Podcast thumbnail for Rooted and Reaching

Rooted and Reaching

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by Startup South Bend - Elkhart

5.0(6 reviews)
48 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸

Podcast Overview

There’s a job to do, and in the South Bend - Elkhart region, a midwestern work ethic is changing the narrative from rusty to ready. Our cities are opening up and working together as a region—universities are engaging beyond their campuses, sharing their brainpower and realizing that they’re bigger and better with the community behind them. Organizations are reaching out to newcomers and helping them build local networks, leveling the playing field. Infrastructure is being creatively adapted to be gathering places where new deals are made, new collisions happen, and new entrepreneurs take root. Join the Rooted & Reaching podcast, where we discuss the startup life with entrepreneurs with connections to the South Bend - Elkhart region. In doing this, we will inform the general public and ourselves about what resources are available and the major pain points of entrepreneurs in our region. This podcast is also intended to tell the amazing stories of our local entrepreneurs in the hope that it will inspire another person in the region considering an entrepreneurial pursuit to take that leap of faith and see the supportive atmosphere in the area.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

2/3/2023

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for From Factory Floor to 120 Murals: Alex Ann Allen on Building a Creative Career in South Bend

April 10, 2026

From Factory Floor to 120 Murals: Alex Ann Allen on Building a Creative Career in South Bend

<p>Muralist and curator Alex Ann Allen shares the story of quitting his factory job to pursue art full-time, growing from zero murals to over 120 across Indiana. In this conversation, Alex opens up about the discipline of creative entrepreneurship, the business of pricing murals, founding the Mural Mania festival, and why inspiring the next generation of artists matters most.</p><p>Key Takeaways:</p><p>● You don't need permission to start. Alex had never painted a mural before his first commission, but he walked into it with guts and figured it out on the wall.</p><p>● Planning makes the leap possible. Before going full-time, Alex journaled budgets and saved six months of expenses to create a financial runway for his creative career.</p><p>● Preparation is the real work. Up to 70% of a mural project happens before the artist ever touches the wall, a reality most people never see.</p><p>● Versatility keeps the work alive. Shifting between geometric, floral, portrait, and other styles prevents burnout and serves a wider range of client needs.</p><p>● Community accelerates growth. A group text with 15 fellow muralists, supportive clients, and mentors who appeared along the way have been essential to Alex's development as both an artist and a business owner.</p><p>● Pricing evolves with your portfolio. Alex charges by square footage with a minimum rate, a practice that protects his time and attracts the right clients.</p><p>● Showing the process builds the brand. Sharing behind-the-scenes reels of mural creation draws more engagement than posting finished work alone.</p><p>● The starving artist myth needs to end. Alex is proof that a creative career is financially viable with discipline, planning, and business sense.</p><p>Chapters:</p><p>● 00:00 - Meet Alex Ann Allen: Full-Time Muralist and Curator</p><p>● 01:05 - From Factory Work to Following a Passion</p><p>● 03:31 - The First Mural and Falling in Love with Large-Scale Art</p><p>● 06:15 - Artistic Evolution: Geometrics, Florals, and Beyond</p><p>● 09:20 - The Business of Murals: Pricing, Clients, and Discipline</p><p>● 14:06 - Sacrifice, Preparation, and the 70% Nobody Sees</p><p>● 17:10 - The South Bend Museum of Art and the Transitory Nature of Murals</p><p>● 22:37 - Mural Mania: Building a Festival from Scratch</p><p>● 31:13 - Advice for Aspiring Creatives and Inspiring the Next Generation</p><p><br></p><p>Guest Info:</p><p>Alex Ann Allen</p><p>● Full-time muralist, curator, and creative entrepreneur</p><p>● Based in South Bend, Indiana</p><p>● Founder and curator of Mural Mania, an annual mural festival in South Bend (entering its 5th year)</p><p>● Over 120 indoor and outdoor murals completed across Indiana</p><p>● Currently co-project managing a new mini mural festival in La Porte, Indiana with the Lubeznik Center for the Arts</p><p><br></p><p>Resources Mentioned:</p><p>● Mural Mania Festival: July 29 through August 2 (Year 5, South Bend)</p><p>● Lubeznik Center for the Arts, La Porte, Indiana: www.lubeznikcenter.org</p><p>● Indy Arts Council: www.indyarts.org</p><p>● South Bend Museum of Art: www.southbendart.org</p><p>● DTSB (Downtown South Bend): www.dtsb.com</p><p>● Splice (video editing app for reels): www.spliceapp.com</p><p>● Cameron Moberg, curator from Rensselaer who inspired the Mural Mania concept</p><p>● J2 Marketing, South Bend (Alex's first mural commission)</p><p><br></p><p>Connect:</p><p>● Rooted &amp; Reaching Podcast: www.southbendelkhart.org</p><p>● Host: Marty Mechtenberg</p><p><br></p><p>#RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #Elkhart #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SmallBusiness #MuralMania #PublicArt #Murals #CreativeEntrepreneur #SouthBendArt #SupportLocalArtists #CommunityArt</p>

Episode thumbnail for From Baby Food to Bold Flavors: Aiye Akhigbe’s Sticky Spoons Journey

March 27, 2026

From Baby Food to Bold Flavors: Aiye Akhigbe’s Sticky Spoons Journey

<p>In this episode of Rooted &amp; Reaching, Marty speaks with Aiye Akhigbe, founder and owner of Sticky Spoons LLC. What began as a personal mission to create healthier, homemade food for her children, rather than relying on commercial baby food, Aiye's idea quickly evolved into something much bigger.</p><p>In this episode, Aiye talks about her journey from making small batches of baby food to developing a full line of handcrafted jams made with simple, real ingredients, fruit, sugar, and time-honored recipes, without fillers or preservatives. </p><p>Marty and Aiye, talk about the power of community, the importance of staying true to your values, and the resilience it takes to grow a brand. </p><p><strong>RESOURCES</strong></p><p>Sticky Spoons Jam: <u><a href="https://stickyspoonsjam.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://stickyspoonsjam.com/</a></u> </p><p><strong>CONTACT</strong></p><p>Martin Mechtenberg: <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/</a></u> </p>

Episode thumbnail for Jumping Out of Your Comfort Zone with NutriPop Founder Ujaswin Jain

March 6, 2026

Jumping Out of Your Comfort Zone with NutriPop Founder Ujaswin Jain

<p>In this episode of Rooted &amp; Reaching, Marty speaks with Ujaswin Jain, founder of NutriPop, to discuss Jain’s entrepreneurial journey of bringing a beloved Indian snack, popped water lily seeds, to health-conscious snackers in America. Ujaswin opens up about how his own fitness and nutrition journey sparked the idea to create a snack that hits all the cravings without the guilt. He shares what it was like leaving his corporate data analyst job, stepping out of his comfort zone, and chasing a dream that seemed impossible at times.</p><p>They also dive into what makes NutriPop special, its nutrient-packed profile, the fun of introducing something totally new, and the clever marketing moves that help it stand out in a crowded snack world.</p><p><strong>RESOURCES</strong></p><p>NutriPop: <u><a href="https://snacknutripop.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://snacknutripop.com/</a></u> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONTACT</strong></p><p>Martin Mechtenberg: <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/</a></u> </p>

48 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Rooted and Reaching?

There’s a job to do, and in the South Bend - Elkhart region, a midwestern work ethic is changing the narrative from rusty to ready. Our cities are opening up and working together as a region—universities are engaging beyond their campuses, sharing their brainpower and realizing that they’re bigger and better with the community behind them. Organizations are reaching out to newcomers and helping them build local networks, leveling the playing field. Infrastructure is being creatively adapted to be gathering places where new deals are made, new collisions happen, and new entrepreneurs take root. Join the Rooted & Reaching podcast, where we discuss the startup life with entrepreneurs with connections to the South Bend - Elkhart region.

In doing this, we will inform the general public and ourselves about what resources are available and the major pain points of entrepreneurs in our region. This podcast is also intended to tell the amazing stories of our local entrepreneurs in the hope that it will inspire another person in the region considering an entrepreneurial pursuit to take that leap of faith and see the supportive atmosphere in the area.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates weekly.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

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