The Community Soundtrack

Track 12 | Tate Ely | Writer

Tate, University of Cincinnati graduate, shares how fear & expectations led him to try 3 different college majors (Business, History, Education) before surrendering to his given design, passion and gift for writing. Tate graduates with a degree in Writing from the University of Cincinnati today! His struggle is not uncommon, but his will to wrestle through it is unique! Tate not only found direction, but greater hope and larger vision for the future through surrender and trust in his Creator. Tate's very next step after graduation is a mission trip to serve others in Greece with partner churches. Tate's story involves a variety of connections, and this next journey will make that remarkably wide net global. Tate sacrificed the security of a more confident paying career for purpose. You can support Tate as he embraces opportunities that will further develop his gift for writing and deepen his offering to us all. Venmo @Tate-thegreat

Track 11 | Dan Gorman | General Thomas Bourbon

Many people see a problem, and some even figure out how to solve it—but tonight's guest is the rare one who actually does something about it. It started with diamonds. After the University of Dayton, he spent five years running a jewelry store before launching United Diamond Brokers—operating on the belief that if you have the expertise, you should own the equity. Then came real estate. In 1998, he founded United Property Group, specializing in high-stakes repositioning. He identified distressed apartments, office buildings, and shopping centers and engineered them into assets worth owning. Today, that mission has crossed an ocean—United Property Group Africa is now building affordable housing in Rwanda. He's a Cincinnati Business Courier 40 Under 40 winner and is currently authoring the book, The 7 Million Dollar Lunch—which is either the ultimate business masterclass or the most expensive receipt in the history of Fort Thomas. In 2025, he decided to get involved with the most traditional industry in Kentucky. He launched General Thomas Kentucky Bourbon—the world's first AI-powered spirits brand, with a patent pending QR code on every bottle that turns a drink into a personalized experience from a Civil War general. He didn't just build a bourbon; he built a brand that literally talks back. Please enjoy my discussion with Dan Gorman.

Track 10 | Daniel Armstrong | Telling Stories with Gratitude

A storyteller from a young age, Daniel Armstrong was the perfect community storyteller for our soundtrack. Especially while he has an animated film out on the BIG SCREEN and a series coming out on Angel Studios in October. What a journey he's been on! See Light of the World in theatres now and tune into Quokka's Wild Life this fall. Get to know the man with a passion for story. Our grateful storyteller...Daniel Armstrong.

Track 9 | Justin & Christine Smalley - Embrace Community

Justin and Christine Smalley sit down with their Community Builders at a private party to share their story. Community Builders are those who have helped, literally, build FTC one brick at time. Their purchase of a brick on FTC's community wall supports ongoing and future projects to better support the mission of embracing community.

Track 8 | Chris Rust | Chainsaws in Service

Hear EMT, Fireman, and Woodcarver, Chris Rust share his journey beginning as a 16 year old fire department volunteer, becoming career fireman, and an eventual wood carver. "When you give you get back more." Visit Chris' carvings all throughout Fort Thomas and more! See his website to learn the story behind each carving. CR CARVING crcarvingandcrafts@gmail.com [crcarvingandcrafts@gmail.com] Tel: 859-468-9213