Building More Than Homes: How Habitat, the Army Guard & Community Are Changing Cheyenne | Episode 181

This one is for the GIRLS! | Abby Lane at Bloom Therapy + Flourish Fitness & Recovery | Episode 185

Postpartum depression is often talked about like it’s obvious, dramatic, and easy to spot. The truth is it can be quiet, subtle, and hidden behind a “fine” smile, especially in places where moms feel isolated and expected to tough it out. We’re joined by Abby Lane, founder of Bloom Therapy WY in Cheyenne, to get real about what postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety actually look like, why sleep can become a major red flag, and why struggling after birth has nothing to do with how much you love your baby. Abby shares her path from working in child protection to becoming Wyoming’s first perinatal mental health certified therapist, then growing Bloom Therapy from a basement office into a team serving moms across the community. We talk through practical ways to get help, including starting with your OB, self-scheduling directly, and using a free 15-minute consultation to find the right fit. We also dig into the bigger cultural shift away from “it takes a village,” and why modern moms are asked to do too much with too little support. Then we zoom out to the next layer of healing: community and movement. Abby explains why she created Flourish Fitness and Recovery, a women-focused gym and wellness space with classes like yoga, Pilates, strength, spin, and more, plus child watch, sauna, and cold plunge. If you’ve been craving a healthier way to make friends, get out of the house, and take care of your mind and body, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a mom who needs it, and leave a review with the one kind of support you wish every new parent had.

Renee Fowler with Make A Difference Cheyenne- Showing Up for Cheyenne | Episode 184

A lot of people think “community help” means writing a check or joining a committee. Renee Fowler is here to prove something different: sometimes the most life-changing support is a ride across town, a truck for a furniture pickup, a cleaned-out fridge, or a safe ramp that lets someone in a wheelchair leave their home without falling. Renee founded Make a Difference Cheyenne, a Cheyenne, Wyoming 501(c)(3) nonprofit built to fill the gaps that other programs can’t touch because of grant rules, staffing limits, or eligibility cutoffs.  We talk through what those gaps look like in real life: the bed voucher you can’t use because you can’t transport it, the older adult stuck with the city bus bag limit, the neighbor trying to pass an inspection while dealing with low vision, and the person who needs support but doesn’t have a built-in network. Renee also shares how she vets requests, why the organization avoids duplicating existing nonprofits, and how partnerships with groups like Veterans Rock, the VA, Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels help more people get served fast.  One of the most practical takeaways is the volunteer model. Make a Difference Cheyenne runs on “opportunities” posted to Slack, so volunteers can jump in when they’re available without getting locked into weekly meetings. We also get into new work supporting struggling working households with Thursday-night food boxes, plus a critical Sunday food gap for unhoused neighbors that too many people never see.  If you care about volunteering in Cheyenne, mutual aid, nonprofit leadership, or building a stronger Wyoming community one small task at a time, this conversation will give you real examples and a clear way to plug in. Subscribe, share this with a friend who wants to help, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Brenda and John Lyttle Share The Atlas Comeback Story & Upcoming Productions | Episode 183

A historic venue doesn’t just reopen, it comes back to life. We sit down again with John and Brenda Little from the Atlas Theatre to talk about what really happened behind the closed doors: the structural work that had to be done in an 1887-era building, the surprise fire suppression requirements that slowed the timeline, and the upgrades that change how the building can be protected for the next 100-plus years. If you love old buildings, downtown Cheyenne, or the behind-the-scenes reality of a major renovation, you’ll get the honest version here. We also get into the fun parts, including what they found during construction: painted peacock designs hidden behind walls, covered brick archways, and a few strange artifacts that remind you just how much history can get tucked away in a theater. Then we shift to what the community is really waiting for: the Atlas grand reopening, how to book Atlas Theatre tours through Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, and the full 2026-2027 season announcement. We talk through the lineup including Shrek the Musical, Misery, Nunsense (dinner theater), Clue, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Rock of Ages, plus how season tickets and the flexible Pick Six package work. To wrap, we zoom out to what makes community theater run: volunteers, youth Summer Stock, and a culture where people can learn lights, sound, sets, box office, or step on stage for the first time. We finish with two closing questions that land with surprising depth: what great leadership looks like, and what “home” means now. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a friend who loves local arts, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

It Takes a Community: From Habitat's Blitz Build to Housing Advocacy | Episode 182

EPISODE 4/4 of BUILDING HOPE IN CHEYENNE We’re closing out our Building Hope in Cheyenne series with an episode that brings everything full circle—and challenges YOU to be part of the solution. We kick things off with Dan Dorsch and Daffney Sandoval from Habitat for Humanity, diving into the incredible Blitz Build—a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together. In just days, homes go from foundation to reality, showing firsthand how collaboration, volunteers, and shared purpose can create real impact for local families. Then, we take the conversation a step further. We’re joined by Jason Mincer, Executive Director of Wyoming Neighbors for Housing, to talk about what comes next. Because solving the housing crisis doesn’t stop at building homes—it requires advocacy, education, and community involvement. Jason shares how you can: ✔️ Stay informed on housing issues ✔️ Advocate for smart, attainable housing solutions ✔️ Support policies that make building possible ✔️ Get involved and make your voice heard This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action. If you’ve been inspired by this series, this is your next step in helping build a stronger, more attainable future for Cheyenne. 🏡❤️

Building More Than Homes: How Habitat, the Army Guard & Community Are Changing Cheyenne | Episode 181

In Episode 3 of our Affordable Housing Series, we sit down with Derek Fisbeck and Daffney Sandoval from Habitat for Humanity to unpack the real challenges—and innovative solutions—behind workforce housing in Laramie County. What started as a piece of land sitting idle for years turned into a powerful momentum shift after $1.8 million in infrastructure funding unlocked the ability to build at scale. Now, Habitat is breaking ground on 12 homes, including a high-energy “Blitz Build” where 4 homes will be built in just 10 days with help from the community. This episode also highlights a groundbreaking first: a partnership between Habitat and the Wyoming Army National Guard through the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. This collaboration allows military engineers to gain real-world training while helping build homes locally—a true win-win for both the community and those who serve. We also dive into the bigger picture: Why Wyoming is losing hundreds of millions in revenue due to lack of workforce housing The overwhelming demand for housing funding across the state And how bold, community-driven solutions are stepping up where traditional systems fall short At its core, this episode is about more than building houses—it’s about building stability, opportunity, and long-term change.