation and disinformation in local communities, how false information spreads, and what we can do to encourage better conversations and stronger communities.

The conversation explores sexism in politics, including whether gender bias played a role in Kamala Harris’s loss to Donald Trump, and some of the challenges women still face when running for office and serving in leadership roles.

They also discuss why it is important to protect democracy, hold leaders accountable, and build communities where people work together instead of being divided by politics.

Join us for a thoughtful conversation about community, politics, identity, and how we can create a better future 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

In this powerful episode of Project Next, Sarah talks with her former neighbor Phil for a deep and honest conversation about politics, division, and the growing disconnect in America.

Phil shares why he once supported Donald Trump, what he still agrees with, and what now deeply concerns him. Together, they discuss:

• Immigration and ICE

• Fear and division in politics

• Trans issues and cultural conflict

• Rising gas, housing, and drug prices

• The housing market and cost of living

• Media influence and fear-mongering

• Dark money and power in politics

• Why Americans are struggling while the wealthy keep profiting

Sarah and Phil disagree on several major issues — but instead of shutting each other out, they choose dialogue.

At a time when people are increasingly blocking, unfriending, and avoiding those who think differently, this conversation asks an important question:

What if listening to each other is part of the solution?

Join the conversation in the comments. We want to hear your perspective.

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

Multiple former LifeWise employees were recently charged with unrelated sex crimes against minors. Sarah sits down with Molly Gaines and Zach Parrish from Secular Education Association to find out exactly what happened. More stories of abuse will most likely continue to come out as long as LifeWise Academy continues its very lax vetting process of adults being allowed to take our school kids off of the property onto an unsecure location. LifeWise already has thousands of classes happening during the public school day with many here in Indiana. Find out what parents and adults can do to protect not just their own kids but the children of our community on this very important episode. Sarah would like to thank Zach and Molly for the work they do in exposing the truth behind this group.

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 latest episode of Project Next Mental Fitness features Sarah interviewing her friend Kelly, who shares one of the most honest and powerful stories we’ve had on the show yet.

In our new series, “Leaving MAGA: Why My Friends Left,” Kelly opens up about her deeply personal journey into — and eventually out of — Trumpism and Christian nationalism.

Kelly talks about how she became a Trump supporter through churches, ministry culture, and the Christian adoption process after she and her husband struggled to have children. Over time, she became a one-issue voter focused on abortion, surrounded by messaging that blended faith, politics, fear, and identity. She was immersed in that world for nearly two decades and almost attended Trump’s 2016 inauguration.

But eventually, she began questioning the propaganda, the division, and the way politics was being used inside churches and communities. In this episode, she bravely shares how she broke away, what opened her eyes, and why empathy and honest conversations matter so much right now.

What made this conversation especially powerful was how much Kelly’s story mirrored Sarah’s own experiences. They are similar in age, grew up in the same area, and even attended the same church for a time. Listening to Kelly’s story felt deeply personal and familiar.

This is not about attacking people. It’s about understanding how good people can get pulled into fear and political identity — and how we begin finding our way back to truth, compassion, critical thinking, and community.

Watch now on Project Next.

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