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Justin Harlan:
Hi, I'm Justin Harlan, Managing Director of Tulsa Remote, and we have another episode today of Remote Revelations. Today, we are joined by Jimmy and Amanda Hanus, who this is our first couple to be on this podcast together. So we often get asked like how Tulsa Remote brings people together during their time here or do folks move together and can you both apply for the program and all that. So I'm thrilled to talk to you all today just about your experience coming to Tulsa from Chicago and everything in between. So thank you so much for joining me. I really appreciate you being here.

Jimmy Hanus:
Yeah, thanks for having us.

Justin Harlan:
Let's start just like, what was life like before you applied to Tulsa Remote? What were you all up to? Where were you? Tell me a little bit about life for the Hanus' at that time.

Amanda Hanus:
Well, we're recently married, so we're going to have our third year anniversary this November. And one of the things, you know, you spend a lot of time figuring out who you're going to marry, but people aren't always as intentional about where they're going to live. And we knew we wanted to start a family and it didn't feel like Illinois and the Chicagoland area was where we wanted to do that. Just the cost of living, how far it was from some of the things that we would have wanted to spend time doing. And so we kind of had a quest for the past couple of years. We did a road trip to Texas. We did a road trip to Tennessee. We kind of explored Indiana and other places that might work for us to relocate to.

Justin Harlan:
I love it. So you all like got married and then decided you did not want to live in that place and started this like nationwide exploration. Is that right, Jimmy?

Jimmy Hanus:
Pretty much, we wanted to just go and explore. We found a few different places that we wanted to move to, but didn't really work out. And we got an ad through LinkedIn for Tulsa Remote and we're like, let's go check it out.

Justin Harlan:
Yeah. So it was a LinkedIn ad. That's good to know our marketing dollars are going to a good place. So what was it that spoke to you about that opportunity to join Tulsa Remote? And like, what was, what was the light bulb moment for you as it relates to the program?

Amanda Hanus:
So I had been to Oklahoma before in high school for a mock trial championship. And then later in my professional career, Oklahoma was one of the territories that I covered and the people were so friendly and it left such an impression on me. And the airport was so easy and there was never any traffic. And I was like, Tulsa, Oklahoma, why didn't we think of this before? And Jimmy was like, that's not real. And so we both applied and we both got interviewed separately, which we thought was really surprising because we're like, well, we're both remote tech workers. We'll both just do this together. But we've had completely separate experience and unique experiences this entire time.

Justin Harlan:
So yeah, that's one thing to point out. If you apply as a couple, you're kind of considering you both on your own accord and considering each as a standalone application. And then there are ways in which we kind of work to consolidate that process so that it's not one partner applied and then they got in. And so then the other partner is going to just try to get $10,000 on their way here. So there are things we can do. You can see more about that on our website, but you know, as you, it sounds like Amanda had been here to Tulsa before to Oklahoma, as you kind of learned about this, you know, program in a place that you had never been, what was going through your mind?

Jimmy Hanus:
I remember sitting on the couch and she had pulled up the ad and I said, Tulsa, like what is in Tulsa? Why would I want to move there? You know, I never, I just never, I never thought about moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma and watching Tulsa King. It just felt like tumbleweeds and tornadoes, you know, it was my first impression. And when we came here for our hosted visit, I was extremely impressed with, it was a complete 180, like the networking opportunities, the people here, the environment in general, you know, the city is just amazing. And the hosted visit really made that possible.

Justin Harlan:
One of the things that I think is true about Tulsa is you kind of have to be here and feel it in order to know like what makes it so special and magical. And oftentimes for folks, that is the visit. And it sounds like that was the case for you also. Tell me a bit about like what you saw on that visit that made you feel like this is somewhere that you could live.

Jimmy Hanus:
The first Friday is when you have the hosted visit, which I think is perfect because when we were walking around downtown for that first Friday for the art crawl, I was super impressed with all the art and all the people. People were super nice. The city was very clean and there was just so much to do in such a small city. I was just impressed all around.

Justin Harlan:
And it sounds like you met some folks here during your visit as well.

Amanda Hanus:
Yeah, we did. I mean, it's funny because all the things that we like to do, which is go to cigar shops when I'm not expecting a baby. So we went to a really killer cigar shop. We found a used bookstore with over a million books for sale. I think my luggage was too heavy on the way home. At the art crawl that Jimmy's talking about happens the first Friday of every month. And they have free craft beer that they give you. And he's a huge craft beer snob. And so he couldn't believe how much craft beer there was here. And so we're just like walking into like the next thing that we would like to do. And we both are kind of like health conscious with some of the things we eat. And we just like happened to walk into Chimera and get like a gluten-free vegan. It was super easy to eat clean and to eat like allergy friendly. He's gluten-free. And it was just so simple. And I wasn't expecting Oklahoma to be so friendly to dietary restrictions. And now that I'm pregnant, like the mocktail game here is so strong and there's like really fun social events around making mocktails and experiencing mocktails and so the food actually was one of the things that I just remember like taking a lot of pictures of and being really impressed about like how fresh and how healthy.

Jimmy's obsessed with Inheritance Juicery  and I have to call it out by name because it's like incredible and like that was it, he had a peanut butter and jelly smoothie and it was done, we were moving like he started packing yeah.

Jimmy Hanus:
It was like one positive after after the next. On our art crawl, we were getting free craft beer. And then I found out that I'm gluten-free and there was a gluten-free brewery across the street, Neff Brewing. It's just positive after positive.

Justin Harlan:
Well, that's great. So you got to kind of push up against some of the misconceptions that you might've had, or even just the way that Oklahoma is portrayed in the media or wherever else. How long after you saw it during that visit, did it take for you all to just kind of collectively decide that this is where you want to uproot and move your lives to?

Jimmy Hanus:
We were 99% sure we were going to move here until we found an apartment. We had a little bit of a hiccup with the first one. We walked right into the second one. They took us in, had an apartment available, and we're like, was our one percent.

Amanda Hanus:
Yeah we came in August just to make sure this was real and that like you were real and that the people that were interviewing and applying were also actual humans that were remote workers and once we're like okay all these people that we met are interested in similar things like... they work in tech or they work remotely and they just want a better life for their current family and for their future and so they were kind of on the same quest we were. Just that quality of life and where they were going to spend their time and just being thoughtful about that. And so once we just enjoyed the energy of all the people that we met, there was such a fun networking bingo that we played. I'll never forget. It just really fosters that connection and fun. Once we realized that, we started looking for an apartment. Our visit was in August and we moved the first week of October.

Justin Harlan:
Oh, wow. Yeah, you turned it around quick.

Amanda Hanus:
Yeah.

Justin Harlan:
And was like one of your non-negotiables that you had to be in the apartment right by Neff Brewery or what?

Jimmy Hanus:
No, that's just coincidence. I didn't know it was of gluten-free brewery until after I found out.

Justin Harlan:
Got it. Got it. Love it. Well, it's funny. You're pulling out a couple of real commonalities. First and foremost, we often have people apply to the program that don't believe that it's actually real, or they're just waiting for the string. What's the hook here? This can't just be cash to move. And so the fact that you just took that chance to see what was on the other side is something that actually happens more often than you'd think. And then Amanda, I love how you're pulling out just like the... Everybody is so different that comes for the visit or that moves through the program. And the diversity of background is so rich, but there is that common thread, which is like you're looking for something bigger. It's almost like there's, you know, there's like this pull to make something more out of your life than you might be experiencing it wherever you are. And regardless of like the background that gets you to that place, I do think that's something that the amazing folks we bring to down do have in common. It's like you're, what more can I get out of life? And Tulsa, I think opens up that door for so many, you know, you have these big expectations when you moved to a new place, and obviously you all had high hopes based on the visit and all the things that Tulsa would unlock for you and the program would help you to accomplish. How has that played out? I mean, you're not even a year in to your time here in Tulsa. How have, you know, the expectations that you have, how have those been met during your time here?

Amanda Hanus:
I'll start. I mean, I think you're right. Change equals opportunity. And so those, everyone that's moving here is looking for that positive and intentional change and living downtown. I'd never felt like a cool, hip, young tech worker because I just work from home and kind of turned my job, which I'm really grateful for. And I love my career and I love my company, but I used to be able to go into an office before COVID. They didn't renew the lease. And so it kind of just turned that into a prison. And I just really wasn't doing a lot of fun and things that I used to love to do. And so when you relocate, you can bring back intentionally and purposefully what you want your life to look like. And so we were able to find like a church community.

Amanda Hanus:
We were able, I used to love to sing. Tulsa has a crazy cool, like organic music scene. People are here before they become cool, right? I feel like they play here first. And so I was able to get jazz lessons. I found a really neat volunteer opportunity with the Tulsa Hills Youth Ranch where I get to get off the desk and unplug and groom horses and spend time in nature with kids that have experienced trauma here in Tulsa. And it's like 10 minutes away. It's not like I'm driving. I think the big thing is because everything's 15 minutes away in literally any direction, you can do something completely different in 15 minutes and be in a completely different locale. So yeah, just really feel like I'm excited to get off work. I have things to look forward to. I have events to go to. And so just really feel like I'm having a rich week by the end of the week.

Justin Harlan:
It feels like every time I see you, it's like, long list of new things that you've tried. And you're like the yes people. You just have totally embraced what the city has to offer and tried all the different things. I know that you also utilize the Goose Chase app, which is something that we actually give to our members. Talk a little bit about that and how that has also dictated the path that you've gone on. That's all on you. Yeah. Go ahead, Amanda.

Amanda Hanus:
Well, there's an app that a lot of people don't use, but until they call me out, they're like, how come you have so much Tulsa Remote swag? You've got the crew neck. I've got a fun glass. I have a flag. And I'm like, oh, I'm on the goose chase, baby. So I'm ranked two. Please unrank me. I'm happy to be dethroned. I've been two for a long time. But there's an app that Tulsa Remote has that gives you quests and you get points for your quests, like try an ethnic grocery store, hike one of these five trails. And every weekend we just said, hey, let's pick one quest this weekend that we're going to do with our dogs or without our dogs. So we just quested our way to loving Tulsa because every weekend we just did something new in a different neighborhood in a different season of the year. I think my favorite might have been on my birthday. We went to the Shedd Aquarium (*intention was to say Oklahoma Aquarium) and saw Scuba Santa. He is in a scuba suit. I don't know how it works in water because, like, when you're in water, things usually rise, and he looks fantastic, and they give you candy canes, and I was like, there's a Scuba Santa. Like he's in there with the fish right now. This is so cool and random.

Justin Harlan:
Well, that's like a perfect example of the things that we like the tools and resources that we give living out and like playing out for you all in the exact way that we hoped it would where we're not having to create every single experience for you all being in town but it's like hey go follow this and you all actually followed it and loved everything you saw.

Jimmy Hanus:
I think we've done more things than most natives that live here.

Justin Harlan:
No doubt, yeah no doubt. And Jimmy, I know that you've also picked up a hobby and like leaned into a lot of the free time in new and exciting ways. Tell me a little bit about that and how Tulsa has impacted your life, both professionally, because I know there's some connections there as well. And then, and then personally.

Jimmy Hanus:
Yeah, definitely. So I started a website development side hustle about four years ago. It's been doing really well. I wanted to take that side hustle and move it to Tulsa. And I did. I started acquiring a couple of customers here and it's been very successful since. Yeah. So during one of the first Fridays, we were at the Fulton Street grand opening and we were networking and talking to a bunch of other Tulsa Remoters. And my wife had introduced me to another Tulsa Remoter that was an intern and he was learning website development. And we were talking and there was a project that he is now working on. And since meeting him, it's been a great friendship. We've been building up the network. And he's been helping me with a few other projects now as well, too. So it's been a great networking opportunity. And then also the Idea Accelerator, the partner that I was paired up with, Max, he has also been helping me out with some contracting as well, too. So coming to Tulsa Remote and being in the program has really opened the doors up to so many networking opportunities that I never thought I would have had back home. Found it very quickly and very easily here, and it's been just a blessing.

Justin Harlan:
That's awesome.

Jimmy Hanus:
Yeah, and another side hustle just to add is I'm building an app for the pool community. Yeah. And I was accepted into the Idea Accelerator through Builders and Backers, and they give you $5,000 in free Pebble Fund money to test your idea. We're getting the app launched in like 30 to 40 days. And again, it's just another thing that's been added to the list that is helping me progress with the other things that I do.

Amanda Hanus:
And as a spouse that wants to be supportive, if there's anybody out there that's listening to this and they have an entrepreneurial bug, this is such a safe place to test that. It's such a supportive place to test that. There's just so much intention around building the future of a successful Tulsa and multi-generational wealth for Tulsans. And so I think that this is the the perfect place to really test any entrepreneurial pursuit because you're going to have just this infrastructure that other cities don't have or it's just so competitive to get into.

Justin Harlan:
So yeah, another example of things that we kind of put in motion that then relies on the people that are here actually taking advantage of it in the right ways. And you've benefited from that. And what about your drumming? I know that's a big aspect of your life.

Jimmy Hanus:
So the past year, I've really taken drumming seriously and really wanted to perfect that skill. I did a quick Reddit search on how to enhance the skill, how to become more of an advanced player. And the first thing it told me was to learn world music, world music or Bossanova jazz. And I did a quick Facebook search on Bossanova jazz in downtown Tulsa. And the next day, actually that evening, it said that there was a Bossanova trio that was playing at Sisserou's downtown. So we went and saw them. We listened to them for the first two sets. The drummer walks over to us and says, hey, there's a vibe going on here. Tell me about yourself, you know? So I told him, I'm like, you know what, I'm trying to enhance my drumming skills, looking for a Bossanova jazz teacher, or, you know, just trying to enhance it, learn world music. He said, hey, I have a PhD in music and I'm also a Bossanova jazz teacher. And I'm like, wait, I found someone with a PhD in music that is a Bossanova jazz teacher. I just searched this for this last night. I'm able to find this in Tulsa. And now I'm learning with Michael Bremo, who's out of Drum World every Tuesday. I've been doing that for... About five or six months now, tried out for Life Church, got accepted right away. And I've been playing every Wednesday for the Switch group up in Owasso.

Justin Harlan:
First off, I am awaiting the day that somebody comes up to me and says, there's a vibe.

Jimmy Hanus:
There's a vibe.

Justin Harlan:
Because that's just a dream.

Jimmy Hanus:
Right?

Justin Harlan:
Like everybody wants that to be said to you, sitting randomly in a bar or restaurant. So congratulations.

Jimmy Hanus:
Yeah. It was just strange how that happened.

Justin Harlan:
So first off, that run-in that you had did not happen just totally on its own, right? You didn't just randomly bump into this world-class drummer. It did take a little bit of effort on your part. And I love, Amanda, what you said about change creates opportunity and embracing this new life and the opportunity to hit the reset button and create the life that you want. You may not have done a ton. I mean, you Googled and then you showed up, but that's still something. And I think that what we see is those who have the best time here are those who are willing to put in just a little bit of effort and get out of their living room or off their couch and actually go out and experience what the city has to offer. And I do want to call out that it wasn't just like happen chance and you weren't just like sitting around. You actually did something to explore.

Justin Harlan:
And in opening those doors, there were natural collisions that I think happened for you all that have created the life that you're enjoying now, which I think is special.

Amanda Hanus:
And it's good food.

Justin Harlan:
Yes. What else is on the radar for you all? I know that there's big announcements that are coming here in Tulsa. And yeah, how are you thinking about kind of your future life in Tulsa from here?

Amanda Hanus:
Yeah, well, we're excited. We're expecting an Okie baby on October 3, his name is going to be Theodore and his nursery is bison. Because I don't call them buffalo after living in Oklahoma. I know better. And Jimmy actually took some beautiful pictures at the Tallgrass Prairie, which is not far at all from Tulsa. Great day trip. You can see the Pioneer Woman's restaurant for lunch and then go see the magnificent bison that are not in a fence. And he took some great pictures and we're really looking forward to hanging those in the nursery.

Justin Harlan:
Are there other things in Tulsa that you all are like looking forward to checking off the list with your growing family?

Jimmy Hanus:
So I would say, I mean, get the gathering place. We've been there, but haven't been there with a child yet.

Amanda Hanus:
He's only having this baby so he can go to the Discovery Center.

Jimmy Hanus:
Yes.

Jimmy Hanus:
And the planetarium. Discovery Lab we have not been to. We've heard a lot of good things about that. One thing about Tulsa, this is the reason why we were really adamant about starting a family is that Tulsa is very family oriented and they're very accepting of families. You could really take your kid anywhere and everyone is just so welcoming.

Amanda Hanus:
Well, and that's really what surprised us is even though we're from Chicago, which has Broadway and all all of this theater and all of this opera, it's so inaccessible because it's so hard to get places and it's so costly. We've actually experienced more arts here. And we're excited about having our child be cultured here. If you don't know, Tulsa is one of the epicenters of Art Deco architecture, which feels very much like Chicago to us because they were growing cities around the same time with similar architects. And so if I ever miss home, I just walk downtown to the midweek farmer's market and I'm surrounded by that. And so we've actually seen a ballet, an opera, a couple of musicals and we got to meet some of the cast beforehand. It's not that we didn't have that. It just would have been so much more competitive to compete with 4 million people for those tickets versus 400,000 that we're just doing so much more because it's less expensive to park. I think it was $3 or we walked versus $72, which is what we're used to.

Justin Harlan:
Oh my gosh, $72.

Amanda Hanus:
For parking to go to a White Sox game and they're not going to win. And I think we've really just Just enjoyed like all of the sports that are in Tulsa. I think that really took us by surprise, too. We were looking for a winning sports team, you know, living, leaving Chicago. I don't have to say much more about that. So it was easy to give FC Tulsa our hearts or, you know, any of the teams that are winning.

Justin Harlan:
I love it. Well, Tulsa definitely opens up an entirely new experience when you have a little one. So I'm excited about that for you all. If there are couples or folks with kiddos that are listening and, you know, considering the move, I know that that can be a stressful conversation to have. What advice would you give to folks that are considering applying to the program or making the move to Tulsa?

Amanda Hanus:
Yeah, so we moved here for very different reasons. I moved here for more of the social aspects. Jimmy moved here for more of the professional development opportunities for his entrepreneurial pursuits. And we've both wanted to stay and make Tulsa our forever home based off of being able to fit that need. One very quick specific example is I'm passionate about my sorority. I'm a Pi Beta Phi alumni. And in Chicago, they segregate you because there's so many thousands of alumni by your age group, and you only get to hang out with those people. And here in Tulsa, there is a vibrant sorority community because there's a lot of universities here in Oklahoma. Everybody does everything together. And so I was very quickly able to find a meeting on Instagram through their social media, join a committee, and just get poured into by these women that are wiser than me in a different stage of life, which I'm so open to right now as I'm going to be a new mom. And so I'm thrilled that I am now their incoming president next year. So I'm their president-elect, which again, coming from a major city, would never have the exposure to a leadership position that quickly. So whatever you're into, whether that's a sorority or Bossanova jazz, like Tulsa has it if you just look it up.

Jimmy Hanus:
Yeah, I would say anyone that's new that is looking at Tulsa Remote and coming to Tulsa is that there's opportunities everywhere. There's something for everybody and everyone's welcoming to whatever you do. I did not think that I would be able to find the opportunities that I have found this easy. Living in Chicagoland land area for over 30 years. I have found more opportunities here over the past year, and I've just enhanced myself professionally, got myself out there and networked more, built my business, and everything else has just been so positive.

Justin Harlan:
So awesome to hear. And you all, like I said, have just been saying yes to so much and have really been able to get a lot out of this year that you've been here. And it's so awesome just to hear about these stories and the ways in which the city has opened up a new lifestyle and the connections you've made, the ways you're professionally developed through the Tulsa Idea Challenge or the connections you've made professionally, the ways in which life has just become bigger than a job or traffic or the parking fees or whatever else. And kudos to you all for leaning in in that way and really seeing what Tulsa has to offer. It sounds like it's just the beginning for you all and what's to come. And I'm thrilled that Tulsa Remote has been kind of the start of that story for you.

Jimmy Hanus:
Thank you so much.