“There is so much good in East Palestine that people don’t know about, things I wanted to talk about it and give a platform to,” Kliner said. “So that’s what I did. I started a podcast. Then the derailment came and I thought ‘Well, now people really need to hear about those good things.’ I had just started my podcast right before all this happened.”

Kliner is the host of Claybrooks Chats with Barb. Her first episode aired Jan. 20, 2023 — just two weeks before the train derailed. Still, Kliner stuck to talking about the positive and remained true to promoting “only the good things.”

“Some of my podcasts will be educational or informative. Some will be success stories of the many grassroot programs we have going for us,” Kilner explained on her iheartradio homepage where her podcasts are available for listening. “I like the phrase ‘Gee, I didn’t know that was happening’ and I hope you say that at least once when listening to Claybrook Chats with Barb.”

Kliner has covered a wide array of topics since launching her podcast — from the unusual like “Who was Captain Taggart?” to the informative like how to write a book. Kliner has covered it all.

The EPGO group was founded by Barb Kliner, shown above, who has focused on the good in the village following the derailment. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

“I did a podcast about a man in town who raises homing pigeons,” she said. “That was interesting and fun. I had no idea there were East Palestine homing pigeons. I knew nothing about it.”

Kliner, admittedly, also knew nothing about podcasts.

“I kept saying I wanted to do something to tell people our stories and someone suggested I do a podcast,” she said. “Honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing or where to start.”

Like many of her generation do when seeking answers to questions, Kliner started at the library.

“I went in and said ‘do you have anything on how to start a podcast’ and they said ‘no, but we can get it for you’. And they did and now here I am,” she said.

To date, Kliner has over 75 podcasts, which are also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, under her belt.

“I just kind of learned as I went,” she said.

While she learned on the fly, Kliner focused on subjects she was well-versed in and passionate about — like advocating to the aging population in town. Eventually, Kliner took that advocacy a step further, establishing EPGO Group to help better the lives of the older population in the village last September.

According to Kliner, the derailment made more clear what the COVID pandemic revealed — no organization existed in the village to provide information services specifically to the older population.

“All of the information going out after the derailment was out the internet and social media. But 40% of our population is over the age 50 and some people don’t own a computer or if they do, in some cases know how to turn it on,” she said. “Sure, most people have smartphones now, but that doesn’t mean they know how to use them. We were overlooking our older population. They weren’t getting the information they needed.”

So Kliner, who is former area school district chief financial officer and now an aerobics instructor for retired women, did what she does best — she got to work.

EPGO is now officially a registered non-profit and the organization makes sure its newsletter gets in the hands of everyone in town. The newsletter is printed in large type and chalked full of information. In the latest edition, readers learned that East Palestine EMT Nicole Drabick is holding a seminar on Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. at the EP Moose Lodge to explain when and why to call 911. They also learned about the EPGO Buddy Program where a person checks in on a designated elderly resident to keep regular tabs on their welfare, the dinners being served this month by various village organizations and grandparent-friendly activities planned at the library.

Kliner has a long list of services she hopes to implement in the village through EPGO including the creation of a Community Paramedicine Program in partnership with the village emergency service departments that would provide a liaison to older people dealing with medical issues, establishing a meals-on-wheels program within the village itself, pet care for those hospitalized and transportation to doctor appointments, as well educational opportunities, appropriate and affordable housing options, home upkeep and maintenance and access to a drug store.

And of course Kliner will continue to talk about the good things happening in East Palestine with new episodes of Claybrook Chats.

“There is so much good in this village, so much good,” Kliner said. “We are more than the derailment. The derailment was scary and it still is scary in a lot of ways, but this town wants to do good for and by each other. This is a community — my community – and I love it. East Palestine was a great place before the derailment and it’s a great place today. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here. This is home.”

selverd@mojonews.com