Passion Pod

Episode 206 – 414 Big Frank: From Walmart to Viral Milwaukee Rap Star Milwaukee rap artist 414 Big Frank has been lighting up the internet with his viral songs, dance videos, and big personality. His breakout hit “Backpack” put him on the map in 2022, and his latest single “There It Is” has already racked up over 2,000,000 streams on Spotify in just a few months. In this episode of Passion Pod, Fr...

Charlie Berens joins Chris Johnson for a deep dive into comedy, confidence, and the chaos of a busy creative career. In this episode, Charlie shares his most embarrassing moment on stage, his favorite memory of bringing his grandma up during a show, and what it felt like to step onto Lambeau Field for the first time. He also talks about his new animated movie on Netflix, why stand-up comedy is the...

🎣 T Fish: My Journey to Catch 1,000 Fish on Camera | Passion Pod Ep. 204 🎣 In this inspiring episode of Passion Pod, host Chris Johnson sits down with David Tiefenthaler—a dedicated fisherman, 7th grade English teacher, and long-time content creator from Wisconsin. David, known online as T Fish, has spent nearly a decade sharing his fishing adventures and expertise with the world. After completi...

Episode 203: Sam Demma — Inspiring Youth, Redefining Success, and Being Someone’s Taco In this episode of Passion Pod, we sit down with Sam Demma, a world-traveling Canadian youth keynote speaker who has delivered hundreds of speeches to inspire and empower young people across the globe. Sam is the author of the self-help book Empty Your Backpack , a must-read for young adults looking to unlock th...

In this episode, Chris Johnson sits down with Wisconsin’s own Michael Perry—best-selling author of Population 485 , celebrated music artist, and humorist known for his wit and wisdom. Mike shares what it was like growing up on a farm and how those rural roots shaped his creative journey. Discover how Mike hustled his way into a writing career, taking every job he could find, and hear about his ear...

Episode 201: Embracing the Okayest—Hunting, Humor, and Community with Eric Clark & Tyler Mieden Join Chris Johnson as he sits down with Eric Clark and Tyler Mieden, the passionate duo behind the Okayest Hunter brand. In this episode, Eric and Tyler open up about their very first hunting experiences and the serendipitous way they met, leading to the birth of a brand that celebrates authenticity...

How do you go from quitting the sport you love to becoming a full-time professional bowler? Kelly Whipple’s journey is all about resilience, rediscovery, and rolling with the punches—literally. Kelly, a Sheboygan, Wisconsin native, first picked up a bowling ball at age 3, but it wasn’t until a coworker at McDonald’s convinced her to join the middle school team that her true bowling journey began....

From summer camp curiosity to global disc golf pioneer—Terry Miller, aka “The Disc Golf Guy,” shares how a childhood passion became a lifelong career. Terry opens up about discovering the sport as a kid, competing professionally in college, and the Gary Vee spark that pushed him to launch his vlog and personal brand. He walks us through the leap of faith—quitting his IT job at Kohl’s—to pursue dis...

Episode 198: Grant Anderson – The Journey of a Brewers Relief Pitcher In this episode, Chris sits down with Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Grant Anderson for an inside look at the highs, lows, and unforgettable moments of his baseball journey. Originally from Texas, Grant opens up about growing up with his twin brother—also a pro ballplayer—and the sibling rivalry and support that shaped his ear...

Episode 197: Cristian Strehlow – The Soundtrack to 680 Million Streams In this episode, Chris sits down with Cristian Strehlow, the creative force behind some of the most recognizable lo-fi and instrumental beats on the internet. With over 680 million streams across his various aliases, Cristian’s music has become the backdrop for countless TV shows—including major hits like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Cr...

In this powerful episode, Chris sits down with Hansel Canady, owner of Hancan Barbershop and the official barber for the Green Bay Packers—including head coach Matt LaFleur and many of the team’s biggest stars. But Hansel’s journey is about so much more than fresh fades and celebrity clients. Hansel opens up about his childhood in Chicago, including the traumatic experience of being jumped and bea...

Episode 195: Chad Vandegriffe – From Backyard Soccer to the World Stage Join us for an inspiring conversation with professional soccer player Chad Vandegriffe! Chad shares his journey from kicking a ball around as a kid to competing at the highest levels of the sport. He opens up about his early days in soccer, the nerves and excitement of trying out for pro teams, and what it’s like to win major...

In this episode of Passion Pod, I sit down with Wisconsin’s former Lieutenant Governor, Mandela Barnes, for an inspiring and candid conversation. Mandela shares his backstory and the pivotal moments that shaped his political journey, from growing up in Milwaukee to becoming the state’s first Black lieutenant governor. He opens up about his favorite memories campaigning alongside Barack Obama, Kama...

Episode 193 – Benjamin Percy: Writing Legends, From Wolverine to Star Wars This week, Chris sits down with Benjamin Percy—a powerhouse storyteller whose pen brings iconic characters to life. Ben writes the legendary Wolverine and Punisher comics for Marvel, crafts stories for Star Wars, and even dives into the world of Predator comics. He’s also the mind behind several acclaimed novels and the dir...

Get to know Fullermoe, the creative force behind some of the most iconic streetwear merch in the game! In this episode, Chris Johnson sits down with Fuller to talk about his journey from up-and-coming designer to working with major stars like Lizzo, Childish Gambino, New Found Glory, Miley Cyrus, Wu Tang Clan, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, Eminem, and more. Fuller shares: How he developed his one-of-a-ki...

Episode 191: Comrade Tripp In this episode, Chris sits down with comedian Comrade Tripp for a candid and hilarious conversation about his journey into the world of comedy. Comrade shares how he got his start, his lifelong love for Pokémon, and how going viral online gave his career a major boost. They also dive into his pivotal role in growing the comedy scene in Minnesota and the lessons he’s lea...

🎨 Passion Pod Ep. 190: Brent Schoonover — The TRUTH about Drawing for Marvel! 🦸‍♂️ Join Chris Johnson for an exclusive interview with acclaimed comic book artist Brent Schoonover! In this episode, Brent pulls back the curtain on the comic book industry and shares his incredible journey from discovering comics as a kid to drawing for some of the biggest names in the business. Tune in to hear Bren...

🎬 Episode 189: Making Movies in the Midwest with Ramon Swift Sloan In this inspiring episode of Passion Pod, host Chris Johnson sits down with Milwaukee-based independent film director Ramon Swift Sloan. Together, they dive into the unique challenges and rewarding triumphs of making movies in Wisconsin and the greater Midwest—far from the glitz of Hollywood. What you’ll hear in this episode: Ramo...

What does it take to keep pushing the boundaries in snowboarding? In this episode, pro snowboarder Joe Sexton opens up about his journey from riding handrails to running Public Snowboards, his role as Competition Director for the Red Bull Heavy Metal snowboard contest series, and what goes into creating legendary events. Joe also shares his favorite snowboarding videos, the scariest trick he’s eve...

BabyJake: “Cigarettes On Patios” — The Untold Story | Passion Pod In this exclusive episode of Passion Pod, host Chris Johnson sits down with BabyJake, the genre-blending artist behind the viral hit “Cigarettes On Patios.” Discover the real story behind the song, the creative journey that led to its success, and what inspires BabyJake’s unique sound. 🎤 What you’ll hear in this episode: The inspir...

🎨 Lucas Beaufort: Skateboarding Has Taken Me All Over the World to Paint | Passion Pod Ep. 186 In this episode of Passion Pod, host Chris Johnson welcomes Lucas Beaufort—an internationally recognized artist, skateboarder, and muralist whose passion for skateboarding has inspired a creative journey across the globe. Lucas shares how skateboarding became the foundation for his art, leading him to p...

In this episode of Passion Pod , we sit down with Ali Sultan, a stand-up comedian and writer based in New York City who’s taken the comedy world by storm. With appearances on Comedy Central and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , Ali’s comedy specials and albums have reached millions of viewers worldwide. Born in Yemen and raised in Ethiopia before moving to Minnesota at 15, Ali shares his incred...

Trevor Newlin is a Los Angeles based suit actor most notable for his role as the Xenomorph in Alien Romulus. Trevor first discovered his love for theatre while still in high school growing up in Texas. After graduating he went to college for theatre before eventually attending film school in Los Angeles. His initial goal was to get into voice acting, but while he was still in school his professor...

Jarvis Lawson is a Milwaukee based photographer who has worked with dozens of organizations over the years including Alaska Airlines, Jordan Brand, Stella Artois, My Helsinki, Under Armour, Vice, and Visit California. Everything started for Jarvis when he came across a skyline photo online that was shot with an iPhone. An android user at the time, Jarvis said up his money and knew he had to get an...

Xavier Abdullahi is a rock climbing influencer and coach based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Xavier discovered his love for climbing in college and never looked back. In fact he dropped out of college so that he could spend all his time climbing. He never planned to be an influencer either, but when he saw a small brand offering chalk bags in exchange for posting content he made his @daddyxclimbs acc...