Around Town with @ColaMayor

“A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.” The Future of Richland One with Dr. Todd Walker

In this episode of Around Town, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann sits down with Richland County School District One Superintendent Dr. Todd Walker to discuss leadership, public education, and the future of Richland One. As he approaches his first year in Columbia, Dr. Walker reflects on the lessons shaping his leadership style, the importance of listening before leading, and why strong schools are essential to a strong city. The conversation explores workforce development, student engagement, career-connected learning, and the opportunities ahead for one of South Carolina’s most important school districts. They also discuss the evolving role of education in a rapidly growing region, the impact of community collaboration, and why Dr. Walker believes “a rising tide lifts all boats” when schools, families, businesses, and local leaders move forward together.

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]