In this heartfelt episode of That's a Rad Podcast, host Travis is joined by his son Dre who's on the podcast as part of a Father's Day gift to his dad. The two share some fun dad and son banter to kick things off. Dre then opens up and shares about his unique journey from foster care to adoption. The conversation explores Dre's experiences growing up in a biracial family, the challenges and triumphs of his childhood, and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Dre discusses his faith, interests, and aspirations for the future, providing insights into the importance of family, personal growth, and the impact of supportive relationships. The episode concludes with Dre's reflections on life and what inspires him at age 18.

In this episode of That's So Rad! Podcast, host Travis reconnects with his high school classmate Tom Heilman, exploring their shared memories from growing up together in Rugby, North Dakota. Travis and Tom haven't talked since graduation in 1998!

They discuss the importance of curiosity, the impact of small-town life, and the values of community and hard work gained from farm work. The conversation also delves into some fun nostalgic high school sports memories in track and football. There's also a hilarious school bus story, a scary runaway tractor incident, and a crazy memento Tom unveils from their track days.

The discussion shifts to Tom's career in wealth management, emphasizing the emotional aspects of financial decisions. Tom shares insights from his career in finance and all the lessons he's learned about life and people as a result.

They delve into their mountain biking adventures and the joys of trail building. Tom also opens up about his journey of sobriety and the importance of family, marriage, and cool life lessons learned through fatherhood.

Finally, they explore personal growth, the importance of taking risks, and the fleeting nature of life, encouraging listeners to embrace challenges and pursue their passions.

Checkout:

Tom's wife Missy's awesome nonprofit, BIO Girls, helping build self esteem in young girls

https://www.biogirls.org/

Fargo Moorehead Traibuilders: Building and maintaining off road mountain bike trails

https://fmtrailbuilders.org/

In this episode of That's So Rad podcast, host Travis Vangsnes interviews his friend Danny Smith. This episode is loaded up! They discuss the impact of working with kids in foster care and the lessons learned from those experiences. The conversation also touches on nostalgia, particularly around a love of station wagons (Travis' "grocery getter"), humor, and having fun.

Danny shares about his journey from growing up in a camp in Kentucky to becoming a musician. He reflects on the influence of his upbringing, the essence of Kentucky culture, and the importance of humor in navigating life's challenges.

Danny shares insights about his band, Wasperjaws, and their unique style of 'in-law country' music. Travis and Danny discuss Wasperjaws recently jamming with Travis' brother Jeremy (who suffered a traumatic brain injury) and plays a six stringed instrument with his foot called the Feetar. There's some clips of them playing together in this episode.

Danny also shares a great story about the impact of a surprising endorsement from Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers. He emphasizes the significance of community, family, and living a worshipful life through daily actions, while also exploring the creative process behind his songwriting.

WASPERJAWS:

Find their music on all the platforms here:

Instagram: @wasperjaws

Follow Jeremy:

Instagram: @jeremyvangsnes

YouTube: @JeremyVangsnes