• 055 - The One Hobby That Didn't Die
    Dec 15 2025

    This episode marks a milestone I never imagined when I first sat down in front of a microphone twenty years ago.

    Stephanie and I reflect on how podcasting began as a simple experiment in December 2005. At the time, it felt like just another hobby. I had plenty of those back then. Most of them burned hot for a season and quietly faded away. Podcasting was different. Neither of us knew it at the time, but it would become the one hobby that never died.

    We talk openly about those early days, including Stephanie’s hesitation to join me behind the microphone and the very real discomfort she felt at first. What started as her saying yes out of love and faith eventually turned into a shared rhythm that shaped our marriage, our family, and our work for decades.

    This conversation is also about growth. Personal growth. Emotional growth. The kind that only happens when you put your voice into the world and allow it to become a mirror. I share how podcasting revealed blind spots, challenged my people-pleasing tendencies, and stretched me in ways I could not have predicted. There were moments I wanted to quit. There was even a goodbye episode that almost became the end. It didn’t.

    Stephanie and I also talk about how life looks different now. Our kids are grown. The mental load of parenting has shifted. Our priorities are clearer. There is more peace, more awareness, and more intention behind how we use our time and energy.

    We reflect on why stepping away from Podcast Answer Man years ago was necessary. Leaving made room for growth that could not have happened otherwise. And now, looking back with clarity, we can see why returning makes sense in a way it never could have before.

    This episode is about honoring the journey. About recognizing that sometimes you have to walk away to become who you need to be. And about noticing the rare thing that keeps calling you back out of alignment.

    Twenty years later, we are still here. Still talking. Still creating. Still grateful.

    And that says something worth paying attention to.

    Check Out PodcastingAtoZ.com

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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • 054 - Life Feels Different This Month. Here’s Why.
    Nov 16 2025

    This month’s episode covers a lot of ground. Stephanie and I sit down and talk through what has shifted for us since the last time we recorded, and as it turns out, more has changed than either of us realized when we first sat down at the mics.

    I share why I’ve gone back to my early-morning routine at Planet Fitness and how those quiet hours in the car are helping me get into deep flow states again. We talk about the trade-offs that come with that choice, including the time Stephanie and I used to spend together on our morning walks. Stephanie opens up about the changes she’s been making at home, her cleaning rhythm, decorating for Christmas, and how she’s rebuilding habits that got disrupted years ago.

    We also talk about what we’re watching right now, including our attempt at Andor, my obsession with Pluribus, and our journey into Season 2 of Stranger Things. It ended up being a fun, honest, wide-ranging conversation that captures exactly where we are, right now, in the middle of life and business together.

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    1 hr and 51 mins
  • 052 - Projects, Podcasts, and Family Moments
    Oct 13 2025

    In this episode of Building a Life and Business Together, Stephanie and I share what we’ve each been working on and experiencing over the past week.

    I open the conversation with an exciting update on a long-awaited project: bringing my Building an Online Business course to completion. This course will become the foundation for much of my future messaging and marketing as I continue helping entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses to the next level. I also talk about the different versions of offers I’m currently considering and how they’ll fit into the bigger picture of what’s next for my coaching and course strategy.

    Stephanie shares about her most recent episode of The Thriving Mosaic podcast, episode 75, where she opens up about what it’s like to parent adult children.

    She also shares the mental shifts that helped her move through resistance and find her creative flow again , leading her back into content creation.

    I also talk about my weekend filled with amateur radio activity and the fun of going bowling with my dad and Matthew, a reminder of how much I value time spent together outside of work.

    We wrap up by reflecting on the season one finale of Blood of My Blood and sharing our thoughts on how the story concluded.

    It’s a grounded, personal episode that captures what life and business really look like when they unfold side by side.

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    57 mins
  • 051 - When Inspiration Strikes: The Taylor Swift Album Event That Sparked a Scottish Folk Album
    Oct 7 2025
    In this episode of Building a Life and Business Together, Stephanie and I take you along for a relaxed fall walk and an unexpected creative adventure that unfolded over the weekend. We start with a simple reflection on what we love most about being self-employed, the freedom to take a Friday off for a spontaneous date day. That freedom, as it turns out, led straight into an experience that reignited a creative spark in a way I didn’t see coming. Stephanie shares her excitement over Taylor Swift’s latest album and how the theater release event was put together with lyric videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and Taylor’s commentary about her creative process. Hearing her talk about it reminded me of what happens when an artist gives themselves full permission to explore. Sitting there in that movie theater, I felt a wave of inspiration hit. Before the credits even rolled, I was jotting notes in my phone for something completely unexpected: a Scottish folk album. Back at home later that day, I went downstairs to my studio and opened Suno.ai. Two hours later, I had written and produced seven original tracks, complete with album art inspired by a photo I took in the Highlands of Scotland. The result became my new album, Highland Whispers. It’s a collection of modern Scottish folk songs that capture the same sense of beauty, mystery, and freedom I felt while driving through Glencoe years ago. I share two of those songs. It Will All Work Out can be heard in the middle of the episode and Highland Shadows can be heard at the very end. Lyrics and links to the full album are available at the bottom of these show notes. We also talk about the conversation that followed. Stephanie’s honest reaction to my process, the difference between “creating from scratch” and co-creating with new tools, and how technology can open doors for people who’ve always had music in their heart but not necessarily the traditional skills to bring it forward. I share why this project wasn’t about business strategy or branding at all. It was simply about creating for joy. From there, our walk turns toward everyday life again: our family outing to Homearama, where we explored seven custom-built homes and talked about design, personality, and what makes a space feel alive. And finally, I share a few updates on what’s happening inside my business such at the Building an Online Business course, possible new mastermind experiences, and what’s next on the creative horizon. Key Themes The freedom that comes with designing your own schedule.Inspiration as something you can’t plan for, but can make space for.How creativity and technology are blending in new ways.Doing things purely for joy, without attaching them to business outcomes.The importance of trusting your creative flow and letting it lead where it will. The Path Forward This episode is a reminder that inspiration rarely arrives when we’re forcing outcomes. It shows up in the in-between moments. When we stay open, anything can happen… even an entire Scottish folk album in a single afternoon. Find Highland Whispers Full Album With These Links Album Promo Link: https://artists.landr.com/057829749382Apple MusicSpotifyYouTube MusicAmazon MusicPandora It Will All Work Out [Verse 1] Clouds are heavy but they drift away The darkest nights still lead to day The river bends but finds the sea What’s meant to be will always be [Prechorus] You can’t see the stars through the storm But they’re there Keeping warm [Chorus] It will all work out It will all work out When the doubts come loud Shout them out shout them out Through the twists and turns and the fear and doubt Hold on tight It will all work out [Verse 2] The road is cracked but it still goes on A broken clock still finds the dawn Every puzzle piece has its place Every fall gives you the space [Prechorus] To rise again To try once more Every closed door hides a door [Chorus] It will all work out It will all work out When the doubts come loud Shout them out shout them out Through the twists and turns and the fear and doubt Hold on tight It will all work out Highland Shadows The heather sways The winds they cry A lone stag watches the fading sky Stone walls crumble Moss grows deep Ancient whispers where the mountains sleep Oh Highland shadows Where do you roam? Through the mist To the heart of home Carry my longing Carry my name Through the glens Through the rain The same The loch lies still Dark and wide Secrets ripple just beneath the tide A blackbird's song cuts through the grey Echoes fade Then drift away Clouds roll heavy Skies weep low Do they grieve for what we’ll never know? Oh Highland shadows Where do you roam? Through the mist To the heart of home Carry my longing Carry my name Through the glens Through the rain The same The piper’s wail on a distant hill A sound that lingers Quiet Still I’ve walked this land I’ve called it mine But the shadows They belong to time Find Highland Whispers Full Album ...
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • 050 - Meeting People Where They Are: A New Season of Focus
    Oct 1 2025

    In this episode of Building a Life and Business Together, Stephanie and I open up about what’s been happening in our personal lives and in our business. We start lightheartedly, talking about her excitement for an upcoming Taylor Swift release in theaters and our family’s long-standing tradition of attending Homearama. We even share a bit of our everyday banter, complete with neighborhood interruptions, geese crossings, and pizza talk.

    From there, the conversation takes a deeper turn. I reflect on the past couple of years in our business, specifically the financial ebbs we’ve experienced, the choices that led us here, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I share candidly about my journey of shifting focus, experimenting with how I show up, and the impact that my spiritual exploration has had on my audience and income.

    Stephanie and I discuss the reality of walking through a long ebb season, what it’s taught us about authenticity, and how it’s led me to make a major decision: I’m shifting my professional focus back to the core audiences who first connected with my work, successful entrepreneurs, those in the struggle of building, and aspiring business owners.

    I unpack the importance of product-to-market fit, why I’ve decided to lean back into practical, actionable business strategy and mindset coaching, and how this change doesn’t mean abandoning depth or authenticity. Instead, it means meeting people where they are and guiding them from there.

    This episode is part behind-the-scenes reflection, part real-time pivot, and part encouragement for anyone who’s navigating seasons of transition in their own work. If you’ve ever wrestled with clarity, messaging, or wondering how to serve people in a way that connects, I think you’ll find this conversation both relatable and inspiring.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • 049 - From Foggy Walks to Future Vision
    Sep 24 2025

    In this episode, Stephanie and I share unexpected adventure that took place when both Planet Fitness and Walmart lost power on the same rainy morning.

    From there, the conversation flows into our latest binge of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the way storytelling keeps pulling us into new worlds.

    We discuss our thoughts about returning to content creation in the entertainment space.

    Stephanie opens up about the tension she feels at home: wanting to launch back into her creative work while also feeling “trapped” by the clutter and unfinished projects in the house.

    I share about attending my Aunt Joyce’s memorial service and the reflections it stirred in me about the way we live, the way so many people in the world fight, and the way we often miss the bigger picture of what matters most.

    I shared a few updates about my business:

    • Why I’m ending this season of my daily “Ask Me Anything” livestreams
    • The meaningful connections that came from them
    • My plans to reach new audiences by collaborating with peers and creating short-run niche podcasts
    • And the big decision to retire the “Pay What You Want” model for the Free the Dream Workshop, moving instead to a clear investment and considering the return of the bonus mastermind day.

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    48 mins
  • 048 - Building Memories Through Movies, Mountains, and Miguel’s Pizza
    Sep 15 2025

    In this week’s episode, Stephanie and I invite you to join us on a walk as we catch up on the highlights of our recent days together.

    We start with a fun conversation about the Downton Abbey finale movie and why that series has always held a special place in our lives. From the costumes and music to the way it wove history into storytelling, it gave us both a lot to reflect on about changing times and the comforts of today.

    From there, we shift into our weekend adventures. We share about our trip to Natural Bridge State Park in Kentucky, where I got to combine exploring nature with one of my favorite hobbies, Parks on the Air, and successfully activated the park from the top of the bridge. Stephanie also opens up about her relationship with heights and what it was like for her to take the chairlift up and down.

    Of course, no adventure is complete without great food. We tell the story of discovering Miguel’s Pizza. Stephanie compares it to some of her all-time favorites, and we both agree that it will be hard not to go back there every time we’re in the Red River Gorge area.

    Finally, we wrap things up with our thoughts on finishing season seven of Outlander and diving into the new spin-off, Blood of My Blood.

    This episode is about more than entertainment or weekend getaways. It’s about how simple, intentional choices, whether it’s carving out time for a movie, a walk, a shared meal, or a trip into nature, build the memories and rhythms of life and business together.

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    50 mins
  • 047 - Three Dogs, One Weekend: Lessons in Chaos and Chill
    Sep 8 2025

    In this episode of Building A Life & Business Together, Stephanie and I take you inside one of the most unique weekends we’ve had in a while.

    We start with something lighthearted… Stephanie calling me out for my “old man” sock choice. From there, we dive into a full weekend of dog-sitting chaos. With McKenna home briefly to take the LSAT, and Megan and Jacob away in Chicago, we found ourselves caring for not one, not two, but three dogs. Amelia, their youngest rescue, kept us on our toes with boundless energy and more than a few “accidents.” Maggie, their powerhouse mid-sized dog, reminded us just how strong a 40-pound dog can be. And of course, Leo, our steady companion, kept to his 7:24 AM wake-up ritual.

    The whole experience left us both exhausted and laughing, reflecting on how much patience, training, and routine shape not just dogs but also our lives.

    We also share our latest thoughts on Outlander. As long-time fans, we’ve noticed a shift in the writing during the second half of Season 7. While the show still delivers breathtaking cinematography and mystery, there are some storylines that left us shaking our heads. Still, the sci-fi elements and time-travel intrigue pulled me back in, and Stephanie and I talk openly about what keeps us watching.

    On a personal note, I share an update about being 22 days back into keto. The clarity, energy, and freedom from sugar cravings have been a game-changer, and I reflect on why this lifestyle feels so aligned for me.

    Finally, I talk about my amateur radio hobby and how I recently climbed into first place on the Parks on the Air leaderboard for our local park. From bug bites in Burlington to pushing through technical antenna issues in the Smoky Mountains, I share how persistence, adaptability, and a little playful competition make this hobby so enjoyable.

    This episode is a mix of family stories, reflections on entertainment, health updates, and the joy of pursuing passions. It’s a glimpse into the rhythm of our life together… chaotic, meaningful, and always full of lessons.

    Until next time, we encourage you to live your life on purpose.

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    44 mins