Pursuing The Process

In this episode, Jon and Todd reflect on their two-and-a-half year journey as hosts. The guys give out the first-ever Pursuing the Process Awards, including Biggest Blunder, Funniest Moment, Most Memorable Story, Most Difficult Interview, and Most Poignant Experience. This sparks a conversation about what PtP has meant to them and the many lessons they've learned along the way. Our hosts conclude this episode with an important announcement filled with appreciation, gratitude, and celebration. As one chapter closes, another awaits, full of new opportunities, growth, and discovery. Thank you, with utmost sincerity, for being the heartbeat of Pursuing the Process.

Twenty-six percent of people in the United States have a disability. Jennifer Luebke is the CEO of Relay Resources, a leading social enterprise with a mission to cultivate meaningful employment for people with disabilities. Fueled by her experiences with her son, Antonio, Jennifer has dedicated a significant amount of her life to advocating for and supporting individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. Jennifer reflects on her career path and how most of her jobs found her based on her desire to learn and grow. She also reminds us of the importance of following your passion and doing meaningful work and how the Japanese concept of “ikigai” can inspire your life and career. To learn more about the work Relay Resources is doing and how you can integrate a focus on disability inclusion into your business, check out www.relayresources.org.

In this episode, Jon and Todd grab time with Joey Hauser, rookie with the Utah Jazz and brother of two-time PtP guest, Sam Hauser. Joey talks about growing up with Sam and how their driveway competitions and experience as three-sport athletes prepared them for life in Division 1 basketball and now the NBA. He reflects on his collegiate career, first playing with Sam at Marquette then transferring to Michigan State during Covid and playing for the legendary Tom Izzo. Joey discusses the ups and downs of his time at MSU and the impact that sports psychology had on his success. He also talks about being reunited with his former head coach at Marquette, Steve Wojciechowski, now a part of the Jazz organization. The guys also recant some of their favorite basketball memories, and, in the process, Joey favorably compares Jon's game to that of legendary Jazz point guard John Stockton, and Todd feels old.

Erin Bagniewski left a corporate consulting job after 12 years to find more meaning in her profession. The decision led her to Zambia, where she served as a volunteer teacher. She followed that up with time in Uganda assisting people in gaining access to quality healthcare. Since then, she has become the Executive Director of Africa Strong, an organization created to empower and educate the people of Uganda and across sub-Saharan Africa. Erin shares what she learned from the students in Zambia and the connections she made. Erin also talks about the biggest American misconception about the people of Africa and the incredible potential and global influence people of the content possess. She concludes the episode with what it was like to go to high school with Todd and her most poignant memory of him. (Spoiler alert: it involves Todd doing something stupid.) To learn more and support Erin's commitment to education in Africa, visit www.africastrong.org or to donate to their current fundraiser, check out www.herartsinaction.org/lifefundraiser.html.

Tate Hoeven is the co-host of the “Good Day for a Movie” podcast and the creator and host of “The Passion Project.” Tate's career arc has centered around following his passions and setting concrete goals for himself. Hear about the “four pillars” Tate uses to structure his approach and how conquering your next peak can be more effective than reaching the summit. The guys also talk about the power of travel and hobbies to help “get off the treadmill” and ways they've recently pushed themselves outside their comfort zones. In the process, Jon reveals what it's like to experience a silent retreat in the jungle for five days and Todd's imagination runs wild with the details.

In this episode, Jon shares his journey and location 6 weeks into his trip through Asia. He talks about the memorable experiences and lessons he's had, including crashing a motorbike in Thailand and being swindled out of his dong in Vietnam. The guys also reflect on the importance of being present in life and how that has been shown to directly relate to happiness. Todd talks about fleeting nature of parenthood and his pursuit of the impossible: slowing time down. (Editor's note: 1.2M dong is worth $51 U.S.)

A different sound to this episode as the dynamic duo of Todd and Jon are continents apart. Jon hosts this episode with new friends Jan and Greg at a coffee shop in Thailand. The couple grew up in England but now reside in Michigan when they're not traveling the world! They are musicians who know how to appreciate a good time. Jan helps people find their voice as a vocal instructor while Greg is still shaking off his trauma as a "recovering engineer." Much more than that, they are kind, introspective, open people who seek meaningful connection. Grab an espresso and join us in this conversation about human connection, acceptance, and travel with stories of jam sessions and Burning Man festival sprinkled in! Check out their music through the links below: https://spotify.link/0IWFlsbSwyb https://youtu.be/-G6i2yx8XeM https://youtube.com/@dude48creative

After a nearly four-month hiatus, the boys are back! Hear what motivated them to continue pursuing the process of Pursuing the Process. The guys share what the podcast and all you Pursuers mean to them. Jon also has some major life news to share! And, in doing so, he reflects on the reasons behind his decision and the balance he's trying to strike between learning and earning. Our hosts also discuss the changing perceptions around the "seasons of life" and contemplate ways to enjoy them all.

Happy one-year anniversary to us! To celebrate, we decided to run it back with Sam Hauser, guest of episode 2 and guard for the Boston Celtics. Sam discusses his journey from the NBA Developmental League to signing a 3-year, $5.7M contract this summer. Hear about the recent milestones he's achieved in pursuit of his  dream to be a full-time NBA player and the excitement of his recent engagement. Sam also talks about the importance of staying humble in the face of so much success and the work ahead of him to achieve his ultimate professional goals. In between, Todd highlights his encounter with Sam's family before Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals in Milwaukee. And Jon once again brings up his defensive prowess sharing a high-school basketball court with Sam and the inspiration he provided others with his unbridled intensity.

After a nearly two-month hiatus, Jon and Todd are back and ready to reflect on their recent experiences. The intent of this episode was to talk about their latest adventures and the memories from those. Jon shares what it's like to share tents with four other guys and encounter bears in Alaska, and Todd talks about his first Yankee-Red Sox game at Fenway. What emerges is a discussion about the connection travel has to happiness and relationships. Hear how travel can create everlasting bonds between people and the importance that those relationships play in our lives. The guys also discuss the way travel triggers gratitude and fosters purpose and mindfulness. Also tune in to catch some updates on previous guests and a shout out to some of our Pursuers.

In this episode, our hosts catch up with Emanuel "E" Premate. A self-described "professional storyteller," E shares his perspectives on the power of stories, the importance of intentionality in our lives, and the impact of sharing joy with others. He also reflects on his experience surviving the Yugoslavian War, immigrating to the U.S. as a young child, and the valuable life lessons he learned from his parents. Hear E's advice on how you can increase your curiosity and create a cycle of continuous learning in your life. Also tune in to hear about Jon's upcoming vacation plans and how he plans to maintain a job while traveling to various ends of the globe. Check out E's work at www.premaluxmedia.com

In 2006, Scott Elston checked himself into rehab. His wife had filed for divorce, his relationship with his kids had eroded, and alcohol had taken over his life. Hear how this decision to seek help saved his life and how he has turned that experience into an opportunity to mentor others going through similar struggles. Scott shares the importance that connection to other people and service to others has had in his recovery and why you never fully "recover" from alcoholism. Scott's story of hope is relevant for us all and aligns perfectly to our theme of "pursuing the process." Also hear how Jon and Todd now share the same title of Ordained Minister and how Jon plans to use that new-found responsibility.

It only took him 13 episodes, but Todd finally gets his wish to become a guest on his own podcast. After working nearly two decades at one company, Todd spent the next 10 months reflecting, networking, exploring, and watching the world go by. Hear why he compares the end of his tenure to a funeral and how his faith in people was renewed through his journey to find the next chapter in his career. Todd also reinforces the importance of trusting your gut and has some tangible advice for people contemplating a career change. Meanwhile, Jon learns what it means to start getting old and struggles to feel any sympathy for a guy who didn't go to work for almost a year.

Briggs Weyrauch is a modern-day Renaissance man. The owner of a beard-oil business by day and a DJ by night, Briggs defines what it means to pursue your passions. Hear how he feels about the role of failure and the importance of taking advantage of every interaction. And Briggs reflects on the power of gratitude and provides some tips on increasing that feeling in your life. He also reveals some of the wildest things he's seen as a DJ. Oh, and Todd kicks off the episode by announcing his new job. Tune in to hear about it!

In this episode, we hang with Cannon Winkler, a self-taught visual artist. Using hand-collected animal tracks to paint distinct patterns, he invokes elements of the wild and our connection to it. Winkler uses his art to raise funding and awareness for environmental conservation around the globe. His unique style of painting was pioneered in the South African Bushveld while he was locked down in a game reserve during the height of the global pandemic. A trained African safari guide, Winkler talks about his unbelievable experiences in the wild as well as why he gave up some great opportunities in corporate America to chase his passions for environmental conservation and art. Jon and Todd try to keep up by discussing the impact of travel on their lives and the importance of living like a local. (Editor's note: Fernet is an Italian liquor.) To learn more about Cannon's art and mission, visit www.walksoflifeart.com.

Dennis Krause has been the face of Wisconsin sports broadcasting for more than 35 years. Along the way, he has covered some of the most important events and people in sports history. Hear about the time he called John Wooden at his house and the interview he had with Michael Jordan before MJ's first professional game. Also listen to the keys to Dennis' success and how he relied on hard work and the support of his family to overcome a stroke at the height of his career. You'll also get to know some of Jon and Todd's favorite sports memories and why Todd's favorite was followed by one of his worst just two days later.

A native of Nashville, Dre Mead spent several of his teenage years homeless, bouncing from friends and family and sleeping in his car and working a wide variety of jobs. Yet he graduated high school, started his own business, and is well on his way toward an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Hear Dre's story of perseverance and hope for anyone facing adversity in their lives. Learn how he uses the doubters in his life as motivation to succeed and how he feels when he hears the phrase "the American dream." As an added bonus, we get to find out how Jon is recovering from Green Bay's early exit from the NFL playoffs and what it was like watching that game in enemy territory.

Justin Galloway is in the midst of a commitment to jump into Lake Michigan 300 days in a year. And it's not the first big attempt he's made to create new habits in his life. Nor will it be the last. Find out how Justin has turned his desire for a healthy lifestyle and a pursuit of big challenges into a system of continuous improvement. Justin also describes what it was like to travel with Todd and 3 other guys in an RV to jump in all 5 Great Lakes. Also listen to how Justin became the first two-time guest in the history of the podcast!

Chris Stewart has been a police officer in San Diego, a salesperson at one of the largest corporations in the world, and is now an ordained clergyman. Hear about Chris's story of continuous exploration and his journey fueled by his curiosity and desire to serve others. Learn ways to identify and eliminate fear and the value of getting outside of your bubble. Also hear about how Todd nearly started an international incident during a business trip with Chris in Montana. Interested in learning more about the work Chris and St. Pius X are doing in Honduras? Check it out here: https://stpiuscda.org/donations.

We lied to you. We called Episode 5 our final one of 2021. But after a few Hot Toddies in front of Todd's fireplace, we decided to do one more. In this episode, we reflect on the first season of Pursuing the Process and discuss some key themes that emerged from our inaugural year. Hear how to produce more of the “love” chemical in your brain and to increase the amount of gratitude in your life. And learn about the three things you need in order to create a habit. All just in time for New Year's resolution season!

Keith Schwenn lost both of his brothers in a house fire when he was 18 years old. He lost his best friend in a car accident several years later. Hear how Keith used those experiences to turn adversity into opportunity. Learn about how his commitments to the people he's lost have served as constant sources of motivation as Keith has become a successful husband, father, and business professional. At the beginning of the episode, we also share some important breaking news and an update on a previous guest. SPOILER ALERT: people may start confusing Todd for Jon's dad.

We chat with Gaby Napier, founder of GEneration Impact, a non-profit aimed at providing pro-bono consulting for sustainable-development projects. Hear about how Gaby's experience as a first-generation American led to her strong desire to help others. Also learn about the role that empathy plays in her success and catch her advice on how to lead those in Generation Z.. You'll also find out why Gaby chose a minivan as the vehicle to describe her life. Oh, and one more thing: Ted Lasso isn't funny, but it's still a damn good show. https://generation-impact-sdg.com

In episode 3, we catch up with Vivek Pande, Jon's favorite professor from his time at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. A citizen of 4 countries, Vivek was born in Baltimore, moved to India at age 9, spent time hustling on the streets to afford college, and walked away from a lucrative law career. Hear how living in his car ended up being “one of the best experiences of my life.” Plus, you're going to want to know the differences between how 43-year-old Todd and 25-year-old Jon celebrated their Halloween.

In this episode, we jam with Sam Hauser of the Boston Celtics. Sam talks about his experience playing big-time college basketball with his younger brother and their subsequent decision to pursue separate paths in their careers. Hear about what it's like to have ten minutes to decide your NBA future. And the episode wouldn't be complete without highlighting how Jon groomed Sam and his high-school teammates for multiple Wisconsin state basketball championships.

Paul Reiter, CEO and Co-Founder of Great Notion Brewing, sits down with us to talk about how he and two neighbors turned getting drunk in their garage into a world-class brewery. Hear about how Paul's experience as a hip-hop artist and producer helped shape his success as a CEO. Paul also discusses the role of his family in inspiring and supporting his success. And why was Jon drinking a Great Notion beer during the podcast and Todd wasn't?

Pursuing The Process.