The ATO Show

  CNN political commentator and Washington D.C. polling firm founder Brad Todd joins host Wynn Smiley for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, politics, and the lasting value of fraternity membership. Todd shares how his time as ATO chapter president at Rhodes College unknowingly prepared him to run political campaigns and build a successful small business — from managing tight budgets an...

Thomas Reives (Rose-Hulman ’05) and his wife, Shecara, turned their loss and family tragedy into support for others.  In 2017, Thomas and Shecara lost their son Rook after a premature birth and NICU stay. Their surviving twin, Carmine, spent 165 days in the NICU and continues to thrive with ongoing therapies.  Because of this difficult experience, the Reives family created Rook’s Books, a collecti...

Host Wynn Smiley welcomes Dave Rodriguez, longtime pastor, leadership coach, and architect of Alpha Tau Omega’s Men of Destiny program. Recognizing the challenges facing boys and young men, they explore how ATO’s heritage and its “eternal and immutable principles” uniquely position the fraternity to foster identity, purpose, and growth. Rodriguez explains how Men of Destiny began, created to help...

Host Wynn Smiley opens the episode from Orlando, summarizing Alpha Tau Omega’s 2025 National Awards Celebration. Along with ATO National President Jeff Miles, Smiley introduces the speeches from two honorees: National President’s Award recipient Kevin Petschow and Thomas Arkle Clark Award winner Cadis Ammons. Miles details Petschow’s long involvement with ATO, beginning as an undergraduate at Culv...

Host Wynn Smiley welcomes Nick Ackerman, a Simpson College alum, national wrestling champion, and the only Division III athlete to ever receive the Hodge Trophy, wrestling’s equivalent to the Heisman. At 18 months old, Nick lost both legs to meningitis, but rather than letting that define him, he was raised by “unsympathetic” parents who set high expectations and helped him develop a resilient spi...

Dusty Harrison joined Alpha Tau Omega at the University of North Carolina, where his fraternity experience became a turning point in his life. Dusty spent his first years in college partying until he hit rock bottom and instead focused his energy on his faith. That journey led him not only to lead a Bible study within his chapter but ultimately into full-time ministry through Greek InterVarsity, w...

James “Kodi” Kodrowski (Alabama-Huntsville ’01) is an entrepreneur, and at 45, plays professional hockey for the Singapore National Team. After starting in the oil and gas industry, Kodi built a life in Singapore, where he now runs a financial services firm. He was vital in the formation of the team in Singapore and is the current president of the Singapore Ice Hockey Association (SIHA). Kodi is a...

In this episode of The ATO Show we explore the fascinating history of ATO brothers who have made significant contributions as explorers. We hear stories from the archives about alumni who have achieved greatness on land, in the air, and in space. The episode highlights Dr. Lewis Sims Jr., who flew an ATO flag over Antarctica during a 1940 expedition, inspired by early aviation pioneer and fellow A...

Hear from tech pioneer and philanthropist David Bohnett discuss the transformative impact of technology on organizations and society. David, co-founder of the groundbreaking early web platform Geocities, shares his journey from a Business and Computer Science major at USC to selling Geocities to Yahoo for a staggering $3.5 billion in 1999. Plus we tackle the role of social media in voter education...

Wynn Smiley sits down with the trailblazing social entrepreneur, Sean Seipler in this episode of The ATO Show. As the founder of Clean the World, Sean shares his incredible journey from noticing wasted soap in hotels to spearheading a global movement that recycles soap and distributes hygiene products to those in need. Discover how a simple idea evolved into a hybrid organization, generating $25 m...

Host Wynn Smiley sits down with behavioral designer and best-selling author Nir Eyal to unpack the keys to managing distraction and building life-enhancing habits. Together, they explore the profound impact of fraternity life, the nature of social connections, and the importance of developing meaningful relationships during college years. **Highlights:** - **Fraternity Life and Social Connections*...

In this episode of The ATO Show, we chat with Dennis Boyd, DePauw '78, about how he's successfully opened and sold several bond trading firms, investment funds and most recently a dog food business. We get into the power of ATO's leadership training and how it gave Boyd the confidence to be an entrepreneur.

At the 86th ATO Congress in Tucson, Alpha Tau Omega honored this year's Thomas Arkle Clark honoree and National Presidents Award recipient. In this episode, we get to hear their remarks and a bit about what is so impressive about these two ATOs. Grant Hershbine and Comforted Keen are two ATOs we could all learn a lot from.

In this history-focused episode of The ATO Show, host Wynn Smiley delves into the early history of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity with archivist Deborah Walters from the University of Illinois. As the fraternity's 86th Congress approaches, they explore the significance of the first few ATO congresses, starting with the inaugural congress in 1870. Walters sheds light on how founder Otis Allan G...

ATO Show Host Wynn Smiley sits down with Missouri ATO Alumnus Phil Bender. Bender has more than 30 years experience in the financial services industry, but that barely scratches the surface of what he’s accomplished. From navigating the fascinating landscape of NIL to creating dynamic leadership focused cultures to coaching individuals to CEO mindset, he’s about as multi-layered as you can get.

Wynn Smiley speaks with Kyle Jackson, chief of staff for Congressman Larry Bucshon, about his transition from fraternity life to a career on Capitol Hill. Jackson reflects on his time with ATO at Texas Tech, citing the fraternity's historical roots and leadership opportunities as pivotal in his development. He emphasizes the importance of listening, understanding others, teamwork, and learning...

ATO CEO Wynn Smiley catches up with Jim Perry, a DePauw alumnus and the Sales and Marketing Director for the Indiana Sports Corporation. Jim dives into the behind-the-scenes action of organizing the USA Swimming Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium, juggling everything from ticket sales to building temporary pools. He also reflects on his previous role with ESPN’s high school sports coverage, inclu...

This is The ATO Show. In today's episode, host Wynn Smiley dives into a thought-provoking conversation with guest, RJ Taylor, CEO of Phired Up. Taylor’s company is dedicated to transforming how college fraternities and sororities connect with students, but he has a personal passion for creating community at large. Taylor recounts his incredible journey, including a year-long global adventure w...

Welcome to The ATO Show. Today, we're diving into the powerful impact of serving as a leadership consultant with ATO. Join us as we hear personal testimonies from former consultants, Sam Satterfield, David Busshart, and Michael Millard, who share their transformative experiences. From gaining unparalleled leadership skills and self-reliance to influencing their professional paths and achieving...

Join us as Howe Wallace, a former ATO National President and current CEO of the nation’s largest new pallet manufacturing company, shares his journey from ATO Undergraduate to leading a major corporation. He’ll discuss the skills and values that fraternities can instill – from leadership to generosity – and why these are more relevant than ever in today’s society. We'll also explore Howe's...

We are speaking with Garrett Cornelison, an alumnus of the Simpson Beta Alpha chapter. Cornelison has an uncanny ability to recognize opportunities and be willing to follow them. An example is the 50-state road trip which he leveraged into a successful commercial photography career in Los Angeles. There he worked with companies like Apple, Coachella, Lincoln Motor Company, eBay, and more. When the...

In this episode of The ATO Show, we get insight from several ATO Chapter Presidents for 2024 academic year. From what they're hoping to accomplish, to what it means for them to be a president, these are the thoughts uppermost in the minds of today's chapter president.

We're talking to former NFL fullback and Money Vehicle CEO Jed Collins to hear insights into how he advises both ATOs and current NFL players on how to plan for their financial future. His tips and advice are priceless when it comes to making sure you understand how to make the most of the next phase of your life journey. If you want to access more information about resources available to ATOs...

In this conversation, Wynn Smiley interviews Kyle Stepp, an alumnus of the New Mexico ATO chapter and 2016 Thomas Arkle Clark Honoree, about his exceptional life story. Kyle shares his journey of overcoming stage four cancer, living in foster care and boys homes, and beating the odds to become a paratriathlete and advocate for LGBTQ and disability rights. Throughout the conversation, Kyle emphasiz...

Eric Maddox, Oklahoma Delta Kappa Alumnus, shares his story of being a lead interrogator on the Special Task Force that captured Saddam Hussein. Plus, we hear how Maddox's ATO journey pushed him to be the best he could be, and kept him from taking the easy path. Connect wth Maddox at eric@ericmaddox.com Learn more about Maddox at https://www.ericmaddox.com/