In this episode of That's a Rad Podcast, host Travis reconnects with his friend and high school classmate, Isaac Schaan. Up until recently, the two hadn't talked since graduation in 1998. They make up for lost ground going deep and wide in this conversation. Here's a snapshot of things they cover in this jam packed episode:

• Shared experiences growing up in the small farming town of Rugby, North Dakota.
• Lessons from the farm
• Ike's javelin incident in high school and other sports stories
• Beards and pro grooming tips
• The role of faith in life
• Adoption and engaging foster care
• Losing their dads and lessons in grief

**The two spend a good bit of time talking about adoption, where Isaac shares his family's journey of adopting three siblings, highlighting the challenges and blessings that come with it. Travis shares part of his own story as well and what led him into foster care and adoption. They emphasize the importance of understanding trauma in adopted children and the significant need for foster and adoptive parents.

Isaac and Travis have also lost their dads within the last few years. Isaac shares about his dad and what he meant to him as his son and his community. They discuss grief, healing from loss, and navigating life after losing a parent.

In this episode of "That's a Rad Podcast," hosts Travis and Everett Conaway engage in a cool conversation about creativity, friendship, and the power of music. They delve into the story of the "Feetar", a custom instrument designed by Everett for Travis's brother Jeremy, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2009. The Feetar, crafted from reclaimed wood, allows Jeremy to play music despite his physical limitations, symbolizing inclusivity and innovation.

The discussion also delves into the impact of music, what it's like to play in a band, and why Everett loves the bass guitar. The conversation turns to Everett's journey of woodworking (from hobby to business), and the artistry involved in creating meaningful pieces. Everett reflects on the influences that have shaped his life and the pride he feels in his family and the cool stuff he creates in his shop.

LINKS:

Watch Jeremy jamming on the Feetar with Wasperjaws

Checkout Jeremy's website and sign up on there to get his newsletter:

https://www.joyindespair.com/

Checkout the band WASPERJAWS:

Find their music on all the platforms here:

Everett's woodworking business 6th Interval Designs:

https://6thinterval.com/

Instagram: @6th_interval_designs

In this heartfelt episode of That's a Rad Podcast, host Travis is joined by his son Dre who's on the podcast as part of a Father's Day gift to his dad. The two share some fun dad and son banter to kick things off. Dre then opens up and shares about his unique journey from foster care to adoption. The conversation explores Dre's experiences growing up in a biracial family, the challenges and triumphs of his childhood, and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Dre discusses his faith, interests, and aspirations for the future, providing insights into the importance of family, personal growth, and the impact of supportive relationships. The episode concludes with Dre's reflections on life and what inspires him at age 18.

In this episode of That's So Rad! Podcast, host Travis reconnects with his high school classmate Tom Heilman, exploring their shared memories from growing up together in Rugby, North Dakota. Travis and Tom haven't talked since graduation in 1998!

They discuss the importance of curiosity, the impact of small-town life, and the values of community and hard work gained from farm work. The conversation also delves into some fun nostalgic high school sports memories in track and football. There's also a hilarious school bus story, a scary runaway tractor incident, and a crazy memento Tom unveils from their track days.

The discussion shifts to Tom's career in wealth management, emphasizing the emotional aspects of financial decisions. Tom shares insights from his career in finance and all the lessons he's learned about life and people as a result.

They delve into their mountain biking adventures and the joys of trail building. Tom also opens up about his journey of sobriety and the importance of family, marriage, and cool life lessons learned through fatherhood.

Finally, they explore personal growth, the importance of taking risks, and the fleeting nature of life, encouraging listeners to embrace challenges and pursue their passions.

Checkout:

Tom's wife Missy's awesome nonprofit, BIO Girls, helping build self esteem in young girls

https://www.biogirls.org/

Fargo Moorehead Traibuilders: Building and maintaining off road mountain bike trails

https://fmtrailbuilders.org/

In this episode of That's So Rad podcast, host Travis Vangsnes interviews his friend Danny Smith. This episode is loaded up! They discuss the impact of working with kids in foster care and the lessons learned from those experiences. The conversation also touches on nostalgia, particularly around a love of station wagons (Travis' "grocery getter"), humor, and having fun.

Danny shares about his journey from growing up in a camp in Kentucky to becoming a musician. He reflects on the influence of his upbringing, the essence of Kentucky culture, and the importance of humor in navigating life's challenges.

Danny shares insights about his band, Wasperjaws, and their unique style of 'in-law country' music. Travis and Danny discuss Wasperjaws recently jamming with Travis' brother Jeremy (who suffered a traumatic brain injury) and plays a six stringed instrument with his foot called the Feetar. There's some clips of them playing together in this episode.

Danny also shares a great story about the impact of a surprising endorsement from Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers. He emphasizes the significance of community, family, and living a worshipful life through daily actions, while also exploring the creative process behind his songwriting.

WASPERJAWS:

Find their music on all the platforms here:

Instagram: @wasperjaws

Follow Jeremy:

Instagram: @jeremyvangsnes

YouTube: @JeremyVangsnes

In this episode of That's So Rad podcast, host Travis and guest Damon Luke explore their friendship and reflect on the impact of upbringing on personal growth. The two also talk about the significance of family support, and the challenges faced during childhood, particularly in the context of growing up in the Bronx without a father figure. The conversation highlights themes of resilience, creativity, and the importance of embracing life's challenges.

Damon also shares about his journey of personal growth shaped by the hard work of his mother and the influence of sports in his life. He reflects on the challenges he faced, his initial reluctance to stay committed to sports teams, and how he eventually embraced the philosophy of 'Do Damage'—a mantra and business idea that emphasizes hard work and dedication. The discussion also touches on the evolution of his brand and the importance of living out the values he teaches.

They share stories about a really cool t-shirt design inspired by Travis' brother Jeremy who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2009. They also recount a memorable 5k race involving Jeremy.

Damon recounts a serendipitous moment with his wife that led to a deeper understanding of life and faith. Damon emphasizes the transformative power of love and the importance of community and connection in navigating life's challenges. He reflects on the pursuit of peace and the significance of understanding others' stories as a means to foster connection and empathy.

Checkout Do Damage:

On Facebook and Instagram

Checkout Jeremy's website:

https://www.joyindespair.com/

In this episode of That's So Rad podcast, host Travis reunites with his friend Jeff Elden, exploring their shared experiences in St. Louis and their work in mental health. They talk beards, punk and ska music, "t-shirts with a twist" parties, and share funny stories and memories working together at a mental health agency near St. Louis.

The conversation highlights the importance of humor, authenticity, and connection in their professional roles, as well as memorable interactions with clients that shaped their experiences. Through laughter and shared stories, they reflect on the impact of their work and the friendships formed along the way.

Travis and Jeff reflect on their experiences using humor as a tool working with teens in a substance abuse program. They also share about their times helping kids through the SKUNKS program they created, emphasizing the importance of social skills, teamwork, and creativity. They share memorable moments from their time together, including the innovative activities they designed to engage kids and foster community.

Jeff and Travis also explore themes of individuality, creativity, community, and the importance of connection in both personal and professional realms. Jeff shares insights from his experiences in mental health and running a nonprofit, Atlas Youth Outreach, which focuses on supporting teens through mental health resources, group therapy, and community engagement.

They also discuss formative personal experiences, including creative endeavors and music, and how these things shaped their identities and perspectives on individuality and acceptance.

In this energetic kick-off episode of 'That's So Rad', host Travis reunites with his old high school classmate, Brett Henry after nearly 30 years. They haven't talked prior to this since their graduation in 1998! Travis and Brett share funny high school memories, talk everything from facial hair to North Dakota accents, and discuss the uniqueness of growing up in North Dakota and how their upbringing shaped their identities.

The two share about their personal journeys and explore the impact of humor and friendship (from a distance) in their lives this many years later. Brett discusses his transition from a career in hospitality to becoming a stay-at-home dad, while both reflect on the importance of legacy and the lessons learned over the years. They discuss the impact of sports, Brett's love of the Baltimore Orioles, fatherhood, and societal expectations on their lives.

The two also discuss personal growth, the importance of family time, and the bonds formed through parenting and humor. Brett reflects on his experiences with baseball as a means of connection and community, as well as the lessons learned from working in the hospitality industry. The conversation concludes with insights on maintaining a youthful spirit and the significance of staying true to oneself throughout life's journey.

In this trailer episode, Travis shares his vision for That's So Rad! podcast. He shares how one of the key antidotes in an era of so much much anger, polarization, disconnection, and epidemics of anxiety and loneliness is finding meaningful connection with each other as humans. That's exactly what this podcast attempts to do.

That's So Rad! he shares is about learning from others and through their life lessons. It's about gaining "a-ha" moments from great stories. It's about being inspired and learning from others' lives and life lessons. Everyone has something valuable to teach us with their lives and life experiences. It requires listening Travis says and points to former president of Yale, Dr. James R. Angell's timely quote when he said, “Grow antennae not horns.” 

Travis shares how stories have the power to shape us. This podcast he says is about learning, laughs, and leaving seeing our own life in new ways.