Into the Unknown
Into the Unknown with Jeremy Swick What’s up everyone! Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Jeremy Swick, aka Sumo, aka @theaveargehistorian and welcome to the podcast! I’m so excited to share this! Join me, Jeremy Swick, on "Into the Unknown," a podcast that delves into personal journeys, stories, and experiences of individuals across diverse life experiences. As a historian by trade, I firmly believe that our personal histories shape our present and offer valuable insights into our paths ahead. With that being said let's get into it!
Episodes
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What does Thanksgiving have to do with football — and why can’t we imagine one without the other? In this special holiday episode, host Jenna Duddleston welcomes football historian Jeremy Swick to unpack the incredible story behind America’s favorite Thanksgiving tradition. From college rivalries in the 1800s to the Detroit Lions’ first game in 1934, and the Dallas Cowboys’ business-s...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What does it take to rebuild your life from the ground up? For Chris Matts, it started with a vow — to never repeat the instability of his childhood. Diagnosed with leukemia at seven and raised in poverty, Chris refused to let circumstance define him. That promise led him down a path of relentless learning, spiritual growth, and entrepreneurial grit that turned his past into power.
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" host Jeremy Swick sits down with Lexie Callies, a powerhouse caregiver, entrepreneur, and host of the Sandwich Stories podcast, for a conversation that’s equal parts raw, real, and radically relatable. From launching a nanny agency off two corkboard flyers to becoming a lifeline for both her aging mother and middle-school son, Lexie opens up about what it means to be the "meat" in the sandwich ...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" Jeremy Swick reconnects with childhood friend and U.S. Air Force Capt. Aaron Clinton-Earl, now serving with the 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron, for a raw conversation about loyalty, leadership, and the pact that shaped his future. From growing up in Milwaukee to navigating culture shock at the Air Force Academy, Aaron shares how a football scholarship wasn’t just a goal — it was a non-negot...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" Jess Silver isn’t just breaking barriers — she’s redesigning the system. Born with cerebral palsy and raised to defy expectations, Jess transformed personal adversity into global advocacy through her nonprofit Flex for Access. In this powerful episode, she joins host Jeremy Swick to explore how adaptive fitness, storytelling, and sport became the cornerstones of her movement for inclusion — and...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What if one “yes” — to a tiny yoga workshop on a snowy day — could change your entire business? Jessica Hallahan shares how her journey from public health grad to sought-after workshop facilitator began with pure grit, a willingness to serve, and a deep desire to do meaningful work. From launching her business out of a dentist's office to speaking in blue-collar industries by 6:30 a.m., Jessica...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" Claudette Rowley never thought she'd become an interior designer. She had a thriving consulting practice, a strong resume — and a quiet inner voice that kept whispering “what if?” In this soul-stirring conversation with host Jeremy Swick, Claudette shares how a two-day color workshop became the spark that reconnected her to something deeper: a lifelong love of beauty, design, and ...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" When Valerie Bowden left her Midwest roots behind and bought a one-way ticket to Africa, she had no idea how profoundly it would reshape her life and career. What started as a solo backpacking trip across 13 countries eventually led to eight years living in Ethiopia, where Valerie discovered both the continent’s extraordinary talent and the structural barriers keeping millions of professionals ...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" Launching a podcast can feel daunting—what if no one listens, the tech is confusing, or the first episode flops? In this candid conversation, Tamika Taylor, host of the globally ranked Say More Words, and Jeremy “Sumo” Swick, founder of SwickMedia, and host of this podcast, break down what it really takes to start and sustain a podcast. From battling early doubts to finding her unique...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What does it take to leave a decades-long corporate career and dive into the unknown? In this episode, franchise consultant and entrepreneur Rick Morgin opens up about the moment he walked away from a stable career in the beverage industry—and the spark that led him to franchise consulting. From unexpected networking encounters to gut-level decisions, Rick shares how trusting himself (and ignor...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" Most people play it safe. Aaron Smalls didn’t. In this episode, you'll hear how one unexpected audition at Nickelodeon flipped Aaron's path from engineering student to sought-after entertainer, keynote speaker, and warm-up host of The Kelly Clarkson Show's live audience at 30 Rock. But this isn’t just a success story—it’s a roadmap for anyone standing at a crossroad, unsur...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What drives someone in their mid-50s to leave everything behind—friends, family, and familiarity—for a fresh start across the globe? Meet Sid Banerjee, who did exactly that when he uprooted his life in India to take on a CEO role in New York.
In this deeply human episode, Sid opens up to host Jeremy Swick about navigating culture shock, building a business from scratch, and surviv...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What does it take to walk away from Wall Street and redefine success on your own terms? In this heartfelt conversation, Matt Blair shares how the quiet dissatisfaction of corporate life collided with a deeper calling to serve — and how one pivotal moment, encouraged by his wife and driven by fatherhood, changed everything.
He opens up about building a commercial real estate fund with his father...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What if a century-old photograph could rewrite your family history? In this deeply personal episode, host Jeremy Swick speaks with South African actor Lungi Pinda about an extraordinary digital discovery: a picture of Lungi’s great-grandfather, Livingstone Mzimba, an African theology student and American football player at Lincoln University in the early 1900s. Their transcontinental ...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" When the military chapter ends, what comes next? In this raw and powerful conversation, host Jeremy Swick sits down with U.S. Army veteran, author, and medical healer Mindy Dougherty to explore her extraordinary journey through war, survival, systemic failure, and radical reinvention. From the battlefield to being bedbound, Mindy opens up about medical trauma, her fight to reclaim mobility, and...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What do ancient empires, golf scorecards, and corporate archives have in common? For Conor Lehr, they’re chapters in a story he never expected to write. After losing his mother and discovering golf as a form of therapy, Conor's journey took him from Chick-fil-A’s archives to military enlistment—and a life-altering illness that changed it all.
Host Jeremy Swick uncovers how Cono...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What if your donation didn’t just disappear into the void—but actually told a story? In this moving episode of Into the Unknown, Preethi shares how an unexpected emotional connection with a bull during a personal low point reshaped her entire life. As a tech researcher turned nonprofit founder, she’s building a more transparent world for donors, families, and sanctuaries—starting with a single ...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What happens when you trust your gut and take a leap into the unknown? In Part 2 of his conversation with host Jeremy Swick, fintech leader and youth coach Brad Stillman dives into the power of personal risk — from moving states sight unseen to launching creative ventures and preserving generational memories through photography. This episode is a masterclass in leading with curiosity, leaning i...
On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What if the worst leaders you've worked with taught you the most? In Part 1 of this deeply personal and insightful conversation, host Jeremy Swick sits down with fintech executive and youth coach Brad Stillman to unpack the surprising intersections of leadership, card collecting, and community building. From running tech teams at MasterCard to accidentally becoming a little league coach, Brad s...
In this episode of Into the Unknown, host Jeremy Swick sit down with rising rugby star Aly Cunningham to talk about her wild and winding path through the sport—from chasing her friends in her dad's tag league as a kid in Milwaukee to suiting up for the USA Falcons and heading off to Brazil.
We unpack how the rugby world is both massive and tight-knit, the moment she chose rugby over competitive ski racing, and what it felt like step...
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