Have You Met? A Western Massachusetts Podcast Celebrating the Women Behind Local Businesses

There are incredible women doing incredible things all over Western Massachusetts.

They're opening businesses.

Building brands.

Taking ideas they had at their kitchen tables and turning them into careers.

Starting over.

Taking risks.

Doing the thing they were absolutely terrified to do anyway.

And every time I meet one of them, I find myself saying the same thing to someone else:

"Wait... have you met her?"

And THAT is exactly how Have You Met? was born.

So... What Is Have You Met?

Have You Met? is a Western Massachusetts podcast and interview series created to introduce you to the women behind the businesses, brands, ideas and organizations you see throughout our community.

But this isn't really a business podcast.

At least, I don't think it is.

Because I don't just want to know what someone does.

I want to know who she is.

I want to know what made her start.

What scared the shit out of her.

What almost made her quit.

Who supported her.

Who didn't.

What she's learned.

What she's proud of.

And what she wishes she could tell the woman sitting at home right now with an idea she hasn't been brave enough to say out loud yet.

THAT is the conversation I want to have.

Why I Created Have You Met?

I love connecting people.

Like... LOVE it.

If you tell me you need a photographer, I know someone.

Need a bakery? I know someone.

Need someone who owns a business and understands exactly what you're going through?

Girl, have you met...

I've realized over the years that one of my favorite things about living and working in Western Massachusetts is the people I've gotten to know along the way.

Especially the women.

There are women throughout Westfield, Springfield, Agawam, Holyoke, Northampton, Southwick, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham and the surrounding Western Massachusetts communities building really freaking cool things.

And sometimes we know the business...

But we don't know her.

I want to change that.

Every Business Has a Person Behind It

Social media makes entrepreneurship look really pretty sometimes.

You see the launch.

The beautiful branding.

The sold-out event.

The announcement.

The milestone.

What you don't always see is what happened before that.

The doubt.

The late nights.

The mistakes.

The money they didn't have.

The people who didn't understand.

The moment they almost talked themselves out of trying.

And I think those parts matter just as much as the success.

Maybe more.

Because when another woman hears that story, she gets to think:

"Wait. She was scared too?"

Yep.

She probably was.

She just did it scared.

This Is About More Than Supporting Local Businesses

Of course I want you to shop local.

Book the appointment.

Order the cookies.

Hire the photographer.

Go to the restaurant.

Attend the event.

Share her post.

Tell your friends.

Those things MATTER to small businesses.

But supporting women in our community goes beyond buying something.

Sometimes support looks like saying someone's name in a room they're not in.

Sometimes it's making an introduction.

Sometimes it's sharing an opportunity.

Sometimes it's telling another woman:

"You need to meet her."

That's the kind of community I want to help build.

Who Will You Meet on the Podcast?

Twice a month, I'll sit down with women from around Western Massachusetts to talk about the person behind what they've created.

You'll meet:

• Small business owners

• Creatives

• Entrepreneurs

• Community leaders

• Coaches

• Makers

• Women who turned hobbies into businesses

• Women who completely changed careers

• Women who started over

• Women who took a chance on themselves

Some you'll already know.

Some you've probably seen online but never actually heard their story.

And some will make you say:

"How did I NOT know about her?"

That's my favorite.

Why Western Massachusetts?

Because there is SO much happening here.

We have these incredible pockets of creativity and entrepreneurship throughout Hampden and Hampshire Counties.

Westfield.

Springfield.

Holyoke.

Northampton.

Agawam.

Easthampton.

Southwick.

Longmeadow.

East Longmeadow.

Wilbraham.

And everywhere in between.

There are women building businesses from storefronts, offices, studios, commercial kitchens and spare bedrooms.

You don't have to go to Boston or New York to find interesting people doing interesting things.

They're already here.

Sometimes we just need someone to introduce us.

Where Can You Watch Have You Met?

Full Have You Met? conversations will be available on YouTube, with clips and conversations shared on Instagramso you can meet each guest wherever you already spend your time.

Each episode is designed to feel less like an interview and more like sitting down with someone you genuinely want to know.

No perfect elevator pitches required.

No pretending entrepreneurship is easy.

Just really good conversations with really interesting women.

Are You a Woman-Owned Business in Western Massachusetts?

I want to know you.

And here's something important:

You don't need to have 50,000 Instagram followers.

You don't need to own a giant company.

You don't need to have everything figured out.

You don't even need to think your story is particularly interesting.

Because I can almost guarantee you...

Someone else needs to hear it.

If you're a woman building something in Western Massachusetts, or you know someone I absolutely need to meet, reach out.

Tell me about her.

Frequently Asked Questions About Have You Met?

What is the Have You Met? podcast?

Have You Met? is a Western Massachusetts interview podcast hosted by Angie Schermerhorn featuring women behind local businesses, brands, organizations and creative projects. The conversations focus on the person and story behind the business, not simply what they sell.

Who hosts Have You Met?

Have You Met? is hosted by Angie Schermerhorn, a Western Massachusetts Realtor, community connector and supporter of locally owned and women-owned businesses.

Where is Have You Met? based?

Have You Met? is based in Western Massachusetts and highlights women throughout Westfield, Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, Agawam and surrounding Hampden and Hampshire County communities.

Where can I watch Have You Met?

Full episodes of Have You Met? are available on YouTube, and Spotify with episode clips, guest features and additional content shared on Instagram.

How can I be a guest on Have You Met?

Women business owners, entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders in Western Massachusetts can reach out to be considered for a future episode. Listeners are also encouraged to recommend women Angie should meet.

Does it cost money to be featured on Have You Met?

No. Have You Met? was created to give women in the community another platform to share their stories and businesses.

I Want You to Know Her

This project feels really personal to me.

Because I know what it feels like to wonder whether you're good enough to do something.

I know what it feels like to take a chance on yourself.

And I know how much it matters when another woman looks at what you're building and says:

"Keep going."

There are so many women around us doing things worth talking about.

I want to give them somewhere to talk about it.

I want you to know their businesses.

But more importantly...

I want you to know them.

Because you never know whose story is going to be the one that makes another woman finally decide to go after her own.

And if this podcast introduces you to your new favorite local business, your next collaborator, a new friend or simply a woman whose story sticks with you...

Then we've done exactly what I hoped we would do.

So… Have You Met?

About Angie Schermerhorn

Angie Schermerhorn is the creator and host of Have You Met?, a Western Massachusetts podcast celebrating the women behind local businesses and organizations.

Angie is also a REALTOR® serving Western Massachusetts, Central Massachusetts and northern Connecticut with the Stephanie Salerno Team at Coldwell Banker Realty. As a lifelong Western Massachusetts resident, mom, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed community connector, Angie believes strongly in women supporting women, shopping locally and making sure good people know other good people.