Lebanon Now Podcast

Girl Power: Rachel Link Starnes

Abbey Hoskins sat down with Rachel Starnes for a new episode of Girl Power, and the conversation covered everything from growing up in a musical family to building businesses in downtown Lebanon. Rachel shared stories about being the oldest of five kids, being homeschooled, and how music became a huge part of her life after her family discovered folk and bluegrass music through the Starvy Creek music scene. What started as lessons and nursing home performances eventually turned into touring, songwriting, and the creation of Dawson Hollow. The interview also dives into Rachel and her husband Matthew’s journey taking over Cafe Jude's during 2020, expanding into food, coffee, live music, and eventually creating The State Room in downtown Lebanon. Rachel talked openly about the challenges of business ownership, balancing employees, creativity, touring, and building community through both music and hospitality. Rachel also shared advice for younger women, encouraging them to trust their instincts and surround themselves with people who can speak honestly into their lives. Watch the full interview with Rachel Starnes now on Lebanon Now’s Girl Power. Sponsored by June and Beyond, T's Tees, Covéll - Flowers, Espresso, Bakery & Gifts , and Kim Breeden Shelter Insurance

Lebanon Area Foundation: May's Monthly Community Needs

This month, Melinda Fries with Lebanon Area Foundation was joined with Lee Eastburn to discuss May's monthly Community Needs. This month we focused on something many Missourians know all too well: Disaster preparedness.From emergency go-bags to tornado safety plans, the conversation focused on simple steps families can take now to be better prepared during Missouri’s severe weather season.The American Red Cross of Missouri relies heavily on local volunteers right here in our community to respond when disaster strikes.Learn more or volunteer at redcross.org.

Girl Power: Deja Sandoval-Mitchell

There are some people who leave color behind wherever they go. In Lebanon, many people know Deja Sandoval as the artist behind the painted windows downtown, bringing life and personality to storefronts throughout the community. But during a recent episode of Girl Power, hosted by Abbey Hoskins, viewers got to meet the woman behind the artwork and hear the deeply personal story that shaped who she is today.

Millsap in the Morning: ⁠Laclede County Sheriffs Office⁠ & ⁠Lebanon Police Department⁠

Millsap in the Morning with Chief Jerry Harrison and Sheriff Matt Frederick

Marketing For Small Business with Ryan Sherrer

Marketing Is a Road, Advertising Is a Car. A 20 Year Marketer's Guide for Small Business Owners, with Abbey Hoskins For the kickoff of our new marketing series, Lebanon Now's Ryan Sherrer sits down with Abbey Hoskins to answer the questions every small business owner has actually wanted to ask. Without the jargon, without the LinkedIn lunatic energy, and without selling you a class at the end. Ryan has spent 20 years in marketing, from MySpace era graphic design to leading creative for an Inc. 5000 agency working with Bass Pro and True Value, before coming home to build Lebanon Now. In this conversation, he and Abbey walk through what actually works for small businesses in 2026. You will hear: Why marketing and advertising are not the same thing, and why that mix up burns small business cash faster than anything else.A 5,000 year history of advertising, from Egyptian fliers to Roman product placement to modern Facebook ads.How to identify your audience by elimination, not by guesswork.The 5 to 10 percent rule, what your marketing budget should look like every month.Why 90 days is the real timeline before you should expect to see movement.Ad blindness: the average person sees 8,000 to 10,000 ads a day, and how to cut through.Why AI generated content is starting to hurt brands instead of helping them.The give, give, give, ask rule for social media.Lifetime customer value math that makes a $500 a month ad spend look cheap. Whether you are running a coffee shop, a boutique, a real estate practice, or thinking about opening your first business, this is the marketing primer we wish every owner heard before they spent their first dollar. New episodes of the Lebanon Now marketing series drop on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Lebanon Now is independent local media for Laclede County, Missouri. Learn more at lebanonnow.com. small business marketing, marketing for beginners, local business, advertising history, social media strategy, AI marketing, Lebanon Missouri, lifetime customer value, Facebook algorithm, marketing budget, Ryan Sherrer, Abbey Hoskins, Lebanon Now, content marketing, marketing podcast