The City of Shelbyville has launched a new bi-weekly podcast, Next Door. Next Level., positioning community storytelling as a strategic tool for connection, workforce recruitment, and long-term growth. The series reflects a broader shift in how communities communicate, recognizing that people increasingly choose where to live, work, and invest based not only on data and infrastructure, but on lifestyle, belonging, and lived experience.
Podcast listenership continues to grow nationwide, particularly among adults ages 25–44 — a demographic closely tied to workforce participation, family formation, and economic stability. Audio platforms allow communities to reach residents and prospective newcomers during commutes, workdays, and family routines, offering a more accessible and human way to engage audiences who may not participate in traditional meetings or consume long-form written updates. For Shelbyville, the podcast complements existing communication channels while expanding reach into everyday life.
The first episode features Ashley Livezey, a lifelong Shelbyville resident, downtown homeowner, and community volunteer whose story reflects the type of investment communities work to cultivate and retain. In the conversation, Livezey discusses choosing to live downtown, walking to work, volunteering locally, and the value of feeling connected to the place she calls home. Her experience highlights how small, everyday choices — where to live, how to engage, and when to show up — collectively shape the strength and character of a community.
Research consistently shows that communities with strong social connection and a sense of belonging are more resilient and economically competitive. When residents feel invested, communities see higher retention rates, stronger local networks, and greater appeal to employers and entrepreneurs. By elevating voices like Livezey’s, Next Door. Next Level. reinforces the social infrastructure that underpins economic growth and community stability.
The podcast also serves as a recruitment and retention asset at a time when workers and families increasingly evaluate quality of life alongside job opportunities. Hearing directly from residents provides a realistic, credible picture of daily life that traditional marketing materials cannot replicate. Stories grounded in lived experience help answer the questions prospective residents and businesses often ask: Will I fit here? Can I build a life here? Do people care about their community?
New episodes of Next Door. Next Level. will be released bi-weekly and will feature a cross-section of Shelbyville residents from different backgrounds, industries, and stages of life. Together, the series positions Shelbyville as a community investing not only in physical development, but in the relationships and experiences that make growth sustainable.
The first episode featuring Ashley Livezey is now available on Spotify.