VoQuest Podcast

You don't need money to start. You don't need a mentor. You don't even need a plan... at least, not at first. What you need is the willingness to get uncomfortable and keep going when nothing is guaranteed. If you've ever looked at the path ahead and thought "I don't have what it takes to build something real" this episode is a direct answer to that thought. Toda...

In this episode of VoQuest , I sit down with Kase Kilchrist to talk about fitness, faith, business ownership, and what it looks like to find your path when life does not unfold in a straight line. Kase shares how he went from studying child and family development and working as an autism specialist to becoming a trainer and eventually building an online coaching business. Along the way, he explain...

In this episode of the VoQuest Podcast , I sit down with financial advisor Mark Schroeder to talk about the money habits most people wish they had started much earlier. We discuss why character, work ethic, vision, and decision-making come before tactics, then move into practical advice on saving, investing, avoiding emotional decisions, managing debt, and protecting what you build.  Mark gives a...

In this episode of the VoQuest Podcast, we unpack what OT really is with occupational therapist Trevor Thompson, how it differs from physical therapy, and why it can be such a meaningful and flexible career path. Trevor shares his journey from business studies and fitness work to discovering a passion for helping people with complex medical needs, eventually earning his doctorate in occupational t...

What does a physical therapist actually do, and what does it take to become one? In this episode, I sit down with physical therapist Cole Denton to talk about the real world of PT: what outpatient orthopedics looks like day to day, how physical therapists help people recover from injury, and why the job is much more consultative and problem-solving oriented than many people realize. Cole shares ho...

What happens when your “plan” stops fitting and you have the courage to pivot? In this episode, I sit down with my old friend Jackson Pollock , who went from a homeschooled kid knocking doors to mow lawns… to building and selling a lawn business… to going back to school in his late 20s… and now practicing chiropractic in Maui, Hawaii . We talk about the uncomfortable decisions that shaped his path...

Real estate investor + FinTech founder - fellow homeschooler Andrew Carson breaks down how he got started, why slow growth wins, and the mindset shift of Extreme Ownership. Plus: a simple “Taco Bell” framework for career clarity. What You’ll Learn  How Andrew went from sales to full-time real estate investing What “off-market” deals are (and why investors chase them) Wholesaling vs. flipping: what...

In this episode, CW sits down with longtime friend JP Mathews, a counselor, family man, and Wyoming Army National Guard soldier, for a wide-ranging conversation about career direction, calling, and living with open hands. JP walks through his unconventional journey: starting in sales (and wrestling with feeling “disingenuous”), serving in youth ministry, earning a counseling degree, working with r...

How do you build a meaningful career when you’re interested in more than one thing? And how do you stay grounded when life takes you into places of real danger, real responsibility, and real purpose? In this episode, Joel shares his incredible journey — from running a phone-repair business in high school, to earning a criminology degree, to becoming a full-time police officer who still finds time...

In this episode, Anthony Simmons , founder of AVRS Automotive , shares how he turned a lifelong love for fixing cars into a thriving, purpose-driven business. Anthony talks about how he started with just a bag of tools and a vision, and how hard work, faith, and the right partnerships helped him grow into a full-time entrepreneur. His goal? To redefine what it means to be a mechanic by building a...

What does it look like to live fully in your calling while building bold ideas that shape the future? In this episode, Nathan,  a multi-passionate entrepreneur and Head of Operations at a VC-backed tech startup, joins host C.W. Elliott to talk about vocation, purpose, and faith in the startup world. Nathan shares how he went from missionary work to leading operations at a VC-backed tech company bu...

Born in a 9x9 room in Lagos, Nigeria, sleeping on concrete beside six siblings, Adeola Ajayi learned early what it means to dream against all odds. In this episode, Adeola shares his powerful story from selling fruit barefoot on the streets, to earning a basketball scholarship to America at 16, to founding the AOA Impact Foundation , which now provides clean water, shoes, education, and hope to ch...

Shaun McDonald, NASA engineer at Johnson Space Center, dives into guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), Artemis prep, “work as worship,” and practical career tips for building a meaningful vocation.

T akeaways Chris DePriest has spent a decade in arboriculture, focusing on tree care and management in the great outdoors.  Chris shares memorable experiences that highlight the dangers and rewards of his work. Chris's journey into arboriculture was unexpected but fulfilling, stemming from a passion for nature. He reflects on the importance of self-control and personal growth in his career. P...

In this authentic and encouraging episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott sits down with his lifelong friend Joe Minner, an automation engineer who proves that career success doesn't require a master plan—just following the next breadcrumb God puts in front of you. Joe's journey began when their mutual friend Chris mentioned a community college program his dad was "making" him at...

In this episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott sits down with Grant Booker, a sourcing manager at SpaceX's Starlink division, to explore what it's really like working at one of the world's most ambitious companies. Grant shares his non-linear journey from struggling through college engineering courses to landing his dream job at the company launching 82% of all mass sent to orbit. Di...

In this inspiring episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott and co-host Gerti sit down with tax attorney Daniel Tirle to explore one of the most remarkable career journeys you'll ever hear. From choosing his college major via village internet in Romania to becoming the tax attorney who saved a client $9 million, Daniel's story is a masterclass in divine guidance, anti-procrastination, and fi...

In this episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott sits down with Christopher Jones, CEO of Liberty Technical Solutions, to explore what really separates top performers from the rest. Christopher shares his journey from homeschooled student to tech company CEO, revealing that success isn't about having the perfect skills—it's about developing the right "DNA." Discover why Christophe...

Andrew Davis is the Director of Global Sales Operations at Neat, where he partners with the executive teams to design and execute go-to-market strategies that drive growth across 50+ countries. Prior to Neat, Andrew served as Director of Revenue Operations for North America at Global Payments, overseeing go-to-market strategy across three core solutions and ten sales channels. During his tenure, h...

In this deep-dive follow-up, co-host Gerti flips the mic and presses C.W. Elliott for the granular play-by-play listeners asked to hear: How a chance encounter waiting tables became an internship, a full-time role, and a seat at the ownership table Why CW’s first attempt to cold-sell a complex SaaS product flopped—and the discovery-driven sales process that finally worked The pivot from one-off we...

Brandt Raymond may have started by running frozen-custard machines at age 17, but today he’s the behind-the-scenes force that edits every VoqQuest episode and consults businesses on branding, web design, and digital growth. In this candid return visit, Brandt and C.W. trace the winding (and often messy) road that took him from … training teenage coworkers at Andy’s Frozen Custard hauling sheetrock...

In this special role-reversal episode, VoQuest founder C.W. Elliott steps out from behind the mic to share his own journey of building the very platform you're listening to. Interviewed by Gerti, he unpacks how growing up in a hardworking homeschool family, grinding through lawn jobs and late-night startups, and taking wild leaps of faith eventually led to a mission-driven vision: helping you...

In this inspiring episode of the VocQuest Podcast, C.W. Elliott sits down with Nathan, a once-introverted homeschooler turned music producer, business coach, and thriving entrepreneur. Nathan shares his unconventional path—from playing college basketball to building a successful consulting business helping producers charge premium prices for their craft. Together, they dive into powerful topics li...

In this episode of the VocQuest Podcast, C.W. Elliott sits down with Justin Kurth, founder of Go Challenge Life and a developmental psychology expert. Justin shares powerful insights on how our thoughts, experiences, and mental shortcuts (heuristics) shape our lives — often without us even realizing it. They dive deep into how to break free from negative mental loops, overcome fear and self-doubt,...

In this episode of the VocQuest Podcast, C.W. Elliott is joined by William Bremer, aka "Website Willy," a digital marketing expert and world traveler. William shares his journey from being a curious teen in Branson, Missouri, to building multiple businesses, traveling the world, and embracing a lifestyle of "freedom maxing." William discusses the importance of setting goals, st...