What Happens When You Can’t Tell What’s Real? | Saratoga Dispatch & the Future of News

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Ooh, I'm Emmy Award-winning journalist Noel McLaren.
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And I'm local business owner Zac Denham.
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And this is Off Track Saratoga Podcast.
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Sometimes we're on track.
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Sometimes we're a little off.
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But it's always worth the listen.
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Hello, hello.
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Hi friends.
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Welcome back.
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We've got a new fun one today.
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We are on location at Stir Up, Saratoga, a new curated clothing destination.
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This place is so interesting and so neat and so different.
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It is vintage, Ralph Lorenz, high-end quality clothing that I mean I haven't seen anywhere else in any other consignment shop.
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And we'll we'll do we'll get more to that a little later.
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But uh yeah, if you recognize where we are, that's where we are.
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For all our YouTube viewers, since all the kids are on YouTube nowadays, we decided we're kids.
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Yeah.
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We wanted to do it too.
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You're right, we are kids.
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But first, we want to start with our first guest, Abby Tegnelia.
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She has the very popular, all-inclusive, incredible local newsletter, Saratoga Dispatch.
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If you're not on it, get on it.
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I would agree.
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Hi guys.
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Hi, how are you?
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I'm thrilled to have you here.
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We know we've known each other for a couple of years, and when no, when Noelle and I were kind of chatting on, you know, points of view and topics that we think are relevant, uh, both locally and just, you know, in general, um, you were somebody who I I thought would be such a fun guest.
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So we're stoked to have you here.
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Fantastic.
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Happy to be here.
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Abby is kind of like Oh my god, wait, Noelle, your thing is upside down.
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Noelle's mic flag is upside down.
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She's really nailing it to the city.
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But you know what's really funny is I'm feeling a little dizzy the last few weeks.
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I don't know what it is.
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So this is very appropriate for my life.
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Standby.
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Oh my god, I'm screaming.
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So for all of our audio only listeners on the 87 and 787, Noelle is actively struggling with her microphone and her mic flag to really get herself back in gear.
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Let's get a touch.
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I think maybe that was the thing that I needed to get my life back in order this week.
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I don't really know, but maybe.
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Well, I'll report back after this recording and see if things have turned right side up everywhere else in the world.
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Maybe if this is the thing that fixes everything.
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Listen, we'll we'll wait for the update.
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People want to know.
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Anyway, Abby, um, I just like whenever I see you or get the chance to work with you, you and I always go down this absolute rabbit hole of journalism.
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Abby and I can talk for literal days about journalism, its past, present, its future, and the direction that it's going.
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Both of us have backgrounds in professional journalism.
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I worked in many news stations in broadcast journalism across the country.
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Abby has worked in many print rooms across the country, has been an editor, many accolades.
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So, Abby, I mean, talk to us a bit about like where you see this landscape changing and how the rise of social media, AI, all of it.
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I mean, this is a giant question, but let's start there.
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What what what do you what do you think about all of that?
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Well, that is a giant question and three different questions in one.
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I would say let's start with it where journalism is is going.
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Sure.
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I feel like it's kind of already there.
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Um, our magazines are getting smaller and less frequent.
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And the main thing is that local journalism is what we're gonna talk about today, I think, is what's hurting the most.
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Right.
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And even here in Saratoga, there's not one place that everyone goes to get their news anymore.
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Right.
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And so I kind of wanted to step in and start to create that again so that there was a daily or not quite every single day place where pet people could find out what was going on in Saratoga.
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Right.
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People used to go to their local coffee shop, stewards, grab like a uh a newspaper, have their cup of coffee, and read about just the daily things, or turn on the TV and watch your morning rundown about things that are going on today.
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Right.
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I think things are kind of changing.
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Well, and everyone used to get the same newspaper or the same thing.
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So when you were sort of talking with your neighbors about it, having that friendly debate, you were talking about, you were debating about what was actually happening, not where did you hear that?
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Right.
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And so since it wasn't a rumor.
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Right, right.
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Right.
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And who who was the reporter?
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Oh, is it, you know, on, you know, leaning one side, not the other.
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And and let's go back to talking about just what's happening.
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And so that's why I kind of wanted to create a catch-all place.
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So there's social stuff, there's a little bit of news, there's original reporting, and and it's been shown that the people who get local news are more likely to vote, they're more likely to know their neighbors, they're more likely to be involved.
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And you know, 55 million Americans right now live in a news desert with no local news being reported.
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It is insane.
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It's so crazy.
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So these newsletters are popping up.
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This is the part that gets to your um question about where is journalism going.
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Right.
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These newsletters are popping up and they are becoming that, you know, that um outlet for these local communities.
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And the most exciting part is that because they're kind of entrepreneurial, they can be tailored to that community.
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Right.
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So they're so different.
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I subscribe to so many different ones across the country, and they're so crazy different.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So, you know, you have newsletters, you have podcasts, you have also just plain old social media, Instagram accounts, real uh TikTok accounts.
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How do you separate if you're a viewer and you want to support local, learn local, and get involved and have that old I pick up the newspaper with my coffee to find out what's going on and have a conversation with the water cooler, you know, feel.
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How do you know who's trustworthy and who's not?
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I mean, that's the big question, right?
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Here in Saratoga, we are definitely not news desert, which is so exciting.
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Right.
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But we have a weekly newspaper, we have many larger newspapers in the state of New York that sometimes write about us.
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But it would take a lot of curation for a news hound to really find that.
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And we have them here, and I love those people.
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But um, so you know, I kind of started off, let me do some of that for you.
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And I think this kind of leads to your second question about AI and who do you trust.
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Because people will notice in my newsletter, I don't like to talk in first person, but I'm learning that I have to put myself in it just a little bit more so that people know I'm not AI.
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And everything in here is curated by a journalist.
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I think that's a very important like point to make uh because, especially in a newsletter format, right?
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It is inherently personal, right?
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It's something that the consumer has sought out for it, you know.
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So there it provides a place of, okay, it's a place that I looked for.
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It's familiar.
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I found it, and it becomes familiar, it becomes second nature.
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And I think that that's a really important part of keeping the engagement on the newsletter level, right?
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Because that's what makes it different rather than just a larger publication.
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You know, you're talking to a human being rather than a robot or just someone random, but you you become that, you grow that relationship with that person.
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But what's interesting about that to me, anyway, is when you're in journalism school or when you're taught to be a reporter or a news person, you are actually taught not to make it personal.
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You are taught to keep yourself out of it.
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And you kind of the way like a doctor takes an oath of office to treat the person no matter what, like just give them care.
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We kind of take this oath of just being the outside observer delivering what other people are saying.
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It's it's precious.
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I mean, it's this thing.
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Right.
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And it really goes to show that journalists have to evolve with the times.
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You know, for a long time, people were complaining, all these the influencers and the content creators are taking the place of food journalists and things like that.
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Well, what can you learn from them?
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Right.
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Yeah, people want that.
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The more AI, you know, comes into play, the more people want that personal connection.
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And it's so funny you say that because when I first started out, it was completely, you didn't, I didn't even sign my name.
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I was nowhere.
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Right.
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And I was at an event talking about the dispatch, and someone was like, Oh, that's you.
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And no one even knew it was me.
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And so I've it's you know, it's become you know an involvement for me too to start to put myself in there more.
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It was not comfortable at first, but um the way journalism is changing, we have to change with it.
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And that's just that's I mean, your brand has been out for a little over a year now, right?
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Yeah, I just celebrated my one year.
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Congratulations! And that's so, yeah, that's my point too, is even in the year and change that you've been doing this, your brand evolved so much, you know, and it it is only a testament to you as a as a journalist, staying in touch with okay, my my landscape is changing daily.
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I have to stay engaged and I have to stay with the tide, right?
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You know, in in some way, I spend a lot of time on that.
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So thank you.
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You know, like I said, I subscribed maybe 25 newsletters from across the country.
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Yeah.
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I talk to other newsletter people all the time.
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I'm trying to get ideas, I'm in Discord groups, do your research, all the things.
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Yeah.
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It's crazy because you know, journalists these days, you have to be a journalist, you have to be an entrepreneur, you have to be, you know, a community builder.
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There are all these things that you have to do.
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Right.
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And for some of us who remember when that was not the case, like Noel was saying, you know, it is maybe not as comfortable, but it's just so backwards from what we were taught.
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And and I think that now with the introduction of AI, what I'm finding like hard to stomach.
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I mean, I understand the place for AI.
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I understand that it's got a use, you know, and a purpose.
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But I think when it comes to journalism, news, or just information gathering in general, what's hard for me is I see these things that are generated by AI.
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And you used to be able to say, did that really happen?
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Show me the proof, show me the video, show me the receipts.
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And now the receipts can be completely made up by AI and digitally curated.
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And how do you decipher from what's real and what's not?
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I know that like my parents can't.
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Like some of the younger generation even can't.
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Like my kids will, you know, they don't have a lot of access to, you know, uh social, they don't have any access to social media unless I'm doing it.
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But if I'm scrolling on my phone and they're sitting with me, they're like, oh, look at that.
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And I'm like, that's AI, that's not real.
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And sometimes it even fools me.
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I mean, how do how do we how do we change that?
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Do you have any solutions for that, you think?
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Or I don't think any of us can really um change AI.
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It's coming.
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Um, but we can figure out how to value things other than AI in a way that benefits us all.
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And I do think that the personalization of things is a huge part of that.
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Um, you know, even though it's kind of new to me in the past six months.
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Um and, you know, you guys have been doing such a great job at it, you know, putting yourself out on social media.
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I don't even do a lot of social media.
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I have to work on that.
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We're getting you out there.
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Yeah.
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So yeah, but we just had to we have to keep doing that.
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We have to keep being, you know, applying the journalist goals and our ethics and everything we've learned and um putting the personal touch so that we can kind of compete with the content creators.
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I don't I think like ethics is the big, the big part of it that's like sometimes missing is like content creators.
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Girl, it's 2026.
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Everybody is a mess.
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Everybody has lost their way.
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I mean, literally, my mic bible sometimes.
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You want to get into it.
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I mean, ethics is crazy, girl.
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But ethics and journalism in particular has really kind of become secondary in a lot of ways because it's like, where's the where's the validity?
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Where's the You know, ethics I feel like has kind of taken a backseat in a lot of ways, and I and I think it's for the sake of clicks.
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You know, it's for the sake of clicks, whether it's um views, whatever.
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And I think that's really troubling, you know, and it makes people there's a lot of noise out there.
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And then it's such this vicious cycle because then the the writer whose name is on, you know, the byline that you're seeing gets blamed when really sometimes they're getting paid by clicks, sometimes the newspaper's writing the headline, they're not the ones writing the headline, you know, all of these things.
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And advertisers, think about it digitally, are paying for the clicks.
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Yeah.
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And that's how you get paid.
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Exactly, exactly.
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I mean, this is on the national level last year.
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No, I have done that for a very long time.
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And let me tell you, it is not, I mean, you just, it's just a totally different thing.
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And um, people don't realize they blame the person, and then you know, I not the system.
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Exactly.
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So also, also, Abby, I think you made a great distinction.
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This is on the national level, not so much the local level.
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Not only on a national level, but also um a media outlet versus a newsletter.
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So we're here to more to talk about newsletters right now, and this will be changing.
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We're the only one that isn't victims to algorithms.
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Um, right now, if you sign up for a newsletter, you're gonna get it in your email, and no one else can, you know, make that decision for you.
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You made that decision, and you it's open end or you don't.
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There's no click to it.
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Right.
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Um, I do happen to get um a lot of page views on my website because people not subscribing, and then my you know, subscriptions are getting higher and higher.
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Right.
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But overall, there's no pay-per-click model on a newsletter.
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Now AI is coming, it's coming for your for your inbox, and it's going to start um editing your inbox, you know, according to what you open and what you don't.
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So I implore you, if you have a local newsletter or something, please keep opening it.
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But for right now, newsletters as a whole are not the same as a media outlet like that.
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Right.
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One of the things I will say that comes across as so biased is um people standing up for freedom of the press.
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For whatever reason, they think that that is leaning one direction and not the other.
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And then what I've seen as everyone has come together, everyone on, you know, to save freedom of the press, then the people on the one side, like, how are you traitor, traitor?
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Why did you sign that with this other media outlet?
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And I'm like, all this, all this talk about media outlets being so biased.
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When it comes down to it, we all have that connective tissue that doesn't matter which way you vote, journalists are going to want freedom of the press.
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That's we care all so much.
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It's so important and it's socialized.
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Otherwise, news is dead.
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Exactly.
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And I don't want news to die.
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I don't want it to die.
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And, you know, I we haven't really talked about social media, how it affects um kind of news, but you talked about going to the coffee shop and getting your newspaper.
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Right.
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It used to be you could get for 10 cents, you'd get your coffee for 10 cents you throw in a newspaper.
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Right.
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Or, you know, I spent many years in New York City, you could just pick it up off the subway, someone left it.
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Well, now everything, you know, everything you apply to or you subscribe to.
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Everything's a subscription.
00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:26.240
$10, $8 because the advertisers are not paying for it.
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.279
So what do they do?
00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.679
Oh, well, social media is free.
00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:34.320
I can pick my favorite politician, which is a phrase that I will never understand.
00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:48.000
And they will just now they're in an echo chamber and they think that they're getting all of this news when it doesn't come from the neutral person that you talked about at the beginning of our chat, where it was someone who was trained to step back and look at everything.
00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:53.360
And so that that to me is something that I really want changed.
00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:56.720
And so, you know, my newsletter, for example, will always be free.
00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:05.840
The paid subscribers are how it exists, but it will always be free to read because I want more and more and more and more people to be able to see all of it.
00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:13.279
So I have a little place where I link to just different articles, there's no bias, and you can see, you know, everything that's hopefully that's going on in Saratoga at once.
00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:16.000
Obviously, I'm one person, I can't quite do that, but someday I will.
00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:23.039
You know, I mean, I think that's really admirable, especially um in a world of the paywall, you know.
00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.679
You know, which is so annoying.
00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:28.240
I'll get I'll get newsletters and stuff.
00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.480
Uh the the the headlines got Miguel.
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.399
I'm like, let me click and see what this is about.
00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:40.399
And I will open up an email and it's like three sentences, and it's like, click here and pay $1.99 to read the article.
00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:44.159
And it's like, well, I'm just gonna search what the article's about, right?
00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:48.960
Or read the social media comments because someone's gonna summarize it.
00:15:49.519 --> 00:16:02.240
You know, but you know, I think, you know, and I think there is a way for both because like to your to your earlier point, the it has to be somewhat tiered in order for it to be sustainable and things like that.
00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:07.600
They're putting a paywall on it so that the writers and reporters and journalists can get a living wage, right?
00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.000
Right.
00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.679
I'm not quite that living wage, but I know.
00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:19.519
I know it's necessary, but it's the frequency at which there's a paywall that is that is a little um meh, you know.
00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:24.000
Well, and I think that's also up to advertisers, which again gets you back to that.
00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.000
Oh, are they pay pushing there?
00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.440
It really truly is.
00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:46.000
But I think that that also goes to the point of like, if true journalism is going to exist, if that matters to people, freedom of the press, then yeah, you have to support it in some way, shape, or form, whether that's through advertisers, through like paywalls and subscribers, like it it has to exist.
00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:50.080
Otherwise, nobody's gonna be writing anything because you can't make a living off of that.
00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:51.759
I mean, don't get me wrong, I do subscribe.
00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:59.759
I I am a paid subscriber for like the journal and New York Times because I love the I love having access to the New York Times cooking app.
00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:08.960
You know, like that's what I use, but but also too, like, you know, I could I still have a a member, you know, a membership or whatever, and I can still have access to all of it, you know.
00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.160
So there's value.
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:14.400
Yeah, but sometimes I need one article, but I don't live in that whole thing.
00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.400
And then and there's just a paywall on it.
00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:23.119
If there is, you know, if you open up three in a month and you that is fair to me because, but yeah, when you just need that one.
00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.400
I had that last week.
00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:29.039
I was doing um a Saratoga reaction to what was in a national headline.
00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.880
I cannot afford another subscription.
00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.079
Oh my god, what?
00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:43.200
I am not so so we all know my husband Rob is a huge spreadsheet guy, definitely not me, but he's an engineer, and like he has like a spreadsheet of all of our subscriptions, and he's like, Oh, that's okay.
00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.559
What can we get rid of this month?
00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.319
What can we get rid of this month?
00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.200
What can we do?
00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:50.720
We just got rid of subscribe to everything, and that was important to me.
00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.599
That gets you.
00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.000
Yeah.
00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.759
And you want to as a journalist.
00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.599
I absolutely want to as a journalist.
00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:01.119
Um, I subscribe to all of our local um, you know, outlets and then also to other newsletters.
00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.440
Yeah.
00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:08.240
So I'm not on Substack, but if you go to my Substack profile, you'll see that I am a paid subscriber to a lot of different ones.
00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:14.799
And um, I hope that as we move forward, more and more people will pay to subscribe to Dispatch because I really do want to keep it going.
00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:20.720
No, I think it's I think it's a great um local catch-all for a little bit of everything.
00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.200
Yeah.
00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:30.720
Um Well, so and for those people who aren't familiar with Saratoga Dispatch, let's talk a bit about why you started Saratoga Dispatch and what you guys are writing about.
00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:35.119
Yeah, I love that you said you guys, because it really is just me, myself, and I.
00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:38.960
Um depending on the day and what personality you have.
00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.240
You never know, Abby, right?
00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:44.960
No, I recently um someone said, Oh, you know, your intern came by and dropped it off.
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.680
I was like, that was me.
00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.960
People do the same thing to us with like editing.
00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.960
They're like, your videographer and your editor.
00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.799
You you do this and then you hand it off, and like I am.
00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.160
There's one wizard.
00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:58.400
I'm sure this was your editor, but I'm like, what are you talking about?
00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:06.880
It's so kind because people cannot believe that you know, we do all the things we do, going back to the journalist slash entrepreneur, slash editor, slash, yeah, all of these things.
00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:12.640
But um, yeah, so the dispatch, it is I mean, really depending on the day, three or four times a week.
00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:20.880
Um, hopefully some original reporting and then some links to everything that's going on, maybe something that the whole town is talking about.
00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:31.119
Um, obviously for track, a little bit about what's going on at the track and kind of just Saratoga in the news, in the news, and then Saratoga's news, all in one place.
00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:34.079
What made you say Saratoga needs this?
00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:36.079
Because I wanted it.
00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:40.240
I I'm such a news junkie, as I'm sure you are.
00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:45.519
And, you know, I've always worked so much that I don't have time to read every single place.
00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:49.119
Now, the Saratoga report is um one I will give a shout out to.
00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:52.319
He has been curating all of the Saratoga links every morning.
00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.559
It has literally been a godsend.
00:19:54.559 --> 00:20:03.920
And so I just wanted, um, and he is kind of the journalist you were talking about that's like, here are all the links, and he's so great, and he's now doing more original reporting.
00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:07.680
And I just love that more original reporting in Saratoga is what I want.
00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:13.839
And so, um, yeah, I wanted something that incorporated what a journalist is actually seeing and doing.
00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:17.519
And um the other thing is that, you know, I live here.
00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:23.440
Um, I wanted it to be, I live here and I love it, and um I'm out and about, and this is what's happening.
00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:29.279
I want to know what kind of um, because you've got a year and change worth of data, right?
00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.720
To look at what you've been up to.
00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:43.599
I want to know in, you know, your time in having the dispatch out there consistently, what types of articles are the ones that you find get the most traction?
00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:52.240
It's so funny because sometimes, you know, something will work and then I'll like, oh, I have to come up with another one of those, and then I do it a few weeks later and it's a little bit lower.
00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:58.000
But um, oh the the the juicier stories are definitely the ones that that hit.
00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:00.079
Of course you have one that sticks out in your brain.
00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.519
You're like, oh yeah, that one.
00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:09.359
There there are two that well, actually, there are three that were absolutely big, and I'll I'll pick the one um that maybe will get me in the least amount of trouble.
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:12.480
We just had the hospital gala a year ago.
00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:16.880
Um they had these crazy auction items that were once in a lifetime.
00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:24.079
And um, you know, the one guy got it, and the other one, you know, and it involved the D-Crescentais and involved the, you know, all these different names and everything.
00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:31.599
And I was just like, they just made $100,000 in 60 seconds, and no one knew because everyone thought that the auction ended with the one thing.
00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:37.119
And I kind of got in there and no, just you know, and that's the thing, the journalists will put that together, right?
00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.519
Right.
00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:40.160
You know, the guests are going, oh my god, they just did a second one.
00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.880
And I'm like, And you're following the money.
00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.599
Right.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:49.279
And so, you know, um, and then someone gave me the quote best auction since Mary Lou and Michelle.
00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:52.559
And somebody gives you a good sound bite.
00:21:52.559 --> 00:22:07.920
I know that I mean that that is everything that in the quotes, and then you know a hundred grand and um in sixty seconds, and it was to To have um the Deacrosenis and um oh these huge guys at the hospital, which are they're so great, to create their own Stewart's ice cream.
00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.319
Oh, cool.
00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:12.960
So then as the ice creams came out, I did the follow-up stories now that's just coming out.
00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.279
So I really love a story that keeps on going.
00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.799
I love it.
00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:23.440
That is my favorite type of story that like you literally just start the snowball and then like a week later it's this and it's this.
00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:25.359
When you find a good one of those, it's cool.
00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.160
Amazing.
00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:28.480
You seem like you're having a whole lot of fun.
00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:30.880
We talked about how we're having a whole lot of fun.
00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:39.759
And like, how has it been different for you going from your traditional journalism editor role to this now curator of a newsletter?
00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.599
It's similar but different.
00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:51.039
Yeah, it's funny because it starts I started off at New York magazine in New York City, which was a local magazine, but also it's New York City.
00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.880
Um huge.
00:22:52.880 --> 00:23:02.480
And then I worked at national publications, I worked um at Glamorous Weekly in touch, and then slowly but surely made my way to local, first on the West Coast and then here.
00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:08.400
And you know, working at a local media company, it's so great, but there's just there's this kind of barrier.
00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:12.960
And I would drop off magazines everywhere, and not a lot of people really felt like they knew me.
00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:15.599
And that was fine, but I was a part of the community and really loved that.
00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:22.559
So when I was looking for the next chapter, um, yeah, I don't know how I ended up getting the balls to do it, honestly.
00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:26.960
Looking back, I'm like, oh sometimes you just have to do it.
00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.519
You just gotta say, I want to do it, I'm gonna try it.
00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:33.039
And that the trying things is key.
00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:36.559
And that that's when I felt like I was showing my age that I was kind of nervous about things.
00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.559
I go, no, the young kids these days, the unknown.
00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.039
They just do it.
00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.960
They just do it, they try to change it.
00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.000
That's exactly right.
00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.799
So I've been, I have, I've had that mindset this whole time.
00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:49.440
There have been mistakes, there have been changes, there, but I think we're getting into a nice groove now.
00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:53.359
Um, I just did a redesign, and yeah, I can't even believe it.
00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:56.160
What do we have to look forward to for the future of dispatch?
00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:58.559
So that's actually a really good question.
00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:01.440
When I first started it, I was like, I ask a good question.
00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:04.240
I feel like I made the teacher happy.
00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:07.920
Because this could go in one of two directions, right?
00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:12.160
Either I could start a dispatch in every city in the capital region or something, you know?
00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:15.440
And I first I was like, keep keep your eyes and ears open.
00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:20.000
Maybe there an editor pops up who is um looking for something, you know, who knows?
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.640
Or I'm just gonna go deeper and deeper into Saratoga.
00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:25.039
And it's kind of looking like it's gonna be the latter.
00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.359
Okay.
00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:29.519
Um I'm up to, I don't know, 6,100, 6,200 subscribers.
00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:33.359
Um and they, you know, get my emails three or four times a week.
00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:35.440
So they they're sticking around.
00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:41.359
And I really think that uh having more writers and having more photographers, and I'm starting to get there.
00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:47.759
Like I like the fact that there's more community in the newsletter, but I can see this growing and growing and growing.
00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:51.759
Um, we also talked about journalists as entrepreneurs and as community builders.
00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:55.759
I love doing events, and I my dinner club that I started has so cool.
00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.720
Yeah, so fun.
00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.240
And I can't even believe it.
00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:02.799
I've hosted the hosted at Standard Fair, and then Clark and I have also been guests.
00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.400
I haven't gotten any other ones to go.
00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.440
It's it's really fun.
00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:14.400
It's one of those things I'm gonna be honest, when Clark was like, oh, we're gonna do it, and I was like, because you never know like who you're gonna like hang out with or like be with or whatever.
00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:17.599
And so there's that like little bit of like first date kind of nervous energy.
00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:27.279
And whenever we went there and they, you know, escorted us over to our group and stuff, I was like, okay, this was such it was such a motley crew of people.
00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:37.119
And then the dinner itself was long and exciting and energetic, and then there's like an afters kind of um mixer, which was really fun.
00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:47.839
So, like it is such a cool social event, and I would encourage everybody to participate in the Saratoga dispatch um diners club because it is a fun experience.
00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:54.160
It is really fun, and I don't go to the dinner because so you to the air of mystery is the fun part.
00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:56.400
I love it when people are like, I've gotten it again, they're all nervous.
00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:00.640
So you wake up the morning of the dinner club and that's when you're told that you're going.
00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:03.599
And so you don't know who you're eating with until you show up.
00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:09.759
And so you you get to meet five, you know, of your neighbors who you didn't know and they're dying to meet you, and it's so fun.
00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:19.839
And then afterwards, because I would be a distraction if I was at the dinner, the whole thing would be so I just go to a bar and I wait, and everyone comes to me, and they get to tell, you know, how's your table?
00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.640
How's your table?
00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:25.440
And then what happened over time was that people are now reuniting with people that they ate dinner with last time.
00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:32.240
It is a whole algorithm, and so um, you don't get matched with the same people each time, so you are meeting new people.
00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:36.079
And so, but building things like that, I would like to do more and more of that.
00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:38.000
My next one is a mahjong club.
00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.200
I've had so many requests.
00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.480
Learn how to play mahjong.
00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.279
Okay, all right.
00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:48.000
We've got to talk about that because that whole vibe is like really blowing up.
00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.440
Grandma hobbies?
00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.400
Is that what they call them?
00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.720
In general, just in general, grandma hobbies.
00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:55.279
Like I'm a bird watcher, people are into mahjong.
00:26:55.279 --> 00:27:01.519
Like I've heard like when you're a millennial neurogenic or puzzles, you have to take something to get you off the scroll.
00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:01.759
Yeah.
00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:04.880
And so you pick a granny hobby, and mine is bird watching.
00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.519
I guess mine is.
00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.480
I guess yours is mahjong.
00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.119
What's your granny hobby?
00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:08.000
No, I haven't.
00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.559
I don't know.
00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:09.440
I guess mine is cooking.
00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:12.000
Like, because that's what I always do.
00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:15.680
But I mean, that's but I wanted to get into puzzles, but my husband will do one with me.
00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.680
You don't need anybody to do a puzzle with.
00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:19.440
Yeah, but that's a sorry excuse.
00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:23.920
But I do, because it forces it forces people to like be in the moment and then my conversation.
00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:25.039
Yeah, that's true.
00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.359
Yeah.
00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:31.440
If I'm by my honey, the ADHD millennial brain in me will be like, I can't find any of it.
00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:34.400
You know, it's just like I don't get it, and then it's on the floor, you know, it means nothing.
00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:34.799
Yeah, yeah.
00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.640
So it's just you're not working together on a gold.
00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.400
Like if it was yes, exactly.
00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.119
Right, exactly.
00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:39.680
Exactly.
00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:43.599
Yeah, my granny hobby with my kids, we've talked about this, is they like to play cards.
00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.039
Like just a deck of cards.
00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.240
I think it's hysterical.
00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.200
Five-year-olds.
00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:49.440
I think it's hysterical because like plays more.
00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:54.880
It came up in conversation not too long ago with some friends, and they were they said something about, oh, we should like have a card night.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:57.279
And I was like, I couldn't play a card game.
00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:59.039
Okay, I think this is gonna be an episode.
00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.759
I couldn't do that.
00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.799
No, no, because I don't know.
00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:04.400
Ace is gonna teach you how to play war.
00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.039
I'm still waiting on somebody to take me to hibachi.
00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:09.119
That's actually, we really need to do that.
00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:10.400
I'm taking you to hibachi.
00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:12.480
Maybe we should do some on-the-ground reporting.
00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.440
We're going to.
00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.799
Actually, that would be a lot of fun for Face.
00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.000
Actually, that'd be super fun.
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.200
We should do it at the diner club.
00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.240
We should do the dinner club.
00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:20.160
Hibachi, Zach's never been to hibachi.
00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:22.240
You never had a shrimp in your mouth?
00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.720
Never.
00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:25.839
Well, I've had shrimp in my mouth, but not thrown in my mouth.
00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.359
Thrown in my mouth.
00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:30.880
But yeah, no, I feel like to the point of mahjong.
00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.720
Like, is it mahjong or mahjong?
00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:32.880
I know.
00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.680
I'm a beginner too.
00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.720
I haven't taken my class yet.
00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.480
Yes, that's on my list of granny hobbies.
00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:36.880
I want to learn.
00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:39.839
Okay, well, when we start our beginner classes, I'll let you know.
00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:43.839
I want to play a little game with Abby Technalia.
00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.319
Oh no.
00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:47.759
That is a rapid-fire response.
00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:55.200
I'm going to ask you a question that could be uh affiliated with your profession or just in general.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.400
First thing that comes to your mind.
00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:58.079
Give us the first thing that comes to your mind.
00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.039
Yeah, no time to think.
00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.839
Just spit it out.
00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.160
Okay.
00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:01.279
We'll see, yeah.
00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.079
Hot takes.
00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.799
Let's go.
00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.799
Favorite food.
00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.839
Quick, go.
00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.559
Next.
00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:08.079
No, you're not allowed.
00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.839
Favorite wine region.
00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:12.240
Ooh, Laura Valley.
00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.039
I knew it.
00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.440
Favorite publication.
00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:19.279
The serotonic dispatch, of course.
00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.240
What do you mean?
00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.640
Favorite publication other than yours.
00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:24.799
New York magazine, where I started my entire career.
00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.200
Nice.
00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.559
They say you are your first job.
00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:28.319
Okay.
00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:30.640
Favorite interview opportunity.
00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:32.480
You know who I would love to interview again?
00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.519
Celine Dion.
00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.880
You interviewed her?
00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:35.440
Oh, yeah.
00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:39.519
I have a huge blow-up of the magazine cover with her that she's signed that I've been.
00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:43.680
I want to touch with her in her um How am I not known?
00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:47.359
Backstage at the and she just takes it as she is.
00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:49.839
Genuine as she always puts across.
00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.079
Yeah.
00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:57.599
She has a lighting studio in her dressing room that is the lighting is to her height so that she looks, you know, perfect.
00:29:57.599 --> 00:30:02.240
But after everything that's been going on, and she's still the lights.
00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:05.119
I mean, I that would be such a dream.
00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.599
I love it.
00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.559
Can I come with you?
00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.599
Take me with you.
00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.240
Okay, cool.
00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:10.160
What celebrity do we have to bring to Saratoga?
00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.119
Noelle, Zach.
00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:14.000
No, but what celebrity has to come to Saratoga who's never been here?
00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:14.880
Oh, you're asking us.
00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:17.039
Who do I think would like Saratoga?
00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.400
Turn the tables.
00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.519
Yeah, fair.
00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.000
That's fair.
00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.599
He's got you know who he's gonna do.
00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:26.079
Well, no, I even though I think even though I think Sister Britney's bearing sister's Britney's.
00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:31.200
Even though I think sister would have fun here, like just hanging with me, obviously.
00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:45.759
Um, I think in a larger scale, somebody who like feels very Saratoga and I think would enjoy the culture as much as I'm sick of looking at her this like past year and a half and Hathaway.
00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.319
Oh.
00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:48.079
Is she banned?
00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:49.200
Do we know that she has been?
00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.880
She gives Saratoga.
00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:51.759
I don't think so.
00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:53.680
She gives Saratoga, and I think she would like it.
00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.599
I can see her getting into the trap.
00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.400
She would like it.
00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.640
Yeah.
00:30:56.640 --> 00:31:00.160
Oh, I mean, I'm just gonna go the selfish route and say any member of InSync.
00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:03.759
But that's just a high school with uh Joey.
00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:07.279
I went to all of them, they all went to my high school, yeah.
00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.799
Joey with my year.
00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.440
Wait.
00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:16.400
So Matt, who owns Stir up Saratoga, which is the location of today's show, also went to that same high school.
00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.599
Really?
00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:19.519
Wait, what high school is this?
00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.640
What high school?
00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.039
Dr.
00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:23.680
Phillips High School, performing arts high school in Orlando.
00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.200
Oh my goodness.
00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.519
Okay.
00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.559
He said Dr.
00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.359
Phil High School.
00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:27.759
Dr.
00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.079
Phillips.
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:32.000
I don't want to tabloid Dr.
00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.400
Philip.
00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:34.799
We're not here to spread rumors.
00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:39.920
There are so many options that are coming with the celebrities that we're bringing here.
00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:41.680
I mean, like, this is gonna be great.
00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.359
One more hot take.
00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:48.160
Abby, least favorite journalism trend.
00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:48.799
Ooh.
00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.119
Least favorite journalism trend?
00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.519
Ooh.
00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:53.039
Can I answer it when she's done?
00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.240
Because I have one in my brain.
00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:54.799
You do?
00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.359
Mm-hmm.
00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:56.240
Say it now.
00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:56.799
AI.
00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:58.160
Just like stop.
00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:00.160
Stop using a robot to write things.
00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:05.680
The whole point of journalism is to have eyes on the ground to be a muck breaker and to literally just.
00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:08.720
Yeah, I mean, I don't have a robot do it.
00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:10.960
I posted something on my Instagram story yesterday.
00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:13.839
If you're not following me, follow me at Zach Denham on Instagram.
00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:24.640
Um, I had posted something that was like, maybe it's so hot outside because you're you keep using uh AI to promote your restaurant.
00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:41.839
And I posted and I said, I'm looking at all of you restaurants and bars in the 518 who use AI, and I unapologetically said that, and I'm unapologetically saying it right now, um, because I spend hours a week actually curating my my stuff for both of my businesses.
00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:44.640
Um and I too am busy.
00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:51.519
Um but I got a lot of DMs from people who were like, but but listen again.
00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:53.839
Here's the thing there's a place for it.
00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:55.680
No, there is a place for it.
00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.960
I'm not saying I don't use anything.
00:32:56.960 --> 00:33:04.319
You can use it and say, hey, if I'm doing this promotion, what what and I give you this, what what's the vibe you vision you envision?
00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:07.440
I don't necessarily then copy and post it.
00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:14.240
I would say, oh, actually, I like this font, or I like the shading on this, or I think the imagery could be cool, or I like the colors on this.
00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:16.160
And then I take that and I make my own.
00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:19.359
But an AI image used to advertise something.
00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:20.240
It's crazy.
00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:25.519
I unfollowed so I'm gonna I'm saying it here on the pod, and you can leave it in.
00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:41.680
I have unfollowed so many accounts on the local level because of the overuse of AI in both um caption and image that I can't stand to look at anymore because I care about what my little scroll looks like and I don't want to see it.
00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:43.279
AI is great for organization.
00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.480
That's what I use it for.
00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.279
Same girl.
00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:46.559
My brain is not organized.
00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.039
I need it.
00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:48.319
I need a robot to keep me clean.
00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:53.200
One of my favorite things is like I have fennel, onion, this, this in my fridge.
00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:55.680
Can you give me three dishes that I could cook with this?
00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.079
Yes.
00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:58.640
Use it for practical things, not to do your job.
00:33:58.880 --> 00:33:59.039
Right.
00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:02.079
Well, so I I hijacked your uh answer.
00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:04.640
So but I hijacked everything because I got on a soapbox.
00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:06.160
Actually, we really wanted to.
00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:08.400
So what's your least favorite trend of journalism?
00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:08.800
Sorry.
00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:18.239
My least favorite trend as far as journalism goes is um readers deciding deciding that they don't um trust the media at all anymore.
00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:22.320
And I'll just look at Twitter or X as my sole source of news.
00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:30.960
And then I would say the reverse of that on as a journalist, my biggest pet peeve I'm seeing among other journalists is just sitting back and complaining about that without doing anything about it.
00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:31.599
Yes.
00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.280
I feel that way about a lot of stuff.
00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.880
What are we doing in general in a couple of things?
00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:36.880
What are we doing to make Dolchers complain?
00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.440
Yes.
00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.000
Exactly.
00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:40.159
So what are we doing to combat that?
00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:42.719
Well, I I the answer is not enough.
00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:53.440
Um, after being in magazines for 25 years, there are leaders up there and they're the people making the millions, and they should have been forming think tanks and working on this for the past 10 years.
00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:57.280
And the fact that, you know, it's a grassroots thing, great.
00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:00.000
Um, but it shouldn't be all on our shoulders.
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:03.199
But the newsletter um thing, I I'm all in.
00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:12.000
I just completely all in, and I've loved seeing all these new uh neighborhoods across the country and what they're doing to represent their neighborhood.
00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.920
And it's really exciting.
00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:16.880
So I say we just go all in on the newsletters.
00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:20.159
And you know, I've been this whole thing, it's you know, anti-algorithm.
00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:20.960
I'm so sick of it.
00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:24.159
I'm so sick of everyone telling me what I want to be interested in.
00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:29.679
And um, we've got to get in there and really I love the idea as a newsletter as well.
00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:36.159
And any millennial listening to this can also appreciate it because we are our whole lives have been whiplash, right?
00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:42.719
I think the beauty of having a newsletter is it's such a compact way of digesting.
00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:55.440
Digesting it, everything that is so like almost like, hey, I'm I I do have time for this, where I might not necessarily have time to pick up AM New York while I'm getting, you know, whatever or whatever your publication is.
00:35:55.440 --> 00:36:02.639
I might not have have the time to do that and thumb through that, but I can do this real quick and get the hot takes, I think that's fantastic.
00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:17.360
And I do think that's how social media journalism or citizen journalism also picked up so quickly is they would, you know, people would be scrolling real quick in between, you know, work projects or, you know, uh on a plane or on a train or somewhere.
00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:35.199
But I feel like, you know, if we can harness social media and utilize it, post clips of our podcast, post teasers, you know, and use that, maybe that's how we save, you know, local journalism and that's how we we use it as our friend instead of just dismissing it.
00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.519
Yeah.
00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.159
Absolutely.
00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:40.320
News is very fragmented these days, but journalists should be a part of the conversation.
00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:45.679
So if you're getting, you know, you used to have a pet column in the newspaper, that's what you're stuck with.
00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:47.920
Now you can look at cute dogs in Tokyo, fine.
00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:55.440
But you know, you should also have the local news, also have your favorite journalists look at their social media, but journalists have to then create social media.
00:36:55.440 --> 00:37:01.039
And if they're going to complain that the food influencers are taking over, then come up with something that you can post online.
00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:07.760
Look, you mentioned the New York Times, you just mentioned all their food recipes, all of their newsletters, their stuff.
00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:13.519
So they they have a great team over there that they're thinking about it, and we need more um outlets to do that.
00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:15.039
More ways to get in front of people.
00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:15.440
Yeah.
00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:25.760
Abby, it is always so refreshing to hear your voice on any and all of these subjects because I just feel like you have so much history in journalism.
00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:33.679
You've been in different types of newsrooms, you've created your own thing, and and you've kind of just gone with the times and evolved with the times.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:35.119
And I super admire that.
00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:37.199
And I'm so happy for you.
00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:41.679
I proud is the wrong word because I feel like a sense of pride is like I helped you create this.
00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:44.400
But she should be proud of herself for getting out there and doing that.
00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:46.079
Thanks, guys.
00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:47.679
I'm very, very, very impressed.
00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:52.000
So, Abby, tell our guests where they can find you and the Saratoga Dispatch.
00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:57.599
Saratoga Dispatch.com and on social media on Instagram Saratoga Dispatch518.
00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.280
That's it.
00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.000
Very cool.
00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:01.119
Yes, very easy.
00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:02.719
Facebook Saratoga Dispatch.
00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:03.840
Thank you so much, Abby.
00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:05.920
We like please come back.
00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:06.480
Okay.
00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:07.840
Let's collaborate.
00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:10.159
Um, so yeah, this has been a lot of fun.
00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:19.199
And we will be right back with the owners of Stir Up Saratoga, this awesome new shop that is our studio for today.
00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:25.360
We are back with Matt Acevedo, the owner of Stirrup Saratoga.
00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:30.400
He has joined us here today in some slutty little shorts for all of our audio-only listeners.
00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:33.440
And he's got a tattooing showing off, too.
00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:37.280
Listen, listen, we need to be very descriptive.
00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:42.960
And so, especially for our audio only listeners, can you please describe?
00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:43.920
We have this beautiful setting.
00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:46.239
You've offered up your shop as our studio today.
00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:46.960
Thank you.
00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:52.159
Where we are, I mean, this is kind of I like the acoustics in here because of all the cloth that's absorbing all the time.
00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:52.880
It's actually really good.
00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.000
It's fantastic.
00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:55.840
But this is some sacred.
00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:59.360
This is some sacred cloth that we are surrounded by.
00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:00.159
I like to think so.
00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:01.599
Talk to me about what you got here.
00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:04.559
Um, a lot of um, well, predominantly Ralph Lauren.
00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:08.880
Uh, you know, in Saratoga, kind of crazy that there has never been a Ralph Lauren store here.
00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:09.519
Bizarre, yeah.
00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.400
It doesn't make sense.
00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:14.239
There's not a brand that fits a town better, maybe anywhere.
00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:16.239
And for those who don't know that, why it fits our town.
00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:18.960
This is a horse town, and that is a horse brand.
00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:20.639
You know, through and through.
00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:22.320
And really runs the gamut.
00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:24.639
Um, but yeah, so we're so happy to be here.
00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:25.440
It's been great.
00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:27.440
Where did this idea come from?
00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:34.000
Uh, funny enough, uh, from our first date we had talked about uh you and your wife, right?
00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:40.639
Yeah, um, opening some type of uh clothing store, possibly having coffee or a bar or something around those lines.
00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:47.519
But um, yeah, uh we kind of just landed on a beautiful town in a beautiful space, and uh Roth Warren just made so much.
00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.280
No, it makes it makes perfect sense.
00:39:49.280 --> 00:40:00.559
What I think is so cool about this um shop in comparison to other other shops in town um is this is not a traditional thrift consignment experience.
00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:01.039
Oh, yeah.
00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:07.039
This is like a super, super curated vintage experience for people.
00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:09.280
And you do have something for everyone as well.
00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:15.199
I mean, there's my dad to my husband to my nephew.
00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:24.159
Some of my favorite stuff that you have too are like your the vintage um duffels and weekenders, like there's everything.
00:40:25.199 --> 00:40:29.599
And we like to have something for every age group and every kind of price point.
00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:32.639
So we have people come in here and spend, we have kids.
00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:34.559
So, how how long ago did you open?
00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:35.840
Because you're quite new.
00:40:35.840 --> 00:40:36.960
Yeah, very much so.
00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:40.400
Uh in the past two months, uh, and it's been really great.
00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:40.800
Yeah.
00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:42.480
Uh yeah, yeah, we've enjoyed it.
00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:44.159
We got here just in time for track season.
00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:44.719
Ah, I love it.
00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.360
Thank goodness.
00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:48.400
I love the skin of our nose, but we made this awesome.
00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:48.800
Awesome.
00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:49.440
Um yeah.
00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:53.840
Where did the idea of like curating specifically Ralph wait?
00:40:53.840 --> 00:40:55.679
Well, no, I let me rephrase this.
00:40:55.679 --> 00:41:00.480
You've been curating Ralph Loren items on your own outside of a shop before this.
00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:02.320
So this kind of came naturally to you.
00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:03.440
Yeah, without a doubt.
00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:08.960
Um, just in general, kind of thrifting has been in my blood as long as I can remember.
00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:12.800
Uh that's what I used to do with my mom, seven o'clock on Saturday.
00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:13.039
Yeah.
00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:16.159
Through high school, didn't care, it was our bonding moment.
00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:20.559
But it's uh, yeah, the thrill of the hunt for me is half of the joy in this story.
00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:26.559
And I think like the next generation, really, like that's that's the bulk of your customers, correct?
00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:34.400
Yeah, it's been so funny that uh 17 to 20 year old boys and girls, uh, that's kind of who we That's great though.
00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:39.440
I mean, the this next generation is so like conscious on like a lot of things in in a lot of ways.
00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:42.880
And one of them is um r sustainability.
00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:43.199
Yeah.
00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:48.559
And so this I think really resonates with them on top of, you know, like the threads are really cool.
00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:50.400
Yeah, you know, you know, that's really it.
00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:57.920
And I vintage is so rewarding to like kind of inform somebody's taste, which is not necessarily what we set out to do, right?
00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:01.280
But it's been such a sweet aspect of the store that like, you know.
00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:12.320
Well, with that in mind, you yeah, I you and I were talking a little bit, and um you were mentioning how you guys are going to offer some some more uh personal shopping opportunities you want to share a little bit about.
00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:17.519
Yeah, so um soon when the website's finish being built, um, we'll have a little section.
00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:20.159
If somebody wants to come and do a personal shopping section.
00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:20.880
Oh wow.
00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:21.119
Yeah.
00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:27.039
So uh come in, you know, we'll close a store down, 30 minutes, an hour, whatever it is, uh, obviously with a minimum spend.
00:42:27.039 --> 00:42:27.280
Yeah.
00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:34.800
But uh within that, tell us a little bit of what your colors are, what your you know, sizes are, and we can pull some things.
00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:43.760
Um, and then if somebody's for something specific, I mean you build a relationship and then you know you can source things for them, you know, like we're kind of already there with some of our customers.
00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:44.400
That's neat.
00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:45.039
That's fantastic.
00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:48.159
I feel like maybe people don't really know about your location.
00:42:48.159 --> 00:42:49.679
That's like your only complication.
00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:57.360
And you know what's wild is even though they're not right on Broadway, they're literally right off Broadway, right across from a very popular spot.
00:42:57.360 --> 00:43:01.280
If you were going into Whitman, it's on what's this is Maple, correct?
00:43:01.280 --> 00:43:07.039
So if you cross Maple from the Whitman uh entrance, you're you're literally right here.
00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:13.119
There's a ramp, there's a set of stairs, you'll see the windows across from Whitman that say stirrup, and it's so simple to find.
00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:16.239
And we kind of like that we're a little, you know, off the beaten path.
00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:18.159
Off the track, off the beaten path.
00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:20.239
Right, exactly.
00:43:20.239 --> 00:43:23.440
This is such a cool experience for people when they come in.
00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:25.679
It is unlike anything else in town.
00:43:25.679 --> 00:43:31.119
What is some of the feedback that you've gotten in your in your first couple of weeks, and what are some of the challenges and hurdles that you faced?
00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:33.360
Um, well, one, appreciate that.
00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:34.320
Thank you so much.
00:43:34.320 --> 00:43:38.880
Uh really the challenges have been people finding us.
00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:39.360
Yeah.
00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:42.800
I mean, just not being on Broadway, not having a ton of signage.
00:43:42.800 --> 00:43:42.960
Right.
00:43:42.960 --> 00:43:44.320
But that being said, you know.
00:43:44.320 --> 00:43:47.039
No, honestly, and we kind of think it's really chic.
00:43:47.039 --> 00:43:48.239
I think it's fun.
00:43:48.239 --> 00:43:51.280
You're like a speakeasy, yeah, a little bit for vintage stuff.
00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:57.280
And it ends up being this curated, you know, there's only a handful of people in here all the time.
00:43:57.280 --> 00:44:00.079
Um, and because of that, you get to talk to me.
00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:04.079
There's a sense of exclusivity without um excluding anyone.
00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:04.800
No, exactly.
00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:06.639
You know, and I think that's really cool.
00:44:07.679 --> 00:44:11.679
But yeah, there is a little bit of that, you know, personal shopper.
00:44:11.679 --> 00:44:13.039
Quiet luxury.
00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:13.760
A little bit.
00:44:16.800 --> 00:44:17.519
And did that.
00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:18.000
Yeah.
00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:20.000
Are you doing online any online sales?
00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:23.360
Not at the moment, and and maybe not in general, to be honest.
00:44:23.360 --> 00:44:28.800
It's just, well, honestly, for us, the in-person shopping experience is why we are here.
00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:29.440
Yeah, right.
00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:32.880
And I honestly, like, I love that so, so, so much.
00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:40.079
We were talking about this when we set up about how I think we're all tired of this online, okay.
00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:42.719
Like, hopefully it'll fit me and I might have to return it.
00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:43.920
I want to touch things.
00:44:44.320 --> 00:44:45.199
We talked about this with Tina.
00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:46.719
We talked about this with Tina.
00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:51.679
Yeah, and and how like we want to touch things, we want to feel things, the experience of going to a shop.
00:44:51.679 --> 00:44:56.320
And also, even if you don't buy anything, I mean, we know you want us to buy things, yes.
00:44:56.320 --> 00:45:00.000
But it's an activity that gets you out of the house.
00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:00.639
Without a doubt.
00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:02.639
That is, you know, something that's an experience.
00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:06.480
Well, it's like maybe, maybe shipping, but not so much shopping online, right?
00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:10.880
You know, guests can come in and perhaps maybe maybe need you to send them something.
00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:14.400
That's something that it's very easy and a great option to do that.
00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:16.000
And we've talked about that with some people.
00:45:16.239 --> 00:45:19.760
Yeah, I think that I agree with Noelle and you, the the experience is where it's at.
00:45:19.760 --> 00:45:20.159
Yeah, yeah.
00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:20.480
Exactly.
00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:26.639
Well, we want all of our listeners to stop by Stir up Saratoga right here.
00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:29.280
Um, Matt, uh, tell them where they can find you on socials.
00:45:29.599 --> 00:45:34.800
So we are at Stirrup Saratoga um on Instagram, uh, which is kind of the only place we're at right now.
00:45:34.800 --> 00:45:35.199
Okay.
00:45:35.199 --> 00:45:36.400
TikTok coming soon.
00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:40.000
19 Maple, uh, next tonight owl across the street from Whitman's Castle.
00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:40.800
So simple to find.
00:45:40.800 --> 00:45:42.000
Um, yeah, easy to find.
00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:43.599
Definitely worth the trip.
00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:44.559
Thank you so much for the time.
00:45:44.559 --> 00:45:49.280
Thank you so much, and thank you so much, listeners, for tuning in for another episode of Off-Track Saratoga Play.
00:45:49.280 --> 00:45:51.360
We did it, we did another one.
00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:55.119
We are in the thick of summer, and we're still here, we're still doing it.
00:45:55.119 --> 00:45:56.239
Thank you so much for listening.
00:45:56.239 --> 00:45:58.719
Be sure to download, like, subscribe, all the things.
00:45:58.719 --> 00:46:00.880
Woo! And we'll see you next time.
00:46:00.880 --> 00:46:01.360
Bye.