What You Don't Hear

Ross Theisen
  • 4.9 (34)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

There's always sides of people's stories that we don't get to hear. In this podcast, join host Ross Theisen as he sits down with many people whom you may or may not know of, as he digs into the sides of their stories, you may or may not have heard. All in effort to find out what their path of personal success has looked like, and all the struggles they've overcome along the way.

  1. E150 - Matt Barnes of The Leisure Club | Third Places, Navigating the World as an Artist, Entrepreneur Hardships & More!

    12/29/2025

    E150 - Matt Barnes of The Leisure Club | Third Places, Navigating the World as an Artist, Entrepreneur Hardships & More!

    Matt Barnes is the Founder and Owner of The Leisure Club (@leisureclub.co) here in Columbus, Ohio. From knowing he always had a passion for the arts, community and entertainment, the journey Matt takes on us in this episode ventures from; an original interest in performance and theater, to obtaining a business degree as a safety plan, living in 27 different places before he was 30, an experiential art project turning into a full on creative agency, to eventually learning it was a struggle to work for others and deciding to go out on his own. In all of that, the concept of "The Leisure Club" third space was taking shape. From a small rented studio space to hangout with friends, to a physical venue space where others can bring their own commuities together. We cover it all!  This is indeed a great conversation with Matt as we also talk about navigating the world at large as an artist, the woes of freelance and client culture, learning the power of saying "no" and setting boundaries as a creative, the ups and downs of running a business, and why third places matter! Lots of great stuff in this one folks!  ----THIS EPISODE IS PARTNERED WITH: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com The Scatter Joy Project - @thescatterjoyproject The Scatter Joy Project is a local Columbus nonprofit focused on fighting for mental health. They aim to make mental health care accessible and affordable for everyone. They sell apparel with 100% of the profits funding their crisis text line, their network to help people find the mental health help they need, and their very own therapy fund. So whether you're looking to get help or want to donate to help support the cause, Scatter Joy is right for you. Find more info at www.thescatterjoyproject.com Makers Social - @makers.social Maker's Social is a DIY Project Bar located in the Franklinton Arts District of Columbus, OH! To book a reservation, go to makerscolumbus.com enter "WYDH" in the notes of your checkout for $10 off!

    2h 4m
  2. E149 - Meghann DeWees | Hair Salon Ownership, Hustle Culture, Parenthood & Entrepreneurship, & More!

    12/16/2025

    E149 - Meghann DeWees | Hair Salon Ownership, Hustle Culture, Parenthood & Entrepreneurship, & More!

    Megahnn DeWees (@meg.citrinehair) is a Salon Owner, Extension Specialist, and Co-Founder of Citrine Hair & Skin here in Columbus, OH. If you've ever walked through the Franklinton Arts District in Columbus, Ohio, there's a good chance you've passed one of the coolest-looking salons in the city. Lots of plants, moss-covered walls, glowing neon, I'll say, unmistakable vibes. That space is Citrine Hair & Skin, and this week, I'm sitting down with one of the minds behind it all: Meghann DeWees! In this conversation, Meghann walks us through her journey into the world of hair, skin, and entrepreneurship. From breaking early industry misconceptions and even experimenting with makeup FX work in LA, to building a deeply supportive client community and opening Citrine in the middle of the pandemic. She talks candidly about surviving toxic hustle and grind culture, the realities of running a business, navigating motherhood alongside entrepreneurship, and the emotional responsibility that comes with helping people feel confident, comfortable, and seen. We also dive into her passion for extensions and hair loss solutions, the value of shared positive energy between stylist and client, and the evolving chapters of a creative career that refuses to stay in one box. Whether you work in cosmetology, are curious about salon life, or are building something of your own, this episode feels a little like a masterclass. Full of honest stories, grounded advice, and a reminder that success doesn't have to come at the cost of yourself! ----THIS EPISODE IS PARTNERED WITH: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com Makers Social - @makers.social Maker's Social is a DIY Project Bar located in the Franklinton Arts District of Columbus, OH! To book a reservation, go to makerscolumbus.com.

    1h 25m
  3. E148 - Kevin Cappy on HummusVacuum, Blending Music & Comedy, Being a Content Creator & More!

    12/01/2025

    E148 - Kevin Cappy on HummusVacuum, Blending Music & Comedy, Being a Content Creator & More!

    Kevin Cappy is a musician, comedian and content creator in the band HummusVacuum (@hummusvacuum999)  Cappy's made plenty of rounds in the Ohio music scene across Cleveland and Columbus, and now finds himself blending comedy, music and content creation in the coolest ways with his project HummusVacuum. As we dive into Cappy's story of pursuing music and blending comedy, we also cover his early days in the Cleveland, OH music scene and what brought him to Columbus, how he gained a large online following and what it's been like maintaining it along with the ups and downs of social media, learning to not tie our value to how our creations do (or don't do) online and detaching oneself from social media, some of his biggest lessons learned as a creator and musician and why it's important for us all to find something that makes us, us, and pursue it + a lot more ,in a really fun chat that ends with a LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE!!! —THIS EPISODE PARTNERED WITH: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com

    1h 39m
  4. E147 - Nate Winkelmes of The Fears | A Story of Sobriety, Mental Health, Songwriting & More

    11/17/2025

    E147 - Nate Winkelmes of The Fears | A Story of Sobriety, Mental Health, Songwriting & More

    Nate Winkelmes is a musician under his project The Fears ( @fears.fm )  After his first appearance on the show being way back on episode 5, this week I sit down for a great return conversation with musician and creative, Nate Winkelmes. 5 years ago when Nate was first on the show, he was just beginning his real venture into making music through the first phase of his (then) band 'The Fears', after a failed venture into the creative agency world. What I wasn't aware of at the time though, was another journey Nate was on, and that was one of sobriety.  As we catch up with Nate's story since his past episode, we talk a lot about the evolution of The Fears and his songwriting process, how his relationship with making music has changed, and as mentioned above, this conversation is rooted a lot in self relfection and growth, as Nate walks us through his journey of finding sobriety. In that he shares the realities of what the battle was like, deciding to officially check in to treatment and get help, his mental health growth alongside all of it, big lessons he learned during that time, understanding self-belief, gaining clarity, and a lot of just raw honesty that I really appreciated Nate being willing to share. This one's a great one.  ----THIS EPISODES PARTNERS: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com The Scatter Joy Project - @thescatterjoyproject The Scatter Joy Project is a local Columbus nonprofit focused on fighting for mental health. They aim to make mental health care accessible and affordable for everyone. They sell apparel with 100% of the profits funding their crisis text line, their network to help people find the mental health help they need, and their very own therapy fund. So whether you're looking to get help or want to donate to help support the cause, Scatter Joy is right for you. Find more info at www.thescatterjoyproject.com

    1h 48m
  5. E146 - Tanya Vora | Spice Up, Stand-Up Comedy, Passions for Food & Culture, Surviving Start Ups & More!

    11/03/2025

    E146 - Tanya Vora | Spice Up, Stand-Up Comedy, Passions for Food & Culture, Surviving Start Ups & More!

    Tanya Vora (@totalllytanya) is a Stand Up Comedian & Entrepreneur with her brand/event series Spice Up. After growing up a shy kid, Tanya eventually found herself in the world of start-ups and hustle culture, and dove headfirst into business pitch competitions called "hack-a-thons", getting plenty of experience speaking into a live mic while pitching to a panel. She would then transition this into a different type of public speaking...stand up comedy!  As Tanya shares her story, we talk about her passion for food and culture and the stories surrounding it, the power of food bringing people together, getting involved in the hustle of start-up culture and why she got out, knowing she wants to break from the 9-5 lifestyle and navigating that, the creation of her event series Spice Up and how it all came from a pitch competition, what got her into comedy, the experience of open mics, her hopes for Spice Up & a lot more!  ----THIS EPISODE'S PARTNERS: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com Makers Social - @makers.social Maker's Social is a DIY Project Bar located in the Franklinton Arts District of Columbus, OH! To book a reservation, go to makerscolumbus.com enter "WYDH" in the notes of your checkout for $10 off!

    1h 50m
  6. E145 - Ryan Francis [RETURNS] to Talk 'Riot Fest', Huge Euge, Processing Grief, Life Changes, Hopeful New Goals & More!

    10/21/2025

    E145 - Ryan Francis [RETURNS] to Talk 'Riot Fest', Huge Euge, Processing Grief, Life Changes, Hopeful New Goals & More!

    Ryan Francis performs under the name "Huge Huge" (@hugeeugeofficial), was in cult-favorite indie horror movie ThanksKilling, and is (dubbed by me) a real good liver of life!  Ryan's back on the show this week for a proper catch up and my goodness does it not dissapoint.  If you're a longtime listener of this show, you'll know that one, Ryan is a past guest of the show with his first appearance being back on episode 41 and that in itself is worth going back and listening to if you haven't. It's one of my favorite conversations. So, I say, if you're an avid listener, there's a chance you'll know how much I appreciate the conversation I had with Ryan. For many reasons I could list again, mainly covering how the conversation was filled with a lot of very fun stories and reminders to just live life and let yourself experience things, and this episode, is such a great follow up to that. So while Ryan shares many new fun stories of what he's been up to with his music project Huge Euge, the crazy story of playing Riot Fest, and a lot of other fun stuff I've come to expect from him, he actually also opens up about grief and processing the loss of his mom. I'm incredibly thankful for Ryan being as open as he is in this conversation and I just can't say how much I appreciate him sharing all the highs and the deepest of lows in this one. And for all of that, it's a really great conversation that I'm very excited to share with you guys. THIS EPISODE'S PARTNERS: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com Makers Social - @makers.social Maker's Social is a DIY Project Bar located in the Franklinton Arts District of Columbus, OH! To book a reservation, go to makerscolumbus.com enter "WYDH" in the notes of your checkout for $10 off!

    1h 50m
  7. E144 - Mike Larsen | A 20 Year TV Writing Career, The Tonight Show, Navigating the Comedy World & MORE

    10/06/2025

    E144 - Mike Larsen | A 20 Year TV Writing Career, The Tonight Show, Navigating the Comedy World & MORE

    Mike Larsen ( @writemikelarsen ) is a Comedian and Writer.  This week it's a really fun dive into the world of comedy and television as I sit down with Mike Larsen who's got plenty of experience and plenty of stories to share across his time in performing and writing comedy, and even writing political speeches along the way. Whether it's stories from sharing stages with the likes of Robin Williams, Paula Poundstone and Dana Carvey, or his time spent in the writers room for shows like 'Grace Under Fire', 'Ellen', 'The Drew Carey Show' & more, Mike has a lot of really great insight into not just joke writing and scripting and pitching in general, but also into the ever-changing entertainment world and how to navigate all the ups and downs that come with it. Mike really does share a lot of good advice from all that he's learned (and tried himself) over the years, and many simply fun stories to go along with it. From learning alongside the greats, getting hired for TV, how to pitch scripts, dealing with bad stahd up sets and even battles with panic attacks and drinking, it's a really great chat with Mike as he shares all. ---THIS EPISODE PARTNERED WITH: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com The Scatter Joy Project - @thescatterjoyproject The Scatter Joy Project is a local Columbus nonprofit focused on fighting for mental health. They aim to make mental health care accessible and affordable for everyone. They sell apparel with 100% of the profits funding their crisis text line, their network to help people find the mental health help they need, and their very own therapy fund. So whether you're looking to get help or want to donate to help support the cause, Scatter Joy is right for you. Find more info at www.thescatterjoyproject.com

    2h 12m
  8. E143 - Embracing the Randomness w/ Travis Irvine | Ohio Politics, Killer Raccoons, Stand Up Comedy & More!

    09/15/2025

    E143 - Embracing the Randomness w/ Travis Irvine | Ohio Politics, Killer Raccoons, Stand Up Comedy & More!

    Travis Irvine is...well many things! Some of which are a Journalist, Stand-Up Comedian, Filmmaker, avid Traveler and with involvement in Politics, he once ran for Mayor of Bexley Ohio. This week we get to hear all the stories of Travis, and I thought I was really good at collecting side quests in life, but this man has me beat by a mile! It's a story pillared by those 5 subjects I listed at the top; Comedy, Travel, Journalism, Politics & Filmmaking. If you see the runtime, you'll know this one's a long one, and it's genuinely a blast the whole way through. As Travis shares the value of simply doing whatever we find interesting in life and learning to "embrace the randomness" we cover SO much. Including but not limited to; Making 2 movies about killer raccoons, documentary filmmaking, legitimately running for Mayor of his hometown, having many many freelance gigs over the years, some near-trouble some comedy sketches brought him from the Nigerian Gov, traveling all over the country, and doing stand-up comedy the entire time... Folks, that list doesn't even scratch the surface! If you're looking for not just fun stories from a fun guy, but stories that serve as solid reminders to simply fill your life with whatever experiences you want, this one's for you!  ----THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com Makers Social - @makers.social Maker's Social is a DIY Project Bar located in the Franklinton Arts District of Columbus, OH! To book a reservation, go to makerscolumbus.com enter "WYDH" in the notes of your checkout for $10 off! The Scatter Joy Project - @thescatterjoyproject The Scatter Joy Project is a local Columbus nonprofit focused on fighting for mental health. They aim to make mental health care accessible and affordable for everyone. They sell apparel with 100% of the profits funding their crisis text line, their network to help people find the mental health help they need, and their very own therapy fund. So whether you're looking to get help or want to donate to help support the cause, Scatter Joy is right for you. Find more info at www.thescatterjoyproject.com Newark Station - @newarkstation Newark Station, located in Newark, Ohio is a former warehouse turned into a coffee roastery, event space, restaurant, and live music venue. If you wanna know the details of events, coffee, dine-in hours and more, visit Newarkstation.com or follow them at @newarkstation

    3h 17m
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4.9
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

There's always sides of people's stories that we don't get to hear. In this podcast, join host Ross Theisen as he sits down with many people whom you may or may not know of, as he digs into the sides of their stories, you may or may not have heard. All in effort to find out what their path of personal success has looked like, and all the struggles they've overcome along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Ross Theisen
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    227
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    What You Don't Hear