1385 // Again and Again.

·34 min·3 clips

Hannah Ness started a podcast to prove Rachel Hollis wrong about dreams being possible anywhere.

Hannah Ness opens the episode by introducing her podcast 'Living the Dream Iowa Life,' though the main content focuses on 'The Death of a Dream.' She explains the show's origin in 2019 after attending a Rachel Hollis conference where Hollis asserted that never stopping leads to dreams. Ness felt angry and skeptical, believing dreams weren't possible in Iowa, and started the podcast as a public experiment to prove that wrong. Over seven years, she documented her midlife crisis, career shift, and small-town life in rural Iowa. About a year ago, she realized she was actively living the life she once imagined, having built it through consistent small actions. In 2022, during a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, she had a pivotal moment walking through the art district. Observing independent shops like pottery studios and candle makers, she understood that vibrant communities start when individuals decide to pursue their passions locally. This inspired her to consider how one person could spark similar change in Iowa. She announces that 'The Death of a Dream' will end with around ten more episodes, concluding on January 30th, and rebrand to 'Living the Dream Iowa Life' on February 2nd. The new show will feature daily conversations and interviews with Iowans living their dream lives. Ness reflects on her journey from anger to gratitude, appreciating Iowa's 'Iowa nice' culture and small-town dynamics where neighbors care for each other. She shares examples like sharing tomatoes and salsa among neighbors. She acknowledges her own 'bigness' and plans to bring more energy and excitement to promote Iowa's potential. She emphasizes that Iowa doesn't need skyscrapers but should double down on its identity, offering a place for people to slow down and connect. The episode closes with a call to action for listeners to join the new show.

As heard by us

A warm, restless reflection on persistence that turns Iowa downtown pride into a test of shared belief.

The episode takes a familiar motivational idea and shifts it toward place. The host looks back at Rachel Hollis's 2019 women's rise conference, then carries that lesson into Breckenridge, noticing the hiking, weddings, mountains, beauty, and a main street shaped by shared…

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Why you'd press play

Press play when a bad opinion about skiing opens into a bigger question: what if Iowa towns became cool because someone simply decided to build toward it?

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