Pursuing The Process

In this episode, Jon and Todd reflect on their two-and-a-half year journey as hosts. The guys give out the first-ever Pursuing the Process Awards, including Biggest Blunder, Funniest Moment, Most Memorable Story, Most Difficult Interview, and Most Poignant Experience. This sparks a conversation about what PtP has meant to them and the many lessons they've learned along the way. Our hosts conclude this episode with an important announcement filled with appreciation, gratitude, and celebration. As one chapter closes, another awaits, full of new opportunities, growth, and discovery. Thank you, with utmost sincerity, for being the heartbeat of Pursuing the Process.

Twenty-six percent of people in the United States have a disability. Jennifer Luebke is the CEO of Relay Resources, a leading social enterprise with a mission to cultivate meaningful employment for people with disabilities. Fueled by her experiences with her son, Antonio, Jennifer has dedicated a significant amount of her life to advocating for and supporting individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. Jennifer reflects on her career path and how most of her jobs found her based on her desire to learn and grow. She also reminds us of the importance of following your passion and doing meaningful work and how the Japanese concept of “ikigai” can inspire your life and career. To learn more about the work Relay Resources is doing and how you can integrate a focus on disability inclusion into your business, check out www.relayresources.org.

In this episode, Jon and Todd grab time with Joey Hauser, rookie with the Utah Jazz and brother of two-time PtP guest, Sam Hauser. Joey talks about growing up with Sam and how their driveway competitions and experience as three-sport athletes prepared them for life in Division 1 basketball and now the NBA. He reflects on his collegiate career, first playing with Sam at Marquette then transferring to Michigan State during Covid and playing for the legendary Tom Izzo. Joey discusses the ups and downs of his time at MSU and the impact that sports psychology had on his success. He also talks about being reunited with his former head coach at Marquette, Steve Wojciechowski, now a part of the Jazz organization. The guys also recant some of their favorite basketball memories, and, in the process, Joey favorably compares Jon's game to that of legendary Jazz point guard John Stockton, and Todd feels old.

Erin Bagniewski left a corporate consulting job after 12 years to find more meaning in her profession. The decision led her to Zambia, where she served as a volunteer teacher. She followed that up with time in Uganda assisting people in gaining access to quality healthcare. Since then, she has become the Executive Director of Africa Strong, an organization created to empower and educate the people of Uganda and across sub-Saharan Africa. Erin shares what she learned from the students in Zambia and the connections she made. Erin also talks about the biggest American misconception about the people of Africa and the incredible potential and global influence people of the content possess. She concludes the episode with what it was like to go to high school with Todd and her most poignant memory of him. (Spoiler alert: it involves Todd doing something stupid.) To learn more and support Erin's commitment to education in Africa, visit www.africastrong.org or to donate to their current fundraiser, check out www.herartsinaction.org/lifefundraiser.html.

Tate Hoeven is the co-host of the “Good Day for a Movie” podcast and the creator and host of “The Passion Project.” Tate’s career arc has centered around following his passions and setting concrete goals for himself. Hear about the “four pillars” Tate uses to structure his approach and how conquering your next peak can be more effective than reaching the summit. The guys also talk about the power of travel and hobbies to help “get off the treadmill” and ways they've recently pushed themselves outside their comfort zones. In the process, Jon reveals what it’s like to experience a silent retreat in the jungle for five days and Todd’s imagination runs wild with the details.