The TwoDads Podcast

Don Kemper has spent his life in places where standards matter.

He’s the President of Midwest Specialties, a longtime referee, and a former commissioner of the Midwest Athletic Conference — which means he’s made tough calls in real time… while everyone in the building thinks they’re right.

In this episode, we don’t do a résumé rundown. We pull the thinking out of Don: what leadership actually is, how you earn opportunity before it shows up, what separates talent from results, and how strong cultures are built (and broken)

We also get into the real stuff — staying sharp for the long run, handling stress, and the routines that keep your mind and body in the game.

And yes… we’re trying some new things too — including a Community Mailbag moment that somehow turns into a lasagna debate.

If you’re trying to level up at work, as a leader, or just as a person — this one’s for you.

Today’s episode is about stepping into responsibility — sometimes while you’re still figuring it out in real time.

This week, we’re joined by Alex Schmiesing from Globus Printing — a Minster, Ohio–based, multi-generation company that’s been manufacturing books and printed products for decades, and still doing it at a high level today.

Alex and his brother are stepping into a leadership role that was passed down — from his grandfather, to his dad, and now to him. And we get into what that really feels like when you’re inheriting not just a business, but a legacy and expectations that don’t come with an instruction manual.

We talk about what it’s like to grow into that seat, why it’s okay not to have every answer right away, and how leadership shifts when you’re also becoming a parent at the same time.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of responsibility while you’re still learning — this one’s for you.

New year energy matters — and this episode brings exactly that.

We’re joined by Jackie Arling, owner of Brick Haus Salon & Spa, for a conversation that goes way beyond hair. Jackie has built a space where independent, self-employed stylists can grow their own businesses while still being part of something bigger — and that comes with real lessons on leadership, customer service, and standards.

In this New Year’s episode, we talk about:

• How to build the right clientele (not just more clients)

• Why the people you surround yourself with — customers, partners, teammates — matter more than ever

• Managing expectations in a service industry where emotions run high

• Letting go of control while still protecting your reputation

If you’re heading into the new year thinking about growth, energy, and who you want around you, this conversation will hit home.

🎁 Bonus ask: If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to follow us on Spotify — it helps us grow and bring more conversations like this your way.

Happy New Year from the Two Dads Podcast.

With Christmas here and schedules packed, we wanted to drop a shorter bonus episode you can knock out on a drive, during a workout, or while wrapping gifts.

In this conversation, we sit down with Brad Smith for a real, low-pressure talk about habits, health, and momentum as we head into the new year. This isn’t about having everything figured out or making some massive overnight change — it’s about thinking differently, starting smaller, and giving yourself permission to experiment instead of waiting for the perfect plan.

We talk about:

• Why most goals fall apart after January

• How to approach habits when life is busy and messy

• The idea of permission — not quitting everything, but starting something

• Simple ways to think about health heading into the next year

If you’re feeling reflective, a little tired, and still hopeful about what’s next — this one’s for you.

🔗 Brad Smith — 90 for 90+ Links

Want to follow Brad’s “90 for 90+” journey and what he’s building with AgeLess Live More?

• Website: https://agelesslivemore.co/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/AgeLessLiveMore.co

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brad_n_smith

• Contact Brad: [email protected]

🎁 Bonus ask: If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to follow us on Spotify, subscribe on YouTube, and follow on Apple Podcasts. It helps us more than you know.

Merry Christmas — and let’s roll into the new year with a little more clarity and a lot less pressure

Josh Werling is St. Henry through and through. He grew up there, played on the 2006 state title team, and this year came back as head coach to lead the Redskins to their first state championship since ’06 — snapping Marion Local’s legendary win streak along the way.

But this isn’t just a football episode. Josh is also an optometrist at Mercer In-Sight in Celina, a small-town business owner, a husband, a dad, and a man of faith trying to juggle all of it while an entire community is watching. We talk about what it really feels like to carry that kind of weight — family, business, faith, football — and still try to come home as a present, normal human being.

If you’re 25–45, trying to balance work, kids, expectations, and your own sanity, this one is for you — even if you don’t care about Cover 3. We get into pressure, doubt, leadership, time, and what this state title run can teach anyone who’s trying to build a life they’re proud of in a small town.

Today on the Two Dads Podcast, we’re joined by Kirk “Kirby” Stucke, the Head PGA Professional at the Mercer County Elks Golf Course and the man steering one of the biggest transformations in local golf history.

We get into everything — growing up in Mercer County, becoming a PGA Pro, running a golf course out of a temporary cart-barn clubhouse, balancing family life with 15-hour golf days, and what the brand-new Elks clubhouse will mean for the community.

But don’t worry… this isn’t just a golf episode.
We dive into the hilarious misconceptions about PGA pros, the grind behind managing a course, weird things Kirk has seen on the fairways, and how youth golf & NIL is growing in our area.

Plus: we play our new game show “Is That Really a PGA Rule?”
(It turns out golf rules are way more ridiculous than anyone realized.)

Whether you’re a golfer, a local, or someone who loves a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode is packed with laughs, leadership moments, and Mercer County gold.

Click here to watch our Viral Video

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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.