Learn more about the Minnesota Prepper Expo: https://www.mnprepperexpo.com/ Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d467402b91b345efRachel's Website: https://www.rachelmcintyresmith.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmcintyresmith/Experiencing and exploring everything that makes small towns great. Abbey (The Small Town Tourist) sits down with people to share stories about the tow...
Jun 15, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This week we are talking with Mayor Dave Kleis of St. Cloud about Granite City Days coming up June 22-25th, 2023. Learn more about the event online: https://www.stcloudgranitecitydays.com/ The Summer Festival Spotlight Series will be running all summer, if there is a festival you'd like me to look into, email abbey@thesmalltowntourist.com Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d467402b91b345efRachel's Websi...
Jun 13, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Sartell Summerfest will be taking place June 9th and 10th in 2023. Check out more information on it here: https://www.sartellsummerfest.com/ The Summer Festival Spotlight Series will be running all summer, if there is a festival you'd like me to look into, email abbey@thesmalltowntourist.com Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d467402b91b345efRachel's Website: https://www.rachelmcintyresmith.com/Follow R...
Jun 03, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 9
The Small Town Tourist Podcast is kicking off the Summer Festival Spotlight Series by highlighting Waite Park Family Fun Fest. The week-long festival runs from June 5th - June 9th, 2023. https://www.wpfamilyfunfest.com/ The Summer Festival Spotlight Series will be running all summer, if there is a festival you'd like me to look into, email abbey@thesmalltowntourist.com . Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?...
Jun 02, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 8
This week we talk with Whiney Meza, a long-distance endurance motorcycle rider who hit up every single Wisconsin Kwik Trip on her bike. Follow Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/whitmeza/ Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d467402b91b345efRachel's Website: https://www.rachelmcintyresmith.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmcintyresmith/Experiencing and exploring everything t...
May 25, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 7
This week we are hanging with Rachel Thompson with Visit Greater St. Cloud, chatting about all things Restaurant Week 2023 (May 15-21) and the great food scene in the St. Cloud area. More on Restaurant Week 2023: https://www.visitstcloud.com/st-cloud-restaurant-week-2023/ Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d467402b91b345efRachel's Website: https://www.rachelmcintyresmith.com/Follow Rachel on Instagram: ...
May 18, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This week on I recap my recent trip to Milwaukee. I accidentally stayed in a hotel where Jeffrey Dahmer killed someone, I got to see a room at The Rave/Eagles Club that usually only artists that perform there have access to, and I got to interview Brian Dales, the lead singer of The Summer Set. Follow The Summer Set: https://www.instagram.com/thesummerset/ Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d467402b91b3...
May 11, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 5
This week we catch up with Justin Ploof, a singer/songwriter/talented musician from St. Cloud who you might know as the lead singer of Mason Dixon Line or the frontman of Justin Ploof and the Throwbacks. He is an all-around wonderful human, and I'm so excited that he took the time to share his musical journey with us. Find Justin online: https://justinploof.com/home Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d4...
May 04, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 4
This week we are hanging out with Chad Taylor, radio personality, former tour manager for Danny Wood, Jordan Knight, and Jeff Timmons and others, and a man who has a story for everything. It was wonderful to get to catch up with Chad, and I hope you enjoy your time listening as much as I enjoyed my time recording this episode. Follow Chad everywhere @ChadTaylorRadioTheme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d46...
Apr 27, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This week on the podcast we are talking to Jen Kroska, aka Ziva Azul about opening up the newest adult dance studio in Waite Park, MN, Encore Dance Studio. Jen and I reflect on our dance experience and talk about strong of a community it is here in Central Minnesota. Her new facility opens May of 2023! Encore Dance Studio: https://www.facebook.com/encoredancestudiowp Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVEZuE?si=d...
Apr 20, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 2
I'm in my podcaster era. Today we are talking to Emma Maruska, who is the lead singer for the band Red Dirt Road, which just so happens to be riding around in "style" on Taylor Swift's first tour bus! Emma was such a fun person to talk to and get to know, and her story of getting into live music is inspiring. Follow Red Dirt Road online here: https://www.reddirtroadband.com/ Theme Song: "Queen of Our Hometown" by Rachel McIntyre Smith Stream it: https://open.spotify.com/track/6wxPmnjHeaxV5LkPqVE...
Apr 13, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 1
This week we hang out with Tina Van Herr of Giggle Gram Entertainment. You might know her better as Bonnie Barfly, or Aunt Phyllis. Tina has been doing singing telegrams as these characters for 17 years now in the St. Cloud area and has a real gift for spreading joy. Book Tina's services here: http://www.giggle-gram.com/ Experiencing and exploring everything that makes small towns great. Abbey (The Small Town Tourist) sits down with people to share stories about the towns they live in, the cool ...
Apr 06, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 11
This week St. Cloud entrepreneur Connor Dols joins the podcast to talk about his photography business, helping with parents with their restaurant (Dolsie's Lunch Box Grille in St. Cloud), his journey growing up in Arizona along with the move back to Minnesota, and what his vision is of the Downtown St. Cloud area. Follow Connor Dols on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conrdols/ Follow Connor's studio page: https://www.instagram.com/studio_8hundred/ Follow Dolsie's Lunch Box Grille: https://w...
Mar 23, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This week we are joined by Halez Nation, a super-talented recording artist from Central Minnesota. Stream "Sorry for Myself": https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/haleznation/sorry-for-myself Get all things Halez Nation here: https://linktr.ee/haleznation?fbclid=IwAR247dJbjDZs0GGVUbRByve2fgc_BwvciAxSsTP3EI9dPcvj3ZR4jgf6DhE The Small Town Tourist: Experiencing and exploring everything that makes small towns great. Abbey (The Small Town Tourist) sits down with people to talk about the town they grew ...
Mar 16, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 9
This week we sit down with Mark Johnson from Browerville, MN. Mark is the owner of Freedom Carry Firearms Academy and we talk about his journey to becoming a firearm safety instructor. Follow Freedom Carry Firearms Academy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065557060477 Special thanks to the Thunder Lodge in Long Prairie for being the sponsor of this week's podcast: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063463211943 The Small Town Tourist: Experiencing and exploring eve...
Mar 09, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This week we are talking with Paige Meyer, the owner of HollyBlue Permanent Jewelry in Rice, Minnesota. This is a business I have been curious about for almost a year now and I'm so glad Paige took time out of her day to educate me on it. I even stopped by a popup the week this episode airs and got my first piece from her! Check out HollyBlue Permanent Jewelry: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyblue_permanents/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083125877036 The Small T...
Mar 02, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This week we chat with radio legend John Uran. You know him as the iconic DJ and the booming voice that says "SUMMERLAND!" on the radio. I know him as one of the best coworkers I have ever had. It was such an honor to sit down with him and swap industry stories. I hope you enjoy hanging out with John Uran this week. The Small Town Tourist: Experiencing and exploring everything that makes small towns great. Abbey (The Small Town Tourist) sits down with people to talk about the town they grew up i...
Feb 23, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This week we spend time talking to Nikki Moritz, the owner/operator of Zen Den Therapy in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. This conversation was initially scheduled to talk about cool things happening around her area, but we ended up talking about spiritual journeys, her therapy practices, and working with a Shamen in Long Prairie. This conversation was so fulfilling and I hope you get as much out of it as I did. Visit Nikki's business online: https://www.zendentherapy.love/ The Small Town Tourist: Exper...
Feb 16, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 5
On this episode of The Small Town Tourist we chat with Rachel McIntyre Smith, a singer/songwriter from Oliver Springs, TN. I found Rachel on TikTok when her song "Glory Daze" popped up in my feed. I immediately latched onto the song and started listening to the rest of her music. I was lucky enough to have her join me today to talk about her her hometown of Oliver Springs, and her incredible music. Please follow Rachel's social pages: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmcintyresmith/ https://www.ti...
Feb 08, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 4
The Small Town Tourist: Experiencing and exploring everything that makes small towns great. Abbey (The Small Town Tourist) sits down with people to talk about the town they grew up in, the town they live now, and the stories that go along with it. Visit online at https://thesmalltowntourist.com/ . Follow The Small Town Tourist on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmalltowntourist/...
Jan 31, 2023•7 min
Today we get caught up with Liz Fiedler, the owner/operator of Sunny Mary Meadow flower farm in St. Joseph, MN. Originally from Southern Minnesota, Liz grew up on a beef farm active in both FFA and 4-H. She has been a nurse practitioner for years, and is taking a step back from that to focus on expanding the 6th generation flower farm that she and her late husband purchased from his family. Liz is one of the most resilient, creative, caring, and strong people I have ever met, and I hope you enjo...
Jan 25, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Today we get caught up with singer/songwriter Aaron Clafton. Originally from Sauk Rapids, MN Aaron has been living in Nashville for six years now. Today we talk about how Nashville is a small town at its heart, Aaron's experience playing Firefest in Cold Spring, MN a few years ago, and what his plans for 2023 are. Be sure to follow Aaron online @aaronclafton and follow him on Spotify and Apple Music. The Small Town Tourist: Experiencing and exploring everything that makes small towns great. Abbe...
Dec 27, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to The Small Town Tourist Podcast, where we experience and explore everything that makes small towns great, and celebrate the people from them. For the first episode, we are joined by singer/songwriter (TikTok user followed by Shania Twain) Aaron Simmons. Aaron grew up in Stewartville, Minnesota, but the town that he is gaining popularity for is Wadena. His song "Nobody's Home in Wadena" blew up on TikTok in early August because of its soulful message about losing loved ones, going home,...
Aug 24, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 1
