Today we welcome the fabulous Missy Miller to the show! Give it up to this high energy and busy special needs mama who is making a difference! Missy is not only a Momager of her beautiful and inspiring pageant daughter Brenda, but also the Assistant Director Monona Parks & Recreation & owner of Down Right Exposure, LLC! Missy shares with us many wonderful aspects of her life and we couldn't be more proud!
What's in store!
What's in store!
- Get ready to learn all about our beautiful parks that we have right here iin beautiful Monona, Wisconsin
- How Missy is known as a "Jack of all trades"
- Why she started "Down Right Exposure LLC" and the beautiful connection with her daughter
- How can we as mamas balance life?
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, Matt Town, I'm super excited to have a lady
boss bag in studio. I mean I was actually just
speaking with her. It's probably been close to well, when
was COVID twenty twenty twenty twenty one, twenty twenty one,
like this is when hell broke out, right, and so
we were just chatting about COVID and I'm really really
(00:20):
ecstatic to have it Missy Miller back in studio with
me because girl being a mom, the struggle was real,
and you are pregnant during that time.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
It's gonna say, actually, this is my first time in
the studio because last time it was COVID and we
had our phone interview.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yes, I was like, how am I going to help
out these local businesses?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm like, no one can go anywhere I know. So
so great, we're on the radio. But I'm so excited
to be here in studio and not pregnant this time.
I love it.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I love it, and you're with me joining iHeart. So
I'm super stoked.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Okay, so ladies and Jens, listen to how fabulous this
mama is.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
She is a mamajer. Okay, so move aside.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Christ Janner, all right, move side, Missy, you are also
the assistant director, which I love, of Monona Parks and
Recreation and owner of Downright Exposure LLC.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Can I just say hashtag lady boss?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Why? Thank you? Christa?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Absolutely absolutely, So we have a lot to talk about.
I mean, you are a very very busy woman, so
let's dive into this.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Oh and by the way, can I just say, Missy
and I are die hard roller skating fans, so if
anyone wants to, like, I don't know, open up one soon,
we'd be.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Down for that definitely. I mean, who doesn't love a
good nineties roller ring?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I know that was the best bag of the too.
All right, so, Missy, what role do you think community
neighborhood programs and especially and I love this, green spaces
play in building stronger families in neighborhoods. This is all
you girls, So tell me and educate me all about this.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well. As you know, I'm the assistant director of Monona
Parks and rec So shout out to my MPR people
and family big hearts over here neighborhood parks, green spaces
that they are literally the heartbeat of the community. You
can run programs, you can run spaces, you can have
passive recreational time and ability. Parks are the one thing
(02:15):
that grows with you as you grow. So think you
are that toddler on the playground, You are that kid
playing youth sports in a park, your parent watching your
grandparent taking a walk. Park in green spaces means so
much to families and communities. It literally brings us together,
(02:36):
especially now in a time that we're so tech based
and so computer focused. And how I'm texting you to
say hi, Instead invite your friends meet up at a park,
get outside, enjoy, spend thirty minutes a minute free tech
free time, and enjoy nature with your friends. It is
(02:56):
probably the one thing that should last the test of time,
going outside and having a great time enjoying nature.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
That is so true because you know, as parents, that's
one thing I know with my daughter, she's you know,
when she's fifteen, I'm like, geeah, it's time to get
off your phone. But our kids are like stuck, like
you said, so getting them outside, Like when we grew up,
that's all we did. I mean, we stayed outside playing
until like until mom yelled out, it's.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Time for dinner, right, oh yeah, get in. We came
in when the like the street lights went out, you know. Yeah,
so we need to bring back more that ninety summer atmosphere.
Get outside, play with your kids, play with your friends,
take walks with your neighbors, get to know the people
you live around, and use that community park as your
(03:42):
source of meeting space. It is so fantastic to have
such wonderful resources around Dane County Andona. There's so many
places to get outside and enjoy so thirty minutes a
day people, you can do it. Get outside and I know,
like for my age now, because I'm hitting almost fifty,
I'm like, I just want to.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Go for a beautiful walk with my boyfriend.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Exactly, walk outside. There's so many beautiful parks.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, so tell me a little bit more about that
in depth, like how many parks are you like maintaining
with your crew?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so the city of Monona, we have twenty three parks.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Oh yes, yeah, good for you, two beaches.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Three boat launches, an outdoor pool, and a refrigerated ice
skating rink called the Lake Ridge Bank River Rink. So
we literally use the tagline four seasons of Fun because
we hit it on all aspects. So there is something
for everybody and everyone to do with Monona Parks and recreation.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Wow, we are very blessed and I mean, educate me
more on this in all of us. You know, it's
an honor to be able to go to a park
for free or the opportunity just to find one.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I mean, do you.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Need help in that from our community When it comes
to keeping like such great events like this going.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Oh, community support is needed one hundred percent, from participation
to volunteer to monetary donations. We have so many different
aspects of ways community members can be involved with parks,
within parks and recreation and all aspects. We do so
much and we really need the people support from showing
(05:19):
up to helping out and just really being part of.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
A great thing. Absolutely, how do we do that? Do
we just reach out to you?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well, you can find all our information on Mymanona dot com,
which houses all of our special events and rerec programs.
It even has all of our wonderful volunteer opportunities. Our
biggest event of our season is coming up October eleventh,
which is our Monona Fall Festival. Yay, it is fantastic.
We bring a little bit of farm into the city
(05:49):
of Monona. We got a petting zoo and face painting
and all sorts of just fun fall activities. So if
you're free October eleventh, it's in Winnaqua Park from ten
am to three pm. We also have an eight K,
five K or two k race that morning, so if
you're up here, a little extra exercise before indulging in
(06:11):
all that fun. Family. Yes, fall family fun. We definitely
are the place to be.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Oh my gosh, well, I'll be on my knee scooter,
but I'll definitely be helping out with cheering for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
We do have a newly paved walking path on the
north side of Winnaco Park, perfect for knee scootering, bank
walking and all abilities. It's a great, fantastic addition to
our part.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
I love that you said that, because do not take
for granted when it comes to having smooth pavement. I
have fallen many times on this knee scooter from rocks,
you know, splits in the sidewalk, So thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
All accessible all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I love love, love, love love all right, so let's
get into this. You are well and I love this.
You have been titled the jack of all trades, the
master of fun.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
How can I get a title like that? Well, Christa,
the title kind of found me. I have to be honest.
I have a very interesting background in how it all started.
My entire life has been nothing but parking rec Wow.
I started out back in the day, almost twenty years
ago as a lifeguard at our community pool back in
(07:20):
run Lake, Illinois, and I have never left the pool since.
I actually started out wanting to go into the special
education field when I was in college. Where'd you go
to College Western Illinois University? Best wreck management program in
the country for you? Which I later found out as
I sat in my first wreck management class after realizing
(07:43):
that special education was not necessarily the career path that
I wanted to go into full time. And I sat
in that first wreck management class based off of a
recommendation from a former boss, and they said, Missy, when
you sit in that class, you will know that that's
where you're.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Supposed to be. Yes, thank you for saying that, because
that's very true.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
And I want more of our youth to know that
you'll know, because you know, they get so overwhelmed, like,
how am I gonna know?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
You're gonna know?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
You're gonna know? I sat in that class, I had
the prior knowledge. I knew the recreation field was where
I wanted to be, so pile that together with a
coaching degree and a hospitality management degree, I can basically
run a concession standard program special events, birthday parties, literally
(08:32):
master of fun.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Okay, great, So I'm gonna be calling you because I
know Gia's sixteenth birthday is coming up.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I do not know.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I have no creativity in this body. Alls I know
is how to talk, but I don't know how to
do those big balloons everybody does.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Like I'm not that mom, So I wouldn't call myself artistic,
but creative is definitely the way to be. And it's
so fantastic to just put on all these wonderful events,
and I love helping people just create the best memory.
We always have a saying like we are part of
so many people's first experience, their first swimming lesson, maybe
(09:06):
their first soccer game, their first family outing at the park,
a first time down a slide. We are part of
so many firsts that it just fills your like full
cup of heart, like up to the top brim. Because
we just love being part of the memory making community
and That's really what we do is we help provide
(09:27):
these awesome memories that people take on for years to come.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I love that, and family is everything we need to
you know, at least spend that quality time with our
kiddles as long as we can spend it outside too.
And spend it outside, I know, I'm like, I'm a
summer girl. I'm like, I love the heat, so you know,
I know that winter is coming.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
So I just have to accept that. I'm a right head.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I have very thin skin and I'm always cold. I
take three baths a day. But I will get out there.
I know I will get my ice skates on.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Good Lake Ridge Bank River is the place to be.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I love that, all right, So miss A, let's go
into now how you started at down Right Exposure LLC. Hence, Ladies,
we're talking to a lady boss. Can you tell us
more about your mission behind that and what it is.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Well, as I mentioned earlier, I started out my career
path going down that special education field. Well, the special
education teacher didn't work out because it actually turns out
that I was a special a special aed mom My
lovely beautiful stepdaughter Brenda, who is amazing in so many
(10:35):
different ways. Is probably the biggest inspiration behind the Downright
Exposure LLC business that we have. This business was basically
about taking the beauty within individuals that are typically not seen,
not in the spotlight, not having a full front faced,
(10:59):
you know, place in the spotlight, and putting those individuals
into the spotlight. My stepdaughter, Brenda Amazing Models, does pageants,
She's done a couple background gigs.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
She's absolutely stunning.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So it all kind of worked out that here together
with giving her an opportunity for employment, which is very
hard to come by for individuals with intellectual disabilities. So
why not get two birds one stone. We started a business,
we gave some unemployment, and now we're shining the light
and all these beautiful individuals that are out there in
(11:34):
the world. So we're just kind of shining our mission,
shining our light and putting that Downright Exposure label on
amazing people out there.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
What a phenomenal young lady.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Oh yeah, we do a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I mean, honestly, my mom too was I know I
was talking to you off air, but my mom was
also a special education teacher, so I loved it. You know,
it's just so great and that you know, it's a
great thing to show you you can do anything, anything,
you can become anything you want.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
It's also like interesting to see how the world plays out,
Like how I had a career paths started, but then
the world had something bigger, better. I wasn't just supposed
to be a special ed teacher, you know, special at
mom and really putting that that effort into advocating and
pushing out a story so everybody can see. We're getting
(12:27):
it out all over the place.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Yeah, it's it's great. It's great, and I look forward.
So how old is she?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Seventeen? Almost eighteen?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Really?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Yeah, what is her plans? We're going to see where
the modeling and pageant world takes off. She's done a few,
she's placed fairly well in a couple of competitions, and
we're just gonna kind of see where where the world
takes us in modeling and photography. So anyone interested in
getting their picture taken downright exposure LLC.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Wonderful.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
We take pictures and we promote other people's pictures.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
I love that well, and this is a This is
one of the scariest thing that people.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Find it difficult to do, is.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Like what I'm saying is that getting up in front
of a huge audience one of the scariest things to do.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Oh yeah, and to perform. I am not a stage person.
That's why I'm behind the closet scenes here. But again,
just no thank you. Yeah yeah, but it is true.
So I would love to meet her. I would love
to have her on the show someday one day. Let's
make it happen.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
I got you, girl, all right, So let's see.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
So you've also been involved in creating really fun events
that we talked to.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
This has just always been a passion of yours.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Always been a passion just something, creating events, creating content, marketing,
getting people out, hearing the word having one big party.
I especially in the time right now where that phone
isolation is so prominent and there are people that are
only connecting via these screen type modules. Like getting a
(14:03):
community together, whether it be a fall festival or an
ice skating event or just a regular old family reunion
in the park, getting that face to face connection. There
are dopamine levels in your brain that just start going
and going when you start seeing other people smiling and
having a great time and being together. And I love
(14:24):
being the person that provides.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
That yes, absolutely, you know and to your testament on that.
One of the most enjoyable things about my job is
not necessarily being on air and entertaining I love that,
but that I'm able to use my platform to help
out so many like nonprofits and to get people's like
dreams to be seen and.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Heard exactly like getting the word out, getting other people
in the spotlight, building people up. That's the way it
should be.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
You know, there's moms listening right now, and dads too.
I mean, the hardest job and when we talk about
it all the time, but you know, you had a dream,
you had a vision of what you wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Were you ever scared to be like, ah, I can
I take this leap? Is there any advice? Is what
I'm saying?
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Would you give to others that are like, you know
what I want to do something? I want to do,
something that benefits our community.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
For me, I'm a fairly confident person and if I
put my mind and my heart into something, we're all
in all the time one hundred percent. I know not
everybody operates and works like that. So if you are
nervous or if you are afraid, do your research, check
out what you should be knowing what your competition is.
(15:37):
But just jump in start somewhere. If you don't start today,
you are never going to start. You're never going to
be a boss babe. And let's be honest, we all
want to be boss babes, don't we. Christas, I absolutely
love that.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
There's nothing that brings me more joy is women impowerment.
I love meeting other fabulous lady bosses. I love meeting
young women, and especially in my industry, I'm always like
yes to to meet them and be like, this is
our this is going to be our future.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I'm going to do one last plug. Okay, yeah, for
Monona parkin Reck. Yes, because we are by far the
single largest employer of people between the ages of fourteen
and twenty one in the city of Monona. We employ
two hundred plus employees each season between those ages. We
(16:26):
are literally shaping the future of the community, not only
through the programs and events we do, but through the
people we are hiring, which is so important to just
build up the youth in the community that we have,
and so to employee so many wonderful people is amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
What would you say, are some some things that you
look for. I remember you and I when you know
this past summer looking for jobs. She was employed last year,
but and then she got back with her her company.
But we were looking at maybe having her start working
at like a greenery because she loves plants so much.
And so we got in a little too late. They
were already next season. Right next season, they said, next season.
(17:10):
So is there any specific like qualities or characteristics that
you look in hiring, maybe like a you, a young
youth or or someone my age.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, we do hire people of all ages and abilities,
so that is definitely covered. But first you got to
have some passion, passionate about what to do, whether it's
teaching a sport class. We have positions that include gardening
and landscape management. We have positions that are swim instructors, lifeguards,
summer camp and after school instructors. You have to have
(17:42):
a passion on something, whether it's you know, any of those,
just a passion. And then the ability to communicate. I
mentioned before that tech screen world. We do a lot
of screen to screen, a lot of text to text
type communication. But if you can talk, communicate, hold eye contact,
have a conversation that is anything. You have to have
(18:05):
the ability to communicate. It's very very true.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Yeah, you know, And and that's something that I really
admire about my daughter Gia. She is not scared to
get out there and get it in front of people.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
And you know, she's.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
She's already, she already knows what she wants. She wants
to be a pediatric nurse. And so that's been her
passion for like three years.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I'm like, who thinks that that, like at such a
young age, But again, that's what she aspires to be.
And I said, you know what, and this is something
always instilled in her being a mom.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I said, Gia, all you have to do is work hard.
But listen, nothing's going to be given to you. So
I always make sure she understands that because nothing was
given to me to get to where I am today.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
You know, you gotta work. You gotta work your butt
off and be passionate.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Definitely have to work your butt off. And one advice
for Gia is start getting experience with kids already. The
more yeah, yeah, the more apparent she has working with
those kids at an earlier age, the better that's going
to look on that pediatric dental or.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Or pediatric Nursey pediatric nurse is going to do.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
So any experience with kids already, from even just a
little babysitting she might be doing, you know, here and there,
to working within a summer camp or anything kid related
will already put her at a top near like tier.
I love that for other peers. Yeah, Well, get an
experience in a field that you're possibly already interested in
is always a step in life.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
So where do you find the time for all of this?
There's twenty four hours in a day. We can make
it all work.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
When do you sleep?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Oh, I get plenty of sleep. Oh rest is my
number one thing. I love sleeping. So I can't do
all this with low energy. So you got to get
good rest and then be nice and cheery the rest
of the day.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Well you are you very positive positively? Yeah? I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
So what else can we learn about you? Or what
else can we do to support you in our community?
And of course you know there's people that listen that
you know don't live in Madison surrounding areas.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
So I would say, no matter what, any area that
you live in, support your local parks, support your local governments.
See what they're doing. They're the people that are impacting
your life every single day. There's a park near you,
go check it out. That is the best thing to do.
And just in terms of advocacy for individuals who are
(20:30):
special needs, just be kind, be nice, offer a helping
hand to those that possibly need it. Everybody has a
slightly different situation that they're going through and you may
not always know, like right out in the front, what's
going on, So you might just need to be a
little kinder and a little more compassion sometimes.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Do you just a question? Do you think people.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
When they don't understand something, they automatically are just like
they they stand.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Back a little bit.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I noticed that just for myself growing up, because I
lost my eye when I was five from a broken
hockey stick. So there's a good amount of time that
I walked around with an eyepatch, and you know, people
would just and then they just asked me these just
ridiculous questions.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
And that went through my life in high school.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I mean I remember the first day of school in
the cafeteria, I was a freshman. The sophomore girls were
staring at her table. I'm like, why are they looking?
I literally kid, you not one of them, got up,
came over to me. I have no idea who she is.
She goes, is it true you have a glass eye?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Do you take it out?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I'm like like, right right, and it doesn't end Like
adults will ask me the ridiculous question, what's up with
this jinky I I'm like.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Are you serious?
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I'm all for questions, and they're appropriate questions with appropriate
boundaries that are given because people do have questions, especially
younger children that aren't quite sure and they're in the
learning process that people are different and that there are
different abilities out there.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
As long as it's.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Done within a purpose, a purpose, it's just not high.
I'm being nosy and I want to know what's going on.
What is your purpose behind your question? And then what
is the intent with the information that you're given. What
are you going to do in take with that? Are
you going to educate that with other people with knowledge
to make other situations better, different, more easy for people
(22:25):
within the intellectual disabilities or are we just are we
just being nosy here because the nosey aspect doesn't need
to be there, like at that part, that part's just
not necessary for anybody's growth, social development or anything. That's
just useless.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Space and absolutely stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So as long as questions are asked within an intentional
purpose and meaning, I think that they're one hundred percent
valid and appropriate. And I do think that people that specifically,
like my daughter, who's primarily nonverbal, when we have conversations
in the room, she is always looking for someone to
(23:04):
be a secondary source of communication for her. That's not
her first Her first mean is not full on communication.
So knowing and taking the time that it may take
somebody a minute or two longer to actually express what
they want or what they're feeling. It's not that they
don't want to talk to you. It may that be
that they're having a hard time expressing how to talk
to you. That that happens more every day than I
(23:26):
think people realize that that expressive language is hard. So yeah,
just taking a little more time, compassion, caring.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
I love that. That's how That's how my mom brought
me up.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
You know, she's like, you accept people for who they are,
Krista and you and you know everyone is different. And
she would she would tell me because I would come
home crying, right because the kids would be like, there's
the one hang girl. Iking Dow she goes, Honey, she goes,
they're just jealous. They're just jealous because they have to
see out a two and you just have to see
out of one.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
So and so I use said.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I turned it around, and I started doing comedy in
my life and started doing improv, started doing comedy.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
That's how I took something that was negative into something
that made jokes about.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
And then you know exactly, you gotta do what you
gotta do to make your personal life situation a little
better than what maybe the people around you are making
it seem like. And you just got to be better
than the bullies.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Absolutely hence be kinder. Our world needs to be kinder.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Oh yeah, we know this right.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Yeah, we have lots of special friends out there. We
just need to be a little nicer to them.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I think so, I think so, and you're definitely one
of them, Missy. Thank you so much for coming onto
the show today.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Thank you so much, Christopher for having me. There's so
much good information, Like you said, so many boss babes
out there, so let's keep them on the air.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Yes, girl, I love it, and I can't wait to
see you this coming winter. We'll get together and definitely
we are going to find ourselves a roller skate.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Yes, well, if you can roller skate, then you can
ice skate, and then we'll just hit both seasons.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
It'll be good, it'll be good, all right, my love,
Thank you so much. I can't wait to have you back.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Sounds great, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
All right.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Till then, Matt Town, take a look at what you
can do to support your community, parks and.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
So much more. We'll talk to you next week.
Well, Matt Town, I'm super excited to have a lady
boss bag in studio. I mean I was actually just
speaking with her. It's probably been close to well, when
was COVID twenty twenty twenty twenty one, twenty twenty one,
like this is when hell broke out, right, and so
we were just chatting about COVID and I'm really really
(00:20):
ecstatic to have it Missy Miller back in studio with
me because girl being a mom, the struggle was real,
and you are pregnant during that time.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
It's gonna say, actually, this is my first time in
the studio because last time it was COVID and we
had our phone interview.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yes, I was like, how am I going to help
out these local businesses?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm like, no one can go anywhere I know. So
so great, we're on the radio. But I'm so excited
to be here in studio and not pregnant this time.
I love it.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I love it, and you're with me joining iHeart. So
I'm super stoked.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Okay, so ladies and Jens, listen to how fabulous this
mama is.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
She is a mamajer. Okay, so move aside.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Christ Janner, all right, move side, Missy, you are also
the assistant director, which I love, of Monona Parks and
Recreation and owner of Downright Exposure LLC.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Can I just say hashtag lady boss?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Why? Thank you? Christa?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Absolutely absolutely, So we have a lot to talk about.
I mean, you are a very very busy woman, so
let's dive into this.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Oh and by the way, can I just say, Missy
and I are die hard roller skating fans, so if
anyone wants to, like, I don't know, open up one soon,
we'd be.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Down for that definitely. I mean, who doesn't love a
good nineties roller ring?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I know that was the best bag of the too.
All right, so, Missy, what role do you think community
neighborhood programs and especially and I love this, green spaces
play in building stronger families in neighborhoods. This is all
you girls, So tell me and educate me all about this.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well. As you know, I'm the assistant director of Monona
Parks and rec So shout out to my MPR people
and family big hearts over here neighborhood parks, green spaces
that they are literally the heartbeat of the community. You
can run programs, you can run spaces, you can have
passive recreational time and ability. Parks are the one thing
(02:15):
that grows with you as you grow. So think you
are that toddler on the playground, You are that kid
playing youth sports in a park, your parent watching your
grandparent taking a walk. Park in green spaces means so
much to families and communities. It literally brings us together,
(02:36):
especially now in a time that we're so tech based
and so computer focused. And how I'm texting you to
say hi, Instead invite your friends meet up at a park,
get outside, enjoy, spend thirty minutes a minute free tech
free time, and enjoy nature with your friends. It is
(02:56):
probably the one thing that should last the test of time,
going outside and having a great time enjoying nature.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
That is so true because you know, as parents, that's
one thing I know with my daughter, she's you know,
when she's fifteen, I'm like, geeah, it's time to get
off your phone. But our kids are like stuck, like
you said, so getting them outside, Like when we grew up,
that's all we did. I mean, we stayed outside playing
until like until mom yelled out, it's.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Time for dinner, right, oh yeah, get in. We came
in when the like the street lights went out, you know. Yeah,
so we need to bring back more that ninety summer atmosphere.
Get outside, play with your kids, play with your friends,
take walks with your neighbors, get to know the people
you live around, and use that community park as your
(03:42):
source of meeting space. It is so fantastic to have
such wonderful resources around Dane County Andona. There's so many
places to get outside and enjoy so thirty minutes a
day people, you can do it. Get outside and I know,
like for my age now, because I'm hitting almost fifty,
I'm like, I just want to.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Go for a beautiful walk with my boyfriend.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Exactly, walk outside. There's so many beautiful parks.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, so tell me a little bit more about that
in depth, like how many parks are you like maintaining
with your crew?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so the city of Monona, we have twenty three parks.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Oh yes, yeah, good for you, two beaches.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Three boat launches, an outdoor pool, and a refrigerated ice
skating rink called the Lake Ridge Bank River Rink. So
we literally use the tagline four seasons of Fun because
we hit it on all aspects. So there is something
for everybody and everyone to do with Monona Parks and recreation.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Wow, we are very blessed and I mean, educate me
more on this in all of us. You know, it's
an honor to be able to go to a park
for free or the opportunity just to find one.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I mean, do you.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Need help in that from our community When it comes
to keeping like such great events like this going.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Oh, community support is needed one hundred percent, from participation
to volunteer to monetary donations. We have so many different
aspects of ways community members can be involved with parks,
within parks and recreation and all aspects. We do so
much and we really need the people support from showing
(05:19):
up to helping out and just really being part of.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
A great thing. Absolutely, how do we do that? Do
we just reach out to you?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well, you can find all our information on Mymanona dot com,
which houses all of our special events and rerec programs.
It even has all of our wonderful volunteer opportunities. Our
biggest event of our season is coming up October eleventh,
which is our Monona Fall Festival. Yay, it is fantastic.
We bring a little bit of farm into the city
(05:49):
of Monona. We got a petting zoo and face painting
and all sorts of just fun fall activities. So if
you're free October eleventh, it's in Winnaqua Park from ten
am to three pm. We also have an eight K,
five K or two k race that morning, so if
you're up here, a little extra exercise before indulging in
(06:11):
all that fun. Family. Yes, fall family fun. We definitely
are the place to be.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Oh my gosh, well, I'll be on my knee scooter,
but I'll definitely be helping out with cheering for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
We do have a newly paved walking path on the
north side of Winnaco Park, perfect for knee scootering, bank
walking and all abilities. It's a great, fantastic addition to
our part.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
I love that you said that, because do not take
for granted when it comes to having smooth pavement. I
have fallen many times on this knee scooter from rocks,
you know, splits in the sidewalk, So thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
All accessible all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I love love, love, love love all right, so let's
get into this. You are well and I love this.
You have been titled the jack of all trades, the
master of fun.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
How can I get a title like that? Well, Christa,
the title kind of found me. I have to be honest.
I have a very interesting background in how it all started.
My entire life has been nothing but parking rec Wow.
I started out back in the day, almost twenty years
ago as a lifeguard at our community pool back in
(07:20):
run Lake, Illinois, and I have never left the pool since.
I actually started out wanting to go into the special
education field when I was in college. Where'd you go
to College Western Illinois University? Best wreck management program in
the country for you? Which I later found out as
I sat in my first wreck management class after realizing
(07:43):
that special education was not necessarily the career path that
I wanted to go into full time. And I sat
in that first wreck management class based off of a
recommendation from a former boss, and they said, Missy, when
you sit in that class, you will know that that's
where you're.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Supposed to be. Yes, thank you for saying that, because
that's very true.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
And I want more of our youth to know that
you'll know, because you know, they get so overwhelmed, like,
how am I gonna know?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
You're gonna know?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
You're gonna know? I sat in that class, I had
the prior knowledge. I knew the recreation field was where
I wanted to be, so pile that together with a
coaching degree and a hospitality management degree, I can basically
run a concession standard program special events, birthday parties, literally
(08:32):
master of fun.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Okay, great, So I'm gonna be calling you because I
know Gia's sixteenth birthday is coming up.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I do not know.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I have no creativity in this body. Alls I know
is how to talk, but I don't know how to
do those big balloons everybody does.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Like I'm not that mom, So I wouldn't call myself artistic,
but creative is definitely the way to be. And it's
so fantastic to just put on all these wonderful events,
and I love helping people just create the best memory.
We always have a saying like we are part of
so many people's first experience, their first swimming lesson, maybe
(09:06):
their first soccer game, their first family outing at the park,
a first time down a slide. We are part of
so many firsts that it just fills your like full
cup of heart, like up to the top brim. Because
we just love being part of the memory making community
and That's really what we do is we help provide
(09:27):
these awesome memories that people take on for years to come.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I love that, and family is everything we need to
you know, at least spend that quality time with our
kiddles as long as we can spend it outside too.
And spend it outside, I know, I'm like, I'm a
summer girl. I'm like, I love the heat, so you know,
I know that winter is coming.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
So I just have to accept that. I'm a right head.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I have very thin skin and I'm always cold. I
take three baths a day. But I will get out there.
I know I will get my ice skates on.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Good Lake Ridge Bank River is the place to be.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I love that, all right, So miss A, let's go
into now how you started at down Right Exposure LLC. Hence, Ladies,
we're talking to a lady boss. Can you tell us
more about your mission behind that and what it is.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Well, as I mentioned earlier, I started out my career
path going down that special education field. Well, the special
education teacher didn't work out because it actually turns out
that I was a special a special aed mom My
lovely beautiful stepdaughter Brenda, who is amazing in so many
(10:35):
different ways. Is probably the biggest inspiration behind the Downright
Exposure LLC business that we have. This business was basically
about taking the beauty within individuals that are typically not seen,
not in the spotlight, not having a full front faced,
(10:59):
you know, place in the spotlight, and putting those individuals
into the spotlight. My stepdaughter, Brenda Amazing Models, does pageants,
She's done a couple background gigs.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
She's absolutely stunning.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So it all kind of worked out that here together
with giving her an opportunity for employment, which is very
hard to come by for individuals with intellectual disabilities. So
why not get two birds one stone. We started a business,
we gave some unemployment, and now we're shining the light
and all these beautiful individuals that are out there in
(11:34):
the world. So we're just kind of shining our mission,
shining our light and putting that Downright Exposure label on
amazing people out there.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
What a phenomenal young lady.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Oh yeah, we do a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I mean, honestly, my mom too was I know I
was talking to you off air, but my mom was
also a special education teacher, so I loved it. You know,
it's just so great and that you know, it's a
great thing to show you you can do anything, anything,
you can become anything you want.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
It's also like interesting to see how the world plays out,
Like how I had a career paths started, but then
the world had something bigger, better. I wasn't just supposed
to be a special ed teacher, you know, special at
mom and really putting that that effort into advocating and
pushing out a story so everybody can see. We're getting
(12:27):
it out all over the place.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Yeah, it's it's great. It's great, and I look forward.
So how old is she?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Seventeen? Almost eighteen?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Really?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Yeah, what is her plans? We're going to see where
the modeling and pageant world takes off. She's done a few,
she's placed fairly well in a couple of competitions, and
we're just gonna kind of see where where the world
takes us in modeling and photography. So anyone interested in
getting their picture taken downright exposure LLC.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Wonderful.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
We take pictures and we promote other people's pictures.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
I love that well, and this is a This is
one of the scariest thing that people.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Find it difficult to do, is.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Like what I'm saying is that getting up in front
of a huge audience one of the scariest things to do.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Oh yeah, and to perform. I am not a stage person.
That's why I'm behind the closet scenes here. But again,
just no thank you. Yeah yeah, but it is true.
So I would love to meet her. I would love
to have her on the show someday one day. Let's
make it happen.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
I got you, girl, all right, So let's see.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
So you've also been involved in creating really fun events
that we talked to.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
This has just always been a passion of yours.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Always been a passion just something, creating events, creating content, marketing,
getting people out, hearing the word having one big party.
I especially in the time right now where that phone
isolation is so prominent and there are people that are
only connecting via these screen type modules. Like getting a
(14:03):
community together, whether it be a fall festival or an
ice skating event or just a regular old family reunion
in the park, getting that face to face connection. There
are dopamine levels in your brain that just start going
and going when you start seeing other people smiling and
having a great time and being together. And I love
(14:24):
being the person that provides.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
That yes, absolutely, you know and to your testament on that.
One of the most enjoyable things about my job is
not necessarily being on air and entertaining I love that,
but that I'm able to use my platform to help
out so many like nonprofits and to get people's like
dreams to be seen and.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Heard exactly like getting the word out, getting other people
in the spotlight, building people up. That's the way it
should be.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
You know, there's moms listening right now, and dads too.
I mean, the hardest job and when we talk about
it all the time, but you know, you had a dream,
you had a vision of what you wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Were you ever scared to be like, ah, I can
I take this leap? Is there any advice? Is what
I'm saying?
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Would you give to others that are like, you know
what I want to do something? I want to do,
something that benefits our community.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
For me, I'm a fairly confident person and if I
put my mind and my heart into something, we're all
in all the time one hundred percent. I know not
everybody operates and works like that. So if you are
nervous or if you are afraid, do your research, check
out what you should be knowing what your competition is.
(15:37):
But just jump in start somewhere. If you don't start today,
you are never going to start. You're never going to
be a boss babe. And let's be honest, we all
want to be boss babes, don't we. Christas, I absolutely
love that.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
There's nothing that brings me more joy is women impowerment.
I love meeting other fabulous lady bosses. I love meeting
young women, and especially in my industry, I'm always like
yes to to meet them and be like, this is
our this is going to be our future.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I'm going to do one last plug. Okay, yeah, for
Monona parkin Reck. Yes, because we are by far the
single largest employer of people between the ages of fourteen
and twenty one in the city of Monona. We employ
two hundred plus employees each season between those ages. We
(16:26):
are literally shaping the future of the community, not only
through the programs and events we do, but through the
people we are hiring, which is so important to just
build up the youth in the community that we have,
and so to employee so many wonderful people is amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
What would you say, are some some things that you
look for. I remember you and I when you know
this past summer looking for jobs. She was employed last year,
but and then she got back with her her company.
But we were looking at maybe having her start working
at like a greenery because she loves plants so much.
And so we got in a little too late. They
were already next season. Right next season, they said, next season.
(17:10):
So is there any specific like qualities or characteristics that
you look in hiring, maybe like a you, a young
youth or or someone my age.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, we do hire people of all ages and abilities,
so that is definitely covered. But first you got to
have some passion, passionate about what to do, whether it's
teaching a sport class. We have positions that include gardening
and landscape management. We have positions that are swim instructors, lifeguards,
summer camp and after school instructors. You have to have
(17:42):
a passion on something, whether it's you know, any of those,
just a passion. And then the ability to communicate. I
mentioned before that tech screen world. We do a lot
of screen to screen, a lot of text to text
type communication. But if you can talk, communicate, hold eye contact,
have a conversation that is anything. You have to have
(18:05):
the ability to communicate. It's very very true.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Yeah, you know, And and that's something that I really
admire about my daughter Gia. She is not scared to
get out there and get it in front of people.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
And you know, she's.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
She's already, she already knows what she wants. She wants
to be a pediatric nurse. And so that's been her
passion for like three years.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I'm like, who thinks that that, like at such a
young age, But again, that's what she aspires to be.
And I said, you know what, and this is something
always instilled in her being a mom.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I said, Gia, all you have to do is work hard.
But listen, nothing's going to be given to you. So
I always make sure she understands that because nothing was
given to me to get to where I am today.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
You know, you gotta work. You gotta work your butt
off and be passionate.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Definitely have to work your butt off. And one advice
for Gia is start getting experience with kids already. The
more yeah, yeah, the more apparent she has working with
those kids at an earlier age, the better that's going
to look on that pediatric dental or.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Or pediatric Nursey pediatric nurse is going to do.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
So any experience with kids already, from even just a
little babysitting she might be doing, you know, here and there,
to working within a summer camp or anything kid related
will already put her at a top near like tier.
I love that for other peers. Yeah, Well, get an
experience in a field that you're possibly already interested in
is always a step in life.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
So where do you find the time for all of this?
There's twenty four hours in a day. We can make
it all work.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
When do you sleep?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Oh, I get plenty of sleep. Oh rest is my
number one thing. I love sleeping. So I can't do
all this with low energy. So you got to get
good rest and then be nice and cheery the rest
of the day.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Well you are you very positive positively? Yeah? I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
So what else can we learn about you? Or what
else can we do to support you in our community?
And of course you know there's people that listen that
you know don't live in Madison surrounding areas.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
So I would say, no matter what, any area that
you live in, support your local parks, support your local governments.
See what they're doing. They're the people that are impacting
your life every single day. There's a park near you,
go check it out. That is the best thing to do.
And just in terms of advocacy for individuals who are
(20:30):
special needs, just be kind, be nice, offer a helping
hand to those that possibly need it. Everybody has a
slightly different situation that they're going through and you may
not always know, like right out in the front, what's
going on, So you might just need to be a
little kinder and a little more compassion sometimes.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Do you just a question? Do you think people.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
When they don't understand something, they automatically are just like
they they stand.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Back a little bit.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I noticed that just for myself growing up, because I
lost my eye when I was five from a broken
hockey stick. So there's a good amount of time that
I walked around with an eyepatch, and you know, people
would just and then they just asked me these just
ridiculous questions.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
And that went through my life in high school.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I mean I remember the first day of school in
the cafeteria, I was a freshman. The sophomore girls were
staring at her table. I'm like, why are they looking?
I literally kid, you not one of them, got up,
came over to me. I have no idea who she is.
She goes, is it true you have a glass eye?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Do you take it out?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I'm like like, right right, and it doesn't end Like
adults will ask me the ridiculous question, what's up with
this jinky I I'm like.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Are you serious?
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I'm all for questions, and they're appropriate questions with appropriate
boundaries that are given because people do have questions, especially
younger children that aren't quite sure and they're in the
learning process that people are different and that there are
different abilities out there.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
As long as it's.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Done within a purpose, a purpose, it's just not high.
I'm being nosy and I want to know what's going on.
What is your purpose behind your question? And then what
is the intent with the information that you're given. What
are you going to do in take with that? Are
you going to educate that with other people with knowledge
to make other situations better, different, more easy for people
(22:25):
within the intellectual disabilities or are we just are we
just being nosy here because the nosey aspect doesn't need
to be there, like at that part, that part's just
not necessary for anybody's growth, social development or anything. That's
just useless.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Space and absolutely stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So as long as questions are asked within an intentional
purpose and meaning, I think that they're one hundred percent
valid and appropriate. And I do think that people that specifically,
like my daughter, who's primarily nonverbal, when we have conversations
in the room, she is always looking for someone to
(23:04):
be a secondary source of communication for her. That's not
her first Her first mean is not full on communication.
So knowing and taking the time that it may take
somebody a minute or two longer to actually express what
they want or what they're feeling. It's not that they
don't want to talk to you. It may that be
that they're having a hard time expressing how to talk
to you. That that happens more every day than I
(23:26):
think people realize that that expressive language is hard. So yeah,
just taking a little more time, compassion, caring.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
I love that. That's how That's how my mom brought
me up.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
You know, she's like, you accept people for who they are,
Krista and you and you know everyone is different. And
she would she would tell me because I would come
home crying, right because the kids would be like, there's
the one hang girl. Iking Dow she goes, Honey, she goes,
they're just jealous. They're just jealous because they have to
see out a two and you just have to see
out of one.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
So and so I use said.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I turned it around, and I started doing comedy in
my life and started doing improv, started doing comedy.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
That's how I took something that was negative into something
that made jokes about.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
And then you know exactly, you gotta do what you
gotta do to make your personal life situation a little
better than what maybe the people around you are making
it seem like. And you just got to be better
than the bullies.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Absolutely hence be kinder. Our world needs to be kinder.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Oh yeah, we know this right.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Yeah, we have lots of special friends out there. We
just need to be a little nicer to them.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I think so, I think so, and you're definitely one
of them, Missy. Thank you so much for coming onto
the show today.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Thank you so much, Christopher for having me. There's so
much good information, Like you said, so many boss babes
out there, so let's keep them on the air.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Yes, girl, I love it, and I can't wait to
see you this coming winter. We'll get together and definitely
we are going to find ourselves a roller skate.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Yes, well, if you can roller skate, then you can
ice skate, and then we'll just hit both seasons.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
It'll be good, it'll be good, all right, my love,
Thank you so much. I can't wait to have you back.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Sounds great, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
All right.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Till then, Matt Town, take a look at what you
can do to support your community, parks and.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
So much more. We'll talk to you next week.
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Whether you’re a scaredy-cat or a brave bat, this collection of episodes from iHeartPodcasts will put you in the Halloween spirit. Binge stories, frights, and more that may keep you up at night!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.