Since July, 2013 we are posting at http://www.ericmodelsblog.com....We remain proud of our older stuff and hope you check it our here. For newer stuff (Offbeat, off the beaten path, overlooked and forgotten), though, he hope you visit us at Eric Model's Blog - again, it's at http://www.ericmodelsblog.com - THANKS !

Podcast: Smart Community Narratives, Media & A Wise Economy

Eric Model and Della Rucker chat about how Community-based narratives can be a powerful tool to communities, businesses, media, and the public alike.

Della has decades of experience in community planning and economic development. Eric has been chronicling the “offbeat, off the beaten path, overlooked and forgotten” for almost 25 years.

They have gotten together to help make the most of stories that tap into a sense of place and a sense of who we are. They are also narratives that can also provide a “customized branded-content opportunity” through a unique radio-based multi-media platform.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=448

Podcast: Places to Find an Old Fashioned Christmas

During this holiday season we’ve on the lookout for a Main Street that works for you – a Main Street that is inviting, that makes you feel good, and that provides you convenient access to the goods and services you need – in a way that fosters a sense of community and a sense of place .

In this conversation, we speak with Elizabeth Muse from A Day’s Outing about Christmas Season visits to downtown areas of small towns….. like Stanton, VA , Ashville, NC, Charleston SC.

Access to this podcast is available @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=334

Podcast: Lincoln Highway the Way It Was: Tiny stretch of bricks keeps Omaha suburb alive

Folks doing business in historic downtown Elkhorn know that they are in the midst of a much larger city, having been annexed by the City of Omaha a couple years ago. But they still have their brick streets in the mingle of quaint restaurants and shops as well as one of the most pristine remnants of the old Lincoln Highway – in the original brick and narrow lanes. It has sparked a neighborhood revival.

Leona Anderson of Little Scandinavia from Elkhorn joins us to talk about it in this “Journey into Nebraska”.

You can access this podcast @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=291

Podcast: How a Texas Business Became a Destination: A Nursery, Tea Room & The World’s Largest Teapot

Located on Hwy 6 in Navasota, 15 minutes south of Bryan-College Station and just an hours drive from Houston, Martha’s Bloomers opened in 2000 as a Home and Garden store and has grown into a dining experience and all-day shopping destination.

We speak with Sturat Thompson, founder of Martha’s Bloomers about how he started this business and how it has evolved over the years. We were especially interested in the World’s Largest Teapot, which came as an outgrowth of a tea room he installed to go along with the garden shop.

It also has one of the largest green houses in the area filled with lush tropical plants.

In addtion, there is a pottery house , which was originally a 90 year old, barn-type treasure, was spared from demolition and moved from its original location in Brenham to Navasota. The pottery house is overflowing with glazed and terra cotta pottery from around the world.

It’s a unique success story that we are happy to share with you.

You can access the podcast @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=253

Podcast: Orphan Motor Company: Nebraska’s last Packard Dealership gets new life

Bob Cox lives on a sprawling ranch in the Nebraska Panhandle. He sells ag real estate and insurance. He collects old cars, cars that are now orphans. Packards, Plymouths, Oldsmobiles. He also restores and sells a few, prefers to drive old Mopars like his rare 1963 Chrysler 300H and a 1965 Barracuda. A year ago he bought and restored the state’s last surviving Packard dealership in Scottsbluff. The dealer went out of business shortly after the last Packard rolled off the assembly line in Indiana. Today there’s a 1946 Packard in the showroom again, reminiscent of the one that his folks brought him home in from the hospital.

In this “Journey into Nebraska”, we speak with Bob Cox about the Orphan Motor Company, and just what it has meant to him, others and the community.

You can access the podcast @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=258

Podcast: A Triple XXX Family Restaurant

It’s not what it sounds like.

The Triple XXX Restaurant in Lafayette, Indiana is not only a family-friendly place, it has been revered by adults and kids alike for generations.

Based on a famous line of root beer, it is now serving up a new generation its classic cuisine and atmosphere.

Owner Craig Ehresman explains some what continues to make the Triple XXX so meaningful and make it a place to go.

You can access the podcast @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=267