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Hardin Local Weekly S2026E18: 10 Primary Interviews, 75 Hard, Derby Week

Episode 18 covers 10 candidate interviews in 5 days, Jon O'Brien's 75 Hard finish, Derby Week events, the Domino's-at-Publix paper trail, and a German night in Muldraugh.

Phil Taul

Phil Taul

— 6 min read
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Hardin Local Weekly Episode 18 panel covers the Primary Election Interview Series, Jon O'Brien's 75 Hard journey, Derby Week events, Domino's at Publix paper trail, and a German night in…

What We Covered This Week

Episode 18 had two segments you'd never find on a normal weekly show — and both ran like the heart of the hour.

The first was a 5-minute inspirational interview with Jon O'Brien about completing 75 Hard. Jon started February 1, finished the day before his 46th birthday, and lost 55 pounds along the way. The whole table sat with it for the right amount of time.

The second was a Hardin Local Election Spotlight — Rachel interviewed Phil about the Primary Election Interview Series launched the previous Friday. Ten interviews aired in five days. A 13-candidate marathon was teed up for Wednesday. The full series is sponsored by The Plumbing Doctor and Omni Design Group.

The rest of the show built around Derby Week energy. Jon walked through a calendar that included Oaks in primetime Friday, the Farmers Market season opener Saturday, hat contests, a 5K, a chess tournament, an after-Derby concert at Phillips Grove, and Anime-Fest Sunday. Nate's Business Buzz brought a real paper trail on Domino's coming to Publix, Donato's at one year in town, Nothing Bundt Cakes officially open, and Big Sandy confirmed for the old Movie Palace. Rachel's housing market read landed at 3.1 months of inventory — tightest of the year — with a new price-tier breakdown for buyers searching at specific budgets. And Britten & Michele took The Experienced Eater off-format with a live reaction to Backstreet Cafe in Muldraugh on German night.

For Hardin County this week: watch the election interviews. Start something small. Go to the farmers market Saturday. Try German food in Muldraugh on a Thursday or Saturday. Wear a hat to Derby.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnkr8f9p1OA Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1375133791304759

In This Episode

10 Interviews in 5 Days — Hardin Local Election Spotlight

Rachel interviews Phil

Ten primary candidate interviews aired in the first five days of the series. Wednesday brings a 1 PM to 7 PM marathon with 13 more. Booking stays open through May 12 ahead of the May 19 primary. Phil's ground rules are strict: same questions for everyone running for the same office, same time, questions sent in advance, no follow-ups. "Not gotcha journalism. I'm not trying to get anybody stuck." Sponsored by The Plumbing Doctor and Omni Design Group.

Read the full Election Spotlight article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1375145561303582 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW2r1omJdTE

75 Days, 55 Pounds — Jon O'Brien Finishes 75 Hard

Rachel interviews Jon

Jon O'Brien completed 75 Hard the day before his 46th birthday. The coldest day was day one — 4 degrees outside, frozen beard. The real change wasn't physical, it was schedule discipline: "I tried to get everything I could get done before 10 AM done." His advice to anyone thinking "I could never": start with 15 days, 15-minute workouts, stack the consistency. Rachel's frame back: "1% better every day."

Read the full Special Guest article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1375135581304580

Derby Week in Hardin County — with Jon O'Brien

Events

Kentucky Derby Saturday May 2 anchors the week. Hardin County Farmers Market season opens Saturday at 200 Peterson Drive. Kentucky Oaks airs in primetime Friday for the first time ever. Plus Coffee and Cards at Apostoli Friday morning (Scott's Small Business Week kickoff), the Kids Derby Hat Workshop at the Colvin Community Center, hat contests at Artie Ray's, the Project Grad Spring craft fair at John Hardin, a Gospel Color Run, the Derby Open Chess Tournament at Family Buffet, an after-Derby concert at Phillips Grove with Cole Chaney, and Etown Anime-Fest Sunday.

Read the full Events article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1375141384637333 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0RxWJpFIBY

Nate's Business Buzz

Business News

Domino's at Publix? A PlanHub listing (project 544527) shows a 1,416 sq ft / $350K tenant build-out at 1311 Pear Orchard Road, Suite 122 — The Shops at Pear Orchard. Not confirmed by any city, Publix, or Domino's announcement yet. Donato's celebrates one year in Elizabethtown Friday with a 4–6 PM event and a chance at free pizza for a year. Nothing Bundt Cakes is officially open on North Dixie — line out the door on day one. Big Sandy Furniture confirmed for the former Movie Palace site, 2026 target. Nate's macro read: North Dixie is the commercial corridor.

Read the full Business Buzz article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1375137674637704 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSR4DOrYqwI

Hardin County Housing Market — with Rachel Brantingham

Housing Market Update

3.1 months of inventory — the tightest of the year. Days on market dropped to 77. 35 new listings, 29 contracts, 26 closings. The new layer this week is the price-tier breakdown: under-$250K runs 73 DOM (hottest), $250–$400K runs 75, $400K+ slows to 87, luxury ($800K+) sits at 112. Demand is concentrated under $400K. Conventional rates at 5.99% with strong credit; VA/FHA/USDA around 5.75%. Sellers under $400K are in a strong position; sellers above $400K need real strategy.

Read the full Housing Market article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1375147307970074

The Experienced Eater — Backstreet Cafe (Muldraugh) Live Reaction

Restaurant Review

Britten shot a raw video at Backstreet Cafe in Muldraugh on a Saturday German night — then he and Michele narrated it live during the show. Cordon bleu, jaeger schnitzel, German potato salad, spaetzle, and homemade pineapple rum cake. The only place locally serving German food after several Radcliff and E'town spots have closed. German nights Thursdays AND Saturdays — get there early because they sell out. ~$14/person on German night. Hidden behind the big yellow hotel in Muldraugh. Worth the drive.

Read the full Experienced Eater review → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1375143587970446 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lnqA7NWmw8

Small Business Week Heads-Up

Scott Lucas opened the show with a Small Business Week reminder. National Small Business Week runs May 4–10. Easy ways to participate: shop local, write a Google review for a small business you love, share their posts, tag them when you visit.

Concrete first stop — Friday May 1 at 8 AM: Coffee and Cards at Apostoli Coffee in Radcliff (158 W Vine Street), hosted by the Radcliff Small Business Alliance. Scott: "If you're a small business owner, want to be a small business owner, or just want to meet the people building Radcliff's small business community — go."

Episode Highlights

"Everything's so politically charged that I wanted to provide an interview that wasn't that way."
— Phil Taul (on the design of the Primary Election Interview Series)
"You can do it. Start small. If you do 15 days and do 15-minute workouts — those small little changes will help you out."
— Jon O'Brien (on 75 Hard)
"We've moved from balanced, to seller-leaning, to now a competitive spring market environment."
— Rachel Brantingham (on 3.1 months of inventory)
"If you're not by the hotels or right off the interstate, I think you want to be on North Dixie."
— Nate Bryan (on the E'town commercial corridor)
"We call this the gray area. It's technically not Hardin County, but you've got to go through Hardin County twice to get there. Close enough."
— Britten McDowell (on Backstreet Cafe in Muldraugh)
"My life theory is 1% better every day."
— Rachel Brantingham

Closing & Shoutouts

The closing segment ran comments and shoutouts off the icebreaker — Derby traditions and Derby hat fails. Phil and Rachel scrolled through the kitchen-table reactions. Jamie got a happy-birthday call-out. The audience got the call to wear hats Saturday and send pictures from Artie Ray's.

Catch Up & Stay Connected

Election Series Sponsors:

  • The Plumbing Doctor — 24/7 Hardin County plumbing — 765-PLUM (765-7586)
  • Omni Design Group — new construction & remodeling — Cory at 270-769-8339

Primary Election: Tuesday May 19, 2026. Candidates booking through May 12 at HardinLocal.com.

Segments in this episode

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