Ron's last consultation turned out to be his best!  Listen to the excitement coming from the focus group on the last day of his trip as they discuss projects already starting in Downtown Marion, SC.

Flip This Town

Episode #315 - Downtown Marion, SC

Life is always changing.  Flip This Town is changing too.  In this episode, Ron shares how he is beginning the next chapter in his life with his next restoration project in Port Maria, Jamaica, in what will be one of the last episodes of the Flip This Town Podcast.

Episode #314 - The Next Chapter

As we start down the road to recovery, we know there will be challenges for many businesses.  Restaurants are the lifeblood of many downtowns and are important to the communities they serve.  In this episode, Ron & Kristi welcome Chef Chris Johnson, owner of The Meeting House to share his perspective on what restaurants need to do to remain viable and ways they can inspire their customers to come back.

Episode #313 - Locals on the Front Line, Restaurant Recovery

We all know that this current crisis will have a significant economic impact on downtowns, but what about the residents? Ron and Kristi welcome Christina Drake, Matt & Amanda Orcutt and Yoon Kim from Ron's hometown of Siloam Springs, Arkansas to share their stories of how things have changed since this crisis caused a "vibrancy on pause" and what comes next.

Episode #312 - Locals on the Front Line, Siloam Springs, AR

Ron & Kristi are proud to welcome Prescott, AZ business owners Candy Hull, Clothes Hound Clothing Company; Sheri Shaw, Back Alley Wine Bar and Audra Yamamoto, Granite Mountain Brewing to talk about the creative ways they are keeping their businesses going during these challenging times.

Episode #311 - Locals on the Front Line - Prescott, AZ

This is the first episode in our new Flip This Town Limited Series, Locals on the Front Line, which shares stories of inspiration and hope from downtowns across the country.  In this episode, Ron and Kristi welcome Sue Keels, General Manager of the Royal Park Hotel and Hillary Heacock, Owner of Studio One Salon, both located in Downtown Rochester, Michigan, to share their stories and challenges they are experiencing right now.

Episode #310 - Locals on the Front Line, Downtown Rochester

Ron and Kristi are no strangers to extreme challenges.  In today's podcast, they will share ideas of how to overcome the unprecedented challenges which face small businesses during the current crisis.  We believe we will all come out stronger and this podcast will inspire you to believe the same!

Episode #309 - COVID-19 Will Not Destroy Us, It Will Make Us Better

And the search is on to find America's Main Street!  In this episode, Ron and Kristi welcome Bill Brunelle of Independent We Stand and Wayne Carter, Executive Director of Main Street DeLand, the winner of the 2017 America's Main Streets Contest to discuss the contest and both the short and long term benefits of winning this prestigious award!

Episode #308 - America's Main Streets Contest 2020

In this episode, Ron & Kristi welcome Stephanie Rizzo, Executive Director of the Historic Marion Revitalization Association in Marion, SC to talk about the value of downtown collaboration.  From creating small business partnerships and fundraising to helping neighboring towns by sharing ideas and inspirations, this is one podcast you'll want to listen to again and again!

Episode #307 - The Art of Downtown Collaboration

In this episode, Ron & Kristi welcome Denise Schieffer, owner of Rise & Pies in Downtown Perry, OK.  She shares the journey that led her to open her business and reflects on the joys and lessons learned one year later. 

Episode #306 - Rise & Pies

How did a small town in Arkansas become known as one of the best in America?  Siloam Springs, Ron's hometown, has experienced tremendous growth and success in the downtown core.  On this episode, Ron & Kristi have the privilege of interviewing Meredith Bergstrom, former MS Director and current Director Kelsey Howard.  You'll enjoy hearing their stories of revitalization and partnerships that created the success story that Siloam Springs is today.

Episode #305 - Main Street Success Story, Siloam Springs

I think we all can agree that micro breweries are not a fad that is going away anytime soon. Is it possible that these small batch breweries can do more than create great beer? We think they can! Opening up a brewery in small town is difficult, but with passion and hard work anything is achievable. In this episode, Ron visits Casey & Dorothy Letellier, owners of Ivory Bill Brewing, located in his hometown of Siloam Springs, AR at Siloam Springs' first brewery to tell their story. 

Episode #304 - Ivory Bill Brewing

Coworking spaces are more than a trend for downtowns, as many jobs are no longer confined to a traditional office space.  In this episode, Ron & Kristi are joined by the owners of WorkIT Coworking Center in Stillwater, OK to discuss the many benefits, not only for their clients, but for their downtown too.

Episode #303 - Coworking Downtown

While on a consultation and keynote presentation in Nebraska, Ron had the opportunity to moderate a panel of downtown rock stars that are making a difference in their communities.

Episode #302 - Downtown Rock Stars Q & A

Since our first episode, we've said that restoration is our story and have proudly shared stories of great things happening in towns across America.  This season kicks off with a different story of restoration as Ron shares his personal and unexpected restoration journey with his own battle with cancer.

Episode #301 - An Unexpected Journey

Flip This Town started as a book by downtown revitalization expert Ron Drake, and has now transformed into a movement that is sweeping communities across the country. Join Ron Drake and his partner, Main Street Manager Kristi Trevarrow as they set out to restore the heart of America, one downtown at a time.

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Flip This Town

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