Passion Pod

Ed Bieber aka Ed The Diver is a Wisconsin based scuba diver, environmentalist, and content creator based in Marinette, WI. Ed has been an angler all his life and one day got fed up with losing his fishing lures and decided to jump in after them. He quickly realized that when recovering his own lures that there were countless more lures to be found in the same spots. As his interest and mission became more serious he got scuba certified and began diving in lakes and rivers all over the midwest not only to recover lures, but to clean up our waterways from all the trash and lost treasures beneath the surface. Tune in and hear a story like none other.

Corey Kaiser is the owner of Wisconsin Clothing Co and based in the tiny town of Kieler, Wisconsin. Corey's family has owned a printing company for a long time so he grew up in the business of printing apparel. After graduating from college in 2018 he joined the family business full time and his career began to blossom. The family business helps clients from all over create their apparel lines, but Corey really wanted to create something himself so his brand the608 was born. They quickly outgrew the area code that the idea came from and the brand changed to the Wisconsin Clothing Co. that people know and love today. In this episode Corey shares his story for the first time in a long form interview. We discuss what makes Wisconsin so special, why Wisconsinites have such pride for their state, how he is able to make such high quality apparel for so cheap, how he juggles the different sides of his business, how he grew on social media so fast, why building relationships online is so important, and much more.

Ryan Ruebl is the man behind the Meanwhile in Wisconsin Facebook page that has over 340,000 followers. Ryan began creating Wisconsin themed content way back in 2012 and has been a big inspiration and catalyst for a ton of other content creators ever since. Ryan has endless stories from making viral videos with Charlie Berens to making Kwik Trip ads with Green Bay Packers stars like Rashan Gary and much more. Tune in a hear how he built his Wisconsin empire.

Riak Dut is a comedy content creator based in Rochester Minnesota. Riak has been a big fan of all types of comedy his whole life. Not much is known about this viral content creator, but on this episode of the Passion Pod we get a glimpse into his life. He opened for both the Ying Yang Twins and T.I.?!

Wave Chapelle is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin based rap artist known for his lyrical skill and wavy style. Wave grew up on the North side of Milwaukee and started rapping way back in the 8th grade. His skills and audience grew throughout high school and by the time he graduated he felt it was time for a change and moved to Memphis, TN to continue his rap career. Shortly after moving there he met Yo Gotti and his career blasted off. He was signed to a major record label and was touring all over the country. Ultimately, he decided to step away and pursue the independent artist route which was a major learning opportunity. Eventually he found himself back in Milwaukee and establishing himself on his own as well as putting out several successful albums. Now he chooses to help the Milwaukee music scene grow and continues to put out track after track of pure gold. Even the Milwaukee Bucks think so and have added him as an official ambassador who performs at their games. Wave has had a long career full of ups and downs, but the truth is that he's still just getting started.

Passion Pod Episode 140 @imjarons is a Wisconsin based viral content creator known for his character he portrays when he wears his insta360 camera. Not many people know the actual Jaron so he agreed to come do an exclusive interview on the Passion Pod. The only other interview that Jaron has done in the past was also on the Passion Pod, but he first time around we had just met that day and Jaron admitted to being super nervous and wanted to record another. Recently his following on Instagram more than doubled to over 950,000 followers. Since our last interview we added 2 more camera angles, started taking YouTube more seriously, and so it just felt right for Jaron to tell his story again to his new audience. In this interview he shares his internet origin story, why he still works a HVAC job full time, getting engaged, growing 100k+ followers per month, building a career on Instagram, learning from Wyatt Eiden, challenges of not having proof of income, why so many people fail, and we even do a rapid fire of questions. Tune in and help us blow up!

Bill Doucette aka "Billy Deuce" is a comedian, content creator, and musician based in Milwaukee, WI. A lot of people know Bill as the "Boston Guy" in a bunch of the Charlie Berens videos, but he does a whole lot more than that. Bill is a modest dude and hasn't done very many interviews over the years so we were stoked to be able to share his story. In this episode we discuss his relationship with Charlie Berens, being a career musician, stand up comedy, making viral youtube videos, his VHS tape obsession, imposter syndrome, and much more.

Sam Miller is a stand up comedian based in Olympia, Washington known for his large stature and incredible life story. Sam struggled with drug addiction and homelessness for many years until he hit rock bottom in 2008 and chose to make a change. 15+ years of sobriety later and Sam's life looks a whole lot different. He's found a loving wife, fathered 2 children, and built a name for himself in the world of stand up comedy. Sam now tours all over the country headlining shows and was gracious enough to come on the show during his first trip to Wisconsin. Tune in for a heavy dose of inspiration with plenty of laughter to go along with it.

K00bs is a content creator based in Eau Claire, WI who not only creates motorcycle and luxury car content for his own platforms, but also owns a creative agency that creates content and helps with social media strategy for massive companies like John Deere and dozens of others. K00bs is grew up in the Milwaukee, WI area with a car obsession and started shooting photos at the young age of 10 years old. By the time he was in high school he was attending car shows all over his area shooting pictures and honing his skills. During his junior year he got hired to shoot of photos a Lamborghini and never looked back. This episode of the Passion Pod is his first ever long form interview he's ever done. Tune in and hear his incredible story.

Tom Higgenson is the lead singer and songwriter for the iconic band the Plain White T's. Everyone knows him as the guy who wrote and sang the mega hit song "Hey There Delilah". Tom and the rest of the band put out a self titled album at the end of 2023 and hit the road on their first tour together since before the pandemic. Their show at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, Minnesota was near the end of tour and Tom was kind enough to sit down for this interview backstage before the show. In this interview we discuss the new album, his side project Million Miler, his most irrational fear, his experience with Cindi Lauper, his never ending search for the world's best coffee, and much more.

Tom Thakkar is a Los Angeles based stand up comedian that consistently performs all over the United States. Tom has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, CONAN, Comedy Central and more. We sat down with Tom before his recent performance for Clear Water Comedy in Eau Claire, WI and recorded this podcast interview. In this episode we discuss the benefit's of living in Los Angeles, never wanting to leave NYC, hosting a podcast for Comedy Central, his biggest pet peeves, why he's a cat person, and much more.

Riley Smithson aka Shrimpnose is a Los Angeles based artist and producer mainly known for his instrumental music on both his own albums alongside many other artists on their music. Shrimpnose grew up in a small Minnesota town in a musical family. He got his first drumset at 4 years old and music never left him. After high school he moved to the Minneapolis area and built a name for himself in the music scene before eventually pursuing bigger and better opportunities in Los Angeles. His latest album "As It Seems" marks a new chapter in his career and we sat down and recorded this interview before his show on December 30th at Abraxas Wax record shop in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After releasing his album Shrimpnose went on a headlining tour around every corner of the country and thankfully Eau Claire was on his list. Fresh off his first ever sold out headlining show at First Ave's 7th St Entry just a couple days earlier this was the first ever podcast interview of his career. Tune in and finally hear the story of the man behind the beats.

Mandy Tietz is a Wisconsin based women's rights advocate and influencer. Over the last few years Mandy has grown a following of over 85K on Instagram and 435K on TikTok. After the passing of her father during the pandemic Mandy realized that her calling in life no longer aligned with her day job. She started speaking up about inequality and the ongoing problems within politics, particularly regarding abortion rights. As she got louder, her audience grew larger. She now takes it upon herself to share news regarding women's rights with her followers and break down what is happening to simple terms that everyone can understand. Laws can be confusing and so can having so many conflicting news stories from different angles. Knowledge is power and Mandy is doing what she can to empower women and allies around the country.

Sean Patton is a stand up comedian and actor based in Brooklyn, New York. Sean grew up in New Orleans, but didn't find his calling in life until his early twenties. Fast forward 20 years and his accolades are seemingly endless. Just this past year he released his long awaited debut comedy special "Number One" on the streaming service @peacock and spent 6 months touring the country performing with his childhood idol @OfficialDavidCross . He's appeared on @ComedyCentral @fallontonight @conanobrien and countless others. Sean performed at The Plus in Eau Claire, WI on January 4th 2024 and was kind enough to sit down as the featured guest for this episode of the Passion Pod. In this episode we discuss common mistakes comedians make early in their careers, phonies, why his comedy special took so long, skateboarding, touring with David Cross after meeting him 21 years earlier, how he built his career, and why it all matters.

xChris Kroeze is a country music star born and raised in Barron, Wisconsin. After being the runner up on the hit tv show The Voice his career has never been the same. He used to play 250 shows a year at bars and other small venues, now he headlines festivals and fills large theaters like The Pablo Center. Chris was first a guest on the show back in April of 2022, but we figured it would be fun to record a part 2. In this episode we talk about recent life, performing for the troops overseas, dad life, living in Wisconsin, his list of favorites, crushin cans, recording new music, social media struggles, and much more.

Dina Hashem is a New York based stand up comedian and tv writer for The Daily Show . Her debut comedy special "Dark Little Whispers" premiered in November on Amazon Prime and can be streamed right now. Dina grew up in a strict muslim home and didn't find her way to comedy until she was attending college. After winning the first stand up comedy competition she became addicted and knew that she wanted to do that for the rest of her life. It took a decade of performing before her career really took off, but now she has become one of the fastest growing names in the industry. In this episode we discuss early inspirations from watching cartoons, juggling day jobs, working for Nickelodeon, writing for tv shows, performing around the country, playing the drums with her music idols, and so much more.

Jacob Blaeser is a drone pilot, media relations specialist, podcast host, entrepreneur, and much more that chooses to call Brainerd, Minnesota his home. Jacob attended school for broadcasting and quickly found work in his field of choice, sports. His first interview was with Brett Favre! Talk about being thrown to the wolves. Jacob's career blossomed from interviewing professional athletes after games to owning one of the world's premier drone videography companies. His company Blaze Air MN has worked with massive clients including the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, but they still work with smaller companies in the midwest as well. They make content for everything from real estate to sporting events to music festivals and more. Not to mention that he is also the host of the Listen Local podcast which covers all the happenings in his hometown. Jacob has an endless amount of stories to share, and in this episode he shares some of his favorites with us. In this episode we discuss living in the midwest, chasing your dreams, interviewing celebrities, negotiating contracts, overcoming mistakes, navigating an evolving industry, and so much more.

🎙️ Welcome to another episode of the Passion Pod! Join your host, Chris Johnson, as he sits down with the one and only comedy sensation, Sam Tallent! 🎭 Chris and Sam dive into the world of comedy, share hilarious anecdotes, and discuss the passion behind the punchlines. From Sam's early days in stand-up to the triumphs and challenges of a comedic career, this episode is a rollercoaster ride of humor and heart. Sam Tallent, known for his razor-sharp wit and unique comedic style, brings his A-game to the Passion Pod studio. Discover the inspirations behind his comedic genius, the ups and downs of life on the comedy circuit, and the moments that shaped him into the hilarious performer we know and love. Sam even opens up about his experience on @joerogan and a little known fact about @WillSmith that could only come from working with him directly... Whether you're a comedy enthusiast or just in need of a good laugh, this episode is a must-listen! So, grab your headphones, hit play, and get ready to LOL with Chris Johnson and the incomparable Sam Tallent on the latest edition of the Passion Pod. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share the laughter with your friends – because everyone could use a little more comedy in their lives! 🤩🎉 #PassionPod #ComedyGold #SamTallent #ChrisJohnson #LaughOutLoud #PodcastFun #ComedyMagic ✨

Wyatt Eiden in a Wisconsin based content creator known for his short form interview style content. Wyatt grew up in Chippewa Falls, WI and still resides in the area today. However, he now spends a lot of his time traveling the world creating content for his own social media platforms as well as for various brands and organizations. He first began to build a name for himself on TikTok (@wyatteiden 3M followers) back in 2020 and has seen exponential growth not only on that platform, but also on Instagram (@wyatteiden 277K followers) and YouTube (@wyattei 788K subscribers). Wyatt is known for the videos that he creates of himself quizzing and giving challenges to people, primarily drunk college students, outside bars and venues in exchange for prizes. The results are hilarious and very addicting to watch. With seemingly countless videos across all of his platforms you could easily get lost for hours watching his content. In this interview we discuss how to make a career as a content creator, how to get leverage brand deals, staying true to your values, navigating a unique personal life, how to build an audience, and much more.

Danni (@lepus_tattoos) is a non binary tattoo artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They recently opened their own tattoo studio along with a few other tattooers called "Cozy Camp Collective" (@cozycampcollective). In this interview we discuss growing up as an artist in a tiny town, overcoming learning disabilities and health issues, earning a master's degree purely for yourself, finding your community in a male dominated industry, what goes on behind the scenes of the social media screen, and much more.