Get Deep Podcast

Tom Samuelson: owner of Woodland Hills Funeral home right here in Mankato! Our guest this week has incredible expertise in interpersonal communication and working through the most intense situations. After a serious farming accident almost left Tom a paraplegic in his youth, he shares with us how his healing journey impacted this new appreciation for life. From working in the funeral industry in Vegas to homicides to physical altercations, our guest takes us on a captivating journey through the complexities of life and death. Thank you, Tom, for sharing your story with us! 

Andrew + Sara Herr: highly successful entrepreneurs, innovative thinkers and community pillars! Join us as this ultimate power couple shares their story of how they met, the story behind Next Big Thing, and how their respective backgrounds shaped their careers. Hard work, patience and perseverance led Andrew on his journey from intern to executive with Taylor Holdings. ⁠Sara shares how these shared values led her to a successful role as a product manager with Target Corporation. From selling Andrew’s first company through Taylor Holdings for 900 million to their faith-centered approach to family life, Andrew and Sara take us through the ins and outs of their remarkable journey together.

Eric Jones: “the real Jones” and co-Director of the Mankato Mayo Clinic Health and Event Center! Join us as Eric shares some of his favorite stories from working and facilitating healthy relationships with big name musical artists who perform at the event center. From Brandi Carlile to Gene Simmons, we loved hearing about the different personalities - and requests! - that Eric has witnessed over the years. Stay tuned for minute 1.22.32, where Eric shares the impact of scalpers on the music community

Sarah Person: owner + president of Exclusively Diamonds - and co-owner of multiple restaurants with husband CJ Person! Sarah’s story takes us on a deep dive into multi-generational business, and how this has shaped her impact on the community. Our guest this week is incredibly well versed in both interpersonal relationships and the finer points of running successful companies across Southern Minnesota. From seven carat diamonds to attempted robbery and abduction, Sarah has truly experienced some memorable moments in her time as an owner of a fine jewelry establishment. Stay tuned for minute 02:06:24, where Sarah shares how world traveling impacts her view of work and personal relationships

David Kim: partner at Gislason & Hunter, business lawyer extraordinaire! Our guest this weekend has a rich multi-cultural background. We loved hearing David’s origin story: from his childhood and young adulthood in South Korea, his journey through investment banking, and what inspired his career change to pursue a law degree at Iowa Law School, David takes us through the ins and outs of his incredible career. Stay tuned for minute 1:23:40, where David shares his favorite people to work with - and how these entrepreneurs have helped inspire his professional trajectory. Thank you, David, for sharing your journey and insights with us!

Max DeMars: president of DeMars Construction - and longtime Get Deep listener! Join us for a truly epic conversation with Mankato native Max DeMars, a local icon who has (quite literally) helped build our community. From his earliest beginnings at his father’s construction company, to the opportunities and risks that have shaped DeMars Construction today - we’re here for it all! Jordan Powers joins us in studio for this week’s episode as well. Please sign our petition to gently force Jordan to move back to MN - and become a regular co-guest on the show. Stay tuned for minute 16:15, where Max shares why (and how) he got stapled to a roof during his very first management job

Tim Tupy: co-owner of Mankato’s Liv Aveda Salon & Spa, and the Mankato Brewery. Our guest this week is a multi-faceted business owner who has found success in two very different industries. Tim recounts his favorite stories and insights from over 20 years of entrepreneurship with his wife Tami. From navigating investor relationships, the ins and outs of the brewing industry, growing a business from the ground up, storefront break-ins, and unforgettable clients - our guest truly has seen it all!

Join us for a very special edition of the Get Deep podcast with Erin Pietz, featuring the one and only Shannon Beal as our co-host for the week! Erin Pietz is a Kato Moving & Storage representative (a family business!) and cancer survivor. Pietz shares with us her earliest roots in the Mankato area, the rich history behind the family moving enterprise, and her journey with and through Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. We loved hearing such an incredible life perspective from a Mankato native and community pillar. Stay tuned for minute 1:09:04, where Erin reveals the unexpected side-effect that the covid pandemic had on the moving business

Grant Pope: operations manager of Kamp Dels! As a third generation contributor to the family business, our guest this week is here to spill all the details from his life growing up in the service and park industries. Grant gives insight into his personal philosophy, grounded in the idea of sacrificing personal ego for the sake of the team goals, and how this mindset has informed his success in the professional sector. From upholding family legacy to world travel experiences, we had a blast getting to know our guest this week. Stay tuned for minute 1.38.05, where Grant shares what makes Kamp Dels truly remarkable.

Brad Connors: CEO at iWealth and published author! Our guest this week shares how an early tragic loss and injury shaped his appreciation for wealth management - and giving back to his community. From his first job working at a fish market in Waterville to his current position as CEO of a major investment company, Brad’s story is truly remarkable. We were honored to sit with a guest that is so strongly grounded in faith and family. Stay tuned for minute 37:29, where Brad shares the secret to lasting success (and sales), and check out Brad’s financial planning book, “Fish Don’t Clap,” on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Apple Books.