Luke Eustice is the director of the Iowa City Area Sports Commission where he leads the charge in recruiting, supporting, and executing sporting events across Johnson County and the Corridor.

In this episode, Nate is also joined by J.R. Ogden, a veteran sports journalist who spent 48 years as an editor and contributor at the Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and now brings his wealth of experience to the Corridor Business Journal as a regular columnist.

Luke shares his firsthand perspective on the business of sports, the economic impact of major events, and the unique qualities that set the Corridor apart as a destination. He discusses the growth of local facilities, the challenges of hosting national tournaments, and the collaborative spirit that fuels the area’s success. Additionally, J.R. reflects on the changing landscape of sports coverage, the business side of athletics, and the stories that resonate most with readers. He offers insights into the region’s sporting culture, the rise of youth sports, and the people and places that make the Corridor a special place for athletes, fans, and the local economy.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Taylor Getting is a pilot, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Calyx Creek Lavender & Lodging, an innovative agritourism destination just outside North Liberty, Iowa.

Taylor shares the story of how he and his wife transformed a sand-laden Iowa farm into a thriving lavender oasis complete with thousands of plants, on-site product lines, and architecturally unique treehouses. He discusses the challenges and surprises of starting a small business, the importance of community and creativity in agriculture, and how Calyx Creek has become a sought-after experience for both locals and visitors. Taylor also dives into the nuts and bolts of growing lavender in Iowa, developing new products, and building a team.

I learned a lot and I think you will too.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

On Today's Episode: Nate sits down with Mike Hlas, a sports journalist who has spent more than 40 years chronicling Eastern Iowa athletics and beyond for the Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mike looks back on his legendary career including his perspective on the changing journalistic landscape, what he believes makes a good story, and how he approaches telling sports stories today. Additionally, Mike shares a look into his new work with the Iowa Writers Collaborative, what he sees as the biggest stories in sports right now, and what the future holds for both him and sports journalism as a calling.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

In this episode of Real Success, Nate is joined by Alexandra Olsen and John Lohman, the editor and CEO/Owner of the Corridor Business Journal, respectively, to discuss the biggest business-related news stories of 2025 and take a look ahead at what’s in store for the corridor in 2026.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Audrey Wiedemeier is the Executive Director of the Iowa City Bike Library, a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to making bicycling accessible, sustainable, and fun for everyone in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Corridor.

Audrey shares the story of how she discovered the Bike Library as a University of Iowa student, her path from volunteer to leader, and the organization’s mission to empower community members through bikes. She offers insight into the Bike Library’s youth and senior programs, its creative approach to fundraising, and the importance of building a more bike-friendly community through advocacy and infrastructure. Audrey also discusses the impact of volunteers, the challenges and rewards of running a nonprofit, and her vision for the future of cycling in the region.

I learned a lot and I think you will too.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Bennett Stirtz is the Iowa native who has transferred to the University of Iowa to spend his senior year playing guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes Men’s Basketball Team.

Bennett shares a look into his unique journey from Northwest Missouri State to the University of Iowa, his relationship with his coaches, and how he is approaching the upcoming season. He also gives a detailed perspective on his NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) experiences, how he is managing his finances, and how his high school lawn mowing business prepared him for future endeavors.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

Robert Gallery is a former professional football player in the NFL and teammate of mine from our days at the University of Iowa together who now serves as the Co-Founder and CEO of Athletes for Care, a nonprofit organization supporting research and advocacy for athlete mental health.

Robert begins by looks back on his time at Iowa with me, including how he was raised with a sports mentality, how he approached football while in school, and when he realized this could be his career. We then dig into his time in the NFL and the consequences that years of playing had on his brain, how he found healing in the form of psychedelic therapy, and how he has now formed a nonprofit that works to help other athletes who struggle with similar issues post-career.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.

In this episode, business leaders hear from Sawyer Whisler, founder of Farmer Grade, a direct-to-consumer meat company. Whisler discusses building a transparent supply chain by partnering with farmers who share their practices on social media, navigating USDA processing logistics, and the importance of trust in branding. He addresses challenges facing family farms, shifting consumer protein preferences, and the value of supporting local agriculture. The conversation offers insights into entrepreneurship, operational strategy, and the evolving meat industry, highlighting Farmer Grade’s commitment to quality, authenticity, and sustainable growth.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.