Elsa is a Financial Assistant & Certified Home Baker
This week's guest is Elsa Hirl, a financial assistant at Maquoketa State Bank in Iowa and the vibrant personality behind Momma Hirl's Baking. Elsa shares her passion for baking, which she attributes to her grandmothers and her early experiences making cinnamon rolls in junior high. She talks about how her baking journey and then sharing her "And" with others has bolstered her confidence and helped her break out of her comfort zone. Elsa also touches upon the joys of holiday traditions and the importance of balancing work with personal passions. Listeners will enjoy her humorous anecdotes and the heartwarming story of how her family came to appreciate her Christmas cinnamon rolls.
Episode Highlights
· Baking is deeply ingrained in Elsa’s family history, with her starting to sell baked goods in junior high.
· Works as a financial assistant while also managing her baking business, emphasizing the importance of pursuing passions alongside a career.
· Pursuing and sharing her passion for baking has helped Elsa build personal confidence and step out of her comfort zone.
· Sharing personal passions (like baking) at work helps in creating more meaningful human connections and improving workplace culture.
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Podcast Transcript
Elsa Hirl [00:00:05]:
This is Elsa Hirl. And when I’m not running Momma Hirl’s baking, I’m listening to John Garrett on What’s Your “And”?.
John Garrett [00:00:16]:
Welcome to episode 655 of What’s Your “And”?. This is John Garrett and each Wednesday I interview a professional who just like me is known for a hobby or a passion or an interest outside of work. And to put it another way it’s encouraging people to find their and. Those things above and beyond your technical skills. The things that actually differentiate you when you’re at work. It’s the answer to the question of who else are you beyond your job title? And if you like what the show is about, be sure to check out the award-winning book. It’s on Amazon, Indigo, Barnes and Noble bookshop, a few other websites.
John Garrett [00:00:49]:
All the links are at www.WhatsYourAnd.com. The book goes more in-depth with the research behind why these outside of work passions are so crucial to your corporate culture. And I can’t say how much it means that everyone’s reading it and writing such great reviews on Amazon. Thank you so much for those. And more importantly changing the cultures where they work because of it. And if you want me to read it to you, that’s right this voice reading the book. Look for What’s Your “And”? on audible or wherever you get your audio books. And please don’t forget to hit subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any of the future episodes.
John Garrett [00:01:17]:
I love sharing such interesting stories each and every week. And this week is no different with my guest, Elsa Hirl. She’s a financial assistant at Maquoketa State Bank in Maquoketa, Iowa. And now she’s with me here today. Elsa, thanks so much for taking time to be with me on What’s Your “And”?.
Elsa Hirl [00:01:33]:
Thank you for having me. This is fun.
John Garrett [00:01:35]:
This is gonna be so much fun after meeting you after speaking at the Onward Bancshares all staff event. So it was so cool meeting you and then getting some of your cookies from Mama Hirl’s Baking, which was awesome.
Elsa Hirl [00:01:47]:
Thank you.
John Garrett [00:01:48]:
They’re so fantastic. I can’t tell you how good they are. Everybody listening, just go get them. So I’m just excited to have you be a part of this.
Elsa Hirl [00:01:54]:
Alright. Thank you so much.
John Garrett [00:01:55]:
Yeah. Absolutely. So we have some rapid fire questions that I didn’t ask you when we were hanging out in Coralville, Iowa. I’ll never forget. So here we go. This might be an easy one. Favorite color?
Elsa Hirl [00:02:06]:
Green.
John Garrett [00:02:07]:
Green. Solid. I like that. Alright. How about a least favorite color?
Elsa Hirl [00:02:12]:
Breastfed baby poop gold. Oh. And I’ve had 4 children, so I know that color well. Right?
John Garrett [00:02:20]:
I also have a kid, and yes. That is not a great color. That color gets everywhere too. I don’t even know how. Like, yes. It does, and it does not come out. I know it does not. It does not.
John Garrett [00:02:33]:
How about a this is a fun one. How about your first concert?
Elsa Hirl [00:02:36]:
The Beach Boys with my sister and her then boyfriend.
John Garrett [00:02:39]:
Wow. That’s so cool. Yeah. At the All Iowa Fair in
Elsa Hirl [00:02:43]:
Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Hawkeye Downs.
John Garrett [00:02:45]:
Nice. I love it. That’s awesome. How about when it comes to puzzles? Sudoku, crossword, jigsaw puzzle?
Elsa Hirl [00:02:51]:
Jigsaw all the way.
John Garrett [00:02:52]:
Oh, okay. The pictures. There you go. How about books? Audio version, ebook, real book?
Elsa Hirl [00:02:57]:
That one’s difficult. I love the smell of the real books, but I love the convenience of the ebook. So I have hundreds of books on my Kindle, but I can’t take them all with me if they were real. So
John Garrett [00:03:12]:
Exactly.
Elsa Hirl [00:03:13]:
Haven’t read them all, but I’ve got them.
John Garrett [00:03:15]:
Yeah. Right? Just in case. Yes. Just in case. There there you go. How about a favorite actor or an actress?
Elsa Hirl [00:03:21]:
James Dean.
John Garrett [00:03:23]:
Oh, nice.
Elsa Hirl [00:03:24]:
Okay. No question. Hands down, James Dean.
John Garrett [00:03:26]:
There you go. That’s a great one. How about toilet paper roll over or under?
Elsa Hirl [00:03:30]:
Over, obviously. You’re a psychopath if it’s under, And I will change it no matter where I go.
John Garrett [00:03:36]:
Oh, really? Public Yes. Everything?
Elsa Hirl [00:03:38]:
Yes. Everything. Yes.
John Garrett [00:03:39]:
Your friend’s house, like all that Yes. Like maybe we’re not friends anymore.
Elsa Hirl [00:03:42]:
I change it every time.
John Garrett [00:03:45]:
That’s awesome. I love it. That’s so great.
Elsa Hirl [00:03:47]:
Self diagnosed OCD.
John Garrett [00:03:48]:
So Right. No. I can appreciate that. That’s for sure. How about a least favorite vegetable?
Elsa Hirl [00:03:54]:
Brussels sprouts.
John Garrett [00:03:55]:
Solid answer. There you go. How about a favorite number? Any number?
Elsa Hirl [00:03:58]:
10.
John Garrett [00:03:59]:
10. Is there a reason?
Elsa Hirl [00:04:00]:
We got married in October. My son was born April 10. His football jersey was 10. It’s just a good number.
John Garrett [00:04:08]:
It is a good number.
Elsa Hirl [00:04:09]:
And that’s my oldest son. I have 4 kids, and that’s just him.
John Garrett [00:04:12]:
Oh, okay. Well, we know who the favorite is clearly. No. He’s not. But that’s okay. They all
Elsa Hirl [00:04:16]:
know that. They all know.
John Garrett [00:04:19]:
That’s hilarious. That’s awesome. I love it.
Elsa Hirl [00:04:24]:
He’s my favorite oldest. How’s that?
John Garrett [00:04:26]:
There you go. There you go. There you go. Hopefully, he doesn’t listen to podcasts.
Elsa Hirl [00:04:33]:
He’ll listen to this one.
John Garrett [00:04:34]:
No. I’ll make them. Yep. Get all the kids together and listen to it together. Yes. Speaking of which, I have our will finished, and we only need 3 of you to sign. Exactly. How about Star Wars or Star Trek?
Elsa Hirl [00:04:52]:
Yes. Oh, all of them. But here’s the caveat. It has to be Star Wars episodes 4, 5, and 6
John Garrett [00:04:58]:
Absolutely. I’m with you on that. Totally.
Elsa Hirl [00:05:00]:
And the original Star Trek series and the original Star Trek movies, not the new generation stuff. So I’m particular
John Garrett [00:05:09]:
How about your computer? More PC or Mac?
Elsa Hirl [00:05:11]:
PC. The only Apple allowed in our house is the kind that I bake with.
John Garrett [00:05:15]:
Oh, nice. There you go. Alright.
Elsa Hirl [00:05:18]:
You have to be able to eat at the apple in order to use the apple.
John Garrett [00:05:20]:
Alright. Okay. Okay. Hot or cold?
Elsa Hirl [00:05:23]:
Well, with a name like Elsa, I would say cold because it cold never really bothered me anyway.
John Garrett [00:05:28]:
There you go. I love it. Elsa. Yeah. That name blew up out of nowhere and Yes. It did. It did. It did.
John Garrett [00:05:34]:
Yes. Right? Yes. Exactly. That’s awesome. This is a fun one for someone from Iowa. Oceans or mountains?
Elsa Hirl [00:05:41]:
Mountains.
John Garrett [00:05:42]:
Mountains. Okay.
Elsa Hirl [00:05:43]:
Yes. Mountains. I’ve been there a couple times now, just once actually, and loved it.
John Garrett [00:05:48]:
No. That’s great. Are you more early bird or night owl?
Elsa Hirl [00:05:51]:
Yes.
John Garrett [00:05:52]:
Yes.
Elsa Hirl [00:05:53]:
I don’t get much sleep.
John Garrett [00:05:57]:
There you go. Alright. I’ll take it. I’ll take it. How about ice cream in a cup or in a cone?
Elsa Hirl [00:06:04]:
I’m I’m complicated. That depends. I want a cup at the at the fair so that as it melts outside in the oppressive heat, it’s not melting all over. But I like it in a cone otherwise.
John Garrett [00:06:15]:
Very logical, and I appreciate, as an ice cream junkie myself, that, you know, there is a nuance to it, and it does matter.
Elsa Hirl [00:06:22]:
Yes. It does.
John Garrett [00:06:23]:
And the last one, the favorite thing you have or the favorite thing you own?
Elsa Hirl [00:06:27]:
Probably my mixers.
John Garrett [00:06:30]:
No. That makes sense. Do are they a certain brand, or have you had them for a long time?
Elsa Hirl [00:06:34]:
KitchenAid, and I bought them myself. Finally was able I was did the big girl thing and paid for them by myself, and they’re brand new, never before owned. So that made me feel accomplished.
John Garrett [00:06:45]:
And more than one. I mean, that’s like well, I mean, you gotta you’re making some some stuff.
Elsa Hirl [00:06:49]:
Yeah. I have a big one and then I have a smaller one and then I have a handheld one.
John Garrett [00:06:52]:
So Yeah. There you go. I love it. That’s awesome. Well, it which leads right into baking. So, like, did you grow up baking, or is this something that got you later in life? Or, like, where did this come about?
Elsa Hirl [00:07:04]:
Well, it’s actually in my DNA. My grandmother on my mother’s mom baked, you know, farm family. She baked cakes for people all the time in her community. My grandmother on my dad’s side was a school kitchen head kitchen lunch lady. And then so she cooked a lot, and then I I did my first pay me for this cinnamon rolls when I was probably in junior high. Oh, wow. I I graduated in 89, so way back then.
John Garrett [00:07:36]:
Right. Yeah.
Elsa Hirl [00:07:38]:
Yeah. So I’ve been baking since and then, you know, finally took the leap after all 4 of the kids no longer needed me 24/7 and finally doing what I wanna do. And after people saying, when are you gonna do this? Because this is wonderful. So that’s what I did.
John Garrett [00:07:54]:
Yeah. That’s incredible.
Elsa Hirl [00:07:56]:
It’ll be 3 years in January.
John Garrett [00:07:57]:
That’s awesome. The Momma Hirl’s baking operation. If you will.
Elsa Hirl [00:08:01]:
Legit certified kitchen, the works. I pay for my license, claim it on taxes. You got it.
John Garrett [00:08:07]:
Yeah. Because and and then you were just perfecting it all from as a kid all the way through to now. Are are there some of the the memories that you have of some favorite things that you’ve made over the years or not part of Mama Hurles maybe, but just in general?
Elsa Hirl [00:08:22]:
Every Christmas, the kids get cinnamon rolls every Christmas morning. And 1 year, I was so frustrated because nobody was helping me clean the house and get ready for Christmas. And I said, okay. That’s it. Well, you’re not getting cinnamon rolls in the morning. Nobody believed me. They didn’t help me finish the house or anything. Right? The next morning they wake up and they are so distraught.
Elsa Hirl [00:08:41]:
There are no cinnamon rolls. I said, you didn’t help me clean. Right. You didn’t help me clean.
John Garrett [00:08:47]:
I told you.
Elsa Hirl [00:08:48]:
Yes. Exactly. So they have helped me ever since.
John Garrett [00:08:51]:
There you go. So the cinnamon rolls, that’s where it’s at right there.
Elsa Hirl [00:08:54]:
Yes. That’s my favorite memory of that.
John Garrett [00:08:57]:
That’s so awesome. And I guess, are there any of the skills that translate from baking to a work environment?
Elsa Hirl [00:09:06]:
At my previous job, I would say the marketing intertwined all the time. I mean, I’ve got mama her old cup. I’ve got t-shirts. I’ve got labels, everything. So the marketing aspect really helped with that. And then taking that into my job now. Yeah. It helps me open up and talk to more people, people that I don’t know because I don’t live in Maquoketa.
Elsa Hirl [00:09:28]:
I know nobody except for who I work with, and I don’t even know everybody there yet. So I don’t know many people there, but it helps me talk to people just generically as a, hey. How you doing? And really start to understand and listen to what’s going on.
John Garrett [00:09:43]:
Yeah. Yeah. It humanizes you. Yes. And everybody loves baked goods. I mean Right.
Elsa Hirl [00:09:48]:
You know? Like Everybody’s got a story. Everybody has a baked good story. Yep.
John Garrett [00:09:52]:
Yeah. Or or a grandma that made cakes or, you know, those kind of things too. You know? So that’s awesome. You know? Because it it just makes it easier to create those human relationships Mhmm. With people at work as opposed to that transactional work side of things.
Elsa Hirl [00:10:06]:
Right.
John Garrett [00:10:07]:
And I find that if you get those human sides, then the work relationships happen better. Is that something that you’ve experienced as well after sharing this side?
Elsa Hirl [00:10:16]:
Yeah. It helps. I don’t go outside of my comfort zone very easily.
John Garrett [00:10:20]:
Totally.
Elsa Hirl [00:10:21]:
And this has helped me start doing that.
John Garrett [00:10:24]:
Yeah.
Elsa Hirl [00:10:24]:
And it’s helped in building my confidence in me as opposed to not necessarily my baking, but my confidence in me that has helped.
John Garrett [00:10:33]:
That’s awesome. I mean I mean, that that pays dividends across the board all the time, 24/7. Also too, asking other people, you know, hey. What’s your “And”? You know, type of a thing, not just blasting yours everywhere. You know? It gets it goes two-way streets, you know, but it’s a fun can opener, you know, because then it does create that conversation that who knows where that goes, you know, type of thing. And then so that is something that you do share at work even in your past jobs as well?
Elsa Hirl [00:11:00]:
Yeah. I do share. I try hard not to overdo it because it’s very easy for me to overdo it.
John Garrett [00:11:09]:
Okay.
Elsa Hirl [00:11:09]:
Because I’m so passionate about it. I love it so much. It’s so easy for me just to do it. Hey, guess what I did? Blah blah blah blah blah instead of how was your weekend? So I have to really rein it back in, and I try not to overdo.
John Garrett [00:11:26]:
Yeah. But then don’t check yourself too much though, you know, when you don’t at all, you know, type of thing. And have you come across other bakers in this process?
Elsa Hirl [00:11:36]:
Yes. Not necessarily at work, but through the vendor shows that I do.
John Garrett [00:11:40]:
Oh, yeah.
Elsa Hirl [00:11:41]:
That’s helped me connect with them too.
John Garrett [00:11:44]:
Yeah. No. That’s cool. Yeah. Because I mean also too, I mean, they use a bank. You know? So why should they not know the other side of you or the marketing side of you or the you know, those? It’s funny how when we’re at work, it’s only one thing, but then when we’re doing our and, well, yeah, they know all the other sides of me. And so it’s like, well, shouldn’t the people at work too? You know, type of thing. Because then it’s it’s more fun that way.
John Garrett [00:12:07]:
How much is it on an organization to create that space for people to share their ends versus it’s on the individual to speak up and share and ask the questions?
Elsa Hirl [00:12:19]:
That’s a good question, but my thing is is I’m still new enough to the business, to the organization, that how much can I do besides trying to learn every aspect of my job? Am I allowed to get up, walk over here, and chat with somebody for 5 minutes about stuff other than work? That’s really a fine line that you have to walk for a little while till you’re figuring out the atmosphere and things like that. And at the bank, they’re very good about letting us talk to each other.
John Garrett [00:12:53]:
That’s all. Well, I mean, you’re human beings.
Elsa Hirl [00:12:55]:
Exactly. I’m hearing laughter every day in different aspects, different areas of the bank, and it makes me feel so good that I’m hearing that it’s really quiet, and then all of a sudden I’ll hear a burst of laughter, you know, and nobody’s going, shh, quiet down,
Elsa Hirl [00:13:11]:
you know. They’re allowing it to happen and that is fabulous.
John Garrett [00:13:15]:
Yeah. Because I I’m gonna say odds are 99.9% that the laughter is not work related. No.
Elsa Hirl [00:13:22]:
It is not. I think.
John Garrett [00:13:22]:
Right? Hey. Look at this person’s balance. No.
Elsa Hirl [00:13:28]:
That’s right. Yeah.
John Garrett [00:13:29]:
That’s not at all what’s happening. Yeah. So that that’s cool because it it’s humans being human, you know, type of a thing, and, obviously, get your work done and and do that. And and when you’re new to a role, like you said, yeah, sure, you’re very conscientious of that and making sure that you’re getting your work done, but it’s also, like, what lights people up. Like, I wanna know the people I’m sitting near for 8 hours a day or whatever. So it is a big deal and there is some tone at the top that can be set, you know, where if you hear it in other departments then that lets you see, oh okay, this is okay, and maybe should be a little more encouraged, you know, or something, you know, where it’s like alright let’s make this a normal thing. Is there a part of you that thinks like, hey. If I share, people will think I’m not as dedicated to my job, or is there that side? Because I know that creeps in easy.
Elsa Hirl [00:14:16]:
Yeah. There is actually, especially at my age because senioritis has hit really hard.
John Garrett [00:14:21]:
Okay.
Elsa Hirl [00:14:21]:
Okay. So you know that feeling you get your last year of high school?
John Garrett [00:14:25]:
Oh, yeah. Absolutely.
Elsa Hirl [00:14:26]:
Yeah. That’s what it feels like times 10. I mean, for me, because this is my “And.” This is what I love to do. This is what I really want to do. But right now, I’m doing what I have to do in order to get to what I want to do.
John Garrett [00:14:38]:
Yeah. Absolutely.
Elsa Hirl [00:14:39]:
And that’s what life’s about. You do what you have to do to get to what you want to do. Right. And I’ve got plans in the works, and I’m saving my pennies to get to what I want to do, you know, as soon as I can. But in the meantime, I’m doing all I can do at what I have to.
John Garrett [00:14:57]:
No. Absolutely. And and even if it is a side thing or people listening, it’s not a revenue generating thing at all.
Elsa Hirl [00:15:04]:
Yeah. Not right now.
John Garrett [00:15:05]:
You know, it’s still awesome. You know? And it’s you know, when you were in 7th grade up until now, like, it’s been awesome. Look, and it still is. And even if it continues like this, it’s great. It’s amazing. You know? It’s just baking in general. It’s so great. And I feel like in this day and age, we’re we’re so caught up in this broken world of hustle, hustle where, you know, people refer to it as a side hustle.
John Garrett [00:15:25]:
It’s like, no, it’s not. It’s a passion. It’s just it’s something that lights me up. If it becomes a business, great. If it doesn’t, also great.
Elsa Hirl [00:15:32]:
Right. I look at it that way too because at first, it was my side hustle, and you’re right. And now it’s not. It’s my side passion, basically. And I would love grand scheme of things, love to be able to do this instead of doing other things. But for now, this is what I’m doing. And I can control it right now a lot easier than I can if it were to become something different. Right now, I can control it.
John Garrett [00:16:00]:
When it becomes the career and the only thing, then you still have to have another hand. You have to have something else outside of this to keep you from going insane.
Elsa Hirl [00:16:09]:
Yes. And that would be music.
John Garrett [00:16:10]:
The singing and the music. I remember that. The singing side of you. Absolutely. And so I think it’s fantastic. And it’s also you know, we put so much pressure on ourselves of, you know, like, it needs to be no. It doesn’t need to be anything other than what it is right now. That’s it.
John Garrett [00:16:26]:
Do you have any words of encouragement to people listening that have an end and they’re not sure how to explore it or how to even share it at work because they think people don’t care because it has nothing to do with my job?
Elsa Hirl [00:16:37]:
Just do it. Basically, it’s just do it. I mean, we all have to step out of our comfort zone a little bit, and if it gets you out of your comfort zone, it’ll get you more and more comfortable. That comfort zone will start to shrink a little bit because you’ll be walking outside and doing more things, and you never know who you’re gonna touch. It only takes one person to say, oh my gosh. This is great. You need to be doing this. I wanna help you get there no matter what that is.
Elsa Hirl [00:17:03]:
And it just takes one person. That’s all it takes. Just touch one person.
John Garrett [00:17:07]:
And the energy is there. Like, when you’re talking about baking, it’s like you know what I mean? It’s awesome. Like, when you came up and talked to me after I spoke at that conference, it was awesome. You had your brochure and, like, your card and and I was just like, this is incredible.
Elsa Hirl [00:17:20]:
I came prepared.
John Garrett [00:17:22]:
You totally did. And it was awesome. And then ordered the cookies and they’re so delicious. And it’s cool that it helped out the fire department, which is cool.
Elsa Hirl [00:17:30]:
They get, a percentage of every sale of those fire hydrant cookies go to the Olin hose company to help buy gear and equipment.
John Garrett [00:17:36]:
Right. But I mean, there’s a long menu of things that you make, and I’m have no doubt that they’re all amazing.
Elsa Hirl [00:17:42]:
Well, they are because I would not sell anything I didn’t like. So I’m just saying.
John Garrett [00:17:46]:
No. Right. There you go. And so it’s just so cool to hear how it helps you get out of that comfort zone, helps you be more you. And that’s not just at work, but, you know, everywhere. And that’s such a a cool and and powerful thing for people to step into. It’s so encouraging to hear that. So I feel like it’s only fair though, before we wrap this up, that I turn the tables and make this the Elsa Hurrell podcast, and that that laugh made me very nervous.
John Garrett [00:18:14]:
So I’m all yours. I’m in the hot seat since I asked you questions in the beginning. Now you get to fire away. Yeah. I think I’m ready. I’m not positive.
Elsa Hirl [00:18:22]:
Alright. We’re gonna start off easy. Chocolate or vanilla?
John Garrett [00:18:26]:
Yeah. You know, that’s tough. It really is. I’ll probably say chocolate because there are more chocolate things.
Elsa Hirl [00:18:32]:
Okay. Although, if you got vanilla, you could always add chocolate. See? And other flavors.
John Garrett [00:18:37]:
Next level. Well, yeah. Right. Like, you you can put in the chocolate chips or the chocolate
Elsa Hirl [00:18:42]:
Welcome to my world. I’m an over thinker.
John Garrett [00:18:43]:
Right?
Elsa Hirl [00:18:45]:
Okay. Cake or cookies?
John Garrett [00:18:46]:
Yeah. I’m gonna go cake. I remember there was a time when I moved out, like, after college, moved, you know, and on my own. I’m grocery shopping and yeah. Sure. It’s a box cake.
Elsa Hirl [00:18:58]:
Gross.
John Garrett [00:18:59]:
But you I’m going down the aisle and I was just like, time out. Like, you can make a cake for, like, I don’t know, $4, $5. I mean, it’s not the greatest, but it’s like, holy crap. We should have cakes every day or every week. If I ran for a public office, it’d be 52 cakes a year in every house. And, like, we’d all have, like, you know, diabetes and every all the other things. But I was just like, this is amazing. Like, yeah, cake all day.
John Garrett [00:19:25]:
Like, it’s so good. And plus it’s always equates to a special occasion usually. You know, you don’t just have a cake on a rando Wednesday.
Elsa Hirl [00:19:33]:
I do. I’m a baker. Well, I’m with you
John Garrett [00:19:36]:
on this. I’m totally with you on this. But growing up and most people, you know, it’s a birthday, it’s a thing. Cookies are more like I don’t know. They’re just around. Cake is more like, wow.
Elsa Hirl [00:19:46]:
Okay. John Deere or international?
John Garrett [00:19:49]:
I think I’ll go John Deere.
Elsa Hirl [00:19:51]:
Oh, good answer.
John Garrett [00:19:52]:
Because see, I knew there was gonna be a wrong answer on that one just because I’ve driven by the John Deere headquarters and the factory and all the nothing runs like a deer type of thing. There you go. Good job. And just growing up in Southern Illinois, yeah, there’s a lot of that.
Elsa Hirl [00:20:11]:
Water or adult beverage?
John Garrett [00:20:13]:
I’m a water
Elsa Hirl [00:20:14]:
Oh, good answer.
John Garrett [00:20:15]:
Like, I really am. I mean, I will have, like, a cider or a glass of wine once in a while, but, like, I drink a lot of water. I really am.
Elsa Hirl [00:20:22]:
Living in Colorado, I’ve been told you have to.
John Garrett [00:20:24]:
Yeah. Well, that’s something for the elevation, they say, and it’s also dry here. But, I mean, I just drink a lot of water. Anyway yeah.
Elsa Hirl [00:20:31]:
Spring or fall?
John Garrett [00:20:32]:
Oh, fall. All day. Oh, good job. If football happens, then sorry. That’s also a big part of it.
Elsa Hirl [00:20:38]:
I was gonna say the colors, but whatever.
John Garrett [00:20:40]:
Oh, the colors. All of the football jerseys.
Elsa Hirl [00:20:43]:
Oh, got it. Got it. Okay. One last question.
John Garrett [00:20:47]:
Okay.
Elsa Hirl [00:20:48]:
Ewok or Wookiee?
John Garrett [00:20:49]:
Oh, wow. Yeah. You know, it’s hard to top the Ewoks. I mean, it really is. I mean, yeah, Chewbacca’s awesome and all that, but there’s a whole bunch of them, and they’re little and they’re cute and, like, they’re yeah. It’s a I mean, no knock if Chewbacca’s listening, but, yeah, I’ll go Ewoks on that one.
Elsa Hirl [00:21:09]:
That’s what I had.
John Garrett [00:21:10]:
Awesome. That’s a fun fun questions. Well, thank you so much, Elsa, for being a part of this and for just being an amazing human and for coming up and talking to me after. So thank you so much for that.
Elsa Hirl [00:21:19]:
Well, thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it.
John Garrett [00:21:25]:
Absolutely. And everybody listening, if you wanna see some pictures of Elsa and and her baked goods and and everything she’s got going on and at Momma Hirl’s Baking, connect with her on social media. Check out the Momma Hirl’s Baking page on Facebook. Be sure to go to www.WhatsYourAnd.com. All the links are there. And while you’re on the page, please click that big button to the anonymous research survey about corporate culture, and don’t forget to read the book. Thanks again for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or whatever app you use and for sharing this with your friends so they get the message that we’re all trying to spread that who you are is so much more than what you do.