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Ever wonder why so many people love Madison, Wisconsin? Are you curious why they fell in love with this capital city, sitting on an isthmus? Then you've come to the right place, this show is just for you. It doesn't matter if you're brand new to town or a long time resident looking for new adventures, the I Love Madison Show will help you get connected to the people, places, and events in this town, that speak to your lifestyle.
This episode of the I Love Madison show is packed with cute puppies (seriously), tasty food and drinks, badger team spirit, meetups, and motivation to explore the fit side of Madison! Neil and Caleb recap the last ILM Meetup at the AC hotel, and Marissa Degroot from the Dane County Humane Society makes a guest appearance to talk about Dogtoberfest and how the community can get involved at DCHS!
Neil goes to Badgerville!Free and open to the public, the tailgate event presented by Johnsonville opens 2.5 hours before kickoff of each home game. Badgerville is located on Engineering Mall, located directly north and east of Camp Randall Stadium off Engineering Drive, for the first six games. The last Badgerville of the season on November 24th will be located in the historic UW Field House for Wisconsin's matchup with Minnesota. Badgerville features great food and beer available for purchase, live entertainment, an appearance by members of the UW Band and Bucky Badger, activities for kids, player autographs, and more! Neil will be posting a Vlog about his experience at BadgerVille shortly, stay tuned!
The ILM Meetup #3 at the AC HotelThe last ILM Meetup saw 36 people at the AC Hotel for drinks, community, and networking! Neil and Caleb will continue to host this meetup at the AC Hotel, so if you haven't attended yet, make sure to add the next one to your calendar!
Dane County Humane SocietyAs one of the nation's leading animal welfare organizations, DCHS offers humane education programs, community-based care for pets, foster care for animals for victims of domestic abuse, a pet food pantry, dog training classes, wildlife rehabilitation and much more. Our volunteers and professionals come together every day in the spirit of Helping People Help Animals, and together create a culture of compassion, empathy, integrity, and accountability. DCHS guarantees that all healthy companion animals or those with treatable or manageable medical and/or behavioral conditions will find new homes. These animals can stay at DCHS as long as it takes to find their new family. DCHS has been 100% Adoption Guarantee since April 2012.
The ILM Food Tournament is down to just three restaurants!The third installment of the Madison Food Tournament is about to close, and Madison will (finally) know who has the best fish fry in the city! The contestants will be judged on overall presentation, flavor, portion size and how much tartar sauce they serve with each meal! The final three contestants are Daly’s Bar and Grill, Jordan’s Big 10 Pub, and Toby’s Supper Club. Daly’s Bar and Grill and Jordan’s are actually TIED in this race with the exact same number of votes, so both of them will advance!
Outline of This Episode[3:30] 36 people attended the meetup at the AC hotel!
[5:45] Neil is exploring the fitter side of Madison!
[9:30] Neil went to Badgerville!
[11:30] Dogtoberfest
[12:30] Marissa Degroot from the Dane County Humane Society guest stars!
[17:45] We are living side by side with wildlife: Here’s how DCHS is leading the community in animal care
[20:00] There are so many ways you can support the Dane County Humane Society!
[23:45] The food tournament is down to the final three!
[26:00] We are planning some exciting things for the I Love Madison Show
Resources & People Mentioned
On this fantastic episode of the I Love Madison Show, the guys prepare to capture all the inspiration and energy of the Madison Ironman, The MKE misfits make an appearance at the second ILM Meetup, and the last battle to find Madison’s best fish fry rages on! This episode also highlights several local events coming up, including networking events, meetups and training for business leaders looking to increase their footprint online!
“You Are An Ironman!”The IRONMAN Wisconsin continues to be one of the best in the world, and this year was no exception! Over 2,500 athletes headed out on a daylong adventure to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run a full 26.2 marathon, all to hear “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN” at the iconic finish line in Downtown Madison. Neil pointed out that the people who show up to support the athletes are just as inspiring as the athletes themselves, so he and Caleb decided to capture the buzz on the Vlog!
The MKE Misfits made an appearance at the ILM meetup #2!This month, the ILM team hosted the second I Love Madison Meetup at the AC Hotel! They were joined by Quentin Allums and the MKE misfits, a group of LinkedIn influencers, Videographers, and storytellers from Milwaukee. The purpose of these events is to connect community members to each other, to local businesses and to new ideas! If you want a taste of what this event was like, make sure you check out the ILM Vlog where Neil and Caleb captured all the action!
The I Love Madison Food Tournament is down to the final four!The third installment of the Madison Food Tournament is about to close, and Madison will (finally) know who has the best fish fry in the city! The contestants will be judged on overall presentation, flavor, portion size and how much tartar sauce they serve with each meal! The final four contestants are Daly’s Bar and Grill, Jordan’s Big 10 Pub, Toby’s Supper Club, and the Oak Crest Tavern. The is a CLOSE race, so make sure to vote!
Meetups, Metcalfe's, and NetworkingOn September 19th, the ILM guys will be back at the AC Hotel to host the 3rd Madison Meetup! This event will run from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. On October 1st, The Young Entrepreneurs group in Madison will be hosting a networking event at RISE! This is one event you don’t want to miss! Lastly, on October 24th, Neil will be at Metcalfe’s to teach some best practices for Vlogging. If you are a business that is trying to establish a stronger presence online, this event is a great place to start.
Outline of This Episode[1:45] The Madison Ironman was awesome! is coming up!
[3:00] The Ironman tribe
[9:30] The MKE misfits where in town last night!
[12:00] The fit side of Madison
[14:00] The I Love Madison Food Tournament is down to the final four!
[21:00] Check out the ILM meetup #3! September 19th at the AC hotel
[22:15] The Young Entrepreneurs Group is hosting a networking event October 1st at RISE
[22:30] Metcalfe’s has asked Neil to teach on Vlogging on October 24th
Resources & People Mentioned
The summer is almost over, but that doesn’t mean Madison is slowing down! Badger football is back, and as fans are out in force, you can expect to see Neil and Caleb crisscrossing the city to capture the excitement! The Taste of Madison is happening September 1st at the Capital, the Madison Ironman race is coming up, and the Madison Food Tournament is down to the final four contestants! If you are new to the area or have lived here a long time, listen to this episode of the I Love Madison show! The hosts are back with their usual antics, local attractions, and upcoming events!
Badgers football is back!Badger football is back in full swing, so Caleb and Neil are planning to Capture as much of the excitement as possible via the Vlog! The guys would love to tailgate with you, and you can be sure Caleb will have the camera rolling! As of right now, the Badgers are ranked 3rd in the nation, so it’s shaping up to be an amazing season!
The MKE misfits are coming to MadisonThe first I Love Madison was hosted at the AC hotel a few weeks ago, and it was a great success! If you missed that one, the guys are planning another one in September (dates and location to be announced). In the meantime, Quentin Allums, a LinkedIn Influencer, and storyteller from Milwaukee is hosting a meetup September 5th at the Starting Block! This will be a great time to connect with the Madison community, so don’t miss it! You can check out the ILM social channels for more information!
Check out the Taste of Madison, September 1st at the capital!Held since 1983, the Taste is MFI’s flagship event, with over 80 restaurants, 3 entertainment stages, 27 beverage stands, and NEW THIS YEAR Lambeau Field Live drawing over 250,000 to the Capitol Square over Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend. There is no charge for admission or entertainment. Taste of Madison raises over $60,000 annually for local non-profit and charitable organizations.
The Madison food tournament is down to the final four!After a long battle to find the best fish fry in Madison, there are four contenders left in the running! Toby’s Supper Club will face off against the Oakcrest Tavern, and Jordan’s will face off against Daly’s. The final voting will take place over this next week, and the winners will be announced in two weeks! If you are looking for some amazing fish fry, check out these four places around Madison and cast your vote!
Outline of This EpisodeLike a summer in Madison, this episode is packed with all sorts of great things for you to enjoy! The ILM team is hosting the first Madison Meetup LinkedIn Local event, there is a new winner for the Madison Game of Magnets, and the Food Tournament is in full swing as the city of Madison searches for the best Fish Fry! Neil and Caleb also highlight the “fit” side of Madison, as Neil prepares for a health challenge, and Caleb dreams of getting swole. If you are looking for local places to eat, check out the resource section for this episode, it’s packed with tantalizing places you should visit the next time you are wandering around Madison!
Join us for the first ILM Meetup: Linkedin LocalOn August 8th, from 5:00pm-8: 00 pm, the I Love Madison hosts, Neil Mathweg and Caleb Jahr will be hosting the very first ILM meetup at the AC Hotel. This will be a Linkedin Local event, so all are invited to attend! This event is designed to connect Madison residents, encourage community and share ideas!
Who has the best fish fry in the city?The number of people who have already voted for Madison’s best fish fry is outstanding! Thanks to everyone who has participated so far! The results have been narrowed down to the top ten contenders, and Neil and Caleb are gearing up for the next round of voting that will determine the top 4! The businesses competing for fish fry champion include Daly’s Bar and Grill, The Esquire club, Brothers Three Bar and Grill, Dexter’s Pub, Jordan’s Big 10 Pub, Quivey's Grove, The Old Fashioned, Toby’s Supper Club, Avenue bar, and the Oak Crest Tavern.
The search for Jill SchneiderA new winner for the Madison Game of Magnets has been selected! Jill Schneider (ILM Magnet #91) is the winner of our swag bag that is loaded with merch from several local businesses! All that’s left to do now is find Jill...Neil is digging through his email, but if you know Jill, let her know she is awesome, then also let her know there is a sweet prize pack waiting for her!
The world’s largest cheese board was here in Madison!Madison decided to break a world record, and of course, the city decided to use cheese as a medium! This week, the Concert On The Square event wrapped up for the season, but before the night was done, the city unveiled the world’s largest cheese board! The board was 35 feet long and 7 feet wide and could fit 145 cheese varieties, totaling nearly 4,500 pounds. A huge, 2,000-pound cheddar wheel was the board’s centerpiece. Wisconsin’s cheeseboard topped the previous European record holder by over 1,000 pounds. After the event, nothing was wasted, as some of the cheese was donated to a Madison-area foodbank.
Outline of This Episode[1:30] Join us for the first ILM Meetup: Linkedin Local
[4:00] Getting fit in Madison
[10:45] ILM Food Tournament: Madison’s best fish fry
[18:00] The search for Jill Schneider #91
[19:30] The concerts on the square featured the world’s largest cheese board!
Resources & People MentionedThis week, Caleb takes on the Madison Mallards, Neil and Caleb post a new Vlog for you to enjoy, as well as travel to Milwaukee to hang out with Quentin Allums, a LinkedIn influencer! The guys also highlight several local events, including the Art Fair On The Square, La Fête de Marquette, and the Madison Crossfit Games! Summer is in full swing here in Madison, and the I Love Madison show is here to help you enjoy it!
Caleb Vs. The Madison MallardsNeil is always looking for new ways to challenge his co-host, Caleb Jahr. This week, Caleb stepped up to the plate to take on the Madison Mallards baseball team! Coach Donnie said if Caleb got ahold of a pitch, he would buy him a steak dinner...After merciless heckling and no small amount of doubt, Caleb hit an 85 mph fast pitch! It was a foul ball, but it still counts, and Caleb had himself a steak dinner on coach Donnie! Thanks to the whole Mallards team and staff, you guys are amazing!
Art fair on the square and the La Fête de MarquetteWhen summer hits, the residents of Madison take full advantage of the chance to get out and explore music, art, and great food around the city! The Art Fair On The Square is one such inspiring event! With its mix of music, entertainment, and outdoor dining, as well as nearly 500 artists exhibiting paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, jewelry, handmade clothing and accessories, and fine craft, the fair draws nearly 200,000 visitors to Madison's Capitol Square.
A few years back, Neil stumbled onto the La Fête de Marquette (The Marquette Festival), a chill little music festival that takes place at Madison’s Central Park. La Fête de Marquette is four days of fabulous world-class music, unparalleled local cuisine, cute boutiques, cold craft beer, and wine for all tastes at Madison’s Central Park.
We are building another swag bag for the Game of Magnets!If you still need a magnet, you can stop by Metcalfe’s market (two locations) to pick yours up! Neil and Caleb are assembling another great swag bag that they will give away, but you have to be playing to the game! The more magnets you see, the more likely you are to walk away with a whole bunch of great merch from local companies!
Join our online community on Facebook and YoutubeIf you are searching for things to do around Madison, great food, and fun events, you should check out the I Love Madison YouTube Channel! The guys are constantly updating the Vlog with fresh content, so make sure you subscribe to stay in the loop. If your goal is to connect to a community of friendly people, business leaders and entrepreneurs, check out the I Love Madison Facebook group!
Outline of This Episode[1:15] Can Caleb hit an 85 mph fastball?
[5:45] Art fair on the square was a huge success!
[9:15] La Fête de Marquette
[12:45] We took a road trip to Milwaukee to hang out with Quentin Allums!
[16:00] We are building a swag bag for the game of magnets!
[17:15] Get ready for the Crossfit Games!
[18:45] Check out the ILM Facebook Group & YouTube Channel
Resources & People MentionedWelcome to another great episode of the I Love Madison show! Neil Mathweg and Caleb Jahr are back in the studio to bring you the best that Madison has to offer! If you live in Madison, you will recognize all the great events that are mentioned, like Concerts on the Square, the Madison Crossfit Games, Art Fair On the Square and many more! You will also recognize a few places mentioned, like Graze and Metcalf Market. If you are new to the area, this show will provide all the inspiration you need to get out and explore Madison!
The CrossFit games will be here till 2021!The Madison Sports Commission just hosted a press conference to announce that the Crossfit Games will continue to be hosted right here in Madison through 2021! Neil Mathweg and Caleb Jahr were on site (with their tiny little cameras) to capture this exciting news, which you can see on the I Love Madison Vlog! Last year, the Crossfit Games brought $12 Million in revenue to the greater Madison area, so the fact that they are extending their stay means even more awesomeness in the Madison area! It also means Caleb will be running around the city doing pushups, in an effort to get jacked! Stay tuned, more video updates to follow...
Where can you find Madison’s best fish fry?For this segment of the Madison Food Tournament, the team is on the search for the best fish fry in the city! Everyone knows where to get their favorite cheese curds (after all, that’s a Madison staple), but Neil and Caleb pointed out that they don’t even know how many places around the city serve fish fry, so it’s hard to know where to start! If you are a fish fry fanatic, they are taking recommendations for this round of the Madison Food Tournament! You can share on all their social channels, they would be glad to hear from you!
Concerts on the squareMadison has an amazing fine arts community to explore and enjoy, including Concerts on the Square, a highly popular free summer series Concerts on the Square in Madison’s Capitol Square that reaches more than 245,000 people across Dane, Columbia, Jefferson, Waukesha, and Sauk counties. Each month there are new artists to enjoy! Check out the link in the resources section for more information!
Game of Magnets & Art Fair on The SquareIf you have not started playing the Madison Game of magnets, you are about to miss out on a sweet swag bag filled with all sorts of cool stuff! You can stop by Metcalfe’s Market and ask for an I Love Madison magnet to get you started. Once you have that magnet, check out the ILM social facebook page to register it!
If you are looking for more summer fun, One of the Midwest's most popular and highly regarded outdoor celebrations of the arts will return to the Capitol Square July 14 and 15, 2018 as MMoCA presents the 60th annual Art Fair on the Square. With its mix of music, entertainment, and outdoor dining, as well as nearly 500 artists exhibiting paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, jewelry, handmade clothing and accessories, and fine craft, the fair draws nearly 200,000 visitors to Madison's Capitol Square.
Outline of This Episode[0:30] The Crossfit Games are extending their stay here in Madison!
[4:30] The host vs. host challenge is escalating!
[12:30] Neil and Caleb recap Concerts on the Square
[19:00] Go to Metcalfe’s Market to start playing the Madison Game of Magnets!
[19:30] The Madison Food Tournament ROUND 3 is about to begin!
[26:00] Art fair on the square is coming up!
[30:30] Subscribe and like us on YouTube and Facebook
Resources & People MentionedMadison always has an event going on, but it can be hard to know where to go or what events you should choose! Not to worry, the hosts of the I Love Madison Show will be your guides to all of the fun, funny and delicious things to things to find in Madison. On this episode, the hosts Neil Mathweg and Caleb Jahr highlight a few of the events in Madison for you to enjoy, like the Madison Food Tournament, The Game of Magnets, and the 2018 USA National Yoga Championship!
What’s happening around Madison?There is always something to do around Madison, especially in the summer! From the farmer’s market to the Crossfit games, there is something for everyone. The MIL hosts will be out and about all summer to explore local events (and probably find new challenges for Caleb). Make sure to check out Concerts on the Square, as well as the Flavors of Wisconsin. The Game of Magnets is also in full swing, and Caleb Jahr may be milking a cow in the very near future!
We need suggestions for the next food tournamentSo far, the residents of Madison have voted on the best burgers in town, as well as the best cheese curds. For the third installment of the Madison Food Tournament, we need your suggestions for what food to vote on next! There is a poll on our Facebook page with a few suggestions, so please head over there and vote, then get out and help us determine the next champion of delicious eats!
Check out the Yoga National Championships, happening right here in Madison!The Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is dedicated to creating economic impact through tourism. The effects of our "invisible industry" benefit everyone living in Dane County in key areas including jobs, community services and quality of life. This year, the GMCVB is hosting the USA 2018 National Yoga Championships right here! Come celebrate yoga in beautiful Madison, WI with athletes from around the United States, yoga classes, yoga demonstrations, and a wide array of merchandise!
LinkedIn LocalI was recently asked to be on a panel for a LinkedIn Local event, which is hilarious because just over a year ago, I declared that LinkedIn was not a social platform. This event was an amazing opportunity to connect to other business professionals from Madison! The fact that we were all present made it easier to follow other people’s profiles and connect!
Outline of This Episode[1:30] June Dairy Month
[5:00] We still need a milk cow...
[7:30] The flavors of Wisconsin
[8:30] Caleb vs. The mallards
[9:30] The Game of magnets: The first prize bag has been selected!
[14:00] Neil recaps his experience at Disrupt Madison
[22:00] Concerts on the Square is coming up!
[25:00] Check out the ILM YouTube Channel
[26:00] The next food tournament - you choose the food!
[31:00] The Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau is hosting the 2018 USA National Yoga Championships!
Resources & People MentionedIf you haven’t listened to the I Love Madison Show lately, you haven’t listened to the I Love Madison Show! Episode 28 may go down as the historic episode “where it all started…” Caleb Jahr joins the show as a regular host, alongside Neil Mathweg, and the show has a whole new format for you to enjoy! Laugh along as Caleb recounts his experience of taking on a bunch of professional hockey players at the Capitol Ice Arena in the Caleb vs. Madison segment, find out where you can get your magnet for the Game of Magnets show, weigh in on whether Madison residents should learn to embrace winter (yeah, we said it), and hear from Kate Dale from the Madison Sports Commission to learn more about Bucky on Parade! This episode is packed, so grab some cheese curds, or ice cream...or whatever dairy product you prefer (Sassy Cow), and enjoy the I Love Madison Show!
The Game of MagnetsThe Metcalf market is sponsoring a swag bag for the first Game of Magnets giveaway! If you are not already playing, you should be! There are tons of Madison residents who have already joined and are on the search for more magnets around the city! After you receive your magnet, you can register it on social media, then keep an eye out for other magnets around the city. If your magnet or a magnet you have registered gets selected, you win some great prizes to local places around the city!
Caleb Vs. MadisonIf you know Caleb Jahr, you know he is a tenacious guy, even when he is attempting to block shots from a bunch of professional hockey players. This week, he donned some goalie gear (it was waaayy too big for him) at the Capitol Ice Arena and did his level best to defend the goal. In the future, Caleb will be volunteering for other “Caleb vs. Madison” challenges, so if you have ideas, please submit them! Neil is thinking he needs to milk a cow...if you have a cow (a literal cow, not just a melt-down), and are willing to volunteer said cow, reach out!
Trailing spouses...and everyone else in Madison should embrace winterThis week, Neil spoke at an event called Disrupt Madison about trailing spouses in Madison. He recaps some of that talk on this episode, in case you missed it! One idea that came up was the fact that everyone connects in the summertime, but in the winter, everyone becomes a hermit (understandably). It was suggested to Neil that Madison residents should embrace winter, and find ways to connect and build community, despite the cold. If you are outdoorsy, you might consider exploring some of the winter activities, like snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc. If staying indoors is more your speed, consider hosting friends for game nights, cozy fires and a beverage of your choice! What ideas do you have for winter activities in Madison? The hosts would love to hear them!
Bucky On ParadeKate Dale works with the Madison Area Sports Commission, an organization that supports local sports through grants to local youth programs and services. They are responsible for some of the most successful events in the Midwest - USA Cycling National Championships, Ironman Wisconsin, and WIAA High School State Championships, just to name a few. They are also behind the Bucky On Parade, a free public art event featuring 85 life-size Bucky Badger statues throughout Madison and Dane County. Local and regional artists have transformed these Bucky statues into unique works of art, which will later be auctioned off to support Garding Against Cancer, Madison Area Sports Commission and other community charities. Bucky on Parade provides many opportunities for the community to get involved and be a part of the fun, including a Kid’s Activity Book, Finale Party, Talks and Tours and more! Check out their website for more information!
Outline of This EpisodeIf you are new to the Madison area, we hope this episode will be a total blessing to you! This week, Neil interviews two Madison residents who moved here by chance, and are not just surviving, but thriving! Here in this city on an isthmus, we want to connect people to great communities, business networks, and groups that love to do the same things as you! As you will hear on this episode, there is no excuse not to flourish in a community as vibrant and connected as Madison, Wisconsin!
RISE with Sun Prairie’s Young Professional groupKeven Wait joins Neil in the studio to invite other young professionals to join them at RISE, the Sun Prairie Young Professionals group. This group meets for networking and various educational sessions. They just hosted the 2nd annual MargaritaDeMayo, a margarita-making competition recently, and have several other fun events planned in the near future! Check out their Facebook page to see a list of all the RISE events coming up!
In Madison, it’s easy to find a tribe you fit withBesides helping lead the Sun Prairie Young Professionals, Kevin Wait is also a physical therapist at Capital Physical Therapy here in Madison. He moved here from Nebraska, and has connected to a thriving community! His advice for anyone who is new to the area is to “get out and find a group that you fit with.” There are hundreds of groups on meetup.com (not a dating site), so we encourage you to go find some new friends or a new place to explore or both!
You are never too old to “restart” your lifeTracey Hasz says you are never too old to restart your life! After moving to Madison, Tracey jumped on meetup.com to start exploring social and business networking opportunities. After a short period of time, she very well may one of the most connected individuals in Madison! She leads the Madison Women’s Social Meetup, a group that boasts over 4000 members, and is a regular member of several other groups, including a running meetup, and a Wisconsin Women’s Entrepreneur group. In addition to all of her social events, Tracey is the co-owner of T&T Pet Care, a unique pet care service that offers full-service pet care for pet owners that demand loving care for their pets. Tracey is a long time pet professional with experience in agricultural husbandry, training in grooming and nail trimming, dog walking, pet boarding and is a life-long dog and cat owner. Check out her website in the resources below!
Help us start Madison’s One Square RunTracey said Madison residents are very supportive of healthy lifestyles, and the area offers endless trails and more parks per capita than any other city in the United States! In a previous town where she lived, she participated in an event called the “One Block Run,” a charity event that supported local causes, where everyone would run around one city block (anyone can do that, right?!). The event took place in the winter, and Tracey said it was incredibly fun for all involved. She had the idea to bring this event to Madison, so we decide to call it the One Square Run. We think this could be a crazy fun way to meet people and support a local mission or cause, but we need your help to create hype!
Outline of This Episode[2:45] Kevin Wait joins Neil in the studio to talk about the Sun Prairie Young Professional group
[10:45] Get out and find the group that you fit with
[14:30] Tracey Hasz is live in the studio with advice on how to thrive in Madison!
[16:15] “You can restart your life whenever”
[16:45] Check out Madison Women’s Social Meetup
[22:15] Madison is one of the most Networking-friendly cities
[24:15] Learn why Madison is “more than a stepping stone”
[25:30] T&T Pet Care Services offers non-veterinarian and non-grooming services
[28:30] Help us launch the One Square Run!
Resources & People Mentioned
Ruthie Hauge, an award-winning photographer joins us today to give us a snapshot of what it’s like living in Madison! Ruthie’s roots are in photojournalism and art. After graduating from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, where she majored in photography and minored in drawing, she launched her photography business and in 2006, and was hired as a Staff Photographer by Sun-Times Media. She has an impressive resume of places she has traveled and famous people she has photographed, including Paul McCartney! Listen to this outstanding interview to hear her journey from Chicago to Madison, and why she fell in love with this great city!
This is a community of artistsAfter moving to Madison, Ruthie wanted to re-launch her photography business, so she started networking. She was a little nervous about the competition, as Madison is home to some amazing talent, but after attending network groups like the Madison Chamber of Commerce, The Rising Tides Society, and the Minona Business Alliance, she found the that the other artists and entrepreneurs welcomed her with open arms, and supported her and her business. In fact, she said she just had a record year, and her family has only lived here six months!
Keeping up with the JonesesNeil asked Ruthie to describe the major differences between Madison and Chicago, besides just the number of people. Ruthie said in Chicago, people always seemed to be competing for status. She said “keeping up with the Joneses” was a very real way of life...bigger houses, fancier clothes, expensive cars...In Madison, she noticed that everyone is very friendly and genuine, and go out of there way to help each other. She also noticed the focus on locally produced products and the intentional way that people focus on family. Her favorite thing about Madison? The fact that she can be herself.
“From here, we can paddle all the way to the ocean…”Ruthie said her family tries to live simply. Her family enjoys outdoor recreation, especially canoeing and kayaking. After they moved here, she said her husband pulled out a map and showed their son all the lakes near their house, to which he responded: “from here, we can paddle all the way to the ocean!” Madison offers endless biking trails and lakes to explore, plus several parks and free places to visit, like the Zoo and the art museum. It’s the perfect place to raise young adventurers, pursue entrepreneurial dreams and goals and connect to a supportive community! Like Ruthie and her family, you may just find a million reasons to say “I Love Madison!”
Outline of This Episode[2:30] Ruthie Hauge joins Neil Mathweg in the studio!
[6:30] Hit the reset button: Chicago to Madison
[10:00] What makes Madison different?
[11:00] “I just had my best year in business here”
[16:00] Keeping up with the Joneses
[20:30] “From here, we can paddle all the way to the ocean”
[23:00] Ruthie explains what she means by “Madison is less complacent”
Resources & People Mentioned
Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian.
A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest.
But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.
She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and
captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world.
Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s
blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret.
Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but
all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and
left a community in shock.
Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret.
New episodes every Monday.
Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.
