Get Deep Podcast

Colette Drager: president and co-owner of the incredible Meatery! Raised with a deep rooted love of great food, Colette’s upbringing on a farm in rural Minnesota fueled her desire to bring that same joy of quality food to her community. From early career beginnings in the healthcare field to her transition into HR services, our guest shares her insider knowledge of all things startup and small bus...

 Ben “Nighthawk” Ellingson: partner at Eide Bailly, avid hunter, and Busch Light aficionado! A detailed man with a detailed plan, Ben shares with us how he fell into accounting (figuratively) and his journey at Eide Bailly. Our guest shares the how having a relationship-focused outlook has positively impacted both his personal and professional life, and the vital importance of striving for a healt...

David Krause: CEO of Pioneer Bank and all-around financial guru! With over three decades in the banking industry, David has worked with a truly outstanding roster of local businesses and stellar individuals. Our guest shares the vital importance of the agriculture industry to the health and wealth of Southern Minnesota - and his deep appreciation for the community he calls home. Join us for an inc...

Barb Kaus: CEO of Greater Mankato United Way, board member of the MSU Mankato foundation! A Mankato native, Barb has deep roots in the community. Our guest shares with us some of her favorite memories from youth, technological advancements during her time working for Glen Taylor at Taylor Corp., raising a beautiful family while staying active in the corporate world, and finally her journey to CEO...

Dr. Tom Clement: entrepreneur, educator, and negotiator! Join us for a lively discussion covering financial wisdom, rat tails, university politics, chat GPT, the necessity of trade vocations - and so much more! Tom shares some of his favorite teaching anecdotes over his extensive career in the collegiate setting, as well has his entrepreneurship efforts in the private sector. If it's happened...

Lisa Cownie: KEYC News anchor, writer and editor! A Missouri native, join us as Lisa shares her midwest roots, lifelong love of storytelling, and how winning a teen disc jockey contest as a senior in high school set her off on the path to broadcast journalism. We had an absolute blast hearing about our guest’s expertise in the industry, as well as her craziest celebrity encounters.  Stay tuned for...

Tim Penny: a legendary man with his own wikipedia page. Channeling his talents into public service as a repeat representative in congress for the state of Minnesota, Tim is also an accomplished writer and musician⁠. Join us as Tim takes us through his early years and formative memories, and the community support that has fostered his successful career in the political arena. Stay tuned for minute...

Cathy Brennan: local entrepreneur, public speaker, board member, philanthropist, author and all-around Wonder Woman. With roots in the twin cities, Cathy never envisioned herself moving to Mankato (and said so!) Today, she is proud to call southern Minnesota home. Join us as Cathy takes us through the early stages of starting up Brennan Companies with her husband Mike, the process of writing her s...

“H” Kent Stanley - a secret aristocrat - is a man of many nicknames, and even more talents. The Vice President for Community Advancement at MSU Mankato for seven years running, this Canadian native is no stranger to hard work and the importance of interpersonal connection. Kent began his early career as a collegiate and pro basketball coach, and his adaptability and work ethic eventually led him t...

Chad Surprenant: chief strategy officer and board chair at ISG, part-owner of the Mankato MoonDogs. A southern Minnesota native and community man at heart, Chad shares his earliest memories of working for his father’s company I&S Engineers (now ISG) in Mankato and the regional ties that pulled him back after college. Baseball is his first love, he credits his time playing the game as being some of...

Natasha "Tasha" Ohara: owner and operator of Dino's Pizzeria, Number 4, 3rd Street Tavern, and Absolute Catering. Affectionately known as "Mama", Tasha takes us on an incredible life story, starting with her earliest beginnings in as an adopted daughter in a loving, supportive home. From her earliest roots in the restaurant industry to the ownership and growth of four diffe...

Dan Robinson shares with us the rich history of Mankato - from the evolution of neighborhoods to the opening and closing of local businesses, this legend has truly seen it all! Join us as Dan shares with us the most fortunate blind date he's ever been on, how he accidentally ended up owning an auto parts store, and - of course - classic cars Stay tuned for time stamp 35:01, where Dan shares the si...

Pastor Brad Jackson is this week’s guest on GetDeep - a man of faith, humor and genuine compassion. We discuss his earliest calling to serve God’s people, family dynamics, Aaron Rogers, and - of course - his decision to shave that incredible dome. A Colorado native, Brad shares his experiences traveling throughout the midwest and east coast, and why he chooses to drive like Vin Diesel on Fast &amp...

Brent Busch: mortgage loan expert and keeper of the world’s most magnificent beard. Join us for a lively discussion of middle America, the perks of accidentally becoming a motorcycle enthusiast, navigating difficult conversations with clients - and so much more. We love Brent’s combination of humor and humility as he relates his earliest roots in the sales community. From 16+ years in Harley David...

Mike Hahn is the active Regional Director at the Small Business Development Center at MSU Mankato, and the man we all wish was our mentor. His vocation is focused on building communities through fostering an individualized, healthy approach to entrepreneurship. From downtown revitalization to reimagining unused spaces, Hahn takes us through a business strategy ride unlike any other. Stay tuned for...

Jordan Powers: International Man of Mystery. Known best in the professional sector for his work as an architecture photographer, innovative videographer, and veteran podcaster, Jordan is the ultimate multi-faceted creative. Join us as we share an adult beverage with Jordan for our first ever video recorded session. With roots in the Mankato area, our guest is now based in Nashville TN and travels...

Lori was a Mankato West high school volleyball standout, who went on to play Division I for the Wisconsin Badgers. As a badger, Lori led her team to the 2000 NCAA Division I national championship game and 2nd place finish. Lori later became a professional volleyball athlete on both the Croatia and Barcelona national volleyball teams, being paid to play the sport internationally. Eventually Lori ca...

Tony Friesen, like his father before him, is Mankato's metaphorical king of baking. Starting from a young age in his father's business, Tony has always had a passion for food and specifically for baking. Whether in his Dad's shop, as manager of the local Hy-Vee baking department, or the later rise and eventual disbandment of Friesen's Bakery on Riverfront Drive, Tony hasn't let anything get in the...

Mankato native Troy Volk is the third generation of his family to run Volk Transfer. Started by his grandfather in 1948, then run by his father, Volk Transfer transports products and goods throughout the United States and Canada. Troy Volk took the reins as CEO and president in 1997. In 2012, Volk Transfer completed construction of a 32,000-square-foot facility, quadrupling its space. In a new dev...

Mike Hastings is the current head ice hockey coach of the Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks. He was formerly the head coach and general manager of the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League. He is also the coach for the United States World Juniors team and once the assistant coach for the 2022 United States Olympic Ice Hockey team in Beijing. When Hastings arrived in Mankato...

Kelsey Long has been with Chankaska from the beginning, starting behind the tasting room bar, quickly jumping to tasting room manager, and after many years she is now in the role that aligns with her degree from Minnesota State University, marketing coordinator. Kelsey is also a part time personal trainer at JP Fitness where she leads early morning group classes.

Jack Zimmerman who was raised in a small town in Minnesota, joined the U.S. Army and became an Airborne Infantryman. He deployed in 2010 with the legendary 101st Airborne Division. After spending nine months in heavy combat, Zimmerman, while on a foot patrol, stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and suffered catastrophic injuries. As he lie there, his own life flashed before his ey...

Brandon Scheel is a partner and store leader in a business that bears his family name, Scheels Sporting Goods store. Brandon is the fifth generation of his family to work in the business and he currently serves in the capacity of store leader of the Mankato Scheels location in the River Hills Mall.  In this episode Brandon talks about his upbringing and education, how he almost didn't go into...

Lisa Kaye is the host of Minnesota 100 New Country radio station (formerly Minnesota 93) and is also the host of KTOE Talk of the town, both of which broadcast out of Mankato, Minnesota. Lisa has been a radio disc jockey for various Mankato stations for over 20 years, with the majority of her career taking place on local station 93.1. In this episode, Lisa discusses what it's like to grow up in Mi...

Doctor Cindra Kamphoff is a certified mental performance coach and consultant with the association for Applied Sport Psychology, who also comes armed with a PhD and Masters in Sport and Performance Psychology. Cindra has worked along side the Minnesota Vikings, USA Track and Field, and several Fortune 100 and 500 companies throughout her career. She is an author of two books, both related to Grit...