What's Your "And"?

Jeremy Stephens shares how his passion for scouting has played a significant role throughout his life. Starting as a Cub Scout, Jeremy Stephens took a hiatus but returned to scouting when his sons became involved, ultimately serving as Cubmaster and cherishing the community and leadership experiences it brought. He fondly recalls memorable moments like donning the Akila wolf costume for recruitment and emb...

Beth van Bladel shares her journey from growing up on Long Island to embracing a life filled with unique passions outside her accounting career. She describes her love for animals, especially her experiences raising llamas and how that hands-on care influenced her perspective on work-life balance. Beth recounts her adventures on her Can-Am Spyder, calling it her alternate meditation cushion and a way to co...

Dan Pontefract shares his journey from running to cycling, describing how age and an achilles injury led him to embrace mountain biking in British Columbia before switching to road cycling for safety as his family grew. His passion for cycling has taken him on memorable trips to Italy, France, Spain, and Napa, often alongside friends and family. Dan recounts a transformative ride in Victoria where seeing b...

Natalie Gandara shares her passion for coaching youth softball and how it connects to her professional life. She explains that being known as "Coach Nat" in her HR circles is a source of pride and describes the meaningful transition from playing the sport as a child to now coaching her daughter's team. Natalie reflects on the challenges and rewards of coaching young athletes, emphasizing how building confi...

Tim Vorhoff, Co-Founder of CreoValo, shares his journey from investment banking to becoming an ultramarathon runner. He explains how running began as a way to spend time outdoors after long workdays and eventually led to running a 240-mile race in Moab, UT. Tim Vorhoff discusses the mental and physical challenges of ultrarunning, highlighting the importance of adaptability, perseverance, and learning from ...

In this episode, Holly Watkins shares her journey from public accounting to rediscovering her passion for writing and creativity. She reveals how her creative side, influenced by her artistic mother, was often set aside in the business world but reemerged after she left public accounting and began journaling, eventually resulting in a published book. Holly talks about the importance of allowing oneself to ...

Erik "The Viking" Solbakken shares his journey from discovering drumming in grade school to leading rock bands and embracing his passion for music alongside his accounting career. He reflects on fighting against early discouragement to pursue drums and how his love for music persisted even as he trained to become a CPA. Erik describes a long break from music while building his professional career before co...

Tricia Katebini shares how her passion for running began with playing soccer in her youth and grew into a central part of her life after college, especially once she became a mother. She describes how the camaraderie of the running community has helped her connect with lifelong friends, often revolving around group runs and destination races. Tricia notes that running taught her valuable lessons about pers...

Joe Woodard shares how his passion for hiking started with childhood trips to the Smoky Mountains, where the beauty of nature left a lasting impression. His most memorable hike was trekking from the rim of the Grand Canyon down to the Colorado River, an eight-hour adventure in intense heat. For Joe, hiking is a way to unplug from work, practice mindfulness, and be fully present in the moment, especially wh...

Taryn Tigges shares her lifelong passion for dance, which began at age four and carried her through years of ballet, tap, and competitive performances, including annual roles in The Nutcracker. She explains how dance was the only childhood activity she truly loved, drawn by its strong connection to music. Taryn describes the challenges of continuing with dance as an adult and her rediscovery of it through ...

Adam Ritchie, founder of High Potential Group in Detroit, Michigan, shares his lifelong passion for skiing, which began at age seven and later evolved into becoming a ski instructor. He remembers growing up with Saturday ski club bus trips and racing on his high school ski team, describing how skiing brought joy and resilience to Michigan winters. Adam explains how returning to the slopes rejuvenates him a...

Denise Froemming, President and CEO of CalCPA, shares her passion for connecting with people, her love of matcha, and her approach to bridge-building both in and out of the workplace. She describes her lifelong commitment to bringing people together, from organizing charitable events as a child to helping her son and his friends start a non-profit basketball tournament for cancer research. Denise discusses...

Alvin Hartono, a lifelong gamer and program manager at Google, shares how his love for gaming began with Pokémon Gold on the Game Boy Color and has evolved alongside advances in technology. He explains how early gaming taught him resilience, problem-solving, and self-directed learning, all skills that have translated to his professional career. Alvin Hartono reveals that once he started talking about his p...

Beth Goff-McMillan, CEO of SKG, joins the podcast to share how her love of wandering and exploring the world began in childhood road trips across the United States, sparking a lifelong curiosity about people and places. She highlights the value she finds in observing human connection, whether in small towns or across continents, and how these experiences help her relate to others and ask deeper questions a...

Jackie Meyer shares her love for world travel, describing how exploring new cultures, especially in Costa Rica, has become a core part of her family's life. She talks about the importance of prioritizing personal passions and time with loved ones, even making major career decisions to support these experiences. Jackie highlights how travel has helped her prevent burnout, encouraging boundaries and planning...

Dan McMahon shares his journey from being a CPA to embracing improvisational and stand-up comedy as powerful hobbies that helped him become more confident, authentic, and fulfilled outside of work. Dan talks about how he started improv as a way to break out of old routines and found that it made him a better listener, collaborator, and public speaker. He also describes how performing stand-up, despite its ...