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We're chatting about the people, places, events, and flavors that make Johnson City, Tennessee a lovely place to live. An interview show hosted by Colin Johnson.
Proud member of the Maypop Media family of podcasts.
0:00:02 - (Tosha Yoder): He's getting ready. Alec is getting ready for outdoor Writers association of America.
0:00:08 - (Colin Johnson): Oh, that's a landline. Yeah, that's why I didn't get my 930.
0:00:18 - (Tosha Yoder): Outdoor Writers association of America. They're bringing an event called Field Fest, and it's just a one time. Like, they move it to different cities each time they do this, but it's just a gathering of outdoor media folks, so. Yep. He's been putting together all of their swag bags today. He's got, I think, 30 of them. But because this is such a regional partnership, he has stuff from, you know, swag from Unicoi, the airport, Elizabethan.
0:00:47 - (Tosha Yoder): Like, he's throwing in all these big bags. So, yeah, it'll be interesting to see what comes of the whole experience.
0:00:59 - (Colin Johnson): What specifically do you want to cover today?
0:01:02 - (Tosha Yoder): Read the mountains.
0:01:03 - (Colin Johnson): Can't read that. What else you got?
0:01:05 - (Tosha Yoder): Can't do that.
0:01:06 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:01:06 - (Tosha Yoder): No, really and truly, that's about it.
0:01:10 - (Colin Johnson): Tell. Okay. If you don't want to get into your deepest, darkest secrets and stuff, that's cool, too, I guess. Well, you see, we get more viewers when the guest cries. I mean.
0:01:22 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, I'm not a Criero.
0:01:24 - (Colin Johnson): You just wait. Mitchell's got some questions he'll send me that'll just. It'll rock your boat.
0:01:29 - (Tosha Yoder): Nice. Make me grif.
0:01:31 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. Challenge accepted. Peace. We ready? You mind if we pray real quick?
0:01:39 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah, sure.
0:01:40 - (Colin Johnson): All right. Father, thank you so much for having Tasha on the podcast again. We thank you for the Meet the mountains. We thank you for just the visit Johnson City organization and how they're bringing people to this place that we think is your country. And so it's just. It's cool to watch you work in and through everybody here, whether they know it or not. And so it's just fun to be a part of new creation and how we're moving in just neat ways to just make Johnson City a great place to live. Because we love each other the way you do, lord. And so I pray that you'll bless our tongues and hearts and minds, help us to only say good and pleasing and fruitful things as we have our podcast rolling today. I pray for Mitch as he's producing over there, punching buttons, turning knobs, flipping on switches, doing all the stuff he does that you're watching guide over him as well.
0:02:28 - (Colin Johnson): And we just pray that somewhere down the airways, someone would maybe hear Tasha or myself and just want to know more about who you are, because the way we just. Yeah, you can hear your spirit move through us. And so we love you. We trust you. We thank you. May I ask this in your holy name?
0:02:45 - (Tosha Yoder): Amen. Amen.
0:02:47 - (Colin Johnson): All right, I'll read a little script, and then we get rolling.
0:02:49 - (Tosha Yoder): Okay, sounds good.
0:02:50 - (Colin Johnson): You ready?
0:02:51 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah.
0:02:51 - (Colin Johnson): Anything else besides you sure?
0:02:53 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah.
0:02:54 - (Colin Johnson): How many people have you killed today, tash?
0:02:56 - (Tosha Yoder): Zero.
0:02:56 - (Colin Johnson): Okay, good. Hey, friends. Welcome to the Johnson City living podcast, where we learn about the people, places, events, and flavors that make Johnson city a lovely place to live. I am your host, Colin Johnson, with the Colin and Carly group and Keller Williams realty. It's a beautiful day here. If you want to make a move here, I would sell you a house in a heartbeat. And so just get on the phone, call me up, and by fest, I'm totally messing with Mitch.
0:03:19 - (Colin Johnson): All right. It's a beautiful day here in Johnson City. It's actually kind of like I was in the shade a minute ago with the wind. It almost felt cool, which is very odd for July. But I'm excited that it's cool. I'm excited more so for you guys to meet my friend once again. Second time on the podcast, Tasha Yoder with visit Johnson City.
0:03:39 - (Tosha Yoder): Hello. Hello.
0:03:40 - (Colin Johnson): How are you?
0:03:41 - (Tosha Yoder): I'm good.
0:03:41 - (Colin Johnson): So what's been going on in a year since you've been on the podcast?
0:03:46 - (Tosha Yoder): Really and truly, just been getting ready for the festival, all the moving pieces.
0:03:50 - (Colin Johnson): And meet the mountains is a big deal, isn't it?
0:03:52 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yes. This is now its 7th year running. This is the third year under visit Johnson City. When it originally started, it was under Netrep, which don't ask me to remember what the acronyms and for.
0:04:04 - (Colin Johnson): Go ahead and make up something. Just kidding.
0:04:06 - (Tosha Yoder): Northeast Tennessee. Yeah. I can't remember.
0:04:09 - (Colin Johnson): Rappers regional encouraging people.
0:04:12 - (Tosha Yoder): There you go. There each other, was it. But no, really, it takes at least nine months to a year to fully plan out the festival. And so now being the 1 July, it's time to really start getting the more physical pieces in place. And so that's what we've been working on.
0:04:30 - (Colin Johnson): Okay, we're gonna hit it over and over and over for our listeners. What are the dates of the meet the Mountains festival?
0:04:35 - (Tosha Yoder): The dates this year are August 9 and 10th.
0:04:37 - (Colin Johnson): August 9 and 10th. And it's at winged. Winged.
0:04:41 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes, winged Deer park. It's specifically the lakefront area. So if you've gone to the softball fields, turn around and come back.
0:04:48 - (Colin Johnson): That's right. And for you people who don't live here, you don't know what we're talking about.
0:04:51 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:04:52 - (Colin Johnson): But you'll still find it when you see the winged deer flying across the sky and just follow him and he'll. He lands by the lake all the time.
0:04:58 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:04:59 - (Colin Johnson): It's crazy. So do you want to tell us why it's called winged deer park or wing deer park?
0:05:04 - (Tosha Yoder): Actually, I have no clue.
0:05:05 - (Colin Johnson): Okay.
0:05:06 - (Tosha Yoder): So, I mean, my guess is as best as yours in terms of there's an actual deer that flies by.
0:05:09 - (Colin Johnson): I think there must have been. Maybe. They're going so fast, we just can't see it. We couldn't see. Well, it looked like they were flying.
0:05:15 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, that's it. That's it.
0:05:16 - (Colin Johnson): That's what I was thinking. They were flying through the grass. All right, so we got a little off track because we want to keep hitting. Meet the mountains. Meet the mountains. Meet the mountains. Because Google's picking it up right now. They're like, oh, cool. Meet the mountains festival, August 9 and 10th. 10th and John city living. You live in Johnson City?
0:05:32 - (Tosha Yoder): I do.
0:05:33 - (Colin Johnson): What is your favorite thing about Johnson City?
0:05:36 - (Tosha Yoder): Wow, that's a great question. I would say just the accessibility to the outdoors. My family and I have lived here for the last 16 years now, and just to be able to know that I have taken my youngest child, starting at the age of two, up to Carver's gap to hike up to the first bald is just. It's incredible. We couldn't have ever done anything like that, staying in Indiana.
0:06:01 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah, Indiana's pretty flattened.
0:06:04 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes, very much so. Lots of corn.
0:06:07 - (Colin Johnson): We do a corn husk mountain so that we can get up above 10ft off the ground.
0:06:11 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah, pretty much. Yeah.
0:06:13 - (Colin Johnson): I shouldn't be hitting on it, hating on Indiana. It's a nice place, but if you live in Indiana, listening, move here to Johnson City. We have real mountains.
0:06:19 - (Tosha Yoder): Absolutely.
0:06:20 - (Colin Johnson): Come on down. So where did you grow up in Indiana?
0:06:22 - (Tosha Yoder): I did. I grew up in a little farm town just northeast of Indianapolis.
0:06:25 - (Colin Johnson): Nice. And how did you come to Johnson City?
0:06:28 - (Tosha Yoder): So, originally my husband went to Emanuel and that's what brought us down here. And he was a part of Emmanuel before it was absorbed into Milligan.
0:06:34 - (Colin Johnson): Yes. Now, is he still. Does he teaching at Milligan?
0:06:37 - (Tosha Yoder): He does not. He is a part time chaplain and has a full time job.
0:06:42 - (Colin Johnson): Nice.
0:06:42 - (Tosha Yoder): All right. Yeah, cool.
0:06:45 - (Colin Johnson): Okay, so accessibility to getting up on the mountains and the balls are gorgeous.
0:06:50 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah.
0:06:51 - (Colin Johnson): And then we're coming up on probably. Is the rotor resident festival already happened?
0:06:56 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, I believe it's close. I don't remember exactly when it happened.
0:07:00 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. Maybe our producer can look up when the rhododendron festival is and put it in the notes because it's beautiful.
0:07:05 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:07:06 - (Colin Johnson): And then you can go up on the balls, too, and it's just like a double whammy. What does life in Johnson City look like for you?
0:07:14 - (Tosha Yoder): Just in general?
0:07:15 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. I mean, like, tell our listeners, like, day to day, you and your husband, you got three kids?
0:07:21 - (Tosha Yoder): Sure.
0:07:21 - (Colin Johnson): Just, like, take them through a life in the. In the yoder family.
0:07:24 - (Tosha Yoder): Okay. We have a really great neighborhood. We live in one of the more established neighborhoods. I mean, our house was built in the seventies, so our neighborhood has been around for the last 40 years.
0:07:33 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:07:34 - (Tosha Yoder): So we really like just walking around our neighborhood often. But when we're not doing things in the neighborhood, like, for Fridays after five, my kids, like, my girls especially like to come downtown. I have introduced, I think, each one of my kids to each of the local coffee shops that we have, and there are plenty.
0:07:51 - (Colin Johnson): What's your favorite?
0:07:52 - (Tosha Yoder): Our favorite. Our family favorite is blue spruce.
0:07:55 - (Colin Johnson): Okay.
0:07:56 - (Tosha Yoder): But to be able to meet for business, I like to go to Dos Gatos.
0:07:59 - (Colin Johnson): Okay, so how's it open doors this morning? We'll give them a shout out.
0:08:02 - (Tosha Yoder): Okay. Yes. It's just. And we do like the moon as well, so.
0:08:05 - (Colin Johnson): Yes, Brett brings us coffee frequently. So your kids like coming downtown. What else you guys like to do in Johnson city?
0:08:13 - (Tosha Yoder): Just anything that downtown has to offer in particular. Again, Fridays after five, the kids like coming down to founders just to hang out around the park. We have a dog, and of course, founders is a great place to walk around with your dog and either to meet other people and walk or just to walk by yourself. We really enjoy doing that, too.
0:08:33 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. That's cool. Yeah. How old are your kids again? You had a senior, you told me.
0:08:39 - (Tosha Yoder): I do. Oldest is 17. Middle is 13, and then the youngest is eleven.
0:08:44 - (Colin Johnson): Um, talk about. Are you all talk about schools here a little bit for your kids and your experience there for listeners as well, coming to town?
0:08:51 - (Tosha Yoder): Sure. Um, we've had all three of our kids in all of the school systems. Um, so our youngest child is just now moving into middle school. Um, but she was at Fairmont before, and now we'll have two at indian trail, and then Tyler will be at science Hill, which we've had a wonderful time with all the schools.
0:09:10 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:09:11 - (Tosha Yoder): Um, there's great communication between the teachers and the parents. Fairmont was just. I don't know, Fairmont's just this happy little place. I don't know how he is to describe it. No, both our middle and youngest child went there, and they were both there during the pandemic. And I don't think we could have asked for a better school system for them to be at during that. And Tyler has really just found his own at science Hill.
0:09:35 - (Tosha Yoder): He doesn't necessarily have a group of friends that he calls his best friends or anything, but he still feels welcomed enough there.
0:09:43 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. So that's cool. Yeah. I think over and over, people calling, they asked me about the school system, and I'm like, it's clear overall. I mean, it's just fantastic. And even county schools are great because I think our teachers love the kids.
0:09:57 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yes.
0:09:57 - (Colin Johnson): I mean, it's like they're highly invested. It's not like they're just checking a box, checking, punching the clock. They're. They love the kids. You want to see them flourish and grow and get involved and.
0:10:07 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah, they really do. And we've even had a couple of teachers from the high school asked us, you know, just, Tyler, want to be a part of any clubs, and we've always given him the option, but it's just always been a, yeah, maybe we'll think about it.
0:10:19 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:10:19 - (Tosha Yoder): But I just appreciate. Yeah. That the teachers are so invested and they do reach out and are encouraging.
0:10:24 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. Our Johnson city school system is awesome. And then life's gonna be a little easier because you got two at indian trail and Tyler probably driving himself.
0:10:32 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:10:33 - (Colin Johnson): Holy cow. I don't know what to do. This is good.
0:10:36 - (Tosha Yoder): All three of our kids will be out of the house by 07:00 a.m. every morning for school.
0:10:41 - (Colin Johnson): Amazing. That's funny. Back to you and your role. Tell me the name of your position at Johnson City.
0:10:50 - (Tosha Yoder): So I am the event coordinator at visit Johnson City. So my role primarily focuses on meet the mountains when it comes due, but I also help to bring in other events to Johnson City as well. I helped to bring in a Shiloh shepherd dog show earlier this year in April.
0:11:07 - (Colin Johnson): That's a mouthful. Say that five times fast.
0:11:10 - (Tosha Yoder): And it was a huge success. More successful, I think, than the event planners on their side had even thought that it would be.
0:11:16 - (Colin Johnson): Oh, that's cool.
0:11:17 - (Tosha Yoder): Because we naturally had people just walking over to see what was going on. It happened to be at Founders park, which, again, that's something that they're not necessarily used to as far as a public space setting, but again, they had folks just walking over and watching these beautiful dogs get judged and just walk around and prance around and have a good time. So that's fine. It was a wonderful event, and we're really hoping that they'll be back next year. So far, the outlook is good.
0:11:44 - (Colin Johnson): Gotcha. That's cool. Okay, so what's your background? How did you become an event coordinator for Las city of Johnson City?
0:11:51 - (Tosha Yoder): It's a really great question. My background is actually psychology, so I'm not really using my degree all that much.
0:11:58 - (Colin Johnson): I don't know. I think you're thinking about how people would think and enjoy the event, and then you're like, okay, this is how we're gonna do it.
0:12:05 - (Tosha Yoder): There is some psychology to this position, but not quite to the degree.
0:12:10 - (Colin Johnson): There's probably some crazies that show up occasionally you have to deal with.
0:12:12 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah, but that comes from just my customer service background too.
0:12:16 - (Colin Johnson): And I told you I wouldn't come anymore. Cause he threw me out.
0:12:18 - (Tosha Yoder): That one too. I was previously working for a couple of financial advisors, and it just the time for me to leave. Just kept feeling closer and closer, and I saw that the position had been posted, and my husband basically told me I'd be an idiot if I didn't try for it. So here we are.
0:12:38 - (Colin Johnson): I'm sure he doesn't think that at all. I know, but he's probably really proud of you. Glad.
0:12:42 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:12:43 - (Colin Johnson): Which is super cool. Okay, so let's talk about the event that you've been planning for nine months. Yeah. So August 8 and 9th. 9th and 10th don't come on the 8th unless you wanna help set up.
0:12:55 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right. Absolutely. We can certainly use any other volunteers. We've got a pretty good pool right now, but we can always use more.
0:13:02 - (Colin Johnson): Always use more. More hands. Make light work is what we always say. Okay, so what time does it start? On the 9th.
0:13:09 - (Tosha Yoder): So it starts at 04:00 in the afternoon, which seems like an odd time unless people have jobs, we at least recognize that. Yeah. But for those folks that might be picking up their kids after school and maybe are looking for something to do for the evening, we kind of keep that timeframe available so that they can just come over to the Friday. Okay, so Friday on the 9th, it'll start at 04:00 p.m. and we'll go until nine.
0:13:32 - (Tosha Yoder): And then Saturday on the 10th, we'll start things off at 10:00 and we'll go until eight.
0:13:38 - (Colin Johnson): Okay, so. And that's when the winged deer comes flying through.
0:13:41 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:13:42 - (Colin Johnson): Runs everybody off.
0:13:42 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:13:44 - (Colin Johnson): So tell me about the events that are happening to where, like, oh, this will be interesting for our listeners to come check out the.
0:13:51 - (Tosha Yoder): Sure, we've got zip lining. We've got a rock wall in years, not quite this is in Dover Ridge.
0:14:01 - (Colin Johnson): River for that one.
0:14:02 - (Tosha Yoder): But the zip line will be. I don't want to say closer to the lake, but kind of like next to the lake.
0:14:07 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:14:08 - (Tosha Yoder): So you'll get to zip line and see it. Yes.
0:14:10 - (Colin Johnson): There you go.
0:14:11 - (Tosha Yoder): We'll have a rock wall again. We'll also have the Sorba bikes course back, which we weren't able to secure last year because of some cost and staffing issues on their end.
0:14:19 - (Colin Johnson): What kind of bike?
0:14:20 - (Tosha Yoder): Sorba.
0:14:20 - (Colin Johnson): Sorba. Okay.
0:14:22 - (Tosha Yoder): Again, don't ask what it stands for. It's a tri Cities regional bike bike association or something.
0:14:27 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah, I have heard that acronym.
0:14:30 - (Tosha Yoder): Okay. So. Yeah. But they'll be bringing their little obstacle course again this year. With bikes. Yep. So zipline, rock wall bikes course.
0:14:40 - (Colin Johnson): Kayaks or something.
0:14:41 - (Tosha Yoder): Kayaks, yes. With a demo. They call it the demo pool because that's what we're used to having at founders. But again, it will be stand up paddle boards and kayaks in the water this year.
0:14:51 - (Colin Johnson): That'd be fun.
0:14:51 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:14:52 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. And lots of other vendors show up too.
0:14:54 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah. So far we're up to 93 vendors, I believe.
0:14:59 - (Colin Johnson): Mitch and I like fried stuff. Are they gonna have, like, fried Oreos?
0:15:02 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah. What? I don't know the way. Fried Oreos. That's more of a fair food.
0:15:06 - (Colin Johnson): Okay.
0:15:07 - (Tosha Yoder): I will say we do try to curate some of that and try not.
0:15:11 - (Colin Johnson): To make it more healthy. More healthy event. We don't want to have, like, funnel cakes and all that stuff.
0:15:16 - (Tosha Yoder): Well, I mean, we are going to have popcorn.
0:15:17 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah, that's. I like it.
0:15:19 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah, I like it.
0:15:21 - (Colin Johnson): And who all would want to come to something like this?
0:15:24 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, anyone outdoor minded whatsoever. But we also want to encourage families who might not get the chance, whether it's cost, whether it's time, or whether it's both, to be able to come out and experience something for free.
0:15:36 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. And we. There are so many great spots around here, but I took our family, we went to Buffalo Mountain and the overlook, the sunset the other day, and I made it my screensaver. It is beautiful up there. Cost us $0.
0:15:56 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:15:57 - (Colin Johnson): The height took us 15 minutes, maybe. And so I told some friends, and they did it when they just closed on their house yesterday, actually.
0:16:05 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, nice.
0:16:06 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. Stephen and Erica, congratulations, if you're listening. And they took their four girls up there, and there's so just great.
0:16:13 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, so the Huckleberry knob.
0:16:15 - (Colin Johnson): Yes.
0:16:15 - (Tosha Yoder): Okay. Yeah.
0:16:15 - (Colin Johnson): And then. Know the name of it. Yeah.
0:16:17 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes. Because we have Huckleberry knop, which is the more like ten to 15 minutes.
0:16:20 - (Colin Johnson): That one looks back over Johnson City. Yeah.
0:16:23 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes. And then there's also the noggin trail, which is much more difficult.
0:16:28 - (Colin Johnson): I have done that one, too. All the way.
0:16:29 - (Tosha Yoder): That leads up to White Rock. Yeah. And our kids have done that one, too. That's typically not their choice.
0:16:36 - (Colin Johnson): But, hey, let's go to Huckleberry and go to Navy queen.
0:16:39 - (Tosha Yoder): Yep, that's right.
0:16:40 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah, I think that's a good one. So what are some other great, I mean, I guess, ways for families to get. Cause one of the things you said was, I love the outdoors.
0:16:50 - (Tosha Yoder): Sure.
0:16:50 - (Colin Johnson): So what are some other things besides that, like, to get your family? It would be easy. Get them outside when they come to visit, or maybe just for families who've been here forever.
0:16:59 - (Tosha Yoder): Sure.
0:16:59 - (Colin Johnson): And they're like, you know, that's a great idea. We never go hike Buffalo Mountain. We think it, you know, you see.
0:17:04 - (Tosha Yoder): It as ominous from the road, and that's one thing. Well, no, but Buffalo Mountain in particular is one that we at visit Johnson City really tried to push for people to go to, because, again, you do have the varying degrees of. You have a ten minute hike versus a much more moderate to hard hike.
0:17:20 - (Colin Johnson): Right.
0:17:21 - (Tosha Yoder): And that could be done by. Yeah, that could be done by anyone. But they also have a really great little seating area out there at Huckleberry knob. Um, and just having people understand that it's literally just a ten minute away drive.
0:17:35 - (Colin Johnson): Right.
0:17:35 - (Tosha Yoder): Rather than, you know, thinking you have to drive 40, 50, 50 minutes to Roan Mountain and Grover's Gap, which, again, equally beautiful. But Buffalo Mountain is. Right.
0:17:46 - (Colin Johnson): Ten minutes away. Like, if you were at the McDonald's by Atsu or if you're just on a campus at. I mean, like, you're ten minutes. Literally.
0:17:54 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:17:55 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. And it's so nice. It's so cool.
0:17:58 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah. But we do have some really great parks just in general. And I think Wingdair and Willow Springs park as well, both get a. I don't want to say a bad rap, but because they are so much on the outside of Johnson City that folks don't realize, again, that that's just another ten minute drive away to just some gorgeous views, gorgeous parks. Willow Springs is one of our absolute favorite parks as well.
0:18:20 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:18:21 - (Tosha Yoder): Because it is outside of town. You get to go back to that little pond area and see all the turtles that are back there. Lots of dogs, lots of dogs all over the place. And just that really great vista. Once you do get past the parking lot in the playground of the mountains just right there in the background yeah, it's gorgeous.
0:18:37 - (Colin Johnson): It is gorgeous. Yeah. I was trying to think of the other one I had in my mind, too. It's great. Oh, Tanner.
0:18:44 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes.
0:18:45 - (Colin Johnson): So you can. I mean, if you're a biker, I mean, we've gone there once. I hate to say it, but I'd like to go more. Sure. But it's just, I mean, if you're downtown Johnson, like, where we are right now, we can be there in five minutes. Yeah, it could be riding around, jumping on our bikes in five minutes, which is fun.
0:19:01 - (Tosha Yoder): And it's, again, just one of those things where you don't realize how close it is until you get up there and you go, oh, this was really just right here the whole time.
0:19:08 - (Colin Johnson): We'll be some tricks and tips for our, our families. Listening to, like, that, you guys are thinking about a lot of times, like, are you planning these out during the week? Like, hey, we're going to go here this Saturday. We're going to do this for, you know, just because a lot of family, it seems like we're so busy.
0:19:23 - (Tosha Yoder): Sure.
0:19:23 - (Colin Johnson): And we look back, we're like, man, we should have gone to the park this week. And we did.
0:19:27 - (Tosha Yoder): You know, we try, but I'm also very lucky to have friends that are sporadic. And if we do have gaps in our time in the evening, it's, hey, you know, we. A few of us are going to go down to Founders park. Would you and your kids want to come down, too? Yeah, sure. That sounds great. Um, or, yeah, just trying to find those little moments of, well, we don't have time right tonight. Um, but we do have time tomorrow night and just making some small plans like that.
0:19:56 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah, that's cool. And I had a couple people recently, and I was actually surprised. And it. Maybe it was more on their side, but they felt like they didn't get plugged into Johnson City.
0:20:07 - (Tosha Yoder): Sure.
0:20:08 - (Colin Johnson): And I was like, okay. So on my side of it, I'm kind of like, maybe they didn't and put out a lot of effort, but what would be some good ways for people who are new to town to get plugged in?
0:20:19 - (Tosha Yoder): So I'm going to immediately say the visitor center. And that's a large part because we're trying to bridge the gap between not just us and the visitor, but also us and the resident. Our visitor center doesn't offer just visitors information and more about Johnson City. It offers our residents that same information, because, again, we're finding out that people just don't know quite a bit about Johnson City, even some of the historical pieces of Johnson City that they wouldn't have known otherwise.
0:20:48 - (Tosha Yoder): All of that is available for anyone to just come and either talk to Kelly, talk to Mark, talk to Linda, or just, you know, come upstairs and talk to one of us at the visitor center, and you'll find out more than you realized about Johnson City.
0:21:01 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. And then you guys can probably figure out what their interests are and direct them in that way. And, oh, we know somebody who's in to macrame, like Mitch Marie over there. Yeah, whatever it might be.
0:21:15 - (Tosha Yoder): And we also do well to offer regional information as well. I mean, obviously, we're going to promote Johnson City as much as we can, but just the best. That's right. But we also, even around our interactive theater, we have pictures of Bristol Motor Speedway, hands on Discovery Center, Jonesboro, downtown. And so it's not just Johnson city that we're trying to help promote and offer to folks that are sopping through.
0:21:42 - (Colin Johnson): Let's move into regionalism. What do you think about the whole, the region as a whole and how we work together? I think historically, when I was growing up, it was like, holy smokes, we're going to Bristol. It's like 30 minutes away or 20 minutes away, you know, and then I married a lady from Bristol, and so her family's been there, and we go, we've been a million times. And you're like, oh, it's not. It's 20 minutes or 25 minutes. It's not a big deal. Same with Kingsport, right? We used to go to the Piccadilly, I remember.
0:22:07 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah, yeah.
0:22:07 - (Colin Johnson): My parents loved to go to the Piccadilly until we got one here in Johnson City, which was a big thing. And now we don't have a Piccadilly within a hundred. I don't even know if Piccadilly is still a thing.
0:22:15 - (Tosha Yoder): I was gonna say. I don't know that it's still a thing anymore.
0:22:17 - (Colin Johnson): I think we should bring it back. All right, Piccadilly, if you're listening, get back to. Cause we need you. But talk about regionalism in the upper appalachian highlands. Right, as a group, and how you guys are kind of networking with the other cities and in your spaces to bring more people here and to share the greatness of our area.
0:22:38 - (Tosha Yoder): Well, I think we, as visit Johnson City, are doing a really decent job at Ithoodae, but I think that partnering with Northeast Tennessee Tourism association and Alicia Phelps, that has really helped bolster just our entire collaborative regionalism. And just seeing the value in not only ourselves, but in each space as well, and recognizing that we each have something to offer and each have something to bring to the table, then I think that that just only continues to strengthen our position as a region.
0:23:09 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah, I agree. It's, um. We're there three different cities for sure.
0:23:14 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:23:14 - (Colin Johnson): But we're all, you know, we all have great hearts and we just love people and we love our area and this. Yeah, I think it's special. I'm excited, actually, that we're starting to collaborate more, work together more. And it's. I think it's taking fact, really, instead of competing with each other, we're. We're working together.
0:23:32 - (Tosha Yoder): Well, I actually went to a conference earlier this year for festivals and events called the Southeast Festival and Events association. And one of the words that they had used was Cooper Titian.
0:23:43 - (Colin Johnson): Oh.
0:23:43 - (Tosha Yoder): So we are cooperating, but there's still that healthy level of competition of, like.
0:23:49 - (Colin Johnson): Our meet the Mountains festival will be true. Meet the mountains festival.
0:23:51 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right. That's right. So there's. There's still a little bit of one up and ship in that regard, but it's. Again, it's. It's very cooperative and very much. We all want to see the region flourish. Not just I want to see my thing or my city flourish.
0:24:04 - (Colin Johnson): Is Buffalo Mountain taller than bays? Mountainous? Who?
0:24:08 - (Tosha Yoder): Maybe.
0:24:09 - (Colin Johnson): I'll say.
0:24:10 - (Tosha Yoder): I think so.
0:24:11 - (Colin Johnson): Without fact checking. Let's just say yes. So. I'm just kidding. We got some very.
0:24:15 - (Tosha Yoder): Things work.
0:24:18 - (Colin Johnson): Our dog parks are definitely better, too. I don't know what you're. Yeah. So what do you and your husband like to do for fun here besides go outside? Like, what do you guys. What's a date night look like for you all?
0:24:30 - (Tosha Yoder): Date night. Really and truly? Looks like mid city girl.
0:24:32 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:24:33 - (Tosha Yoder): Yep. And then just walking around downtown, favorite.
0:24:35 - (Colin Johnson): Thing on the menu at Mid City.
0:24:36 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, man. The baconator.
0:24:38 - (Colin Johnson): Baconator.
0:24:39 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes. Yep.
0:24:41 - (Colin Johnson): They have great busy burgers.
0:24:43 - (Tosha Yoder): They really. Yes.
0:24:45 - (Colin Johnson): They're like, really good. Yeah. So I love it. And then just walking around downtown.
0:24:49 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah. Walking around downtown or catching a movie. We're both big cinephiles, so.
0:24:55 - (Colin Johnson): Carly and I love movies. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. We love the movies. And what is your favorite restaurant for? Like, fancy date night?
0:25:04 - (Tosha Yoder): Ooh, for fancy date night.
0:25:07 - (Colin Johnson): Not the mid city is not fancy.
0:25:08 - (Tosha Yoder): I know. I know. Well, we've not been to juniper yet. We've been told we need to.
0:25:12 - (Colin Johnson): It's delicious.
0:25:13 - (Tosha Yoder): But we do really appreciate both Wansao and southern crafts.
0:25:18 - (Colin Johnson): Mmm. So good.
0:25:20 - (Tosha Yoder): I'm not a light eater. I don't know that. That makes sense.
0:25:24 - (Colin Johnson): Healthy eater.
0:25:25 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes, yes, yes, yes. Um, I'm not a dainty eater. There we go. There we go.
0:25:30 - (Colin Johnson): There you go.
0:25:30 - (Tosha Yoder): Um, I love a good steak. I love a good barbecue. And so, yeah, southern crafts usually hits the spot for both of us.
0:25:37 - (Colin Johnson): Their wings are fantastic.
0:25:38 - (Tosha Yoder): They are. They really are.
0:25:40 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:25:40 - (Tosha Yoder): But we've both really come to enjoy Wonsau.
0:25:42 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:25:43 - (Tosha Yoder): A bit more as well.
0:25:43 - (Colin Johnson): It is good. That's really good. And their bar. We were there with friends a couple weeks ago.
0:25:47 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:25:48 - (Colin Johnson): And the bar lit up and it's got these. I don't know what those crystal things are all throughout. It's beautiful.
0:25:54 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah, the g. I think they're geodes.
0:25:56 - (Colin Johnson): Yes. Good job. I didn't know the work or couldn't bring it up, so. Yes. That was awesome. And the food's great. Our friend Nate Buckmaster is kind of helping them and he works for them as well. And Rafael's been on the podcast, so it's. We love that organization. Okay, what would be some more advice for. I say, we, like, you don't have a family, but you got a lot of dogs or pets or that kind of stuff. Can they come to the meet the Mountains festival?
0:26:26 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, absolutely.
0:26:27 - (Colin Johnson): August 9 and 10th.
0:26:29 - (Tosha Yoder): August 9 and 10th.
0:26:30 - (Colin Johnson): At the Wingdeer park.
0:26:31 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes. It's probably one of the most pet dog friendly events that we've ever had. We do have an. It's called Ultimate Air Dogs, which is a dock dog, dock diving competition. Say that five times.
0:26:45 - (Colin Johnson): Fasten dog dog diving contest. Yes, I got it once.
0:26:51 - (Tosha Yoder): But it's truly one of the biggest highlights of the festival.
0:26:54 - (Colin Johnson): Are you kidding me? Like, you have a deal where you throw it in there and they launch. Because we were watching that on tv the other day and Carly and I loved it. Yeah, it was just awesome.
0:27:02 - (Tosha Yoder): Yep. And we have, at least from their side of things, from ultimate air dog side, they allow folks that come to the festival to just sign your dog up.
0:27:12 - (Colin Johnson): So we can bring my. I can bring my little scrappy dogs.
0:27:14 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah.
0:27:14 - (Colin Johnson): Can't probably jump more than 4ft and they're gonna be like, are you kidding me?
0:27:18 - (Tosha Yoder): Ma'am?
0:27:19 - (Colin Johnson): We're not doing that.
0:27:22 - (Tosha Yoder): But, yeah, we have folks that come to the festival just to have their dog.
0:27:26 - (Colin Johnson): That's awesome. When is that happening at the festival?
0:27:29 - (Tosha Yoder): We'll put that schedule out very soon. They actually have not given that to us yet either. If it's anything like last year, it will be, I think a couple shows in the evening on Friday, but then a majority of the day Saturday. Yes.
0:27:43 - (Colin Johnson): And how can people find the schedule should they wish to go look at it?
0:27:47 - (Tosha Yoder): That'll be on our website. Yes. Which is www.mtmfest.org. mtmfest.org. Yes.
0:27:55 - (Colin Johnson): I love it. I love it. Okay. What are some. Anything else that we hadn't asked you about at the festival that you're like, oh, yeah. Do you guys have music?
0:28:04 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yes. Yes, we do. Well, that's good. We are going to have four bands. We traditionally have had between like eight and twelve, but we're scaling back this year. We recognized last year that stretching the festival all the way from Meredith Pavilion down to the lakefront, which, if you look on google Maps, is a pretty long stretch of the park itself. It just didn't work out. Right. We do have some education clinics that we offer throughout the festival, and those were situated at Meredith. Meredith Pavilion, but they just weren't well attended because of how far it was from the rest of the festival.
0:28:39 - (Tosha Yoder): So this year we're scaling back on music altogether with four bands. And then we are situating the education pieces in the off time when music's not playing or when there aren't any bands playing. And so we're hoping that that brings more people to the education clinics and just brings more awareness to the education clinics themselves. But we have a great lineup of education folks and a great lineup of music which will be announcing all of that very soon.
0:29:06 - (Colin Johnson): Awesome. Okay. And any like breweries or any of that stuff happening or.
0:29:10 - (Tosha Yoder): No. Oh, yeah. We've got several of the local distributors, JC Brewing. We do have another partnership with JC Brewing.
0:29:18 - (Colin Johnson): Not bringing to have a beer, but, oh, hell, it just makes them better.
0:29:21 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right. Being outside, I was asking for Mitch.
0:29:24 - (Colin Johnson): He texted me. He's like, ask about beer, Colin. I was like, oh, I don't really want to, but okay, Mitch, I will.
0:29:30 - (Tosha Yoder): We do have the same partnership collaboration with JC brewing again this year that we had last year, which was to create banjo's golden ale.
0:29:38 - (Colin Johnson): Nice.
0:29:38 - (Tosha Yoder): And it's a golden ale with a raspberry puree mixed in. Ooh, it's very tasty. It sold out, I think, much faster than Eric ever dreamed that it would last year.
0:29:49 - (Colin Johnson): That's awesome.
0:29:49 - (Tosha Yoder): He had to be quick.
0:29:50 - (Colin Johnson): And so he's probably growing more. They're like, literally like a space over.
0:29:55 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes, yes, yes.
0:29:56 - (Colin Johnson): Hurry up and brew that stuff.
0:29:57 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right. We actually have the opportunity to help brew the beer itself, and we're going to do that next week.
0:30:04 - (Colin Johnson): That's fun.
0:30:05 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah.
0:30:05 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. So we're very excited that'll be a lot of fun.
0:30:08 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah.
0:30:09 - (Colin Johnson): That's cool. Um, let's say somebody's like, man, this Tasha lade is cool. I want to connect with her directly. How do they reach you to find out more, or they want to volunteer? They want to come help set up tents and, of course, test all the beers. I don't know.
0:30:22 - (Tosha Yoder): It sounds weird. Um, you can email me directly at Yoder, which is yoder at visit Johnson city tn.com.
0:30:32 - (Colin Johnson): Okay.
0:30:32 - (Tosha Yoder): Um, or you can just visit the. Visit Johnson city website, and my information's on there as well.
0:30:36 - (Colin Johnson): Gotcha. Track it down that way.
0:30:37 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah.
0:30:38 - (Colin Johnson): Um, where is the Johnson city visitor center? Well, we got you. I mean, Alec told us that we can get it some more stuff. Get the google juice going.
0:30:46 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right. Uh, the visitor center is located right attached to next to burger and barrel and right across from Yee hall brewing.
0:30:53 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. So downtown Johnson city. It's a great spot. You guys are in a hot spot.
0:30:58 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:30:59 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. And you got, um. Do you ever go to the shamrock for milkshakes?
0:31:03 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah, we actually just went to the shamrock this morning for breakfast.
0:31:06 - (Colin Johnson): That place is so. Yes, I may have said it a number of times on the show, but I go there to get keys made.
0:31:12 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
0:31:13 - (Colin Johnson): They're the only ones with the most random key thing.
0:31:16 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:31:16 - (Colin Johnson): And I'm like, but every time the key works, like, I've been to Lowe's, not to hate on my buddy Jason, but I'll go and I'll get a key, and it comes back, and I'm like, okay. They're getting a lot better. I will say that. But it's so like they've taken the human element out of it.
0:31:30 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes.
0:31:30 - (Colin Johnson): Which I guess because of it. But the old key thing's great. And then you get a milkshake. It smells unbelievably in there with all the cigars.
0:31:35 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah. The first time I ever went in there to get a copy of a keybait, I thought, you gotta be kidding me, right? Cause, like, I only know it as a tobacco in an ice cream shop.
0:31:45 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah.
0:31:46 - (Tosha Yoder): And sure enough, I saw the machine and I just thought, all right, here we are.
0:31:49 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. And they always look at it, match it up. She's like, no, I don't think this is quite right. She put it back on there.
0:31:54 - (Tosha Yoder): The shoe was really good.
0:31:55 - (Colin Johnson): They do a great job. Jack's a good dude. I need to get him on here. Jack, if you're listening, come on.
0:31:59 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:32:00 - (Colin Johnson): Okay, last question. What gets you fired?
0:32:05 - (Tosha Yoder): Up just in general or about the.
0:32:08 - (Colin Johnson): Festival we could do. I know you're promoting the festival, so let's talk about what gets you fired up first. About the festival.
0:32:15 - (Tosha Yoder): Really just the ability to know that I'm helping bring families again that don't necessarily have the means or the time to go out and do some of these activities. I'm getting the chance to bring them here to them. Yeah. And for them to be able to experience it.
0:32:31 - (Colin Johnson): Stuff for little kids to do too, right?
0:32:33 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, yeah.
0:32:33 - (Colin Johnson): Old kids are like, if you're like, I don't think I should load the kids up and take them over there. It's gonna be boring for them. Or maybe.
0:32:41 - (Tosha Yoder): No, no, no. Do it.
0:32:41 - (Colin Johnson): It's gonna be awesome.
0:32:42 - (Tosha Yoder): Yes. We have some close family friends who brought their 4046 and eleven year olds last year, and they loved it. I mean, she texted me later in the day and said we ended up staying for 3 hours, so. And the playground being at Wingdor park also really helps.
0:33:02 - (Colin Johnson): There you go.
0:33:03 - (Tosha Yoder): So there truly is something.
0:33:04 - (Colin Johnson): And there's a light. You want to go for a swim? It's gonna be hot August. I mean, 9th and 10th. Probably usually hot around August 9 or 10th.
0:33:12 - (Tosha Yoder): Yep. So, yeah, that's awesome. Just knowing that I get to help those kids experience something worthwhile.
0:33:18 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. And then connecting with all the people that you're bringing to set up stuff, all the vendors, all the organizations, is probably just a lot of fun connecting with all those people.
0:33:27 - (Tosha Yoder): It is. And it's really interesting to see the different dynamics at play. Yeah. But also. Yeah. Really fun to connect all the dots together, too.
0:33:35 - (Colin Johnson): Yeah. All right. So just in general, what gets you fired up?
0:33:38 - (Tosha Yoder): Oh, man.
0:33:40 - (Colin Johnson): Just in general, you're like, it's going to be the best day ever, and it's not August 9 or 10th.
0:33:48 - (Tosha Yoder): Really and truly, I think my family is probably the biggest source of my joy. Let's go.
0:33:53 - (Colin Johnson): Let's go.
0:33:54 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah. And having kids brings a different sense of that, especially when something clicks for them that maybe you've told them over and over again, but you get to see it click.
0:34:05 - (Colin Johnson): Yes.
0:34:06 - (Tosha Yoder): But not be on the nagging end of things. And you're just like, oh, this is this parenting moment that I was meant to have right now. Yeah. But also just enjoying my time with my husband. We got to go away for the weekend. This past weekend, where did you go? We went to Franklin, North Carolina. Oh. But just knowing that all three of our kids would be self sufficient. Granted, we don't know how often they brush their teeth, but we knew the.
0:34:30 - (Colin Johnson): House was still there when you got out.
0:34:32 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right. We knew that if they needed to get out of the house, they could get out quickly. We gave them cash. They went and got themselves pizza on Saturday night. So just knowing that we have allowed them that freedom and responsibility that they're taking hold of that and allowing my husband and I time away for ourselves has been really, really good.
0:34:52 - (Colin Johnson): That's awesome.
0:34:52 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah.
0:34:53 - (Colin Johnson): Cool. Thanks for sharing.
0:34:54 - (Tosha Yoder): Yeah, of course.
0:34:55 - (Colin Johnson): Well, anything else? I didn't ask you. I should have.
0:34:59 - (Tosha Yoder): I don't think so. But the festival is August 9, 10th. Just 9th did.
0:35:04 - (Colin Johnson): At Wing Deer park.
0:35:05 - (Tosha Yoder): At wing dear park the lake.
0:35:06 - (Colin Johnson): Is it the meet the mountains festival?
0:35:08 - (Tosha Yoder): It is. Come to the lakefront, not the softball.
0:35:10 - (Colin Johnson): How many mountains show up? That's my question.
0:35:13 - (Tosha Yoder): Maybe one.
0:35:14 - (Colin Johnson): Okay. Maybe that's better than none.
0:35:16 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:35:17 - (Colin Johnson): Hey, you have to move, Matt. We have faith to move mountains, right. They may show up.
0:35:20 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right. Just right there in the lake.
0:35:24 - (Colin Johnson): We're just getting. Lord. We didn't bring all the mountains, and we need room for our festival here. So, anyway, thank you so much for coming on the podcast.
0:35:31 - (Tosha Yoder): Thank you.
0:35:31 - (Colin Johnson): Thank you guys for listening. I hope you enjoyed hanging out with Tasha today and learning all about the meet the mountains festival on August 9 and 10th. Yes. There's no reason you shouldn't go down there. And I'm excited to watch the dogs. I think that is going to be a blast. Carly and I are probably going to come and bring. I don't think we're going to bring our dogs. They jump six inches.
0:35:51 - (Tosha Yoder): I mean, still, bring your dogs and at least hang out. We have several vendors that will put out either dog treats that they've homemade and or bowls of water.
0:35:59 - (Colin Johnson): So that's good. And bring dog bags for the poo. Absolutely. Two dog comes, bring the pooh bag.
0:36:05 - (Tosha Yoder): That's right.
0:36:06 - (Colin Johnson): It's your responsibility. It's my psa for the afternoon. So thank you all for listening and thanks for putting up with me. Until next time, I'm Colin Johnson. If you want to make a move to Johnson City and meet Tasha and the mountains, I'd love to help you move here. We also do a lot of property management. If you want to invest in real estate, build well through that. It's an unbelievable way to do that.
0:36:26 - (Colin Johnson): And we'd help you manage that and help you acquire it all, too. So thanks so much and have a great day.