How To Build A Better Community

11/21/23 • 54 min

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In Nostalgia Street Episode 8, we engaged in a lighthearted discussion with our guest, Joe Batcheller, the President of Downtown Sioux Falls. The conversation kicked off with one of Vince’s random questions about drafting members of the band U2 as characters in a Dungeons and Dragons game. Joe humorously assigned roles to different band members based on their personalities.

As the conversation unfolded, we delved into Joe's childhood, asking about his experiences and memories. Joe shared stories of his imaginative and mischievous behavior as a five-year-old, including an incident involving an attempted flight out of a window. The conversation then turned to childhood games, such as Atari video games, board games like Monopoly and Clue, and an invented game called "Ditch 'Em," which is a team hide and seek.

We inquired about any haunted or abandoned places in Joe's childhood neighborhood, and the conversation took a nostalgic turn as we reminisced about neighborhood legends, like the infamous "old man Foster." Joe continued with a humorous reflection on the Scooby-Doo characters, comparing himself to both Fred and Shaggy depending on the day of the week.

We then reflected on the sitcom "Gilligan's Island" and the amusing scenario of someone escaping the island but the rest remaining stuck due to incompetence. We shared memories of characters like the professor and Marianne.

Joe then delved into early experiences with romance, reminiscing about his first girlfriend in first grade or kindergarten. We discussed the simplicity of childhood relationships, involving candy and holding hands at recess.

Next, we explored Joe's musical journey, starting with his introduction to punk and new wave music through mixtapes made by his cousins. Joe recalled his exploration of music stores in the mall, buying tapes and CDs, and creating mixtapes for special occasions, especially to express romantic interest.

Joe shared his evolving music preferences, from classic rock (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd) to grunge (Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Green Day). Joe shared his preference to the '90s as a musical decade and his first concert, which was Metallica during the "Injustice For All" album tour.

The conversation then took a turn as we asked about childhood games and pranks. Joe recalled making prank calls, including a reverse prank call that sometimes caught people off guard and getting caught by his grandfather. He shared a story of consuming alcohol underage and the disappointment he felt when his father found out.

Vince then asked about Joe's formative years, discussing influential adults and mentors in his life. Joe reflected on friends who served as positive role models. He also credited his high school algebra teacher and soccer coach, Steve Cornish, for instilling a growth mindset and teaching valuable life lessons. Joe then shared his journey in urban planning, highlighting the influence of his advisor, who taught him valuable skills in writing and problem-solving during his master's program. He reflected on the importance of mentors and how certain individuals have shaped his growth. Joe then shared more about his role with Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF) and the factors that led them to this position, including a desire to be closer to family. He talked about the growth and development of downtown Sioux Falls, emphasizing the impact of increased residential living and the changing retail scene.

Joe then touched on challenges faced and future plans for DTSF, including efforts to support and develop local retail. The conversation concluded with Joe sharing childhood aspirations, lessons learned from experiences, and his vision for the future of downtown Sioux Falls, including potential developments in the Sioux Steel District.

Throughout, we shared a blend of personal anecdotes, reflections on professional growth, and insights into the evolving landscape of urban planning and downtown development.

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You can connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

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Learn more about 4Front Studios and connect with us on social media!

Throughout, we shared a blend of personal anecdotes, reflections on professional growth, and insights into the evolving landscape of urban planning and downtown development.

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You can connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

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Learn more about 4Front Studios and connect with us on social media!

Previous Episode

How Scouting Led To Success

In our conversation with Jeff Hayward, Program Manager at Startup Sioux Falls, we discussed a variety of topics from our childhoods, including how being a boy scout led Jeff to start his own business, Dakota Adventure Supply to our favorite movies, music and more.

With two Jeffs featured on the show, we took care to specify the particular Jeff to whom we were referring!

We kicked off the conversation with one of Vince’s random questions regarding how well a scout troop could be led by either Captain America, Superman, or Yogi Bear.

We discussed other memorable scenes from "Back to the Future," Jeff H’s family's love for oldies music, and songs that stick in our heads. The conversation also touched on movies with multiple sequels, including "The NeverEnding Story" and "Star Trek." We noticed a theme of time travel in Jeff’s movie preferences.

We talked about our favorite "Star Trek" characters, the first live-action Super Mario Bros. movie, and childhood memories related to those films. The conversation then took a turn to breakfast foods, specifically pancakes and unique breakfast preferences. One of the unique breakfast preferences we talked about was putting sugar in pancakes rather than syrup. We talked about different breakfast traditions and the creative ways people prepare breakfast foods. We reminisced on memories of important life skills our fathers taught us including driving a stick shift and cooking. This part of our conversation was filled with anecdotes and personal memories.

Jeff H. discusses his experience as a Boy Scout and his journey to becoming an Eagle Scout. Vince shares a humorous story about almost hitting his mom with an arrow while practicing archery during a Cub Scout camp. The conversation also touches on Scout fundraisers, including pancake feeds and popcorn sales. Jeff H. recalls a valuable life lesson he learned as a young senior patrol leader, where he had to deal with older Scouts not listening to him, leading to him learning to handle uncomfortable situations. We playfully mentioned "submission hold badges" and inquired about Jeff H.’s favorite and least favorite merit badges. Jeff H. also talked about how his experiences as a Boy Scout influenced his journey into entrepreneurship. The conversation touches on the importance of mentorship, seeking advice, and being open to learning as an entrepreneur. The guest also discusses his startup, Dakota Adventure Supply, which focuses on creating durable and versatile outdoor gear made in South Dakota.

The conversation then turned to a discussion on the importance of being open to criticism and constructive feedback. Jeff P. shares a story about a surgeon who received valuable advice from an older surgeon, highlighting the significance of learning from others' experiences. The conversation touches on generational differences, specifically regarding the level of comfort and instant access to information in today's society. Jeff H. shared a story about a formative experience he had during a youth leadership training program in the Boy Scouts, emphasizing the value of facing challenges and figuring things out.

When Jeff H. shared about Dakota Adventure Supply, he spoke about the significance of reconnecting with nature and creating experiences in the modern world. We then exchanged patches that represent camaraderie and adventure and concluded the nostalgic conversation.

To connect with Jeff Hayward, find him on LinkedIn.

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Address: 114 S Main Ave Unit 220, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Next Episode

How To Navigate Life's Challenges

In Nostalgia Street episode 9, we interviewed Vicki Stewart, the executive director of Employment Disability Resources. We kick the show off the conversation with a random question from Vince: if you could switch the characters from one show with the characters of another, which would you choose? Vicki landed on a scenario of putting the Gilligan's Island crew on Scooby Doo.

Shifting to Vicki's role as the executive director of the Employment Disability Resource and we discussed the organization and its name change. The conversation delved into Vicki's childhood, marked by osteogenesis imperfecta and how growing up with a disability fostered a love for music, including her experiences playing the flute.

We asked Vicki about her positive attitude and she attributed it to her upbringing and supportive family. The conversation touched on Vicki's school experiences, challenges, and the transition to junior high, highlighting her resilience despite facing bullying. We shared our appreciation for Vicki’s uplifting presence and positive outlook.

Vicki talked about the number of broken bones she’s had in her lifetime due to her disability and shared that she has broken around 40 to 45 bones in her lifetime, leading to a discussion about her experiences and the challenges of healing. She told us about some memorable incidents, including one where she broke two legs and an arm while playing tag with cousins.

The conversation then transitioned back to Vicki's love for music, her favorite bands from the '70s and '80s, and her experiences playing the flute and piccolo in college. We explored the humor of misunderstood song lyrics, including the classic "Blinded by the Light." We asked Vicki about her favorite flute songs and her intense experience mastering a piccolo solo in college. Thanks to Vicki, we learned the difference between a "flautist" and a "flutist." Vicki also shared a story from band camp, including a kissing game called the "embouchure award."

The conversation then took a turn to board games and we shared our favorite board games from childhood, such as Trouble and checkers. We inquired about particularly competitive or cutthroat games, that led to Vicki mentioning a card game called "squeak," where players competed intensely.

The discussion shifted to Vicki's college experiences, highlighting the challenges she faced due to inaccessibility on campus. Vicki shares a personal moment when she contemplated quitting college but persevered, ultimately finding a supportive community. The conversation then transitioned to Vicki's career path, emphasizing her passion for advocacy work and educating others about disabilities. Vicki encourages open communication and questions from people, rejecting the notion of being ignored. Vicki talked about her role models and her journey toward becoming the executive director of an organization. She expressed a desire to increase employment rates for people with disabilities and expand youth mentoring programs.

The conversation concluded with talk about movies, including Vicki's favorite films and her college-era smuggling experiences. We suggested Vicki could be a rebel bank robber with her wheelchair's special contraptions. The episode ends with plans for future adventures and a mention of Vicki's meeting with her now-husband at a skiing event.

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You can connect with Vicki on LinkedIn.

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