Pullman Moscow and Beyond with Jordan Vorderbrueggen

Custom Cookies, Small-Town Life, and Food Network - Casey Bates - Episode 4

From Atlanta to the Palouse: Casey of Casey Bakes Creates on Custom Cookies, Small-Town Life, and Food NetworkA conversation with Casey, a Georgia native now living in Colton on the Palouse with her husband Nick, whose Bates family roots are well known in Whitman County. Casey compares small-town life to Atlanta, misses Southern staples like barbecue and fried chicken, and describes visiting family in Georgia and her mom’s casino trips. She explains her custom decorated sugar cookie business, Casey Bakes Creates, detailing her design process, tools, drying times, typical three-day turnaround, busy seasons, and corporate and event clientele, plus storage, freezing, and limited shipping due to Washington cottage-baking rules. Casey recounts launching her business just before COVID, pivoting to DIY cookie boxes, then rebuilding locally with strong demand for custom cookies. She also shares her experience being cast for Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge, including filming logistics and on-set constraints, discusses burnout and the realities of entrepreneurship, and outlines future plans such as in-person and potentially online classes.00:00 Moving to the Palouse01:04 Meeting Nick and Marriage02:08 Colton Life and Food03:55 Family Visits and Landscape05:18 Cookie Business Origins06:46 Design Process and Timing09:05 Busy Seasons and Clients12:11 COVID Pivot and Growth14:25 Restarting in Washington16:15 Ingredients and Flour Hunt19:43 Food Network Casting Call22:31 Filming in Burbank25:35 Competition Pressure and Builds27:43 Meet the Competitors28:17 Practice and Wardrobe Woes29:04 90 Minute Kitchen Chaos29:57 Missing Ingredients and Timers31:00 Royal Icing On the Fly32:57 Social Media and AI Replies34:29 Shipping Laws and Limits35:33 Small Business Reality Check37:28 Burnout and Staying Inspired40:14 Themes to Quit and Comfort TV41:24 Control Issues and Getting Help42:55 Teaching Classes and Scaling46:58 Brand Style and Market Trends50:27 Vendor Collaboration and Wrap Up

Just Do It: Pullman’s Hardest-Working City Employee - Episode 3

WSU alum Megan Vining shares why she and her husband chose to raise their family on the Palouse after graduating from Washington State University, and how she worked her way from intern to leading the City of Pullman’s Recreation Department. Megan previews what’s ahead for Pullman’s recreation programs, offerings, and goals in 2026 and beyond. 00:00 Introduction: Journey to Pullman 00:18 Early Life and Education01:20 Settling Down in Pullman 02:44 Family and Career 04:01 Husband's Coaching Success07:56 Recreation Career Path 11:03 City of Pullman Recreation Programs 18:54 Aquatic Center Transition 21:56 Popular Programs and New Additions 23:14 Senior Center Activities and Challenges 26:33 Department Challenges and Funding 28:37 Community Engagement and Facility Rentals 32:01 Future Goals and Staffing 42:00 Personal Insights and Community Life

Trucking to Home Inspection, Bay Area to the Palouse - Dave Weaver - Episode 2

Join Jordan Vorderbrueggen in this episode of 'Pullman Moscow and Beyond' as he sits down with local home inspector Dave Weaver. Discover Dave's journey from Minnesota to California, and eventually settling in Moscow, Idaho. Dave shares insights on the biggest concerns for home buyers today, including radon, roof, and mold issues, and discusses his transition from the trucking industry to home inspections. Learn about the challenges and rewards of his profession, his sons' businesses, and why Moscow is a great place to raise a family. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:34 Dave Weaver's Early Life and Move to California 02:21 Life in California and Move to Moscow 04:04 Raising a Family in Moscow 06:32 Extended Family and Career Transitions 09:13 Entrepreneurial Spirit and Career Path 17:44 Starting a Home Inspection Business 23:46 Taking Quick Action for Clients 24:04 Importance of Timely Responses 25:08 Encouraging Early Inspections 25:58 Flexibility with Two Inspectors 27:48 Radon Awareness and Testing 38:21 Mold Concerns and Solutions 45:08 Roof Inspections and Maintenance 48:14 Preparing Your Home for Sale 53:10 Podcast Conclusion and Property Listing

Unexpected Joy Through Balloons - Kirsten Bell - Episode 1

Pullman Moscow and Beyond: Kirsten Bell Shares Her Journey with Palouse BalloonsWelcome to the first episode of the Pullman Moscow and Beyond podcast! In this episode, Jordan Vorderbrueggen interviews Kirsten Bell, the owner of Palouse Balloons. Kirsten shares her journey from Bellevue to Pullman, how she unexpectedly started her balloon business after personal challenges, and the unique aspects of her services. Kirsten also discusses the importance of work-life balance, her experience in the corporate balloon scene, and the essential role of community support in her entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to learn more about Kirsten's story and the magic behind Palouse Balloons. 00:00 Introduction to Pullman Moscow and Beyond 00:23 Meet Kirsten Bell: From Bellevue to Pullman 01:00 A Love Story in Pullman 02:41 Diehard Coug Fans and Family Traditions 06:08 The Charm of Pullman and Its Community 13:21 Starting Palouse Balloons: A Journey of Joy 16:43 The Business of Balloon Art 24:07 Social Media and Word of Mouth in Business 29:41 Navigating Social Media Algorithms 30:24 The Importance of Personal Branding 31:38 Balancing Business and Family 34:11 Support Systems and Networking 38:03 The Realities of Entrepreneurship 46:20 The Value of Customer Service 47:29 Embracing Vulnerability on Social Media 49:47 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 55:19 The Power of Community Support 58:18 Conclusion and Contact Information