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.
Episode Transcript
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Skip Money.
SPEAKER_02 (00:12):
Well, hello, everyone, and welcome to the
Good Neighbor Podcast.
So today I am super excited tohave a very special guest in the
studio with us for the firsttime.
So welcome.
And I'm sure you'll be just asexcited as I am to learn all
about them and their businessbecause today I have the
pleasure of introducing yourgood neighbor, Mr.
Martin Young, with the upcomingevents.
(00:34):
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 superexcited to uh learn all about
you and uh the upcoming events.
So if you don't mind, why don'tyou kick us off by telling us
what you do?
SPEAKER_01 (00:50):
Well, it's um it is a global event network um site.
So what it does is it allows youto find events in 740 cities
across the United States.
So when you're looking forsomething to do or that night
out on a town, or if you'retraveling out of town and you
have nowhere to go or no ideawhere to go, it um it organizes
(01:12):
the events um in those 740cities in a uh chronological
order.
SPEAKER_02 (01:19):
Oh wow.
So for pretty much everywhere.
Yes.
Wow.
So uh that's interesting.
How uh tell us about yourjourney.
How did you get started in uh inthis business?
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
Well, my wife and I was traveling, we went on a road
trip, and in the process ofgoing on a road trip um through
about I think about eight ornine different cities that we
went to, um, we would findnothing to do, or we didn't
really know what was going on orwhere the happiness spots were
(01:51):
at.
And so we got back home and andwe was thinking, you know, this
would be a really good idea ifthere was some way that if we
could go on another road tripand in the process of traveling,
we could look up ways to findthings that's going on and and
know the you know the happinessspots or the where about where
to go, where not to go, andthings of that nature to make
(02:13):
the trip more enjoyable.
And so we came up with thisidea.
Wow, very good.
SPEAKER_02 (02:18):
So a team effort.
SPEAKER_01 (02:20):
Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (02:21):
I can't take all the credit, it's here.
Oh gotcha, gotcha.
That's that's a good that's agood thing.
Yes um so uh Martin, what aresome myths or misconceptions in
in what you do?
In events, yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (02:36):
You know, so a lot of times people think um, well,
one, they they say that it'salways something to do and but
they don't know.
But then again, another myth iswell, there's other platforms
out there, um, i.e.
like your Facebook or other, youknow, um platforms that host or
list events and things to do,but because of the algorithm
(02:58):
that you may come across or thethings that you like or don't
like, it's not going to showcaseeverything for you, whether it's
the city events um that thelocal city may have.
Um, a lot of times you don'tknow 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 thesmall-term um events that take
(03:20):
place, your local mom and poptype places that don't have the
money to advertise and broadcastum the events.
A lot of times they miss out onthings.
SPEAKER_02 (03:30):
Wow, so it's a tool for small businesses too.
Yeah, absolutely.
Very good, very good.
Well, um, I know you it soundslike you're a busy guy.
How long have you guys been inbusiness?
So this is coming up on ourfirst year.
All right.
Well, congratulations.
That's awesome.
Thank you.
All right, very good.
Um, so uh starting a newbusiness is not easy, and I know
(03:54):
you're you're you're a superbusy guy.
Uh, I'm sure, yeah, I I canrelate.
Outside of if there is timeoutside of work, what do you
like to do for fun?
SPEAKER_01 (04:04):
Um, so we of course big ball fans, like everybody
else in this area.
Um, outside of that, spendingtime with the family.
We love going hiking, anythingoutdoors, so we can never get
the kayak or go hiking orbackpack, anything of that
nature, just anything that'saround and traveling or you
know, driving to destinations.
We love that.
SPEAKER_02 (04:26):
Well, you live in a great place for hiking and
outdoor activities for sure.
Yes, East Tennessee iswonderful.
Absolutely, most beautiful placeon earth, I believe.
That's my opinion.
But um, so uh let's switch gearsfor a second.
If um, can you describe ahardship or a life challenge
that you've overcome, eitherprofessionally or uh personally,
(04:47):
and came out stronger on theother side?
Anything come to mind?
SPEAKER_01 (04:52):
Well, we uh we currently own an insurance
agency as well.
And so I think that was one ofthe most difficult things that
we accomplished in the start oftrying to um propel ourselves to
where we are now, um, freeing upsome time in our life, um,
trying to take on theaccomplishment of getting
(05:15):
recognition and taking uh thewords from others who say things
are harder to do it the way thatwe went about doing things when
it comes to being able to openup your own independent agency.
And so, and what I mean by thatis we were always told to be
(05:35):
independent, you're going to notbe able to receive appointment
ships from the big boys, thecarriers.
And we were able to do that, butit would jump through a lot of
hoops in order to get thatgoing.
And so that's probably the onething that was really the most
difficult for us because thatwas the first start of our first
venture when it comes tobusinesses, and that kind of has
(05:56):
now set the roadmap for us indoing this here with the
upcoming events.
We now have a better idea andunderstanding of what it is that
we're doing.
SPEAKER_02 (06:04):
Very good, very good.
Second time's the charm.
Yes, that's right.
So uh if you could think of onething that you'd like our
listeners and viewers toremember about the upcoming
events, what would that be?
SPEAKER_01 (06:19):
A lot of times there's been times where things
take place, and and it's righthere in my own city, and and I'm
like, well, I did not know thatthat was occurring.
Um whether it's a church eventor uh open house being sold or
just different things of thatnature.
So our site is the place to gofor that.
SPEAKER_02 (06:38):
All right, very good thing to remember, and that's so
true, man.
I mean, even uh, you know, in inthe town you live in, it's hard
to keep up.
So it's great to have a resourcethere to tell you what's
happening.
Yes.
Um so uh if uh let's say wewe've got somebody who's
interested in um uh a businessor an individual that's wanting
to check you guys out andthey're intrigued by it and just
(07:00):
looking for some stuff to do,um, how can they learn more?
SPEAKER_01 (07:04):
Um they can either go to www.theupcoming
events.com.
Um everything is there on ourwebsite, and then of course on
all the other social mediaplatforms, your Facebook,
TikTok, um, LinkedIn, and andInstagram.
SPEAKER_02 (07:20):
All right, very good.
Well, uh folks, you heard ithere.
Um, if you need to know what'sgoing on, not just in uh, you
know, East Tennessee, but soundslike all over the place,
anywhere you're going, um, checkout the upcoming events.
They'll they'll let you knowwhat there is to do and how to
make the most of your time.
Absolutely.
Awesome, awesome.
(07:41):
Well, uh Martin, I can't tellyou how much I appreciate your
time and uh uh hanging out withus and telling us all about you
and the upcoming events, and wewish you, your wife, your
company, and and clients all thebest moving forward.
Oh, we thank you, and we thankyou for your time as well.
Absolutely.
Maybe we can have you back onthe show uh sometime in the
future, maybe talk about yourinsurance business.
(08:03):
Okay, that sounds wonderful.
You have a great rest of theday.
You too.
SPEAKER_00 (08:08):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to gm try-cities.com.
That's gmptry cities.com, orcall four two three seven one
nine five eight seven three.
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