Ep.71 Hey, Michelle! Making a Career Out of a Love for Your Hometown

If you asked your friends or family what you are "known for" or what makes you unique, what kind of answers do you think you might get?   We all have our "thing" whether it is a talent, trait, or a quirk that makes us who we are to those who know us best.

Are you that person who has the inside track of what's going on around town, the friend who is on top of all the latest and greatest in entertainment, food, and thrills?   Well, that is how Michelle Dorward Jones' friends and followers would describe this popular current events blogger.  She is your go-to gal for making plans for GNO, a romantic date, or out-of-town guests.  

Michelle took her passion for her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, and love of great dining, events, and fun, and turned it into her full-time gig.  Her Hey, Michelle! platform has amassed a very loyal following and is just one more example of a midlife woman stepping out and doing great things to support local businesses and her community.

You can find Michelle Dorward Jones and Hey, Michelle! at:

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/heymichelle1/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hey%20michelle
Website
https://heymichelle-help.com/about/

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*Transcripts are done with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.

**This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

Transcript

Asking for a Friend
Hey, Michelle!  Making a Career Out of a Love for Your Hometown
Michele Henning Folan
Michelle Dorward Jones

michelle, events, great, fun, cincinnati, people, midlife, weekend, feel, blog, younger, living, started, wellington, restaurants, Bengals, friends, years, kids, women, blogger, 

What makes you happy and gets you out of bed in the morning? Many experts feel that it's important for us to ponder this question, and even go as far back as childhood to remember things such as hobbies and interests that spark joy for us in our younger years. It could be dancing, art, or even cooking, perhaps. But are you doing any of these activities now as diversions from your every day to recharge and ignite your creativity or energy? And I'm not trying to get all we will hear but think about it. What if you could take this thing that gets you excited and makes you feel fulfilled? And started? I don't know a blog coaching business, maybe take some lessons, or even write a book? Do you have an interest you'd like to share with others? What if you could even make this a source of income? You know, make a little money? What is holding you back? There are many women in midlife starting something new. And they will tell you they have all had fear, impostor syndrome or self doubt at some point in the process. Give yourself permission to get uncomfortable and pursue those things that could light you up.

Speaker 1  1:28  
Health, Wellness, career, relationships and everything in between. We're removing the taboo from what really matters in midlife. I'm your host, Michele Folan. And this is asking for a friend. Welcome to the show everyone. My guest today is a very popular current events blogger who turned her passion for her city and love of great food and events into her full time gig. Michelle Dorward. Jones created her Hey, Michelle platform, and is now the go to for all that is fun, exciting and new in her hometown. She has amassed a loyal following and is another example of a midlife woman stepping out and doing great things to support businesses, and her community. Welcome to asking for a friend Michelle Dora with Jones.

Unknown Speaker  2:27  
Oh, thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 1  2:29  
Oh, I'm really excited. I was laughing this morning, as I was thinking about us getting together today. I told you at an event. It was the Cincinnati business courier women's mentoring event that I was doing this podcast. I was like, oh, I should have you on and you're like, alright, just let me know. And that was probably two and a half years ago.

Unknown Speaker  2:51  
I think it was yes. Okay. Well,

Unknown Speaker  2:54  
we finally got it together.

Speaker 2  2:58  
For you, that's great. But it's going strong. Were you?

Speaker 1  3:01  
Well, the show was a year old in May. We've got about 70 shows out there. That's amazing. Yeah, it's a testament to following through with an idea. And I want to get into that with you because you do have kind of a cool story of how you got into this. But first of all, before we start, Michelle, if you could just tell the listeners a little bit about you where you're from family details and where you went to school.

Speaker 2  3:28  
All right, where I went to high school or college? No, I'm kidding. Yeah. That's a Cincinnati.

Unknown Speaker  3:33  
That's a Cincinnati thing.

Speaker 2  3:35  
It's a great question. And I defend that question all the time. I was born and raised in Cincinnati. My family is from Milwaukee, Chicago, and so are my three oldest siblings. And then so I'm the youngest of eight. The Last of Us were here in Cincy. So we've been here a long time, and I grew up near the Green Hills area, green hills. finneytown. So that area, and I went to you see, I'm a Bearcat. All right. Yeah,

Speaker 1  3:59  
I love it. Fellow Bearcat here. The season starts tomorrow. I'll be there.

Speaker 2  4:04  
I know. My kids did not go to UC but they are diehard UC sports fans. So it's good fun. Oh, good.

Unknown Speaker  4:10  
Awesome. Are you going to the game?

Speaker 2  4:12  
I am not going to the game tomorrow. This is ironic, because I'll be with my college roommates. So we're going live for the day. So their husbands will be there. So we will be on listening, I'm sure to the game.

Speaker 1  4:23  
Oh, wonderful. That's great. You have a fun story as to how you start at the blog. And I'd love for you to share that. It just

Speaker 2  4:33  
really started very organically. I would just post on my regular Facebook page back then back when that was our only thing. Kind of where I went to dinner or maybe where I was shopping, where I was going travel and then it just kind of became this thing on closer to the weekends. My phone blew up and it was like Hey, Michelle, we have people coming in from California. Where do we take them to dinner to impress them or, Hey, Michelle, I need a dress for a wedding. Where do you find anything or we have game on the west side of town today restaurants over there that are fun, just random questions but always started with Hey, Michelle, it was always Hamish know the name, it was very easy because it just was what it was. And somebody said you start a blog? And I said, Well, what is that? It's back then I really didn't know. So it just started with a once a week email. And that kind of picked up and with Instagram, of course, it made it an all consuming situation, because now it's way too easy to throw information out there. But it's great. Yes. So that has made it take it up a notch for sure.

Speaker 1  5:34  
And how many years? Have you been doing it since you started? Even just the blog?

Unknown Speaker  5:39  
I think it's almost eight years now.

Speaker 1  5:41  
I was laughing because when I sent you an email, I just typed in Hey, Michelle, and I'm going oh my god, that's so funny. Because I did the same thing as all your friends. Do. I love it. Was there anything that scared you at first about putting yourself out there like this? Oh, yeah.

Speaker 2  5:58  
Well, you're nervous, like, does anybody really care what I'm saying? I mean, like kids don't. Then you're like, Oh, I'm gonna send this out. Let me see what people think or whatever. But it was really well received. And it's so hard with this kind of platform, because you don't really know all the time. I mean, you could see how many people were looking whatever. But you're kind of like, I hope I'm helping people, or I hope it's bringing business to places or, you know, when I'm out and about, and people pull me aside that I don't know, or people walk by me things. And they're like, hey, Michelle, I always say hi to everybody, because I'm like, do I know them? But a lot of times, I don't know, they're like, you don't really know me. But I know you. Right? Like, is this weird? If I get a selfie? I'm like, No, I love it. Because it makes me feel like I do it for a reason. So anytime anybody stops me yours does anything. It does warm my heart because I do love that people are taking advantage of the information I'm giving them. So that's great.

Speaker 1  6:49  
I can tell you. And this is honest to god, I'm a little bit of a hermit on the weekends, because the week is so busy. sometimes on the weekends, I tend to stay in my own little bubble. Yes, but I give you credit for getting me out to some really great restaurants and letting me know about events that drag my husband out. Because if I don't know about it, and if it's not there right in front of my face, I'm likely not going to do it. So thank you for that.

Speaker 2  7:18  
No problem. I was gonna say the hermit part. I said in the past, I have friends that do not go out there like I don't go out. But they say I love it on the weekends, because I sit on my couch, and I watch my shows. And I look at what you're doing. And I look what you're posting. And then when I go to work on Monday, I know what everybody's talking about. Like I was there so I can talk about the event. Like because if I know what they're talking about. Yeah, I don't feel like

Speaker 1  7:41  
such a loser for staying home all weekend on my sofa watching Netflix. Which okay, I don't do that. But yeah, we get out. Yeah, it's making the effort of going downtown and doing that stuff that we both admit to each other. We need to do that more. You started the blog, and now see where it is. Now. Did you ever think it would get this big?

Speaker 2  8:03  
No, no, I didn't. Because I really didn't know what Instagram was going to do with everything, either. And how followers come along, and you never know what you do that gets more followers or whatever. But no, I don't. But I mean, I'm happy that it is like that, because it does get businesses out there and tells people what's going on and highlights how great our city is. Our city's great. And it gets better every day. I said, doing our chefs and our restaurants and bars and just fun and our parks and concerts. I mean, there's so much fun going on. Our city gets better every day.

Speaker 1  8:39  
Absolutely agree. My husband and I talk about that all the time. So I know that you do a lot of entertainment and hospitality. What other stuff do you cover?

Speaker 2  8:48  
Well Being right now, I just wrote up something for the parks partnering with UC Health and they're doing all Park thing this week coming up, or like the Kroger wellness Festival, which you and I are both working on. Mental health is so big, like people reach out to me for all kinds of things. I'm like, Okay, how do I make this fit my platform. And somehow it all works if it's supporting someone and what they do, but really anything that I think will benefit everybody. So it doesn't have to be all eating and drinking and doing it. But anything that I feel like is benefiting our city or the people in our city. Might as well get it out there. Right, right. Anything like the ballet to the opera to the parks to give backs and charity. I'm very involved in charities I'm co chairing or helping out with three events coming up right now. So that's kind of constant.

Speaker 1  9:38  
You're staying very busy. Yes. In addition to doing your platform, yes, very much. In those early days, I think about getting started with this podcast and navigating social media. Did you ever have to ask your kids for help on how to do stuff?

Speaker 2  9:56  
Well, I tried but they always act like they don't know. And it's up Anybody familiar? Like, oh my gosh, my friends follow you. Now they're all you know, out of college and it's fine. And then they do ask me like, okay, where should we go? It's super fun. But no, I kind of had to figure it out on my own because they weren't really into helping you. With social media, like, oh my gosh, you're not supposed to be doing this.

Speaker 1  10:21  
Well, you are and you're out there. So very visible.

Speaker 2  10:25  
they've benefited from it. So they grasp the beginning was a little rough. But now they're all in on appeal and going out and doing things fun.

Speaker 1  10:33  
Yeah, absolutely. You went through a divorce? Yeah. Were you thinking at that point? Okay. This blog may become my source of financial support.

Speaker 2  10:47  
Yes. And it's not final yet. So I'm still trying to figure all that out. But yeah, there was a time when I separated and moved downtown. And I thought, Okay, I'm gonna have to figure things out now, that I haven't had to do in the past. So God works in mysterious ways. I feel like that is kind of when things ramped up a little bit. And Cincinnati became aware that people doing what I do deserve to be paid is marketing. It's like buying an ad in a magazine or newspaper, it's the same thing. Even better, I think is people really see what we're doing. We can see how many people are looking at it. And they follow us for a reason. We don't make anybody follow us. So they obviously enjoy what we're posting and want to do all those things. That became perfect timing for all of that when I kind of was trying to figure out what I need to do. Okay, and I run social media for Northern Kentucky. We're boutique hotel restaurant bar for that whole hotel Covington. So that's another same thing, social media for them. So it's all the same idea, along with my own blog,

Speaker 1  11:46  
do you market yourself to do more of that stepping up your game in that arena of helping other companies?

Speaker 2  11:52  
Sometimes, I mean, really, what I'm doing right now is a lot giving up. I mean, that's six for them and myself and feel like I'm gonna I never put my phone down. Or my computer away. It is a lot. It's a lot. I mean, the time that goes into doing social media, Kayla, who was the chef at Arnold's who now is doing the pop up Fridays, right as we speak it juicy burger next to arrow meats, which is amazing on Fourth Street. I talked to her last Friday when I went to get a burger. And I'm like, How do you like this? She goes, this social media thing is killer. She goes, oh my gosh, the amount of time it takes to do a post is insane. So I know, people don't realize how much time it is to do all that stuff.

Speaker 1  12:32  
Well, it's some of the equipment. So you got the ring light, you've got your phone, maybe you have to do filters you do 10 takes before you stop stumbling over your words. Oh, yes. As I was doing this morning out on my back deck, trying to get something in for the weekend. And we all think oh, yeah, our finished product looks great. But it's getting there. That can be the real challenge.

Speaker 2  13:00  
Oh, it's sometimes somebody's in my like, my kids are here and they hear me in the other room. Or if I'm on vacation doing one of my sisters are in the other room. And I'm like, do you want to just say it with me now you've heard me start this 10 times, and then I throw a cuss word in and I'm like, Oh, my gosh.

Speaker 1  13:16  
I know. Maybe you need to do blooper reels.

Unknown Speaker  13:19  
Well, I'd have so many I promise you that.

Speaker 1  13:23  
Me too. Lots of F bombs. For sure. You've probably learned a lot now about starting your own business. And you talked about getting compensated for getting out there and being the voice for these companies. How have you been able to determine market rate for compensation for these types of activities?

Speaker 2  13:47  
That is super hard. Sometimes you're like, oh my gosh, this morning, I went to Hathaways diner downtown, because they have put out there that they think they have to close down. They're just not getting the traffic they want a lot. So I down there and I'm like, okay, just give me your Instagram information. And I will help you post. So they're trying to find that. You know, and then they're like, just the meals on us, whatever. And I'm like, we will talk about this. Let's just let me try to figure this out for you first, and we will deal with that later, you know, and you're like this is some people you just want to help them. It just depends. There's all different ways to formulate how much it's worth repurposed, or reels and posts, or long term like over a year. Do you want me to post every now and then do you want to be able to reach out to me all the time and say, oh my gosh, we have this thing coming up this weekend. Will you repost it? It's so all over the board, that it's hard to when people like what's your rate? I'm like, Well, what, what exactly do you want? And or how much do you want? That's a really hard one. And I think every since probably different on how they handle that too.

Speaker 1  14:44  
I wonder if, like you there's other bloggers and other cities. There's some way that you all could join forces and figure that out. What would be a fair going rate, you could trade services, I guess For spa day it

Speaker 2  15:01  
used to trade in cost. If it's something you do all the time anyway, like a workout place, or facials or you know, whatever anybody does that sometimes it's like, okay, well, I was gonna pay for that anyway, let's just do trade. And then it also depends everybody's different because they're following some people with a bigger follower, get paid. Probably more than, you know, it's kind of hard to figure out.

Speaker 1  15:21  
You're doing great, thank you. It's this thing where we somehow figure it out. Maybe when we were 22 years old, we would not have had the savvy to have these conversations with potential clients, but now we can. And so that's the beauty of midlife, I think. Oh, yes. And I have noticed that there are some younger bloggers coming on the scene here recently. I bet they look up to you, because you are kind of the first one out there. But how have you differentiated yourself with some of those younger folks coming in and doing some current events blogging?

Speaker 2  16:05  
It's different. I mean, if they start now, they can get a following a lot faster than the crawl that I had to do. Somebody did say, oh, there were some girls in here. They said, You're the OG like, yeah, it's different. I don't know. The younger people like to follow each other. And they like to like, and they like to comment. I always say a lot of my followers in town, are the people that don't want anybody to even know they're on social media. So they don't really like or comment. Right? No, they follow me because I say it all the time. I'm like, why don't you do this? They're like, Oh, I don't do I have to like it? Do it? Is that important? Or what do I do? Like, well, that would help. I have a very sturdy, great following of people that can do their own thing. I have women that follow me that can go out and buy their own diamond tennis bracelet. I have a following that can do a dinner party for 25 people in their home. It's a good, solid, very cool group of people, I have a good following. I have a good number to its nose, that poll algorithm. And it's weird. You can buy likes, you can buy followers, you can buy comments, and all that kind of stuff, too. It's a gamut.

Speaker 1  17:18  
It is the organic growth is way more satisfying. You're putting out a good product, you're leading people to good things and great events, and you're supporting businesses and supporting the city as a whole. There's something very satisfying about that over and beyond having 20 million followers. Right? Exactly. It's all relative to what really your end goal is. That brings up my next question, because there may be listeners that are listening, who want to do something similar, and maybe it's not even a blog about their town and events and that sort of thing. But maybe it's they want to start a business, an online business, or whatever the case might be. What kind of advice would you give to someone who is formulating an idea, but just can't pull the trigger?

Speaker 2  18:15  
And I can relate to this because there's something I want to do with Hey, Michelle is like a next thing. And I keep toying with it. Like keep tossing around how I'm going to do it. And I find like just networking, I've emailed a couple of chefs, I talked to a chef at the taste of the bangles the other night trying to like, how can I get this rolling? People are always willing to sit down and talk I had somebody reach out to me and they're like, I kind of want to monetize what I'm doing with this Instagram. Can we meet for coffee, and people love to help people. So I just say reaching out and talking and getting ideas and starting out. And most people are so supportive, they want to help you. And in sticking with it when you do it. You ready to be dedicated to it. Because these things look really fun and awesome. But it's a lot of time and they come up Quick Time flies. So you're like, Oh, this is great. I've got plenty of time. You're like, oh, that's next week. That big thing I wanted to do. But just reaching out to people getting a network, getting a supportive group together, and then sticking with it, because it's easy to get frustrated. And to start off, and it is slow and moving. And you're gonna give up a lot sometimes. I mean, I wanted to do that. A lot of times when you compare yourself, yeah. Are you people are doing and you see their numbers, you're like, oh my gosh, or I wasn't a part of that. I wonder why, you know, but you just have to be ready to roll through it all and keep with it.

Speaker 1  19:30  
That's great advice. And you said something about the networking piece. I found that when I started the podcast, as I was formulating my idea, I was so pleased at how many is mostly women that were willing to sit down with me either on Zoom call or in person to talk about my idea and to provide other people to network with or ideas and that support that moral support because I think you know, as well as I do that if you wait until you're 100%, ready, you'll never do it. No, and you're gonna stumble, you're gonna make mistakes. But the comparison itis is I call it when we compare ourselves to others, that can be detrimental, but you just got to stay true to yourself. And do you do your thing? And let things go as they may. I think that's great advice.

Speaker 2  20:29  
Viewing what you're doing is almost therapeutic for yourself, doing it for yourself, knowing that it's helping others, but just focusing on that, and then hoping it all rolls positively.

Speaker 1  20:39  
Yeah. And I think to Michelle, I don't know if you agree with this. But now that we're in midlife, we've done so much for others, you know, we've maybe raised kids taking care of parents have maybe done the corporate job or whatever it may be, this is our time to do something that we want to do. And that is fulfilling. And I love that, that you get that satisfaction out of doing what you're doing. I talk about self care a lot. And actually, the reel I was doing this morning was about self care. You go into a lot of establishments and events where there is really good food and lots of great drinks. You know what I'm going to ask you, how do you stay in shape? Because you're in really good shape?

Speaker 2  21:26  
Oh, well, thank you. Oh, good jeans goes a long way. I have a 99 year old mother who is very thin after eight children. That helps, I have to say for sure. But also I do try to work out a lot. This week has not been a good week for that. And yes, it raised like do you don't eat all your food and my one son is that you're going to do a fake blog bite. Like I don't do those, you know that. I don't have to eat everything on the plate. Just working out and trying to because I am out a lot and cocktails and drinks. So I just you know, don't always drink at all. And I don't always eat it all. All right, but I won't blog about it unless I try it. So I have to try everything.

Speaker 1  22:08  
Oh, heck yeah. We call that the polite bite. Yeah,

Speaker 2  22:11  
but I do. And living downtown house. I tell you I walk everywhere. And it's just so easy to walk. You know, at night, you're like, oh, it's seven. I can walk the river. Real quick. I can do that. So it is nice to be next to the biggest playground?

Speaker 1  22:25  
Absolutely. That's great. Do you ever have to just say no to things.

Speaker 2  22:33  
I just had this discussion at breakfast. I always had a hard time saying no. I feel like if people asked me I'm like, Oh, that's so nice that they asked me. But I tell you what, sometimes if I have nothing on my agenda, and I can sit in my apartment. Yes. It's just amazing.

Unknown Speaker  22:46  
It's nice, isn't it?

Speaker 2  22:49  
Yes, it is. I just hate if somebody asked me to do it. Like I could do three events in a night. So it was I'm like, I'll squeeze it in. And I'll stop by for 45 minutes that I can get to the next thing. And I've kind of always been like that even when I was married. Together. We always tried to fit everything and committed to and we hate to let people down. So I've just always been like that. But I have to get better at saying no to things.

Speaker 1  23:11  
It's about having boundaries. Yes. You can't pour from an empty cup. Whatever the thing is that sometimes we have to say, that's stressing me out. I'm as busy as I'd like to be right now. Right? Saying that to yourself is okay. Sometimes I think I do have some fun questions, because I'm always curious. Okay. What has been your favorite event of 2023? So far? Yeah. Oh, there are

Speaker 2  23:39  
so many. This is so hard. I really don't have a favorite. I mean, I just did that tasted bangles. I mean, I'm a huge, huge a fan. That's a great one. That's for the Freestore Foodbank and you can see all the players and all the restaurants are there. So for me, it's like a win win on every account. I've got all the restaurants, the chef's that I'd love to talk to, and the bangle players and the coaches. So that's super fun and a great gift back. I mean, the event situation here is fantastic between artworks is very it's so cool and eclectic. That one's coming up again valet puts on that great club be Karen Wellington with them on that board. And that event is super fun. And I

Speaker 1  24:13  
explained to the listeners about Karen Wellington because we've got listeners from all over the country.

Speaker 2  24:18  
Karen was a friend of mine, our kids went to school together first grade on, she passed away breast cancer. So that's Karen Wellington living with breast cancer foundation. And we put fun on the calendar of women going through chemo. We're not trying to cure anything. We are literally taking any woman from any economic background and you don't have to be in MIDI situation. But when you're going through that you don't take time for yourself and you don't plan a vacation. And sometimes it's last vacations or last concerts or last, whatever their dream is. So we just tried to do that. And I tell you what, there's nothing more fulfilling than going and giving these trips or concerts or bangle games or whatever away and it's really cool and it's fun to see them light up and their families get their moms or their wives. For some reason that week or that day, they get this energy and it's like they get their person back for a little bit. It's amazing. It's fun.

Speaker 1  25:09  
I love that foundation. I think it's fantastic. And it is great. I know several people who have been recipients of gift from the Karen Wellington foundation. So that that's awesome.

Speaker 2  25:22  
That's a hard one to answer. I'm sorry, because there are so many everybody does such a great job, but they're fun events. Adult best. I mean, like, oh, there's just so many things.

Speaker 1  25:30  
I know. I mean, you think of Cincinnati, medium sized town, you've got to think that there are a lot of towns like Cincinnati that are doing really amazing things that they're showcasing every single weekend and we got really lucky. I think in the last 20 years, Cincinnati has really turned the corner.

Speaker 2  25:52  
Well and we're a very big giveback city. I mean, we're one of the few cities that has free admission to art museums due to private donations. You know, I mean, people in this city, love the arts love the city and they win our parks. I mean, we have a lot of things that are just make us pretty special.

Speaker 1  26:07  
We are so lucky. We definitely our all time favorite thing you have done since you have been

Unknown Speaker  26:14  
I read? Oh,

Unknown Speaker  26:17  
I know. I'm curious.

Speaker 2  26:19  
I know. I don't even I was trying to think like, what's the coolest? I have been invited to some weekend events at some bourbon distilleries like down in Kentucky. And concert like a weekend that was like, oh, let's go let's make these people in this cool, like, you know, and then meet the singers and go back. I'm like, This is amazing. How did you pick me? I was just invited to go to Summerville South Carolina real close to Charleston. And I got to stay in Elizabeth Arden's a state and a Lilly Pulitzer live there too. They've opened this Airbnb, so they have three cabins on the main property. And they're the main property and it's beautiful. Such a great trip for us with that drag flight we have now with that new is a breeze airline or something. Yeah, breeze. So it's a quick trip. Fun, adorable. And I'm taking my sister and we're like, it's a walkable town. Super cute. And like, oh my gosh, we fill these cabins with your girlfriends or friends or couples. And they have the fire pits in the pool. I'm like, that was really fun. I just get invited. And people do really cool stuff, share stuff I love, you know, dinners and watching people talk. And now I'm going to think of something really cool. And we finish this and I'm like, How did I forget? I know.

Speaker 1  27:29  
You can always text me or email me. If you think of something. Oh, yeah, I did this. It was awesome. Yeah. And we can all live vicariously through you. For sure. So What trends are you seeing in the industry? What's cool that you're seeing on the horizon here? For just out and about or? Yeah, entertainment?

Speaker 2  27:49  
I think okay, pop ups. I keep saying the chef pop ups. You know, there are a lot of chefs coming into town that are not really opening a brick and mortar yet, but they're popping up a really cool pubs and bars around town. These are chefs that have been around. I've been on the Cooking shows and everything. But also you walk into these, like divey bars and you're like, what are they cooking in the backyard? This is amazing. I think that's a cool trend lately. Super fun. I think one of the trends coming back, which is fun is roller skating. We have a lot of Roller Skating going around town. Do you see that? We have the roller skating rink that's reopening down by the boathouse. Yeah, and they do that pop Court Street. I think that's all that stuff that is like, Oh, it's just for today, are you these immersive experiences and things like that, I think are pretty fun. Those are kind of cool trends right now.

Speaker 1  28:36  
I think that's so fun. It's just about getting outside. And I think after COVID Anything outside people are really excited about doing Yes, I'm not sure when this podcast is going to release. But on September 23, you and I are going to be at the Kroger wellness festival. And we're going to be on the American greeting stage doing a panel discussion about owning your age, right, which I thought was a great topic. How do you own your age?

Speaker 2  29:08  
I feel like the older I get that. I wish there were no numbers anymore. Not that I'm not proud. I say working on Karen Wellington, I say every year is a blessing. I mean, every year is a bonus and we should be proud of our age. But then there's a part of me that's like, people really tie you down like especially when I talk to my young friends and like I mean my parents are traveling and there's so older like 65 And I'm like by the way that is not really old. Like they can still actually go out and do things they may even still have a relationship like they still do things I just wish that people realize it's the youth in your heart and living downtown and I saw something posted like living in a city decreases your age by like five years. Oh my god. Oh sweet. It is it's lively it brings and hanging out with younger not trying to be I don't try to dress inappropriately. I don't try to not act my age. But I have the energy that I do, I can keep up, I can go out and dancing, I get to have fun. And I, I feel like you do what you do that you enjoy. Instead of saying, like, my friends were like, Oh, I'm not gonna go down to that. I think that's for the kids. I'm like, this is for anybody. It's an event like there's no age on the door that she can't come in. I mean, I don't know what people told you that you can't go out to dinner with people that because they're younger, or you can't do things because of your age. Like, if it feels right, just do it. Right. Like there shouldn't be something that's holding you back because you feel like you shouldn't be doing it. I don't know. I think that's how I own my age by just not making it define what I do. When I am age, if I don't feel like doing it. I don't do it. But just do it if you want.

Speaker 1  30:43  
You know what, I love that because that's a message that I'm hearing more and more, not just on my podcast, other podcasts, other people out there on social media are really talking about what is 59? What is 60? It's certainly not our mother's 59 or 60. Although your mom,

Speaker 2  31:04  
my mom's at the restaurant at 99. She's still I mean, and I have sisters in their 70s who are out and about, like 72 Still working for Procter and Gamble. But she's sports since she was 21. I mean, just never retiring the energy and I feel like I have that in me too.

Speaker 1  31:21  
Yep, it's a gift. It's a gift to Michelle. I would love for you to tell the listeners where they can find you.

Speaker 2  31:29  
Facebook K Michelle, and Instagram, which is most of my things is Hey, Michelle one. One of my Things To Do lists is to get back on my actual website and kind of ramp it up a little bit. Like sleeping on doing that Instagram for sure. Hey, Michelle. One is my big one.

Speaker 1  31:46  
And by the way, listeners, she's Michelle with two L's I am Michelle with one

Unknown Speaker  31:50  
L Oh, yes. I'm not a one on the show.

Speaker 1  31:54  
I'll put all that in the show notes. Michelle, thank you so much for being here today. This was a lot of fun, very refreshing. And

Unknown Speaker  32:02  
I can't wait to be on stage with you at krever wellness.

Unknown Speaker  32:05  
I'm looking forward to it. I

Unknown Speaker  32:06  
think it's gonna be great every time. Thank you

Unknown Speaker  32:09  
for having me. We'll see you soon. Okay.

Speaker 1  32:20  
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