In the season finale, we talk to the minds behind Midstory — the ones who bubbled back up the brain drain and have dedicated nearly a decade of their life to this city.

Throughout this podcast, we’ve talked about many of the tangible reasons people have left or stayed — opportunity, career, money, social life, culture, family ... the list goes on.

But this episode will explore some of the more intangible reasons. Midstory didn’t come into existence because Toledo’s a promising place to start a nonprofit (it’s not), or even because some of Midstory’s founders grew up here. They didn’t start Midstory from trust funds or with the intention of padding their resumes. Midstory’s here for deeply personal reasons.

Because maybe it’s not all logical. Maybe it’s not the rising job opportunities, the affordable housing market, the growing social scene, the ease of traveling from Toledo, and so on and so forth. Maybe it’s not the parks or the zoo, the museums or the concerts. Those things all help. But, there is still something more — something like a calling.

Welcome to the final episode of Brain Drain, a Midstory podcast that explores the city of Toledo through the eyes of the people who’ve left it behind. In this episode, we call on three people who came back to help build Toledo’s tomorrow.

Visit www.midstory.org/braindrain/ to explore interactive data visuals and listen to bonus content.

In the last eight years, Midstory has brought over 200 bright, young people from across the nation to Toledo, Ohio, through our internship and fellowship programs. They're from the Harvards and the Princetons, the Northwesterns and the UCLAs. Some of them grew up here, some of them had never step foot in the Midwest (let alone Toledo). They're smart. They're visionary. They’re exactly the kind of young talent Toledo can't keep.

They spent a summer imagining what a Toledo that included them might look like — and comparing that to the city that was in front of them. As you can imagine, their impressions didn’t always line up with the perspectives of proud Toledoans. They may only stay in the city for two months or a year — and their experiences may be limited — but maybe it’s the right time to hear what they have to say about our city. Because, whether you agree or not, their perspective is something we can learn from.

Welcome to the first part of the season finale of Brain Drain, a Midstory podcast that explores the city of Toledo through the eyes of the people who’ve left it behind. In this episode, we bring the Midstory interns back into play to talk about what makes a city like Toledo worth living in and fighting for.

Visit www.midstory.org/braindrain/ to explore interactive data visuals and listen to bonus content.

M*A*S*H’s beloved Corporal Klinger was a proud Toledoan, much like the actor who played him, Jamie Farr. He, along with his audacious wardrobe, would do anything to get back to Toledo. The role and the TV show gave the city a sliver of the national spotlight during the ‘70s and ‘80s, an era when Toledo’s reputation had already begun to slip.

We’ve spent most of this season exploring some of the things that have led people away from Toledo — the lack of a vibrant social scene downtown, the pitfalls of a post-industrial economy and the appeal of more established cultural scenes in other cities have all caused young adults to pack their bags.

But this week, we’re going to spend time with some of Toledo’s Klingers. Their perspective is still shaped by the exodus unfolding around them, but that awareness only strengthens their resolve. It makes them want to dig deeper, to keep insisting on Toledo’s promise and to encourage their friends and neighbors to work harder on behalf of this city.

Still — how long can Toledo keep counting on its biggest advocates to swim upstream?

Welcome to episode six of Brain Drain, a Midstory podcast that explores the city of Toledo through the eyes of the people who’ve left it behind. In this episode, we explore Toledo's current efforts to retain young people ... and if they're enough.

Visit www.midstory.org/braindrain/ to explore interactive data visuals and listen to bonus content.