Journeymen

Today's society has come to glorify the "self-made" person—someone who seems to rise from nothing to remarkable success, all on their own accord. But, is anyone really self-made? Deanna Mau's story is just one example that would lead us to think that no, it is impossible to be truly self-made. Deanna has had a passion for creation, so much so that she found herself buying up materials to do her own custom vinyl printing as a hobby. Her "clientele" included friends and family looking for cool mugs, t-shirts, onesies—anything they could think of Deanna would try to create. And, she absolutely loved it. Yet, it wasn't until her husband said something so simple that Deanna starting thinking about her hobby as potentially something more. It wasn't until she got this push that she decided to turn a fun activity into a side hustle. Because of her husband's support—and her own drive, skill, and perseverance, of course—Deanna has waved caution to the wind and officially launched Make It Right Mau, an online custom vinyl printing shop selling to any and all interested buyers! As she and her husband realized, there was no reason to delay living the life you want to live.

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Make It Right Mau can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy! Check it out!

For Jake Weiler, the philanthropic drive has always been there. Working with charitable organizations for years, his passion is well-known and well-developed. Yet, not until recently did Jake tap into something else—something that called on him to do more, to apply this passion in a deeper, more impactful way. While involved with Habitat for Humanity in Milwaukee, Jake saw an opportunity to harness the organization's homebuilding experience and translate it to the real estate investment sector, resulting in the creation of Empower Investments, LLC—a group focused on renovating properties and raising funds to provide families safe, affordable housing. Like anyone starting from scratch, much was learned, pain was felt, and fulfillment was earned each and every day. Although the decision to launch a new endeavor was one accompanied by fear, for Jake, the choice was clear. It was about doing something he believed in, experiencing something new, and living in accordance with his values.

It happens to many of us. We enroll in our dream university. We select our major with the fullest, purest intent of obtaining a career in our studied discipline upon graduation. Our parents are proud, as are our friends. But, when the moment finally comes to execute on this plan and enter the workforce, something's not right. We feel pulled in another direction. For Katie Sullivan, the plan was engineering, but the pull was to teaching. Bravely, Katie didn't resist like many of us would and do. Rather, she answered and followed her calling. After graduating from college, Katie entered the Teach For America program, which led her to Milwaukee and catapulted her into a 6th grade classroom. The journey hasn't always been easy—overcoming doubt, confronting a confused support system, moving across the country, and more—but, as she thinks back on her decision, it came down to one simple truth: in life, we regret the things we didn't do more than the things we did. She had to pursue this. She had to make her own way. 

It came in flash while taking a power nap in a parking lot. A flash that, for Josh Kok, illuminated the next step in his life's journey. A flash that reminded him of what he'd been able to do in the past and what he needed to do in the future. A flash that transported him back to a moment in Brazil, sitting alone on a bus, terrified beyond belief. Josh's story is not only captivatingly suspenseful, it is also transformative, profound, and enlightening. It is a testament to how seemingly mundane decisions—like Josh opting to leave his hotel room, hop on a bus, and go to a wedding—have the ability to change the course of our lives, if not in that moment, down the road as we reflect. Stories like these leave a mark. They remind us that life is meant to be lived out in the open, unconstrained by walls—metaphorical or physical—that keep us feeling safe, yet trapped by comfort and ease.

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Josh Kok is a creative content producer living in Madison, Wisconsin. Find his work and/or inquire to work with him on his website!

DJ Shawna, a  modern-day renaissance woman, is the official DJ for the Milwaukee Bucks, a published author, a philanthropist, a clothing brand owner, a podcast host, a former professional basketball player...the list goes on. So, put simply, we had a lot to talk about—so much so that we decided to split our conversation into two unique episodes.

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In this episode—episode two—Journeymen hosts, Jacob and Ian, dive into the driving force behind much of Shawna's life: basketball. What is life like as a high school All-American, a Division 1 college player, an overseas professional? And, what is life like when that path winds to a stop? For Shawna, it meant now pursuing something she'd previously considered more of hobby. She was going to be a DJ—hence the genesis of the moniker, DJ Shawna—a decision that has led to numerous life-defining experiences, culminating—at least for now—in the role of her dreams: official DJ of the Milwaukee Bucks. Throughout her journey, one theme emerges consistently. Without her willingness to be bold and go big, DJ Shawna wouldn't be anywhere close to where she is today.

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+ Follow DJ Shawna across social media (@djshawna), catch her streaming on Twitch and Mixcloud, and support her #DareToBe brand.

DJ Shawna, a modern-day renaissance woman, is the official DJ for the Milwaukee Bucks, a published author, a philanthropist, a clothing brand owner, a podcast host, a former professional basketball player...the list goes on. So, put simply, we had a lot to talk about—so much so that we decided to split our conversation into two unique episodes.

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In this episode—episode one—Journeymen hosts, Jacob and Ian, dive into the ways Shawna is contributing to missions and ideas that are greater than herself. The three discuss the impact her late step-father, Joe Weirick, had on her and her decision to write "The Adventures of Bob and Downtown Milwaukee," all proceeds from which are donated to Key To Change—an organization fighting to end chronic homelessness in Milwaukee. Shawna's altruism becomes even more evident as she elaborates on her #DareToBe brand—a passion project that seeks to inspire others to dream big and dare to be...whatever they want. Representing everything that is good about the city of Milwaukee, Shawna is an inspiration to listen to and a model of paying it forward.

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Our second episode with DJ Shawna drops on Wednesday, December 23. We're talking all things basketball, Bucks, and life as a DJ...

After 22 amazing guests and 25 uniquely special episodes, Journeymen is excited to kick off Season 2! Hosts, Jacob and Ian, update listeners on the last year of their respective journeys, reflect on the highlights from what was a remarkable, year long opening season, share their greatest takeaways and insights gleaned, as well as convey their immense gratitude towards guests and listeners. Season 2 comes with some changes, too! A new logo, independent social media accounts for the podcast (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn), and some truly inspiring, profound stories to be shared. Happy listening everyone!

In his own words, Forest Richter became an entrepreneur "by accident." With degrees in philosophy and psychology, he never had a pre-defined, set-in-stone career path. It wasn't until his mid-to-late 20's in which Forest decided he needed more than what was being offered by his current role. He desired to make an impact—and one he could tangibly see. So, he jumped headfirst into the Milwaukee startup scene, where making a real difference seemed possible. It didn't take long for Forest to realize this is where he was meant to be—becoming involved in several early-stage startups, driving growth, and loving the process. As the years drew on, Forest, like the start of any entrepreneur story, saw an inefficiency in need of fresh eyes—the startup funding process. It was messy, scattered, and burdensome. It was biased towards white male founders located on the coasts. So, Forest decided to start Uncrowd.io—a platform dedicated to cutting inefficiencies in the fundraising process while bringing visibility to underrepresented founders. And, it was through this new venture, coupled with the societal shifts brought about in 2020, Forest heard his larger calling, which will steer his life from this point forward.

It's funny how the things that happen most serendipitously often end up—when we look back on them—being some of the most influential moments of our lives. It's a theme ever-present among the stories of our Moments by Journeymen guests, and Faith Hommes is no exception. Though she's long had a penchant for fashion and taste for the aesthetic, it wasn't until one—rather chance—moment that Faith decided to act on her interests. In early 2020, Faith leaped head first into the wonderful world of reselling—curating and selling previously owned fashion apparel, ideally for a profit. Ever the doer, in a few short months, Faith has continuously grown her business, become a force in the space, and has even established herself as a trusted voice, willing and able to help those just starting out. Her story is a reminder of the importance of keeping your mind, eyes, and ears open to new opportunities. You never know when something will happen that will transform something you like into something you can't live without—into something you love. To glean more into Faith's reselling passion, check her out on Instagram, YouTube, and Poshmark (@faithhommes)!

"Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done." It's a quote from author Bryan Stevenson, and a statement that echoes through the mind of Ruben Gaona daily. Having been incarcerated for nearly seven years, Ruben knew that this time in his life and the mistakes that made it possible do not, and should not, define who he is. Yet, upon re-entering his community, he found that many of the people who had the ability to offer help and guidance simply believed the opposite—he is a convicted criminal, end of story. Despite being a hard-working veteran, they could not overlook the worst thing he's ever done. Battling these narrow-minded beliefs and judgements became difficult for Ruben, someone who was only trying to find work to support himself and contribute to society. So, aware he was not alone in this fight and determined to succeed, Ruben decided to take matters into his own hands. Recently, he co-founded The Way Out—an anti-bias employment platform that helps decrease recidivism through gainful employment and ongoing support services. This is the story of how Ruben used perseverance, optimism, and focus to bring this organization to life. (To donate directly to The Way Out, click here!)