Ep. 43: Falen Bonsett, Radio Show Host + Social Media Personality

[00:00:00] Hi everybody, on this episode of So Much More, we just had a fantastic conversation with a friend, Falen from KDWB. We covered a lot. We covered so much. We covered favorite music right now, content creation. Favorite coffee. Oh, favorite coffee and movies?

[00:00:13] And just the legacy of the partnership. It's been a fantastic ride. Tune in, join us, stick around for so much more. Mall of America. For more than 30 years, it has been a retail leader in an international

[00:00:25] destination and it remains the largest mall in the US. Not to mention, it welcomes millions of guests from around the world. It's huge. But it's also so much more. In this podcast, you're going to hear the real stories of how it started and why it continues

[00:00:40] to thrive. You'll hear about challenges we faced along the way and what you can learn from them. We will feature guests and experts from all walks of life and business. And along the way, you'll laugh, learn, and maybe even change the way you look at things.

[00:00:54] So if you're a fan of the mall, a brand new visitor, an entrepreneur, or a dreamer, prepare to dive deep into so much more. This podcast is presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

[00:01:06] This drives our producer Julie crazy. I just like to go. I don't like to do an intro. I just like to have a conversation. I just like to go. It's wonderful. It is. We just keep it loose. But anyway, seriously, what are you going to do this

[00:01:18] weekend then? I do not know. I am debating a few different things and we'll see. I feel like, I don't know. Would you do a staycation? Like the Huey wing or something like that? No. Okay. Chicago? We could jet set a little bit.

[00:01:34] Can I tell you an unpopular opinion? 100%. I don't like Chicago. Okay. That's fair. I don't understand it. I would rather go to New York every day of the week. The people love Chicago and I get it's like close proximity. But I've been there many times

[00:01:51] and I'm always like, cool. I've seen the bean. I've been to the museum and aquarium. What else is there? Deep dish pizza. I don't even really like. You can get that here too. Yeah. And so, yeah, unpopular opinion and that's people will come for me but I don't.

[00:02:12] Let them be world. I went with my family and I was like, there's a carousel. Cool. They have that at Mall of America and I don't have to go to Chicago for it. That's true. I'm honestly into it. I think I align.

[00:02:25] It's like one of those things that's the last minute or I think that's how I feel about it. I'll do it but I don't want to do it. And also, I think when I was younger it seemed really cool because maybe where

[00:02:34] I'm from, a small town, that is a big city and there's a lot of shopping and stuff but again in Minnesota, I feel like I don't know. I have it all here. Where are you from originally? Southern Indiana. It's a very small town called New Washington.

[00:02:48] It's like by Louisville, Kentucky, right across the river. So how did you find yourself here? Radio. So I went to college just two hours away in Indiana and I needed a part-time job and my cousin Jimmy worked in radio and he was like,

[00:03:04] I probably can get you a part-time gig. And then like within a week of working at the radio stations, I was not on the radio. I was like behind the scenes.

[00:03:12] I was like, this is what I want to do with my life and I changed all of my classes. I started working at the college radio station and then you like kind of built

[00:03:20] your way up in markets. So once I did work in Evansville, Indiana for a while, I got a job in Reno, Nevada. Did that for two years and then started on the like started here exactly two years later in Minnesota. And what year was that? 2012.

[00:03:35] Interesting. Okay. That's when I started at Mall of America and I feel like when I started here, my then co-worker, current wife, Sarah, who says hello by the way, was doing things with you and I feel like at the theater, you did some

[00:03:51] book club stuff up there back when we owned and operated the theaters. And that's when I first met you. Yeah. And you have a long history with Mall of America. I didn't know it was right away. Once you started here, we, we just glombered

[00:04:04] on to you. We hitched our wagon to that rocket and said, yeah, well, thank you. Thank you. It's like been the best partnership. But also this will blow your mind. My very first Mall of America event, The Hunger Games cast. What an epic first Mall of America event.

[00:04:19] Amazing. I've never been more stressed in my life about anything. You got that one out of the way. The most stressful, biggest one out of the way. It was so crazy. I'm like, my first event was with Jennifer Lawrence. Yeah. That's phenomenal.

[00:04:32] It was right before I started here. We have to have those photos somewhere. We're going to find those. They're brutal. I have very aggressive short bangs and the most eyeliner you've ever seen,

[00:04:40] like black, just, I'm like a raccoon fresh out of a dumpster at the Mall of America. This feels like a great intern project to find all of your pictures from your events throughout the year, like a great time capsule of your styles throughout the years.

[00:04:55] Mall of America celebrated a birthday. I feel like it was a 25th and I've done for like the 30th as well. I pulled photos from him. What an exploration of hair colors for me and everything. Yeah, it's interesting. We're doing it. We're pulling it. We have no choice.

[00:05:11] It's done. We need some visuals as well. That's going to be great. I need to know. I've seen all the Hunger Games pictures, but I don't think I've ever seen you in them. And this is the game changer.

[00:05:19] I'm just lurking in the background of a lot of them. And I remember, I didn't even read the notes that were given to me. Apparently very well. Yeah. Interesting. How do you? I typically do. I typically like overly read them.

[00:05:33] But apparently I remember they specifically didn't want you to be like team, Pita, team, whatever. That was very twilight. Oh, sure. And I didn't know that was a thing that they wanted to be separate from.

[00:05:46] And then I went up and like first thing I did, who's team blah, blah, blah. Who's team blah, blah. I didn't get in trouble. But I remember later they were like, yeah, they don't really want you to do that. I was like, that is on me.

[00:05:56] I'm so sorry. And also too late. Yeah, it's done. And team Pita all the way. Exactly. Yeah. That's awesome. So you started in 2012 and things have evolved greatly since then. Even just the way we connect with guest or listeners. One stream, right? It used to just be radio.

[00:06:18] Maybe you come out and do an event here and there. And now with social media everywhere, multiple platforms. How much pressure is there to juggle and balance all of those things as well on top of your trade?

[00:06:33] What you went to school for and what you found a passion for. My friend, you're doing it all. Oh yeah. You're doing it all. Yeah, I mean, probably the same with you guys. I don't think any job is a solo.

[00:06:44] Like you're just doing one thing kind of job anymore. And obviously social media is so important. And I was on it pretty early on. And yeah, I definitely feel like you have to have all of these things to accompany it.

[00:06:59] Before it was kind of like just posting some photos and then, you know, that evolves too. And then you have to do videos for everything to, well, you should have a TikTok as well.

[00:07:09] And like the one I never, like I let go of so long ago is formerly Twitter and X. I didn't love that experience anyway. Way to see that coming. So yeah. You had time.

[00:07:21] That was, that was for me, for me always the most toxic place, like the meanest people. And so it was really easy for me to be like, and it wasn't like my type of creativity. I am a visual, like visually creative person.

[00:07:34] I think so that wasn't visual enough for me. So I mean, I started when I came here, I was like really soft in Instagram and then Facebook. But now yeah, it's like constantly creating how could we jump on a trend?

[00:07:47] How can we take like a bit we're doing on the radio and extend that into the social media world. So there's definitely pressure. I mean, they look at that now for sure. So it's in the obviously podcasting is so huge. So we lean into that and yeah.

[00:08:04] Yeah, no longer is it just, you know, it's other duties as assigned has grown. But so much of it is you. So how much, you know, where do you decide that line is too? Because you do share a lot of who you are. Right. You're extremely authentic.

[00:08:20] And that's, I mean, that's, that's a lot of it. And that builds rapport with your listener as well. But it's an interesting balance. It is, and it is a difficult one that I still juggle.

[00:08:31] So I used to share probably too much and I still share too much, but there are more limits because one thing I discovered is the more you share, the more people feel like they own you and the rights to everything about your life.

[00:08:46] And then that gives them the ability to have an opinion on your life and everything about you. And so I'm still, I would say very genuinely authentic, but I have been more protective over certain things.

[00:09:01] But once I had a kid, then that's where my weird like line was like, what is my line here? Because you see so many people that overly show their kids and use them for content and people who won't show their kids at all.

[00:09:15] So I've tried to like find the balance on that for what feels comfortable for our family. So that was like a big change in boundaries for me probably.

[00:09:25] And I don't know, my issue is shutting it down because it is so part of my job and I always want people to feel like I saw their comment or the message and I want to respond in a timely manner.

[00:09:37] But then I'll be sitting on my couch at home and I'm like, yeah, I don't think it's really important that I responded to someone at this moment. Maybe this phone should be put face down and I should be focused on my kid.

[00:09:48] So I still like struggle with finding a proper balance with social media. Sure. And I suppose that was a slow creep into our lives as well. Yes. The more prevalent that became, the more we're connected, it is harder to disconnect and turn that work self off,

[00:10:03] especially when you are so much of your work, right? Like it's you that's out there. So that is so true. I'm an elder millennial. I feel like you should be wearing a robe. Yeah, I know. I'm sort of a scepter at T.R.F. I agree. Thank you.

[00:10:22] I'm going to demand that in the future. So I have the luxury of having a childhood without social media where you were maybe truly just actually focused on what you were doing.

[00:10:34] And then my space came into play when I was in, I don't know if I can remember if I was in middle school, but probably middle school or high school. And so I have like the unique experience of both.

[00:10:46] So I definitely know how much it's become a part of my everyday and like life consumption with my job. I was never like completely able to shut things off because I think what makes you good when you do radio is wherever you are,

[00:11:01] you are thinking about how did this interaction, like how can I turn that into a bit and use it for content? How can I like watch this person as coffee shop and that can be turned into a segment on my show.

[00:11:12] So it was always viewing and taking in your surroundings so that you could turn it into content. And now it's like using that for the radio show and also what can I use that for in a social extension. So it's definitely very consuming.

[00:11:30] I was gonna say an exhausting probably a little bit. Do you ever get exhausted by that? To your point you were saying like you flip your phone. Do you ever just fully shut off for like a weekend?

[00:11:39] Rarely only on vacation and that's why I love national parks because they don't have service. Strategy! I'll go into an actual park. Brace plug. Truly. Yeah, I'm working on an endorsement deal with them, that's a joke. But I would love that glacier, hit me up.

[00:11:55] But I, yeah, you go in and guess what? I will still take pictures and video but I don't feel like I'm missing anything. So why is it when I'm on my couch at home, I'm scrolling as if I'm missing something. It's so bizarre.

[00:12:08] Yeah, Estrella and I have talked about this too. Growing up in a similar fashion, I feel like what the phones and social media have done is really, it's almost like a loss of curiosity because there's the assumption that you can get whatever you need,

[00:12:23] whatever information you need right at your fingertips. And to your point too about observation, observing the world around you is so important for what you do. If you're wrapped up in this thing, you're really passively engaging rather than actively participating and taking in those things around you.

[00:12:40] But it's interesting because the generational divide, I feel like I'm again like just slow creeping into curmudgeon and I don't know if that's okay or not yet. We like it. Embrace this. I try more and more to just put that away and be present in the moment again.

[00:12:58] But it is, it's interesting. Have you found any ways to help you with that that you can pass along as a tip for me? Because I'm always looking. Honestly, when we walk our dogs, I don't bring the phone anymore.

[00:13:10] I use it like there's all these ways that you're connected too. That's what my mind was. I should track my, why do I care? Right. When I step side talk. It doesn't matter. It's the control factor they have. They do.

[00:13:21] So it just starts with this, you know, like slowly again observing when you don't need it because you feel chain to it all the time. And then just start leaving it back or letting it die as you know from the other day.

[00:13:32] I was looking at his phone and I was like, are you riding on the edge? Like this is stressful. She's actually reaching a high anxiety level over your phone. Just a little bit. I was just wiggling through my day like it's been quiet. I don't know why.

[00:13:45] I've been dead for a while. Yeah, that would stress me out too. Actually. Yeah. So I get that good though. Just starting to leave it. I think I need to think through that a little bit more. I'm here to help. Thank you.

[00:13:55] But talk about too from your perspective, you've worked together a ton. Talk about what that's been like again, the evolution over the years and just the scope and breadth of events and things we do. And you're a fan anyway. So I feel like easy plug.

[00:14:09] Do you want to come back to them all? Yeah. Do some fun stuff. Yes, always. I remember when I first moved here I felt like people said if you live in Minnesota, the Mall of America is more of a tourist spot than for locals.

[00:14:21] And I was like, that is not true. That is not true at all. First of all my husband was like, are you kidding me? When he had a baby he was like, I'm all walked constantly with my kid. And I was and I always came.

[00:14:32] I just like, I love them all. It's like the top spot when people visit me that I do take them to. And all my friends come here. I thought that was such an interesting thing that a local had said to me and I

[00:14:42] was like, no, that's not true. And so I've loved it since day one. Yeah. I feel like we've had such a good organic partnership too because it very much is conversational. Like what are you interested in? Absolutely. What do you like right now and how can we accommodate?

[00:14:53] Is it like family friendly or is it more do you want to do fashion? Yeah. Are you trying to come to a event? Cody Rigsby. I do outreach out. So I see so and so. Do you need someone there by chance? Because he was a fun one.

[00:15:07] I mean, he sold out so fast from an event standpoint. Right? That one was wild for us. Yeah. We actually added more tickets because the first lot of 700 sold out so fast. So crazy. So we checked again to see what we could get.

[00:15:19] When you were like, hey, they're like, yeah. I mean, we would have made it work. Oh, absolutely. But we would have charged you double. Yeah, obviously. And that's fair. And I deserve that. So that's the eye.

[00:15:28] I've done, I mean, I've gone, I've come to see the pioneer woman. Like Rhee was here. That line was huge. Yeah. It was crazy. I still love her. And then there are some that, you know, like from like a TV show, Pretty Little Liars,

[00:15:40] one of the characters had like a poetry book and I'm like, I look back. I'm like, that was a forgettable one for me now later because the show is no longer relevant. But at the time I was like, you have so and so from Pretty Little Liars.

[00:15:51] Can I come? And then crazy performances that we've, you know, just like music like shows have been really cool here too. So. Because you came to the drag show earlier this year too, which is so fun. And you came last year as well. I did. Yeah.

[00:16:04] And then you came to the drag shows for sure that you guys put on so many fun things going on. Yeah. It's interesting that we get to do so many different things under this same roof here and it's fun to help curate that and put that together.

[00:16:16] But I love that you are again, looking through some of the things in advance of this, you're here for the opening of Fly with Apa and you're here for Peloton. Yep. You're a fan. A chameleon. Big fan. Can't hide it. No, I can't.

[00:16:31] No, and that's like, I was telling guys, I'm playing like I'm a fan. I have like my spots, you know, I come in and I have my route and we have a new night guy and he came to the Fly with

[00:16:40] Apa thing with me and he was like, let's go wherever. And I was like weaving through my path and he was like, how often do you come here? He's like, why do you know this so well? And I was like, we love that. Yeah. You're welcome. Let's yeah.

[00:16:55] I think that's what we are going to do. We're going to log your lap around the mall. That would be really good. And we're going to have the mall walkers do the photos. We're going to pull those from the archives. This is inspirational.

[00:17:06] I think is what this is. I make a mental note. It's perfect. Okay, Frank, can I ask you a random question that I love about you? Is it you paint? I do paint. And I think that's such a fun thing that I've been

[00:17:16] following along for a couple of years now and that you've started selling your paintings. And I love that this is like a facet that I didn't expect from you. But how fun. I didn't expect it from myself. I've never had an artistic ability in my entire life.

[00:17:26] Like growing up, I was, I wanted to be like, because I lean more into the arts for sure. I am not an analytical mind. I am probably a more creative. So I remember growing up being like, I'm going to try

[00:17:38] band and the teacher's like, you don't have rhythm. And I was like, fair. I do not. Have you heard jazz? Yeah. You said that. It's fine. No. Yeah. I was like, no, you're onto something. I, and then she's like, they're like maybe try art.

[00:17:52] And then they're like, oh, maybe try choir. And I think choir just absorbs anyone because you're like, excuse me. We had a past around. I was. You'll find something for you. Yeah. And I did choir and I was under this fake like belief

[00:18:06] that I was good at that. And then as I got older, I learned I am not. But in the moment, I was like, wow, I'm a fantastic alto guys. So someone told you one day they're like, hey, yeah. Yeah. I'm so sorry.

[00:18:18] Because you could have found out on American Idol like so many folks do. Well, I just found out on the radio. I think what she knows is the type of city singing. Yeah. But I, yeah, in 2020, like everyone else, it's like, okay,

[00:18:29] let's figure out a way to like, kill some time. And so I ordered a Bob Ross painting kit from Amazon. You were just talking about that. Yep. And it doesn't have instructions or anything. So I was just painting and I had a baby, like a newbornish

[00:18:41] baby at the time. And so she would take naps and I would paint every day. And I never took any classes. So like just by painting every day, you start learning some things and techniques and nothing I do is right. But it's fun and I enjoy it.

[00:18:56] And it's, I always say it's the only time I cannot think about anything else. My mind cannot wonder when I'm painting. So it's kind of a nice break from myself. Do you host painting classes? No. Now I'm like, can I show up for this? No.

[00:19:09] People ask that all the time. I'm like, I would, I guess never say never, but never. Because it's your thing. I think that's a beautiful thing. It's your time to just, but. People have been like, can I commission?

[00:19:18] And I'm like, no, because I, if that stresses me out. Now that adds a new layer of like, I'm trying to satisfy someone and I am not again, I'm not trained. So I just would never feel like I could teach someone anything.

[00:19:30] Well, it's flattering that people would think that. Absolutely. But also it's nice to keep something for yourself when you have so much of yourself that's available to everybody else. For sure. Yeah. That's a good point. It's interesting. You made comment about this too, about how you're very visual,

[00:19:46] the visual medium, and you went into radio. I know. Just going to point that out. I know, that's fair. And then thank goodness social media came a long way. It's my job to paint a visual photo for everyone. Yes. So that's what I have to work on. Yeah.

[00:20:02] Are there things that you're excited about in this next year? Like what are you most excited about? Well, I'm always most excited about vacations, trips and things like that. I'm trying to think if there's anything specific other than that I'm looking forward to.

[00:20:17] So I switched my show around. Like I did mornings for years and now I'm doing afternoons. So I think growing that is exciting for me because my name is on the show and that always adds a new level of ownership and pressure.

[00:20:34] So really focusing on building and growing that is probably like my biggest focus for this year. And what I'm excited for, I work with a guy named Colt. He's like 10 years younger than me and he's so creative. And when you find a truly like collaborative partner, it's just

[00:20:53] it's a game changer. It's like it challenges you. It makes you better. It makes the whole experience fun. And I love radio like I always have. And so I don't know. I feel like I'm with like this whole new chapter.

[00:21:06] I'm excited and motivated in like a whole new way. And so I think that's what I'm most excited about for this year. To do what you've done, you know, here locally from 2012 on, you must feel really supported. I mean, I would think so.

[00:21:22] Your name is out there like you just said, like it's your show. Yeah. That's really a pretty awesome accomplishment and a pretty, I think so anyway. Yeah. You guys are fun on social too. I was looking at some of the content you've done together. He seems so playful.

[00:21:36] He is. Just excited and interesting. He has my same kind of self deprecating sense of humor, which I like the only way to go. I know I love it. The king of it. I think you would call to go back and forth for sure with that.

[00:21:48] And so I just, I love that. And going to what you said with like this support, the Twin Cities is unlike any place I've worked. I like, I love Indiana. It's where I'm from. And they're, they were supportive of radio. And then I went out to Reno.

[00:22:01] They were just like, they didn't care. You know what I mean? And when I came to the Twin Cities, it was immediately different. And I don't know how to explain it. Like they just, they seem to care about what's going on in their community.

[00:22:12] They seem to care about the local, um, whether that's maybe now influencers, but media people. And it was so weird at first to have so much interaction and people to, I mean, immediately comment on what you're doing, whether they like it or not.

[00:22:28] And so I do feel really lucky to have been embraced and yeah, supported in the Twin Cities and like, you know, with my coworkers and stuff too. So I feel like you're such a Minnesota treasure in the way that I think about it. Thank you.

[00:22:42] I mean, we see you everywhere to your point people. I mean, you're beloved. Oh, thank you. I feel like I just saw your feature in MSP mag, which is huge. I mean, I feel like that really plays into how people feel about you

[00:22:51] and what you contribute, which is phenomenal. Yeah, I am appreciative for sure. Yeah. That's so fun. What's our finale question? What you got? Oh, this is the second time producer Julius thrown this out here. So we have to, I was like, I'm having fun with what we're at.

[00:23:06] What is your path around MOA? So are you creature of habit with like, I always park? Okay. I still think we should do like a where we like follow you. You don't tell us what we're doing, but we're going to be with you. Yeah. Paint the picture.

[00:23:20] So when I first moved here, I was always a 24th street exit and I would park in the Indiana lot because I'm from Indiana and that is the entrance I would come through like kind of straight into the rotunda. But now I'm a North entrance girl.

[00:23:31] Oh, just one of the best kept secrets. Yeah, it is the best spot. So I do park over so the North entrance by obviously Ikea, but I come in and I do like as it has my hotspots right when I come in anthropology, Zara, H&M.

[00:23:46] And then I typically will cut across and I will check out like Madewell, Eritzia, Lulu. So those are kind of my top hotspots I'll hit. And then if I am circling back around, I will hit Nordstrom and go to,

[00:24:00] I am I think a North side food court girl as well. That's my food court now. South side just feels so far sometimes. I mean, I saw someone who works here. So you're not counting steps either? Great, perfect.

[00:24:15] Well, I go as far as Nordstrom, E-bar and then I come back and then I'll do it again and come back. It's one of those things that working here too. I feel that it's funny to hear everyone's path because it is, it gets to a point.

[00:24:25] We're so massive. Yeah. Do I want to go to the South side? It honestly, I have to weigh my pros and cons. Absolutely. How long is it going to take me to get there? When you guys opened the haunted house at first, I didn't know where it was

[00:24:37] and I was like, I was like, I'm going to be late and I am hiking through the mall. I was sweating by the time I got there and I was like, I don't usually come to this side. I know why I didn't know where it was. I'm sweating.

[00:24:47] I was like, because I was like speed walking. What a great discovery. Yeah, it really was. The mall is even bigger than you realize. It is. My stepson though would make me go through the entrance with Lulu

[00:24:58] and Urban Outfitters so that he could go to Urban Outfitters probably. So it's like, it also depends on who you're with. Yeah. Sure, it does. Your journey for the day. I have one more question. No, please, please. I'm sorry. I'm so excited. Okay.

[00:25:12] What are your top stores right now? And then what are your stepson's top stores too? Because if he likes urban, I'm always so curious what people are into. He's 16, my stepson. So he is very into like a pack sign kind of situation.

[00:25:22] So that's like his top spot he would go to. I am, yeah, probably made well. I do like anthropology a lot. Zara, I'll be honest. It always depends on the line for me. 100%. The checkout line. If I walk in and I see it's long,

[00:25:38] I'm not going in Zara that day. And that's not a knock on them because I love Zara so much. They're kids and their adults clothes. I have a lot of clothes from there. I think every woman says that. Or male, I mean both.

[00:25:50] Actually, I don't know what the male is lying. Do they checkout upstairs? Usually they're usually not checking out upstairs. Because this is the strategy. Yes, for sure. But I feel the same way. I feel like Zara on a Tuesday, best day to do it.

[00:26:02] Just like middle of the week tip. Yeah, that's the small little nuance because I feel the same way. If it's too long I'm bailing. Abdomen ship. Tomorrow. We'll see. That's the strategy. I will also say as a willing shopping spousal participant,

[00:26:17] I appreciate Madewell because they have never assumed I am just being dragged there. Oh, nice. They always ask if there's something that I need help with. They're always very accommodating because it drives me nuts when I walk in. They're like, getting dragged along with the wife, huh?

[00:26:34] Be like, I will. Yeah, listen, yeah. I am here willingly. I want to be here. This is fun for me. Don't ruin it. But Madewell is very accommodating in that way. So it is. That's amazing. It's a thing. Yeah, it should be. Everyone should be doing that.

[00:26:49] See, Jake, my husband, he would go over to the, I'm going to say it wrong, Viori. Yes, no, you haven't. That's right. He loves their clothes. Good to know. So he got me into that. He opened that door for me at Christmas,

[00:27:01] purchasing me some pants and very soft shirts from there. Yeah, that's his spot. Yeah, people love it. They are so soft. They're amazing because they're our newest addition, I would say, from like a fleasurer. Was it last year or two years ago now? It feels like last year.

[00:27:13] What is time? What is time? Great question. Anything after 2020? Yeah, I got it. It's a blur. I'm the one that's still living in like the 90s or only 10 years ago. So same. It's so banana. It is. It was. Speaking of time, we are running short,

[00:27:27] but I did want to ask, because you kind of touched on this a little bit too, the nature of celebrity has changed significantly. Your first event, Hunger Games, big cast from a big movie, lots of promotion behind it. But then as we move forward,

[00:27:40] it's really these people that are oddly in our homes now every day through the Peloton app or a cooking show. Do you see that too? Especially like in radio, it's harder and harder for people to break through and find that, I don't know, success

[00:27:59] or celebrity doesn't equate to success, but it is really interesting as we're trying to book talent and things as well and anticipate what that looks like. I just think it's been interesting and you dealt with the same thing with radio too.

[00:28:12] Yeah, I think they come and go faster. So they have a moment, but it's so quick and it could be over so quickly. For radio, it's interesting because a lot of songs are played now that have a breakthrough on TikTok. And that's a very interesting change

[00:28:30] where radio used to break most artists. Sometimes now they'll break on like TikTok before they come through on radio. And it's like, oh, this is so huge there. We have to play it. Why else would we ever have played Kate Bush? Mm-hmm, absolutely.

[00:28:42] In this decade because it blew up on a TV show and typically that wouldn't have happened in radio. But with the celebrity, it is interesting. And I think it's nearly impossible to keep up with celebrities now. Before I feel like you have kind of your core,

[00:29:00] but now there are so many different avenues to be quote unquote celebrity. I cannot keep up with it. It'll be like, oh, we're playing a new song from a guy from Stranger Things and Joe Keery. But his artist name is Joe, his spelled DJ O.

[00:29:16] Joe with the DJ. And they're like, this is the guy from Stranger Things who also filmed a movie in Minnesota. And it's so interesting. And I'm like, I wouldn't have known that was him. And I love the song. It's actually good. It's not just TikTok good.

[00:29:30] It's actually good. No, he's really good. He's really good. So I don't know if I'm answering the question properly, but I just feel like there are more celebrities it's impossible to keep up with them. And then they're gone and they get canceled a lot quicker as well,

[00:29:42] because they have too much access to celebrity quickly without proper media training. Right. Agreed. You were ready with that one. Yeah, I feel like. He put some thought into that. I didn't put thought into it. No, I just, it's like true.

[00:29:57] It's like I see people like getting canceled so frequently. Yeah. And with everything on social media now things they said 10 years ago. Come back to hot them. Interesting. Okay. I have one more question. I'm so sorry we could do this all day. Go ahead.

[00:30:11] She going yell at you. No, I know. Okay, favorite song right now. What are you listening to? Okay, I have a handful, but there are two songs on the new Ariana Grande album. We're playing We Can't Be Friends and also she has one called Imperfect.

[00:30:25] On the new Beyonce album, I love Bodyguard and I love her song with Miley Cyrus. Those are like my top two. I am loving the song with Joe. I haven't heard this. I'm gonna have to. It's really good. You'd probably know it if you heard it.

[00:30:40] And then Olivia's new song Obsessed. Probably my top. And you went and saw her when she was here? I did see her. Yep, it was a great show. She's good. You have to answer your own question now. Oh shoot. That's a good one.

[00:30:50] I never prepared, I get so excited. Okay, we were just, I'm out Beyonce, you know where I'm going with this. I love her. I went to her concert last year. Did you go last year too? I didn't go last year or no.

[00:30:58] But I've been to most of her tours. Yeah. But she's gonna tour again. We know it. She will for sure. I'm going to leave Ijeans with Postmote. Oh my gosh, it just has, I can't stop. It's gonna be my top one for 2024. I feel like at this point.

[00:31:11] Probably. And his voice is so good on it. So good. Her whole album, she's brilliant. So I feel like I'm just all Beyonce right now. That's great. You're? I mean, it's tough to pull me away from Slipknot but I've recently discovered, it's true.

[00:31:24] They get me on a wavelength. But I recently discovered a band called Spirit Box that I really like as well. Four folks, husband and wife duo that started the band but like very like big sound, like ethereal sound. And she can transition from like guttural,

[00:31:46] fear inducing growls to just like beautiful, beautiful. I really like it. Should we put it on in the office? Yeah, well actually you're gonna sing us out. Perfect. Right, cause no. Cause we've learned that you're gonna not.

[00:31:57] I can do my alto part on the Mama's and the Papa's California dreamin'. Whenever you're ready. Perfection. And then the last question then, favorite coffee. Favorite coffee? Doesn't have to be here. That's true. Are you saying just like- You're craving your iced coffee.

[00:32:13] From a location though, are you saying? Yeah. Okay my favorite in the Twin Cities is the lobby in Excelsior. Oh. Okay. I really- Weekend plans. We have big coffee fans as, you know, sorry. Has to be iced year round. That's the rule. Same.

[00:32:29] We talk about this all the time. And I don't have, I don't have fans. I think I'm like a very standard latte or vanilla latte kind of person typically. So, but at the lobby they have an iced cappuccino and it's so good because they pour their homemade

[00:32:46] cold foam on top and it's so unexpected for a cappuccino. And it is chef-cookies. Are we real tripping? I think we should. We're gonna wrap it up here so we can have it at the lobby. That sounds amazing. And they owe me free coffees for life now. Yeah.

[00:33:00] Shout out. Yes. You say cold foam, I'm in. Let's do it. Yeah, I know. It's so good. But thank you for joining us. Thank you. Thank you for being a fan and supporting us. We love you. We're happy to have the association. The best partnership of my life.

[00:33:11] Honestly, like I love you guys. I love working with you obviously so often. Mall of America in general, it's been like the best. So, thank you. There it is. That's our poll quote. That is. Best partnership ever. I love Mall of America. You heard it here.

[00:33:24] All right, thanks everyone. Thanks for joining us on so much more. Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of So Much More. If you wanna hear more, be sure to subscribe to our podcast wherever you find your favorites, including Spotify, Apple or Google Podcast.

[00:33:41] And you can also watch a video cast on YouTube. Go to podcast.malvamerica.com to leave a review, ask a question, or give us an idea for the show. Until next time, thanks for listening. So much more is presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau,

[00:33:57] the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minnesota. Before your next trip to Mall of America, visit bloomingtonmn.org for answers to all your travel questions, deals and packages for hotel stays, and so much more.