Went to London. Saw Coldplay. Ate everything and cancelled it out with 25,000 steps everyday (that never happens). Played tourist. Life was light. Then I came home and America really made strides in going to hell in a handbasket. In this episode, I’m recapping the trip and talking about the absolute sh*t show of tragic events that followed. I’ll say this clearly: I condemn every act of violence, no matter who it’s aimed at, and I’m tired of living in a country that treats this kind of tragedy like background noise. At some point, something has to change. We’re at some point.

This week, I sat down with Jasmine Johnson: one of my best friends and one of the most kick ass people I know. At just 22, after losing her mom to cancer, she became the legal guardian of her younger siblings—while finishing school, working in higher ed, and staying deeply plugged into her community. Now at 24, she talks about what that transition actually looked like, how grief has reshaped her life, and the ways her mom’s legacy lives on through her every day. Jasmine is grounded, hilarious, and painfully wise for someone her age, and this conversation is one I’ll carry with me for a long time. You’ll definitely be hearing from her again.

This week I’m unpacking the tension between craving connection and avoiding the work it actually takes to build it. I’ve been thinking about how often we say we want community, but still cancel plans, skip the hard conversations, and choose comfort over effort. I’ve caught myself doing it too. It’s not about blame, but it is worth asking: if we want community, are we really doing what it takes to create it for ourselves?

This week, we get to sit down with Jake Brown (for the second time… oops): my boss, mentor, and now podcast guest. In this episode, we get into his story—addiction, recovery, coaching wins and losses, parenting, and what it takes to rebuild your life when it’s gone off the rails. He also shares a preview of his upcoming book Rise Higher, which dives deeper into all of it. It’s real, it’s unfiltered, and no, I didn’t get fired for asking some of these questions. Stay tuned to hear more from Jake— the finance bro that won’t mansplain crypto to you.

This week I got to sit down with one of the most impactful people from my college years: my former professor (and forever bonus dad), THE Jerry Rackley. Jerry defines his “why” in what he does, and expands on how preparing students for the real world goes way beyond lectures and grades. We talk about his love for building personal connections, work-life balance, how AI is changing the game in marketing (and teaching), WWJD (J as in Jerry) if he were combatting the Coldplay CEO scandal as head of PR and marketing for Astronomer. A legend. A professor. A man with jumper cables— IYKYK.

Our first guest episode was recorded… and then promptly wrecked by tech issues. Audio went bye bye. Not to fear, we will be running it back and will get it out to you all ASAP. So this week I’m solo, talking through the art of unlearning—pressure, rejection, timelines, perfectionism, and the weird ways success can still feel like failure (and then some).

We’re throwing Thursdays in the mix. This week, we’re catching up on all the things ranging from Love Island to North Korea’s grand debut in the tourism market (WTF?).

On a serious note, I am devastated for my home state and all of those affected by the floods. I encourage you to help out however you can. Here are ways you can help:

• Kerr County Relief Fund
• TEXSAR
• Austin Disaster Relief Network

It started with a wakeboarding rope to the face. Then my phone took a swan dive into Grand Lake. Then my car said, “I’m done.” Within 48 hours, the universe hit me with a modern remix of the biblical plagues (minus the frogs, but give it time).

In this episode, we’re talking about what to do when life feels like a cosmic joke with you as the punchline. Is it punishment? A test? Or just random chaos we’re supposed to survive with a little bit of grace and a lot of swearing?

This one’s for anyone who’s ever cried in their parked car and thought: “Is this... personal?”