Show-Me MO Success

Show-Me MO Success welcomes back its first-ever return guest. Assistant Director Mike Quinata fills in for host Luke Dietterle to catch up with Jennifer Bardot, founder and CEO of the G.R.I.T. Platform, Growth, Resilience, Intention, Tenacity whom listeners first met in June 2024 after her keynote at MU Extension's Elevate Conference. Two years later she's published two more anthologies, opened what began as a women's association to all leaders, built out the G.R.I.T. Academy, launched a podcast production company, and grown a St. Louis community into one with members in Washington DC, Florida and Kansas.

Listen in as Jennifer and Mike discuss why she opened the community to men, how the Academy and coaching pods fit together, and the introverted member who went from joining the community to speaking on stage in front of 280 people. Her advice for anyone waiting to feel ready: start before you have it figured out.

Show-Me MO Success brings you stories of success from businesses and communities across Missouri, listen to her first episode here. 

What does it take to build lasting bridges across communities? Host Luke Dietterle talks with Dr. Dwayne T. James (MU Extension, St. Louis County) and Deon Williams, a community development leader focused on economic opportunity and neighborhood revitalization, about the Civic Collaboration Fellows program, a year-long leadership experience uniting elected officials, business and civic leaders, and residents working to strengthen their communities. Dwayne, a co-instructor since 2020, shares how the program turns passion into action, while Deon reflects on how his fellowship year reshaped his approach to leadership. Together they explore the program's immersive travel, the ongoing recovery from the tornado that struck St. Louis's north side, and what it takes to connect across communities.

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Kim Mildward, project partner in Nodaway County for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership, and Bill McKelvey, Program and Project Support Coordinator with MU Extension, to discuss Nodaway County's efforts to increase access to healthy, local food. Kim shares how the community has mobilized around food access and the progress Nodaway County has made in connecting residents with healthy, local food options. Bill describes how MU Extension has supported that work and what the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership are doing to strengthen rural food systems across the state. Together, they explore what community-driven food access work looks like in practice, the partnerships and persistence it takes to move the needle, and what Nodaway County's journey offers as a model for other rural communities working to build a more resilient and equitable local food system.

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Kaylee Paffrath, President and CEO of the Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation (MAEDC), and Sarah Kennedy, an MU Extension Community Development Field Specialist who works with the Missouri Supporting Early Childhood Administrators (MO-SECA) program, about efforts to improve access to child care in Moberly, Missouri. Together, they explore what it looks like when economic development and early childhood leadership align around a shared goal, and what their work in Moberly could mean for communities across the state facing similar childcare challenges.

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Taylor Clark, Field Specialist in Community Development with MU Extension, and Jamarcus Williams, Superintendent of the Charleston, Missouri School District, to discuss the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows (NLF) program. Taylor Clark describes NLF as an applied civic leadership program designed for those already leading within their organizations who are ready to take the next step, whether that means joining a board, influencing policy, or making a larger community impact. JaMarcus Williams shares how the program expanded his perspective beyond the school district and helped him connect with like-minded leaders across Mississippi and Scott counties. Together, they explore how NLF's first Boot Heel cohort tackled real community challenges, including childcare access, affordable housing, and youth development, and how the relationships built during the program continue to drive positive change across Southeast Missouri.

In this episode, the host, Luke Dietterle, sits down for a chat with Laura Mize, a code enforcer and Neighborhood Specialist with Excelsior Springs Community Development, and David Burton, an MU Extension Field Specialist. This episode explores how Neighboring 101 isn't just for new homeowners. Laura leveraged her connection with her community as a code enforcer to figure out who might benefit from a little help, and then used the assets around her to help her neighborhood. David Burton sheds light on how to identify those assets and how Neighboring 101 can be a next step if you're interested in engaging further with those around you. 

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Adrienne Ohler, Associate Director of Policy Research for the Financial Research Institute, and Alex Antal, Principal at the Regulatory Assistance Project, to discuss the Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute (RULI). Alex Antal explains the unique business context of regulated utilities and how they differ from other investor-owned firms from a managerial perspective. Adrienne Ohler describes the value of this leadership development program for utility professionals and regulators as they navigate rapid transformations in public utility systems. Together, they explore how the program prepares leaders to understand how electricity, natural gas, and water systems are likely to evolve in the years ahead.

This episode explores how employers and community members can support individuals who are or have been justice-involved in finding meaningful employment. We discuss the challenges they face, the resilience and skills they bring, and the pathways that help them rebuild their lives while strengthening our communities.