December 28, 2023 • 30 mins
As I nestled into my chair across from Renee Stewart of Lake Minnetonka Magazine, the cozy hum of our shared love for community storytelling set the stage for a conversation rich with insight.
Renee, with her wealth of experience, illuminated the intricate dance of crafting a publication that mirrors the pulse of our local life. We unpacked the magic behind selecting stories that resonate—a task that balances reader interests with the vibrant themes that define our neck of the woods.
Our chat eventually wove its way to the deep emotional threads that local stories tug at. From the heavy hearts of grieving parents to the light of recognition in the eyes of those we feature, the conversation underscored the profound impact of sharing these human experiences.
With a spark of spontaneity and the warmth of new friendships, this episode is a love letter to the community that continually inspires us, reminding us that every story, every voice, adds color to the vibrant mosaic that is Lake Minnetonka.
Learn more at https://www.tonkatalk.com where we share more about our Lake Minnetonka community, including upcoming events and our take on local experiences.
Connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TonkaTalk/
If you have feedback, questions, or suggestions of a future guests creating community and connection, email natalie@tonkatalk.com
We appreciate your support in sharing Tonka Talk Community and Connection with someone you think could benefit from our content.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Many of you probably get local publications in your
community Around.
Here we get Lake Minnetonkamagazine.
I'm Natalie Webster and this isTonka Talk, where we talk about
the ways people createcommunity and connection, and
these local publications are abig part of that in different
communities.
Today I get to talk to ReneeStewart.
Yes, I cannot wait to.
(00:22):
I actually had a couple funnythings I thought about and I was
like can I share that or not?
No, I'm making her worry, butshe's the managing creative
director of local, which is amagazine company which has
multiple publications around theTwin Cities area here in
Minnesota and she's the editorof Lake Minnetonka magazine,
(00:43):
which is probably my favorite.
I'm a big fan, big fan.
I am too.
I love the magazine.
Hugh, my first question for youyes, and again, she's the
editor for Lake Minnetonkamagazine.
If you're a local, I'm sure youget it, and if you're like me,
you read it.
Can't wait to get it, enjoy it.
You can also read it online.
How do you narrow down thestories of what to share?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, I tell you that is a happy dilemma that we have
every month when we're planningthe magazines.
Yeah, because it's often likeputting a puzzle together.
Yeah, because everything has tofit and make sense and often
the magazines have a theme forthe month that we try to
(01:30):
facilitate and, bottom line,natalie, we're looking at
content that's important to ourreaders.
It's not what our editors areinterested in, it's not what
maybe we'd like to see in themagazine.
We really try to think aboutour readership and what's
important to them.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Yeah, how did you get into this business?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, I'm a journalism major and I cut my
teeth on local news in Chicago.
Wow, is that where you're from?
No, I'm from Minnesota.
Oh, okay, but a boy took me toChicago.
Isn't that the way?
That's the way it goes, isn'tthat the way?
So I got a job at a family-runcommunity newspaper business and
(02:17):
they had newspapers throughoutthe suburban area, the west side
of Chicago, and I wrote hardnews.
Oh, wow, and that was mybackground too in school was
learning how to write andproduce hard news.
And every once in a while ourlifestyle editor would be like
(02:38):
hey, reporters, I need you towrite a lifestyle article?
Sure, and it was so out of mywheelhouse and I didn't like it,
but then I started to reallylove it.
And, long story short, we movedback to Minnesota and I really
missed writing and for me,writing is just part of my soul
(03:02):
and it just feels good to do it.
So I reached out to the magazinecompany, got hired as a
freelancer.
Three months later they said wewant you on board as a staff
writer.
A year later they asked me tobe an editor.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
So I have edited what was Southwest Metro Magazine,
Maple Grove Magazine, Plymouth,and then Lake Minnetonka became
available and I quickly raisedmy hand and I said, consider me.
And so I started editing thatas well.
And then the managing creativedirector position revealed
itself and I said yes to that,with the caveat that I was able
(03:38):
to keep Lake Minnetonka Magazinebecause I love it.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, it's a good one .
What would you say if somebodywanted to get into kind of like
you did with freelance writing,being that local cover so many
different magazines?
Do you have any advice forsomeone who wanted to start kind
of like how you did Well, no,not exactly because you're
trained in journalism, but witha lifestyle magazine or has an
(04:05):
interest in it?
Is there a way for people toreach out?
I was curious about that.
If you do accept other, ifsomebody says, hey, I have an
idea about this, but I'm also awriter.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Sure, well, there's several ways that people can get
involved.
We do have an internshipprogram, so we have interns
working with us.
They come in three times a year.
There's a rotation, and so wereally dovetail the program into
what they're interested in.
Some of them are moreinterested in believe it or not,
(04:38):
the fact checking part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Oh, that sounds so boring.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I know, but we need them and we love them.
Others are really interested indeveloping their writing skills
, dovetail whatever they need.
We try to create thatexperience for them.
We also have.
If anyone is interested inbeing a writer, you don't have
to have a journalism degree, ofcourse.
It's just that you need to becurious.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
And you need to know where to put a comma.
We love our commas, but justshoot me an email and we can
talk, because a lot of ourcurrent writers are people who
have reached out to us.
We also have, in the beginningof our magazine, you'll notice
our noteworthy section, and thatis filled with local
(05:29):
contributors.
True, you'll either have anexpertise in gardening or like
to review books.
I'm currently looking forsomeone who likes to listen to
podcasts and wants to do podcastreviews for me on occasion.
So if you have a particularinterest and would like to share
(05:51):
it with the community, reachout to us.
We're always looking for that.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I'll share your contact information in the show
notes Perfect, so you can goahead and reach out.
And again, if you love podcasts, I'd love that you share it
with us.
I love to do it, but I'm biased.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I think you have enough on your point now, Leigh.
You cannot do one more thing.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Exactly.
That's kind of part of my issue.
I get so interested in so manydifferent things going on and so
many different people.
That's why I was curious howyou narrow these things down,
because I guess we're fortunateto live in a community where
there's a lot of people doing alot of cool things.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Absolutely.
You know.
That brings to mind somethingthat I learned as a young
reporter, and sometimes whenyou're first new in the business
, you have an attitude of whatconstitutes news or what is
interesting.
And what I learned is thateverybody has a story to tell
and everybody's interesting.
(06:48):
Yes, right, yes.
And so if you approach our jobin that way and have a level of
respect for everybody andeverybody's story, they just
start flowing in.
It's easy to identify somethingthat might be of interest.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
I agree completely.
I'll be in a doctor's officewaiting for a blood draw.
Sometimes you're on the benchand you're like one person to
head to you and you're waiting.
And I've gotten toconversations with people Right,
Absolutely fascinated.
Absolutely All ages, alldifferent backgrounds.
When you really talk to peopleand just ask a couple of key
questions or just have thatcuriosity.
(07:29):
I think that was it.
You hit the nail on the headAbsolutely.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And that's something that I've discovered too, as the
creative director is part of myjob is helping the editors
throughout the Metro discoverstory ideas.
So, for example, I'll go to.
I was out at the Arboretum atan art show and I talked to
almost every person there whowas displaying, asking them
(07:57):
their story where are you from?
And just being able to do thatand maybe some of the content
doesn't fit our magazine, butjust learning about people and
what drives them, what motivatesthem, is so interesting and can
be really inspiring.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Oh yeah, we totally share that we should go on like
a trip or something together,because I think it's not that
often, honestly.
I mean, I know people areinterested in people, but I feel
like you and I have it at itsnext level.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I think so.
Well, I told you when I walkedin today that I was nervous,
because usually I'm the onehandling the questions and I
have every writer's securityblanket I'm holding onto my pen.
I don't need it for anything,but it just makes me feel more
comfortable to have a writinginstrument in my head.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well, and it's a tool .
It's knowing how to use yourtools.
That's right.
And Lake Minnetonka Magazineand other publications that
local does and you tell me, dothey do the same things?
At Lake Minnetonka Magazine,one of the things I really love
about it is the lens on LakeMinnetonka where you encourage
local photographers, amateurphotographers, pros can submit
(09:07):
as well, absolutely, and theysubmit photos from around Lake
Minnetonka in these differentcategories and you can win an
award, award titles, right.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So every month of July and August, on our website
you can submit photos from oneof the five categories and then
we take a look at those and wedo first, second, third,
honorable mention and we, everymonth you'll see at the back of
our magazine, last Clients, wewill have one of the photos
running and then followers canalso vote on their favorite.
(09:40):
So we, your favorite is alsocategory, but I would love to
see more submissions.
You know who I'd really like tosee submitting younger people.
I'd be really interested to seetheir perspective of our
community and what they findinteresting, what they find
beautiful.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So it's open to all ages, yeah, that's a really good
point and we'll share a link inthe show description.
So it's definitely you,millennials and Gen Z get out
there and find what interestsyou in the community and the
categories those are sharedonline.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So those are online, Yep, those are shared online and
even you know high school gradeschool kids, you know, we know,
you know how to use a camera onyour phone.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
That's right, that's a really cool.
Different note too, right, Ishave you seen over the years
kind of an increase in differenttypes of photos?
Do most people do you know ifthey submit using, like I took
this on my phone, or is like Iused my Canon?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
The vast majority, I would say, are done on an iPhone
.
Wow, and it's surprising.
And we added abstract as acategory.
Oh, wow, because of the typesof photos that people are able
to do just with their iPhone.
Yeah, are really interestingand we wanted to honor that
perspective.
So we added abstract into thecompetition.
(10:58):
But I will have to say that,especially for younger people,
having their creativityacknowledged in local news or
local magazine that's in ours,you never know what impact
that's going to have.
And I'm going to tell you apersonal story.
One of my sons, back in the day, even before long before I
(11:18):
started working for the company,I did a photograph to the
magazine and one and had his.
It was a photo of a Hosta and Istill have it a variegated
Hosta, and he captured theveining and the different colors
.
It was just beautiful.
And what that did for that kidto have his creativity
(11:42):
acknowledged by someone otherthan his family, yeah, and what
is a mom telling him how greathe is now?
Or, as you know, a photographyinstructor at school.
So get those kids involved, andit's a great way for them to
get involved in the community aswell and have them looking at
their community through adifferent lens.
That's a great idea.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
My stepson, when he was younger, submitted a photo
to the city of Tonka Bay fortheir newsletter and it was.
He had a couple in there.
I think it was around 12 at thetime 11, 12, and was getting
into photography and it justmade his year Absolutely so.
I love that.
So get your young people andget out there with your cameras.
(12:22):
Let's see what you got Exactly.
What about?
The other thing that I loveabout the magazine is the best
of I know I love it too.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
So let's talk about that because it's coming up in
January.
So every year, all of ourmagazines have a best of contest
where we put forth certaincategories, and on our websites
you can go online the month ofJanuary and vote for your
favorites restaurants, attorneys, favorite spots in the
(12:55):
community, for example, to takea senior picture.
Oh, wow, listen.
I have four kids all four ofthem senior pictures in and
around Excelsior, so we knowthat people are always looking
for a good spot.
Anyway, there's many, manycategories.
We've also added the best ofthe West Metro, so you can also
honor businesses that might notbe right in the Lepinitaka area,
(13:19):
but serve them.
Voting is live all of January.
Please support your localbusinesses in this way.
It means a lot to them.
You have no idea the feedbackthat we get from businesses when
they're nominated.
They're thrilled and it means alot to them because it's coming
from their customers.
In March, we will online putout the list of finalists and
(13:42):
then in July we will announcethe winners in our magazines and
online.
And I want to go back to thequestion that you asked about
how do we choose content and howdo we whittle that down.
So in that issue there's also apiece called Editors Picks,
(14:02):
where I go out and highlightthings or people that I'm really
interested in in the community.
I'm done, I have my articlewritten, because it's that easy
for me to find things in thecommunity that I just love, and
(14:23):
so I'm so excited for thatarticle to come out because it's
my opportunity to sharepersonally with the community
what I love.
Because I live close to here,so naturally my husband and I
drift over into this area forour entertainment, for the
trails, oh gosh.
(14:43):
And I'm a Pisces, so I need mywater.
I do, you know.
Sometimes I just need to hopout of the car and stand on the
shoreline and receive the water.
Yeah, like Minnetaka.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Yeah, exactly yeah.
So if you're a fire self in thewaters of like Minnetaka, oh
yes, I know, good enough for her.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Good enough for us, but you seriously go online in
January.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So in January.
People can nominate yes.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Or, yes, they can nominate and vote for people,
like we used to have businesseslisted and then people would
just vote for the businesses andwe thought, no, no, no, no, no,
this needs to be more organic.
Oh, man, and so you will go onand you will.
It's all right in.
Oh, wow, okay, yes, that isdifferent.
(15:32):
It is different.
So you and that started lastyear and we just felt that you
know, this is the Reader'sarticle and so they need to
really be the ones writing it.
So it's all right in.
And I want, and that brings tothe point too on the top of our
mass set it says our community,our magazine, yeah, my magazine,
(15:53):
or the writers or the othereditors.
It really is the communitymagazine, and I think our best
of issue really shines aspotlight on that.
And I know last year I put the,the followers and the readers
in the byline for the best ofbecause they wrote it, not me,
(16:13):
it was their decision of, notmine, and so I think that's
really fun.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
That's so great.
Are you going to have a podcastcategory?
Should I start lobbying thepublic?
Oh my gosh, I think we'reputting ideas in my head.
Yeah, because Tonka Talk rightnow is Lake Minnetonka's number
one podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It's not the only podcast, is it?
Speaker 1 (16:30):
But it's the best one .
Speaker 2 (16:32):
We might have to.
We might have to sneak that in.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
But I'm biased, maybe I like it.
I like the idea.
It is what we share, that it'sthe whole idea again with Tonka
Talk is sharing these wayspeople create community and
connection.
I'm absolutely floored by thedifferent ways that that is done
, but also what drives peoplewhere they came from and what
(16:55):
drives them to want to be ableto do that.
That is the part that I reallyget excited about.
And then seeing them going anddoing it and creating these
things and just expanding theirsphere of influence Right.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Exactly, and I think the magazine gives people a way
to do that in multiple waysthrough our community engagement
with the lens on LakeMinnetonka, with the best stuff,
but also with bringingthemselves forward as a possible
article idea.
And I think one of thequestions we're always asking
people is what inspires you, orwho inspires you, what motivated
(17:33):
you to be in this space?
And I think, if anything, if wecan say, covid brought forth
anything positive.
We are seeing so many differentways that people are
reinventing their lives andliving their lives in a way that
they want to live it, and thathas brought forth so many
inspiring stories on how peopleare reevaluating their
(17:55):
businesses, their careers, theirfamilies, their homes oh yes
and how they are creating newspaces in their home.
So it's very interesting, andso you've seen that In real
estate.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
That's probably one of my favorite things of the
last couple of years isrecognizing, working with both
buyers and sellers where on whatthey're looking for and how
that has changed and howamenities in a neighborhood have
taken on a whole nother vibe.
Before it was like, oh yeah, begreat, now it's an absolute
(18:32):
necessity.
Where's the nearest trail,where are the nearest parks,
where are the nearest beaches?
You want to know that.
But post pandemic enduring eventhe interior of a home, how you
you know how we kind of weredoing these big open spaces and
they still exist.
What I found to be veryinteresting is I had many
(18:54):
clients who were looking morefor basically a home where, if
they were stuck there again,that if you have two people
working from home or even more.
Some families have adultchildren or they're
multi-generational families, andthey were in this like more of
a larger space where they werelooking at.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
No, I need more separation, or taking an outdoor
living space, taking an outdoorspace and turning it into truly
an outdoor living space,because they need that extra
space even in the winter timeExactly and that's what we're
seeing a lot too in the articlesin our magazine is the
evolution of the outdoor spacefrom just being a deck that
(19:38):
could be used a few seasons ofthe year and maybe a fire pit.
We're seeing full on kitchens,full on entertaining spaces and
those flex spaces within thehome that can move from guest
room to office.
Maybe you push the Murphy thatback up into the wall or
whatever you need to do, butthose flex spaces are also
really important.
(19:59):
And I think also through thepandemic, what we saw is our
magazines became even morerelevant and even more important
to our readers because we couldsay to our readers look at what
you have in your town, look atthe quality entertainment, the
quality dining, the outdoorspaces that you can utilize.
(20:22):
Look at what your neighbors aredoing for each other, look what
they're doing to support, maybe, a struggling business.
It was beautiful to see and itwas a proud moment for all of us
as editors to be able tositting in what was a
frightening time for all of usand we could stay in a really
positive and enlightening lanefor our readers and showcase for
(20:47):
them.
This is what's good.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
How do you think when you were in Chicago and you
were doing hard news and nowyou're working, it's more
lifestyle.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
It's so much more positive in those ways and, as
an individual, has it affectedyou in different ways or were
you able to do hard news andstill kind of maintain that
separation?
But in dealing with what you do, it's so much, it's so positive
.
It's these positive stories,right.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
That's a really good question and I know there were a
couple of stories that we hadto cover.
There was a tragedy, for example, that we had to cover and I
remember my editor saying youneed to go up to the house of
the grieving parents and youneed to knock on the door and
get some quotes and that wasprobably the hardest thing I'd
(21:35):
ever had to do.
But then you flip it and I'mdoing these types of stories and
it's like well, are thesestories important?
You bet they are, because I'mtelling you, natalie, so many
times I've either gotten a phonecall or an email from a source
who has read their story in ourmagazine and they'll be moved by
(21:56):
it and very emotional, andbecause it's not often that we
have our own stories or parts ofour stories told and to see it
in print can be pretty impactfuland they'll say thank you for
telling me, telling my story.
And I always say to them but Ididn't, you told yours and Dory,
so you need to be proud ofyourself, because a good story
(22:18):
it writes itself.
It's the ones that are a littlebit different, all that the
writer really needs to showtheir chops Right.
It's the good stories thatreally write themselves and
we're really blessed in ourmagazine.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, to have that.
I completely agree.
And being and doing what I doon Talk2Talk with sharing
community and connection, oftenI'll send you, I'll be like you
have to talk to this person.
There is no shortage of thatand I think that that's.
We're so fortunate that way andoften it's.
I know I find sometimes thesestories and these people in the
(22:53):
places where you wouldn't thinkExactly.
But just because you, if youcan be curious about your
surroundings and curious aboutpeople, no matter where you are,
then you find out.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
And I don't know if you've had this experience too,
but sometimes I'll talk tosomeone and say that we're
interested in having them in themagazine and they'll say oh no,
you know, I, I'm notinteresting, I don't have
anything to share, and that's sonot true.
And I think when you can sitand really talk with someone and
really show interest in them,then they start to see it in
(23:29):
themselves and that's a reallybeautiful thing to do, and that
doesn't have to be with someonewho has a podcast or someone who
works for a magazine.
That's in life, yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Wouldn't you mean we honor them Exactly?
Let them know that you see them.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Absolutely, and I think too.
It's like, when you termsomething as local news,
everything is local news tosomebody.
What's happening over in Paris,that's local news to them.
Do you know what I mean?
And so I I don't think weshould ever discount or
discredit what you're doing orwhat I'm doing, because we're we
(24:05):
are, our magazines are hyperlocal focused, because it's
valuable and they can providelessons to anybody.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I feel that is so true and it's a way in whether
it's lens on Lake Minnetonka,there's this interaction with
the magazine too, where peoplein the community can send in
their photos to be able to dothe best of, and nominate and
vote for these businesses.
It's such a wonderful way to beable to support our local
community and sometimes I knowthere are, there are businesses
(24:37):
that I absolutely love and don'tget there as much as I'd want
to.
But how can I help them?
I can write a review, you canwrite a review.
You can submit them for thebest of.
I think that's something if weall did that.
We're all sometimes too quick tohave a negative experience and
want to jump online and go aheadand do a negative review,
(24:58):
whereas I was sharing this withyou.
If I have an experience usuallyespecially if it's local I try
to handle it offline becauseit's just like, hey, sometimes
things happen.
I have bad enough days too, butto be able to have that
communication and sort outwhatever it is.
But if I ever did need to do areview, that maybe it wasn't a
(25:18):
great experience.
I have a rule with myself.
I need to go and handle some ofmy backlog of doing reviews for
the businesses that I've hadreally good experiences at,
because it really does help thebusiness locally, and that's one
thing we all often hate to seea local business, especially one
that's been there for a while,go away.
But if we don't support them,that's what's going to happen
(25:42):
Now.
Sometimes people retire, whichwe've had happen, and you know
what.
We're not going to fault themfor that.
You can't be doing this forever, but it's such a great way to
be able to leave them a reviewor go ahead and nominate them
for the magazine.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
It's just such a great way for us to support
local Absolutely, and that'sreally the cornerstone of our
magazines is to support localbusiness and we try to showcase
businesses as much as we can inour magazines and business
owners and learn more aboutwho's in our neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
And what they're doing and how did they get there
and why are they doing it?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
And they're looking at it Just, you know, to put
some personality and someperspective into the local
business owner.
I think is really important.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Yeah, I agree with you completely.
I'm so glad you agreed to comeand do this because, like you
said, normally you're on theother side.
You know, this has been reallyfun.
That's why I thought, oh, Iwant to sit her down and ask her
some questions and find outmore, kind of pull the curtain
back a little bit and see howthe donuts are made, right, and
I think these beautifulpublications, but I think a lot
of people don't realize whatgoes into creating them or how
(26:52):
interactive they actually are.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
They really are, and I think that's something that we
pride ourselves on and we enjoyas editors connecting, and we
even our editorial advisoryboards are made up of community
members, because we like to hearabout what they're hearing and
you know they have differentconnections that we might not
have, and so those relationshipsare very important, and you
(27:17):
were an advisory board memberfor us for quite some time and
have continued to be a reallygreat friend to the magazine.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Yeah, don't let the fact that I'm not on the
advisory board stop me fromrunning my mouth.
Yeah.
I get some emails from her fromtime to time.
Exactly, I'm still advising,yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Right, I walked them in.
I love it.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
I think it's so excited, like you, finding
sometimes these meeting so manypeople in the community and
they're all great stories, butsome of them really just get you
at like, wow, I know Morepeople need to know about this.
It's so inspiring.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I know, I know we had an article run oh my gosh, I'm
going to check here October of2021.
And if you haven't read it, Ireally want you to go online and
read it.
The headland was Magma Opus andit was about Darine Ruff and
she made these incredible dollhouses.
That might not soundinteresting to you, but these
(28:15):
were next level.
The homes that she made wereshe paid attention to the
historical aspects of decor oflife at the time that are all
reflected in her mind, she wouldmake an imaginary backstory of
the people who lived in thesehomes.
(28:37):
It's something to read and it'sreally inspiring about a way to
use your creativity.
It's a beautiful story.
And then I don't know if youdid you find our article on
Chris Egert in October, ofcourse, yes, okay, that's
another really inspiring storyabout a local newscaster on KSTP
and he lost part of a leg dueto really surprising
(29:05):
circumstance repeated anklesprains and we tell his story
and you see this man on ourlocal TV news looking very put
together, very polished, veryprofessional, but he shares in
that article what it's like tolive in pain and how he is
(29:29):
trying to help others who are insimilar situations with limb
differences.
And again, another inspiringstory that we can all learn from
.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
In some way, I love it.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks, I appreciate you comingin.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Thank you.
The email's coming now.
Oh, for sure, for sure.
Like I said, you'd have to likeblock me.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
And I would be well on the trip We'll come on, I
think it would be so fun.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
I did like to have that curiosity and sometimes I
think I could go somewhere on abus and never leave the bus
station and just meet probablyincredible people with just
absolutely interesting stories.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Natalie and Renee in the wild.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
I think that's an idea.
I like it.
You know, I have a camber.
We could make it, I know.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
I got lots of magazines.
We'll have a lot of nightreading.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
I love it Well thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Thank you, Natalie.
I'll talk to you later.
Many of you probably get local publications in your
community Around.
Here we get Lake Minnetonkamagazine.
I'm Natalie Webster and this isTonka Talk, where we talk about
the ways people createcommunity and connection, and
these local publications are abig part of that in different
communities.
Today I get to talk to ReneeStewart.
Yes, I cannot wait to.
(00:22):
I actually had a couple funnythings I thought about and I was
like can I share that or not?
No, I'm making her worry, butshe's the managing creative
director of local, which is amagazine company which has
multiple publications around theTwin Cities area here in
Minnesota and she's the editorof Lake Minnetonka magazine,
(00:43):
which is probably my favorite.
I'm a big fan, big fan.
I am too.
I love the magazine.
Hugh, my first question for youyes, and again, she's the
editor for Lake Minnetonkamagazine.
If you're a local, I'm sure youget it, and if you're like me,
you read it.
Can't wait to get it, enjoy it.
You can also read it online.
How do you narrow down thestories of what to share?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, I tell you that is a happy dilemma that we have
every month when we're planningthe magazines.
Yeah, because it's often likeputting a puzzle together.
Yeah, because everything has tofit and make sense and often
the magazines have a theme forthe month that we try to
(01:30):
facilitate and, bottom line,natalie, we're looking at
content that's important to ourreaders.
It's not what our editors areinterested in, it's not what
maybe we'd like to see in themagazine.
We really try to think aboutour readership and what's
important to them.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Yeah, how did you get into this business?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, I'm a journalism major and I cut my
teeth on local news in Chicago.
Wow, is that where you're from?
No, I'm from Minnesota.
Oh, okay, but a boy took me toChicago.
Isn't that the way?
That's the way it goes, isn'tthat the way?
So I got a job at a family-runcommunity newspaper business and
(02:17):
they had newspapers throughoutthe suburban area, the west side
of Chicago, and I wrote hardnews.
Oh, wow, and that was mybackground too in school was
learning how to write andproduce hard news.
And every once in a while ourlifestyle editor would be like
(02:38):
hey, reporters, I need you towrite a lifestyle article?
Sure, and it was so out of mywheelhouse and I didn't like it,
but then I started to reallylove it.
And, long story short, we movedback to Minnesota and I really
missed writing and for me,writing is just part of my soul
(03:02):
and it just feels good to do it.
So I reached out to the magazinecompany, got hired as a
freelancer.
Three months later they said wewant you on board as a staff
writer.
A year later they asked me tobe an editor.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
So I have edited what was Southwest Metro Magazine,
Maple Grove Magazine, Plymouth,and then Lake Minnetonka became
available and I quickly raisedmy hand and I said, consider me.
And so I started editing thatas well.
And then the managing creativedirector position revealed
itself and I said yes to that,with the caveat that I was able
(03:38):
to keep Lake Minnetonka Magazinebecause I love it.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, it's a good one .
What would you say if somebodywanted to get into kind of like
you did with freelance writing,being that local cover so many
different magazines?
Do you have any advice forsomeone who wanted to start kind
of like how you did Well, no,not exactly because you're
trained in journalism, but witha lifestyle magazine or has an
(04:05):
interest in it?
Is there a way for people toreach out?
I was curious about that.
If you do accept other, ifsomebody says, hey, I have an
idea about this, but I'm also awriter.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Sure, well, there's several ways that people can get
involved.
We do have an internshipprogram, so we have interns
working with us.
They come in three times a year.
There's a rotation, and so wereally dovetail the program into
what they're interested in.
Some of them are moreinterested in believe it or not,
(04:38):
the fact checking part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Oh, that sounds so boring.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I know, but we need them and we love them.
Others are really interested indeveloping their writing skills
, dovetail whatever they need.
We try to create thatexperience for them.
We also have.
If anyone is interested inbeing a writer, you don't have
to have a journalism degree, ofcourse.
It's just that you need to becurious.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
And you need to know where to put a comma.
We love our commas, but justshoot me an email and we can
talk, because a lot of ourcurrent writers are people who
have reached out to us.
We also have, in the beginningof our magazine, you'll notice
our noteworthy section, and thatis filled with local
(05:29):
contributors.
True, you'll either have anexpertise in gardening or like
to review books.
I'm currently looking forsomeone who likes to listen to
podcasts and wants to do podcastreviews for me on occasion.
So if you have a particularinterest and would like to share
(05:51):
it with the community, reachout to us.
We're always looking for that.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I'll share your contact information in the show
notes Perfect, so you can goahead and reach out.
And again, if you love podcasts, I'd love that you share it
with us.
I love to do it, but I'm biased.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I think you have enough on your point now, Leigh.
You cannot do one more thing.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Exactly.
That's kind of part of my issue.
I get so interested in so manydifferent things going on and so
many different people.
That's why I was curious howyou narrow these things down,
because I guess we're fortunateto live in a community where
there's a lot of people doing alot of cool things.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Absolutely.
You know.
That brings to mind somethingthat I learned as a young
reporter, and sometimes whenyou're first new in the business
, you have an attitude of whatconstitutes news or what is
interesting.
And what I learned is thateverybody has a story to tell
and everybody's interesting.
(06:48):
Yes, right, yes.
And so if you approach our jobin that way and have a level of
respect for everybody andeverybody's story, they just
start flowing in.
It's easy to identify somethingthat might be of interest.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
I agree completely.
I'll be in a doctor's officewaiting for a blood draw.
Sometimes you're on the benchand you're like one person to
head to you and you're waiting.
And I've gotten toconversations with people Right,
Absolutely fascinated.
Absolutely All ages, alldifferent backgrounds.
When you really talk to peopleand just ask a couple of key
questions or just have thatcuriosity.
(07:29):
I think that was it.
You hit the nail on the headAbsolutely.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And that's something that I've discovered too, as the
creative director is part of myjob is helping the editors
throughout the Metro discoverstory ideas.
So, for example, I'll go to.
I was out at the Arboretum atan art show and I talked to
almost every person there whowas displaying, asking them
(07:57):
their story where are you from?
And just being able to do thatand maybe some of the content
doesn't fit our magazine, butjust learning about people and
what drives them, what motivatesthem, is so interesting and can
be really inspiring.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Oh yeah, we totally share that we should go on like
a trip or something together,because I think it's not that
often, honestly.
I mean, I know people areinterested in people, but I feel
like you and I have it at itsnext level.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I think so.
Well, I told you when I walkedin today that I was nervous,
because usually I'm the onehandling the questions and I
have every writer's securityblanket I'm holding onto my pen.
I don't need it for anything,but it just makes me feel more
comfortable to have a writinginstrument in my head.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well, and it's a tool .
It's knowing how to use yourtools.
That's right.
And Lake Minnetonka Magazineand other publications that
local does and you tell me, dothey do the same things?
At Lake Minnetonka Magazine,one of the things I really love
about it is the lens on LakeMinnetonka where you encourage
local photographers, amateurphotographers, pros can submit
(09:07):
as well, absolutely, and theysubmit photos from around Lake
Minnetonka in these differentcategories and you can win an
award, award titles, right.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So every month of July and August, on our website
you can submit photos from oneof the five categories and then
we take a look at those and wedo first, second, third,
honorable mention and we, everymonth you'll see at the back of
our magazine, last Clients, wewill have one of the photos
running and then followers canalso vote on their favorite.
(09:40):
So we, your favorite is alsocategory, but I would love to
see more submissions.
You know who I'd really like tosee submitting younger people.
I'd be really interested to seetheir perspective of our
community and what they findinteresting, what they find
beautiful.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So it's open to all ages, yeah, that's a really good
point and we'll share a link inthe show description.
So it's definitely you,millennials and Gen Z get out
there and find what interestsyou in the community and the
categories those are sharedonline.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So those are online, Yep, those are shared online and
even you know high school gradeschool kids, you know, we know,
you know how to use a camera onyour phone.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
That's right, that's a really cool.
Different note too, right, Ishave you seen over the years
kind of an increase in differenttypes of photos?
Do most people do you know ifthey submit using, like I took
this on my phone, or is like Iused my Canon?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
The vast majority, I would say, are done on an iPhone
.
Wow, and it's surprising.
And we added abstract as acategory.
Oh, wow, because of the typesof photos that people are able
to do just with their iPhone.
Yeah, are really interestingand we wanted to honor that
perspective.
So we added abstract into thecompetition.
(10:58):
But I will have to say that,especially for younger people,
having their creativityacknowledged in local news or
local magazine that's in ours,you never know what impact
that's going to have.
And I'm going to tell you apersonal story.
One of my sons, back in the day, even before long before I
(11:18):
started working for the company,I did a photograph to the
magazine and one and had his.
It was a photo of a Hosta and Istill have it a variegated
Hosta, and he captured theveining and the different colors
.
It was just beautiful.
And what that did for that kidto have his creativity
(11:42):
acknowledged by someone otherthan his family, yeah, and what
is a mom telling him how greathe is now?
Or, as you know, a photographyinstructor at school.
So get those kids involved, andit's a great way for them to
get involved in the community aswell and have them looking at
their community through adifferent lens.
That's a great idea.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
My stepson, when he was younger, submitted a photo
to the city of Tonka Bay fortheir newsletter and it was.
He had a couple in there.
I think it was around 12 at thetime 11, 12, and was getting
into photography and it justmade his year Absolutely so.
I love that.
So get your young people andget out there with your cameras.
(12:22):
Let's see what you got Exactly.
What about?
The other thing that I loveabout the magazine is the best
of I know I love it too.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
So let's talk about that because it's coming up in
January.
So every year, all of ourmagazines have a best of contest
where we put forth certaincategories, and on our websites
you can go online the month ofJanuary and vote for your
favorites restaurants, attorneys, favorite spots in the
(12:55):
community, for example, to takea senior picture.
Oh, wow, listen.
I have four kids all four ofthem senior pictures in and
around Excelsior, so we knowthat people are always looking
for a good spot.
Anyway, there's many, manycategories.
We've also added the best ofthe West Metro, so you can also
honor businesses that might notbe right in the Lepinitaka area,
(13:19):
but serve them.
Voting is live all of January.
Please support your localbusinesses in this way.
It means a lot to them.
You have no idea the feedbackthat we get from businesses when
they're nominated.
They're thrilled and it means alot to them because it's coming
from their customers.
In March, we will online putout the list of finalists and
(13:42):
then in July we will announcethe winners in our magazines and
online.
And I want to go back to thequestion that you asked about
how do we choose content and howdo we whittle that down.
So in that issue there's also apiece called Editors Picks,
(14:02):
where I go out and highlightthings or people that I'm really
interested in in the community.
I'm done, I have my articlewritten, because it's that easy
for me to find things in thecommunity that I just love, and
(14:23):
so I'm so excited for thatarticle to come out because it's
my opportunity to sharepersonally with the community
what I love.
Because I live close to here,so naturally my husband and I
drift over into this area forour entertainment, for the
trails, oh gosh.
(14:43):
And I'm a Pisces, so I need mywater.
I do, you know.
Sometimes I just need to hopout of the car and stand on the
shoreline and receive the water.
Yeah, like Minnetaka.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Yeah, exactly yeah.
So if you're a fire self in thewaters of like Minnetaka, oh
yes, I know, good enough for her.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Good enough for us, but you seriously go online in
January.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So in January.
People can nominate yes.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Or, yes, they can nominate and vote for people,
like we used to have businesseslisted and then people would
just vote for the businesses andwe thought, no, no, no, no, no,
this needs to be more organic.
Oh, man, and so you will go onand you will.
It's all right in.
Oh, wow, okay, yes, that isdifferent.
(15:32):
It is different.
So you and that started lastyear and we just felt that you
know, this is the Reader'sarticle and so they need to
really be the ones writing it.
So it's all right in.
And I want, and that brings tothe point too on the top of our
mass set it says our community,our magazine, yeah, my magazine,
(15:53):
or the writers or the othereditors.
It really is the communitymagazine, and I think our best
of issue really shines aspotlight on that.
And I know last year I put the,the followers and the readers
in the byline for the best ofbecause they wrote it, not me,
(16:13):
it was their decision of, notmine, and so I think that's
really fun.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
That's so great.
Are you going to have a podcastcategory?
Should I start lobbying thepublic?
Oh my gosh, I think we'reputting ideas in my head.
Yeah, because Tonka Talk rightnow is Lake Minnetonka's number
one podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It's not the only podcast, is it?
Speaker 1 (16:30):
But it's the best one .
Speaker 2 (16:32):
We might have to.
We might have to sneak that in.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
But I'm biased, maybe I like it.
I like the idea.
It is what we share, that it'sthe whole idea again with Tonka
Talk is sharing these wayspeople create community and
connection.
I'm absolutely floored by thedifferent ways that that is done
, but also what drives peoplewhere they came from and what
(16:55):
drives them to want to be ableto do that.
That is the part that I reallyget excited about.
And then seeing them going anddoing it and creating these
things and just expanding theirsphere of influence Right.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Exactly, and I think the magazine gives people a way
to do that in multiple waysthrough our community engagement
with the lens on LakeMinnetonka, with the best stuff,
but also with bringingthemselves forward as a possible
article idea.
And I think one of thequestions we're always asking
people is what inspires you, orwho inspires you, what motivated
(17:33):
you to be in this space?
And I think, if anything, if wecan say, covid brought forth
anything positive.
We are seeing so many differentways that people are
reinventing their lives andliving their lives in a way that
they want to live it, and thathas brought forth so many
inspiring stories on how peopleare reevaluating their
(17:55):
businesses, their careers, theirfamilies, their homes oh yes
and how they are creating newspaces in their home.
So it's very interesting, andso you've seen that In real
estate.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
That's probably one of my favorite things of the
last couple of years isrecognizing, working with both
buyers and sellers where on whatthey're looking for and how
that has changed and howamenities in a neighborhood have
taken on a whole nother vibe.
Before it was like, oh yeah, begreat, now it's an absolute
(18:32):
necessity.
Where's the nearest trail,where are the nearest parks,
where are the nearest beaches?
You want to know that.
But post pandemic enduring eventhe interior of a home, how you
you know how we kind of weredoing these big open spaces and
they still exist.
What I found to be veryinteresting is I had many
(18:54):
clients who were looking morefor basically a home where, if
they were stuck there again,that if you have two people
working from home or even more.
Some families have adultchildren or they're
multi-generational families, andthey were in this like more of
a larger space where they werelooking at.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
No, I need more separation, or taking an outdoor
living space, taking an outdoorspace and turning it into truly
an outdoor living space,because they need that extra
space even in the winter timeExactly and that's what we're
seeing a lot too in the articlesin our magazine is the
evolution of the outdoor spacefrom just being a deck that
(19:38):
could be used a few seasons ofthe year and maybe a fire pit.
We're seeing full on kitchens,full on entertaining spaces and
those flex spaces within thehome that can move from guest
room to office.
Maybe you push the Murphy thatback up into the wall or
whatever you need to do, butthose flex spaces are also
really important.
(19:59):
And I think also through thepandemic, what we saw is our
magazines became even morerelevant and even more important
to our readers because we couldsay to our readers look at what
you have in your town, look atthe quality entertainment, the
quality dining, the outdoorspaces that you can utilize.
(20:22):
Look at what your neighbors aredoing for each other, look what
they're doing to support, maybe, a struggling business.
It was beautiful to see and itwas a proud moment for all of us
as editors to be able tositting in what was a
frightening time for all of usand we could stay in a really
positive and enlightening lanefor our readers and showcase for
(20:47):
them.
This is what's good.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
How do you think when you were in Chicago and you
were doing hard news and nowyou're working, it's more
lifestyle.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
It's so much more positive in those ways and, as
an individual, has it affectedyou in different ways or were
you able to do hard news andstill kind of maintain that
separation?
But in dealing with what you do, it's so much, it's so positive
.
It's these positive stories,right.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
That's a really good question and I know there were a
couple of stories that we hadto cover.
There was a tragedy, for example, that we had to cover and I
remember my editor saying youneed to go up to the house of
the grieving parents and youneed to knock on the door and
get some quotes and that wasprobably the hardest thing I'd
(21:35):
ever had to do.
But then you flip it and I'mdoing these types of stories and
it's like well, are thesestories important?
You bet they are, because I'mtelling you, natalie, so many
times I've either gotten a phonecall or an email from a source
who has read their story in ourmagazine and they'll be moved by
(21:56):
it and very emotional, andbecause it's not often that we
have our own stories or parts ofour stories told and to see it
in print can be pretty impactfuland they'll say thank you for
telling me, telling my story.
And I always say to them but Ididn't, you told yours and Dory,
so you need to be proud ofyourself, because a good story
(22:18):
it writes itself.
It's the ones that are a littlebit different, all that the
writer really needs to showtheir chops Right.
It's the good stories thatreally write themselves and
we're really blessed in ourmagazine.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, to have that.
I completely agree.
And being and doing what I doon Talk2Talk with sharing
community and connection, oftenI'll send you, I'll be like you
have to talk to this person.
There is no shortage of thatand I think that that's.
We're so fortunate that way andoften it's.
I know I find sometimes thesestories and these people in the
(22:53):
places where you wouldn't thinkExactly.
But just because you, if youcan be curious about your
surroundings and curious aboutpeople, no matter where you are,
then you find out.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
And I don't know if you've had this experience too,
but sometimes I'll talk tosomeone and say that we're
interested in having them in themagazine and they'll say oh no,
you know, I, I'm notinteresting, I don't have
anything to share, and that's sonot true.
And I think when you can sitand really talk with someone and
really show interest in them,then they start to see it in
(23:29):
themselves and that's a reallybeautiful thing to do, and that
doesn't have to be with someonewho has a podcast or someone who
works for a magazine.
That's in life, yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Wouldn't you mean we honor them Exactly?
Let them know that you see them.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Absolutely, and I think too.
It's like, when you termsomething as local news,
everything is local news tosomebody.
What's happening over in Paris,that's local news to them.
Do you know what I mean?
And so I I don't think weshould ever discount or
discredit what you're doing orwhat I'm doing, because we're we
(24:05):
are, our magazines are hyperlocal focused, because it's
valuable and they can providelessons to anybody.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I feel that is so true and it's a way in whether
it's lens on Lake Minnetonka,there's this interaction with
the magazine too, where peoplein the community can send in
their photos to be able to dothe best of, and nominate and
vote for these businesses.
It's such a wonderful way to beable to support our local
community and sometimes I knowthere are, there are businesses
(24:37):
that I absolutely love and don'tget there as much as I'd want
to.
But how can I help them?
I can write a review, you canwrite a review.
You can submit them for thebest of.
I think that's something if weall did that.
We're all sometimes too quick tohave a negative experience and
want to jump online and go aheadand do a negative review,
(24:58):
whereas I was sharing this withyou.
If I have an experience usuallyespecially if it's local I try
to handle it offline becauseit's just like, hey, sometimes
things happen.
I have bad enough days too, butto be able to have that
communication and sort outwhatever it is.
But if I ever did need to do areview, that maybe it wasn't a
(25:18):
great experience.
I have a rule with myself.
I need to go and handle some ofmy backlog of doing reviews for
the businesses that I've hadreally good experiences at,
because it really does help thebusiness locally, and that's one
thing we all often hate to seea local business, especially one
that's been there for a while,go away.
But if we don't support them,that's what's going to happen
(25:42):
Now.
Sometimes people retire, whichwe've had happen, and you know
what.
We're not going to fault themfor that.
You can't be doing this forever, but it's such a great way to
be able to leave them a reviewor go ahead and nominate them
for the magazine.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
It's just such a great way for us to support
local Absolutely, and that'sreally the cornerstone of our
magazines is to support localbusiness and we try to showcase
businesses as much as we can inour magazines and business
owners and learn more aboutwho's in our neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
And what they're doing and how did they get there
and why are they doing it?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
And they're looking at it Just, you know, to put
some personality and someperspective into the local
business owner.
I think is really important.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Yeah, I agree with you completely.
I'm so glad you agreed to comeand do this because, like you
said, normally you're on theother side.
You know, this has been reallyfun.
That's why I thought, oh, Iwant to sit her down and ask her
some questions and find outmore, kind of pull the curtain
back a little bit and see howthe donuts are made, right, and
I think these beautifulpublications, but I think a lot
of people don't realize whatgoes into creating them or how
(26:52):
interactive they actually are.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
They really are, and I think that's something that we
pride ourselves on and we enjoyas editors connecting, and we
even our editorial advisoryboards are made up of community
members, because we like to hearabout what they're hearing and
you know they have differentconnections that we might not
have, and so those relationshipsare very important, and you
(27:17):
were an advisory board memberfor us for quite some time and
have continued to be a reallygreat friend to the magazine.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Yeah, don't let the fact that I'm not on the
advisory board stop me fromrunning my mouth.
Yeah.
I get some emails from her fromtime to time.
Exactly, I'm still advising,yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Right, I walked them in.
I love it.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
I think it's so excited, like you, finding
sometimes these meeting so manypeople in the community and
they're all great stories, butsome of them really just get you
at like, wow, I know Morepeople need to know about this.
It's so inspiring.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I know, I know we had an article run oh my gosh, I'm
going to check here October of2021.
And if you haven't read it, Ireally want you to go online and
read it.
The headland was Magma Opus andit was about Darine Ruff and
she made these incredible dollhouses.
That might not soundinteresting to you, but these
(28:15):
were next level.
The homes that she made wereshe paid attention to the
historical aspects of decor oflife at the time that are all
reflected in her mind, she wouldmake an imaginary backstory of
the people who lived in thesehomes.
(28:37):
It's something to read and it'sreally inspiring about a way to
use your creativity.
It's a beautiful story.
And then I don't know if youdid you find our article on
Chris Egert in October, ofcourse, yes, okay, that's
another really inspiring storyabout a local newscaster on KSTP
and he lost part of a leg dueto really surprising
(29:05):
circumstance repeated anklesprains and we tell his story
and you see this man on ourlocal TV news looking very put
together, very polished, veryprofessional, but he shares in
that article what it's like tolive in pain and how he is
(29:29):
trying to help others who are insimilar situations with limb
differences.
And again, another inspiringstory that we can all learn from
.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
In some way, I love it.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks, I appreciate you comingin.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Thank you.
The email's coming now.
Oh, for sure, for sure.
Like I said, you'd have to likeblock me.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
And I would be well on the trip We'll come on, I
think it would be so fun.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
I did like to have that curiosity and sometimes I
think I could go somewhere on abus and never leave the bus
station and just meet probablyincredible people with just
absolutely interesting stories.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Natalie and Renee in the wild.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
I think that's an idea.
I like it.
You know, I have a camber.
We could make it, I know.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
I got lots of magazines.
We'll have a lot of nightreading.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
I love it Well thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Thank you, Natalie.
I'll talk to you later.
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