He had no fear of joining the Navy. Instead, Bob had a vision of himself, even as a teenager where he took on adult responsibilities at the age of fifteen. At eighteen years old, he joined the U.S. Navy Seals. He saw combat and developed a certain attitude toward the enemy that you may not have heard before. After earning two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart from battles in Afghanistan, Bob decided to leave the Navy Seals.

However, it was too late to save his marriage. He knew it was his fault but has become a dedicated father to his three children. Bob talks about the key to being a strong leader and how he never did this one thing in the military that you always see in movies. He tells us about his current mission as the Director of Virtual Programs at The Honor Foundation. And Stocksie crosses the line when he asks the one question you should NEVER ask Bob.

Hosts

Rob Stockhausen was raised in Buckhead, Georgia. He went to Hampden-Sydney College (barely made it out alive) in Virginia and ultimately grad school at the University of Virginia. Rob has spent most of his adult life in Charlottesville, VA where he has been in the commercial real estate business. He is the ultimate “people” person. He loves to talk and get to know people (understatement of the year), is a prolific texter, and has a strong emoji game. He digs pickleball, golf, and rapping with the boys. Rob loves iced tea but not as much as he loves his greatest gifts, his wife and two college-aged children.

Tom Hicks was raised in Greenwich, CT, and has lived in Charlottesville, VA for the past 24 years. In a rare moment of spontaneity, (for Tom), he left a corporate job to move with his wife and two young sons to Charlottesville to own a small business. After selling the business in 2014 he moved to Tuscany, Italy, and spent his time, and money, living the good life. Actually….that’s not true. In 2019 Tom began a new career in solar energy and has loved being part of a growing and important industry. Tom is a University of Virginia graduate with a Communications major.

Rob McNamara began his love of golf as far back as 8th Grade. But his big break came at 17 when he met Gary Player while playing at the U.S. Open. He quickly developed a comfort level with celebrities. He learned that you treat everyone the same.

His brother, Patrick, who is special needs, remains his biggest inspiration. Rob has a name for Patrick which explains what his brother means to him, his mother, and all who know him. He also tells a funny story about being out of money in Australia, until some quick thinking got him the cash he needed to get home. Most importantly, Rob has learned The Secret to Life, and it has absolutely nothing to do with golf.

Rob McNamara is the General Manager and Director of Golf at Keswick Club, Charlottesville, Va.

Hosts

Rob Stockhausen was raised in Buckhead, Georgia. He went to Hampden-Sydney College (barely made it out alive) in Virginia and ultimately grad school at the University of Virginia. Rob has spent most of his adult life in Charlottesville, VA where he has been in the commercial real estate business. He is the ultimate “people” person. He loves to talk and get to know people (understatement of the year), is a prolific texter, and has a strong emoji game. He digs pickleball, golf, and rapping with the boys. Rob loves iced tea but not as much as he loves his greatest gifts, his wife and two college-aged children.

Tom Hicks was raised in Greenwich, CT, and has lived in Charlottesville, VA for the past 24 years. In a rare moment of spontaneity, (for Tom), he left a corporate job to move with his wife and two young sons to Charlottesville to own a small business. After selling the business in 2014 he moved to Tuscany, Italy, and spent his time, and money, living the good life. Actually….that’s not true. In 2019 Tom began a new career in solar energy and has loved being part of a growing and important industry. Tom is a University of Virginia graduate with a Communications major.

"How would you like to start a high school?"

Not exactly something you do on a whim unless you are talking to Pati Cunningham. With that one question, Pati began an adventure and learned some lessons she would not have learned otherwise. The school that she helped found in 1999 in Charlottesville, Virginia has become a respected college preparatory school.

So, she started an award-winning, prestigious high school in Central Virginia, which would be enough for most people in academics. However, Pati was driven by something else. While smartphones and the internet make learning more challenging now, students can still be heard and inspired.

Rob also learns what a "haiku" is. (It's not a Japanese restaurant.) Pati, an erstwhile poet, also uses writing to have a certain control over her life. And by the way, vulnerability is a good thing, for men, too. We will explain.

Hosts

Rob Stockhausen was raised in Buckhead, Georgia. He went to Hampden-Sydney College (barely made it out alive) in Virginia and ultimately grad school at the University of Virginia. Rob has spent most of his adult life in Charlottesville, VA where he has been in the commercial real estate business. He is the ultimate “people” person. He loves to talk and get to know people (understatement of the year), is a prolific texter, and has a strong emoji game. He digs pickleball, golf, and rapping with the boys. Rob loves iced tea but not as much as he loves his greatest gifts, his wife and two college-aged children.

Tom Hicks was raised in Greenwich, CT, and has lived in Charlottesville, VA for the past 24 years. In a rare moment of spontaneity, (for Tom), he left a corporate job to move with his wife and two young sons to Charlottesville to own a small business. After selling the business in 2014 he moved to Tuscany, Italy, and spent his time, and money, living the good life. Actually….that’s not true. In 2019 Tom began a new career in solar energy and has loved being part of a growing and important industry. Tom is a University of Virginia graduate with a Communications major.

Have you ever wondered what people were all about? No faking. No pretending. Just be real.

That's what our podcast is all about Authentic Conversations. Stock (Rob Stockhausen) and Hicksy (Tom Hicks) talk with each other, and their guests talk about their experiences, dreams, and failures and tell a few jokes along the way. This is their first podcast, so it's only them. As you get to know them, we think you'll enjoy their conversations with each other and with their guests, too, who will be much more interesting.

Hosts

Tom Hicks was raised in Greenwich, CT, and has lived in Charlottesville, VA for the past 24 years. In a rare moment of spontaneity, (for Tom), he left a corporate job to move with his wife and two young sons to Charlottesville to own a small business. After selling the business in 2014 he moved to Tuscany, Italy, and spent his time, and money, living the good life. Actually….that’s not true. In 2019 Tom began a new career in solar energy and has loved being part of a growing and important industry. Tom is a University of Virginia graduate with a Communications major.