Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Jacobson.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Initially, life brought me from AZ to KC in 2010. After life experiences, trials and tribulations I was able to make it back to KC after I was offered an HR position with a local company in 2024. I had been in corporate for almost eight years and while I loved my previous position, this new one made me question my sanity. I had never been exposed to a toxic work environment until this role. I remember 2024 being an incredibly difficult year, perhaps the adjustment , a cultural clash of sorts, and coming from a small town to the city all contributed to this trying phase. I was terribly unhappy with my new job. One day it came to me, I had only been passionate about one thing, and that is history. My husband had received orders for his 4th (and final, God willing) deployment. Everything that could go wrong, was going wrong. I came home one day and thought about my true passion, it was so difficult. I reminisced on many conversations my father and I had, and being that I was born when he was 47, there wasn’t much we connected on as I grew up, but history. I remember him teaching me about the Civil War, significant events such as the JFK assassination and how he came to the states in 1963 on a work visa and what the immigration process was like back then. All these past events inadvertently formed me. I remember being consumed by my fathers knowledge, and although he only received schooling through the fourth grade, he is one of the most intelligent men I have ever met in my life and with most certainty can say he passed down his love of history to me. I thought about what I could do, I could focus on art. I’ve always had a creative inkling and decided now was as good time as any to take the plunge. I set up my phone and recorded a small segment on Tsar Alexander II of Russia. My goodness, I look back at it now and I’m so embarrassed by it. Low quality, my tone of voice, etc. I don’t know how or why, but I kept going. My videos started gaining a little bit of traction and although I have a small following of less than three thousand, sharing my passion and knowledge for history, and hopefully adding some “pizzazz” on events that shaped our country can spark some interest and lessen brain-rot. Over 60% of what is pushed out to teens online has no educational value and that’s disheartening. I’m unclear of what my goal is with my platforms. Monetization is not something I’m striving for as much as I am striving to be one of the 40% of creators who will actually teach you something. I guess, overall my goal would be that teachers use my channel as a resource and one day say ” Go watch MJ from Arteria and complete lessons 1-4″, I don’t know, something along those lines, but as long as I’m contributing to the intellectual development of our younger generations, that’s plenty fine for me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. It’s been anything but. One of the major struggles I have to this day is dealing with MDD. However, being open about my diagnosis and sharing my experience and treatment options has given me the courage to continue. Sharing my love for history has been more beneficial to my mental health than any sort of therapy, because it’s one of my few passions. With MDD, you find the most menial tasks impossible, but being diagnosed was a blessing. I finally understood that there were treatment options, support groups and plenty of people just like me. Managing my mental health is my number one priority and what that looked like for me, was quitting a job that made me terribly unhappy, finding myself and pursuing my one true passion. It looks different for everyone. I was very blessed to have the support of my husband and children who have also learned a lot about my diagnosis and what it entails. I began being nicer to myself. When I first resigned I felt like a failure. 17 years in the workforce and this was the first time I had been unemployed. I was terrified ,but i was more scared of wasting my life on something that wasn’t good for me. I’m 37, starting over, and I can say that this was the best decision I ever made. I trusted God to lead the way and here I am, interviewing with you all.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My gosh, I guess I’m a very resilient person. I didn’t mean to be, I just had no other option than to survive and better myself for my children, my husband and become a person I can be proud of. I remember the first days after resigning, I found myself doom scrolling and being genuinely disheartened at what social media was deeming as an “influencer”. It was content that was contributing to the demise of our younger generations. Full of violence, overly sexualized and made no positive impact. I couldn’t imagine growing up being exposed to what teens are fed online today. We have people that are adding no value. People teaching our children that money and photo shoots on private jets are the goal by ANY MEANS, not by hard work and dedication, BY ANY MEANS. We live in a world where everything is disposable, full of trends, and history is the one thing that cannot be changed. I turn on my camera, and I’m just myself. I’m sarcastic, politically incorrect and present historical events in a way that every generation may find appealing, at least that’s my goal. I hope that teens are scrolling one day, and see my content and take one minute to learn about an event that shaped our world. That’s my ultimate goal. No riches, no private jets, just important, uncensored, historical events that mustn’t be forgotten and should be passed down to every generation.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Hopefully we can ignite younger minds to take interest in Kansas City’s rich history. That would be amazing. I had no idea about KC’s major role in the Civil War until I stopped to read a plaque by Loose Park. It would be nice to teach our teens why we are the heartland and to help them develop a genuine love and appreciation for this cities history.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @arteriartco
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/arteriartco
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@arteriartco
