Passion Pod

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 David Cross. He's appeared on Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Conan, 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! 🤩🎉

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