South Bend on Purpose

It is difficult to imagine a world where INVANTI, West.SB, South Bend on Purpose, and Vested Interest exist without Pete Buttigieg first being elected mayor. His resurgent vision and talented adminis…

In Season 2 of South Bend on Purpose, we talked to twelve people about their purpose – why they're doing what they're doing in South Bend. People in public service like Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Kareemah…

In this episode we talk with Kintae Lark, the founder and owner of Inspiration Barber-Salon and Inspiration School of Beauty Culture. Kintae brings a unique perspective to this season because for him…

In this episode we talk with Max Brickman, the managing director of South Bend-based venture capital firm Heartland Ventures. Max is originally from Wisconsin where he started his first business at t…

In this episode we talk with Chuck Nelson, the Executive Director of The Judd Leighton Foundation. Chuck was born in Plymouth, Indiana, but soon moved to South Bend, first living on the West Side and…

In this episode we talk with Santiago Garces and Brian Donoghue, South Bend’s Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Civic Innovation, respectively. Santi comes to us from Bogota, Colombia while Br…

In this episode we talk with Marian Hodges, the VP of Operations at South Bend-based technology firm Data Realty. Like our previous episode with Robert Ramsey, Marian falls into the category of peopl…

In this episode we talk with Robert Ramsey, a relatively new resident of South Bend who intentionally moved here in an effort to “get back to the Midwest” and more specifically, to get back to Midwes…

In this episode we talk with Dave Matthews, a real estate developer who was raised in South Bend and later made the decision to move back and become an entrepreneur. Dave is most well known for his i…

In this episode we talk with Shawn Henderson, the head principal at South Bend’s Riley High School. Shawn brings a unique perspective to this role because he grew up on Haney Street just a couple blo…

In this episode we talk with Kareemah Fowler who currently serves as Clerk for the City of South Bend. Kareemah moved to South Bend's South East side as a senior in high school and quickly gained a b…

In this episode we talk with Jason Miller. Jason is the Lead Pastor at South Bend City Church who describe themselves as a Jesus-centered community for believers and doubters. We discuss his understa…

In this episode we talk with Michelle Fitzgerald. She is the founder of Make South Bend, a maker-space in River Park. Together we explore how Michelle's personal mission of creating and restoring dig…

In this episode we talk with Pete Buttigieg about his decision to return to South Bend, the meaning of home, and why America needs to consider community as a new source of purpose.

On Season 2 of South Bend on Purpose we (co-hosts Jacob Titus and Dustin Mix) interview a diverse group of people who are here living life on purpose. In this first episode we talk about why the podc…

Homebody House Concert Festival is attracting artists from around the country to host an innovative series of shows throughout South Bend neighborhoods. Myles talks about the mission behind this idea…

John​'s new startup Hurry Home, conceived during INVANTI's first cohort, aims to change the way people pursue home ownership – starting right here in #SouthBend. Pod.SB captures life in South Bend, a…

Pete Buttigieg was recently the subject of a Politico profile titled 'The President of Nowhere, USA.' The profile's primary focus was Pete's uncertain political path beyond the Mayor's office, but th…

Local reporter Taurean Small joins the podcast to continue our conversation on media in South Bend. We talk about representation and how reporters can increase cultural awareness in a city they may n…

Mike Keen is tackling this question head-on with building and renovation projects in South Bend's Near Northwest Neighborhood. We discuss how he fell into real estate development and why it's essenti…