Link Ahead with the City of Dublin, Ohio

What if a city theater could be a school, a launchpad and a celebration all at once? Well, ours is! We kick off the 2026 season of Link Ahead with director-producer-actor extraordinaire Joe Bishara and Coffman Boosters President Josh Mustard to reveal how Dublin’s Abbey Theater blends big-hearted storytelling with serious training—and why audiences keep packing the house.

We start with momentum from 2025: record box office, a stack of Broadway World nominations, and a programming philosophy that pairs joy with rigor. Then, Bruce and Lindsay walk us through the 2026 season: from the slapstick smarts of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors to the teen edition of Six: The Musical, you’ll hear how students work side by side with professionals and earn stage time the right way. March brings Olympus through the Bound for Broadway program—ten Saturdays that make this craft family-friendly. Additionally, a SpongeBob musical featuring local teachers returning to the stage to help fund future scholarships.

As the 2026 season progresses, The Pub’s Got No Beer mines 1963 Ireland for laughs and history. 1776 heads outdoors for America's 250th celebration, while this summer's 35mm merges photography and theater in a vivid chamber piece. Percy Jackson energizes page-to-stage fans in August, and Velocity of Autumn offers a moving study of aging, autonomy, and family love. Along the way, the Abbey expands offerings for ages six to nine, adding smaller productions, so younger actors grow on the same set with the same choreography.

Josh helps pull back the curtain on what boosters actually do—raising funds, volunteering and building feeder paths—so more kids can find their tribe. Joe shares how his team curates variety, honors audience trust and keeps education at the core without sacrificing fun. Want in? Watch for the DCRC brochure to check for upcoming auditions.   

If this season's guide sparks you, tell your neighbors, follow the show, share it with a theater-loving friend and leave a quick review.   Then, grab tickets and meet us at the Abbey!

We’re closing out 2025 with a 'Top 10 Countdown' of our most popular episodes of the year!  A blending of big-stage moments, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and the everyday work that keeps Dublin a local, regional and national leader. From rock legends to roundabouts, wellness shifts to waste tech, this highlight reel shows how a community grows when people, ideas, and partnerships align.

We revisit a State of the City address that centers on strategic planning and resident relationships.  Then, head straight to the table at Dublin Village Tavern and why it gets more mentions on Link Ahead than anyone or anything else!  Recreation and wellness leader Mollie Steiner helps us trade brittle resolutions for durable intentions and reframes wellness as a daily investment—physical, mental, and social. Director of Engineering Paul Hammersmith always makes safety a priority with roundabouts, shared-use paths, and a new pedestrian bridge that knits neighborhoods together.

On the culture front, Kansas frontman Ronnie Platt and 38 Special’s Don Barnes share how bands stay sharp, tours stay joyful, and crowds sing back the hits. The Abbey Theater's Joe Bishara celebrates a big award streak while pulling back the curtain on how a small venue builds big credibility.  And sustainability takes center stage as Rumpke’s Columbus facility—the largest and most advanced in North America—expands recycling to include clamshells and uses AI to supply Ohio manufacturers.  But you'll have to tune in to find out which episode was THE most popular of the year! 

Thanks for fueling a record year of Link Ahead downloads and conversations. Follow the show, share your favorite moment, and drop us a note with the guests and topics you want in 2026.

What if Dublin's strongest asset isn’t our great neighborhoods, parks, pathways or schools, but the way neighbors show up for each other? Lindsay and Bruce sat down with Brian Carr, the new executive director of One Dublin.  Together, they unpack how a hyperlocal safety net helps families and seniors weather sudden setbacks with dignity. From winter coat drives to emergency bill pay, Brian explains how focused programs reduce stress, restore stability, and remind people they belong.

We trace One Dublin’s journey from a small adopt-a-family effort to a community-powered hub serving thousands across the Dublin City Schools District. You’ll hear how backpacks and school supplies shape academic confidence, why the 'free shop' is about choice as much as clothing, and how a mattress program makes - “no one sleeps on the floor” - a real promise. Brian also shares the data that many miss about suburban needs: one in five students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and Dublin is home to one of Ohio’s largest immigrant communities. That diversity demands more than good intentions—it calls for smart, coordinated support.

Partnerships with the Dublin Food Pantry, libraries, and healthcare providers make it easier for families to navigate resources without hitting a wall of forms and websites. This conversation explores practical ways to help, whether it's a financial contribution or volunteering.  Brian’s vision is simple and ambitious: to grow capacity so that more neighbors are reached, and to make “One Dublin” feel true for everyone who calls our City home.

If this conversation moves you, share it with a friend, bring a coat to the free shop, or set up a donation bin at work.   Your voice ensures the right help reaches the right people!

What makes a city full of trees feel cooler, safer and more alive?  How do you actually keep that canopy thriving? And what illnesses and diseases should you be looking out for?  Lindsay and Bruce welcome City Forester Jeff Myers, a Certified Master Arborist, to answer those questions and many more!  With nearly three decades serving our City, Jeff pulls back the curtain on how suburban forestry really works, from the science behind pruning to the system that tracks our 33,000 street trees.
We walk through the boundaries between city and resident responsibilities and why Dublin pairs sidewalk repairs with supervised root pruning. Jeff explains why late fall is your prime time for pruning, what 'live crown ratio' means for a tree’s stability, and how different species demand different pruning cycles. You’ll hear why topping weakens trees, how to use the three‑cut method, and what a good branch collar cut looks like.

We also get candid about current threats and trends. Anthracnose flared up after a cool, wet spring while emerald ash borer remains at low but watchful levels. Drought stress lingers into the next season, so Jeff lays out when watering helps and when the root zone is simply too big to make a difference. Along the way, he shares how GIS maps show live pruning zones plus why Dublin holds contractors to a higher bar with on‑site certified arborists on every job. 

If you care about your street, your shade and your safety, this conversation gives you clear, actionable guidance to protect the trees you love. Follow the show and share it with a neighbor who has 'that one problem maple'. We guarantee they'll thank you for it!

Ambition meets action as we sit down with Operations Administrator/Sustainability lead Emily Goliver to unpack how Dublin is turning big goals into everyday progress. From electrifying the light‑duty fleet and expanding public EV charging to building rain gardens and rethinking zoning, we walk through four pillars guiding our new Sustainability Plan.  

Emily pulls back the curtain on zero waste operations at major events, including on‑site sorting teams, composting stations, and cleaner power options. We explore the three R's to reduce, reuse and recycle through real programs that not only conserve precious resources but beautify our neighborhoods too.   If you’ve wondered how to handle e‑waste, foam, or seasonal pumpkins, you’ll get the roadmap—plus a reminder that batteries never belong in the trash.

Equity sits at the heart of the strategy. We talk multifamily recycling for renters, affordable access to services, and future plans like curbside composting within three to seven years. The data keeps us honest and motivated: a 47% diversion rate (one of the highest in Ohio!), city facilities powered by 100% renewable energy, and EV charging that saves residents money while shrinking emissions. 

Ready to help Dublin lead among leaders? Follow our monthly City Manager Report and check-out the volunteer page to get involved.   If this conversation sparked an idea, subscribe, and share with a neighbor to keep our momentum going to be THE most sustainable global city of choice!