Around Town with @ColaMayor

More Than Training: Inside Columbia’s New HUSTL Sports Performance Facility with Patrick DiMarco, Travis Tourville and Grayson Greiner

A new kind of sports training facility is coming to Columbia, and it’s about far more than performance on the field. In this episode of Around Town, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann sits down with Patrick DiMarco, Grayson Greiner, and Travis Tourville, the team behind HUSTL Sports Performance, a new youth-focused training facility designed to help athletes grow physically, mentally, and personally. From elite sports technology and recovery tools to mentorship, nutrition, leadership development, and even a dedicated players' lounge, HUSTL is building a space centered around confidence, discipline, and community. The conversation also explores the pressures facing young athletes today and why creating a healthy environment matters just as much as developing talent. Learn more about HUSTL Sports Performance at: https://thisishustl.com [https://thisishustl.com]

Inside Columbia’s Tech Startup Ecosystem: The Boyd Innovation Center with Sam Herskovitz

In this episode of Around Town, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann sits down with Sam Herskovitz, Executive Director of the Boyd Innovation Center, to talk about how Columbia is supporting founders building scalable, tech-driven companies. The Boyd exists to help ideas turn into real businesses, and the impact is already showing. More than 200 entrepreneurs have been served, over 40 tech companies launched or supported, and more than $1.7 million in investment capital raised. They break down the gap that exists for high-growth startups, why many founders leave to find resources elsewhere, and how Columbia is creating a stronger foundation through community, programming, and early-stage support. If you are building in tech or thinking about it, this episode offers a clear look at what’s possible and what’s already happening here in Columbia. Visit the Boyd here: https://www.boydinnovation.org/ [https://www.boydinnovation.org/]

Finlay Park Is Back: A Behind-the-Scenes with Todd Martin

In this episode of the Around Town podcast, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann sits down with Todd Martin, the City Landscape Architect who led the design behind one of the most anticipated public projects in recent memory. With years of experience planning parks and public spaces in Columbia, Todd offers a candid look at what it took to reimagine Finlay Park — from honoring its legacy to building for the next generation. Get the inside story on how the park came back to life.

Local Roots with National Reach: The Flock and Rally Story with Merritt McNeely

In this episode of the Around Town podcast, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann sits down with Merritt McNeely, CEO of Flock and Rally, a Columbia-based marketing and communications agency helping clients across the country connect with their communities in meaningful ways. What began as a local mission to support causes and campaigns in the Midlands has grown into a national agency known for creative storytelling, strategic messaging, and purpose-driven results. Merritt shares how her team builds trust, activates audiences, and stays grounded in the values that started it all. Learn more at flockandrally.com [http://flockandrally.com]

The Modern Library: Empowering Columbia Through Access and Opportunity with Tamara King

Mayor Daniel Rickenmann sits down with Tamara King, newly appointed Executive Director of Richland Library, to explore how this 13-branch system is redefining what a public library can be. From free classes and social work services to kitchen equipment, fabrication studios, and even fresh produce, Richland Library is delivering more than just books — it’s providing real-world support to the Columbia community. Whether you want to launch a small business, learn how to sew, or just grab a sweet potato pie recipe, your library card unlocks far more than you might expect. To discover everything the library has to offer, visit richlandlibrary.com [http://richlandlibrary.com]