Get Deep Podcast

Emily Schumacher: Miss Minnesota 2024! Join us for an incredible conversation with Mankato’s own Miss Minnesota. From her earliest local memories to her journey to Miss Minnesota, Emily takes us through her mission and goals for the future. Her dedication to raising awareness about heart health, CPR education, and nutrition left us deeply inspired. Next stop: Miss America! We can’t wait to see all...

The 100th episode of Get Deep: an ultimate recap with Aaron and Wes! Join us for a celebration of community, past episodes and craziest moments with your two favorite hosts. From small business strategies to the future of the podcast, strap in for an engaging discussion unlike any you’ve experienced before! Stay tuned for minute 2:07:10, where Aaron and Wes share their personal goals for Get Deep...

Jim Makovsky - head coach of MSU Maverick’s Wrestling Team! Our guest currently upholds a legendary wrestling program spanning decades. With a career rooted in grit and determination, Jim recounts his mentors and key moments that have helped define his trajectory. From rookie breakouts to unbelievable wins (and losses), Jim's story has it all! Stay tuned for minute 1:32:50, where our guest pro...

Jen True: real estate titan, entrepreneur and community champion! Join us this week for an unforgettable discussion with an industry leader in properties. From her earliest beginnings on a horse farm just south of Mankato to her first forays into the brokerage arena, Jen recounts the wins and losses that have shaped her successes today. Stay tuned for minute 18:54, where our guest shares the unexp...

Brian Taylor: Owner of Mankato Motors and Army National Guard veteran! Join us for one of our new favorite discussions with an automotive expert and awarded soldier. With a winning combination of deft interpersonal skills, work ethic and strength through adversity, Brian takes us through the key moments in his life that shaped his present success. Stay tuned for minute 1:39:20, where Brian shares...

Justin Ek: owner of 108 Alchemy, partner in Bellissimo Paint & Coatings, muralist, community event planning, artist in resident - and so much more! If it’s related to the arts culture in southern Minnesota, odds are really good that Justin is involved! With a true passion for fostering the community through visual expression, our guest this week shares how his shared family work ethic has shap...

Tyler Freyberg: fourth generation co-owner of Freyberg Petroleum with his brother Corey! From overseeing multiple gas stations to the newest venture of the Mankato Travel Center, Tyler has wide expertise in everything from managing vendors to striving for the highest quality of customer service. Our guest this week shares his secret for fostering healthy relationships within the family business, a...

Joe Krause: Creative Services Manager at FUN.com and founder of DIY Cold Plunge! Our guest this week is an up-and-coming entrepreneur right here in Mankato, MN. We had a blast hearing everything from Joe’s college experiences to his innovative side hustles. Well-read, hard working and intuitive, Joe takes us through his favorite stories and life lessons. Stay tuned for minute 1:30:05, where Joe sh...

Jessica Potter: Blue Earth County Historical Society (BECHS) Executive Director! With a deep joy and passion for history, Jessica’s commitment to preserving the stories of our region is truly unmatched! Join us for a lively discussion covering everything from specialized curation to the National Register to drunk carp (the prohibition era was wild). Our guest has an impressive wealth of knowledge...

Jody & Jared Linder of Linder Enterprises! These two brothers have an incredible story of innovation, trial-and-error, and family unity. With their hands-on upbringing on profitable farm in Southern Minnesota, our guests this week adapted the shared strong work ethic into a thriving business at Linder Enterprises. From staircases to Hermès and everything in between, we loved learning from thes...

Dr. Scott Allen: expert Orthopedic Fracture Clinic practitioner! A Mankato native, Dr. Scott takes us through his journey to modern medicine and his philosophy of individualized care. From his most impactful memories from medical school to quick analysis of traumatic injuries, our guest this week shares his insights into this high-stakes career. Join us for a comprehensive discussion with one of o...

Darren “Bluey” Blue: Sports + Recreation Development Strategist at ISG, and former collegiate hockey player and coach! A team-player to his core, Bluey recounts his earliest influences and the story behind his first love: hockey. From winning the Unsung Hero Award twice during his time at MSU Mankato to how he received his nickname “the Mayor”, we were truly inspired by the experiences that have s...

Matt Margenthaler: the head coach of men’s basketball at MSU Mankato. From all of us at Get Deep, congratulations on winning the D2 national championship! Our guest this week comes from a family of coaches. Despite a brief stint in the sales arena, Matt quickly found himself back in the world of coaching. From assisting women’s basketball to his current position at MSU Mankato, he takes us through...

Akram “AK” Osman - principal of Mankato East High School! Our guest this week is a hometown connection with a focused career in education! Multi-lingual and first generation in the USA, AK shares his rich familial background. From coaching soccer to serving as a cultural liaison (and so much more!), we loved hearing the motivations behind our guest’s personal trajectory. Join us as we take a deep...

Jamie Jacobs - vice President of Sales & Marketing at APX Construction Group! Join us for an engaging conversation with an expert in consumer-focused sales. A natural extrovert from the great state of Nebraska, Jamie recounts how she fell in love with the Mankato area and the surprising way she found her vocation in the fast-paced world of construction. Stay tuned for minute 39:16, where Jamie...

Ed Inch: President of MSU Mankato! Our guest this week is an expert in higher education, leadership, and building strong communities through shared pursuit of knowledge. A Washington native with a deep appreciation for good people and the natural world, Ed breaks down for us the most impactful moments of his dedicated career. Stay tuned for minute 1:05:58, where Ed reveals the core message that ce...

Joe Paulsen: the expert for all things EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems)! Our guest this week has incredible expertise with placing the right people in the right positions. From his background in the trucking industry at TBI to his current vocation working with entrepreneurs as an EOS expert, Joe is ready to share everything he’s learned from his rich history in southern Minnesota. The great...

Dale Carlson: a second-generation optometrist who has seen it all! A Mankato native, Dale shares his earliest memories of life in the great Midwest. Our guest this week also served as an Officer in the Navy - from active duty to reacclimatizing to civilian life, Dale shares his rich history and the life lessons he's learned along the way.

Aron & Eric Bode: the restaurateur + business development brothers! From car detailing to hospitality, our guests this week have a wide breath of experience across multiple industries. Aron’s background in the culinary arts combined with Eric’s real estate broker/developer has proven to be a winning combination for the New Ulm community (and beyond!). Join us as they share the stories behind t...

Jim Compart - the meats man! Our guest this week is the President and CEO of Compart Family Farms. Finding success with a consumable product is no easy feat, and Jim takes through the rich history of the heritage operation. From livestock genetics to direct sales to family dynamics, we loved hearing the full story behind the pork products we know and enjoy every day. Join us for a rousing discussi...

Clay Sharkey & Eric Poppler: the (coffee) bean experts!⁠ Join us for an engaging interview with these two incredible entrepreneurs. Co-owners of Beans Coffee Company, Clay & Eric share the story of their unexpected partnership. From their earliest beginnings roasting beans in an air popcorn maker to the most recent cafe expansion in North Mankato, we loved hearing the organic growth of Bea...

Fred Lutz - you name it, Fred’s been a part of it! Former owner and president of Northland Beverages and Lutz-Lloyd Enterprises, our guest this week has served on every board from May Clinic Health Systems to the Mankato Area Foundation. Join us as Fred shares his passion for aviation, community growth and the power of service. Stay tuned for minute 1:55:19, where our guest shares his take on Mank...

Barry Wortel: the voice you know and love! Barry “the Bear” is a longtime KTOE radio personality. Our guest shares how he first got his start in the radio industry - and what he's learned after 50 years behind the microphone. From his unlikely name change to his favorite memories in broadcasting, we loved hearing the history of our community through Barry’s eyes. Stay tuned for some glorious m...

Bob Hoffman - the community builder responsible for shaping our southern MN community! You name it, Bob’s helped with it. As the former VP at Minnesota State University Mankato, former VP of Taylor Corporation, former CEO of Greater Mankato Growth - our guest this week has had a rich impact that spans multiple generations. From earliest influences to biggest career risks, this self-proclaimed “cou...

Leah Treleven - tonic creator, mixologist, and entrepreneur! Owner of Sweet Haven Tonics, both a line of drink tonics and physical cocktail space in New Ulm, Leah recounts how her enterprise first began. From the inspiration behind the Sweet Haven name to her biggest challenges as a business owner, this creative mind shares how her vision has evolved and grown. Stay tuned for minute 1:03:03, where...