When someone responds to the question, "How is work these days?", it feels all too common to hear a response along the lines of, "work is work" or "busy...". Both, I feel, have a negative connotation around them whether or not it's supposed to be reflected in that way. Negative responses aren't generally comfortable and could be quite awkward for the person receiving them. Especially when they are attached to a part of life that is so important, like the work we do each day. So, what if the response to, "How is work these days?" was met with excitement instead of dread? Tim Hodges, is the Executive Director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and a professor of management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business. Tim wholeheartedly believes that work doesn't have to be miserable. In fact, he suggests, if we do it right, our work can be one of the best expressions of who we are! So, the next time you're asked how your work is going, consider responding with something like, "Work's been really nice lately!" Or even better, "Work is fantastic! I love what I do!"

In this episode, we catch up with Phil Burcher. Phil is the owner of Precision Skateboards, a legendary local Nebraska skate shop in Lincoln, Nebraska. Born in Brooklyn NY and growing up as a military brat, Phil was introduced to skateboarding and surfing the second time his family lived in Hawaii in 1974 and has yet to understand what “not-skateboarding” means. His life revolves around skateboarding and skateboarding culture, and he has skated hundreds of ramps and skateparks around the country. After graduating Colorado State University with a degree in marketing, he joined forces with Scott Bouwens, who founded Precision Skateboards in February of 1984, to grow the business and to support the skateboarding community in Nebraska. As the owner of Precision Skateboards, one of the oldest skate shops in the country, he has hosted many contests and pro skate demos for over 35 years in the Lincoln and Omaha area. Busy sharing time raising two skateboarding teenage boys with his wife Tara, who also owns her own business, Phil continues to strive to make our community a better place to live!

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

Dr. Kathy Farrell became the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on December 1, 2017, after serving nearly a year as interim dean. She immediately launched an inclusive strategic planning process to help guide the college with a new mission, guiding principles and strategic initiatives. Kathy embraces where ever she is in life and the importance of maintaining a mindset that what lies ahead is as exciting or more exciting than what lies behind and tries to live in the moment. She continues to have an impact through higher education and changing lives by helping students find their passion as it relates to business. Kathy feels blessed that she doesn’t have to go to work every day, she gets to go to work every day, or as she told her Mom quite a while ago, "I get paid to go to college!" Kathy is constantly learning and growing intellectually and strives to positively impact other people’s lives.

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

Today's guest, Karl Hinkley, has an extreme passion for BMX and motocross. In the BMX world you might even know him as "Crazy Karl". Karl's been riding since age fourteen and defines his riding flavor as "creative". He travelled around the Midwest throughout his teenage and young adult life racing and riding freestyle. As he got more into the sport, Karl discovered he wanted to play a bigger part as a sponsor, so he started his own business called Nowear and also a non-profit, The Nowear Compound. Karl knows first-hand how hard it is to make it in BMX and wanted to be able to help the younger riders, even if it's just with some clothes, fixing their bikes, or giving them a place to ride. The Nowear Compound, a non-profit, provides a six-acre BMX paradise full of ramps, dirt jumps and much more. It is free to anyone interested in the sport.

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

Have you ever ended up finding joy in something you thought you disliked? Such as working out, eating less sweets, or completing an assignment for school in a subject you generally would turn your nose up at. What does joy feel like in these moments? Accomplishment? Relief? Curiosity? Our guest today can relate. Juan Breucop would tell you he dislikes salesmen but ended up becoming a sales manager! Interesting, right? Juan's career in sales began by working as an employee in business to becoming an entrepreneur as a business owner. Juan is now the President of inExhaust, a manufacturer of exhaust system components for power generation. Juan has had an interesting career journey so far. From disliking sales to becoming a sales manager to owning a business where he oversees the whole company, except the sales department, by now only supporting this team. Joy can be found in the things we dislike, as long as we stay curious!

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

Nebraska - "The Good Life"! By my own observation, it's a place that tells the story of quiet perseverance and triumph throughout history, has hidden outdoor adventures like beautiful hiking and plentiful prairie land with impressive wildlife, and home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the country. It also has some of the most kind-hearted and genuine people enjoying life here that I've ever met. It's "The Good Life" for sure! Our guest today is Nick Cusick, an enthusiastic Nebraskan. Professionally, Nick is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bison, Inc., a Lincoln-based manufacturer of sports equipment. Personally, he is active in a wide range of community boards that serve in a variety of ways. He is passionate about making Lincoln and Nebraska a great place to live!

Peter Ferguson approaches his life as Maya Angelou defined hers: to “not merely survive but to thrive; and do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Peter is a mission-driven empowerment specialist dedicated to empowering others throughout his career. He is widely known and recognized, with over 25 years of experience facilitating and coordinating professional development engagements. As the founder and PBO “Primary Belief Officer” of Peter Ferguson BHS, LLC., he is the Coordinator of Culture, Inclusion, and Scholar Development for Lincoln Public Schools. Peter's message reinforces that relationships matter and are the foundation of every person's success. He also continues to honor his mother, a 40-year educator, through service and championing the fight against Alzheimer's. Let's engage our mindsets to learn more about how personal experience, bias, and cultural proficiency can facilitate building stronger relationships!

"Whoa" is defined by the Oxford dictionary as a word used to express surprise, interest, or alarm, or to command attention. My "whoa" in this moment is, "whoa, this is so cool, I'm chatting with another Michaella today. I wonder if she feels superior because our names are spelled almost the same way, but hers is elevated by an extra 'L'"? Michaella Kumke is an impressive human being who currently leads the Food Bank of Lincoln as President & CEO. The Food Bank of Lincoln is a successful non-profit agency that connects millions of meals to neighbors annually. In her work, she serves alongside a dedicated team of professionals, volunteers, and advocates who believe in the power of being a good neighbor. Together they also share in a belief that equitable access to nutritious and comforting food is vital to a thriving community. My guess is her and her team's days are filled with many beautiful and surprising, "whoas"!

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.