What's Your "And"?

John Garrett
  • 4.9 (50)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

John Garrett's research involves asking professionals, "Who else are you beyond your job title?" Accountants, consultants, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals everywhere are doing hobbies and passions after they leave the office. We discuss why these outside-of-work interests matter and how they've impacted their career.

  1. 717: Jackie Meyer is a CPA & World Traveler [podcast]

    MAR 25

    717: Jackie Meyer is a CPA & World Traveler [podcast]

    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 planning to maintain a healthy work-life balance. She also discusses how pursuing her "And" connects her more deeply with family, friends, and colleagues, fostering creativity and well-being. Jackie is a strong advocate for blending professional life with personal interests, believing that nurturing multiple sides of oneself leads to fulfillment. Her journey and insights inspire others to reflect on their own passions and find ways to bring them into daily life. Episode Highlights · Jackie emphasizes planning the year with travel and family time as a top priority, restructuring her life to avoid burnout and ensure joy outside work. · She stresses the importance of setting boundaries and recommends putting personal plans first to prevent work from overtaking all aspects of life. · Her journey from workaholism and burnout led her to realize the necessity of "finding herself" and nurturing her passions outside professional obligations. · Jackie encourages setting small, achievable goals in different areas of life (like travel, health, etc.), instead of trying to optimize everything at once, using her balance wheel methodology.

    44 min

  2. MAR 11

    715: Dan McMahon is a Business Advisor & Improv Comedian [podcast]

    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, despite its nerve-wracking moments, became an exhilarating way to push himself outside his comfort zone. Dan credits improv and stand-up for giving him new depth, helping him build stronger relationships with clients, and encouraging those around him to be more authentic. He discusses the importance of finding passions that bring joy and insists that sharing those interests makes everyone better professionals. Dan encourages listeners to focus on what completes them as individuals, suggesting that authenticity and personal passions enrich both life and work. Episode Highlights · Dan credits his years in improv and dabbling in stand-up comedy with making him more confident, a better listener, and more collaborative, ultimately improving his personal and professional life. · He intentionally steps outside his comfort zone (like performing stand-up) to demonstrate the importance of courage. Not just for his own growth, but to inspire his clients to do the same. · Dan emphasizes the value of being authentic with clients and colleagues, sharing his passions and hobbies openly. He notes that this authenticity has made client relationships more natural and rewarding. · He stresses that focusing solely on the technical side of the job is not enough. Having passions and interests outside of work makes us more complete and enjoyable to be around. · His advice for others is to pursue what makes you happy, even if it seems like no one cares. Over time, you'll attract the right people who appreciate your depth and individuality.

    37 min
  3. 713: Marc Mandell is a Principal of Select Flooring Design & Car Enthusiast [podcast]

    FEB 25

    713: Marc Mandell is a Principal of Select Flooring Design & Car Enthusiast [podcast]

    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 up. Marc highlights how his appreciation for process and order with cars led him to a career in construction, where similar skills apply. He reflects on how people often see cars as just a mode of transportation, while he still finds each vehicle has its own personality and story. Marc also talks about the importance of embracing and sharing your personal passions, encouraging listeners to enjoy what makes them unique. He reminds us that "long days, short years" is a reality, so it's important to be true to what you love and let it show. Episode Highlights · Marc encourages people to enjoy what they're about and not to hide their passions, even if they don't directly relate to their job. He believes we should embrace our interests and bring them into our lives. · Whether it's working on cars or working in construction, Marc values the structured process of building and creating, from breaking things down to putting them back together. The sequence and satisfaction of the work is as important as the end result. · He talks about the importance of leading with empathy, meeting people where they're at, and holding space to understand others' perspectives. For Marc, these qualities help foster better communication and connection in both work and life. · Marc notes that many people put off their passions or hobbies until retirement, which can lead to regret. He urges listeners not to wait because life moves quickly, and it's important to spend time on what makes you happy now. · He makes the point that while family and work matter, they aren't the only defining elements of who you are. Everyone has many facets, including hobbies, passions, and interests, that make up their full identity.

    40 min
  4. 711: Joe Pope is a Director of Business Development & Beer Brewer [podcast]

    FEB 11

    711: Joe Pope is a Director of Business Development & Beer Brewer [podcast]

    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 hobbies outside work foster those connections, especially in his role as a business development leader. He also discusses Hinge's unique "Hinge Has Your Back Day," encouraging employees to celebrate their interests and build a positive culture. Joe believes that embracing one's "And" makes professionals more relatable and successful. Episode Highlights · Sharing your personal "And"—your hobbies or passions outside work—can help build better relationships and make you more successful professionally. · Joe found more success when he embraced who he really is and shared that openly, even on platforms like LinkedIn. · He believes understanding clients' and colleagues' interests outside of work leads to stronger connections and better business outcomes. · Creating a supportive, human-centric environment starts at the top and is essential for a positive agency culture. · At his company, they have an annual "Hinge Has Your Back Day," encouraging employees to step away from work and do what they love, reinforcing the value of having interests beyond just the job title.

    38 min
  5. 709: Catherine Mattis is an Accountant & Comedian [podcast]

    JAN 28

    709: Catherine Mattis is an Accountant & Comedian [podcast]

    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 identity crisis as work changes happen. She also discusses her positive workplace culture at LVBW, where differences are celebrated and personal interests are openly embraced. Catherine keeps her workplace humor appropriate and finds that clients and colleagues are genuinely curious about her comedy background. Her biggest advice: your hobbies matter and the right environment will appreciate and support who you truly are. Episode Highlights · Catherine emphasizes the importance of having something outside of work to avoid an identity crisis. Comedy helped her discover who she truly is. · Performing comedy, especially dealing with tough crowds and bombed sets, has helped her develop resilience that translates directly into handling feedback and challenges at work. · She points out that being "naturally funny" is just a starting point. Consistent practice, writing, and effort are what make someone good at comedy, or any skill. · Catherine stresses how a supportive and human-focused work environment makes it easier (and more motivating) to bring your whole self to work and build real relationships. · She encourages listeners not to hide their passions and hobbies, as sharing them openly leads to authenticity, better energy, and sometimes even helps you find the right people and organizations to surround yourself with.

    29 min
  6. 707: Rachel Farris is a CPA & Foodie [podcast]

    JAN 14

    707: Rachel Farris is a CPA & Foodie [podcast]

    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 with friends and former colleagues. She emphasizes the power of food to build relationships, break the ice with clients, and foster a sense of community in any workplace. Rachel also encourages listeners to share their own interests at work, noting that people love to see others light up with passion. Her story is a vibrant reminder that who you are outside of work matters and can unify teams in meaningful ways. Episode Highlights · Rachel is a passionate foodie who travels specifically to try local dishes and recreates them at home. Food is a central hobby that lights her up both personally and professionally. · She believes talking about personal passions like food helps build meaningful relationships at work, even bridging gaps between colleagues of different titles, generations, and backgrounds. · Rachel emphasizes that being open about your interests and personal life at work can create trust and deeper human relationships, leading to better teamwork and mutual support. · She shares that firms should create open spaces and events where people can share and celebrate their "And"s, showing that this positively impacts morale, retention, and overall culture. · Rachel encourages listeners to share their unique hobbies or interests at work, saying people are more receptive and interested than you might think as it often leads to unexpected connections and memorable relationships.

    36 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    705: Steve Ferguson is an Insurance Geek & Thrill Seeker [podcast]

    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 clocking 186 mph in a Viper and teaching the drummer of Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Chamberlin, to drive his Ferrari. Steve also talks about his enthusiasm for scuba diving, his loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys, and a lifelong love of ice cream. He discusses why sharing personal interests at work matters, saying it makes people memorable and brings excitement into professional environments. Steve encourages listeners to embrace their "And" stories, believing openness and authenticity foster better relationships and workplace culture. Episode Highlights · Steve Ferguson's love for cars, specifically his experience with the Dodge Viper, played a huge role in shaping his career, personal drive, and the founding of the Viper Club of America. · He uses personal stories and interests to stand out and be remembered in professional settings, believing that sharing your "And" helps build stronger connections. · Steve Ferguson advocates for being open about personal passions and experiences, saying that it leads to more genuine relationships. Even if some people aren't interested, those who are will remember you. · He stresses that company leadership should actively encourage employees to share personal interests, as it creates a more engaged, caring, and high-quality company culture. · High-performance driving, scuba diving, and snowmobiling are more than hobbies for Steve Ferguson. They provide adrenaline, focus, and a reprieve from his highly social work life, which he says makes him feel "freer as a person."

    30 min
  8. 703: Michael Horwitz is an Executive Director & Tennis Player [podcast]

    12/17/2025

    703: Michael Horwitz is an Executive Director & Tennis Player [podcast]

    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 courts, and reveals how he hopes to one day participate in Longwood's prestigious 90-and-over tournament. He recounts memorable moments, including playing in a national father-daughter tournament and traveling to famous events like Wimbledon and the French Open. Michael emphasizes the welcoming nature of his club, where tennis is the focus and professional backgrounds take a back seat. He also reflects on how sharing personal passions, like tennis, helps build genuine connections both at work and in life. Episode Highlights · Michael emphasized how tennis became a big part of his adult life and family, providing opportunities to play and connect across generations. · At his tennis club, everyone is welcomed regardless of skill level, and the shared love of tennis creates genuine connections. · He discussed the value of sharing personal interests like tennis with colleagues, noting plans to further encourage his team to share their "Ands" and learn more about each other's lives beyond work. · Michael reflected on the need to feel comfortable sharing personal passions, mentioning that fulfillment comes from work and hobbies alike, and it's okay for interests to be seasonal, as with outdoor grass tennis.

    29 min
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4.9
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

John Garrett's research involves asking professionals, "Who else are you beyond your job title?" Accountants, consultants, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals everywhere are doing hobbies and passions after they leave the office. We discuss why these outside-of-work interests matter and how they've impacted their career.

Information

  • Creator
    John Garrett
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    670
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 John Garrett | WhatsYourAnd.com
  • Show Website
    What's Your "And"?