Known Through Connection with Jess Collicott

Julie Finley spent years believing the weight she carried in her marriage was hers to hold, until clarity came from a place she didn't expect. As the founder of Revelation Coaching in Omaha and an NPC Bikini competitor, Julie rebuilt her strength in the gym first, then found the wholeness that finally gave her the courage to walk away and start over for herself and her two daughters. This is a...

Jason Hamer was three years into building Hamer Business Toolbox with his wife Katie when a multiple myeloma diagnosis arrived on top of everything else he was already carrying. He kept doing client calls from his hospital bed, showed up for his daughters one small moment at a time, and leaned on the people who refused to let him face it alone. This is a conversation about the values of authentici...

Deion Wells-Ross grew up in the inner city of Omaha navigating environments shaped by gun violence, gang activity, and limited horizons. Nobody sat him down and told him he could build a different life. He had to figure that out himself. What followed is a story about pattern recognition, unlearning, and the kind of choosing that does not happen once but over and over again across years. It includ...

Christy Johnston spent years as a Chief People Officer at one of the fastest-growing companies in her industry and never lost her humanity. In this conversation, we talk about what it actually looks like to love your people well through hard seasons, including layoffs, and why the leaders doing it right today are about to pull away from everyone else. Connect with Christy Johnston on LinkedIn or a...

In this episode, I’m joined by Erin Clark and Angie Hanson, two returning guests who have also become friends behind the scenes. This conversation is honest and grounding, grief, strength, and giving yourself grace when life feels heavy. Angie and Erin share about the “both and,” how people can be strong and still feel fragile, and why giving yourself grace is not a cliché, it’s a practice. If you...

In this episode, Creighton Clewis shares a story of strength that reaches far beyond the gym. Her journey started in a season marked by loss, grief, and questions about identity and worth. Through faith, community, and a commitment to healing, Creighton has become stronger in every part of her life. We talk about the connection between inner transformation and outer change, how to build healthy re...

In this episode, Jess sits with Erin Clark , who adopted How’s the Weather? as a gentler way to stay connected after the loss of her husband Greg. In the months following his passing, Erin found herself unable to answer even the kindest questions. She needed a way to be honest without having to explain everything she was holding. So she turned to weather words. Stormy. Foggy. Sunny with clouds. Cl...

What does it mean to stay grounded, human, and connected in a world that is accelerating faster than any of us imagined? In Part 2 of their heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation, Jess Collicott and former technology leader turned realtor, Bridget Knaub , continue exploring what it feels like to navigate personal and societal change in the age of AI. Together they ask deeper questions about...

What does it mean to stay human in a time when technology is changing faster than we can comprehend? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Jess talks with former technology leader Bridget Knaub , who is navigating a new season of life and work as a real estate agent. Their dynamic is warm and natural, filled with honest curiosity and the kind of trust that allows the conversation to unfold with...

When you’ve walked through unimaginable loss, finding your way back to faith can feel impossible. In this episode, Known Through Connection host Jess Collicott sits down with Angie Hansen , founder of Butterflies & Halos , whose story embodies grace through grief. After losing her infant son, her husband, and her brother within a few short years, Angie turned her pain into purpose by becoming...

In this special episode, the spotlight turns inward. Host Jess Collicott shares pieces of his own journey through a year marked by disruption, loss, and rebuilding. With honesty and care, Jess opens up about moments that tested his health, faith, and identity, and the unexpected ways God, family, and community have carried him forward. This is not a story of perfection. It is a story of resilience...

Tim “TC” Collins is a man whose life reflects strength, humility, and love. From being bullied as a child to losing his younger brother at 18, TC’s journey forged resilience and discipline, but it’s his faith and compassion that define him. In this episode of Known Through Connection , TC shares how pain became the foundation for his strength, why he treats every relationship as a gift, and how lo...

Five Simple Practices for Stronger In-Person Connection In Episode 6, you’ll learn five field-tested ways to create genuine connection when meeting face-to-face. These small shifts can transform an ordinary coffee, lunch, or walk-and-talk into a moment where people feel truly seen. What you’ll learn: How to greet with a handshake that actually connects (and a quick tip if it doesn’t land right). W...

On her birthday, Alexis Maust and her family lost their home to a sudden fire. What followed was a season marked by faith, resilience, and a community’s love that poured in when they needed it most. In this conversation, Alexis shares the events of that day, the vulnerable work of receiving help, and the ways she has learned to see life through the lens of love. We talk about surrender, asking for...

Rebekah Bradford is more than an Olympian. She is a comeback champion and a model of faith-fueled strength. In this episode, Rebekah opens up about her journey through Olympic sport, the role of faith in the hardest seasons, and what it means to build real strength and resilience through family, setbacks, and second chances. We talk about: How to keep showing up after disappointment and loss Faith...

Grit and joy are woven through every part of Kelli Foreman’s life on Kodiak Island. In this episode, Kelli invites us into her real, unscripted world as a wife, mom, farmer, and the heart behind The Last Small Farm. Whether she’s caring for animals before sunrise, guiding her boys, or welcoming her online community, Kelli’s story is grounded in resilience, faith, and an honest love for simple thin...

What does it mean to become known - not just for what you’ve survived, but for the way you live, lead, and lift others up? In this episode, Jess Collicott sits down with Hannah Soderstrom: founder, advocate, cancer survivor, and the heart behind Even Mermaids Get Leukemia . Hannah shares her journey from a normal 13-year-old to navigating a life-changing leukemia diagnosis. She opens up about the...

Welcome to the very first episode, where Jess Collicott opens the door to a new kind of podcast space: one where showing up matters more than showing off, and guests are truly seen. Jess shares personal stories and honest moments, inviting you into a space shaped by presence, dignity, and quiet strength. Key takeaways from this conversation: ​Presence matters more than performance in meaningful co...