What's Your "And"?

Tricia Katebini shares how her passion for running began with playing soccer in her youth and grew into a central part of her life after college, especially once she became a mother. She describes how the camaraderie of the running community has helped her connect with lifelong friends, often revolving around group runs and destination races. Tricia notes that running taught her valuable lessons a...

Joe Woodard shares how his passion for hiking started with childhood trips to the Smoky Mountains, where the beauty of nature left a lasting impression. His most memorable hike was trekking from the rim of the Grand Canyon down to the Colorado River, an eight-hour adventure in intense heat. For Joe, hiking is a way to unplug from work, practice mindfulness, and be fully present in the moment, espe...

Taryn Tigges shares her lifelong passion for dance, which began at age four and carried her through years of ballet, tap, and competitive performances, including annual roles in The Nutcracker. She explains how dance was the only childhood activity she truly loved, drawn by its strong connection to music. Taryn describes the challenges of continuing with dance as an adult and her rediscovery of it...

Adam Ritchie, founder of High Potential Group in Detroit, Michigan, shares his lifelong passion for skiing, which began at age seven and later evolved into becoming a ski instructor. He remembers growing up with Saturday ski club bus trips and racing on his high school ski team, describing how skiing brought joy and resilience to Michigan winters. Adam explains how returning to the slopes rejuvena...

Denise Froemming, President and CEO of CalCPA, shares her passion for connecting with people, her love of matcha, and her approach to bridge-building both in and out of the workplace. She describes her lifelong commitment to bringing people together, from organizing charitable events as a child to helping her son and his friends start a non-profit basketball tournament for cancer research. Denise...

Alvin Hartono, a lifelong gamer and program manager at Google, shares how his love for gaming began with Pokémon Gold on the Game Boy Color and has evolved alongside advances in technology. He explains how early gaming taught him resilience, problem-solving, and self-directed learning, all skills that have translated to his professional career. Alvin Hartono reveals that once he started talking ab...

Beth Goff-McMillan, CEO of SKG, joins the podcast to share how her love of wandering and exploring the world began in childhood road trips across the United States, sparking a lifelong curiosity about people and places. She highlights the value she finds in observing human connection, whether in small towns or across continents, and how these experiences help her relate to others and ask deeper qu...

Jackie Meyer shares her love for world travel, describing how exploring new cultures, especially in Costa Rica, has become a core part of her family's life. She talks about the importance of prioritizing personal passions and time with loved ones, even making major career decisions to support these experiences. Jackie highlights how travel has helped her prevent burnout, encouraging boundaries and...

Dan McMahon shares his journey from being a CPA to embracing improvisational and stand-up comedy as powerful hobbies that helped him become more confident, authentic, and fulfilled outside of work. Dan talks about how he started improv as a way to break out of old routines and found that it made him a better listener, collaborator, and public speaker. He also describes how performing stand-up, des...

Marc Mandell shares his lifelong passion for cars, tracing it back to a childhood experience seeing a classic Corvette for the first time, which sparked his journey into car restoration and customization. He discusses memorable projects, including working on a '63 Corvette split-window and building a GTM supercar from scratch, and emphasizes the satisfaction of rebuilding something from the ground...

Joe Pope shares his passion for home brewing beer and smoking meats, revealing how his science background and connections with the craft beer community sparked his brewing journey. He talks about experimenting with different styles, giving his beers creative names, and the fun of sharing these creations with friends and colleagues. Joe emphasizes the importance of genuine relationships and how hob...

Catherine Mattis shares her journey from overcoming a fear of public speaking to performing stand-up comedy across the New York. She explains how comedy has helped her find her voice, improve her resiliency, and become a more confident communicator, all skills she uses daily as a public accountant. Catherine emphasizes the importance of having passions outside of work, ensuring she avoids an ident...

Rachel Farris shares her journey as a passionate foodie and how her love of food connects her with people at work and beyond. She talks about growing up watching cooking shows, recreating dishes with her sister, and traveling specifically to try unique foods from around the world. Rachel reveals how documenting her food adventures on the Belly app helps her share recommendations and stay connected...

Steve Ferguson shares how his passion for cars started in childhood, fueled by a neighbor who gave him car magazines from around the world. Steve recalls how his love for automotive performance led him to owning a 1993 Dodge Viper, founding the Viper Club of America, and instructing others in high-performance driving across legendary racetracks in the U.S. He describes memorable experiences, like...

Michael Horwitz shares his passion for tennis, especially playing on grass courts at the historic Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He talks about how tennis has become a big part of his family's life, with everyone—from his wife and children to in-laws—getting involved in the sport. Michael describes the unique feel and challenges of playing on grass compared to hard or clay...

Tim Allen, Chief Growth Officer at MBE CPAs, shares how his lifelong passion for writing and motorsports has enriched both his personal and professional life. He reminisces about his early days getting in trouble for producing a black market student newspaper and how those writing skills, encouraged by his English teacher mom, have led to freelance opportunities with industry publications. Tim dis...

Marit Burmood shares her journey from learning to skateboard as a teenager to rediscovering her love for skating as an adult and mom. She talks about the determination, grit, and mental toughness developed through extreme sports and how these qualities translate into her professional life. Marit discusses finding balance between motherhood and personal passions, emphasizing the importance of nurtu...

Erika Flowers, the Chief Client Officer at Profitable Ideas Exchange (PIE), shares her journey from growing up in Montana and falling in love with cross-country skiing to racing professionally both in the U.S. and internationally. She reflects on how her passion for skiing helped her build strong friendships, instilled resilience, and taught her goal-setting, all skills she later found invaluable...

Calvin Harris Jr., CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs, shares how running became an essential part of his life after moving to New York. He explains how the running community helped him connect with others and inspired him to challenge himself from 5Ks to completing multiple marathons. Calvin discusses the ways that running has made him a better leader, teaching him resilience and the impor...

Bridget Kaigler, CEO and founder of Bringing Leadership Back, joins the show to share how she discovered her passion for gardening and transforming outdoor spaces during the pandemic. She describes creating her backyard retreat as her own form of therapy, turning a previously untouched space into something "magazine ready." Bridget opens up about how her gardening journey led her to help friends d...

Roman Kepczyk shares his enthusiasm for triathlons, adventure travel, and building sandcastles as his passions outside of work. He describes how his background in running led to a lifelong love of endurance events and how friendships grew from training and competing in triathlons together. Roman details the organization, discipline, and teamwork required for triathlons and how these skills transla...

Nicole DeRosa, Director of Tax at SKC & Co. and a brand ambassador with UWorld Accounting, joins the show to share how her lifelong love for dance led her to become a licensed Zumba fitness instructor. Nicole reflects on her journey from childhood dancing and cheerleading, to discovering Zumba at her gym and eventually integrating her passion into both her professional and personal life. She descr...

Robert Eyler shares his journey from college football to becoming a CPA, certified mindfulness meditation teacher and yoga instructor. He discusses how yoga helped him heal both physically and mentally after leaving sports, and how mindfulness practices supported his recovery from an Adderall addiction. Robert opens up about the ongoing stigma surrounding bringing personal passions into the workpl...

Mark Koziel, President and CEO of AICPA-CIMA, shares his passion for smoking meat and cigars, and how these hobbies have helped him connect with others both personally and professionally. Mark talks about how he fell in love with grilling after being introduced to the Big Green Egg and has since embraced experimenting with different techniques and recipes—especially brisket and pulled pork. He emp...

Ann-Marie Foucault, superintendent of the St. Michael-Albertville School District, joins the podcast to share how her passion for running helps keep her grounded and energized both personally and professionally. She talks about her lifelong love of running, starting in northern Michigan, and how she often explores new cities by going for a morning run while traveling. Ann-Marie discusses the impor...