What's Your "And"?

Kristie Ondracek, CFO and COO at TXCPA Houston, talks about her passion for paper crafting, specifically card making and scrapbooking. Kristie shares how she began crafting in high school and has since embraced the creative process, which she finds essential for both personal expression and enhancing her problem-solving skills at work. She highlights the joy she experiences from bringing a smile to others ...

Joel Zeff shares his journey from being a newspaper reporter to a successful keynote speaker and author. Joel describes his transformative experience with improv, which he discovered after moving to Dallas for a job as a newspaper reporter. Despite the challenges he faced when the newspaper closed, Joel explored stand-up comedy and eventually joined an improv troupe, which opened doors for him to merge his...

K.C. Eames shares her journey from playing indoor volleyball to discovering her passion for beach volleyball later in life. Raised in a household that encouraged trying various activities, K.C. began playing volleyball at 10 and progressed to playing in the Junior Olympics. Despite burning out from the intense schedule, she rediscovered her love for the sport through beach volleyball. K.C. emphasizes the p...

Adam Shay, a former accounting firm owner now coaching business founders through his company Share the Knowledge, joins the show to discuss his passion for mountain activities. Adam shares his journey of discovering a love for the mountains during his college years in Virginia, which blossomed into regular trips for hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. He enjoys visiting places like the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia, ...

Cristin Browne shares her passion for gardening and skiing and all things outdoors. She discusses how her love for gardening began after purchasing her house with a blank backyard, which she saw as a blank canvas to create a flourishing vegetable garden. Despite her initial efforts resulting in mostly failed crops except for zucchinis, she found joy in experimentation and the connections it fostered with h...

In this episode of What's Your "And"?, Jeff Towberman, the finance supervisor and controller at the North Saint Paul School District in Minnesota, shares his profound passion for baseball. Jeff recounts how a childhood experience at a San Francisco Giants game with his grandfather sparked his love for the sport. Over the last forty years, Jeff has channeled this passion into playing and then coaching baseb...

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 brea...

Bill Casey, the Deputy CEO at MGO, talks about his passion for music and car restoration. He shares memories of learning the guitar in high school and playing in various bands, emphasizing the importance of practice to stay proficient. Bill discusses his experience performing live many times in Chicago, highlighting the need for preparedness and teamwork in both music and work environments. He also talks a...

Anthea Bell, an embodiment and transformation coach and host of the Finding Your Way Home podcast, shares how walking in nature and mindful movement have been instrumental in her personal and professional transformation. She explains her journey from a demanding corporate career to becoming a coach focused on holistic well-being. Anthea emphasizes the importance of connecting with one's body and surroundin...

In this episode of "What's Your 'And'?", guest Matt Pierce, a former advertising professional and passionate rap musician, shares his journey from Madison Avenue to the stage. Matt reflects on his early creative experiences and integrating his love for rap music with his advertising career. He recounts performing an original rap at a Havas Creative company happy hour, which led to more opportunities and recognition within his profe...

In this episode of "What's Your 'And'?," John Garrett welcomes Rick Goodmay, the Director of Client Relations at ICM Colorado. Rick shares how his passion for smoking meat and cheese serves as his creative outlet and how it fosters community both in his personal life and at work. Inspired by a coworker, he got into the art of smoking to enjoy and share larger quantities of delicious food. Rick emphasizes t...

Carla Youngblood, a CPA by day and comedian by night, shares insights from her journey into comedy that began at a talent show. She reflects on her experience performing at a bar, where she learned the importance of engaged audiences for successful comedy. Carla discusses how her natural talent for humor, honed from family gatherings, positively influences her workplace, making her more relatable and engag...

Malony Bartush, Director of HR Communications at Pentex Energy, delves into her passion for running and its impact on her professional life. She shares an inspiring anecdote about her running group’s extraordinary camaraderie, including a heartfelt story of members running extra miles for others who can't run that day. 

Malony discusses how this supportive mindset permeates her HR...

Franky Lopez, a senior accountant at BMSS Advisors and CPAs, shares his passion for competitive TV shows. Franky dives into his love for "Survivor," "Big Brother," and "The Challenge," as well as game shows like "Wheel of Fortune" and "Deal or No Deal." And let's not forget the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

Growing up, his family frequently watched these shows together, which foste...

Wendy Walker, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Sovos, shares her passion for quilting and running. Wendy reveals how she began quilting eight years ago to connect with her mom, utilizing pictures and video calls to collaborate from different states. She discusses the therapeutic and creative aspects of quilting, highlighting its significance as a stress reliever and a source of personal fulfillment.

John Tyreman shares how something simple like having his drum set in the background during a work video call with a client sparked a deeper connection and conversation. He emphasizes the importance of sharing personal interests to build meaningful relationships at work. John recalls inheriting his mom's Pearl Export drum set and how jamming with a neighbor ignited his passion for drumming. He discusses his...

Eric Kamont, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Industrial Metaverse at Microsoft, discusses the transformative power of integrating personal passions into professional environments. Eric shares how using personal interests as icebreakers has strengthened his connections in both work and while running youth programs. He reflects on losing 115 pounds, achieving a black belt in martial arts, and comp...

Dave Hartley, a partner with Anders CPAs and Advisors and host of the But Who's Counting? podcast, shares his insights on the importance of authenticity and individuality in professional settings. Dave highlights how firm leaders play a crucial role in fostering genuine connections, especially in remote work environments. He recounts his ...

Judge Frank Szymanski discusses the importance of finding activities that bring joy and focus, advocating for spending time in "flow mode." Frank shares his passion for meditation, mindfulness, and yoga, and his efforts to implement these practices in the juvenile and adult prison systems. He also reflects on his dual identity as a singer in a David Bowie tribute band, emphasizing the significance of embra...