Rainer Ziehm has spent the last two decades at the intersection of entertainment, tech, and storytelling — launching studios, directing music videos, building toy worlds, making games, and basically saying “yes” to every weird creative rabbit hole you can imagine.

He’s directed and produced music videos tied to artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, J-Lo, Pearl Jam, Bob Marley, and he’s helped craft brand stories for giants like Coca-Cola, Nike, Disney, Sony, Honda, Absolut, McDonald’s, MTV, ESPN, and Oreo.

In this episode, we talk about what real creativity looks like in the age of AI: what “AI slop” actually is, how people are over-relying on tools, and where AI is genuinely powerful without replacing your voice.

Rainer breaks down how he thinks about craft, risk, career pivots, and staying curious when the whole internet is screaming “optimize.”

If you’re a creator, founder, or just someone wondering where all this is headed, this one’s going to hit you in the gut in the best way.

Hit follow on Spotify, drop a rating, and send this to the one creative friend who’s both obsessed with AI and secretly terrified of it.

This AMA Special has everything — chaos, confession, small-town drama — but the moment everyone will be talking about is Bill’s major announcement.

For the first time publicly, Bill shares that he’s officially stepping away from the food truck. Mitch already knew… but the audience didn’t. And hearing it said out loud hits way harder than expected. It’s honest, emotional, and a huge chapter shift in the TwoDads story.

After the announcement, we jump into your AMA questions — business, family, Mercer County nonsense, and some of the wildest hypotheticals you’ve ever thrown at us.

We’ve also got a full Mercer County rundown:

Craig Stammen’s promotion, the Moose takeover, Open Mic Night at Gilbert’s Station, new restaurants on the rise (and some we’ve lost), plus the eternal debate… are we a Walmart town?

And to close the episode, we hit the Local Legend Challenge, our charity game show where every question Bill gets right helps us donate to CALL Ministries for Thanksgiving.

Unfiltered. Honest. Small-town to the core.

This one feels big.

This week on the Two Dads Podcast, Mitch & Bill sit down with Tyler Schmitt, VP of Core Relationships at VaynerX and longtime right-hand to Gary Vaynerchuk.

We dive into Tyler’s journey from the early days at VaynerMedia to leading relationships across one of the most fast-paced media companies in the world. He shares the career lessons, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes insights he learned working directly with Gary Vee.

Then we crack open a world a lot of us grew up with — trading cards. From Pokémon to vintage sports legends, Tyler breaks down why the hobby has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar market, what makes certain cards worth thousands (or millions), and how nostalgia, scarcity, and culture are reshaping the industry.

Plus, we put Tyler and Bill to the test with two card-themed games — guessing real card values and ranking which collectibles are actually worth more.

Whether you’re into business, collectibles, or just great storytelling, this episode shows how passion and career can collide in surprising ways.

Big ideas from small towns. Enjoy the show.

Seth Lonsway grew up in Celina, Ohio — a small-town kid from Mercer County who’s now pitching in the San Francisco Giants organization.

But this episode isn’t about ERA’s or fastballs. It’s about leaving home, finding yourself, and learning what it really means to carry your roots with you.

We talk about growing up in Mercer County, the pride and pressure that come with it, facing loss, and the grind of chasing something bigger than yourself. Seth opens up about the journey, the mindset, and what keeps him grounded no matter how far from home he gets.

This one’s real, raw, and full of heart — the story of a hometown kid learning how to make it in a big world.

From Coldwater, Ohio to building one of the most talked-about small-town success stories in the state, Adam Rammel has spent his life proving that where you’re from doesn’t limit where you can go. As the co-founder of Brewfontaine, co-owner of The Syndicate, and VP of Marketing at Small Nation, Adam’s work has turned Bellefontaine into a destination — but what makes his story powerful isn’t the titles, it’s the mindset.

In this episode, Mitch and Bill sit down with Adam to talk about the real side of building something meaningful — from navigating fear to staying authentic when everyone’s chasing attention. It’s a deep conversation about purpose, leadership, and how to recharge when you’re carrying more than most people realize.

This one’s not just about business. It’s about believing in where you’re from, betting on yourself, and finding peace in what you build.

From cross-legged gaming nights on the carpet to billion-dollar stages — gaming didn’t just grow, it built community.

This week, we sit down with Darren Glover, Senior VP of Gaming at VaynerSports (Gary Vee’s crew), to unpack how gaming evolved from living-room fun into one of the most powerful connection points in culture for ANY brand.

Darren shares how creators, brands, and small businesses can all build loyal audiences by leading with authenticity, storytelling, and trust. We talk childhood roots, Twitch’s rise, mobile gaming, and the universal lesson behind it all — community beats everything.

Whether you’re streaming online or serving food from a truck like us, this one’s about building something real — one fan, one follower, one friend at a time.

Before the Pro Bowl. Before the contract. Before the Cleveland Browns ever called his name — Joe Schobert was just a small-town kid from Wisconsin who showed up every single day and didn’t care who was watching.

From walk-on to captain, from overlooked to NFL Pro Bowler, Joe’s story is pure grit. We talk surviving the Browns, the mental side of the game, what it’s really like learning NFL defenses, and how you keep showing up when everything around you’s chaos.

It’s funny, honest, and packed with those hard-earned lessons every guy can relate to — work, pride, identity, and figuring out who you are when the pads come off.

From small-town Ohio to the cage, Jake Lee’s story isn’t just about wins and losses — it’s about purpose, pain, and the fight to become someone greater.

With a 3-4 amateur record and a relentless drive to keep swinging, Jake opens up about his journey — from growing up in Wapakoneta to finding his way into MMA, the grind of training, and the mental battle that comes with stepping into the cage.

We talk about what it really means to chase this lifestyle, the sacrifices behind the scenes, the highs and lows that come with it, and the reality of fighting in front of your hometown crowd.

And on October 25th, Jake steps back into the ring at the Shipyard Showdown inside the Shipyard Sports & Events Center — fighting not just for a win, but for pride, redemption, and home.

🎙 Plus, we lighten things up with a new segment: Who Would You Punch in the Face? — where Jake dishes out who (or what) deserves a friendly jab.

The Life of a Fighter. The Mind of a Man. The Heart of a General.

In this episode, we sit down (digitally!) with baseball creator and podcast host Jake Savicki — the guy who’s built a brand by doing what he loves and not overthinking it. From his viral baseball commentary and Hold My Ball podcast to working with MLB stars, Jake has mastered the art of creating without fear — posting what feels right, staying authentic, and trusting his instincts.

We talk about how he found his lane in baseball media, his rise through social platforms, and what it really takes to build something meaningful when you stop chasing perfection. It’s about passion, persistence, and the freedom that comes from not giving a frick what anyone thinks.

This was our first-ever digital interview, and it shows us just how far we’ve come — and how much room there still is to grow. Jake had to hop off to go live mid-show, so we kept it raw, fast-paced, and real — the way good conversations should be.

Tune in for laughs, lessons, and a behind-the-scenes look at a creator who’s redefining what it means to build your own path in the game.

Episode 33 of the TwoDads Podcast is one you don’t want to miss.

We sit down with Mayor Jeff Hazel of Celina, Ohio — a man who’s been leading since 2012 through some of the town’s biggest challenges: toxic algal blooms on Grand Lake St. Marys, a heroin epidemic that shook families, and even an EF3 tornado. At the same time, he’s been driving upgrades to the lakefront, schools, and utilities — all while running Hazelnut Coffeehouse with his wife.

This isn’t a political interview. It’s about what it actually feels like to carry a community through crisis, the emotional toll of public service, and the entrepreneurial courage it takes to risk failure and keep going. Jeff talks about what it’s like being the guy who sees people in the grocery store, who’s not always the most popular, but still has to make tough calls for everyone’s future.

We also lighten things up with our signature TwoDads game show — Mayor or Malarkey — where Jeff and Bill battle it out over real vs. ridiculous mayor duties.

By the end, you’ll walk away with a new appreciation for small-town leadership, and the very real people behind it.

👉 Subscribe, drop a comment, and let us know: could YOU handle being Mayor for a Day?