Mike Donehey - musical recording artist, songwriter, author, podcast host, and founding member of the band Tenth Avenue North - joins the podcast to share how he finds God in the unexpected places. During his senior year in high school, on the way to a soccer game, Mike was in a life-threatening car accident. As a result of being laid up on his back for months, Mike learned how to play guitar - giving birth to a new career path, and eventually one of the most loved and successful bands in Christian music, Tenth Avenue North. Following the band's mutual separation in 2020, Mike launched the Chasing the Beauty Podcast and his solo music career. We discuss the process of surrendering control of his success, being a dad, and the birth of his new album, Flourish, out of a dark season. Lastly, Mike breaks down a unique revelation that was the driving force behind his first book: rather than ask "What is God's will for my life?", we should think and pray about how God's life can come affect our will. 

Connect with Mike: 

- on Instagram: @mikedonehey 

- on Twitter: @mikedonehey 

- on the web: mikedonehey.com 

- on the mic: Chasing the Beauty Podcast 

Finding God's Life for My Will by Mike Donehey 

Mike's new solo album, "Flourish" 

Referenced:

How To Train Birds

How To Own a Baseball Team

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell 

Take Back Your Family by Jefferson Bethke 

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Bill Baker, well-known and loved Architect, Principal, and Owner at MSA Design - a national architecture, interior, and graphic design firm in Cincinnati, Ohio - joins the podcast to expand on his most-frequented piece of wisdom: "Do good work". With over 25 years of professional experience in the field of architecture, Bill knows a thing or two about the design, as well as the business side of creating buildings with an enduring impact on their surrounding communities. Under the umbrella of MSA, Bill: leads the MSA Sport team - a division of MSA Design responsible for multiple indoor and outdoor athletic venues for colleges, cities, high schools, and professional sports teams throughout the nation, serves clients in the K-12, Higher Education, and Community markets, and is also the Executive Host of the Building Ideas Podcast. Being a native of the small central Ohio town of Sparta, he has never been one to do anything halfway. And his reflection on the lessons he has learned from his experiences, including a battle with cancer, is nothing short of powerful. With some good laughs and "saucy" language, Bill encourages us with the fact that "life is not meant to be easy... it's meant to make you better."

Connect with Bill:

- on Instagram: @wswbaker

- on Twitter: @cincybake

- at MSA Design: www.msaarch.com

- on the mic: Building Ideas Podcast: A Production of MSA Design

Historical Hoover Dam pipe photo

"Cancer Can Suck It" Blog

"Cancer on $5 a Day" by Richard Schimmel

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Kim Nuxhall, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League, joins the podcast to tell the powerful story and mission behind his father's legacy projects. For those who don't know, Kim's dad - Joe Nuxhall - was the youngest player to ever pitch in the MLB, at the ripe age of 15. After his professional baseball career, Joe joined Marty Brennaman in the radio broadcast booth for the Cincinnati Reds, forming a dynamic 37-year duo that has gone unmatched to this day. Joe brought energy, honesty, and an unapologetic joy to the radio that the entire Cincinnati community embraced. After his passing in 2007, his son Kim led the charge in creating the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League in 2012 - which aims to revolutionize and set the standard for creating recreational and athletic opportunities for people with disabilities. With two rubber baseball fields, a unique putt putt course, and more, the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League aims to provide "every individual with every challenge every chance to play the game of baseball".

Connect with Kim and the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League:

The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League

- Volunteer: www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/volunteer

- Donate: www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/donate

"COVID Still Can't" Campaign

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Sarah McKinney, a third-generation realtor and your future "Home Girl" in Colorado Springs, joins the podcast to share stories of how God has operated in her life. Through a tragic injury that severely disabled her father, giving birth to a baby diagnosed with Down syndrome, and being marginalized in today's "woke" culture, Sarah reveals the lessons she has learned by allowing her faith to be refined by fire. As a mother of three, she has learned the virtues of honesty, patience, and passion - all shining through our conversation today as she breaks down what her kids, and God, have been teaching her. In the midst of tragedy and triumph, Sarah encourages us to boil our circumstances down to simply finding God.

Connect with Sarah:

- on Instagram: @southcoshomes

- on Facebook: Sarah McKinney

- website: springshomesfinders.com

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Katie Spotz, world class endurance athlete and charitable ambassador, joins the podcast to explain the difference between discipline and motivation. Well seasoned in incredible feats of athleticism, Katie has been given the informal nickname (by us) of "the female David Goggins" with one catch - she's happy! Through rowing across the entire Atlantic Ocean, running 30 miles every day for 11 days in a row across the state of Ohio, and cycling across the entirety of the United States, she has learned a thing or two about pain. In finding the depths of the pain cave and the heights of the runners high, Katie has calloused her mind to handle hard emotions as they come. But why does she do it? Fueled by her faith and relentless pursuit of the open frontier, Katie strives to bring awareness to a big problem in this world - over 1 billion people do not have access to clean water. Every adventure she embarks on represents a new fundraiser to provide true life to those who don't have it, through the gift of clean drinking water. Katie leaves us with the belief that when it comes to adventures or goals we want to pursue - we don't have to be fearless, we just have to try.

Connect with Katie: 

- on Instagram: @katiespotz 

- on Twitter: @KatieSpotz 

- on Facebook: Katie Spotz 

- website: katiespotz.com 

H20 for Life 

Ugandan Water Project 

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones. 

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Pete Nelson, CEO and Founder of his design and build firm, Nelson Treehouse & Supply, joins the podcast to take us "to the trees". Based in Fall City, Washington with his incredible family and crew, Nelson Treehouse has built more than 350 treehouses all around the world. On top of that, their work was featured on the hit TV show, "Treehouse Masters", for 11 seasons on Animal Planet. Pete and his team have had wonderful opportunities to create unique and exciting spaces for many well-known celebrities, but more importantly, they have created structures in the trees that naturally bring people together. Throughout his more than 30 years of experience in treehouse building, Pete informs us of the great joy, peace, and wonder that comes from spending more time outdoors. He also explains his journey of opening up Treehouse Point, a unique bed-and-breakfast, owned and operated by his family. And lastly, in the midst of whatever pursuit you are in, he leaves us with the encouragement us to "just do it" - embracing every hard moment and project that we can.

Connect with Pete:

- on Instagram: @treehousepete | @treehousepoint

- on Twitter: @TheTreehouseMan

- on Facebook: @TreeHousePoint

- website: nelsontreehouse.com | treehousepoint.com

- Referenced Treehouse Utopia: treehouseutopia.com

- Referenced Tedx Talk: Build More Treehouses! | Pete Nelson | TedxFargo

- Referenced TV Series "Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers": Follow Your Bliss | Full Series

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Dr. Eric Simoncelli, PT, DPT, a trained physical therapist by day, and avid investor in people all the time, joins the podcast. Grounded in a strong faith, Dr. Eric believes that people are what matter most; and regardless of what he does for a living, he believes that investing in people is his supreme gift. Inspired by author Simon Sinek, along with his parents, we discuss the principle of finding your "why" instead of "what" you want to do in life. This unfolds into a conversation about priorities, boundaries, the “infinite game” concept, and the value of mentorship/community. We also went off the rails a bit into Eric's time working as a bullpen catcher for the AAA Buffalo Bisons for 5 seasons. Through this experience, we peel back the layers of what sports fandom really looks like from the other side and how we can approach athletes - and honestly, ALL people - with more empathy and grace.

Connect with Eric:

- on Instagram: @simonsays021

- on Twitter: @Simonsays021

- for physical therapy: Premier Physical Therapy

Referenced D'Youville Baseball

Referenced Simon Sinek - "Start With Why" TedTalk

Referenced Toronto Blue Jays AAA Affiliate - Buffalo Bisons

Buffalo News Article: "Learning Behind the Plate" by Amy Moritz

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Dr. Billy Pohl, Christian Studies teacher and fellow assistant baseball coach at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, joins the podcast to discuss what rejecting passivity looks like. Rooted in an astounding memorization of Scripture, and fueled by faith, Billy's passion infects everybody he comes across. Whether he is teaching in his classroom, coaching on a baseball field, or at home with his wife and kids, Billy GETS AFTER IT and refuses to settle for passive rhythms. For those far along in their walk with God, and those who are still tinkering with it, this conversation strips the Gospel down to its bones - allowing all of us to look back at the life of Jesus, and think about how we might respond.

Connect with Dr. Pohl:

- CHCA Book Press Release

- Ethical God-Talk in the Book of Job: Speaking to the Almighty

Connect with the CHCA Eagles Baseball Team:

- on Instagram: @chca_eagles_baseball

- on Twitter: @CHCABaseball

- website: CHCA Boys Varsity Baseball

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Andrew Brock and Will Murphy, a.k.a. "The Rooftop Boys" from the 2021 DIII Ohio State Champion CHCA Eagles Baseball Team, join the podcast to invite us into the wild ride that was their 2021 season. After losing their entire 2020 spring season to COVID-19, it would be fair to assume that this team was hungry to get back on the diamond. With a talented roster, strong collection of offseason workouts, and a chip on their shoulder, the CHCA Eagles had only one goal - win the whole freaking thing. Joined by their senior captain, Alex Moffitt, these stallions discuss some themes and lessons learned while overcoming the adversity they faced along their journey to State - most notably the #NeverDone mentality that carried them throughout it all.

Connect with Andrew, Will, and Alex:

- on Instagram: @abrock17 @_will.murphy @alex.moffitt20

Connect with the CHCA Eagles Baseball Team:

- on Instagram: @chca_eagles_baseball

- on Twitter: @CHCABaseball

- website: CHCA Boys Varsity Baseball

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones.

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support

Robert Jackson, former defensive back for Central Michigan University and the Cincinnati Bengals, joins the podcast to share stories from his days playing football. His work ethic, high energy, and bulldog mentality on the gridiron earned him Hall-of-Fame recognition from CMU in the induction class of 1990. This strong mindset impressed the Cincinnati Bengals enough to draft him with their 11th round selection in the 1980 NFL Draft, giving Robert the opportunity to be on the Bengals roster for Super Bowl XVI. Now retired, Robert spends most of his time on the golf course and more importantly, pouring into the younger generation as a part of "fitONE!" - a training program at Personal Trainers World in Blue Ash, Ohio that aims to assist young men and women with developmental disabilities to overcome their mental and physical obstacles. Through his time on a football field and now in the gym, Robert has learned and continues to teach us the priceless value of giving others a chance, and a place, within their communities. 

Find Robert: 

- leading the fitONE! Program at Personal Trainers World on Monday nights 

- in the Central Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 

- on a local golf course in the Cincinnati, Ohio area 

All music for this episode has been provided by Midnite Jones. 

Support: anchor.fm/whybepassive/support