Kristie Ondracek, CFO and COO at TXCPA Houston, talks about her passion for paper crafting, specifically card making and scrapbooking. Kristie shares how she began crafting in high school and has since embraced the creative process, which she finds essential for both personal expression and enhancing her problem-solving skills at work. She highlights the joy she experiences from bringing a smile to others with her custom cards, reflecting on memorable projects, including cherished moments crafting with her late mother. As a leader, Kristie emphasizes the importance of creating space for employees to share their passions and encourages organizations to value their human capital. Through her experiences, she illustrates how this creative hobby has fostered a unique and effective approach to leadership and professional challenges.

Episode Highlights

· Kristie emphasizes the importance of thinking outside the box and being creative in problem-solving, which is enhanced by her hobby of card-making and scrapbooking.
· She talks about how her crafting hobbies have helped her stay sane and bring joy to others, illustrating the importance of balancing work with personal passions.
· Kristie highlights the need for leaders to be involved with their team beyond work-related performance, suggesting that understanding personal interests can boost productivity and morale.
· She believes it’s crucial for leaders to create environments where employees feel safe to express themselves and speak up, benefiting both individual and organizational growth.
· Kristie shares her journey toward becoming more open and authentic about who she is and what she loves, demonstrating the power of self-acceptance and sharing one's true self with others.

Joel Zeff shares his journey from being a newspaper reporter to a successful keynote speaker and author. Joel describes his transformative experience with improv, which he discovered after moving to Dallas for a job as a newspaper reporter. Despite the challenges he faced when the newspaper closed, Joel explored stand-up comedy and eventually joined an improv troupe, which opened doors for him to merge his passion for improv with presentations at his corporate job. He emphasizes the importance of following one's passions and how improv has taught him valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and communication. Throughout the conversation, Joel highlights the significance of laughter in building connections and improving corporate culture. His insights provide a compelling story of how passion can transform into a fulfilling career.

Episode Highlights

· Joel found his passion for improv when he was invited on stage during a performance. It was a life-changing moment for him.
· Losing his newspaper job led Joel to explore comedy and improv, which eventually became his career path.
· Joel emphasizes the importance of not keeping work and passion separate, as opportunities like Texas Instruments requesting his improv skills for an executive retreat helped shape his career.
· He believes that making people laugh bonds and connects them, and even if his talks achieve only that, it's worthwhile.
· Joel stresses the importance of figuring out what you love and would do for free, as it can lead to unexpected career opportunities and fulfillment.

In this episode of "What's Your 'And'?," John Garrett welcomes Rick Goodmay, the Director of Client Relations at ICM Colorado. Rick shares how his passion for smoking meat and cheese serves as his creative outlet and how it fosters community both in his personal life and at work. Inspired by a coworker, he got into the art of smoking to enjoy and share larger quantities of delicious food. Rick emphasizes the importance of understanding the interests of coworkers and clients to build stronger relationships. He recounts heartwarming stories from his Italian upbringing that highlight the significance of food in bringing people together. Rick continues to spread joy and connection through his culinary talents, even making a point to smoke food with others at the office.

Episode Highlights

• Utilizing hobbies to build relationships: Rick emphasized how his interest in smoking meats and cheeses helped him connect with coworkers and clients, fostering a sense of community.

• Keeping traditions alive: Rick highlighted the importance of continuing family traditions, such as cooking and sharing meals, which play a significant role in his life and personal identity.

• Cold smoking: Rick shared his technique of cold smoking, a method for smoking cheeses without melting them, adding a unique skill set to his hobby.

• Workplace culture: Rick spoke about the supportive and family-like culture at his workplace, stressing the importance of genuine care and check-ins among colleagues for a safer, more cohesive environment.

• Importance of sharing your passions: Rick encouraged listeners to share their passions with others, noting that even if some people aren't interested, there will always be others who are, and these shared interests can build meaningful connections.

Nayo Carter-Gray, CEO & Founder of 1st Step Accounting, talks about her passion for paper crafting, creating crafts for others in the office, and how it helps hone her attention to detail and develop relationships with clients and co-workers!

Bolanle Williams-Olley, CFO & Partner at Mancini Duffy, talks about discovering her passion for creating NGO organizations and planning birthday parties and why she feels it is important to have something to be passionate about outside of the office!

Kenneth Omoruyi, a Managing Partner of CKO CPAs & Advisors, talks about how he discovered his passion for playing saxophone, inspiring other students to start playing saxophone, and connecting with others as a musician!

Jessica Elizabeth McClain talks about how she discovered her passion for bodybuilding, how it has influenced her husband, and helped establish a support system and closer bonds at the workplace!

Sarah Campbell Arnett talks about discovering letters and photos that led to her passion for learning about her family’s genealogy, why it is important to have something that inspires you outside of work, and so much more!

Shawn Parikh, Founder and CEO of Entigrity Solutions LLC., talks about his passion for playing Cricket and Tennis, and how he finds time to do activities with his family on a regular basis!

Robina Bennion talks about finding her passion for painting, how her art and feeling off the energy of others go together, becoming a “wealth doula” and much more!

Dave Skuodas, Watershed Manager at Mile High Flood District, talks about how he discovered his passion for photography & videography, applying these skills to his presentations in the office, and what he feels is needed for a good work culture!

Lei Testa, a Managing Partner at Averett Financial, talks about her passion for knitting, knitting blankets for people in the office, and how her knitting has improved her planning skills in her career!

Ken Healy, a partner at Diversified Financial Solutions, PC., talks about how his colleagues at work got him into rental property management, volunteering for his community, and how his experience from this helps him with creating and managing connections in the office!

Carla Youngblood, a CPA by day and comedian by night, shares insights from her journey into comedy that began at a talent show. She reflects on her experience performing at a bar, where she learned the importance of engaged audiences for successful comedy. Carla discusses how her natural talent for humor, honed from family gatherings, positively influences her workplace, making her more relatable and engaging. She emphasizes the importance of showcasing personal interests at work, advocating for spaces where colleagues can share their passions. Carla also recounts her memorable performance for the Funeral Association of Alabama and her impactful one-woman show, "The Truth About Breast Cancer."

Episode Highlights

· Carla advocates for sharing hobbies at work, believing it enhances workplace dynamics and personal connections.

· Transitioning to speaking engagements, using humor to address serious topics like her breast cancer journey and connecting with other cancer survivors.

· Humor has positively influenced her professional life, making her a more engaging and relatable colleague.

· She encourages listeners to share their 'Ands' (personal interests) to create a more authentic and enjoyable work environment.

Shannon Weinstein, owner of Fitnancial Solutions, talks about finding her passion for fitness and dancing, how she integrated it into her work as an accountant, and how she found ways for her organization to encourage people to be open about their passions!

Sullivan Finlay, a Senior Accountant at Salesforce, talks about his passion for improv comedy, how it has improved his skills in his career as an accountant, and why it’s so important to have a work culture that is open to people expressing their passions!

Christie Boriack, an interior designer at Angeline Guido Design, talks about her passion for building genuine social connections, how it helps in her career, and why she feels you should simply embrace the awkwardness of meeting new people!

Michael Durant, a Senior Tax Associate at Prager Metis CPAs LLC, returns to the podcast from episode 186 to talk about how he began working with financial literacy awareness programs, his recent hobby of playing chess, and how the pandemic has made many people pursue new hobbies!

Chris Hervochon, owner of Better Way CPA, talks about his passion for golfing, his college golfing career, and how his experience in golf has helped him in his career as a CPA and entrepreneur! He also talks about the importance of establishing connections with co-workers in a virtual environment!

Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, LinkedIn Marketing Unicorn & Edutainer at Think Natalia, talks about her multiple “Ands”, why she has a passion in pursuing so many new ventures, and how that has helped her stand out in her career! She also talks about why a company’s culture is easier to influence from the top!

Benson Babu, a physician at Good Samaritan, talks about his passion for landscape photography, how he applies his photography skills to his career, and why it is important to connect with his patients at a human level!

Amiee Keenan, founder of The ISV Society, talks about her passion for health & fitness, how it improves her performance in the office, and how she has developed relationships in the office through her passion!

Crystal Shin returns to the podcast from episode 211 to talk about some of her latest creative projects and how she has seen a difference in workplace culture since the pandemic!

Gabe Messercola, Asset Manager of EDF Renewables, talks about his passion for expeditionary mountaineering, how it has helped improve his leadership skills in the office, and much more!

Malony Bartush, Director of HR Communications at Pentex Energy, delves into her passion for running and its impact on her professional life. She shares an inspiring anecdote about her running group’s extraordinary camaraderie, including a heartfelt story of members running extra miles for others who can't run that day. 

Malony discusses how this supportive mindset permeates her HR role, helping foster a motivated workplace culture. She highlights her popular "Mile-A-Day Challenge," an initiative that has extended to over 200 participants, promoting perseverance and mental strength.

Additionally, Malony emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal interests in enhancing both individual job satisfaction and organizational culture. Join us to hear Malony’s insights on balancing professional dedication with an enriching personal life.

Episode Highlights

· Her running group offers a strong sense of community and support, with members encouraging each other to achieve personal goals.

· The perseverance and drive from running translate into Malony's HR role, aiding her during challenging times.

· At Pentex Energy, a culture of support and encouragement for sharing personal interests leads to better productivity and job satisfaction.

· This personal Mile-A-Day Challenge has grown to over 200 participants, highlighting the mental and physical benefits of consistent effort.

· Embracing one's true self and hobbies leads to better workplace connections and overall satisfaction.

Jen Todling, an Audit Partner at EY, talks about her passion for dancing and how she feels it helps her perform better at her career, how she established an identity at the workplace with her passion, and how she encourages her co-workers to open about their own passions!

Braughm Ricke talks about his passion for building cars, how it relates to building a company, and why it is important to have something to focus on outside of your work!

Jervis DiCicco, CEO and Co-founder of ProsperBridge, talks about his passion for caving, the risks associated with it, and how that has helped him with handling risks in the workplace. He also talks about how intense situations can be bring people closer and why it is important to help activate people’s passions at work!

Iralma Pozo talks about her passion for wellness and brewing tea, how it helps her in her career as a CPA, and much more!

Mayur Vyas returns to the podcast from episode 221 to talk about his new passion in CrossFit! He also talks about why it is good to have a passion outside of work and why you should be encouraged to share it with others!

Ford Baker, CEO and Founder of BaCo Tech, talks about how his poor health led him towards discovering his passion for cycling and how it has improved his life personally and in the workplace! Ford also talks about how he tries to encourage his organization to take more time off and lead a healthier lifestyle as well as how this led him to create his own accounting system to improve productivity and free up time for employees!

Brian Dubow talks about how he discovered his passion for running endurance marathons, how it has helped him with his overall perspective and connecting with people in the workplace, and what type 2 fun means!

Geraldine Carter, owner of She Thinks Big Coaching, talks about her passion for traveling, how it runs in her family, some of her favorite trips, and how her experiences traveling play a role in her management style!

Dan de Roulet, Co-Founder of Knowify, LLC., talks about how he discovered his passion for Judo, getting his kids involved with it, and how it has helped him develop resilience in being an entrepreneur running a business!

Kylie returns to the podcast to talk about her recent projects, turning her hobby into a business of its own, prospecting accounting clients from her interior design business, and much more!

Franky Lopez, a senior accountant at BMSS Advisors and CPAs, shares his passion for competitive TV shows. Franky dives into his love for "Survivor," "Big Brother," and "The Challenge," as well as game shows like "Wheel of Fortune" and "Deal or No Deal." And let's not forget the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

Growing up, his family frequently watched these shows together, which fostered his competitive spirit and interest in people's stories. Franky also recounts the excitement of putting in applications to be a contestant and his family's near-appearance on "Family Feud" a few years ago.

He emphasizes how these interests help him connect with colleagues and build deeper relationships at work. Tune in to hear how Franky's unique hobbies impact his professional life and personal growth.

Episode Highlights

· Franky loves watching competition shows like Survivor, Big Brother, The Challenge, and game shows like Wheel of Fortune with his family, which was a significant bonding activity growing up.

· He appreciates these shows not just for the competition but also for the personal stories of the participants, which make them more relatable and engaging.

· Sharing his interest in competition shows at work helped him connect with colleagues, leading to activities like a Survivor Fantasy League with 20 participants.

· Franky believes it’s crucial for organizations to create a culture where employees can share their personal interests and connect beyond work-related topics, fostering a supportive and engaging work environment.

· He emphasized the importance of having supportive relationships at work, sharing a personal story of how his colleagues supported him during his father’s illness and passing.

Tim Barr talks about how he discovered ultrarunning, why he got into it, and how it has helped shape his perspective when tackling issues at the office! Tim also talks about how his office promotes discussions outside of work among coworkers.

Kaitlyn Kirkhart, CCO of BaCo Tech, talks about discovering her passion for traveling, how she is known for her passion in the workplace, and how she realized why it is so important to have a hobby as a professional!

Casey Hill talks about his passion for board games and how building his own board games have made him better at handling business and relationships in the office. John and Casey also talk about the many ups and downs of running your own business the process of creating and selling your own product!

Mark Menezes, talks about his passions for playing piano and stand-up comedy. He also talks about how easy it is to relate to co-workers through these hobbies whether they share them or not and how the skills from playing music and comedy help with his career!

Amanda Wilkie returns to the podcast from episode 193 to talk about how her life both personally and professionally have changed in the last year! She also tells us about some new hobbies, with her being better at some than others! 

Abbey Kanellakis, a Senior Manager at Rea & Associates, talks about how she discovered her passion for gardening, when she realized being herself at work can benefit her career, forming The Committee of Awesomeness, and much more!

Rob Rastovich, CTO of ThingLogix, talks about being brought up and taking over his family’s ranch that has been passed down for many generations and how he navigates between the two vastly different worlds of being a rancher and a technologist! He also talks about the reaction he gets when people in the office find out that he is a rancher and how it encourages them to open up about their passions!

Stephen King, President and CEO of GrowthForce, talks about his experience as a concert promoter and how it plays a role in his career in accounting today! He also talks about how gardening and running a business are similar!

Mike Brand of BMSS, LLC talks about his passion for cooking and eating good food, how he connects with people through his passion for good food, and how BMSS encourages its employees to connect with each other outside of their professions!

Stephanie Campigotto, a Director at PwC, talks about how she found her passion for woodworking, building her own furniture, how these skills apply to her job as an accountant, and how where you live plays a major role in company culture!

Wendy Walker, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Sovos, shares her passion for quilting and running. Wendy reveals how she began quilting eight years ago to connect with her mom, utilizing pictures and video calls to collaborate from different states. She discusses the therapeutic and creative aspects of quilting, highlighting its significance as a stress reliever and a source of personal fulfillment.

Wendy also touches on her initial reluctance about sharing her quilting hobby with colleagues, and how embracing it helped display her multifaceted personality beyond her professional role. She encourages listeners to pursue hobbies for personal satisfaction and to integrate these interests into their work life for a balanced and enriched experience.

Lastly, Wendy talks about how personal interests can positively impact professional relationships and corporate culture by fostering creativity and open-mindedness.

Episode Highlights

· Revealing personal hobbies and interests helps positively impact professional relationships and dispel stereotypes.

· Personal items like quilts can spark conversations with colleagues, fostering connections.

· Individuals should pursue personal interests for their own joy and not be deterred by fear of judgment.

· Balancing personal hobbies with professional life enriches interactions, relieves stress, and enhances overall creativity and job satisfaction.

Rachel Fisch, Chief Global Development Officer at High Rock Accounting, and the former co-host of the Green Apple Slices podcast, returns to talk to John about the changes in people sharing their hobbies and passions more since the pandemic and much more!

James Sinclair, co-founder and CEO of Enterprise Alumni, talks about why he feels it is important to have a hobby or passion that gets you away from your work, how he found working with animals as his passion, and much more!

Kace Phillips, the co-founder of RBA, talks about his passion for music and live concerts and how this passion has given him many unintentional networking opportunities! He also talks about the importance of great company culture and how that affects the quality of work and client experience!