Keenan Serrano, aka Keenan Eats, joins Jeff Maul, Executive Director of Visit Lincoln, in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about everything food! Keenan talks about his background growing up in North Platte and Lincoln, how he became so interested in local restaurants both in Nebraska and while in New York City, what some of his favorite restaurants and foods are and about the food festival he's launching this October (2025) in Lincoln. The Here for the Food Fest will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 5 - 10 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone in Lincoln, located at 699 K Street.

For more information on Here for the Food Fest, head to their website at https://hereforthefoodfest.com/.

Arek Olson, Assistant Athletic Director of Special Events with the University of Nebraska Athletic Department, joins Visit Lincoln Director of Sports Derek Bombeck in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about his new role with Husker Athletics. Arek comes with experience previously at Lehigh University, Syracuse University and University of Arkansas and is tasked with bringing special events to University of Nebraska facilities. Derek and Arek talk about why events are being sought, the challenges of competing with other similar schools in this space and how they are navigating the changing landscape of college athletics at the University of Nebraska.

Evan Killeen, CEO of the Lincoln Children's Zoo, joins Visit Lincoln Executive Director-Vice President Jeff Maul in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about everything going on at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Evan and Jeff discuss Evan's time with the zoo and how he got his start there, why Lincoln's zoo is one of the very best in the country and the challenge of stepping into the shoes of former Lincoln Children's Zoo CEO John Chapo. Evan and Jeff also chat about popular zoo events such as Boo at the Zoo and Brews at the Zoo, which attract numerous visitors into Lincoln each and every year to attend.

Ron Bohaty, Managing Director and Gina Nathan, Marketing Manager with Sandhills Global Event Center, joins Visit Lincoln Executive Director-Vice President Jeff Maul in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about the new and favorite events at the Sandhills Global Event Center. Bohaty and Nathan discuss the Lancaster County Super Fair, the growth of the event center in recent years and upcoming events that will be hosted there including Gravel Worlds (August 20-24, 2025), National High School Finals Rodeo in 2026 and 2027, and more.

For additional details on events at the Sandhills Global Event Center, head to their website https://sandhillsglobaleventcenter.org/visitors/events.

Ben Jones, Marketing Content Specialist with Visit Nebraska, joins Visit Lincoln Executive Director-Vice President Jeff Maul in the AOI Podcast Studio to talk about National Travel and Tourism Week, happening May 4-10, 2025. Ben and Jeff discuss their marketing efforts in bringing tourists and visitors to Lincoln and Nebraska, how storytelling has fueled an expansion of Nebraska's overall tourism brand and the importance of tourism in communities across the world.

For more details on National Travel and Tourism Week 2025, visit the U.S. Travel Association's website.

Jeff Maul, Executive Director of Visit Lincoln, is joined in the AOI Podcast Studio by Mike Works, Principal at REV Development. Jeff and Mike talk about what REV Development does and their efforts to develop properties in downtown Lincoln, specifically with the redevelopment of older buildings in downtown. They also talk about their possible plans for the former Gold’s Building site just south of 10th and O streets and hotel developments that REV currently has.

Joe Fagler, Complex Director for the Sandhills Global Youth Complex and Tom Lemke, Director of Operations & HR for the Sandhills Global Youth Complex, join Visit Lincoln's Jeff Maul in the AOI Podcast Studio to discuss and preview the offerings the complex will have just north of downtown Lincoln. The Sandhills Global Youth Complex features eight turfed fields, ready to host local, regional and national tournaments just steps from downtown Lincoln. Joe and Tom talk with Jeff about building the facility, when it will officially open and the response they've received when getting tournaments to commit to playing at the new facility in 2025 and beyond.

Ioan Baciu, General Manager for The Scarlet Hotel and Patrick Murphy, Director of Sales for The Scarlet Hotel, join Visit Lincoln's Jeff Maul in the AOI Podcast Studio to discuss their journeys in the hotel and hospitality industry, what special things make The Scarlet Hotel the unique venue that it is and how the educational aspect of The Scarlet will grow and help University of Nebraska-Lincoln students going forward in their HRTM program.