From a Bet to a Movement: Justin Alvarez and the Measly Mile Mafia

From a Bet to a Movement: Justin Alvarez and the Measly Mile Mafia

What if one measly mile a day could change your life? For Justin Alvarez, it started as a simple bet between friends in 2022. Today, nearly 900 people in Northwest Missouri are running at least one mile every single day — and St. Joseph has quietly become the run streak capital of the world, with more active run streaks than New York City. Justin is one of the founders of the Measly Mile Mafia, an online running community headquartered at River Bluff Brewing in St. Joseph, MO. In this conversation, he shares how he went from 280 pounds and unable to finish a mile to over 1, 513 days into a run streak — and why the transformation he's most proud of has nothing to do with the number on the scale. In this episode we talk about: * The bet that started it all and how four guys turned into nearly 900 members * Why 40 days passed before Justin finished his first mile — and what kept him going * The three reasons people join the Mafia and actually stick with it * How the community has changed lives — including some who have broken a cycle of addiction * The two members who didn't miss a single day, even after giving birth * Side quests, milestone shirts, and what 377 names on a wall really means * Why St. Joe may officially be the run streak capital of the world * What Justin envisions for the Measly Mile Mafia in the next five years Whether you've never run a day in your life or you're deep into your own streak, this episode will make you want to lace up and show up. Want to join the Measly Mile Mafia? 🔵 Facebook: Search Measly Mile Mafia (private group) 🟠 Strava: Search Measly Mile Mafia Rules: Run at least one mile, finish under 20 minutes, post your proof daily. The 39/94 Podcast is proudly supported by 🎙️ 🛞 Wollenman's Family Deluxe Truck Stop [https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/] 💼 Greater Than Financial [https://greaterthanfinancial.com/] 🍗 Gina’s Café [https://ginascafemd.com/] ☕ Scooter's Coffee [https://www.scooterscoffee.com/] 🐶 Pankake's Pups & Suds [https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/] The 39/94 Podcast is Northwest Missouri's community podcast - sharing the stories of the people, businesses, and experiences shaping our area. 🎙️ Subscribe so you never miss an episode and become a Patreon to support this adventure here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/The3994 [https://www.patreon.com/cw/The3994] Our current individual supporters: Kelly & Kathy Crawford, St. Joseph MO Harold & Carole Johnson, Savannah MO Karen Rudolph, Auburn CA Follow, comment and share on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok! Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email us at The3994podcast@gmail.com

Kelly Evans: True Crime, Real Life, and Why She Refuses to Be Quiet

What St. Joseph's Kelly Evans has built in the last five years is incredible. Mama Mystery is an internationally ranked, Cosmo Top 40 true crime podcast, and @TrueCrimeKel on TikTok has racked up more than 35 million views in the last year alone. A recognized voice in the true crime space who regularly appears at major events like CrimeCon, Kelly is the author of Wicked Women, host of the new show The Motherload, and founder of the Uncool Collective - and we get into all of it. But in this episode, we get the Kelly behind the microphone. Kelly opens up about growing up with a mother who struggled with addiction during her most formative years, and how becoming a mother herself, especially to a daughter now approaching those same ages, has brought many of those emotions rushing back. She shares the story of discovering through a 23andMe test in 2021 that she has a different biological father, navigating a complicated but beautiful family mosaic, and why she refuses to let any of it make her bitter. We talk about her journey from hairstylist to true crime storyteller, how a supportive husband and strong village made it all possible, and why consistency, even when you feel stagnant, is the answer. Kelly also shares what she’s most fired up about right now: the Uncool Collective and her mission to encourage parents to be more intentional about kids and social media access. If your child has ever told you, “everyone else has a phone,” this conversation is for you. Plus: CrimeCon, the documentary, the Brian Entin connection, and what it actually looks like to be a one-woman show raising four kids, advocating for mental health, and building businesses alongside her husband, Austin. Bottom line: she’s not just making TikToks. Northwest Missouri’s story starts here. Links & Resources: Mama Mystery [https://www.mamamystery.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] The Uncool Collective [https://www.mamamystery.com/uncoolcollective?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Kris and Kate’s Ice Cream Treats [https://www.krisandkates.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Lean Kitchen Co. St. Joseph [https://leankitchenco.com/st-joseph/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] The Motherload Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-motherload/id1818358142] The 39/94 Podcast is Northwest Missouri's community podcast - sharing the stories of the people, businesses, and experiences shaping our area. 🎙️ Subscribe so you never miss an episode and become a Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/posts/welcome-to-of-39-155767274?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link] to support this adventure. Give a gift on KoFi [ Ko-fi.com/the3994], support us on Venmo [https://venmo.com/The3994Podcast] of simply follow, comment and share on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/The39.94], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the39.94podcast/] or TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.3994.podcast?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] 🎙️ Sponsors of This Episode: 🛞 Wollenman's Family Deluxe Truck Stop [https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/] 💼 Greater Than Financial [https://greaterthanfinancial.com/] 🍗 Gina’s Café [https://ginascafemd.com/] ☕ Scooter's Coffee [https://www.scooterscoffee.com/] 🐶 Pankake's Pups & Suds [https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/] Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email us at The3994podcast@gmail.com [https://The3994podcast@gmail.com]

Unleashing Collective Impact: The 10 Squared Initiative

How Jennifer Jarvis is Changing Her Community One $100 Check at a Time On this episode of the 39/94 Podcast, Jodie sits down with Jennifer Jarvis — project delivery engineer at Missouri American Water, mom of a two and four year old, and founder of 10 Squared Women of Andrew County. Jennifer shares how a few nudges from a friend turned into a giving circle that's already put thousands of dollars back into the local community with zero overhead. From preschool scholarships to school lunch debt relief, this is a conversation about what happens when a community decides to truly show up for one another. In this episode: * What 10 Squared is and how the model works * How Jennifer got started with just 20 members and grew from there * Which local causes have already benefited from the group * How nominations work and who can apply * Why zero overhead makes this giving model so powerful * How to get involved or nominate a local nonprofit Links & Resources: * Facebook - 10 Squared of Andrew County [https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574727485241] The 39/94 Podcast is Northwest Missouri's community podcast - sharing the stories of the people, businesses, and experiences shaping our area. 🎙️ Subscribe so you never miss an episode and become a Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/posts/welcome-to-of-39-155767274?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link] to support this adventure. Give a gift on KoFi [ Ko-fi.com/the3994], support us on Venmo [https://venmo.com/The3994Podcast] of simply follow, comment and share on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/The39.94], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the39.94podcast/] or TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.3994.podcast?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] 🎙️ Sponsors of This Podcast: 💼 Greater Than Financial [https://greaterthanfinancial.com/] 🍗 Gina’s Café [https://ginascafemd.com/] 📊 EL Crawford Construction [Www.elcrawfordconstruction.com] 🎓 North Central Missouri College [https://www.ncmissouri.edu/] ☕ Scooter's Coffee [https://www.scooterscoffee.com/] 🐶 Pankake's Pups & Suds [https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/] Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email us at The3994podcast@gmail.com [https://The3994podcast@gmail.com]

The World-Class Golf Coach Living in Northwest Missouri

What do Coco Chanel, Michael Jordan, and a golf course in Savannah, Missouri have in common? Gerald McCullagh. This week on the 39/94 Podcast, Jodie sits down with British PGA member and Golf Magazine Top 100 Teaching Professional Gerald McCullagh — a man who grew up 50 yards from a golf course in Northern Ireland, coached royalty in Vienna, developed LPGA and PGA Tour players, and now calls Savannah home. Gerald shares the story of his grandfather, who helped build the Titanic with a small plumbing company in Belfast. He takes us inside the Austrian castle where he lived and worked for seven years teaching golf to European barons, princes, and aristocrats. And he talks about what he's most proud of — not the famous names, but the junior golfers he shaped from age nine into collegiate champions. We also talk about what separates the players who make it from those who don't (hint: it's not raw talent), the explosion of golf among women and families, and how his wife Dee is doing exactly that work right here in Savannah at Duncan Hills Golf Course. If you've ever thought about picking up a club — including Jodie, who definitely just talked herself into it — this episode is for you. In this episode: * Gerald's grandfather and the Titanic connection * Growing up beside a golf course in Belfast * Living in a castle in Vienna and teaching the aristocracy * Coaching Betsy King, Tim Herron, and a walk with Michael Jordan * Two University of Minnesota golfers who helped win the NCAA Championship * What discipline and passion really look like in elite golf * Why Dee McCullagh's junior programs at Duncan Hills matter * Gerald's advice for adult beginners (small swings, build up) Links & Resources: * Duncan Hills Golf Course — call the pro shop and ask about Dee's programs The 39/94 Podcast is Northwest Missouri's community podcast - sharing the stories of the people, businesses, and experiences shaping our area. 🎙️ Subscribe so you never miss an episode and become a Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/posts/welcome-to-of-39-155767274?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link] to support this adventure. Give a gift on KoFi [ Ko-fi.com/the3994], support us on Venmo [https://venmo.com/The3994Podcast] of simply follow, comment and share on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/The39.94], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the39.94podcast/] or TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.3994.podcast?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] 🎙️ Sponsors of This Podcast: 💼 Greater Than Financial [https://greaterthanfinancial.com/] 🍗 Gina’s Café [https://ginascafemd.com/] 📊 EL Crawford Construction [Www.elcrawfordconstruction.com] 🎓 North Central Missouri College [https://www.ncmissouri.edu/] ☕ Scooter's Coffee [https://www.scooterscoffee.com/] 🐶 Pankake's Pups & Suds [https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/] 💇‍♀️💇‍♂️✂️ Hair By Morgan [https://www.facebook.com/hairbymorganhontz/] Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email us at The3994podcast@gmail.com [https://The3994podcast@gmail.com]

Foster Care in Andrew & Buchanan Counties: The Shortage, The Mission, and Why She Keeps Saying Yes

She works full time, serves on the fire department, and right now she's driving to Kansas City to sit with a sick baby who isn't even hers on paper — but is absolutely hers in every way that matters. This week, Jodie sits down with Atheah Erickson, a foster mom and foster parent ambassador from Andrew County. In a year and a half, Athia and her husband have welcomed somewhere between 12 and 16 kids into their home — ranging from three days old to 16 years old. She talks reunification, attachment, the local foster home shortage, respite care, and how Northwest Missouri families can help even if becoming a foster parent isn't the right fit. As of April 1st, there are 12,357 kids in foster care in Missouri. 146 of them are right here in Andrew and Buchanan County. The need is local. The need is now. Resources mentioned this episode are in the links below. Amazon Gift List [https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/311M1NLQDTY2R?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnav-share_EMF8938DB8BB3VSAZJPF&language=en-US] for the Erickson Family Interested in becoming a foster parent? [https://missouri.kvc.org/services-overview/become-a-foster-parent-in-missouri/] Interested in helping local families through respite care? [https://missouri.kvc.org/services-overview/become-a-foster-parent-in-missouri/respite-care/] Missouri Department of Social Services [https://dss.mo.gov/cd/adoption-foster-care.htm] The 39/94 Podcast is Northwest Missouri's community podcast - sharing the stories of the people, businesses, and experiences shaping our area. 🎙️ Subscribe so you never miss an episode and become a Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/posts/welcome-to-of-39-155767274?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link] to support this adventure. Give a gift on KoFi [ Ko-fi.com/the3994], support us on Venmo [https://venmo.com/The3994Podcast] of simply follow, comment and share on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/The39.94], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the39.94podcast/] or TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.3994.podcast?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] 🎙️ Sponsors of This Podcast: 💼 Greater Than Financial [https://greaterthanfinancial.com/] 🍗 Gina’s Café [https://ginascafemd.com/] 📊 EL Crawford Construction [Www.elcrawfordconstruction.com] 🎓 North Central Missouri College [https://www.ncmissouri.edu/] ☕ Scooter's Coffee [https://www.scooterscoffee.com/] 🐶 Pankake's Pups & Suds [https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/] Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email us at The3994podcast@gmail.com [https://The3994podcast@gmail.com]