We started this show wondering “How did we get here?” and after 36 guests, a hundred tangents, and probably too many bad jokes from Mark, the answer is… still complicated.

What we do know is this: the people we met were driven by passion, fueled by purpose, and honest enough to share the messy parts along with the wins. That mix of grit, curiosity, and a refusal to quit made every conversation unforgettable.

This is the final episode of the season, and we’re walking away with full hearts, new friends, and maybe even a little wisdom. Thank you for listening, laughing, and sticking with us on this winding path. Who knows what comes next — but we’re glad we got here together.

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Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth

When the founder of your podcast studio becomes the guest, you know it’s going to be something special.

In this season finale, we sit down with Brodrick Lothringer, who believed in this show when it was just a conversation starter, and who quietly built something extraordinary. From selling toys door-to-door as a kid to navigating the loss of his home while launching a business, Brodrick's story is one of trust, process, and faith.

He didn’t just build a company. He built a place where creatives are seen, clients are heard, and storytelling becomes sacred. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay steady in chaos, or how to build something that’s deeply good (not just successful), this one will sit with you long after the credits roll.

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Brodrick Lothringer on LinkedIn

PodPony

Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth

Our guest for this episode has a marketing career that started with ads about cheese and orange juice… She’s Mary Kate Gulick, and her journey from journalism student to fractional CMO is anything but predictable.

She fell in love with financial services by leading marketing at TD Ameritrade Institutional, which led her to start her own firm. Ever since, she’s believed strategy is a non-negotiable in every growing financial business, and empathy is the cornerstone of her leadership.

Mary Kate’s story is also a reminder that growth comes from knowing what matters and finding the right people to help with it, instead of trying to do it all yourself.

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Mary Kate Gulick on LinkedIn

Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth

This one is for every woman who has ever been told it wasn’t her moment yet.

Jess and Mark have an honest conversation with Courtney Ranstrom, co-founder of Trailhead Planners, and all we can say is: what a story! She overcame the feeling of being “just a paraplanner” at her dad’s firm and built her path to having a business and a voice of her own, a luxury in the financial field today.

She hates promoting herself, but she’s definitely not playing small. The woman who would sit by the phone waiting for an opportunity call is now a leader who speaks out for other women in an industry that wasn’t exactly built with them in mind.

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Courtney Ranstrom on LinkedIn

Trailhead Planners

Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth

What do Greenpeace, tarot cards, and financial PR have in common? Elena Krasnow, our guest on this episode of How Did We Get Here?

She had it figured out: a college degree in environmental studies, a life-changing trip to Madagascar, and a job at Greenpeace. Fighting climate change and working with communities was the plan! But COVID happened, and all her expectations were laid off alongside her, figuratively and literally.

No job, empty streets, protests on hold. What now?

Somehow, Elena found herself planning press releases and shaping marketing strategies in the financial industry. No PR experience, no marketing background, and yet, she nailed it.

Join us to hear about Elena’s journey.

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Elena Krasnow on LinkedIn

StreetCred PR

Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth

Matt Hobson's career journey feels like a cross-country hike. He went from studying spotted owls in Oregon's forests to importing lumber from New Zealand, and ended up helping people with their financial decisions.

He is the ninth child of thirteen siblings. Yes, you read that right, thirteen! They didn’t call themselves "the wilderness" of Eastern Oregon for nothing. That ninth kid was shy in his youth, but soon discovered he had a special talent for connecting with people and making friends that would be useful later…

When the 2008 financial crisis demolished his lumber import business and his ability to provide for his family, he decided to start working in a promising field: financial advice. His entry point? A position with Ameriprise and a phone book as a welcome gift. Yep, old-fashioned cold calling.

If you want to know how he went from that to mentoring advisors and being a reference in the financial industry, tune in now!

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Matt Hobson on LinkedIn

Eagle Wealth Management

Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth

Meet Phil Pearlman, a former special education teacher with a trading background. He is now dedicated to helping people improve their health to boost their business and life results. In this conversation, he goes from explaining the current bird flu cycle and how it affects egg prices to a mindful parenting masterclass, and believe it or not, he ties it all back to health.

Irreverent, politically incorrect, and fun, Phil teaches with his own example how intentional habits and wise choices can transform a life for the better. Join us for the advice, stay for the laughs!

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Phil Pearlman on Twitter

Pearl Institute

Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth

Ashley Quamme's path in financial advice was not the most typical one, but there were some early signs, like the fact that she was born on “Tax Day” and used to offer counseling to her classmates in the lunch line. Later, she worked as a mental health therapist until she discovered a new way to use her skills: advising advisors. If we add that she is married to a CFA and is the daughter of a CPA, now it makes way more sense.

Let’s dive into Ashley’s journey and see how a psychological background and a lot of money conversations turned into a new way of financial advising.

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Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn

Beyond the Plan

Jess Bost on LinkedIn

Lake Avenue Financial

Mark Newfield on LinkedIn

Journey Strategic Wealth