Boston Found
Founded four centuries ago, Boston has simply never settled. Conversations here determine the future, so let’s discover what’s next! Join us as we seek out the real Boston, past and present, through stories and perspectives that capture a city always in motion. Hosted by Martha Sheridan, CEO of Meet Boston, this is the Boston Found podcast.
https://www.meetboston.com/podcast/
Boston Found
Fall for Boston
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Sit down with Boston Creators, Shawn Moran, Madi Beumee and Keonte Henson, as they share their experience with welcoming the world to Boston, their favorite things to do in the city, and more!
Welcome To Boston Found
SPEAKER_00Founded four centuries ago, Boston has simply never settled. Conversations here determine the future, so let's discover what's next. Join us as we seek out the real Boston, past and present, through stories and perspectives that capture a city always in motion. I'm Martha Sheridan, CEO of Meet Boston, and this is Boston Found.
SPEAKER_04Welcome to another episode of Boston Found, the podcast of Meet Boston. We're really excited to be back after a brief hiatus over what was a very busy end in the middle part of the summer. And we're really happy today to have with us three partners and creators who have been great collaborators with Meet Boston on our Nesson program, Meet Boston, Billy and Jenny. We have Key, we have Maddie, we have Sean. Again, my name is Dave O'Donnell. I am filling in as your host today for our CEO, Martha Sheridan. We're really excited to have these guests with us today. So we will get into the program in a bit, Meet Boston again. We want to talk to you guys about what it's been like to partner with us. And it's been like a really fun collaboration. And we have some questions specifically about it. But of course, we were we were drawn to all of you because of you know the audience, the voice, your perspective, and how you content create. I want to get a bit more information, like we do with all of our guests on Boston Found about your background. You know, what brought you to this point when you started becoming like a content creator, how your channels
How Three Creators Got Started
SPEAKER_04have evolved. Key, let's start with you. How did it begin for you? What's what's been your journey to today in terms of what you do in this this space?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so my um my username actually at Wannabe Stay at Home Dad is kind of an allusion to how I started. So I was going to be doing like fake stay-at-home dad content because I was working remote. Um and I filmed one video and it was terrible. So uh left the username, but then I realized I was new to the area, I moved here, um, and I did not know anything about the food scene. Um, so I wanted to go out. I had seen some food reviewers online in other cities. I was like, you know what? I could start that here, and that's kind of how it started. And the name was stuck, I couldn't change it because I just changed it. So that's kind of my origin.
SPEAKER_04I gotta know what so what happened to that first video. What did you say they were?
SPEAKER_02The video I thought can't I it never it never touched the airwaves, true clearly. Um I was trying to do a video of like uh I at the time it was trending where it was like a single mom that works two jobs. That was the sound. Oh, yeah, and I was trying to do something with that sound and like mess around, like be a dog dad. It was horrible, genuinely bad. 30 seconds of straight garbage. So I just left it and was like, maybe we'll pivot and try something else.
SPEAKER_04All right. Well, I think we're all glad. Oh, me too. That you did that and that worked out. Cool. Maddie, what about you? What brought you to this path and where you are today in terms of um the work you do?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, so I've always been creating in some capacity. I was a performer pre-pandemic in New York, did an off-Broadway show, and then it closed. So I feel like being on camera, I'm like somewhat comfortable with. I was creating in New York. And then when I moved to Boston, I really wanted to document the experience of like moving somewhere new, starting a new chapter where you're kind of like, I didn't really anticipate this chapter, but I'm gonna make the most of it. And at the same time, I didn't have that community. So I was like, I can either wait to find this community to do things with, or I can just do things and hopefully find my community along the way. And it was kind of the perfect storm, I would say, and kind of really started to take off from there.
SPEAKER_04I love that. Do things and find your community through that.
SPEAKER_05Oh, yes, because I think that you're then you have shared interests. It's like if I like this activity and you like this activity, or if we're both at a networking event on a Monday night, like we have similar mentalities, like we're probably similar people. And so that's like truly how I've built my village here. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04And you reference, you know, moving to Boston from a different place, and we'll talk to you both about what it's been like to be Boston transplants. And Sean, you're you're from here. We'll talk about that as well. But before that, same question, you know, what brought you on this path of like content creation and kind of what have been some of the milestones or like to today? Like, how's it been defined?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so mine's a little different, I guess. I started more as a photographer back when Instagram was all photos. If you go back far enough on my page, you'll see just photos from when I'm in college, like just me going out taking photos with cell phones or cheaper digital cameras and things like that. I was gonna ask that. So some is cameras. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just started with a cheap camera that sort of morphed into a more expensive camera, more expensive camera. It's a very expensive hobby. And then so I was just professionally taking photos, street photography, stuff like that on Instagram. And that sort of turned into what we see now after COVID when videos started taking over. So when the algorithm isn't really giving the attention to photos anymore, you have to pivot. So I started putting photos into videos, which was fun and showcasing the city that way. But then I think it was just a natural progression of well, everybody else is doing food and fun stuff and things like that. So let's just start doing that. So that's sort of my organic progression.
A TV Plus Creator Hybrid Show
SPEAKER_04Well, thank you all for that background. We appreciate it. I think it's it's good for the audience as well. And of course, a lot of our audience is familiar with your brands and um, you know, follows your channels. You know, we we I'm gonna stick with you here, Sean, for a moment. Three years ago or so, one of our great media partners, Johnny Johnson, came up, came to us with an idea that was basically like, you know, let's create a meet meet Boston program, you know, for Nesson, but they can stream that people can, you know, can find where they want to. But the idea being, you know, take a traditional type of show, you know, which they've done on Nesson with Dining Playbook and others, but create kind of like a hybrid, like embrace and engage with influencers or creators and have their story and perspectives and how they shared their journeys be really the meat of the show. What do you think about the concept? And thank you all for being participants in the show, but how has it gone in terms of this like almost hybrid style?
SPEAKER_01Right. I personally, the concept to me is awesome, and I'm gonna explain why. So great. So Jenny had followed me before the show even started, and I thought that was like the coolest thing. I'm from here. I had watched her and Billy grow up with Billy on TV and you know on the radio, and I get a DM from Jenny one day, and she's like, I'm thinking of starting a show. I wanna I wanna talk to you about something. I was like, That's so great. What the what? Jenny, first of all, what are you doing in my DMs? It's crazy. And then you just sent me your phone number, that's even crazier. This is like, I don't know, March of like four years ago, whatever. And so I got on a phone call with Jenny Johnson in my car on my lunch break on my previous job, which was hilarious. I the concept is just really cool. It it sort of brings two different worlds together, which I love, and it kind of lets us show a TV audience what we're doing online because it doesn't always it doesn't always mesh like that. I don't know, I don't really know what the audience is on Neston. I'm assuming it trends probably a little bit older, like you know, people who watch the sports later, whatever in the morning. So it's just kind of nice that those people can sort of see what we're doing online and they can be part of it as well. And I just I love that.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. What do you guys think? I mean, has it been an interesting project if you guys work with Asana in terms of for sure, you know, kind of take like Sean saying, like a traditional mode of how people consume and like wedding it to something else?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean, I remember hearing about it and you know being brought in for it, and it was like a dream come true because you know, I grew up watching like the travel food shows like Guy Fieri, Man vs Food, those types. So um getting an opportunity to kind of produce media in that way was really cool to me. And I think there's also, as a creator, like great little tips to pick up from it in terms of like storytelling, having to do multiple locations in one kind of segment. And to Sean's point, I think it's also a great way for an exposure to a different audience because there are some people that are rigid about you know, TV is what I consume, right? I'm not on my phone all the time. Um, well, it's cool because my face is on the TV now too. So you gotta interact with me somewhere.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's great. It's it's like on both sides, it's new audience exposure, right? Like for you guys and also for that, for that viewer. Yeah, you know, what about you, Maddie?
SPEAKER_05I think one of the coolest parts has been getting to get to know businesses in Boston better. Cause I think I don't know your experience, but when you're filming a reel or a TikTok, it's often like I'm doing it on my own. Like I've probably come up with the idea. I show up, I film, like I never get to meet the people, I never get to hear their life story. And so getting assigned these spots in the city, sometimes I know, sometimes I don't. Um, one of my segments was at Pamys, and I was I still haven't gotten in there yet. So you need to go, but it was like so cool to finally go. And I got to sit down with the team and hear their story and just chat about the restaurant, their time in Cambridge, but then also just like life things. Um, so I think that has been a really cool selfishly element of being a part of the program as well is kind of getting that human connection and building a community that way. Yes.
SPEAKER_04We got a chance to hang out with Pammy or Pam and Chris last year for the Michelin announcement. There's there's a super cool couple. And that's great, and that really resonates with us as well because it's like we're always trying to bring the value prop of Meet Boston as a partnership org, like to other businesses, small businesses, neighborhoods. So when they see we're doing stuff like sending you guys there to help with a a program, but that also allows you to meet them, right? It really just overall drives on like what we're trying to do at Meet Boston as well. So I love hearing that perspective.
The Summer Boston Couldn’t Predict
SPEAKER_04We are gonna talk about fall, but I I can't help but ask you guys all about the summer that just went past, you know, with obviously June and July and what was going on. I'll start with you, Sean. Like, did you get a chance? Tell us about your experience in terms of those five or six weeks.
SPEAKER_01Um, I don't know if you guys have ever heard of the Tartan Army or you know, Sail Boston or anything like that. Um it's funny. I remember uh in the beginning of the year, I even did an interview with Billy and Jenny. We were just we did like a quick little interview about like what was coming up in the summer back in January, and the conversation was so like, yeah, this is happening, this is happening, this is happening. Nobody even knew. No one knew. I remember speaking to some of my other friends in the industry, uh, some of my some of my friends from Meet Boston at one point, and we literally had no clue what we were in for. We knew that it was gonna be a fun summer. Yeah, we knew that it was gonna be insane, but we're Americans, we don't really know anything about the World Cup, like in fairness, like more I don't, at least the majority of us don't. And maybe we just got lucky with a good crowd, maybe we just got lucky with a good country coming here and good fans, but it was like the most insane month at least. But when they were here, it was two, two or three weeks, and the Scottish guys, and it was just like the most insane couple weeks of my life ever, and I think everybody else, but it just went from one thing to the next to the next. We went from World Cup with the Scots, and then the Norwegians were fun, and then we went right into the tall ships, America 250, and then the tall ships, and it was like I my head was just like spinning the entire summer, and it was just nice for me at least to see at least for a couple weeks, everybody was sort of happy, and the content that we were seeing online was happy, and politics sort of faded away a little bit, yeah. Um, and that you know, Europeans were realizing that hey, Americans aren't as bad as social media has taught us to think they are, and vice versa, and we kind of all see the humanity in each other, yeah. And I think that was the most important part of this.
SPEAKER_04You know, your perspective uh really mirrors, I think, what a lot of people in our industry saw and felt. You know, we knew it was gonna be something special, but we didn't quite know to the extent to what like we heard when we got Scotland like that's gonna be a party, but we still weren't quite ready for it. But what it created this like very palpable joy that was able to, I agree with you, like show especially global audiences because it's World Cup, you're on the global stage, right? Like things about the US that either they had forgot or had become skeptical about. So that's very important in the destination marketing world.
SPEAKER_01The biggest thing that drives me on social media is to show Boston to the world. Yeah. And to be able to do that so easily during the World Cup, like just post a video and it would it would blow up, like everything was just blowing up. And to just be able to do that and to have people DMing me saying I want to go to Boston now, you know, where should I stay? What should I do? Like I saw your video, I you know, my friend was in my friend was playing bagpipes in one of your videos. I work with him at a pub in Scotland. It's like, I don't know, just little things like that were just so cool. Yeah. And to be able to resonate to people around the world and show off our little city to the world is just like the most amazing thing to do. Yeah, I agree.
SPEAKER_04Maddie, were you able to uh lean into it at all?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I think I had a similar sentiment where it's very easy when you're in your routine to not appreciate the city you live in on the level as those who come and visit. And I was walking down my street one day, like, I think I had groceries in hand, and these two Scottish guys were like, we love this street. Can we can you take a photo of the two of us? And I was like, This is where I live. This is my like and it was just that moment of pride where you're like, Oh gosh, you traveled all the way here and you were soaking in something that like I see every single day. I don't even think twice about. Um, and so I share a similar sentiment. And I think there's also a level of like, how do we keep this going?
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_05I feel like there was so much shared outdoor, like it's honestly what I think the Europeans do so well is they just will sit on a curb, probably bring their own like drinks, whatever, and just enjoy each other's company. And I think we experienced that here. So my mind is like, how do we? I know it's gonna get a little colder in the winter, but like mech summer, how do we keep that spirit alive because it was unmatched?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think that's something we need to do better at in this city is learning from other cities how we can sort of make it more fun.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, we're having those conversations for sure.
SPEAKER_01Right, right. And I just think there's so many things that could be done. And I know we had a pilot program over the summer, and hopefully that gets extended to 3 a.m. and all that, but there's so many things that can be done that I feel like I don't know if we're getting asked enough. You know what I mean? And that sometimes bothers me. I don't know.
SPEAKER_04Well, that and also the we have these social districts, right? Where you have like, you know, areas where you know you can walk around with like an open container or 3 a.m., which by the way, one thing that was brilliant about the 3M was like not everyone did it. In fact, most did not, yeah, but it created this like staggered leaving of the bar. You could leave at 12:30, 130, 230. Yeah, not many people at St. Him to 3 actually like had like a full establishment at 3 a.m. Right, which was different than what some of the naysayers thought. They'd be like, oh my gosh, I mean, packed establishments like pouring out of the street at three. No, it was not.
SPEAKER_02What was it like for you, Kate? You know, we talked a little bit about countries traveling in. I think also seeing the different communities kind of rally together, like different Latin communities for the World Cup. Yeah, for sure. I live in East Boston right near Tall Ship, the bar that was hosting these huge watch parties, and it was like Coachella for like a month. Like it was nuts the entire time. And then also like Cape Verdean communities. I went to a watch party in Boston Common with them, and it was a great time. So seeing um one, Boston get the exposure, but also the diversity of the city getting exposure to different people and showing, you know, um, it's a mixed community here, all enjoying their own different things, and we can all come together for big events like
What Newcomers Get Wrong About Boston
SPEAKER_02that.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. So we're gonna talk about fall in a in a in a minute, but I want to stay on this just real quick because one of the questions we had for the three of you, although it's different for you two than you, Sean, is kind of perceptions of Boston. And as as as people that didn't grow up here and have moved here as adults, and feel free to, you know, share a little bit of your backstory where you're from, whatnot. When you moved here, what were some of your perceptions or impressions that preceded your experience here? And how has that changed?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you know, being from Maryland, um, I thought in terms of like weather, things like that, I didn't think it would be that far off. I was surprised by the amount of snow. But um, in terms of perception, I will say this, and I tell this joke all the time. I thought everyone in Boston kind of looked like Mark Wahlberg. Like that's just a general like thought I kind of had. Just watching Celtics games, you know, hearing about what Boston is. Then you get up here and it is a very diverse crowd. I think um being able to visit more neighborhoods um outside of just you know downtown, all these areas, you get to see more. Um, and then also there was this perception that the food is trash, which is something I'm obviously actively fighting. Um, but that's another thing where I think people just kind of were just throwing the tag at the city without really doing the deep dive, um, which is something I'm working towards. And I think it's a perception that other creators, Maddie, Sean included, that have that are actually like actively changing, like people are finding new spots and the show that we do as well gets exposure on those business owners too that are trying to get that message out as well.
SPEAKER_04What are you, Maddie, when you packed up and came up here? Oh what did you think? And what's the reality, Ben?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I think honestly, I was just like, I'm ready for a new chapter. So I think I was open to whatever it brought coming from New York, and I feel like a lot of people when I say that I previously lived in New York are always like, which do you like better? And I feel like it's not a fair comparison. You're trying to compare apples and oranges.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely.
SPEAKER_05I think the things I love, my nervous system is so much more relaxed. Like I remember walking around and being like, I have access to so many things and I just feel like the pace is a little bit slower, which I personally enjoy. But I think the biggest misconception is that people think that people are mean. And I haven't really found that. I don't know if it's like I think people are honest.
SPEAKER_02I think honestly, I can appreciate that. Yeah, there's like a kindness that's kind of buried in there that you can feel. You know what I'm saying? I don't think people are that I had the same perception. People would be very standoffish, you know, if you're not from here. But I feel like I've been, and I hope you feel the same way. Obviously, we've been welcome too for the most part.
SPEAKER_05And I think it's a recurring theme. Like I see that a lot on social of people who are moving here and sharing, like, I just moved to Boston, like, who wants to be friends? And the comments are like, girl, come to this dinner, like do that. So I have been pleasantly surprised and think that I uh that perception is incredibly high.
SPEAKER_04I think that also is a prevailing and hopefully lasting legacy of World Cup as well. That a lot of international audience had what you guys just articulated had the same sort of experience and you know, were really, I think, happy with how they were treated here. Yeah. So and Sean, you're you're from the area. So for for you, like let's turn the question a little bit. Like, what surprises you that people are surprised by when they come here? They're not from here. Well, you took my answer.
SPEAKER_01Um, I think it's just no, no, I just think it's just to understand that this isn't the departed or the town or all these movies that depict as this Dutch stormy place. Like, why why is it always like drugs and like bank robberies and like I don't know, like or like the Mark Wahlberg one about the marathon? Like, there's always just like Patriot Day. Patrick is what you're uh which I love, but yeah, it's another negative movie about Boston. Yeah, to love Boston is to understand Boston for what it is. That's what I always tell people. Don't compare it to New York, it's not New York. You know what I mean? New York has its place, Baltimore has its place, LA has its place, Fort Water, everybody, every city has its place, and let's just not compare them to each other because they're all apples to oranges. You know, to love Boston is to understand Boston, to understand its people, to understand the culture of New England. It's not the same as anywhere else. Yeah. And you can't but it's but it's true, and you can't love it until you understand it. You know, I see so many people. Well, Boston's nightlife is this, and this is the food is this. Well, okay, well, it's not New York. So we never said we were in New York. Actually, hate if you want to compare it to New York. So it's not that. So just understand that it's Boston, and you should want your little tree-lined streets and your little quaint shops on Charles Street and your restaurants, the mom and pop restaurants, and all those things, and the esplanade over here that behind in the picture behind you, and all those things that make Boston what it is. Yeah. You know, don't go out and look for Times Square because you're not gonna find it.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. No, but we agree, and you know, at Meet Boston, we're constantly trying to address these things, right? There are stereotypes that underpin what people think about Boston until they come here and experience it, right? So we're every day trying to like create campaigns, talk about content, work with folks like you guys to like it shift those narratives, right? Because they're they're they're outdated. And as much as you know, beautiful Boston is something that will always draw people, history in Boston, sports and seafood in Boston will always draw people, but those are the traditional things, right? Like there's so much more diversity. The food scene is like so much more diverse and inclusive than people think traditionally, right? The the the mere diversity of Boston, right? Like you mentioned some of the communities that you saw during World Cup, but some people don't know that like we have the third largest Brazilian community in the US, like the second largest Haitian community, huge Cape Verdean population, Vietnamese, you know, East Boston, but the Latin communities over there. So it's like people need to come explore that. And I love hearing that from you guys and you being so passionate about as someone from here, kind of articulating the same
Fall In Boston Favorites And Traditions
SPEAKER_04point. So I will say one thing that is incomparable for Boston others is the fall here. For sure. Right? Like no one can compete with it, right? Just all the stuff going on in fall in Boston. I'm not sure how many falls you guys have had yet here in Boston. Keel, let's stick with you. What have you experienced you like the most? What's maybe still like on your bucket list? But like for you, fall in Boston.
SPEAKER_02This is like very like basic Instagram, like trendy tumbler. I don't know, I'm running out of words. But the foliage is like a thing. Like it, it's it's a vibe. Like I drove last fall, I drove up. Obviously, this isn't Boston, but I drove from Boston to Vermont. Experiencing New England fall, like taking in just a scenic atmosphere, it is a thing. Like it's a serotonin boost. Is that the right thing? Yeah, okay. I don't know why I asked you specifically. Um that and then also I am a huge football fan, so fall brings football. I'm not a Patriots fan, so I'm a Ravens fan. That's all it's all right. Yeah, and but I think Boston as a sports town is very opinionated, very like loving of their teams, but they're also welcoming the same way we said they were welcoming for you know other countries and communities. Um, like I've watched Ravens games up here, just experiencing the football atmosphere, especially when the Patriots are playing well like they did last year. It's a whole you know phenomenon in itself. So um, when it comes to fall, those are big things I'm looking for. I'm also apple cider pumpkin baddie is what I call myself. So um, you know, I'm looking forward to those things too.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_04Well, you beat us in a couple big games too. So that that's all good. You know, we go back and forth. It's gonna go over that for it. Yeah. What are you, Maddie? What are maybe some hidden gems that you want people to know about in terms of fall and boss? Like, what does it mean for you?
SPEAKER_05Um, well, I moved here in fall, like end of September. So I feel like I came and it like put on a full shit. Like I got the foliage and I was like, this is amazing. I love this. Um, I think just getting outside and not sweating to death is like a definite plus, especially after this summer. Um in particular this year. So I like to dance. I don't know if you like to dance.
SPEAKER_03Let's hear about it.
SPEAKER_05Um there is Let's Dance Boston 2026, which is with Vivo. Um, and it's like outdoor dancing for five days, different classes. And so it's like right on the greenway. Um, I'm very excited about that because I think it's like a free way. Way to kind of, I'm like, you gotta get outside as much as humanly possible in fall too to mentally prepare to be inside. Um, so I'm really excited for that this year, but otherwise, similarly, just kind of walking around. You have to go down Back Bay or Beacon Hill during or close to Halloween, obviously. Because I'm very excited to see like what the one house in particular does last year. Did you see the Willy Wonka?
SPEAKER_02Oh, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Always um incredible. So I'm I'm excited to see what they do this year.
SPEAKER_04Nice. Have either of you done like the regatta, gone to the regatta or the boss? Have you done gone to the head of Charles Regatta?
SPEAKER_05Yes, I've gone and watched. It's very cool.
SPEAKER_04Pretty cool, right? Yeah. Have you gone, Kate?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I've gone every year we've been here actually. Um, my fiance's really big into it. Um, and we had a like a close friend that had a sibling in it the first year I was here. So um it was really cool. But no, I I love it. It's like for me, it's like the start of the fall up here, you know, because like you're really outside, like Maddie said, it feels nice to be outside, it's not like muggy, everyone's out there, the leaves look beautiful. It's a good time.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah. No, we we we agree, and it's it's very popular, obviously, with visitors of of all backgrounds and reasons for for visiting. Um, what are you, Sean? Like, what do you what are some hidden gems of fall? And have you been to any of these festivals they're referring to? Like, what is what is it all about?
SPEAKER_01I think the cool part about Boston is that it's so centrally located and that you can experience the whole of New England when it comes to the fall, right? Yeah. I don't want to say I escape in the fall, I enjoy Boston in the fall, obviously, but it's nice having access to the the the mountains of New Hampshire or the coast of Maine or up in Vermont, just sort of within for day trips, even if you wanted to. Um, so it's just nice to be able to just have access to I don't even Western Mass, yeah, the Berkshires and just being able to just expand and just get out of the city a little bit and just enjoy fall. I am a little traumatized from last winter. Yeah. So we got one. Right. So fall sort of brings winter with it. Yeah. So I don't really I like fall. I just don't like the idea of what comes after it.
SPEAKER_04Well, I will note because you guys gave me this opportunity to do it that me, Boston, we're doing a lot to like program winter in new ways, and I'm sure we'll engage with you all on like what that's all about.
SPEAKER_01Last year was great, last winter was great with the festivals and everything you guys were doing.
SPEAKER_04We're gonna keep we're gonna keep leaning into that and expanding that. Did you go on the Ferris wheel? Because it's real cold.
SPEAKER_01But the Ferris wheel was cool. Snowball fight. Yeah, if it if it gets like it did last year, I think we put something together.
SPEAKER_04Have you guys gotten up in the like Sean notes that and we always promote the fact that Boston's like the gateway to an entire state and region? Have you guys gotten up into northern New England at all?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I've been to the White Mountains um in the fall. I actually just went to Berkshire's this summer, so that I didn't really get the fall experience. But um, yeah, I've done a little bit of travel up there.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's nice. Really?
SPEAKER_05Do you got the I did a little solo trip to Woodstock last fall? Oh, nice Vermont? Yes. Nice. Um, so that was very cool. I am a car-free Boston girl, so I feel like I have to find friends.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, fine, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Or commuter rail. Love the commuter rail. But I feel like that's why I'm like, I live in a city, so I don't have to drive.
SPEAKER_04Key, talking about fall again, like want to get your perspective on like the Fuji general.
Food Scene Myths And New Openings
SPEAKER_04You mentioned that you think that the food scene is misrepresented, right?
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_04So feel free to expand on that. But I also am very curious for fall openings, if there's anything in particular, like restaurant, yeah, food openings that you're you're looking at that that have you excited.
SPEAKER_02To the point I was talking about with the food scene. I think again, it's just important to kind of do your reconnaissance, right? Like don't just go to the first three people or three places someone recommends you to in the north end, right? Like go to Dorchester, uh, go to Roxbury, you know, experience the different cuisines. There's a huge Caribbean scene, Dorchester, Roxbury area, um, a ton of uh Vietnamese food you can find in Dorchester. So that's just my quick preview into that. But in terms of openings, there's a peach cobbler factory that I've been eyeing in downtown crossing, and they were supposed to open, I think, a month ago. And I just got a little notification, not that I have like notifications set up for, but I got a little, I saw a little, I saw a preview or a uh I was looking at their Instagram and it said it should be like a week or two from now. Um, so I'll be there. Uh Peach Cobbler, Cinnamon Rolls. I think they got a whole you know different bunch of pastries. It's like a family run spot. They had they opened up originally in Georgia to assist like some southern ties to it.
SPEAKER_04Now, do they know you got your eye on them and they're following?
SPEAKER_02I like I keep dropping, it's like that's like a very I'm not in their DMs, but I'm like dropping a comment. Like an eyes comment on all their posts, you know. So it's like a subtle, a subtle stalk, but um kind of nonadays. Yeah, but yeah, Peach Cobbler Factory. I mean, and if you guys hear this, just like let me know if you want to be in there early. I'll come through. Is that what it's called? I think yeah, it is called Peach Cobbler Factory, yes. Right in Downtown Crossing. I think they've got this. I know too much about this. I'm sorry. It's okay. They've got a sign-up. There's a sign-up. So I think we're almost at the at the at the opening.
SPEAKER_04All right, cool. That's very close to our office. So I'm sure the staff here may lost three.
SPEAKER_02Downtown crossing needs more of that. They do. I think downtown crossing.
SPEAKER_04You know, they have actually more like eateries and and food and restaurant openings now than before the pandemic, which is remarkable.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's good to see about it.
SPEAKER_04It's really becoming like uh a hotbed for culinary experiences, unlike it was ever.
Solo Female Travel And Boston Safety
SPEAKER_04Matty, let's talk about your audience, your segment, solo female travel, a little bit. I know you you've expand beyond that, but it's really important to you. And it's critical for us. I mean, in the travel space, if you can speak to that audience and make convert ambassadors of your brand into that audience, it's like more impactful than any other segment. For you, bringing that kind of voice to Boston, where how does Boston work there? What experiences, what do you suggest suggest? What would you recommend? How is this destination for you? How would you portray it in terms of that segment?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it's really interesting because I never came to Boston with that lens, unlike how I've gone to other cities and been like, I'm going here for this reason. But I think for me or solo travelers, specifically women in general, like we're looking at a few things. We're looking at like safety, walkability, and easy, manageable things to do. I'm very anti-itinerary when I travel. I want to just kind of like walk, I save things in like a Google map. And then I want to just like walk around and explore. And I think Boston is such a perfect place for that because it's so walkable. You can hop on the tee, you could even grab a blue bike. Um, and you've got so much to do, whether you're a sports fan, whether you're into the performing arts, visual arts, like it truly feels like I mean, you could spend a long weekend or honestly a week here. And then also I get a lot of questions about like safety and that sort of thing. And I do feel like having lived here and visited other places, like it feels very safe for solo female travelers as well.
SPEAKER_04That's that's wonderful to hear. And you know, that's especially for well, female travelers, but international travelers in general. Safety and and and cleanliness mat matter a lot for people that are coming to the United States and have like a certain perception of you know what the states is all about. And then come into a big city and having it be compact and like, you know, accessible and safe and clean is something that we're always trying to trumpet. Yeah. Well, not like we're not trying to say that we're better than like DC, but it's like you have we have to subtly be like, there's safety and welcoming for you here. And of course, that means different things to different people, but getting your perspective.
SPEAKER_05But I do find that people will comment and share or like have con, I don't know if people like do this, but have conversations like in your comments, yeah. And they'll be like, oh my God, it was so clean. Like I do feel like people are always like, Boston is like so clean, so beautiful. Um, so I do think that that is something that people recognize.
SPEAKER_01Are you like that's right? We are. Yeah, well, we are. Boston has its problems like any other city, obviously. I think it has less problems than most cities, but yeah, you have to watch your back anywhere you go and you have to be safe. And but Boston, I just generally feel safer than walking around other cities that I've been to for the most part. I'm also coming at it from a different lens than you know, um, a woman or a female traveler or whatever it is. Um, I think Boston is beautiful and clean. But no, coming at from the international standpoint, we did see a lot of that during the World Cup too. Absolutely. People are like, wait a second, I thought there was all this kinds of all these all this gun violence that we've seen on social media and all this stuff that we've been taught to believe about Boston, but the United States in general. But and I thought that was really great going back to the World Cup to sort of see that point of view sort of being.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01If you can provide the experience, that becomes important. It exists, but everything is so much, everything is so exaggerated on social media to the point where it's like, you know, I'm gonna get killed as soon as I step off the plane. That doesn't exist.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and yet this is the world you guys navigate.
SPEAKER_01This is the world that we try to, I at least I think you guys do too, but I try to portray that Boston isn't the place that some politicians would like us to believe it is, or just show the world that it's uh it's good, it's great.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, no, we
Authentic Creator Marketing Best Practices
SPEAKER_04appreciate that. And as we kind of you know, wind down the conversation here, I want to ask you guys all something that's kind of associated with this, which is like, you know, since you know, creator marketing or the more antiquated like influencer marketing term, people don't say that as much anymore, kind of took off. There's always been kind of noise in the marketing space with like how do brands best engage? What are best practices? We we're a unique brand, we're a destination, right? We talked earlier about small businesses. You get a chance to go in there and meet those people as part of the show, like face to face.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_04So whether it's a destination like Meet Boston or a small business, from your standpoint, like what would you recommend to those businesses when they and I'll start with you, Sean, like when they're starting to think about you know, engaging with a with a creator audience, you know, what is the way to do it, like authentically?
SPEAKER_01I I always try to preach that as content creators, we're in this unique position with following what whether it's a thousand people or a hundred thousand people or a million people, that you have the opportunity to help people. And especially in a small, I don't want to say Boston is a small market because New England is a large market, but especially in a smaller market, you have this unique opportunity to help small businesses and help help anybody who needs help while also being fairly compensated for your your work and stuff. But there's just too many influencers out there, at least that I see in the world, that are just it just feels like it they're in it for themselves. And it's just not the way it's supposed to be. You post videos on social media, we're not that special. We help people, you should want to help people by doing that. We're we're very lucky that we're in this position where we can, you know, hopefully make money doing this sometimes. And but to me, it's more important than I can put a line outside that restaurant store or that ice cream shop store or something like that, and I think that's very important.
SPEAKER_02What's your perspective on it, Key? You know, I think it's twofold. I think from the creator perspective, to Sean's point, you do have to recognize that your voice has power, right? So there's a weight that comes to working with these brands because you could put things in jeopardy for them, especially if you're working like a smaller mom and pop business. Um, so have that in mind. My other thing, for businesses that want to work with creators, you have to realize if you're going to work with a creator, it's most likely for a reason. It's because that creator can provide something to you, right? That creator has a voice and that creator has an audience that they found with that voice. So if you go to the creator and kind of ask for them to be outside of that voice, the audience is immediately turned away. So you have to kind of be flexible on both sides. As the creator, you have to be flexible because the brand's trying to sell something and you know they may be compensating you to do it. And then as a brand, you have to be open to you know the feedback from the creator of like, hey, I think this is how my audience will react to it this way versus that way. Um, so it has to be a balance and then to just like communicate, like just always if you're not even looking to work with creators, talk to people that know creators, you know what I'm saying? Just to understand the marketplace because it is truthfully a marketplace, right? You're almost falling behind if you're not, you know, investing some time into understanding it. So just start with the communication, even if you're not interested in, you know, going and following through with it.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah. Cool. And Matt, you made an interesting point earlier about just how you kind of found your community as you're you're building it. Like, so how does that translate for you in terms of working with businesses? You know, same question. Like, what would you suggest as best practices to engage with your voice and your your audience?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I I think it's been fun when we can sort of have a conversation of like, how can you help me and I help you? Um, and so something that I've been doing more is trying to bring or find opportunities to bring people together in small businesses. So working with, I have a friend who owns a shop in Bow Market and we've hosted like vision boarding parties or working with independently owned like fitness studios, and we'll host like a workout class. And it's a way for me to kind of orchestrate an event, which I know a lot of people are asking me for, but then also bring kind of like hot leads in a marketing sense into their business as well. Um, and it can look like a variety of different things. I've had businesses be like, we'll give you a discount code for your audience if they want to become members at like the Boston Figure Arts Center and that sort of thing. So I think viewing it as like, how can we make this work? Because I want you to stay here and not like other monstrosity businesses to come in and I like you don't leave.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_05Well, it's like I don't want it to become like this cookie cutter, like, you know, generica.
SPEAKER_03Like I love that it's like no, exactly.
SPEAKER_05And so it's like it's it's a very it's something where it's like there's nuance to everything. And I think the internet in particular, like we've lost our ability to understand nuance. But really coming and having having conversations of like how can we help each other, but also recognizing that there are always going to be other factors at play. And like you cannot be a hundred percent perfect all the time, but as long as like there's positive intent and figuring out like what that relationship can look like.
SPEAKER_04Thank you, thank you all for for that.
Who They Follow And Final Thanks
SPEAKER_04All right, so last question for each of you, just kind of as a wrap. Like, I'm always curious where you are consuming your content and how that has evolved since you've been doing kind of what you do. What are some of your favorite, you know, brands, channels, follows that you would suggest to our listening audience? Um, it's really about about you because we're curious. But like maybe somebody that's someone that's listening to this might be. I'm gonna go check that out. Start with you, Key.
SPEAKER_02Um, well, I love these two smaller creators, uh, Sean in Boston and uh um Maddie. Is it Humi? Is it Boume? Boomet, sorry, I didn't mean to miss Bum. But no, um We do two. Well they was gonna say those are great. Um, but also uh I don't know. All my my whole algorithm right now is food and wedding stuff because they're getting married soon. But specific restaurants like uh Brad Gourmet that has a couple spots, um, I'm trying to think La Posada in Somerville, those are two that kind of popped to me a lot. Any place that's posting like good food pictures will probably get a like from me.
SPEAKER_04So that's pretty much your wedding. Are you like going down and sample like that poor person?
SPEAKER_02I'm getting married down in Maryland, so I had to go down and sample it. The funniest part is just everyone that's coming to my wedding is giving me like, I'm expecting amazing food, man. Like, I'm not cooking. I just, you know, I do what I do, but um, but not, you know, I'm excited for my wedding. I guess that's the statement I should say, right?
SPEAKER_01That's they all do like food reviews at the wedding. That's probably what's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_04That'll be amazing. I'm excited for that. But we'll see. What are you, Maddie? What are some of your follows that you would recommend or that are important to you?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I feel like I lately have been almost trying to scroll less and read more. I'm a big cut Atlantic reader, um, just more so because some of my content is less like it, it's a little bit more like what are people thinking about, what are people concerned about? And so thinking about those angles. But um when it comes to Boston creators, I feel like this fall and winter I want to be more adventurous when it comes to music venues. And I have a friend, um Emmy McSwain. She has a great Instagram and she kind of showcases like interesting music venues you might not know about. Um, so she's always a good, like I feel like my list is getting longer and longer and I need to.
SPEAKER_04We'll have to look that up too.
SPEAKER_05Definitely, she's a musician herself. So I'm like, I trust her recommendations because she's probably played at some of them. Um, but that's on my list for this fall and winter.
SPEAKER_04Nice. And where do you trust?
SPEAKER_01Crazy way to ask. Um, I think I have a couple, I think I have I think I go a couple different ways with this. Um, I like following this is a crazy one, but the CEO of Instagram.
SPEAKER_05Wow, good for you. I get like fits of rage. Well, and they give us an update that I don't know. No, listen, no, right, no, that is a gaslight you in the light of the body.
SPEAKER_02Right, no.
SPEAKER_01I like following him so I can I can sort of see sometimes what's coming down the pipeline or understand why what's working right who works with um just sort of like being in the no. I don't know. I maybe it's a stupid, I mean I don't follow him though, okay. No, if you follow him. No, right. Um good point. But just people like him who sort of are are maybe telling you what to do to maybe be to better your account. There's a lot of there's a lot of just little tips you can get from people like him or other other other creators. Um, I like following people from other cities too. Um, I couldn't give you names right now because I'm not good with names, but um, just to sort of see what's going on there if if we have it here, if we could emulate it here in terms of caught content and stuff like that. Um, but I also like just following like small businesses and stuff too. Even if I wouldn't necessarily go to them because it's not accessible to me or whatever, I just like seeing what they're doing. And my favorite thing is the reshare button. Although it's my worst, it's my least favorite thing too at the same time, because you can reshare some crazy stuff by accident. But yeah, the repost. Yeah. And but I I like I like that button because you can you can use it to share a small business's post to your to your to your phone. Yeah, and to them, when they see that notification that a bigger account reposted them, and that's probably so cool. Uh-huh. You know what I mean? I just love that. I don't know. This little bakery down the street or whatever it is, it's like, I don't know, it gives them a little chance to get seen in front of people without having to pay for it.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Right. You know, right. Cool. Little things in life.
SPEAKER_04Well, thank you all for joining us today. Thank you all for your partnership on the Meet Boston show, Billy and Jenny. Um, it's really great to have your perspective and you lend your voice to what we're trying to do and for you to join us today. So, Key, Maddie, Sean, yeah, thanks for joining us, Sam Boston Found.
SPEAKER_01Billy, Billy, better watch out because these mics are in front of us now. Not the only mics in town anymore, Bill.
SPEAKER_02We gotta wake up at like 5 a.m. to do it when Billy does.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he's a different animal.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, nothing going on. Billy's a workhorse. Well, thank you all for joining us. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_00Looking to find more Boston stories, go to meetboston.com and don't forget to share and subscribe to the Boston Found podcast.