Alvin Hartono, a lifelong gamer and program manager at Google, shares how his love for gaming began with Pokémon Gold on the Game Boy Color and has evolved alongside advances in technology. He explains how early gaming taught him resilience, problem-solving, and self-directed learning, all skills that have translated to his professional career. Alvin Hartono reveals that once he started talking about his passion for gaming during job interviews, it helped him stand out and connect with others more authentically. He notes that many workplaces now foster community through gaming tournaments and dedicated channels for sharing interests, which enhance social connection, especially in remote settings. Alvin Hartono encourages listeners to embrace and share their passions, believing these interests reveal more about a person than their job title. He advocates starting conversations by asking about hobbies, as people light up when discussing what they love outside of work.

Episode Highlights

· Growing up gaming fostered resilience, curiosity, and a love for learning by encouraging continual trial and error and problem-solving without much guidance.
· Modern games are increasingly designed with tutorials and gamification to keep players engaged and coming back daily, which can be addictive but also rewarding.
· Gaming sparked an interest in computers and programming, leading directly to career skills, including early experience in customization, automation, and understanding software.
· Sharing personal passions like gaming in professional settings can create authentic connections, help in job interviews, and allow you to stand out by showing a fuller picture of who you are.
· It's important to own your passions and lead conversations by asking about hobbies and interests outside of work, as these reveal more about who people truly are and help create more genuine connections.

Beth Goff-McMillan, CEO of SKG, joins the podcast to share how her love of wandering and exploring the world began in childhood road trips across the United States, sparking a lifelong curiosity about people and places. She highlights the value she finds in observing human connection, whether in small towns or across continents, and how these experiences help her relate to others and ask deeper questions at work. Beth recalls a transformative solo adventure in South Africa, where she discovered that people everywhere share the same basic desires for their families. She stresses the importance of making time for personal interests and encourages prioritizing one's own goals, believing that time is life's truest currency. At SKG, Beth fosters a culture where employees are supported in pursuing passions outside of work through initiatives like the "Tell Us About Yourself" form and the Culture Club. She encourages others to carve out even small amounts of time for their "And," emphasizing the power of authenticity and balance in life.

Episode Highlights

· Traveling and exploring from a young age shaped her worldview, inspiring curiosity about how people live and connect in different places.
· Human connection is central. Whether through wandering, meeting strangers, or watching others, the act of engaging and understanding is foundational.
· Experiencing other cultures and asking deep questions fosters relatability and empathy, which translates directly into her leadership as a CEO.
· At SKG, she encourages employees to pursue personal passions and goals, not just work achievements, through activities like the "Tell Us About Yourself" form and the Culture Club.
· Managing time intentionally and carving out space for personal interests is essential. Time is our true currency, and balancing it is crucial for happiness and growth.

Tim Allen, Chief Growth Officer at MBE CPAs, shares how his lifelong passion for writing and motorsports has enriched both his personal and professional life. He reminisces about his early days getting in trouble for producing a black market student newspaper and how those writing skills, encouraged by his English teacher mom, have led to freelance opportunities with industry publications. Tim discusses his favorite experiences interviewing fascinating people in the automotive world, including celebrities like Keanu Reeves and Aaron Shelby. He believes his pursuits outside of work make him a better business developer and communicator, helping him craft better pitches and approach conversations from multiple angles. Tim emphasizes the value of bringing one's best self, including unique interests, into the workplace, noting how sharing these passions fosters stronger human connections. He encourages others to embrace their interests unapologetically, underlining that being comfortable with who you are paves the way for greater fulfillment at work and beyond.

Episode Highlights

· Tim highlights how his love for writing and motorsports not only enriches his personal life but also sharpens his skills and creativity in his corporate marketing and business development roles.
· His experiences as a freelance writer, interviewing notable personalities and going behind the scenes at motorsports events underscore how following your interests can create unique and memorable opportunities.
· Tim believes sharing personal interests (your "And") at work fosters genuine connections, makes you more relatable, and helps build stronger, more engaging relationships with colleagues and clients.
· He encourages people not to hide who they are; being open about your hobbies or passions leads to a richer, more authentic professional (and personal) life, even if it takes time to become comfortable with that vulnerability.
· Tim values spending time, like coffee catch-ups or casual chats, getting to know people beyond their job titles, emphasizing that these interactions are not only rewarding but also an essential (and too often overlooked) part of building community and culture in and out of work.

Bianca Mueller, Community Manager at Wagepoint, talks about her passion for contact sports and building communities. She also shares how this helps her career in maintaining professional relationships and staying focused as well as finding her passion after injuries and other things in life getting in the way!

Carolyn Ellis, Founder of Brilliance Mastery, talks about how she discovered her passion for musical theatre, how it has taught her to stay out of her own way, the skills that she can apply to her career, and much more!

Chase Birky, CEO & Co-Founder of Dark Horse CPAs, talks about his passion for college football, talking about it at work, why it is important for employees within a company to have an aligned purpose, and much more!

Lynne Titley, Associate Director of Finance at Space & Time Media, talks about her passion for playing music, specifically jamming. She shares why she prefers jamming to traditional performing, how it applies to her career, and much more!

Josh Standley, CEO of DKK Accounting, Inc., talks about how he discovered his passion for 3D Printing, why he finds it to be a relaxing hobby, how it helps him establish connections in the office, and much more!

Tonya Moffitt, Managing Partner of Merina+Co, talks about discovering her passion for riding ATVs and UTVs, breaking the negative stigma of taking vacations, why it's so important to have something that takes you away from work, and much more!

Andrew Lassise, founder of TECH 4 Accountants, talks about his journey to sobriety, developing business relationships on the golf course, how his sobriety affected his business relationships, and much more!

Maggie Johndrow, managing partner of Johndrow Wealth Management, talks bout how she got into tennis at an early age, coming back to it after 15 years, how her skills in tennis translate into her career, and much more!

Sam Staley talks about getting into his passion for alpine skiing, shifting over to teaching, and how his skills in skiing apply to his career!

Omolara McCloud, "The S/uperhero Accountant", talks about her passion for travelling abroad, learning different languages, embracing her authentic self, early in her career, and much more!

Marit Burmood shares her journey from learning to skateboard as a teenager to rediscovering her love for skating as an adult and mom. She talks about the determination, grit, and mental toughness developed through extreme sports and how these qualities translate into her professional life. Marit discusses finding balance between motherhood and personal passions, emphasizing the importance of nurturing one's own interests to stay fulfilled. She reflects on how sharing her true self helped her build more authentic relationships with clients and colleagues. Marit encourages listeners to embrace their unique "Ands" and be open about their outside-of-work interests. Her story is a reminder that being real and pursuing what lights you up creates deeper connections both at work and in life.

Episode Highlights

· Marit emphasizes the importance of being authentic and sharing her real self, including hobbies and interests, with clients and in her professional life rather than hiding behind a "buttoned up" image.
· She shares that pursuing skateboarding and other extreme sports has taught her grit, determination, and mental resilience, which directly translate into her ability to tackle challenges in her work.
· Marit discusses how finding balance and making time for her own passions, especially as a mom, has been crucial for her happiness and well-being, rather than always putting herself last.
· She believes that showing her human side and sharing personal interests helps build stronger connections and trust with clients and professional networks, rather than appearing as a "perfect" professional.
· Marit talks about embracing feedback (whether in skateboarding, public speaking, or business) as a tool for personal and professional growth, and not being afraid to make mistakes or show vulnerabilities.

Justin Miller, a Partner & National Director of Wealth Planning for Evercore Wealth Management, talks about his passion for writing children's novels, how he realized that there needs to be more in your life than work, his work/life balance, and much more!

Anna N'Jie-Konte, Founder of Dare to Dream Financial Planning LLC, talks about discovering her passion for kickboxing, how it translates to her career, breaking through with sharing her passion in the office, how founders can play a huge role in the foundation of a company's work culture, and so much more!

Aaron Berson talks about how his general curiosity led him towards his passion for taking on DIY projects and earning YouTube diplomas! He also talks about how this passion has benefitted his career! And why it is important to embrace an employee's skill outside of the office!

Jaclyn Badeau, President of Badeau Consulting, LLC., talks about her passion for sports, establishing connections in the office through sports, and when she realized how important it was to create personal relationships in her business!

Beau Osland talks about his passion for playing music, how it affects his relationships to clients and co-workers in the office, and much more!

Nikki Winston, founder of the Winston CPA Group, talks about her passion for cleaning, how it applies to her organizational skills at work, providing a space for individuals to be themselves at work, and much more!

David Almonte talks about his non-profit, FountainHead RI, its purpose, and how it helped him improve his skills as a CPA! He also talks about how his office promotes a healthier work culture and why that is so important for productivity!

Fara Rosenweig talks about how she discovered her passion for running, developing relationships in the office through running, barriers to overcome when sharing hobbies, and much more!

Rick Maurer, of Maurer & Associates, talks about his passion for playing jazz music, how it ties into his career, why it is has been important to keep it in his life, and much more!

Ashley Dodge, a Director at Bigwedesky, talks about her passion for being a dog owner and managing the Instagram page for her dog, Hans Gruber! She also shares how owning a dog has changed her perspective in clear communication in the office and how it has helped her live her best life outside of the office!

Erika Flowers, the Chief Client Officer at Profitable Ideas Exchange (PIE), shares her journey from growing up in Montana and falling in love with cross-country skiing to racing professionally both in the U.S. and internationally. She reflects on how her passion for skiing helped her build strong friendships, instilled resilience, and taught her goal-setting, all skills she later found invaluable in her corporate career. Erika discusses the understated power of bringing your outside interests, or "Ands," into the workplace, believing these passions make people more human and effective in business. She explains how PIE's culture thrives by embracing diverse backgrounds and putting people first, aligning with their B Corp values. Erika encourages listeners to recognize the unique value of their outside passions and to seek out workplaces that truly support "living your best life." She closes by crediting her ongoing love for cross country skiing and trail running as continual sources of strength and inspiration both personally and professionally.

Episode Highlights

· Erika Flowers explains that her initial involvement in skiing was about making friends, but it soon evolved into a passion and a core part of her life.
· She highlights how the discipline, teamwork, goal-setting, and resilience developed through cross country skiing directly translate into valuable skills for her career and business, not just for athletes but for anyone with an outside interest or hobby.
· Erika Flowers stresses that sharing personal interests at work enhances authenticity, relatability, and connection with colleagues, ultimately making teams stronger.
· She describes how by PIE putting people first and becoming a B Corp all supports a healthy, human-centered environment that benefits both employees and clients.
· Erika Flowers encourages listeners not to shy away from their hobbies or "Ands," even if they feel niche or irrelevant, because these interests are a source of genuine connection and distinct human value in any professional setting.

Mike Maksymiw, an executive director at Aprio, talks about his passion for baseball, developing deeper relationships through baseball, why it is important to engage and be authentic in the workplace, and much more!

Ale Spray, Community Engagement Manager for Mortenson, talks about her passion for cycling, her bike Catalina, getting through the pandemic, how cycling has helped develop relationships in the office, and much more!

Mike Kowis, a tax attorney at Entergy Services, LLC, talks about his passion for off-road racing, doing a presentation in the office about his passion, how it helps him with his job, and much more!

Kari Hipsak, a Senior Manager at AI CPA, shares her journey of both physical and mental hardships that led her to advocate for mental health awareness. She talks about how finding and losing hobbies due to unfortunate circumstances have helped her realize their importance in an individual's mental health and much more!

Bill Hershey, owner of Life Stream Business Services, talks about his passion for a holistic lifestyle, how it has helped him physically, mentally, and in his business, and how the corporate culture is changing to a more holistic point of view!

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!

Calvin Harris Jr., CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs, shares how running became an essential part of his life after moving to New York. He explains how the running community helped him connect with others and inspired him to challenge himself from 5Ks to completing multiple marathons. Calvin discusses the ways that running has made him a better leader, teaching him resilience and the importance of enduring through difficult times. He reflects on the significance of being authentic at work and encourages professionals to bring their best selves to their careers, including sharing interests like fitness or creative pursuits. Calvin also talks about his love for New York City pizza and reveals his early musical background playing the saxophone. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes that embracing personal passions outside of work fuels success and well-being.

Episode Highlights

· Calvin got into running during COVID for health and sanity, and it has now become something that grounds him and makes him a better CEO.
· Calvin emphasizes the importance of bringing your best self, including hobbies, interests, and personality, into your professional life instead of separating "work" and "personal."
· The ups and downs, pain and pride of long-distance running have taught him to keep pushing through difficult work times, knowing they don't last forever.
· Calvin discusses how sharing things like his running, tattoos, or other interests actually builds connection, makes work more enjoyable, and helps attract people to the accounting profession.
· It's important for organizations to make space for people to be multidimensional, which is not only more human but also crucial for attracting and retaining talent in fields like accounting.

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!

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!

Bridget Kaigler, CEO and founder of Bringing Leadership Back, joins the show to share how she discovered her passion for gardening and transforming outdoor spaces during the pandemic. She describes creating her backyard retreat as her own form of therapy, turning a previously untouched space into something "magazine ready." Bridget opens up about how her gardening journey led her to help friends design their own outdoor sanctuaries and how the process became a source of creativity and balance in her life. She reflects on bringing her authentic, extroverted self to the accounting profession, embracing relationship-building and practical leadership. Bridget also highlights the importance of nurturing passions outside of work to stay energized and connected, encouraging others to "bloom where you are planted." Through her story, she hopes to inspire others to bring their full selves -- interests, hobbies, and all -- into their professional lives.

Episode Highlights

· Bridget began creating her backyard oasis during the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming a basic yard into a retreat-like, magazine-worthy space without spending much money.
· Gardening and yard beautification serve as a form of therapy and relaxation for Bridget. She finds joy in nurturing plants and creating something beautiful from scratch.
· The process of gardening -- design, creativity, patience, and nurturing -- mirrors skills and mindsets she brings to her professional life, especially in leadership and relationship-building.
· Bridget realized early in her CPA career that embracing her extroverted personality and authentic self led to stronger relationships, better teamwork, and more success than holding back to fit a narrow professional mold. 
· She emphasizes the importance of having passions outside of work (your "And"), not only for personal fulfillment but also for sparking meaningful connections in the workplace and showing up as your whole self.

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!