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WHAT MAKES WOODSTOCK WORTH THE STOP? REAL WOODSTOCK LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST AND VIDEO SERIES

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Next Stop: Woodstock explores the people, places, businesses and stories that make Woodstock, Illinois worth discovering
 
 
WOODSTOCK, IL — October 8, 2026 — What makes Woodstock worth the stop? Real Woodstock is finding out.
 
Real Woodstock, the tourism brand for Woodstock, Illinois, has launched Next Stop: Woodstock | A Real Woodstock Podcast + Video Series, a new storytelling platform exploring the people, businesses, places, traditions and unexpected stories that make Woodstock worth discovering.
 
Hosted by Heather Arnold, Marketing Manager for Real Woodstock, and Jason Ryan Lovett, Artistic Operations Manager at the Woodstock Opera House, the series takes listeners and viewers behind the scenes to meet the people and hear the stories that make Woodstock unique.
 
“I’ve wanted to create a podcast because I love how much you can learn through a good conversation,” said Arnold. “I love talking to people, hearing their stories and discovering things I never knew, and I thought this would be a great fit for Woodstock.”
 
The podcast is designed for both people who already call Woodstock home and those discovering the community for the first time.
 
“I was born and raised here, and 40 years later, I’m still learning things I didn’t know,” Arnold said. “Woodstock is always evolving, and there are endless stories to tell. We can talk to small business owners, people who have relocated here, learn about things made right here, explore our history or discover something new to add to your Woodstock bucket list.”
 
The series launched October 7 with “Next Stop: Typewriter City,” featuring Michelle Thimios, curator of Woodstock’s Typewriter Trail. The episode explores Woodstock’s unexpected connection to typewriters, how the Typewriter Trail came to life and what visitors can discover at locations throughout the city. 
 
The second episode, “Next Stop: The Stage,” will be released October 21 and features Nathan Burkart, managing director of the historic Woodstock Opera House. The episode explores what brought Burkart to Woodstock, what it’s like stepping into one of the city’s most iconic buildings and what’s ahead for the Opera House.
 
Each episode includes recurring segments such as Next Stop Show & Tell, which brings a local object, discovery or piece of Woodstock history into the conversation; Square Seconds, a quick-fire round that gives listeners a more personal look at each guest; and Real Recommendation, where guests share a personal favorite place, experience or hidden gem in Woodstock.
 
The goal is to release two podcast episodes each month, with both podcast and video versions available.
 
Arnold sees the series as something that can continue to evolve.
 
“I’d love to see this grow into a true behind-the-scenes video series where we can take people into places they might never otherwise get to see and open their eyes to a different side of Woodstock,” Arnold said. “There are so many possibilities, and this gives us another way to tell those stories, share the people behind them and create content that can continue to live beyond a single episode.”
 
Future episodes will explore Woodstock’s holiday traditions, local businesses, community celebrations, Groundhog Days, dining, outdoor recreation and more.
 
“Whether you live here or you’re curious about somewhere new, I hope every episode gives you another reason to discover something,” Arnold said. 
 
Listen and Watch
 
Next Stop: Woodstock is available wherever you listen to podcasts, with video episodes available on YouTube. Episodes and additional information are available at RealWoodstock.com/podcast.

WHAT MAKES WOODSTOCK WORTH THE STOP? ...

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