Wealth is a choice Podcast

What does it really mean to finish what you start? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James sits down with Scott Brown, longtime Tour Da Yoop rider, veterinarian, leader, and man of deep faith, for a conversation about commitment, perseverance, purpose, and living a life of contentment. Scott shares the defining experiences that shaped his character, from watching his mother overcome a life-th...

What happens when a trusted meteorologist steps away from broadcasting and into public service? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James Studinger sits down with Representative Karl Bohnak, former longtime TV6 Chief Meteorologist and current Michigan State Representative for the 109th District. Karl shares his remarkable journey from forecasting weather across Michigan's Upper Peninsula to rep...

What if the biggest influence you have on government isn't money or political connections, but simply choosing to show up? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James sits down with Bill Jackson, Senior Principal at McAlvey Merchant & Associates, one of Michigan's leading government affairs and lobbying firms. With more than two decades of experience working alongside legislators, businesses,...

Can respectful conversations still exist in politics? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James sits down with Michigan State Senator John Damoose, who represents Michigan's 37th Senate District, spanning Northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula. John previously built a successful media production company before entering public service and now serves on several key legislative committe...

What does it take to build a third-generation family business while staying committed to innovation, relationships, and helping others succeed? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James sits down with Joe Cekola, President of Imperial Beverage, one of Michigan's premier beverage distributors. From the rise of Michigan's craft beer industry to leading a company built on trust, service, and conti...

What if the traditional path of high school, college, and then a career isn't the only route to success? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James sits down with Joe Bamberger, Managing Partner at Emerge, a talent pipeline management firm helping students and young professionals explore career opportunities, develop skills, and connect with meaningful work experiences. Joe also shares insights...

What started as a simple bike ride between friends has grown into one of Detroit’s most unique community movements. In Episode 27 of Wealth Is A Choice, James sits down with Patrick Irwin, founder of We Bike Detroit, to talk about biking, community, resilience, faith, health, and what it truly means to connect people across a city. Patrick shares the incredible story behind We Bike Detroit, a gras...

What does biking infrastructure have to do with economic growth, community health, tourism, safety, and quality of life? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James sits down with Todd Scott, Executive Director of the Detroit Greenways Coalition, to discuss how Detroit has quietly become one of the most exciting cities in America for biking, running, greenways, and connected mobility. Todd has sp...

What happens when a legislator leads with empathy instead of division? In this powerful episode of Wealth Is A Choice, Michigan State Senator Sylvia Santana shares her remarkable journey from growing up in a family affected by incarceration and poverty to becoming one of the state’s most respected bipartisan leaders. Sylvia opens up about the personal experiences that shaped her passion for public...

In this episode of Wealth Is a Choice, James sits down with veteran journalist and FOX 2 anchor Roop Raj for a fascinating conversation about media, technology, human connection, politics, curiosity, and what it means to stay authentic in a rapidly changing world. Roop shares the incredible story of how he began pursuing journalism at just 14 years old, long before YouTube or social media existed,...

In this episode of Wealth Is a Choice, James sits down with Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP, to discuss the future of economic development, manufacturing, talent retention, and long-term growth in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Marty has spent years working at the intersection of business, policy, and regional development, first in the Michigan legislature and now leading InvestUP, the Upper Peninsul...

In this episode of Wealth Is a Choice, James sits down with Gary Perala to explore the deeper meaning behind one of the most unique endurance events in the country: Tour Da Yoop, a 10-day, 1,200-mile cycling journey around Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But this conversation quickly becomes about much more than cycling. Gary shares how Tour Da Yoop has evolved from an ambitious ride into something pr...

In this episode of Wealth Is a Choice, James sits down with Jennifer Watson, CEO of Limestone Federal Credit Union, for a powerful conversation about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and what it truly means to invest in a community. What starts as a discussion about small-town life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula quickly becomes a deep exploration of how communities grow stronger...

In this episode of Wealth Is a Choice, James sits down with Cara Macksoud, a former Wall Street professional turned behavioral finance expert, to explore one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance. Cara shares her powerful journey from stepping onto Wall Street at just 17 years old to witnessing firsthand how extreme wealth, ego, and pressure can lead people to make irrational and of...

What’s really happening inside Michigan’s government—and what needs to change? In this episode of Wealth Is a Choice, James sits down with Donnie Steele, current Michigan State Representative and candidate for State Senate, to break down the realities of state politics, policy-making, and the challenges facing Michigan residents today. Donnie shares an inside look at how government actually works—...

Can America become a manufacturing powerhouse again or is that just a dream? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Vandemergel, a manufacturing leader with over 25 years of experience working across Ford, Tier 1 suppliers, and operational leadership roles, to unpack the reality behind American manufacturing today. From launching major vehicle programs like the Ford F-150 Lightning to leading pla...

In this episode, James sits down with Tom Leonard, former Michigan Speaker of the House and gubernatorial candidate, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, justice, and what it takes to build a thriving state. Tom shares a powerful story from his time as a prosecutor, one that shaped his entire philosophy on leadership. Rather than focusing on convictions, he explains that “t...

In this episode of Wealth is a Choice, host James Studinger sits down with Kara Murphy, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of Kestra Investment Management, where she leads a team focused on market research, portfolio construction, and investment solutions for financial professionals. She’s known for making complex market and economic topics accessible, engaging, and practical for investors and advisors...

In this episode of Wealth is a Choice, host James Studinger sits down with Mark Schoenbeck, Head of Community and Business Development at Kestra Financial, where he focuses on building meaningful connections among advisors and fostering a culture centered on collaboration, authenticity, and shared experiences. Mark has spent years helping financial professionals strengthen relationships through th...

In this episode of Wealth is a Choice, host James Studinger sits down with John Amore, President of Kestra Financial, to explore how the financial services industry works behind the scenes, and why independent financial advice can play such a powerful role in helping families make better financial decisions. The conversation also dives into leadership in a rapidly changing technological era. As AI...

In this episode of Wealth is a Choice, James sits down with Mike Pedlow, a respected leader in the compliance world, for a conversation about one of the most misunderstood and most important parts of the financial services industry: how we communicate about money responsibly. They discuss the challenges of modern financial education in a world shaped by 401(k)s, social media, unlicensed influencer...

In this powerful episode of Wealth is a Choice, host James Studinger sits down with Steve Crane, a professional investigator whose career took an unexpected and deeply meaningful turn after opening a single letter on Christmas Eve. His career began with and still includes fraud investigation work but he’s added a new calling: helping uncover wrongful convictions and fighting for people who have be...

In this episode of Wealth is a Choice, host James Studinger sits down with Dr. Greg Gogolin, Distinguished Professor of Information Security & Intelligence and Director of the Center for Cybersecurity & Data Science at Ferris State University. Dr. Gogolin helped design Ferris State’s nationally recognized Information Security & Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence programs and is a...

In this episode of Wealth is a Choice, host James Studinger welcomes Dr. Greg Gogolin, Distinguished Professor of Information Security & Intelligence and Director of the Center for Cybersecurity & Data Science at Ferris State University. A Fulbright Scholar and one of the early pioneers in digital forensics and cybersecurity education, Dr. Gogolin has trained law enforcement and intelligen...

In this episode of Wealth is a Choice, host James Studinger reconnects with professional triathlete Carrie McCoy to revisit her incredible solo cycling journey around Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Carrie became the first woman to earn plaid by completing 1,200 miles in just 10 days during the Tour Da Yoop, Eh. James and Carrie reflect on the powerful moments from that adventure, from the people she...