Get Deep Podcast

Abby Clemons: owner and operator of Suburban Furniture and Flooring in Waseca! Taking over - and growing! - a family business is not for the faint of heart, and Abby has done so with great innovation and enthusiasm. Our guest shares how her Waseca roots brought her back to the area after a successful collegiate and professional career in Minneapolis. From fostering a healthy work-life balance to keeping business active during the pandemic, Abby’s perspective as a successful entrepreneur is invaluable. Stay tuned for minute 1:18:36, where our guest shares her secret for a high-performing team. 

Tom Fallenstein: CEO of Fun.com and HalloweenCostumes.com! This Mankato native grew up in a family of successful entrepreneurs, and recounts his earliest beginnings of (almost!) inheriting a garbage collection business. Our guest shares how his mother’s love of making the most amazing costumes pinwheeled into a multi-million dollar industry centered around self-expression, community, and F U N. Stay tuned for minute 2:06:09, where Tom shares some of his craziest stories from the warehouse floor.

Dain “River Ricky” Fisher: a serial entrepreneur in his own right! Owner of Bent River Outfitters, Office Space Design and CBC Fisher Group, Dain’s expertise in the world of business is expansive. Our guest this week holds multiple responsibilities across these three businesses with an aspiring degree of innovation. The secret to his success? Learning from the failures and working really, really hard. Thank you, Dain, for sharing your story with us! 

Danny White: director of furniture sales at iSpace Environments and the music man of Mankato! Our guest this week is an adept communicator. Danny shares how he’s learned to connect on a deeper level with his clientele at iSpace Environments. As an accomplished guitarist and musician, he speaks to his audience through music using a very different set of communication skills. From the lessons he’s learned as a young dad to his weirdest hotel experiences, Danny’s interview is profoundly real and we are here for it. Stay tuned for minute 59:44, where our guest explains how music saved his life (literally!)

Sam Ziegler: president and director of GreenSeam, fourth generation farmer, and agricultural community pillar. When it comes to Minnesota crops and its impact on national economy, our guest this week is an expert in the field (pun intended!) Farming and agriculture in Southern Minnesota has changed drastically in the last 50 years; Sam explains the benefits and struggles of this ever-evolving industry. From the impact of Covid on farming to Tesla tractors, we loved gaining insight into the industry that keeps us nourished and healthy. Thank you, Sam, for feeding our community!

Bryan & Tami Paulsen: one Mankato's favorite power couples! With Bryan's position as a senior architect at ISG and Tami's role as the Jonathan Zierdt cancer fund director at MAF, these two are major contributors to our community. Their entrepreneurial journey began in 1995 when they started their own architectural firm, Paulsen Architects, which was later acquired by ISG. We loved spending time with our guests as they regaled us with stories of the early days of owning a business to their life-changing friendship with Jonathan Zierdt - and so much more! Stay tuned for minute 11:40, where Bryan and Tami share their secret to almost 50 years together.

Nancy Zallek: president and CEO of the Mankato Area Foundation! As a fifth generation Mankato native, Nancy’s roots run deep in the community. Join us as our guest shares how her family legacy in the retail industry cultivated her interest in the world of business. From the joys (and struggles) of fundraising to her tenacious fight for projects to enrich the community, Nancy’s efforts have brought so much life and connection to Southern Minnesota! Stay tuned for time stamp 1:35:13 where our guest reveals the secret sauce to Mankato’s growth

David Wittenberg: branch manager and financial advisor with Stifel! Dave’s incredible storytelling skills are highlighted in one of our new favorite episodes. Our guest takes us on a journey covering everything from his experience as co-chair for Hockey Day Minnesota, his background in finance and economics, and his career trajectory to his current position at Stifel. A community man at heart, we loved hearing Dave’s take on what makes Mankato truly great. Stay tuned for time stamp 2:39:33, where Dave shares his thoughts on America’s current position on the world stage

Patrick Casey: awarded family law, criminal defense, and civil litigation attorney! With a background in public defense as an accomplished trial lawyer, Patrick’s success in representation is grounded in his exceptional ability to connect and communicate at an expert level with his audience. Our guest shares with us some of his wildest stories from the courtroom, and how his experiences have shaped his perspective on humanity. Stay tuned for minute 33:33 where Patrick shares his take on the legal repercussions of our digital age!

Denny Dotson: a Mankato legend in our midst! Owner of Dotson Iron Castings, Navy veteran, local philanthropist, and devoted family man. Join us as Denny shares his earliest recollections of growing up in Southern Minnesota. His legacy in the foundry business began by learning the trade from his father, garnering expertise through experience and sacrificing a finger tip or two along the way. From fostering healthy international business relations to Dotson Iron Castings being featured in a groundbreaking historical book, Denny really has seen it all!