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.