What's Your "And"?

Allison Gray shares her journey of rediscovering her joy for piano after years away from playing, having started with lessons and competitions as a child. She explains how reconnecting with music brought new happiness and improved her well-being both at home and at work. She discusses how opening up about her passion encouraged others to share their own interests, building deeper connections and t...

Jeremy Stephens shares how his passion for scouting has played a significant role throughout his life. Starting as a Cub Scout, Jeremy Stephens took a hiatus but returned to scouting when his sons became involved, ultimately serving as Cubmaster and cherishing the community and leadership experiences it brought. He fondly recalls memorable moments like donning the Akila wolf costume for recruitmen...

Beth van Bladel shares her journey from growing up on Long Island to embracing a life filled with unique passions outside her accounting career. She describes her love for animals, especially her experiences raising llamas and how that hands-on care influenced her perspective on work-life balance. Beth recounts her adventures on her Can-Am Spyder, calling it her alternate meditation cushion and a...

Dan Pontefract shares his journey from running to cycling, describing how age and an achilles injury led him to embrace mountain biking in British Columbia before switching to road cycling for safety as his family grew. His passion for cycling has taken him on memorable trips to Italy, France, Spain, and Napa, often alongside friends and family. Dan recounts a transformative ride in Victoria where...

Natalie Gandara shares her passion for coaching youth softball and how it connects to her professional life. She explains that being known as "Coach Nat" in her HR circles is a source of pride and describes the meaningful transition from playing the sport as a child to now coaching her daughter's team. Natalie reflects on the challenges and rewards of coaching young athletes, emphasizing how build...

Tim Vorhoff, Co-Founder of CreoValo, shares his journey from investment banking to becoming an ultramarathon runner. He explains how running began as a way to spend time outdoors after long workdays and eventually led to running a 240-mile race in Moab, UT. Tim Vorhoff discusses the mental and physical challenges of ultrarunning, highlighting the importance of adaptability, perseverance, and learn...

In this episode, Holly Watkins shares her journey from public accounting to rediscovering her passion for writing and creativity. She reveals how her creative side, influenced by her artistic mother, was often set aside in the business world but reemerged after she left public accounting and began journaling, eventually resulting in a published book. Holly talks about the importance of allowing on...

Erik "The Viking" Solbakken shares his journey from discovering drumming in grade school to leading rock bands and embracing his passion for music alongside his accounting career. He reflects on fighting against early discouragement to pursue drums and how his love for music persisted even as he trained to become a CPA. Erik describes a long break from music while building his professional career...

Tricia Katebini shares how her passion for running began with playing soccer in her youth and grew into a central part of her life after college, especially once she became a mother. She describes how the camaraderie of the running community has helped her connect with lifelong friends, often revolving around group runs and destination races. Tricia notes that running taught her valuable lessons a...

Joe Woodard shares how his passion for hiking started with childhood trips to the Smoky Mountains, where the beauty of nature left a lasting impression. His most memorable hike was trekking from the rim of the Grand Canyon down to the Colorado River, an eight-hour adventure in intense heat. For Joe, hiking is a way to unplug from work, practice mindfulness, and be fully present in the moment, espe...

Taryn Tigges shares her lifelong passion for dance, which began at age four and carried her through years of ballet, tap, and competitive performances, including annual roles in The Nutcracker. She explains how dance was the only childhood activity she truly loved, drawn by its strong connection to music. Taryn describes the challenges of continuing with dance as an adult and her rediscovery of it...

Adam Ritchie, founder of High Potential Group in Detroit, Michigan, shares his lifelong passion for skiing, which began at age seven and later evolved into becoming a ski instructor. He remembers growing up with Saturday ski club bus trips and racing on his high school ski team, describing how skiing brought joy and resilience to Michigan winters. Adam explains how returning to the slopes rejuvena...

Denise Froemming, President and CEO of CalCPA, shares her passion for connecting with people, her love of matcha, and her approach to bridge-building both in and out of the workplace. She describes her lifelong commitment to bringing people together, from organizing charitable events as a child to helping her son and his friends start a non-profit basketball tournament for cancer research. Denise...

Alvin Hartono, a lifelong gamer and program manager at Google, shares how his love for gaming began with Pokémon Gold on the Game Boy Color and has evolved alongside advances in technology. He explains how early gaming taught him resilience, problem-solving, and self-directed learning, all skills that have translated to his professional career. Alvin Hartono reveals that once he started talking ab...

Beth Goff-McMillan, CEO of SKG, joins the podcast to share how her love of wandering and exploring the world began in childhood road trips across the United States, sparking a lifelong curiosity about people and places. She highlights the value she finds in observing human connection, whether in small towns or across continents, and how these experiences help her relate to others and ask deeper qu...

Jackie Meyer shares her love for world travel, describing how exploring new cultures, especially in Costa Rica, has become a core part of her family's life. She talks about the importance of prioritizing personal passions and time with loved ones, even making major career decisions to support these experiences. Jackie highlights how travel has helped her prevent burnout, encouraging boundaries and...

Dan McMahon shares his journey from being a CPA to embracing improvisational and stand-up comedy as powerful hobbies that helped him become more confident, authentic, and fulfilled outside of work. Dan talks about how he started improv as a way to break out of old routines and found that it made him a better listener, collaborator, and public speaker. He also describes how performing stand-up, des...

Marc Mandell shares his lifelong passion for cars, tracing it back to a childhood experience seeing a classic Corvette for the first time, which sparked his journey into car restoration and customization. He discusses memorable projects, including working on a '63 Corvette split-window and building a GTM supercar from scratch, and emphasizes the satisfaction of rebuilding something from the ground...

Joe Pope shares his passion for home brewing beer and smoking meats, revealing how his science background and connections with the craft beer community sparked his brewing journey. He talks about experimenting with different styles, giving his beers creative names, and the fun of sharing these creations with friends and colleagues. Joe emphasizes the importance of genuine relationships and how hob...

Catherine Mattis shares her journey from overcoming a fear of public speaking to performing stand-up comedy across the New York. She explains how comedy has helped her find her voice, improve her resiliency, and become a more confident communicator, all skills she uses daily as a public accountant. Catherine emphasizes the importance of having passions outside of work, ensuring she avoids an ident...

Rachel Farris shares her journey as a passionate foodie and how her love of food connects her with people at work and beyond. She talks about growing up watching cooking shows, recreating dishes with her sister, and traveling specifically to try unique foods from around the world. Rachel reveals how documenting her food adventures on the Belly app helps her share recommendations and stay connected...

Steve Ferguson shares how his passion for cars started in childhood, fueled by a neighbor who gave him car magazines from around the world. Steve recalls how his love for automotive performance led him to owning a 1993 Dodge Viper, founding the Viper Club of America, and instructing others in high-performance driving across legendary racetracks in the U.S. He describes memorable experiences, like...

Michael Horwitz shares his passion for tennis, especially playing on grass courts at the historic Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He talks about how tennis has become a big part of his family's life, with everyone—from his wife and children to in-laws—getting involved in the sport. Michael describes the unique feel and challenges of playing on grass compared to hard or clay...

Tim Allen, Chief Growth Officer at MBE CPAs, shares how his lifelong passion for writing and motorsports has enriched both his personal and professional life. He reminisces about his early days getting in trouble for producing a black market student newspaper and how those writing skills, encouraged by his English teacher mom, have led to freelance opportunities with industry publications. Tim dis...

Marit Burmood shares her journey from learning to skateboard as a teenager to rediscovering her love for skating as an adult and mom. She talks about the determination, grit, and mental toughness developed through extreme sports and how these qualities translate into her professional life. Marit discusses finding balance between motherhood and personal passions, emphasizing the importance of nurtu...