He’s been voted Boston’s best “man on the street” twice β and he’s turned viral street interviews into a full-time career.
On Episode 90, Ian and RJ sit down with Matt Shearer, the Acton, Massachusetts native and reporter behind some of Boston’s most viral man-on-the-street stories, with a following over 100,000 and a background with WBZ NewsRadio. Matt breaks down how he got into reporting, the reality of chasing viral moments, the most meaningful story he’s ever covered, and how he balances a public persona with staying grounded. He also gets into the fun stuff: ranking the six New England states (Connecticut lands last, but for reasons he’ll defend), his most overrated New England take, and the underrated Boston gem nobody talks about. A funny, honest, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation.
What’s the most Boston thing that’s ever happened to you? Drop it below π
Don’t forget β life’s better in New England. π¦π²
Chapters:
00:00 β Opening Banter & Meet Matt Shearer
01:22 β Boston Driving & Colorblind Road Stories
02:25 β Growing Up in Acton & the Pre-Social-Media Era
08:29 β The Influencer Economy: Brand Deals & Contracts
13:24 β Local Businesses, Chain Nostalgia & Mass Geography
23:18 β From Talk Radio to WBZ
32:38 β Grocery Closures & Defining Western Mass
37:49 β Boston Roots & New England Identity
42:51 β How He Found His Voice on Social Media
49:51 β Algorithm Fatigue & Life Behind the Persona
53:52 β The Most Meaningful Story He’s Covered
58:03 β So New England: Ranking the States
1:02:59 β Boston Sports & Ticket Giveaways
1:07:31 β Overrated Fall, Underrated Islands & Sign-Off
More Matt Shearer:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCoJ8HNYrSa_aL4nwclEVr1Q
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com//reportermatt/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wbznewsradio
More Ian Brownhill:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ian.Brownhill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ian.brownhill/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ian.brownhill
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