We had the good fortune of connecting with Jake LaMore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jake, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was working a full-time job that I wasn’t fully enjoying. I loved the work I was doing but didn’t care for the type of management I had to deal with at the time. So my thought process was, why don’t I try working for myself and see if that makes me happier than I am now.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I feel like I’m still very early on in my journey as a podcaster/small business owner. I’m most proud of surviving my first year stepping down to part-time at my radio station job and stepping up to full-time as a podcaster. It’s been a struggle this year but I’m happier than I’ve ever been. What I’ve learned along the way is that we need to be more in tune with our bodies. If we are unhappy about a job or a situation, our bodies will tell us. If we’re not happy about something, we need to change it or if we’re not happy about a certain situation, we need to step away form it. It’s okay to try new things. It’s okay to change careers and take risks. We just need to remember to be somewhat responsible when it comes to taking those risks. I want the world to know that if you are wanting to pursue a career as a podcaster, do it. It’s more than possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Kankakee County, IL, which is about 50 or 60 miles from Chicago. While we would spend at least one day in Chicago, I would mostly take them around to different places in the Kankakee area. There’s actually quite a bit to do here in Kankakee County. I would want to take them around to all the different coffee shops we have in the area. I’m a big coffee lover and nothing excites me more than going to Stefari Cafe in Kankakee or The Well in Manteno, just to name a few. If my friend was into craft beer, we have three breweries in the area! Knack Brewing and Fermentations in Kankakee, Brickstone Brewery in Bourbonnais, and Steam Hollow Brewing Co. in Manteno. Out of the those three, Brickstone has an amazing restaurant attached to it. I’m sure we would be eating there! As far as recreation or entertainment, we are very blessed to have Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. So whether my friend is into sports or into the arts, we could find something to do on the college campus. Whether it’s catching a basketball game or going to the Strickler Planetarium, we could easily find something to do at ONU. When it comes to nature, it doesn’t get much better than going for a walk through the Kankakee River State Park. The natural beauty that surrounds the river in that area brings people from miles around. I also have a soft spot for old movie theaters. So if we wanted to take in a movie, I’d suggest going to the historic Paramount Theater in Downtown Kankakee. It was built in 1931. There are also three different live theatre groups in town that are always putting on plays and musicals. Kankakee Valley Theatre Association always puts on amazing performances. If we wanted to catch some live music, I’d probably take them to On The Rox in Kankakee. It’s a little bar right along the river and they usually have local bands playing not only cover songs but originally songs they have written themselves. So as you can see, they are plenty of options. There are so many things I haven’t even mentioned. I could write a whole book on things we could do in Kankakee County.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt my loving family deserves the biggest shoutout. There is no way on earth I would have been able to pursue my dreams without the support of my lovely girlfriend, Lizzie. She has been my rock throughout all of this. In addition to Lizzie, my son, Owen, my mother, Dawn, my father, Jim, my brothers, Joe and Josh, My grandparents, Ann, Franklin, and Mary Lou, have all played an important role in helping me pursue starting my small business. One of my dearest friends and mentors, Don Guisinger. I bounced so many ideas off of him and still do to this day. He’s always helped me stay on the right path and keep my feet planted on the ground. I’m also very thankful to the Milner Family for giving me my start in local radio in Bourbonnais, IL. If they had never given me a chance and let me grow with their company, Kankakee Podcast would not have happened. I was able to establish my name in local media because of the Milners and I hope they know how grateful I am to them for that.

Website: lamoremediallc.com

Instagram: @jakelamoremedia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakelamore/

Twitter: @LaMoreMedia

Facebook: facebook.com/jakelamoremedia

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