travel with me if you will back to magical year 1984 I’m 11 years old and
magical year 1984 I’m 11 years old and
magical year 1984 I’m 11 years old and I’ve got one of those cassette recorders
I’ve got one of those cassette recorders
I’ve got one of those cassette recorders you know where you can talk into it what
you know where you can talk into it what
you know where you can talk into it what you push down the two buttons and it
you push down the two buttons and it
you push down the two buttons and it record you and I sneak out to my parents
record you and I sneak out to my parents
record you and I sneak out to my parents car and they have an eight-track player
car and they have an eight-track player
car and they have an eight-track player out there I throw on the rock III
out there I throw on the rock III
out there I throw on the rock III soundtrack and I record DJ style intros
soundtrack and I record DJ style intros
soundtrack and I record DJ style intros over eye of the tiger and I interview my
over eye of the tiger and I interview my
over eye of the tiger and I interview my little brother and I’m basically
little brother and I’m basically
little brother and I’m basically creating my own little radio show now
creating my own little radio show now
creating my own little radio show now fortunately for me time has gotten rid
fortunately for me time has gotten rid
fortunately for me time has gotten rid of those tapes I don’t know what
of those tapes I don’t know what
of those tapes I don’t know what happened to them but they don’t exist
happened to them but they don’t exist
happened to them but they don’t exist anymore and my goals for being on the
anymore and my goals for being on the
anymore and my goals for being on the radio show didn’t exist as well I would
radio show didn’t exist as well I would
radio show didn’t exist as well I would discover computers and that would lead
discover computers and that would lead
discover computers and that would lead to that interest would lead me to go to
to that interest would lead me to go to
to that interest would lead me to go to be a software developer and it would be
be a software developer and it would be
be a software developer and it would be a typical computer programmer
a typical computer programmer
a typical computer programmer introverted and leading a quiet and
introverted and leading a quiet and
introverted and leading a quiet and comfortable life now move forward a
comfortable life now move forward a
comfortable life now move forward a little bit to the mid 2000s and podcasts
little bit to the mid 2000s and podcasts
little bit to the mid 2000s and podcasts are invented and I discovered podcasts
are invented and I discovered podcasts
are invented and I discovered podcasts pretty quickly and there was something
pretty quickly and there was something
pretty quickly and there was something about them that I just latched on to it
about them that I just latched on to it
about them that I just latched on to it was this unique style that they had the
was this unique style that they had the
was this unique style that they had the the beauty with podcasts were that they
the beauty with podcasts were that they
the beauty with podcasts were that they didn’t really have rules so they could
didn’t really have rules so they could
didn’t really have rules so they could go as long as they needed to be about
go as long as they needed to be about
go as long as they needed to be about whatever they wanted to be about and it
whatever they wanted to be about and it
whatever they wanted to be about and it was different than the normal interview
was different than the normal interview
was different than the normal interview style I would hear like on a talk show
style I would hear like on a talk show
style I would hear like on a talk show or his light and fluff and these were
or his light and fluff and these were
or his light and fluff and these were people talking like real people and they
people talking like real people and they
people talking like real people and they were authentic conversations and I was
were authentic conversations and I was
were authentic conversations and I was hooked I would even think you know I
hooked I would even think you know I
hooked I would even think you know I should I should have a podcast but I
should I should have a podcast but I
should I should have a podcast but I would always use an excuse of I don’t
would always use an excuse of I don’t
would always use an excuse of I don’t know what I would talk about well I
know what I would talk about well I
know what I would talk about well I don’t have a topic that I could could do
don’t have a topic that I could could do
don’t have a topic that I could could do so I would continue to be quiet and
so I would continue to be quiet and
so I would continue to be quiet and comfortable leading my introverted
comfortable leading my introverted
comfortable leading my introverted lifestyle now you know how there are
lifestyle now you know how there are
lifestyle now you know how there are certain outside forces that act
certain outside forces that act
certain outside forces that act sometimes that gets you out of your
sometimes that gets you out of your
sometimes that gets you out of your comfort zone
comfort zone
comfort zone well that would the outside forces would
well that would the outside forces would
well that would the outside forces would have
have
have happened to me in 2013 in June of 2013 I
happened to me in 2013 in June of 2013 I
happened to me in 2013 in June of 2013 I would lose my job I’d had for 12 years
would lose my job I’d had for 12 years
would lose my job I’d had for 12 years and after an initial freakout I would
and after an initial freakout I would
and after an initial freakout I would settle in and decide I’ll just do
settle in and decide I’ll just do
settle in and decide I’ll just do software consulting for a while and I
software consulting for a while and I
software consulting for a while and I needed a way to market myself and I
needed a way to market myself and I
needed a way to market myself and I thought hey a podcast I could talk to
thought hey a podcast I could talk to
thought hey a podcast I could talk to Evansville businesses and that would get
Evansville businesses and that would get
Evansville businesses and that would get me to know know them and they would know
me to know know them and they would know
me to know know them and they would know me hopefully they would like me and use
me hopefully they would like me and use
me hopefully they would like me and use me to do their software but I still
me to do their software but I still
me to do their software but I still didn’t do it I was still missing
didn’t do it I was still missing
didn’t do it I was still missing something and later that year into in
something and later that year into in
something and later that year into in 2013 that something would arrive in
2013 that something would arrive in
2013 that something would arrive in November No Shave November the beard the
November No Shave November the beard the
November No Shave November the beard the beard arrived and it had confidence and
beard arrived and it had confidence and
beard arrived and it had confidence and it said start the podcast
it said start the podcast
it said start the podcast so I listened and we launched the
so I listened and we launched the
so I listened and we launched the podcast in December of 2013
podcast in December of 2013
podcast in December of 2013 now a side note I’d originally wanted to
now a side note I’d originally wanted to
now a side note I’d originally wanted to call my podcast give Evans ill the
call my podcast give Evans ill the
call my podcast give Evans ill the business it’s not a great name it’s it’s
business it’s not a great name it’s it’s
business it’s not a great name it’s it’s really bad name actually and fortunately
really bad name actually and fortunately
really bad name actually and fortunately I have a vice president of common sense
I have a vice president of common sense
I have a vice president of common sense and my wife and she said you’re not
and my wife and she said you’re not
and my wife and she said you’re not gonna call it that and so I listened and
gonna call it that and so I listened and
gonna call it that and so I listened and I didn’t so I started the podcast also
I didn’t so I started the podcast also
I didn’t so I started the podcast also I’ll give the my beard an idea credit
I’ll give the my beard an idea credit
I’ll give the my beard an idea credit for the catchphrase that I came up with
for the catchphrase that I came up with
for the catchphrase that I came up with it for some reason that said I need to
it for some reason that said I need to
it for some reason that said I need to have a saying I would use at the end and
have a saying I would use at the end and
have a saying I would use at the end and then we would play video games online
then we would play video games online
then we would play video games online and me and my friends and I would come
and me and my friends and I would come
and me and my friends and I would come up with a thing we would say at the end
up with a thing we would say at the end
up with a thing we would say at the end where we’d be like good job everybody
where we’d be like good job everybody
where we’d be like good job everybody mostly sarcastically but something about
mostly sarcastically but something about
mostly sarcastically but something about that always stuck with me and I decided
that always stuck with me and I decided
that always stuck with me and I decided to use that at the end of my podcasts
to use that at the end of my podcasts
to use that at the end of my podcasts where I would like a job everybody so I
where I would like a job everybody so I
where I would like a job everybody so I had my beard and I had my microphone and
had my beard and I had my microphone and
had my beard and I had my microphone and Hammer catchphrase
Hammer catchphrase
Hammer catchphrase and also started developing a theory and
and also started developing a theory and
and also started developing a theory and this theory was that if he knew someone
this theory was that if he knew someone
this theory was that if he knew someone you were probably going to support them
you were probably going to support them
you were probably going to support them you know if your friend has a coffee
you know if your friend has a coffee
you know if your friend has a coffee shop you’re probably gonna go to that
shop you’re probably gonna go to that
shop you’re probably gonna go to that coffee shop hey so I use this as an
coffee shop hey so I use this as an
coffee shop hey so I use this as an excuse to talk with the businesses I
excuse to talk with the businesses I
excuse to talk with the businesses I thought hey I’ll I’ll tell them that if
thought hey I’ll I’ll tell them that if
thought hey I’ll I’ll tell them that if you know if you’re on the show we’ll
you know if you’re on the show we’ll
you know if you’re on the show we’ll learn about you and then you know people
learn about you and then you know people
learn about you and then you know people will like you and they’ll support you
will like you and they’ll support you
will like you and they’ll support you cuz I thought why would people talk to
cuz I thought why would people talk to
cuz I thought why would people talk to me I don’t really have connections I’m
me I don’t really have connections I’m
me I don’t really have connections I’m not you know I’m an introverted guy but
not you know I’m an introverted guy but
not you know I’m an introverted guy but it turns out people really like to talk
it turns out people really like to talk
it turns out people really like to talk about themselves so it wasn’t an issue
so I talked started talking to these
so I talked started talking to these businesses and what happens was I
businesses and what happens was I
businesses and what happens was I started to have these authentic
started to have these authentic
started to have these authentic conversations with people people that I
conversations with people people that I
conversations with people people that I normally wouldn’t have access to and I
normally wouldn’t have access to and I
normally wouldn’t have access to and I got to know them and the theory was
got to know them and the theory was
got to know them and the theory was right I wanted to support them I learned
right I wanted to support them I learned
right I wanted to support them I learned about these businesses that either
about these businesses that either
about these businesses that either I had seen a you know the building or
I had seen a you know the building or
I had seen a you know the building or maybe gone to but never really cared
maybe gone to but never really cared
maybe gone to but never really cared much but once I got to know the person
much but once I got to know the person
much but once I got to know the person behind it I learned their struggles and
behind it I learned their struggles and
behind it I learned their struggles and their successes and I wanted to support
their successes and I wanted to support
their successes and I wanted to support them you know the theory was right then
them you know the theory was right then
them you know the theory was right then almost immediately the event people
almost immediately the event people
almost immediately the event people found me I see I didn’t consider talking
found me I see I didn’t consider talking
found me I see I didn’t consider talking about events when I started the podcast
about events when I started the podcast
about events when I started the podcast as honestly as we all probably heard
as honestly as we all probably heard
as honestly as we all probably heard there is nothing to do in Evansville
there is nothing to do in Evansville
there is nothing to do in Evansville so what events would we talk about well
so what events would we talk about well
so what events would we talk about well turns out that thing is a huge lie
turns out that thing is a huge lie
turns out that thing is a huge lie there’s there’s too much to do in
there’s there’s too much to do in
there’s there’s too much to do in Evansville actually it’s exhausting
Evansville actually it’s exhausting
Evansville actually it’s exhausting trying to keep up but we I would talk
trying to keep up but we I would talk
trying to keep up but we I would talk with these people but we wouldn’t talk
with these people but we wouldn’t talk
with these people but we wouldn’t talk just about the events we would we would
just about the events we would we would
just about the events we would we would talk about why they’re involved with the
talk about why they’re involved with the
talk about why they’re involved with the event and you know how did the vince
event and you know how did the vince
event and you know how did the vince start and why you know why are you doing
start and why you know why are you doing
start and why you know why are you doing doing this and through that I would want
doing this and through that I would want
doing this and through that I would want to actually go to the events and support
to actually go to the events and support
to actually go to the events and support them and it would make me connect with
them and it would make me connect with
them and it would make me connect with my community more by going to these
my community more by going to these
my community more by going to these things the participation in these events
things the participation in these events
things the participation in these events would help me connect to my community
would help me connect to my community
would help me connect to my community and then I started talking with
and then I started talking with
and then I started talking with politicians and nonprofits and community
politicians and nonprofits and community
politicians and nonprofits and community leaders and I would find out why they
leaders and I would find out why they
leaders and I would find out why they were involved in the community why did
were involved in the community why did
were involved in the community why did they care getting to more of a deeper
they care getting to more of a deeper
they care getting to more of a deeper level on why why they were involved why
level on why why they were involved why
level on why why they were involved why did they give up their time to to do
did they give up their time to to do
did they give up their time to to do stuff for Evansville and it affected me
stuff for Evansville and it affected me
stuff for Evansville and it affected me it made me care more about Evansville it
it made me care more about Evansville it
it made me care more about Evansville it made me want to share their story but
made me want to share their story but
made me want to share their story but also be more involved to participate and
also be more involved to participate and
also be more involved to participate and it not only affected me personally but
it not only affected me personally but
it not only affected me personally but it affected my family see after a couple
it affected my family see after a couple
it affected my family see after a couple of years of doing the podcast about
of years of doing the podcast about
of years of doing the podcast about Evansville we realized we needed to move
Evansville we realized we needed to move
Evansville we realized we needed to move not away from Evansville we wanted to
not away from Evansville we wanted to
not away from Evansville we wanted to move downtown Evansville we wanted to be
move downtown Evansville we wanted to be
move downtown Evansville we wanted to be where the action was where the heartbeat
where the action was where the heartbeat
where the action was where the heartbeat of the city was that we thought at least
of the city was that we thought at least
of the city was that we thought at least just there’s a passion that was down
just there’s a passion that was down
just there’s a passion that was down there that we weren’t getting in suburbs
there that we weren’t getting in suburbs
there that we weren’t getting in suburbs where we were at and so we did we moved
where we were at and so we did we moved
where we were at and so we did we moved down and it it was night and day
down and it it was night and day
down and it it was night and day difference for us we were we were
difference for us we were we were
difference for us we were we were prepared
prepared
prepared for that kind of community connection
for that kind of community connection
for that kind of community connection neighborhood engagement that we were we
neighborhood engagement that we were we
neighborhood engagement that we were we were not getting before and I know that
were not getting before and I know that
were not getting before and I know that I can go to a local establishment now
I can go to a local establishment now
I can go to a local establishment now and I’ll know someone there most likely
and I’ll know someone there most likely
and I’ll know someone there most likely and I’ll be able to talk with them which
and I’ll be able to talk with them which
and I’ll be able to talk with them which wouldn’t have happened before and we’ll
wouldn’t have happened before and we’ll
wouldn’t have happened before and we’ll have a good conversation and usually
have a good conversation and usually
have a good conversation and usually I’ll know when we’re having a good
I’ll know when we’re having a good
I’ll know when we’re having a good conversation because I’m mad I’m not
conversation because I’m mad I’m not
conversation because I’m mad I’m not recording it and my kids will even say
recording it and my kids will even say
recording it and my kids will even say before we go in somewhere hey we’re not
before we go in somewhere hey we’re not
before we go in somewhere hey we’re not gonna like be here for an hour right
gonna like be here for an hour right
gonna like be here for an hour right we’re you don’t have to talk to everyone
we’re you don’t have to talk to everyone
we’re you don’t have to talk to everyone that when we go somewhere but whatever
that when we go somewhere but whatever
that when we go somewhere but whatever so I can’t emphasize how different that
so I can’t emphasize how different that
so I can’t emphasize how different that is from pre bearded Jason’s life and my
is from pre bearded Jason’s life and my
is from pre bearded Jason’s life and my goal today is not for for you to grow a
goal today is not for for you to grow a
goal today is not for for you to grow a beard or even to start a podcast that’s
beard or even to start a podcast that’s
beard or even to start a podcast that’s just the tools that I needed what I want
just the tools that I needed what I want
just the tools that I needed what I want for you too is to find out whatever it
for you too is to find out whatever it
for you too is to find out whatever it is that makes you connect to your
is that makes you connect to your
is that makes you connect to your community in a more meaningful way
community in a more meaningful way
community in a more meaningful way because I can’t imagine living
because I can’t imagine living
because I can’t imagine living unconnected anymore good job everybody
unconnected anymore good job everybody
unconnected anymore good job everybody [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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