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Transcript

EPISODE ONE: Behind The Mic · Talk Thurston to Me

0:04
SPEAKER_02: Welcome to Top Thurston Cookie, a podcast brought to you by Experience Olivia and Beyond.
0:10
SPEAKER_02: I'm Shauna Stewart, the CEO, and I'm so glad you're here for our very first episode.
0:17
SPEAKER_02: This podcast was created especially for the people who help bring the Thurston County experience to life every single day.
0:25
SPEAKER_02: Of course, everyone's welcome, but we're really here for the frontline hospitality professionals who welcome our visitors every single day.
0:34
SPEAKER_02: You may work at a hotel, restaurant, brewery, coffee shop, museum, attraction, retail store, event venue, visitor center, or any of the countless places where visitors encounter our community.
0:46
SPEAKER_02: No matter where you work, you have an incredible opportunity.
0:51
SPEAKER_02: You get to help someone find the perfect place for dinner when they're visiting our region.
0:56
SPEAKER_02: You get to point a family toward an unexpected adventure or introduce a visitor to a local business they might never have discovered on their own.
1:06
SPEAKER_02: And you get to turn a simple question into a meaningful and perhaps even memorable experience.
1:15
SPEAKER_02: Sometimes one wonderful interaction is what makes someone want to stay a little longer, tell their friends about us, or come back again.
1:25
SPEAKER_02: That is really what Talk Thurston to Me is all about.
1:29
SPEAKER_02: In each episode, we're going to help you stay up to date on what there is to see, do, taste, and experience throughout Thurston County.
1:38
SPEAKER_02: We'll introduce you to local businesses, attractions, events, neighborhoods, and community stories.
1:45
SPEAKER_02: We're going to help share practical information you can use when visitors ask questions and perhaps inspire you to explore someplace new yourself in your own backyard.
1:57
SPEAKER_02: Because the more familiar you are with our region, the more confident you're going to feel helping someone else experience it.
2:05
SPEAKER_02: This isn't to put on any pressure that you have to memorize everything that is shared in these episodes.
2:11
SPEAKER_02: We are here to support you and we're going to show you where you can find the answers and introduce you to someone who can make finding them much easier.
2:22
SPEAKER_02: Her name is Ollie Baigali.
2:24
SPEAKER_02: We're going to get to her in a few minutes.
2:27
SPEAKER_02: First, I want you to meet the real people behind Talk Thurston to me.
2:32
SPEAKER_02: Today, I'm going to be your primary host, but throughout the season, members of Experience Olympia and Beyond will take turns hosting each of the episodes.
2:44
SPEAKER_02: All of our team members really bring different expertise, interests, and perspectives to the conversation.
2:50
SPEAKER_02: So I'm really excited to hear how this unfolds as we get going into the podcast.
2:56
SPEAKER_02: For now, let's meet the team.
2:58
SPEAKER_02: We are going to start with Emily.
3:01
SPEAKER_02: Emily, I'm wondering if you can tell us who you are, what you do, and give us three words to describe Thurston County.
3:10
SPEAKER_03: Yes.
3:11
SPEAKER_03: Hi, I'm Emily Brooks.
3:13
SPEAKER_03: I'm the director of marketing and communications.
3:16
SPEAKER_03: And I get the pleasure of telling the story of Thurston County and convincing visitors to come experience it for themselves through all things marketing and communications.
3:26
SPEAKER_03: I think the best part is dreaming up fun advertising campaigns and actually seeing them come to life.
3:33
SPEAKER_03: I would say Thurston County is more than meets the eye.
3:38
SPEAKER_03: I know that's five words, but that's totally me.
3:41
SPEAKER_03: I feel like I'm always pushing the limits just a little bit.
3:45
SPEAKER_02: I love that.
3:46
SPEAKER_02: And when you host Talk Thurston to me, what kinds of stories or conversations are you most looking forward to sharing about our region?
3:53
SPEAKER_03: I'm really looking forward to the Thurston Bountiful Byway and having all of our members and businesses that are part of the agritourism community and along the Thurston Bountiful Byway on to help tell their stories and get our hospitality community out to explore.
4:11
SPEAKER_03: It's a really fun drive.
4:13
SPEAKER_03: So that's what it makes me excited about it.
4:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's one of those experiences that our community is really becoming known for for sure, the Thurston Bountiful Byway.
4:23
SPEAKER_02: So I appreciate you mentioning that.
4:25
SPEAKER_02: Next we have Kelly, and I'm wondering, Kelly, if you can tell us what you do and finish this sentence.
4:32
SPEAKER_02: The thing I wish more people knew about Thurston County is.
4:38
SPEAKER_01: I'm Kelly Campbell, Vice President of Finance and Administration, and I'm responsible for all the things operational and work within each department of the organization.
4:46
SPEAKER_01: I take care of all the things that no one else really wants to do, and I do my best to remain flexible while balancing my own workload and being helpful in a constantly involving and thriving work environment.
4:57
SPEAKER_01: And this is a fun job.
4:58
SPEAKER_01: Thurston County, my view, is it combines a little bit of quirky independent businesses with a stable government workforce.
5:05
SPEAKER_01: The residents enjoy a high quality of life, a slow pace, and a tight-knit community.
5:10
SPEAKER_01: It balances rural access with affordable living.
5:12
SPEAKER_01: And plus, with its prime location sitting at the southern tip of South Puget Sound, it sits within an hour or two drive of Seattle, the coast, and the mountains.
5:21
SPEAKER_02: So good.
5:22
SPEAKER_02: Okay, so Kelly is going to be the one team member that I let off the hook for hosting future podcast episodes, but she is a really essential behind-the-scenes team player.
5:34
SPEAKER_02: So you just can know that she's always working around the clock for this community at all times.
5:40
SPEAKER_02: And I do mean that literally.
5:42
SPEAKER_02: She is always working.
5:44
SPEAKER_02: Next up is Annie.
5:46
SPEAKER_02: Annie, can you tell us about you and answer this question?
5:50
SPEAKER_02: If Thurston County had a personality, what would it be?
5:54
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
5:54
SPEAKER_05: Hi, I am Annie Sisson.
5:56
SPEAKER_05: I am the group sales manager.
5:58
SPEAKER_05: I get the pleasure of helping to bring meetings and events into our area, giving people an opportunity to create meaningful memories with one another and with our community.
6:07
SPEAKER_05: Thurston County is a vibrant, welcoming destination with a slower pace that allows visitors to escape the hustle and bustle.
6:15
SPEAKER_05: So that's the fun part of my job.
6:17
SPEAKER_05: And if Thurston County had a personality, I feel like it would be kind of like the quiet kid next door, kind of overlooked, maybe a little quirky, but full of delightful surprises once you get to know them.
6:31
SPEAKER_02: I love that.
6:32
SPEAKER_02: That's such a good description of our area.
6:35
SPEAKER_02: I'm wondering what is what experience you think every hospitality professional should know about or try for themselves in our area?
6:45
SPEAKER_05: We have such a wealth of incredible outdoor adventures.
6:49
SPEAKER_05: Everything from the Billy Frank Jr.
6:51
SPEAKER_05: Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, we've got Percival Landing in downtown Olympia, Tomwater Falls, Mima Mounds, we've got state parks, so many trails, so many beautiful places to explore it that our visitors come for.
7:04
SPEAKER_05: And I think our hospitality folks should get out and enjoy, also.
7:08
SPEAKER_02: I also appreciate how none of my team members are following the rules and they're always giving more information than the questions are required.
7:20
SPEAKER_02: So I appreciate the passion, and that those are some really great, unique attributes to our destinations.
7:26
SPEAKER_02: Now I want to hear from Nicole.
7:29
SPEAKER_02: Nicole, what is it you do and what is one thing that surprises you about Thurston County?
7:36
SPEAKER_00: I'm Nicole Della Cruz, the marketing and communications specialist here at Experience Olympia and Beyond.
7:41
SPEAKER_00: I get to share the stories, places, and experiences that make Thurston County special and help people discover more of what's here.
7:49
SPEAKER_00: One thing that surprises me about Thurston County is how much there is to discover.
7:54
SPEAKER_00: Just when I think I've seen it all, I find another hidden gem, a local business or experience that makes me want to keep exploring.
8:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
8:03
SPEAKER_02: So along the lines of that desire to keep exploring, I'm wondering what types of guests or topics listeners can expect when you're hosting.
8:13
SPEAKER_02: What are you most excited to talk about?
8:16
SPEAKER_00: When I host, you can expect to discover something you may have not known about the area.
8:21
SPEAKER_00: There are so many hidden gems, local businesses, and really something for everyone here.
8:26
SPEAKER_00: And I'm still discovering them myself.
8:28
SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited to bring listeners along and hopefully you'll get to find a few new places for you to explore.
8:34
SPEAKER_02: Awesome.
8:35
SPEAKER_02: So our last team member we're going to introduce is Chelsea.
8:38
SPEAKER_02: Chelsea, can you tell us about your role and complete this sentence?
8:42
SPEAKER_02: Thurston County is.
8:44
SPEAKER_04: Hi, I am Chelsea Taylor, your tourism and community development specialist with Experience Olympia and Beyond.
8:51
SPEAKER_04: My role is really about working alongside our local community, our business owners, organizations, and the people who make Thurston County unique to help create those meaningful visitor experiences.
9:03
SPEAKER_04: I want people to not only enjoy their time here, but to also leave with an experience they remember that they'll share with others and ultimately want to come back for.
9:13
SPEAKER_04: Thurston County is more than the place that you visit.
9:17
SPEAKER_04: It's the people and stories that bring those places to life and the experience that you take with you.
9:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, love that.
9:23
SPEAKER_02: And then you recently moved to the area, and I understand that you moved here because you visited here.
9:30
SPEAKER_02: And I'm wondering what it was about this area, about the region that actually inspired you to move all the way across the country to live and work here with your family.
9:41
SPEAKER_04: I did do that.
9:43
SPEAKER_04: And really it sums up to three words that is the reason I moved here.
9:48
SPEAKER_04: It's unexpected, connected, and rooted.
9:51
SPEAKER_04: So Thurston County wasn't necessarily where I found myself landing.
9:56
SPEAKER_04: But once I got here, I found an incredible sense of connection to the people in the community as I explored and as well as the outdoors.
10:05
SPEAKER_04: And so over that time of me visiting Thurston County, that connection made me feel rooted and it became home.
10:13
SPEAKER_02: Excellent.
10:14
SPEAKER_02: All right.
10:14
SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much for all of that.
10:16
SPEAKER_02: For our listeners, you're going to hear all of these voices except Gallys and perhaps a few more throughout the season.
10:23
SPEAKER_02: We are going to be inviting in several guests and helping you get to know the people who are making the places so meaningful and special in our destination.
10:34
SPEAKER_02: Our team may be producing the podcast, but it is really important to remember that the visitor experience belongs to each and every one of us.
10:42
SPEAKER_02: Visitors don't end up experiencing Thurston County as a collection of these separate businesses, cities, or organizations.
10:49
SPEAKER_02: To them, it is one connected experience.
10:53
SPEAKER_02: So what does this mean?
10:54
SPEAKER_02: It means that their hotel stay is connected to the recommendation they receive from the front desk person.
11:01
SPEAKER_02: That recommendation is then connected to the meal they enjoy, the local shop they discover, the trail they walk, the event they attend, and maybe even the person who takes an extra moment to help them.
11:15
SPEAKER_02: Each interaction really becomes part of the story they tell about being here.
11:20
SPEAKER_02: And those stories are so powerful in helping people discover more.
11:26
SPEAKER_02: Like we said earlier, you don't need to memorize or need to know every single detail about every trail, restaurant, event, museum, or attraction in Thurston County.
11:35
SPEAKER_02: None of us even know everything, though we know a lot, but not everything.
11:40
SPEAKER_02: We're always discovering more.
11:42
SPEAKER_02: The value is in knowing where you can find reliable information so that you can really confidently say, hey, you know what?
11:49
SPEAKER_02: I'm not sure about that, but I sure know how we can find out.
11:53
SPEAKER_02: And that little shift is why we created Ollie by Golly.
11:59
SPEAKER_02: So Ollie by Golly is a custom Chat GPT personality trained by our team using information from the Experience Olympian Beyond website.
12:12
SPEAKER_02: That's just the technical description of it.
12:14
SPEAKER_02: It really doesn't quite capture her personality and what she has to offer.
12:18
SPEAKER_02: We really like to think of Ollie as your favorite aunt who knows all the things.
12:23
SPEAKER_02: She's warm, helpful, enthusiastic, and always ready with an idea.
12:29
SPEAKER_02: She's that aunt who knows where to take the kids when it rains, where to find a great cup of coffee, what's happening this weekend, and exactly which outdoor adventure might be right for someone who doesn't necessarily consider themselves quote unquote outdoorsy.
12:45
SPEAKER_02: Ollie can live right on your phone, right where you're going to ask all your other life questions.
12:51
SPEAKER_02: She can be available when a visitor is asking a question and you need a little inspiration or information.
12:59
SPEAKER_02: You can ask her questions just as you would ask another person.
13:03
SPEAKER_02: An example could be, hey, Ollie, a family with two young children is looking for something to do on a rainy afternoon.
13:10
SPEAKER_02: Not that it ever rains here.
13:12
SPEAKER_02: What can I recommend?
13:14
SPEAKER_02: Or Ollie, where can visitors find a good meal near my hotel?
13:20
SPEAKER_02: Or what are some accessible outdoor experiences in the area?
13:25
SPEAKER_02: What's great is she can help you generate ideas, narrow down options.
13:30
SPEAKER_02: Yes, she's AI, and no, she's not here to replace the human connection that ultimately you provide to visitors.
13:38
SPEAKER_02: She's here to support it.
13:40
SPEAKER_02: At the end of the day, you're the one that can notice the family standing in the lobby trying to figure out what to do next.
13:48
SPEAKER_02: You can hear the enthusiasm in someone's voice when they mention seafood, local history, live music, or wanting to get out on the water.
13:56
SPEAKER_02: You can also be the one that offers the warmth, the context, and the personal connection that really turns information into hospitality.
14:06
SPEAKER_02: For details such as current business hours, ticket availability, event schedules, accessibility, reservations, or seasonal closures, always confirm the information with the business or attraction directly.
14:20
SPEAKER_02: Ollie can get you started, and our website and community partners can help you verify the details.
14:28
SPEAKER_02: Coming back to the podcast, I just want to remind you that each episode of Talk Thurston to Me is going to really give you practical knowledge you can use in real conversations with visitors.
14:40
SPEAKER_02: You might consider listening before your shift, while you're commuting, while you're getting ready for work, or maybe even during a team meeting.
14:49
SPEAKER_02: Managers out there, we hope you'll share these episodes with your team and use them to start conversations.
14:57
SPEAKER_02: After each episode, you might consider asking, how would you describe this attraction, restaurant, park to a guest in your own words?
15:09
SPEAKER_02: Or perhaps more importantly, when are we gonna go experience it ourselves?
15:16
SPEAKER_02: Because one of the best ways to recommend Thurston County is to actually have a firsthand experience by exploring it.
15:24
SPEAKER_02: So try the restaurant, walk the trail, attend the event, visit the museum, wander through the neighborhood, and learn the story behind the businesses.
15:34
SPEAKER_02: As we get further into this podcast, we are going to be opening up some special offers from our local businesses and attractions so you can get out and experience them firsthand because you're not just helping visitors discover Thurston County.
15:50
SPEAKER_02: You are part of the destination, part of the experience.
15:54
SPEAKER_02: And it's really important that you uh feel connected to the world around you.
16:02
SPEAKER_02: Before we go, I'm gonna bring it back to the team.
16:06
SPEAKER_02: I want each of you to share one place, experience, or local detail you think a frontline hospitality professional or someone interacting with visitors should know about.
16:18
SPEAKER_02: I want you to keep it short and just one recommendation on why it belongs on someone's radar.
16:26
SPEAKER_02: Emily, we're gonna start with you.
16:29
SPEAKER_03: All right, I'll try to follow the rules this time.
16:32
SPEAKER_03: One place that I always recommend is Billy Frank Jr.
16:35
SPEAKER_03: Nash Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
16:39
SPEAKER_03: It's just minutes from Lacey.
16:40
SPEAKER_03: It's right off of I-5, so it's incredibly easy to get to.
16:44
SPEAKER_03: But I feel like once you're there, you just feel like you've completely escaped into nature.
16:49
SPEAKER_03: Walking a boardwalk is just beautiful.
16:52
SPEAKER_03: So that would be my one recommendation.
16:54
SPEAKER_02: It is wild how close it is to the freeway.
16:56
SPEAKER_02: And then it feels like you're just a completely different world, and it's so calming and so peaceful.
17:02
SPEAKER_02: So that's an excellent one.
17:03
SPEAKER_02: Kelly, how about you?
17:05
SPEAKER_01: I'd say Burfoot Park, which is actually part of Thurston County.
17:08
SPEAKER_01: It's that six miles from downtown, but it's a straight shot.
17:12
SPEAKER_01: There's waterfront access, there's a playground, there's restrooms, and also nature trails down to the water.
17:18
SPEAKER_01: And then there's reservable picnic areas that have electricity if you want to do a quick picnic or something like that.
17:23
SPEAKER_01: It's accessible for everyone: dogs, people, kids.
17:26
SPEAKER_02: Rain or shine.
17:27
SPEAKER_02: People are out on those trails and making the most of our outdoor amenities.
17:33
SPEAKER_02: Annie, what's your answer?
17:37
SPEAKER_05: So I have a special place in my heart for the spring arts walk and procession of the species event.
17:43
SPEAKER_05: It's always the weekend after Earth Day, and it is just my absolute favorite community event here.
17:51
SPEAKER_02: It's very iconic, and it's one of the things that people really think of when they think of our destination.
17:56
SPEAKER_02: Nicole, how about you?
17:58
SPEAKER_00: My recommendation would be the brewery park at Timwater Falls because you get beautiful waterfalls, a scenic walk, and a little bit of local history all in one stop.
18:08
SPEAKER_02: Did you know there's like ions and waterfalls that make your body really relax and de stress?
18:15
SPEAKER_00: Oh no, I didn't know that.
18:17
SPEAKER_02: Now you know it's it's basically therapy by going to these parks.
18:22
SPEAKER_00: So exactly.
18:23
SPEAKER_04: Another reason.
18:25
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
18:25
SPEAKER_02: Chelsea, how about you?
18:27
SPEAKER_04: I would recommend spending a morning and afternoon at the Olympia Farmers Market and walking down to Percival Landing.
18:35
SPEAKER_04: You really get to experience the people, the art, the food, the creativity, and it's really a unique spot.
18:42
SPEAKER_02: Awesome.
18:43
SPEAKER_02: That's another iconic place that people really think of when they think of our area.
18:48
SPEAKER_02: And it's so nice to be able to access the water and looking at all the boats is so fun.
18:56
SPEAKER_02: And then being able to grab bites to eat along the way is lovely.
19:01
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna chime in here with my recommendation, and that is the Monarch Sculpture Park, which is along the Yelm Tonino Trails.
19:09
SPEAKER_02: It's a great place you can ride your bikes out there.
19:12
SPEAKER_02: You can also drive, but the bike riding makes it a little extra special.
19:17
SPEAKER_02: But it's a great place to explore a great collection of outdoor art that's wildly creative and super inspiring.
19:25
SPEAKER_02: So 10 out of 10 recommend that.
19:28
SPEAKER_02: There you have it, your first list of places and experiences to explore in our region.
19:34
SPEAKER_02: And if you want more information, you know who to ask.
19:37
SPEAKER_02: You can ask Ollie by Golly.
19:40
SPEAKER_02: She is available on our website at experienceolympia.com.
19:45
SPEAKER_02: So thank you so much for joining us for our very first episode of Talk Thirsting to Me.
19:50
SPEAKER_02: We created this podcast because hospitality really is about so much more than providing a service.
19:56
SPEAKER_02: The service, of course, is so important, but it's really about helping someone feel welcomed, cared for, and like Chelsea said earlier, really connected to a place.
20:08
SPEAKER_02: And you never know when one simple recommendation will become the story that someone remembers from their trip and tells their friends about.
20:17
SPEAKER_02: We hope this podcast helps you feel informed, inspired, and confident when visitors ask, what should we do while we're here?
20:26
SPEAKER_02: We will be releasing episodes on a weekly basis.
20:29
SPEAKER_02: And in the meantime, explore Experience Olympia and Beyond's website at experienceolympia.com where you can get familiar and start discovering more places to see, things to do, upcoming events, and various trip planning resources.
20:46
SPEAKER_02: You can also add Ollie by Gali to your phone.
20:49
SPEAKER_02: So your favorite all-knowing Thurston County ant is always close at hand.
20:54
SPEAKER_02: That's available on the homepage of our website at experienceolympia.com.
20:59
SPEAKER_02: Lastly, I want to invite you to subscribe or follow to Talk Thurston to me so you don't miss our next episode.
21:06
SPEAKER_02: And until then, keep exploring, keep sharing, and keep creating the kinds of experiences that make visitors want to come back for more.
21:15
SPEAKER_02: I'm Shauna Stewart, and this is Talk ThurstonToo.