The Dream Vocation Podcast with Tony Bellagamba

In this episode we speak with Rick Miranda, Real Estate agent. I’ve known Rick for several years and from the moment I met him it was clear that he was a hard worker. But I didn’t realize the extent to which this man grinds until we did this interview.  Rick started working full-time at just 15 years old, putting in 40+ hours a week at McDonalds and even covering his own dental care as a teenager!...

In this episode we speak with Grant Small, a tech entrepreneur. Grant is a fascinating individual. He’s a person who sees an opportunity, envisions a solution to that opportunity, and then builds that solution. An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Grant has built and sold several businesses. While his specialty is in consulting and cybersecurity, he’s unafraid to take on any challenge, as p...

In this episode we speak with Guy Caprio, a licensed clinical social worker at Loyola University. I first met Guy in a Bible study 15 years ago and hadn’t spoken to him since, but I always remembered him because he was the man that told me how he left the high dollar, high powered world of financial trading to become a therapist for college students. As someone who was in finance myself at the tim...

In this episode we speak with Divya Baxi, a genetic counselor who works in the fertility field. Now, I must admit, I had no idea what a genetic counselor was before speaking with Divya and had actually never heard of the profession. However, through our discussion I learned what a unique and fast growing profession this is.   As a counselor, Divya’s role straddles both science and counseling. Her...

In this episode we speak with Brandon Wojcik, a high school principal out of the Buffalo, NY area. I have known Brandon for literally my entire life (spoiler alert, he’s my cousin) and he has always been an inspiration to me. Brandon grew up in a single parent household and built himself into a successful businessman in his 20’s. However, while he was making great money, he was working 60 – 80 hou...

In this episode we speak with Pat Brady, a government relations professional or what we often refer to as a lobbyist. This was an incredibly interesting interview because prior to this I always had a very narrow view and limited understanding of what a lobbyist actually is and does. I’ve heard the name tossed around many times in the news over the years but never really understood what these folks...

In this episode we speak with Ammar Divan, an Interventional Pain Management Physician. Ammar’s specialty is as an Anesthesiologist, which for the lay-person like myself, that’s the doctor who puts you under when you go in for surgery. Interventional Pain Management is a subspeciality of anesthesiology. Ammar chose this sub-specialty because while anesthesiology interested him, he wanted to have m...

In this episode, we speak with Crissy Loberg who is an Interior Decorator. Crissy, like many people, didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life when she was younger but found her calling as her passions and interest met opportunity. She always had a flare for design, to the point that people began noticing how nice her own home looked and then asked Crissy for help designing their homes. Cris...

In this episode we speak with Dan Mayer, a seasoned sales executive who recently took the leap and took action on his a long-held dream of starting his own business. After years of success as a Sales professional at some of Silicon Valley’s best companies such as IBM, Salesforce, and Box, Dan decided that it was time to carve out his own path and begin pursuing his dream so that he wouldn’t be lef...

In this episode we speak with a good friend of mine, Pastor Steve Andres. Steve is truly living out his vocation, as he felt called to be a Christian minister in his teenage years. However, while Steve may have known his course in life from an early age, it doesn’t mean his career didn’t have twists and turns. Just like most people I interview that have found their Dream Vocation, Steve had to dis...

I know what you're feeling right now. You feel lost, lie there' something you're supposed to be doing with your life but you can't figure it out. You feel anxious, like there is something inside of you just bursting to get out but you have no idea what it is. You feel like everyone else has their life figured out, like you're alone on this island of uncertainty and anxiety...

In this episode we speak with Drew Snarey, a friend of mine who has built an amazing career across multiple law enforcement agencies. Drew started out as a local patrol policeman in Michigan and was eventually elevated to being a detective in a gang unit. Working in some of the most dangerous situations on the streets, Drew built a strong reputation for getting the job done, to the point that he w...

In this episode we speak with one of my best friends in the whole world and one of the most entertaining people you’ll ever meet, Derrick Stricker. Derrick is a commercial real estate professional, working across the industry as a broker, investor, and even a developer. Derrick lives his passion everyday by helping to literally build the community around him.  However, like many people that have f...

In this episode we speak with Jennifer Radich McCann. Jen is a nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health. Jen has a passion for helping care for people, especially women. She is a strong advocate for women’s health needs, especially women in underserved areas. As she herself says, she like “helping people that need help” and also loves educating women.  Jen is a family friend from back hom...

In this episode we speak with Dr. Bob Aarestad Jr., a Chiropractor who, like a lot of our podcast guests, found his passion and purpose after a few stops and starts in other fields. Bob explored several careers when he was young, including mechanic, personal trainer, and massage therapist. However, it was after working in a chiropractor’s office for a few months as a massage therapist that he real...

In this episode we speak with Beth Carter, the founder of a creative marketing agency named Clariant Creative. Beth is an awesome woman, whose story is one of perseverance and never being afraid to try something new.  In fact, that’s exactly how she started her marketing agency. When I asked her if she, as the head of a marketing business, was always interested in marketing she basically said she...

In this episode we speak with David Cuthbert. David’s career is personally an inspiration to me, as he has excelled across a variety of chapters in his life and built an amazing and diverse career. He began his career in special operations for the navy, leading land and underwater explosive disposal teams. I’ll tell you one thing, that’s a lot cooler than anything I’ve ever done. But he didn’t sto...

In this episode we speak with Joe Mazur, an Economist and Economics professor at Purdue University. Joe is a long-time friend of mine, having started in Investment Banking with me before realizing his calling was elsewhere. He’s also, without a doubt, the smartest person I’ve ever met.  Joe’s story is one that I hear often, whereas he had an interest when he was younger but didn’t think that path...

In this episode I speak with Jason Anderson, 2nd grade teacher in the Naperville, IL area. Jason is a good friend of mine and after hearing from so many parents about how their kids all love Mr. Anderson, I said, “Hey I have to interview the teacher that everyone loves!”. When he was young, Jason dreamed of being a football player, but after realizing he wasn’t going to be able to move to the next...

In this episode we talk to Mark Turner. As I was thinking about how to describe Mark and his career for this intro, only one word kept coming to mind: BADASS! If you took only Mark’s first career, which was as a special operations soldier in the Marines, he already qualifies for that title. But after a storied career in the Marines, Mark wasn’t content to just do the 9 to 5. He continued to pursue...

In this episode we talk to Jonny Imerman. I heard Jonny speak at a non-profit event more than 10 years ago and was instantly captivated by his story, but also by his energy and passion. When Jonny was 26 he experienced a life changing event when was diagnosed with testicular cancer. During that fight, he received an outpouring of love from friends and family. But what he didn’t have was someone wh...

In today’s episode we speak with Eric Hargarten. Eric is a Healthcare Innovator but his entire arc is one of the more diverse and inspiring stories I’ve come across since starting this podcast. From entering the Air Force directly out of High School to majoring in Physics in college, entering the world of Investment Banking, and ultimately pursuing his passion of being an innovator in the field of...

In t his episode I talk about the bullet train that is life and how stepping off once in a while can be a great think. From the time you are a child you are told what to do - get the good grades so you can get into the good college, choose the good major so you can get the good job, keep moving up in that good job to get the better paycheck. Those aren't necessarily bad things, but from time...

In this episode we speak with Aaron Rutter, a fireman and paramedic. Aaron is another great example of someone who found their passion, but took a few detours along the way. From coaching lifeguards to joining the military just after 9/11 and deploying to Iraq, Aaron took a few detours (but necessary and helpful ones!) before becoming a full fledged fireman and paramedic in the Chicago suburbs. Th...

In this episode I talk about failure and how the fear and stigma of it is far worse than the failure itself. Give it a listen!