Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared Lemle.
Jared, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Like others after the start (and during) of the pandemic, my partner and I were bored. We watched a lot of movies and shows on the streaming apps, as well as purchased games for Switch and Xbox, to pass the time. We wanted to figure out a way to make the time pass, so, we decided to start a podcast.
Our first podcast was called “Salt City Mix.” Since we are an interracial couple, that was the inspiration for the name. The pod was VERY amateur. We talked about current events, what it’s like being an interracial couple in SLC and Utah, music and movies, and any other random topics. We did it for, I’d say, 12 episodes before we ended the project.
During that same timeframe, I started a solo pod called “A Black Man In Salt Lake City.” That one wasn’t much different than our original pod. That one was more Afrocentric, and I wanted to talk about things that are Black in Utah. I modeled it like the “Drink Champs” podcast where I would have a cocktail, and just talk. That one didn’t go as long as the original pod, but it was fun.
Fast forward to 2023, when we moved to Billings, Montana. I work from home, and I got tired of talking to four cats all day. So, I decided to start the “A Black Man In Billings Podcast.” Mostly the same format, except this time, I was talking about things that are Black Billings, and Black Montana.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the solo pods, it wasn’t a smooth road. From studying what to do to make a podcast to the learning curve for the audio and video software, to learning how to market the pods on social media, to procrastination, it wasn’t easy.
Eventually, with the Billings pod, I just learned to accept what I was and was not willing to do (using Instagram and TikTok for the pod instead of using ALL social media platforms available, realizing my editing skills were good enough to make that process “fun, and not perfect”).
Once I was able to shake the feeling of “this pod isn’t good enough,” it became much more fun.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do have my regular M-F 7A-330P day job. My official title is “Senior Marketing Engagement Coordinator.” Before that title, I was a “Project Coordinator.” I am a remote employee, but am still employed with Utah the company, with no plans of leaving.
What I tell people when they ask what I do is that I “give money to people who make their equipment more energy-efficient.” I process applications for our Commercial customers that do new installs, retrofits, and major renovations to everything from food service equipment, to building shell projects, to HVAC systems. I have been in this position for 3.5 years, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. That is not a lie, either.
I’m known for being the sneaker collector with the bad dad jokes, on my team. I’ve collected sneakers since 1995, and have always had a soft spot for stupid dad jokes. I’ll throw random ones out at the team. Most of them hate the jokes though. Regarding my sneakers, some teammates will ask what my latest pickups are, and I’ll share them at the Microsoft Teams meeting.
What I’m most proud of is making it to this position. My life before this was contact centers. I hate contact centers, but they were the easiest jobs to get when you wanted a change. I was tired of the mean customers, and the politics of the jobs (every contact center has that, don’t let any one of them state differently).
Once I made it to this job, I felt so much relief. No more inbound/outbound calls, no more upset customers, and no more chats and emails. This isn’t the best thing to be proud of. But, for me, it is because I am FINALLY in a position that I call “adult.” I am slowly working my way up the ranks, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am an EXTREMELY cautious person. I like to plan and play it safe. Taking risks is not something I do often, nor am I too comfortable with risks. The most recent jump we’ve made is purchasing a home in Billings, Montana. My partner and I were used to living in apartments.
Apartments provide that safety cushion that we rely on too much. What I mean by that is once you become a homeowner, all of those things you took for granted like maintenance, snow removal, trash/recycling removal, yard work, etc., now become your regular chores. I’m 42, and this is my first home purchase as an adult, so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen going forward. In the end, I do hate the chores. However, I’m glad we took the risk and made the purchase.
What I think about risk is… “JUST DO IT!” Perhaps, with a small exit plan though. Sometimes, you just need to go out there and TRY to make something happen. You’ll never know if you could’ve done something more if you don’t take the risk. Just be safe while doing so.
Contact Info:
- Email: ablackmaninbillings@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abmb_official/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsCApvsV1wVfSroKSP37cqU_V5x1mlUKw
