Passion Pod

Passion Pod
  • 4.9 (381)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Passion Pod

Hosted by Chris Johnson the Passion Pod is an inspirational storytelling experience featuring unique guests that are also pursuing their passions. The goal is to inspire the listener to think about think about their own passions and to help them find more ways to incorporate those passions into their lives.

  1. Episode 174 Ber

    5 DAYS AGO

    Episode 174 Ber

    Ber is a independent music artist originally from Minnesota. Her parents had her in music programs from a young age and by the time she was in high school she was playing cover songs on her guitar at the open mic nights at the local Irish pub. After graduating she took a gap year and found herself in Norway learning about music, but also about life. Shortly after she was studying music at a university in the UK with dreams of becoming a songwriter. When her visa expired she decided to leave everything behind and move to Minneapolis and started writing songs while living in her uncle's basement. With her only friends in the music world being back in the UK, she spent most of her time writing songs with people over Zoom calls either early in the morning or late at night. It was one of those songs that ended up changing her life forever. After her song Meant To Be that she wrote and recorded with her friend Charlie Oriain went viral on TikTok opportunities opened up for her in a big way. In fact, her first ever show was performing at the iconic SXSW festival in Austin, TX. Shortly after she was asked to open for Tom Odell for his "the monsters tour" and found herself performing for thousands of new fans every night. Since then she has headlined her own tours around the world, but one thing hasn't changed. She's still just making music with her friends. In this episode we discuss studying music in Europe, the Minnesota music scene, befriending her favorite band, exploring different genre's of music, finding ways to laugh through the pain, getting signed to a record label, touring the world performing music, the ebbs and flows of being a full time musician, performing a sold out show at First Ave, her friendship with fellow Minnesota music artist Landon Conrath and much more.

    56 min
  2. Episode 173 Lazerbeak

    FEB 10

    Episode 173 Lazerbeak

    Aaron Mader aka Lazerbeak is a Minneapolis based music producer and the CEO of Doomtree Records . His music career spans a quarter of a century and has amounted to producing over 600 songs that are all available to stream on Spotify anywhere in the world. Lazerbeak is mostly known as a hip hop music producer, but he actually got his start by playing the guitar as a kid. In fact his high school band was so successful that they got signed by a label and were touring before they even graduated. At that point, he thought he was going to be a rockstar. Life happens though, and instead of being a rich and famous rockstar he found himself working at a movie theater and borrowing money from his mom to buy a beat machine from Guitar Center so that he could make rap music with his friends. Those friends eventually became Doomtree and changed the culture of hip hop music in the Midwest forever. Lazerbeak has had a long career full of highs and lows, but still manages to make a living from music to this day. In this episode we discuss his experience making Lizzo's first album, forming Doomtree with his friends, working for free, producing a song for Doja Cat in 3 hours, making albums for each of his 3 kids, running a record label from his living room, delivering pizzas until he was 30, his new solo album that's coming this Spring, and much more.

    1h 3m
  3. Episode 172 Bryan Munar (Broadway Actor)

    FEB 3

    Episode 172 Bryan Munar (Broadway Actor)

    Bryan Munar is a musical theatre actor who currently plays the role of Orpheus in the National Tour of Hadestown. We recorded this episode at The Pablo Center before their performance on Thursday, January 23rd. Bryan was on the "regular" path for success in America. He graduated from college, moved to San Fransisco, and got a desk job making the most money he ever made in his life. The only problem was that it didn't make him happy. After a couple of years working at his desk he told me his "soul felt rotten" and that he knew something had to change. He began taking acting classes and got involved with his local theatre. As his skill progressed so did the opportunities that came his way. Then one fateful day he got laid off from his job and the choice of where to take his life became clear. He got a job as a server at a sushi restaurant and worked his butt off pursuing his dream to become a full time actor. It took years of auditioning and being turned down before he was offered his current role of Orpheus on the National Tour of Hadestown, but he finally made his dreams come true. In this episode we discuss the challenges of tour life, developing relationships with cast members, being real on social media, peanut M&Ms, personal and professional development, being an independent music artist, making music videos with friends, and much more.

    1h 9m
  4. Episode 171 MAWdoods (Shoebox Artist)

    JAN 27

    Episode 171 MAWdoods (Shoebox Artist)

    Mitch Wachtendonk aka "mawdoods" is a mixed media artist based in Green Bay, Wisconsin known for his unique approach to creating art from recycled shoe boxes. This "Kixed Media" approach began with simple ink doodles on the tops of shoe boxes and has evolved into something that really has to be seen to be believed. Mitch has worked with huge companies including Spotify and Nike, but still spends the majority of his time creating work in his small studio after he gets home from his 9-5 day job. In this episode we discuss the origins of his shoebox art, doing commission work for huge brands, inspiring kids to create, valuing your work, investing in your craft, loving what you do, learning how to become a pro, favorite sneakers, thinking outside the box, and much more.

    1h 1m
  5. Episode 170 Ike Wynter (Reclaimed Wood Artist)

    JAN 20

    Episode 170 Ike Wynter (Reclaimed Wood Artist)

    Ike Wynter is a true environmentalist known for creating one of a kind art pieces exclusively using wood found on the side of the road and in dumpsters. Not only is all the wood he uses found, but he also doesn't paint, stain, or alter the color of the wood he uses in any way. Over the last year his art has been featured on NBC, CBS, The Today Show, and more. He's worked with the NHL, MLB, NBA, Crayola, the New York Stock Exchange, Mike Tyson, and countless others. Ike has lived a very full life from touring the country with his band, to making dreams come true with the Dream Machine Foundation, to becoming a full time woodworking artist, and more. Despite how incredible his life looks like from the outside, he's battled with serious mental health struggles and speaks openly about his experience to help others feel less alone. In this episode we discuss connecting with fans through music, meeting his heroes, building a multi million dollar junk removal business, dropping everything and moving to California for a dream job opportunity, battling depression, creating meaningful connections, making art with purpose, and much more.

    59 min
  6. Episode 169 Darnell "Speedy" Artis (Harlem Globetrotters)

    JAN 13

    Episode 169 Darnell "Speedy" Artis (Harlem Globetrotters)

    Darnell "Speedy" Artis is an official member of the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters who wears the number 3. He's known as the "fastest man on Earth" for his incredible dribbling abilities, but is also revered for his amazing accuracy as a long range shooter. Darnell made the Globetrotters team right after he graduated from Gywnedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. After a short stint playing professionally in Brazil, and leading the country in scoring I might add, he decided that he wanted to focus on his career as a Harlem Globetrotter. Speedy has played 9 seasons with the Globetrotters and slowly worked his way up the ranks within the organization to his current place as a team leader, 3rd quarter showmen, court general, and PR representative. He even has his official jersey for sale at all their games as well as online. In this episode we discuss his life as a Harlem Globetrotter, traveling to over 40 countries around the world to play basketball, inspiring kids, donating hundreds of turkeys for Thanksgiving in his community, his coaching business Underdawgs Basketball, creating Lonnie Young Summer League basketball in his hometown, learning how to be a sidekick, being ready for opportunities when they present themselves, responding to every DM he gets, and much more.

    1h 10m
  7. Episode 168 Tommy Vext

    12/23/2024

    Episode 168 Tommy Vext

    Tommy Vext is a platinum selling singer songwriter that first rose to fame for his iconic cover of the Cranberries mega hit song Zombie with his former band Bad Wolves. Tommy left the band in January of 2021 and has since toured internationally with the band Ill Nino and has also released 2 cover albums and 2 solo albums on his own. Tommy's life and career has had plenty of controversial moments, but you can't deny the fact that he has always stayed true to himself and helped countless people through both his music and his philanthropy. In this episode we discuss sober living, becoming an independent artist, surrounding yourself with the right people, writing honest music, being vulnerable with others, overcoming adversity, giving back, and much more.

    51 min
  8. Episode 167 Grace Reiter (Actress/Content Creator)

    12/16/2024

    Episode 167 Grace Reiter (Actress/Content Creator)

    Grace Reiter is a content creator, actress, and comedian from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Grace was a guest on the show back in the Spring of 2022, but she had so much fun that she decided to come back for a round two. A lot has happened since our first interview. She's acted in her first feature film, performed for Saturday Night Live, joined the team at American High, graced the red carpet with Chelsea Peretti, and much more. Still only 23 years old, she's just getting started...

    57 min
See All (186)

4.9
out of 5
381 Ratings

About

Hosted by Chris Johnson the Passion Pod is an inspirational storytelling experience featuring unique guests that are also pursuing their passions. The goal is to inspire the listener to think about think about their own passions and to help them find more ways to incorporate those passions into their lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Passion Pod
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    186
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Passion Pod (916806)
  • Show Website
    Passion Pod

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada