Get Deep Podcast

Della Schmidt: President and Chief Executive Officer for Greater Mankato Growth! Join us for an in-depth conversation with a community champion who has built a legacy supporting regional growth. With an impressive record in Southern Minnesota, Della has such a wealth of knowledge for navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics, leading by example, and kickstarting local economies. Her humor and wi...

Joe Holtmeier: owner of Holtmeier Construction, Dirt Merchant Inc, and Pentagon Materials! Join us for a winning conversation with a Southern Minnesota community pillar! This multi-faceted entrepreneur takes us through the ins and outs of a legacy in construction. From unexpected collaborations to the responsibilities of a good leader, Joe takes us through his story spanning multiple continents (a...

Jim & Lauren Parejko - owners of LocAle Brewing Company! Join us for an engaging conversation with this husband-and-wife entrepreneurial team! With craft brewing on the rise, our guests this week offer incredible insider expertise into the local market and common misconceptions regarding the industry. Navigating family and business is no small feat, and we loved hearing how Jim and Lauren have...

Matt Sharping - owner of Phenom Genetics Inc, co-owner of Sankey Pro Rodeo, and connoisseur of all things rodeo! Join us for a wild ride this week with our champion guest Matt Sharping. From authentic living to entrepreneurship, Matt takes us through his transformative journey into all aspects of the world of bull-raising (and riding!). What started as a random bid on a single heifer has turned in...

April Graff: dietitian and author! Join us for an engaging conversation with our new favorite nutritional expert. Our guest this week has a wealth of experience in the heath and wellness arena. With a focus on a practical lifestyle approach and joy through eating well, April shares her most pivotal moments throughout her career working in the community. Keep your eyes open for April’s cookbook, “U...

Jen Stuvek: owner of Aurora Chiropractic! Join us for an incredible story of education, health and wellness in our community. Jen shares how she realized some of her longterm goals as a chiropractic doctor early on in her career, and her truly serendipitous journey to Mankato. From her upbringing in Alaska to her very first clients, we were totally captivated by our guest’s engaging conversation....

Jordan Smith: owner of JD Manufacturing, and Storm Equipment! Join us for a deep dive into all things landscaping, snow management, entrepreneurship and the Mankato community. From growing up in an aviation family to his earliest roots in the landscaping business, Jordan has a wealth of experience in organic growth and grit (and brine!). We loved hearing the story behind our guest's innovative...

Jon "JP" Jamieson - owner and founder of JP Fitness! Join us for a remarkable conversation centered around health and mindful living with our guest. We were so engaged with his balanced approach, as JP explained what first attracted him to fitness as a business and his earliest memories of family entrepreneurship. From dry Januaries to slow carb diets, JP has a wealth of experience in th...

Justin & Jenna Rinehart: owners of Nicollet Bike and Ski! Join us for an unforgettable ride with two incredible entrepreneurs in our community. Justin & Jenna share how they channeled their passion for the great outdoors into a profitable business serving the sports and recreational needs right here in Mankato. From outreach programs to off-road bike racing, we loved hearing how our guests...

Bill Bartz and Emily Knudsen: owners of Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm! Join us for an unforgettable conversation with our new favorite restaurateurs. From their original concept to the experience that the pizza farm has become, we were so engaged with our guests’ humor and savvy business sense. Sustainability and quality are the foundations of what Pleasant Grove has become known for - and we can’t wa...

Kelly McIntee: business and life mindset coach! Join us for a holistic conversation spanning grief, purpose and all roads leading to relationships. Kelly’s outlook on life is dual focused - big picture dreams combined with fully appreciating the in-between moments. This attitude has led her to a tremendously successful career helping her clients fully realize their own potential. From losing her d...

Jonathan “Sharkfin” Scarfpin: co-owner of Harvesting Technology! Join us for an in-depth conversation covering the usage and future of ethanol, the huge benefit it provides to rural communities - and renewable energy as a whole. Jonathan does an incredible job breaking down a multi-faceted industry into an easily digestible, engaging story. From jet fuel to Bitcoin mining, this interview took turn...

Amy & Mike McQuery: co-owners of Half Pint Brewing Company! Join us for an unforgettable conversation with the two entrepreneurs that helped spearhead Minnesota’s very first farm brewery and taproom. Their journey to craft brewing is anything but typical; from the couple’s upbringing and their budding romance in Oregon to the journey to Minnesota, we loved hearing how these two bet on themselv...

Emily Thiesse: head coach of Women’s Basketball at MSU Mankato (National Championship winners!) Join us for a wide-ranging conversation, starting with Emily’s earliest memories of the game with her father (a former basketball coach) and her journey to MSU’s winning 2023-24 season. From sports psychology to managing teammate relationships, our guest this week shares her insight into the complex dyn...

Jared Day: co-founder and COO of Gigli and Nuleev! Join us for an engaging conversation spanning Jared’s growing wealth of entrepreneurial expertise. From building a brand from the ground up, the incredible benefits of collaborating, and the challenge of reinventing the wheel, we loved hearing the backstory of both our guest and the Gigli brand. Our guest opens up about his biggest challenges to d...

Tim Flynn - “Master Tim” - owner of Kato Karate! Join us as Tim shares his mission of peace through self-defense. From his earliest experiences of being bullied, Tim explains how the early breakdown of self-confidence can have lifelong mental, emotional, and even physical effects. His unique approach to the education of anti-bullying has brought him national acclaim - and positively affected count...

Ted Marti: president of August Schell Brewing Company in New Ulm! Ted’s roots in the brewery run deep; from his earliest memories of playing on the company grounds as a child to his first challenges as president, our guest and his family have kept the tradition alive (and thriving). Join us as Ted shares insights into his success with sustaining an exceptional brand - and keeping his community rel...

Tim Murray & Myron Erstad: community leaders and entrepreneurial experts! Join us for an incredibly open and honest conversation with two of our new favorite mentor figures. From intense involvement in 40+ startup opportunities to the journey to sobriety journey, we were thoroughly captivated by the expertise of our guests. Recounting big wins and big failures, this episode is perfect for the...

Maria Brown: third generation fine jewelry vice president and co-owner at Exclusively Diamonds! A Mankato native with deep roots in the community, Maria’s connections are astounding. Our guest shares how growing up in a highly successful entrepreneur family shaped how she sees the essential role of small businesses. From the pressure of keeping inventory moving during the Covid shutdown to spearhe...

Cate DeBates: principal and chief strategy officer at NAI North Star, partner to boutique hotels Arch + Cable and Hotel Alexander! Join us for an incredible conversation with skillful entrepreneur Cate. From her earliest memories moving all over the country to her most recent ventures in the world of hospitality, we were captivated by our guest’s enthusiasm and wide variety of expertise. Cate shar...

John Couchot: Vice President of Alcohol Operations at Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery! Woodchucks. California. Biotech. NDAs. Kids. Micro-roasting. Chupacabras. Nike beer. Ed Hardy. From his first brewing experiences at the age of 15 to his journey to Minnesota, our guest this week has a fascinating story that crosses multiple careers all over the country! John’s engaging manner of st...

Pete Matejcek: owner and president of Schmidt Siding and Window! Meeting the needs of the client in their own home is a responsibility that Pete accepts as a vocational calling. With a deep-rooted passion for exceeding the client’s needs, our guest has established himself as a key figure in the Southern Minnesota home improvement industry. Join us as we dive deep into Pete’s earliest memories as a...

Jake Schrom - KBM President and entrepreneur!  Kitchen, Baths & More (KBM). Hometown Fitness. Swass Block. Our guest this week is a hidden gem in the Mankato community - an adept entrepreneur with a wide range of expertise! From earliest childhood memories to making Cuban’s Cuts on Shark Tank, Jake takes us on a wild ride unlike any other. We enjoyed hearing our guest’s take on the most pivota...

Joe Bach: VP of Business Development at MEI Total Elevator Solutions! Anything but an average Joe, our guest this week has a wealth of experience in leadership and cultivating a culture of growth at MEI. Joe shares what he’s retained after over a decade in the industry - from field operations to successful failures. We loved hearing about the projects MEI has spearheaded, including the (giant) Bar...

Brandon Smith: Vice President of Operations & Development at Tailwind Group! Join us as our guest this week breaks down the commercial real estate industry, sharing his insight into Tailwind’s unique expertise in off-campus student housing all across the country. From Brandon’s own college experience to his responsibilities today, we loved this discussion of growth and success in (often) uncha...