just start bringing out all these things just because they were excited that I was there. I was like, "Wo,
you've been able to build this incredible page now full-time career. It's
so exciting for us. Like, we just appreciate having these events. We go big."
What has excited people the most recently about Westville from South Bin to Evansville and everywhere in between. This is Get In, the show focused on the Hoosier State and the incredible stories happening here today. I'm Nate Spangle, founder of Get Indiana, and I will be your host for today's conversation. Big news from my friends over at Hope Plumbing. Now, Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling. You heard that right.
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Call Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, and start saving today. Today, I'm joined by Michelle Baxter, the creator behind Wandering Westfield, your go-to north indie guide for all things food, fun, family, and hidden gems in Hamilton County. What began as a pandemic hobby in 2020 has grown into a full-time gig for this proud Westfield mom and community champion of Westfield. She is now your digital guide for all things Westfield, Indiana. We're going to be talking about Westfield's glow up over the last decade. And Michelle's journey from I think before we got on the show, she said, "I'm just a normal Westfield mom that decided to go for something."
So, we're going to talk about that journey and we'll round it out. Stay till the end. We're going to be giving you some recommendations for Live Golf in Westfield, what people need to know, just some details around that. So, Michelle, welcome to the show.
Thank you, Nate. I'm so happy to be here.
We first got introduced last summer, maybe like we maybe seen each other on online and then we went to Rivet. Yes.
Up in uh obviously in Westfield Classic. And one I'd never been there before. I'd never actually been on Park Street.
Oh, yeah.
And that was my first time. And I was like, that's a cool little area. Um but it was cool to learn about you and all the cool stuff you were doing. And at the time it was not yet your full-time gig.
It was not. This is actually pretty new to be able to say this is my full-time job.
Is it kind of fun?
It is. It's also stressful and crazy, but it's it's amazing to like just think about like, wow. Like you said, I started just with an idea and now here we are 5 years later. It's been five years, but I was never
Wait, you've been posting for five years?
Yeah.
Were like Instagram reels a thing five years ago?
No. Oh, so you you're a pre you're a pre- Instagram real creator.
I know it's only five years ago, but it's crazy to think that that was that's how it was. It was just it was pictures. They had videos, but it was not
Let's start back a little bit before that. Were you always a creative type?
I would say yes. I mean, I went to Ball State for video productions. I got into that because I loved storytelling. Even back when, you know, I mean, we're back in my day, you know, I'm 38, but back in my day, my friends and I were making videos with VHS cameras and DV tapes and cutting it together by just simply cut the shot. Okay, set up the next shot. There's no editing involved. So, I was always into making videos.
Like, what was one of the first videos you made?
Oh gosh. Well, I remember in high school I made one. It was actually about the tsunami. I mean, this is not a funny one. This is actually a serious one, but I I made it for the school and they played it at like in the auditorium and it was like to help raise awareness for the tsunami that just happened. I mean, we're talking 2004, 2005.
Uh, so that was like one of the first ones that was kind of like I cut it together. I actually got to edit it in school.
If you have a background in video production, uh, I've like made videos like most of my life. I feel like from I don't know, I was like ninth grade maybe or freshman year. We're not the same thing. like eighth grade or or freshman year, the people that have a background there, it's like an art form where it's not just like going on and like the personality in that piece, but like when you actually edit the videos, it becomes to me like an art form where it's like every like millisecond matters and this matters and that matters and uh do you treat your videos the same way?
Oh, absolutely. And it's funny because my husband will be in the other room and it's so annoying to other people that you're just hearing it because you're like replaying the same thing over and over and over again because you're adjusting every little second to make sure. And I feel like these days, you know, the shorter the better. So it's like it's amazing to look back at my even videos just a couple years ago to now and how short the clips have gotten for these videos.
Yeah. It's it's wild especially when you're editing something with a sound and it's like you hear the same like sound over and over and they're can you stop? And I'm like, "No, cuz like like you're about to like move your hand this way and it needs to like drop with the beat and like the whole nine yards." I I love it.
Absolutely.
So, background in video production, graduate from Ball State. When I met you, your full-time job wasn't necessarily It was video production, but it wasn't like, oh, I'm producing videos or movies for anybody. It's a It was a very interesting career path that I'm I'm intrigued by.
Yes. And it wasn't full, it was part-time, but it was uh video depositions. Okay. So, I guess the technical term is legal video specialist.
A legal video specialist,
but not creative in any way, shape, or form. I mean, I would set up, you know, your soundboard, mic up. Um, basically, you have attorneys, witnesses. These are all pre-trial testimonies for civil suits mostly. And, uh, you see them on TV all the time in documentaries. You'll see like it'll pull up a deposition. It'll say deposition, you know, and then date. That was me behind the camera. I just like
So, you're just like going out and video like helping get these deposition
attorneys. Yeah. It's for for attorneys basically. They they would hire us through an indie firm that actually like their job is to send out deposition videographers and court reporters. That's what we do. And we just set it up and send it off to them. Sometimes it gets used for trials like if a doctor can't be in the trial they use that video for him as his testimony or sometimes you know things don't even go to trial. So
I feel like uh if there was a spectrum of video production jobs on one end might be like content creator like influencer style and the other one might be like deposition videographer or no legal video specialist. I think that you might have actually hit both ends of that spectrum. Pandemic obviously people are indoors the whole nine yards. We don't need to get into that whole part, but that is where your desire to be a creator started where you had this outlet.
I was a stay at home mom for eight years. I did the depositions right out of college, but then I had my kids and I I waited eight years just did the stay at home mom thing, volunteer thing. And then they were in school full-time. I was like, you know what? This is the time I want to go back. So, I went back to depositions because that's what I knew I had a place there.
And that was 2020. January 2020 is when I started doing depositions again. And then obviously March the world shut down, depositions, all that went away. There was no in-person depositions happening. And so I was like, h I was like so ready to do something and get out. And I was like, you know what?
I I had started just because everyone's bored at the time. We're just doing I was documenting what my family was doing and sharing it was with my family, friends on Instagram. I had just really figured out Instagram and stories and all of that. And I was like, you know what? I feel like other people could benefit from this information. And so that's kind of what spurred that idea of like
So like what was the first post?
The first post was about Cool Creek Park and I even used a stock image of something on Facebook that was already there because it was a sign that said like closed or COVID precautions and I just listed what was open and what was not at Cole Creek Park. That was the first post.
People looked at it. People liked it.
Well, I mean I Well, here's the thing. I was I was embarrassed, you know, when I started this. I was like, I'm I think I'm going to do this anonymously.
So, you had that tag wandering Westfield.
If we really want to go back and some people followed me when this was my name. The original name, and actually I know Katie man, so it's okay. We're friends, was Westfield with Kids is how it started.
Oh.
Because my kids were younger and I was like, you know, we're just going to do some family stuff. And but then the further I got into it and not very long at all, I was like, you know, my kids are actually not super young. They're going to get older. I want this to be more about everything, restaurants, not just family, kid content. And I was like, it sounds a little too similar to Indie with Kids, which that's Katie Man. She runs that. We're friends. But I told her that. She's like, "What?" Like, but I was like, "This is before I knew all this."
The OGs will remember that.
Yeah. Seriously OG's. Yeah. Um, so it was originally Westfield with kids because that was my idea. I was like, I just wanted I want to show like family content, parks, and all that, but then I was like, you know what? I also want to show date nights and things like that. So,
yeah. Okay. Okay. So, you start you put out the what's open, what's not in Cool Creek Park or what's open, what's not in Westfield in general.
Well, just just Cool Creek Parks was the specific post. And then the next one was maybe about McGregor Park.
And this is just like sty imagery.
Yeah. Well, well, that was just the first one. Then I was using my own my own pictures.
You like go over there and you like get something like this.
Yeah. And I And again, I was like not sure if I was going to do it anonymously or not cuz I was I didn't even tell my friends and family I was doing this. Like that's how because
Did did it ever happen where like you put something out and someone was like, "Yeah, that Westfield account did something or like said like someone sent you your own post."
Oh, no. Because it didn't it didn't last that. And again, you're starting with zero followers. You know, this is completely like organic and so there wasn't that many people in my
How long did it take you to get like your first hundred followers?
Oh, that I don't remember. But I remember my sister-in-law, she was kind of like my sidekick. She's like, "Remember when we celebrated when you got 400 followers? Like that was such a big deal." And I was like, I do like it was it was really exciting to just know people were following. And so, uh, but yeah, it didn't take me long to just realize I have a personality. I want to show it and share it and be like a real person for people to see. And that was just like a few days later and it was me holding up like it was at the end of school where I said last day of e-learning cuz you know parents were going crazy with e-learning and I just like jumped up and like holding this sign being goofy and that was like my first time I showed my face. the grand the grand reveal.
Yeah.
Um Okay. And so this was 2020. Obviously you're you know putting stuff out, but like how did you learn about Instagram content creator? Like like I think that some people think that it's just easy. It's like oh I just post stuff. Like it's not especially not to be good at it. Like what were you doing to learn how to become a better creator?
Oh gosh. I mean just how any anybody does. Like it's I mean I'm still learning and it wasn't really a thing. I mean I knew influencers were a thing. It was kind of like a taboo word back, you know, five years ago. It was very much the fashion or things like that. And it, not that there's anything wrong with that, but there wasn't really as many local influencers, I would say. And in fact, I was afraid to use that term for the longest time because it sounded just it was just a word that people didn't It's like you hear influencer and you're like, uh, influencer.
No. Yes. Yeah. The influencers.
But content creator sounds better.
Yeah. Absolutely.
But no, I just learned by trial and error. I mean, I didn't know how to put a sticker. I didn't know how to add mentions on stories. You know, I had Googled things when I saw on other people's. I would follow other accounts. That's how you learn. You see other things and you're like, "Wait, how did they do that?"
Like someone comes across like whatever the thing is and you're like, "Wait,
I want to know how to do that."
Exactly.
How do you do that? Where do your ideas come from? Like you make some really creative content. Like I don't know. Do you like have like a brain like a board of like, "Oh, these are good ideas for videos." Or how do you come up with it? in my head. I mean, I I feel like creatives, they just it just comes to you and you just do it. I mean, some things you definitely get inspiration from other reels and and ideas and you're like, you want to mimic it and maybe do your own spin on it,
the trend and stuff like that.
Yeah, exactly. But there's some where I've just done on my own and it's it's those are the best.
Has there ever been one where you had like, oh, this is going to crush and then you put it out and like you're like no one got your funny idea? I I don't know if I've had any where it's like totally tanked, but I did one where about like the Taylor Swift when she came to Indianapolis and I was like kind of, you know, the people that didn't get tickets are kind of bitter. So, I kind of did like this whole spoof on the whole Taylor Swift thing where I did it like a a medicine commercial where it's like, are you sad and lonely? I guess you're not getting tickets to Taylor Swift. I It did okay. It did fine.
It hit with the right people, but it wasn't like it took off or anything. That's the piece that I've learned too is that like not all of them, not every reel is going to get 10 million views, you know, but like the right people like your most loyal followers that love you for your personality like will appreciate that. Like they like they will appreciate like when I put out something that's goofy that I know is like it's kind of niche, but if you watch the whole thing, you're going to like learn something about me or you're going to just like know that I'm a real person and you know,
absolutely. I mean, I do and I feel like those OG followers are the ones that know that personality because I feel like I've gotten not away from it, but it's just harder sometimes to throw in the funny things every now and again because we're so busy just trying to keep up with all the the sponsored content or just things that we want to get to. But
yeah, like the value for followers, right,
that's the other piece, too. Like on net new followers, they don't come to your profile to see
you like tell a joke or something. It's like no, I want like like they're here for the
the information
the information part of it.
Exactly. Exactly. But it's so much more fun when it I get to do those personality ones.
Absolutely. I always say screw it. Like whatever. Um okay, so you celebrated 400 followers. You're like kind of putting stuff out. Like where did these like big growth inflection points come from? U cuz now you have over 50,000 followers. You're absolutely crushing it. You're not even like And also here's a question. When did you expand out of just Westfield?
When I think back, I was posting about, you know, Trader Point Crearyy and uh Fort Ben that same when 2020, that that same year. I mean, I realized after I made the name that it wasn't going to be just Westfield. Uh but it's just been too long now. Like I I've talked about this. I'm like maybe I should switch it to Wandering Indie. But then the thing is like people know me as Wandering Westfield. It's just like name recognition. And yeah, but I mean I think I've always kind of expanded outside of Westfield because if you live in Westfield, you're not just staying in Westfield. You're going to go everywhere just like but I would say the a lot of content is definitely Westfield focused.
So you started putting stuff out early on like how quick was growth coming when especially like when it was the still images.
I mean not a lot. I think Instagram has shifted a lot too to where it's been become easier. They've made it easier to grow, especially when reals came along. But I I didn't realize I think it was two years ago where I said I just hit 6,000 followers.
Shut up.
So like that's just two years ago.
I think that's what I did.
Three years.
Yeah. Three years of just gr and but those I think were my most loyal fan, you know. I think it was very high engagement because they were there for all of it, you know. So, I will say I've grown so much, but the engagement maybe hasn't, you know, like you said, a viral reel takes off. People just follow and then they they don't even engage anymore. So, um yeah, but it's it's wild.
Wow. I had no idea. So, you spent three years slogging through it and like why like why keep going? Why keep putting it out?
I think because it I enjoyed it. I mean, I think none of us could do this if you didn't enjoy it. The whole content creation because you have to have a passion. You just have to really I just I just love making people feel things and helping small businesses was really a part of why I started too. I I never got into it. When I started it, I wasn't trying to make it a career or a job. Eventually I was like, "Oh, it'd be great if I got compensated a little bit, you know,
like make a couple bucks. Exactly. That might be nice."
But now it's like, "Wow, this is a full-time job." But it didn't start that way at all. Like that was never a goal. So, I think that's why I stuck with it because it wasn't like the pressure of I have to post this at this time. It was more like I did it on my own time, my own terms, and it was fun.
Was there a moment that it kind of all hit you that like, wow, like the platform that you've built is powerful. Like lots of people are invested, care about, love the content that you put out.
I mean, people send me messages that are just so amazing like that that help help keep me going as well. Like when I just hear people say, "Wow, I I was moving to Westfield. I didn't know anything about it, but when I found your page before even moving, they just felt at ease." Like they felt like, "Okay, we're we're going to be okay because like I can see all these fun things that are here." And I get a lot of those messages. And so those are the ones like when you have a hard day and a video doesn't hit, you're like you get a message, you're like, "Okay, this it's all worth it." Like it's okay.
Oh, I just like Yeah. I'm just like, "Whatever, put it out."
Exactly. Or it's like someone's like in your comments being mean and it's like if someone says something nice you're like I appreciate you being
exactly. Exactly. But also collaborations are what really kind of took it off. I'd say like when you know life and indie and I think you've worked with them too but they they were my first like big collaboration and I think that helped spread it to a larger audience and that's when things would take off and I'd get a lot of new followers.
The 5K mark is a big milestone and then the 10K mark is also a big milestone. So, you said you you were 3 years in, you had gotten to 6,000.
I think that's correct. I think I just posted about that because I just hit 50K and I was looking back at old photos and I saw where I had an image where I circled like 6K and it was like I swear it was two years ago, maybe three years ago, but
Wow.
Either way, that's
Man, that's that's wild.
Yeah. But I remember hitting 10K. It could have been that same year, honestly, is when I hit 10K. That's when I just think that started taking off.
Yeah. What do you think the secret to growing, the secret to building a loyal community that's engaged has been for you?
Showing that personality, being a real person and being genuine. And I think stories are a big part of it, too. I know not everyone sees the stories, but the people that follow you in stories, they're your most engaged followers. So, if you're just being yourself and sharing about all the things, it's I mean, people if it sharable material and content are definitely number one, though. I feel like a lot of people think that it's easy, you know? It's like, oh, you just post videos on Instagram. Like, it's so easy. When you think about that, or if you've ever heard people say, oh, it's easy. Like, what would you say uh in response to that?
I'll say go try to make a real and make it look good, make it catchy. And yeah, it's I'm up till 1:00 a.m. a lot of nights making videos just to keep up with the content that I've got to get out. And there's filming, there's editing, there's posting, you got to crossost. I mean, then you got to share it to your stories, tag this. I mean, there's just so much to it. It's it's wild.
What's your favorite part of the process and least favorite part of the process?
My favorite part probably is the editing, you know, like you said, like it's exciting to get it to hit that music, right?
That's spoken like a true like video production major. Like your favorite part's the editing.
I know it is. If it's Yeah. If it's a fun video, of course. Like if it's not something I'm excited about, maybe not so much. But my least favorite part is captions. I'm not a writer. Captions are hard.
It is actually like takes every ounce of my mental energy.
It's And you're like, "Oh, is that cool? Is that not like blah blah blah?" Like, it's hard.
It is for sure.
It is.
And you're like typing on your little keyboard like gh.
Yeah.
Not fun. I agree. Captions not fun. Depends on the style of content that you're doing. Like when I like get a microphone or I'm out and about like talking and engaging with people, like that's just so fun to me. And it's like a natural thing of like asking questions or playing trivia or doing that. I'm like, "Oh, I would do that for I would do that for free all day long."
Unless you're unless unless you want to advertise with us, then I would not do it for free. But, um,
no, I love it. Well, meeting the people for sure. That's always fun, too. And filming. Yeah, the filming's fun as well. Sometimes I do dread the editing. Like, I wish I had someone just to edit or at least get a rough cut going for me. You're right. That being out meeting the people, that's fun, too.
That part. Yeah. But you're like a solo. You're a onewoman operation, right?
I really Yeah. And then maybe my 13-year-old here and there and my sister-in-law, whoever's with me, and I'm like, "Hey, can you get this shot?" But yeah, it's just me.
What did your family say as you like really started to lean into this more? Because you have like uh what what age are your kids?
I have a 17-year-old and 13-year-old.
Were they ever like, "Mom, this is embarrassing." Like, "Mom, no, don't don't post this video. No, my friends are going to clown me." No,
not too much because they've seen the per they get perks out of the deal for sure. So they they love it and when they get the perks, but they do not love when I'm like, "Okay, stop. Get this photo. Get the" Like at the Indians game the other night, I was like, "Okay, I need to get this photo." And my daughter even said she's like, "I don't like this part of it.
I don't That's scary." Well, and it's like uh I think that my friends were kind of similar in the way of like oh when everyone's trying to be an influencer like when you're trying to be a content creator early on like that's the struggle where everyone is like oh no like another poor soul that's trying to take but it's like if if if you can be consistent and you can like break through the like 5k barrier.
Yeah.
Like I don't know how long it like I think it took me 112 videos. I think that's like the number that I like I've settled on. I had to post 112 reels to get one to break 10K. Um, and to like and I don't know, it was even more than that to get 5,000 followers. But like once I got a video to pop, I was like, "Oh yeah, come on. What What are you What are you talking about?" Like and then like all the free stuff starts. Like people invite you out to do cool stuff and they like bring you to these amazing experiences and you get to bring your friends along or your family along and they're like,
"Oh yeah, this is like you want me to hold the camera for?" Like I was just at the NBA finals and my buddy is like, "I'll hold the camera." Like I got you. You mean to get that shot again? Like shout out to Brooks. Thank you, brother. Appreciate it. I always think that's an interesting part where it's like cuz so many people like want to be influencers or want to be creators, but like maybe they post for two months and then give it up. Uh so then everyone's like, "Oh yeah, you're trying to be an influencer then." Like what would you say to the people that are aspiring creators?
Well, that it is work. It's not just I mean you're going to put in a lot of work before it does there is a payoff for sure and you have to have be dedicated but but it is possible. I mean, and and put your own unique spin on it. Like, I'd say that like that's the hardest part is like trying to be different from everybody else. That was my one thing like came in early on saying like I'm not gonna be like indie Nate or like Indiana Nate or anything like I I'm gonna like start this company that's called Get In. But like the people who follow me on on Instagram are just going to follow Nate Spangle because if I change my mind and I want to talk about rocket science and I want to post content about rocket science, like you're still following Nate because it's going to be a wacky fun breakdown of rocket science or whatever.
Well, yeah, that's actually a really good point, too, for uh it's like don't don't pigeon hole yourself with a name because I feel like Yeah, the wandering Westfield. Everyone just assumes like it's just Westfield. Like why would I follow you if it's if it's Westville? I don't live in Westfield, but it's all Hamilton County. A lot of Hamilton County, but Indie, I mean, I travel in Indiana here and there, but
Well, and I feel like that goes to show like when you first started, you had no idea how big it could be and like how much of an impact it could actually make. You were just like you were doing it for the love of the game. I bet I I don't know. That would be interesting. Do you think if you talked to yourself when you first started, if you said like 10,000 people would follow you, would you have like freaked out like, "Oh my gosh, that's so cool."
Yeah. Well, yeah. I totally would. That'd be like, "Wow, this is exciting." Like, "This will be this will be worth it." You know that for that. But
like when you walk around Westfield, are you a local like a celebrity where you go?
There are definitely people that come up and say, "Are you wandering Westfield?" or "Oh, I love your page." you know, but it's not like I definitely don't see myself as that because there's also plenty of people who have no idea who I am who don't even have Instagram. So,
and if you like know you as like, oh yeah, you have kids that go here as well. Like I know you from like the mom's club or whatever. Right.
Exactly.
Uh and that's just like small like like living in, you know, Indiana. Everyone knows you for something. It's like you can never tell whether it's like, oh, do you know me from my video or do you know me because like we have a mutual friend.
It's so embarrassing when friends like introduce me to someone and they'll be like, well yeah, don't you follow Wandering Westfield? And the the person's just like,
"What?
What?"
And it's like
in some circles I'm a big deal. Like don't you worry about it.
I'm like, "I do not ask them to do that." But like they people always just want to like say that that's who I am. And I'm like that's fine. But like and sometimes people are like, "Oh yeah, but other times it's like hilarious when people are just like
like crickets."
Yeah. Okay.
Um No, it's just been so cool to see. I mean, especially I feel like in the last 18 months maybe, like I feel like you've exploded. Like the content you've been putting out is so so good.
Oh, thank you. Well, I appreciate that. Yeah, I would say this last year was the biggest for sure.
I mean, I feel like when I I started creating maybe like March of 23.
I think I just rolled over two years of putting stuff out, but like serious like maybe like November of 23. So, and I remember seeing your stuff and I was like, "Oh, it's like okay, like Michelle's got it figured out." like there was a bunch of accounts to work out ahead of me that were making good stuff and I was like okay that's kind of like who you like aspire to be and like make that kind of content and then I feel like um in the last year you I think I saw the one of you like going through the cornfield that got like a like over a million and then my favorite one had nothing literally nothing to do with the state of Indiana was when you take the costume party at Christmas too serious the goat video.
Oh my gosh. Wait, which one? Where? when I was
when you're the trainer when you're um
I did two of them right in a row and they both hit millions of views like went viral. One is just like all of us coming in the door in our costumes and the other one was like when you commit to the character
and no one else is dressed up but me. Yes, that is my favorite.
That's my favorite one was like no one else committed to the and you're just like in your uh Tom Hanks get up
with a mustache. Yeah,
that that was like a f which like has nothing to do with
No, I Yeah,
with Westfield or Indiana or anything, but like those are my favorite. Like I love
and those are my favorite to make. That's the thing. It's like I would love to be that content creator who just is doing the funny stuff cuz that is really me deep down. I just
Well, like I don't know if we put one out uh my girlfriend and I I was like she her dad had this moped.
Oh, I saw it. I love pulling up to your hidden gem and I was like it has nothing literally zero things to do with Indiana. And I was like, "Oh, we have to just set this to some BA music and just crush this." That was Those are fun. I enjoy making that stuff. I want to take a minute to tell you about my friends at JC Hart and the opportunity that they are giving to get in listeners.
They are offering summer savings of up to 2 months off of rent at these brand new communities, East Bank and Noblesville, The Edge on the north side of Indie, and Wheelhouse in Westfield. If you're looking for an awesome place to live, you need to hit up my friends at JCheart. Go to homeisjart. com/nate and check out all their cool properties. Or if you know someone that's looking for an apartment here in central Indiana, send that link to them and JCart can take them on a personalized tour. You know me, I'm all about Indiana and JC Art is as hooer as it gets and they do some amazing things in our community.
They also wanted me to let you know that they are always looking for awesome people to join their team. They just made the list of best places to work in Indiana for the 13th time. Check out their open positions at homejart. com. Now, let's get back into the episode. Here's a question for you.
You, you know, obviously the beginning was slow growth. How long from posting your first video did it take to make a dollar like to have someone pay you for a piece of content?
Probably the next year, 2021 even that I finally and I was always afraid to ask for to charge something because like I started the platform to help, right? Like to help small businesses and just be a champion for local. And so I almost felt guilty, but then I realized there was value and people were asking me to do things and so I'm like, "Okay, I remember making I charged $25 to do a giveaway post for a hot tub, a portable like you could rent hot tubs, those inflatable hot tubs." That was the first
dollar I ever made. $25.
Were you like I'm so rich?
I was like, "Oh my gosh, they actually paid me." But then it did amazing. I mean they got a lot of even back this is if I was even under 5K followers like they got so many followers cuz it was you know when those required you know you had to follow
you follow them do this thing. Yeah. And it's I mean 25 bucks is like not I mean it now it probably seems like that's insignificant but like getting paid to post on Instagram is like that's so cool.
Oh yeah.
I'm with you on like the guilt a little bit of like
oh man like do I charge for this? But then I realized like it's your time and it's not only like
cuz sometimes people like oh it takes you 5 minutes to post something on Instagram but it's like yeah but it took me three years
to build the platform and the people
and to build the trust.
Exactly.
How do you balance Yeah. like uh building a business, building you know your page up um sponsors with non-sponsor. How do you just like manage all of that?
I wish I knew. I don't I don't I'm like stressed about all it. I mean, that's the thing is it is just myself. I probably say yes too much and maybe don't give myself that, you know, that cushion of okay, I can post this within a month. I'm very much like, okay, I can do that. When do you need it out? And I try to get it done. And so, I'm kind of stressing myself out with trying to just get it done immediately, but I probably need to give myself a little bit more grace and like have a little bit more uh contract or just something where it's like,
oh, I have like 30 days to put this. Yeah, exactly.
And that's the thing that that we kind of did that we have started to do is like I mean I have videos that we recorded two months ago probably that we're just like kind of editing and taking our time and and sometimes the other pieces when you have more time like sometimes there's something just relevant that happens and you're like this is perfect. Like we had a we were banking a podcast with the Colts for next season. We were going to release at the beginning and then the news happens with Mr. ers and we're like, "Oh, no. We got to flip our order. Put this out now." Cuz it's so re It was like the history of moving the Colts from Baltimore to
That's right. Yeah.
from Baltimore to Indianapolis. And it's like what's more relevant than like a story of Jim Ers from his like one of the first interns from the team. So cool. Um but it's like doing the same thing with your videos and and giving yourself time where it's not like this because I filmed yesterday it has to post tomorrow or whatever it is there.
Yeah. But sometimes you don't have the option. Like I will get someone telling me like, "Hey, I need you to come here. I want to see a draft the next day and you have to post it the third day." I mean that that is an actual thing that's happening this week actually.
Oh, heck yeah. Shout out.
Shout out to our favorite customers that are ones that are very demanding and tell us exactly how it goes. Uh okay. But like through it all again, it's like you've been able to build this incredible page. You've been able to build this awesome now full-time career. like talk to us about transitioning from the legal specialist field to full-time content creator, influencer building the page.
And again, I'm like in my late 30s, so it's definitely it's a little even harder to say I'm an influencer. That is my job, you know? It's not like I'm some young person out here making
it doesn't make any It doesn't make it any better. No matter what age you're at, right? Yeah. No. No. It's like like I I had just quit my job when I met my girlfriend's parents for the first time
and like I had to like I make videos for a living, you know, like that's what I like had to tell and I was like, "Oh my gosh." And like I always tell the story so repeat listeners are going to like they've heard it before, but the story is we went to Freud Fest, which is like Batesville's um like local German fest, but it's really big. Like this town of less than a thousand has 10,000 vis visitors two days in a row. like it's a massive German beer fest and I made a video from my time there and posted it right when I got back like the Monday after the festival and it got like 250 300,000 views and everyone in their town it like went viral in their town and then then they were like oh I and I was like yeah usually events will pay me to do this but I had to like put up my like this was like my u my try out of like hey I I promise it's a real job and like things like and so then from from that point on there they're like oh yeah we get he makes videos like sponsors and stuff Well, and even even now, I don't think my friends and family understand that this is a real job.
Like that I'm making money. Like I think a lot of people actually still don't realize that aspect of it. I think some do, but I think they don't understand.
It is crazy. I just like read a thing that like the influencer economy is like growing x amount. Like so many of these brands are spending delegating more and more spend towards creators and UGC content than ever before. So you're we're in at the wave at at the right time. like good things are coming down the pipeline. I do want to talk I want to shift just a little bit. You've lived in Westfield for a decade now.
Yes.
The city of Westfield. When you moved there back in 2015, like what was it like then? And kind of take us through this shift of Westfield as a as a town, as a city.
I mean, it definitely was like a small it felt like a small small town. I mean,
like roughly like what I don't know what was the population of Westfield in 2015. Okay. It was 35,000 in 2015 because now it's
it's 60.
Holy smokes. Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay. So, you moved there when it's a 35,000 person town. From where?
From Well, we lived in Fischers for 6 years. Um, and then I I grew up on the southeast side of Indie, Franklin Central. What's the mascot?
Go Flashes.
That's right. Come on. I knew you'd get it.
Of course. Okay. So, you went to FC, then Ball State, then you're you were in Fischers for six years, and then you make the jump over to Westfield. Yes. Um, take us through like what was there to do? What drew you to Westfield in 2015?
Well, my husband's originally from Westfield, so he's actually been there since the 80s is what? So, yeah, look the population up then because he said there is one elementary, one middle school, one obviously there's still one high school, uh, gravel roads in some areas.
In 1985, the population of Westfield, Indiana was approximately 2783.
Are you serious? That's
based on the 1980 census. Uh 199 1990 says 3,34. So they gained like 500 people over those 10 years.
Yeah. So he is we live on the same road he grew up on and that is so he knows when that was a gravel road like he would ride his bike and he has more stories about Westfield from what it was back then. But
even 2020 was 46,000. So 2020 was 46.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. So that's
2010 was 30. 2000 was 9,200. 1990 was 3,300. 1980 was 2,700. Like that's a heck of a 50 years right there.
Yeah, it really is. And it's the last 20 I think that's been the huge last 10, last five. I mean, it's just exploding.
Okay. So, your husband grew up there, but then like when you obviously family is what brought you there, but were you excited? What was there to do? What did you spend your time
doing in 2015?
I was excited, but my kids were younger. I didn't really know anybody obviously. Um, but I remember the farmers market was in a bank parking lot, like just a few tables and tents, and now it's like at the Grand Junction Plaza. I mean, everything has just grown so much. Um, they had a little downhill derby. I remember Connor Daly was there actually, where they used to use just this little hill in the downtown where they would do uh I don't know where you make your own cars. I forget what it's called.
The like soapbox derby. Is that
Exactly. Yeah. So, that was downtown. They don't do that anymore.
Can we bring that back?
Yeah, they should bring that back. Oh, what? We should bring that back. I want to be in one of the I see all the Red Bull clips. Have you ever seen those where they race those? Like the soapbox derby cars. Oh, they're like intense. I would love for Indiana to do one of those. I mean, this
a few things to do. Yeah. And I I would go to like the the Westfield and Lights. I mean, they were starting to do like these festivals.
Grand Park had just opened up.
That's right. Yeah.
Which like that was a drawing a lot of visitors in. I think now it's like 2 million yearly visits come to Grand Park. Yeah. Um, so I think that opened in 2014, so like that was starting to get some tourism. What about like the downtown area of Westfield?
I mean, Park Street existed.
Were there restaurants and stuff on it?
Yeah, there was a few. Yes. I mean, it's kind of That's what's great about Park Street is it's still kind of stayed the same. I mean, it's changed a little bit and there's But
what are like the iconic Westfield spots that are like old school Westfield?
Italian House. I'm not sure how long these have been here because again, I've only been there 10 years, but that was always there. Chiba, um, from what I remember, was always there. I'm trying to think, Jan's Village Pizza, that's on Union. That's still there. Um, White House Donuts is a staple. That's a big deal. Um, it's a doughnut shop right here in down right there in downtown Westfield.
Cuz Westfield's interesting cuz there's like a few pockets of it. Like there is that like downtown old town, old main street, Westfield, Park Street, like all that.
Yeah, the Park Street. Yeah, that's
And then there's like 32 where like the birdies is and like all that part of like the more commercialized Westfield. And then you go down as like isn't Joe's Grill also Westfield? Like they on Friday nights they have really good live music.
I've been Yes, it's a good time.
I'm actually I'm going to do a video about this.
Hey, there we go. Um which I think is interesting to get all these different pockets. One thing I' I've learned, um, some people in Westfield are very pumped about the the new things coming in, all the fun stuff, the expansion, and the other side is maybe not so happy about it, and they miss old school 3000 person Westfield. What's the feedback you get on in your comments and your videos about what's going on in Westfield?
Well, I mostly get the positive comments because people follow me because they want to know what's going on. People want more things to do. And so I think that's that's great. Growth is great in my opinion for that reason.
What has excited people the most recently about Westfield?
Anytime a restaurant's coming. That's exciting.
Like are there any openings that have happened recently where people were like fired up about
like Sun King? All that happening in downtown right there. I think that's going to be big. There's a steakhouse. Um there might be another one. I think the Anony's Chop House owners like bought one of the properties on Park Street. So that's going to be Yeah. So I'm not sure. We're not sure totally what that's going to be yet, but it's going to be good. Where have you seen like the most growth like in in your decade there? Where did like Oh my gosh, things are just like starting to pop up left and right.
Well, 32 for sure. I mean, that's just there's probably 10 chicken places on 32.
That's fair.
But I love the down I love how downtown is shaping up because Grand Junction Plaza did not exist. I remember it was a gravel parking lot. I mean, it was where people parked to go to Park Street and now it's a beautiful park and it's going to connect uh Jersey Streets, which is where Rivet is, which is right next to Park Street. That's become that's one side of it totally coming down. That's going to be all new stuff. The library is right there at the end of Park Street. That's beautiful. I mean, the
library is beautiful.
Yeah. And that's Yeah. So, when I think about 10 years ago, like the library was fine. It was great, but like all these big things are happening because of the growth. I I think that's so special. I mean, I think is Field Brewing that's right there. Like they have a huge venue kind of space like we did a uh rehearsal dinner in like the back part field. It's like this place is awesome too and it's like right in the in the mix of things.
I love field and then and then like you said how there's little pockets. You know, West Fork Whiskey is kind of out there on the north side of Grand Park out there by itself. But that's all going to be expanding too. They've got plans. I think there's like going to be a pup put place over there, like this whole entertainment center coming and then they have the talks of the Grand Park Event Center in front of that becoming this whole thing with hotels and restaurants and it's just there's so much coming. It's just it's a little bit of growing pains getting there.
And one of those things is like the brave the barricades campaign that's like really prominent in Westfield right now. Can you talk about what's going on with that and what everyone's encouraged to do?
Is a great way. It's just trying to encourage people to go downtown. Like do not worry about the construction. In fact, living in Westfield, I think it's easier to park and get places because you're not dealing with traffic on 32. You just have to know how to get to these spots. But you basically can get a little punch card at any of these businesses. They're all participating down there. And when you go make any purchase, you get a little stamp and then once you get five stamps or something, you you turn it in or submit it somehow and you get entered in to win like gift cards to the downtown businesses. Oh,
which is so smart because that's one of the unfortunate pieces of construction is that it can really really impact these local businesses and it's like you got to make sure they make it through to see the other side.
Yes. Because I think on the other side it's just going to be amazing for all of them.
And the other piece I know that there are like I mean a ton of cool obviously construction developments going on. Is there anything you can share about maybe some rumors or anything that you've heard coming down the pipeline for Westfield? Well, I did. So, at GPS Fun is the one that's kind of connected with West Fork Whiskey out there. That That's going to be that whole entertainment center.
What is GPS fun?
I That's maybe the company involved. Okay. I hope I'm not saying the wrong thing there, but I think No, I mean that's definitely It's definitely out there. And then again, like that Anony's Chop House. We're not sure what that's going to be, but that's kind of exciting. A barbecue place. Ben's Barbecue is very popular out here in in Westfield. Ben's Barbecue Shack. He's amazing. and he is expanding into this new uh larger facility over by the YMCA in Westfield and that's going to be a huge sometimes I do get some intel but
oh
but I don't know but I think I've kind of shared it all so
okay all the tea has been shared well the final piece is that live golf is coming to Westfield which is crazy in the best way you know coming to Chattam they even had to do a couple a little bit of work to the course right to like get it ready for
uh for hosting live golf uh for anyone this is a massive professional golf tour. Um I don't know are they like I would say it's like they are similar to PGA but not PGA but have like the best golfers and if you don't know live golf look it up. I mean you should I feel like most people should know live golf but they're coming to Westfield. Uh dates on that
August 15th through the 17th.
It says live golf Indianapolis but it's Live Golf
Westfield. Yeah. I know there was kind of a fight there to try to get it to be live Westfield, but since you know you're with name recognition of big cities just to get fans there. I'm sure they had to they had to probably go with the Indianapolis.
Yeah. But it's going to be hosted in Westfield, which is which is really cool. What advice would you have? What what have you heard? What do we know about Live Golf coming to Westfield?
Well, I did get to go to a fun event where Bubba Watson was there at Chattam Hills kind of just giving people a preview. And I walked in and this is Chattam Hills. I was a member there for many years and it's just a nice country club. I walk in the door and there is a DJ just like booming right there in the entrance of this beautiful country club. I mean this is just the vibe that Liv brings. I could immediately tell like okay this is fun. They had a goat outside like a legitimate goat.
Yes. Goats. Why goats?
Okay. So Bubba Watson I didn't realize this but it's kind of there's a team aspect to this live tournament. So he has a team and they're called the range goats. So since he was there, they had goats on site.
All right. Respect. Okay. Bubba.
Uh yeah. So that was start. So he talked about it and we got to see a video that they played that's kind of like kind of like a promo video for live golf. And I mean people it's just like fun. It just looks super fun and it's in a shotgun style format. So it's a shorter experience. So it's only four hours, four or five hours.
Oh
yeah. So they're all starting. So you're going to see it just I it's very fan experience based is what I
So shotgun start that means
everyone starts on a
on a hole and it's like if you start at 17 you'll finish at 16.
Exactly.
Right. Or you start at 1:00 you'll finish at 18 but only one group is going to be there whatever. Okay. Um what can we expect as like patrons? So obviously you know a shorter experience fun energy but like what about just around surrounding the the city of Westfield? my friend Kale Arnold, part of the events with Westfield and runs all that.
She said there's going to be a lot of fan experiences they're trying to implement with Hamilton County Tourism as well. Um where there's photo ops, there's going to be maybe a digital pass where if you go to certain restaurants, you know, if you check in maybe four or five times, you'll get some discounts. Um there's probably a lot coming. It's just they're still kind of working out those fine details. I don't totally know yet, but it sounds like they're working on it and they want it to be an amazing experience for visitors and residents. So, I think it's going to be great.
And if there's one thing I notic, every time we host an event, whether it's NBA All-Star, USA swimming trials, like Indie, the Indie area, Central Indiana does it big.
Exactly.
We host sports big. So, I have no doubt that Westfield and uh Live Golf are going to have an incredible experience for fans as well as for like being the hosts. Like I think that we also do a good job of welcoming players or their organizations like staff members into our spaces and making them feel like oh we want to bring this back. We want to continue to host this here.
Yeah. Cuz it's so exciting for us. Like we all we just appreciate having these events and so we go big.
While people are visiting Westfield for Live Golf, do you have recommendations, advice? Like if if people were spending I mean the 15th through 17th, what is that of
the Friday through Sunday?
Friday through Sunday. So people are spending a weekend in Westfield. What's got to be on the bucket list besides watching golf?
Well, obviously all these restaurants we're talking about. I mean, Park Street's that one that's like if you can figure it out, like it's a great place to go because it's not like your typical like spot to go to restaurants, but it's like this cute little point street with homes.
Take take me through Friday. Okay.
Like we finish golf, let's say we finish golf at 6 p.m.
Actually, it does end Yeah, it ends pretty early.
6 p.m. What are we doing Friday night in Westfield?
Well, first I want to throw in that there are concerts on Friday and Saturday. I don't know if you heard that.
Is it Riley Green?
Okay, so there's Riley Green, who I have no idea who that is, by the way.
I don't I I'm a 90s country girl. I don't know.
I I have no shame in saying that, man. He is a tall drink of water.
Okay.
He's jacked.
Well, for us millennials, as elder millennials, Jason Derillo is on Saturday. Okay.
Wait, so you're more excited about Jason Derulo?
Jason Derulo. All right, that's fair. That's fair. So, Jason Ruo's Saturday, Riley Green's Friday. Uh, that's pretty cool. I'll be at Riley Green.
Yeah. So, but you do have to have a grounds pass. I think you have to buy a ticket to live to then buy a ticket to the concert is what I think I understand.
So, if you if you have a ticket to live, you have the opportunity to purchase a ticket.
Exactly. Yes.
That's funny.
But they're like 5:00 p.m. 400 p.m. concerts, which is fantastic.
I mean, I'll still I'll be there. Let's do that. Okay. So, we have concerts. Concerts finished. We got to get dinner. We got to do something. What are we doing? right there. Obviously, of West Fork Whiskey and Mash House. I mean, that's right there. That's the closest you're going to get to the Live Golf. I think you're a fan of that place. You've been there, right? Yeah. So, that's great. Um, there's also, of course, on 32, you've got Birdies if you want to take the kids, you know, get the putt.
Birdies is a fun It is a fun and it's a good date spot. It's a good date spot. You can have a great date night at Birdies. Like, worth the drive no matter where you are in like the central Indiana, Indianapolis region. Yeah,
like we're at the drive to Birdies for a little date night dinner.
They have great They have great food. They cook everything. Like it's not frozen. It is like quality food.
Okay. So, is there like a is there a spot that's rocking late night in Westfield?
I have to say I don't get out late night in Westfield. You know, that's fair. If I did
like where are the where are the 25 year olds hanging out in Westfield?
Okay, here's a couple good spots. Um you've got Four-finger Distillery.
Yeah.
Okay, that's a great little spot. Um, you've got Joe's Grill, like you said, Great Life Music.
Joe's Grill. It I mean, if I lived in Westfield, I would be there. I would be a frequent member.
Yeah. So, that's that's a popular one. Um, you've got um Okay. There's a place called Psy's Pub. That's kind of like your It used to be Carrie Tavern.
That's where I karaoke.
Is that like 146 or over on Kerry? Uh,
it's Carrie and
is it 32 and
32? Yeah.
Six years ago, they still let you smoke cigarettes.
Exactly. Yeah. But they don't anymore. They don't anymore. And it's re it's a new name, new ownership. Actually, I haven't been there since it's changed. But that's where I would go late nights if people would get me out that late and sing karaoke and old time.
Yeah. Uh what's it called? Patsy's Pub.
It's called Patsy's Pub now. Yeah.
Wow. All right. Pour one out for Carrie Tavern. Um okay. That those are those are really solid spots. Now, if you spend an evening night at Patsy's Pub or at Joe's Grill and maybe you have a you have a slow morning going, where do we got to get breakfast at when we wake up on Saturday?
I'd always say Rivet, of course. Rivet.
I love Yes. I love They have great breakfast there.
But that's just like you're really in the Westfield downtown local. It's also like a I think the Pancake House over on Kerry and Gray is also pretty good stuff, too.
Oh, the Pancake House. Okay. other things like you know while you're fitting in and around golf that you people need to make sure they do while they're in Westfield.
I might say the the parks. I mean Grand Junction Plaza is great to walk around and now with the Dora I heard about these Dora districts.
Oh, I saw the video.
Oh, you saw that? Those are my favorite videos. Yeah. Um those that's great. You can go to something splendid, you know, take the ladies with you. Like that's a great spot to get some shakuderie, get wine, and go shopping. But then yeah, you carry that drink. Go to go to Chiba. Go to I mean if you're staying late night or you have a dinner, you want to have a nice dinner. Nyla's steakhouse.
Can't forget that place. Again, sushi. You've got your chiba. Um yeah, field is great because you got a little entertainment involved. You do botchi ball. Yeah, that those are a few spots.
Okay, that's good recommendations. I'm excited. Are you excited for Liv?
I'm super excited.
What's the energy or like the pulse you have on on the city of Westville about Liv? So far, I'm not really hearing a lot about it from like friends or family, but I think it's gonna be coming. So,
yeah, I think that like and summer is just so big. Like, people aren't thinking about August yet. They're thinking about like
like they're thinking about what we're doing in July and this that the other thing. So, but I think it's it's coming for sure.
I think
um well, now we have some fun segments at the end of the show if you're if you're game.
I'm game.
What has been your most viral video?
Well, it was the Christmas one, the Polar Express. the when you when no one else does it.
Well, no, that one was like second to it, but it was when we all came in with our costumes. That one went even more viral.
Okay. That's been like the biggest. But your was your first million view video the cornfield one?
Oh, when I walked through the cornfield. Yes.
That I mean that's the second.
And then before that, Britney, my Britney Spears impression was also
There you go. Come on. That's fun. What's been your favorite video to create?
I I hate to keep going back to the same thing, but I love those Polar Express ones. I just love I mean I made that in two seconds. I was like everyone like this is what I want to do. It's just one take wonder and I put it to the music and then it just blew up. I was like, "Oh my gosh, I just love that. It's hilarious." And it's like when it's funny that those ones like you could spend hours like there are times I invest multiple hours multiple of like the staff's hours making a video and it flops and it's like we just like put something like one of my my first video to ever do a million on TikTok was like it was one of my very early videos and it was an Amish horse and buggy pulling a boat out of a lake.
Exactly. And it was like I literally just snapped it like for three seconds and then like put it to save a horse ride a cowboy and then it got like 1.5 million views or whatever.
Yeah. Classic. Okay. What's been the best like, hey, are you wandering Westfield moment?
Well, here's an experience. I'd say this is where I felt like, wow, this is insane. This happened not that long ago. I went to a steakhouse for a birthday and uh we were just there. I didn't tell like nobody, this is not sponsored or anything. We're just enjoying our meal and all of a sudden I and I I shared a story like while I was there. Next thing I know they are coming to the table. They they say, "Hey, our marketing girls, they love you. They say we had to do something." They they take our water. They swap it out for like the distilled like in a in like these fancy water and they just start bringing out all these things just because they were excited that I was there. I was like, "Whoa." That's when my my kids were definitely like, "Okay, this is cool. We like you being an
in Wait, where was it at?
It was at Prime 47.
Oh, so I love when like the the people behind the scenes get it and they're just like, "Oh my gosh, this is exciting. She's there." But yeah,
that's so fun when people like realize like, "Oh man," and it's not like, "Hey, we want you like you have to post about this or whatever." But like they're just a lot of times people will be like, "Hey, thank you for what you do to promote
exact." Yeah.
Small business, promote the state of Indiana, promote this, that the other thing. Like it's important, it's impactful. and they're like, "Here, here's dinner or here's drinks or fancy water, whatever."
Exactly. That's nice. Yeah. I mean, that doesn't happen a lot. I was like, "Whoa, this is like that was fun."
Heck yeah, that that's a good one. Obviously, Westfield is home. You spend a lot of time hyping up all things Westfield. Is there another Indiana city or town that has surprised you that you really like? Uh,
I love Caramel. I mean, it's funny because I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
We're going to clip that. It's going to go everyone's going to be like, "Oh, sorry. She likes caramel." You know what's funny though is that I grew up on the southeast side and and back and I was like Caramel was not like we just saw that as very like oh the north side and now here I am living on the north side but Midtown you can't beat it. Like I mean I just not that you can't beat it but like I love Midtown Caramel. I do. I like you just walk everywhere. It's just well set up. What What do you got against Caramel over here?
I don't have anything. Sue, you have a standing invite on the podcast whenever you'd like to come. I just know that anytime we the every time this rip the caramel hype podcast Oh yeah, which is great. I mean, it's fun. Uh Midtown Caramel is really cool. There's a lot of good stuff there. I will not be doing a small town breakdown on Midtown Caramel. That being said, I will enjoy some time on the Sun King patio up there.
If you're in small town, I'd say Cicero probably.
Yes.
Is that better? Is that a better answer?
That's what we're Cisero's awesome. I was just up in Arcadia recently, too. So, Remnant Coffee in Arcadia is fantastic. It's huge. Like, you just could not buy this much real estate in in any major metro, like in the proper area. This is up in Arcadia. It's delicious coffee. You could
one person could have like a massive table because they just have so much space. It's sick. So, I would say check it out next time you're there. It's It's a good spot. What's one Westfield local small business that deserves more attention?
Pottery place called Wandering Peacock.
Wandering Peacock,
which is funny. Wandering Peacock. Yeah. And they you actually throw pottery and it's on Jersey Street. You just wouldn't know these places exist because they're just in these little houses. It's fantastic. I've done it a couple times with my kids at least. So, that's a cute little hidden gem there.
The little hidden gem in Westfield. Wandering Peacock Pottery.
Yeah. Heck yeah. That's a good one. What's your prediction for the next 10 years of Westfield?
Hopefully a finished downtown. A lot of young people. I see a lot of young people coming in because of all the the apartments, town homes, and and that kind of vibe. And I think that's what they're trying to do. They're trying to bring people back. They want people's kids to realize, oh, wait, I want to move back to Westfield, which I think is what's happening. So, I think that I think maybe a second high school.
Whoa.
Maybe. I mean, this is just totally in my head. I'm just saying we're landlocked over there with the high school.
Yeah.
And if that growth is coming, I think that's going to have to happen.
Wow. The 10-year bridge.
I mean, they already just I mean, they just created the second middle schools. And I think it'd be out towards Sheridan because I think there's a lot of land that where all this growth is going to be pushing is north of Grand Park, and that's where it's going to have to balance out.
Hamilton Northwestern. We have Hamilton Southeastern, but the Hamilton Northwestern. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Of course.
Okay. Yeah.
Just kidding. I mean, that would be it'd be crazy, but I think it's it's definitely
it's not not on the table.
It's not I don't think
it's not off the table. Okay, we've come to the end of the show. These are the same three questions I ask everyone who comes on. First one, what's something the world needs to know about Indiana?
Well, it's not just corn, even though my viral video is me walking through corn. my page, I get images from or images messages from transplants all the time and they rave about Indiana and they're coming from places like California, New York, and of course those places are great in their own right, but there's a reason people come here and they stay here and they love it.
Amen. I love that. All right, here's a chance to get to shed some light on something that more people need to know about. What is a hidden gem in Indiana?
Culver, Indiana.
Lake Max. Come on.
That's amazing. And it's a beautiful lake town. There will never be highrises. There'll be nothing like that there because it it is a small town vibe. But a gorgeous lake and it's straight up 31. It's only an hour 20 minutes north of Westfield.
That's nice. That's nice. You can zip right up there, get some papa's pizza.
Yeah.
Hit the lakehouse.
Oh yeah.
Oh man. Oh, the little the drive-in over there is not so bad.
Oh yeah, there is a drive-in. That's an Oh, what lake is that? That's
Oh, that's Oh, sorry. Not the drive-in theater. the drive or the the BNK root beer stand.
Um, yeah. And then I think the drive is in Plymouth. There's a drive-in like movie theater.
I'm trying to remember. It's another It's not Plymouth that I'm thinking of, but
Oh, okay.
Melody in is what it's called.
Oh, the Melody in drive-in.
That's what it's called. We go there almost every summer now. It took us a while to discover that, but now we we make it a point to at least see one drive-in movie.
Bass Lake.
Bass Lake. Yes. That which is only 20 minutes from
This is also a hidden gem. Their website is from 2000. Familyowned and operated since 1949.
There you go.
This is incredible. All right. Bass Lake Melody Drive-In Theater.
Heck yeah.
Yeah,
I love that. That's a really good hint, Jim. Final question. This is how we source new guests or learn about just interesting people across the state of Indiana. Who's a Hoosier that we need to keep on our radar? Someone who's doing big things.
Ben Hoffman. You got to talk to this guy. He's amazing. He's the one that owns and runs Ben's Barbecue Shack in Westfield. He's someone I've only met him a few times. Every time I meet him, I feel like we're best friends. And he just has so much energy, loves the community, loves what he does. They sell out every weekend. They're only open Friday through Sunday. I think they have this new bigger property coming to Westfield. So, it's going to be It's going to be big.
That's incredible.
And they sell out, I'm pretty sure, every single day.
No way. It just is little It's legitimate.
It is a little shack. It's a little shack right there. Right there in downtown Westfield.
Oh my gosh. The best.
All right. Ben's Barbecue Shack. His name is Ben what?
Hoffman.
Ben Hoffman. Love it. Um Michelle, thank you so much for coming on and sharing your story. Oh my gosh. From growing wandering Westfield the last five, I mean five and a half years at this point, right? Yeah.
Learning about taking that massive jump from, you know, you know, the safety net of having a a different career, the what was it? Legal video specialist to full-time content creator, full-time influencer. It's been incredible to watch your journey. you are always letting your personality show through your videos. I really appreciate it. Uh it's fun and it it keeps me informed of what's going on on the north side as I am a Broadripple resident down here.
Um also really cool to hear about the last decade of just Westfield, the city of Westfield in general. Like so cool. I mean we went through population growth. We went through all these crazy cool things. So I appreciate you coming on sharing your story um and letting us know what and your predictions for the next 10 years of Westfield. So appreciate it.
Keep up the good work. If people want to connect with you, if they want to follow you, where can they find you at?
Well, you can find me on Instagram, wandering Westfield. I'm on Facebook, actually, wandering Westfield. Actually have 20,000 followers over there. I mean, it's crazy.
Come on.
Uh, and then I did just start doing Tik Tok. I really into Tik Tok. So, all
How's growth been on Tik Tok thus far?
I mean, the videos do well. It's I mean, I just started this like last month, so I'm at like 650 followers, maybe.
Let's go. It's hard. I feel like cuz cuz what I'm learning is like not like a video can pop on Instagram and it won't pop on TikTok or it will pop on Facebook but it won't pop here and it's like come on.
What's great about this is just a fun tidbit. I just started doing this. Instagram and Facebook have merged views.
I did notice that.
Did you notice that? It's kind of fun. Yeah.
Yeah. You know it's like it helps.
It helps when a when I got when a video takes off on Facebook. It definitely helps.
Yeah. Right. Of course. All right. Well, hey, appreciate you coming on. Thanks for all you do for the north side of India and just Ind Indiana in general. Um, and when we clip that, I know the people from Culver will love that. So, appreciate you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Get In. If you like what you heard, make sure you leave us a review wherever you listen to podcast. This show is made possible by our friends up at Sweetwater. Whether you're looking to start a podcast or take your content to the next level, click the link in the description to see all my gear recommendations at sweetwater.com. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at everything we're doing across the state, make sure you follow me on Instagram and Tik Tok @ Nate Spangle. Thank you so much for listening and being part of what makes the Who's Your State great. We'll see you next time here on Get
