How One Man Put 2,000+ Businesses on the Map | Sherman Burdette, FOX59

On today's show I sat down with FOX59 feature reporter and producer Sherman Burdette, creator of the weekly "Where is Sherman?" segment spotlighting Indiana's people, small businesses, and local experiences. Sherman shares his path from Broad Ripple High School and Ball State into TV, starting as a videotape editor at WISH-TV, then leaving for Los Angeles to pursue acting before returning to journalism through small-market jobs, a breakthrough lifestyle role in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and finally coming back to Indianapolis in 2009 as his mother battled pancreatic cancer. He explains how "Where is Sherman?" was branded in a Panera meeting, why he focuses on stories rather than food criticism, and how the segment's visibility has helped over 2,000 businesses while energizing him personally. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Sherman Burdette's Media Career - The Start of "Where is Sherman?" and Its Growth in Popularity - Businesses and Hidden Gems Featured on "Where is Sherman?" Thank you to our partners: NCW Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Small Business Impact 01:16 Guest Introduction: Sherman Burdette, FOX59 02:12 Broad Ripple to Ball State 03:02 Old School Tape Editing 05:02 Acting Dreams and LA 11:21 Back to TV via Small Markets 15:52 Breakthrough and On Air Persona 19:52 Returning to Indy at FOX59 22:12 Birth of "Where is Sherman?" 24:41 Food Focus and On-Camera Eating 27:08 How Segments Get Chosen 30:00 Not a Food Critic Story First 33:03 Beyond Restaurants Experiences 34:21 From Restaurants to Small Biz 34:39 Dog Jobs and Dress Up 35:23 Connection Drives the Show 36:42 How the Segments Work 39:08 Research and Story Criteria 40:32 Handling Pitches and DMs 42:57 Preparing for the Sherman Bump 44:50 Impact Stories and Criticism 46:56 Stickers and Favorite Moments 50:30 Unexpected Gems and Misconceptions 54:17 Travel Highlights and Career Pride 57:00 Indiana Lightning Round 58:57 Storytelling Advice for Media 01:01:48 Food Emporium and Indy Lore 01:03:36 Bucket List and Final Three 01:06:43 Favorite Indiana Memory 01:09:06 Where to Follow Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.