Good Neighbor Podcast: TN-WNC-SWVA

EP# 362: Stop Scrolling, Start Going: Your Weekend Just Got Easier: The Upcoming Events Story

• Skip Mauney & Martin Young • Episode 362

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Ever feel like you only hear about the best local events after they’re over? We talk with Martin Young about turning that frustration into a nationwide directory that surfaces what’s happening right now across 740 U.S. cities—without relying on fickle social algorithms. From big festivals to small community gatherings, Martin shares how a simple, chronological design helps you find plans fast, whether you’re at home or traveling.

Martin takes us back to the road trip that sparked the idea and explains why major platforms often bury city events, church gatherings, open houses, and mom-and-pop shows. We get into the nuts and bolts of building a trustworthy feed that treats small organizers and big venues with equal visibility, so residents get a fuller picture of their city’s culture. Along the way, Martin draws on lessons from launching an independent insurance agency, where he learned to navigate gatekeepers, build relationships with major carriers, and keep momentum under pressure—skills that now shape how he scales event discovery with accuracy and care.

We also touch on the human side: the joy of finding a great plan at the last minute, the value of stumbling into a neighborhood gem, and why East Tennessee’s outdoors fuels Martin’s focus on simple, reliable tools. If you’ve ever wondered why you miss what’s happening on your own street, or how to support local businesses that can’t afford big ad budgets, this conversation offers a clear path. Ready to make your next free night count? Subscribe, share the show with a friend who’s always asking “What’s there to do?”, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find us.

SPEAKER_00:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Skip Money.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, hello, everyone, and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. So today I am super excited to have a very special guest in the studio with us for the first time. So welcome. And I'm sure you'll be just as excited as I am to learn all about them and their business because today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Mr. Martin Young, with the upcoming events. Martin, how's it going? It's going pretty good. How about yourself, Scale? I'm doing just fine. And like I said, we're super excited to uh learn all about you and uh the upcoming events. So if you don't mind, why don't you kick us off by telling us what you do?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, it's um it is a global event network um site. So what it does is it allows you to find events in 740 cities across the United States. So when you're looking for something to do or that night out on a town, or if you're traveling out of town and you have nowhere to go or no idea where to go, it um it organizes the events um in those 740 cities in a uh chronological order.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh wow. So for pretty much everywhere. Yes. Wow. So uh that's interesting. How uh tell us about your journey. How did you get started in uh in this business?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, my wife and I was traveling, we went on a road trip, and in the process of going on a road trip um through about I think about eight or nine different cities that we went to, um, we would find nothing to do, or we didn't really know what was going on or where the happiness spots were at. And so we got back home and and we was thinking, you know, this would be a really good idea if there was some way that if we could go on another road trip and in the process of traveling, we could look up ways to find things that's going on and and know the you know the happiness spots or the where about where to go, where not to go, and things of that nature to make the trip more enjoyable. And so we came up with this idea. Wow, very good.

SPEAKER_02:

So a team effort.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02:

I can't take all the credit, it's here. Oh gotcha, gotcha. That's that's a good that's a good thing. Yes um so uh Martin, what are some myths or misconceptions in in what you do? In events, yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, so a lot of times people think um, well, one, they they say that it's always something to do and but they don't know. But then again, another myth is well, there's other platforms out there, um, i.e. like your Facebook or other, you know, um platforms that host or list events and things to do, but because of the algorithm that you may come across or the things that you like or don't like, it's not going to showcase everything for you, whether it's the city events um that the local city may have. Um, a lot of times you don't know what are your local city events that you could go to. So you miss out on quite a bit. And then, of course, there's the small-term um events that take place, your local mom and pop type places that don't have the money to advertise and broadcast um the events. A lot of times they miss out on things.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow, so it's a tool for small businesses too. Yeah, absolutely. Very good, very good. Well, um, I know you it sounds like you're a busy guy. How long have you guys been in business? So this is coming up on our first year. All right. Well, congratulations. That's awesome. Thank you. All right, very good. Um, so uh starting a new business is not easy, and I know you're you're you're a super busy guy. Uh, I'm sure, yeah, I I can relate. Outside of if there is time outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_01:

Um, so we of course big ball fans, like everybody else in this area. Um, outside of that, spending time with the family. We love going hiking, anything outdoors, so we can never get the kayak or go hiking or backpack, anything of that nature, just anything that's around and traveling or you know, driving to destinations. We love that.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, you live in a great place for hiking and outdoor activities for sure. Yes, East Tennessee is wonderful. Absolutely, most beautiful place on earth, I believe. That's my opinion. But um, so uh let's switch gears for a second. If um, can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you've overcome, either professionally or uh personally, and came out stronger on the other side? Anything come to mind?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, we uh we currently own an insurance agency as well. And so I think that was one of the most difficult things that we accomplished in the start of trying to um propel ourselves to where we are now, um, freeing up some time in our life, um, trying to take on the accomplishment of getting recognition and taking uh the words from others who say things are harder to do it the way that we went about doing things when it comes to being able to open up your own independent agency. And so, and what I mean by that is we were always told to be independent, you're going to not be able to receive appointment ships from the big boys, the carriers. And we were able to do that, but it would jump through a lot of hoops in order to get that going. And so that's probably the one thing that was really the most difficult for us because that was the first start of our first venture when it comes to businesses, and that kind of has now set the roadmap for us in doing this here with the upcoming events. We now have a better idea and understanding of what it is that we're doing.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good, very good. Second time's the charm. Yes, that's right. So uh if you could think of one thing that you'd like our listeners and viewers to remember about the upcoming events, what would that be?

SPEAKER_01:

A lot of times there's been times where things take place, and and it's right here in my own city, and and I'm like, well, I did not know that that was occurring. Um whether it's a church event or uh open house being sold or just different things of that nature. So our site is the place to go for that.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, very good thing to remember, and that's so true, man. I mean, even uh, you know, in in the town you live in, it's hard to keep up. So it's great to have a resource there to tell you what's happening. Yes. Um so uh if uh let's say we we've got somebody who's interested in um uh a business or an individual that's wanting to check you guys out and they're intrigued by it and just looking for some stuff to do, um, how can they learn more?

SPEAKER_01:

Um they can either go to www.theupcoming events.com. Um everything is there on our website, and then of course on all the other social media platforms, your Facebook, TikTok, um, LinkedIn, and and Instagram.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, very good. Well, uh folks, you heard it here. Um, if you need to know what's going on, not just in uh, you know, East Tennessee, but sounds like all over the place, anywhere you're going, um, check out the upcoming events. They'll they'll let you know what there is to do and how to make the most of your time. Absolutely. Awesome, awesome. Well, uh Martin, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your time and uh uh hanging out with us and telling us all about you and the upcoming events, and we wish you, your wife, your company, and and clients all the best moving forward. Oh, we thank you, and we thank you for your time as well. Absolutely. Maybe we can have you back on the show uh sometime in the future, maybe talk about your insurance business. Okay, that sounds wonderful. You have a great rest of the day. You too.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gm try-cities.com. That's gmptry cities.com, or call four two three seven one nine five eight seven three.