Ascendants

Today we welcome Rose Shoen: granddaughter of the founder of U-Haul, soccer coach, and accomplished athlete. She has devoted much of her life to the question, “How do we provide access to soccer at any income level?” Discover her three t's and how they inform her coaching business, how she translated her experience working for her family to coaching Spanish-speaking kids' soccer, and her advocation of “sustainable philanthropy” through the combination of “public” resources and “private” knowledge.

This week's guest is Caleb Tannehill. Caleb, a Gen-5, openly shares his family history dating back to the late nineteenth century and his mission to develop multi-generational family cohesion. Discover his efforts to engage his family 365 days a year, what he tells quarrelling family members, and how he strives to prevent family issues from becoming corporate issues with a “family constitution.”

Second-generation philanthropist Logan Angel joins Kate and Parker today to discuss a value near and dear to her heart: generosity. Discover how she became inspired to make her family's foundation her life's work, how she handled her family's transition to wealth, and how she stepped out of fear and isolation to embrace her identity.

Early on in life, Reid Wilson concluded from his parents' disintegrating marriage that happiness and financial success did not necessarily go hand-in-hand. What followed was an intense personal journey that ended in self-acceptance, forgiveness, and the reconciliation of a family. On this episode of Ascendants, Reid details his lifestyle experiment of extreme giving and self-denial (and how this was an expression of self-hatred), the “superpowers” he inherited from his parents, and the moment of silent prayer that sparked a revelation.

Welcome to Season 2 of Ascendants! In our first episode of the season, we speak with Muhammad (Mo) Amdani: general partner at Adapt Ventures and a Gen-2 member of GK. Discover the impact of growing up around his family business in Miami and Dubai, why competition between him and his siblings allowed him to thrive, and the value instilled in him by his father that he treasures most.

In the final episode of the season, Kate and Parker sit down with their good friend Mikey: entrepreneur, youth pastor, and co-founder with his father of Restoration Apparel. Discover the importance of treating workers with dignity, how his father's love for entrepreneurship (including selling grass seed, of all things) inspired and planted deep roots in Mikey, and what it means to be a “horizon painter.”

Today, Kate and Parker welcome their friend Taylor Adams to Ascendants. Taylor is a fifth-generation family member and has a passion for combining investment entrepreneurship with philanthropic strategies. Discover why he decided to start his own venture fund and non-profit incubator, what the “third track” is for Next-Gens, and how Taylor's family values impacted his journey – including, “If you want to make a million dollars, help a million people.”

Former Junior Olympic downhill ski racer. Entrepreneur. Gen-7 of a 100+-year family. These are just some of the descriptors one could use to describe Ella Chase, the guest on Ascendants this week. As she puts it, her family spent 400 years not discussing the past, and she's here to remedy that. Discover the two sides of Ella's childhood – a rich kid in the country surrounded by goats and chickens, bussed into the city for etiquette lessons; her journey to co-creating Wellth Works, a company that helps women navigate leadership in large family enterprises, and the benefit and joy of knowing your second, third, fourth, and fifth cousins in one beautiful, purposeful place.

Vivian Long is the executive director of the Long Family Foundation – as well as Kate and Parker's guest on the podcast this week! Discover how her upbringing revolved around her parents' focus on “faith, family, and culture” and helped her through isolating, difficult times; how her parents prepared her and her Gen-2 sisters for the responsibility of wealth, and how she brought her background of non-profit work to her role at her family's foundation.

In their first interview, Kate and Parker speak with JC Richardson – co-founder of Angel Armor and steward of his family's legacy. JC takes us on the journey of his life so far. Discover the story behind OtterBox (and how JC thought it was normal for your dad to have a business in the garage), the complexities and his initial confusion over estate planning, and the dynamics of navigating Wednesday night family dinners as an employee of the family business.

Welcome to Ascendants: a podcast featuring descendants of successful families ascending into their own identities and impact! Kate Gardner and Parker Samelson introduce themselves, share a glimpse of their family backgrounds and values, and explain why they've decided to embark on this podcasting journey.