We love to talk about thriving communities.
We point to the cute downtowns.
The new coffee shops.
The events, the energy, the growth.
But after sitting down with Liesel Seabert, I walked away thinking:
We’ve been looking at the wrong thing.
Because what actually makes a community thrive…isn’t what you see in signage on Main Street or advertising on the community billboard.
It’s who shows up to to make it happen.
It Started With One Decision: “I’ll Just Go”
Liesel didn’t grow up in Iowa.
She moved here knowing exactly one person (her husband) and assumed it would be temporary.
Two years, tops.
Instead, she built a life, a career, and a statewide network rooted in one simple decision:
She showed up.
Not perfectly.
Not strategically.
Not even always comfortably.
Just consistently.
She went to conferences where she didn’t quite “fit.”
Introduced herself to rooms where she knew no one.
Followed curiosity instead of credentials.
And slowly those connections turned into opportunity.
Leadership Is the Secret Sauce
When I asked Liesel what separates thriving small towns from the ones that feel stuck, her answer was immediate:
Leadership.
Not funding.
Not population size.
Not geography.
Leadership.
And not just one strong leader.
But a bench of leaders.
People who are willing to:
- Step up
- Stay engaged
- And eventually pass the torch
Because here’s the truth we don’t always say out loud:
👉 Burnout is real in small towns
👉 The same people can’t do everything forever
👉 And if we don’t make space for new leaders, momentum dies
Start Small (Seriously)
One of the most practical takeaways from this conversation?
Start smaller than you think you should.
Not:
“We’re going to build something massive and transformational.”
But:
“What’s one thing we can do well?”
Because small wins create:
- Energy
- Buy-in
- Confidence
And that’s what builds momentum.
Not perfection.
The Domino Effect Is Real
Liesel talked about something I’ve seen play out in real time in my own community:
Once a town gets one win…
it gets easier to get the next.
And the next.
And the next.
Why?
Because people start to believe:
“Oh… we can do this.”
That belief is everything.
You Don’t Need an Invitation
This part really stuck with me.
So many people are waiting to be asked.
Waiting to be chosen.
Waiting to feel ready.
Waiting for someone to say, “We need you.”
But Liesel’s story (and honestly, mine too) proves something different:
👉 You can just go
👉 You can just show up
👉 You can just start
Even if it’s uncomfortable.
Even if you don’t know where it leads.
The Future of Small Towns Depends on This
Toward the end of our conversation, we talked about what excites her most right now.
And her answer?
Youth leadership.
Not token involvement.
Not “a seat at the table” for show.
But real integration of younger voices into leadership conversations.
Because if we want people to stay…
they have to see themselves in the future we’re building.
What This Means for You
You don’t need to be:
- An elected official
- A board president
- Or the loudest voice in the room
Leadership might look like:
- Starting a conversation
- Planning a small event
- Writing the grant
- Inviting someone new in
It all counts.
And it all matters.
Final Thought
If you take one thing from this episode, let it be this:
Thriving communities aren’t built by perfect plans.
They’re built by people who care enough to show up.
And maybe… that person is you.
Episode 248 of The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth and Liesl Seabert is now streaming wherever you get your podcasts!
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