That's So Rad!

In this episode, Travis sits down with his 16-year-old son, Asher, to explore what makes him uniquely himself—his passions, faith, and perspective on life. From heartfelt reflections on Father’s Day and family moments to insights about gratitude and thoughts around the World Cup, this conversation is a rollercoaster of humor, wisdom, and genuine connection. Asher reveals his love for shoes, sports...

In this episode, Travis welcomes his friend, Danisha Keating, who shares about her journey of resilience in overcoming abuse, being in foster care, and finding herself eventually homeless. She never gave up and her courageous will to overcome led her to gaining her Doctorate in Psychology and now empowers others through her books, courses, social media presence, and speaking engagements. Growing u...

In this solo episode, Travis shares about the profound impact that people with disabilities have had on his life. He reflects on his father's battle with late-stage dementia and shares that despite all of the awful agony and loss, there were surprising moments of discoveries and seeing his dad in a new light. He also talks about an amazing guy who set a world record for doing the longest "wheelie"...

**There is some graphic content in describing the accident. In this episode, Travis is joined by John Thompson to talk about his story that riveted the world in the early 90s. John experienced a life-changing farm accident on his family farm in North Dakota in 1992, where he lost both arms due to a machinery incident. Despite the severity of his injuries, he survived thanks to his quick thinking a...

In this episode, Travis reads Aaron Gilbreath’s essay, "A Brief History of the Word Rad," which takes a fun and nostalgic look at the history of the word "rad," exploring its roots in skateboarding and pop culture and its enduring presence in American vernacular. Some of the cult classic films mentioned include the BMX flick "Rad," and the skateboarding movies "Gleaming the Cube" and "Thrashin'."...

In the episode, Travis welcomes his friend Roosevelt Leggett to the podcast. Roosevelt blends his passions for technology, music, faith, and exploration to live intentionally and connect more deeply with others. The two discuss plenty of random things as well like Roosevelt's nicknames, origami, a crazy karaoke story, and the fear of being chosen out of the crowd for magic shows. This episode offe...

Travis welcomes his friend Wes Hardin on the podcast. Wes shares about a fun entrepreneurial idea for friends that he created with his wife. They then explore Wes's journey from being a science teacher to becoming a Physician Assistant and the motivation behind this journey. We shares candidly about his experiences with anxiety, and talks about how his faith and a perspective shift became a game c...

In this episode, Travis welcomes a very special guest! His brother Jeremy joins the podcast using an assistive speaking device. After a devastating car accident in 2009 left him initially pronounced dead, then at best vegetative with a traumatic brain injury, he's continued to defy so many challenges in front of him--including the greatest of all--despair. Jeremy was a collegiate All-American runn...

In this solo episode, Travis explores the incredible story of Paul Alexander, who spent 72 years living in an iron lung due to polio. The longest time on record that anyone has spent in an iron lung! His journey of perseverance, hope, and ingenuity offers powerful lessons on overcoming adversity and living a meaningful life despite impossible circumstances. His family played a crucial role in his...

In this episode of the podcast, Travis interviews artist Dave Sherrill, known for his whimsically fun and innovative art style under the name 'Dave Ruins Art.' They discuss Dave's journey from a self-taught artist to an internet sensation. He shares the story of how his reimagined pop culture scenes (from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and more!) suddenly catapulted him to international recognition...

In this episode of That's So Rad, Travis is joined by his friend Taylor Brown who is the founder of Cottonwood Construction. Taylor is known for his unique leadership style rooted in character, adventure, community, and resilience. His company is distinguished by its integrity-driven culture and commitment to sustainable growth. Taylor shares how choosing deep roots over seasoned experience transf...

In this episode of That's So Rad Podcast, Travis is joined by his brother Dan as they dive into a whirlwind of stories, random topics, and reminisce on notable memories from long ago and recent times. Dan and Travis also reflect on a life-altering car accident that occurred 16 years ago, which their brother Jeremy with a disabling traumatic brain injury. They discuss the profound impact of this ev...

In this episode of That's So Rad Podcast, host Travis reflects on the start of a new year, his trimmed up beard, the importance of storytelling, and the adventures that come with unexpected challenges like flat tires. Travis shares humorous anecdotes and reflections on life, including a memorable flat tire adventure in Asheville and the importance of being present in the moment. He emphasizes the...

In this heartfelt episode, Travis and his mom Kathy reflect on the year 2025, sharing personal stories, family dynamics, and Christmas memories and traditions. Kathy recounts her inspiring medical mission trip down the Amazon River, while both discuss the challenges faced by family members and friends throughout the year. They also share their favorite highlights for the year. They reminisce about...

In this episode of "That's So Rad," host Travis engages in a lively conversation with his youngest son, Dakota. They discuss family dynamics, Dakota's love for drawing, and all the random things that pop into a six year old's mind in a conversation. The episode is filled with humorous anecdotes, including Dakota's imaginative stories and his unique perspective on family roles. The conversation als...

In this episode of That's So Rad Podcast, Travis reflects on the journey of his podcast so far, sharing personal stories and highlights from past episodes. He talks about the power of short form content and the impact and reach the reels have had on social media--including one that went viral and another one that was liked by a starting NFL player on the Indianapolis Colts. Travis talks about the...

In this episode of 'That's So Rad!,' Travis talks with his high school classmate, Rachael Ormond, who he hasn't seen for nearly 30 years. They take a nostalgic trip back to growing up on farms and their high school days in Rugby, North Dakota. They share humorous anecdotes about their teenage years, including awkward school dances, 90s nostalgia, and random memories from their childhood and teen y...

In this episode, Travis is joined by Rhonda Douglas who shares about their unlikely friendship through her discovering a YouTube video of his brother's traumatic brain injury story several years ago. Rhonda would regularly make 6 hour round trip visits in the same day to see Jeremy. They reminisce on this and talk about Jeremy's inspiring recovery from a traumatic brain injury in 2009. Rhonda shar...

In this episode of "That's So Rad Podcast," host Travis is joined by his friend Eron Benjamin for a lively conversation. They explore the unexpected twists and turns of life through Eron's experiences in caregiving, coaching, and his time as a college mascot. Eron shares humorous anecdotes throughout as well as inspiring and insightful commentary . Eron shares about his journey of going from a Chi...

In this episode of the That's So Rad Podcast, host Travis is joined by his daughter Joelle, who shares her unique experiences growing up as the only girl among four brothers. They discuss this formative dynamic, Joelle's journey in high school volleyball, and the lessons learned from family caregiving, particularly in relation to her grandpa and uncle. Joelle reflects on the importance of resilien...

In this episode of That's So Rad Podcast, host Travis welcomes his friend Seth Teegarden, who Travis worked alongside as a house parent for kids in foster care at a children's home in SC. They talk more about that experience together. Seth shares stories about endurance racing (including competing in Ironman races) and lessons gained from his experiences working in ministry. Here's a snapshot of s...

In this episode of "That's So Rad Podcast," Travis is joined by his amazingly rad wife, Jess Vangsnes. Together, they delve into their personal journey (sharing how they met), discussing the dynamics of their marriage, parenting five children, and their shared passion for creativity and adventure. Jess shares her experiences with overcoming learning challenges and how they shaped her diverse skill...

In this episode of That's So Rad Podcast, host Travis reconnects with his friend and high school classmate, Isaac Schaan. Up until recently, the two hadn't talked since graduation in 1998. They make up for lost ground going deep and wide in this conversation. Here's a snapshot of things they cover in this jam packed episode: Shared experiences growing up in the small farming town of Rugby, North D...

In this episode of "That's So Rad Podcast," hosts Travis and Everett Conaway engage in a cool conversation about creativity, friendship, and the power of music. They delve into the story of the "Feetar", a custom instrument designed by Everett for Travis's brother Jeremy, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2009. The Feetar, crafted from reclaimed wood, allows Jeremy to play music despite his...

In this heartfelt episode of That's So Rad Podcast, host Travis is joined by his son Dre who's on the podcast as part of a Father's Day gift to his dad. The two share some fun dad and son banter to kick things off. Dre then opens up and shares about his unique journey from foster care to adoption. The conversation explores Dre's experiences growing up in a biracial family, the challenges and trium...