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Real, unfiltered conversations. Inspiring stories. Join @aaronrwjones & @wesley.otto as they talk with the people shaping Southern MN and beyond.

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Ep 153 Dan Vance: From Tragedy to Storytelling, and a Life Spent Understanding People.

In this episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Dan Vance, former editor of Connect Business Magazine, ghostwriter, syndicated columnist, and mental health therapist, for a remarkable conversation about the experiences that shaped a life dedicated to understanding people and telling their stories.

Dan begins with the tragedy that forever changed his childhood. At just seven years old, he survived the car accident that claimed the lives of both of his parents, forcing him to begin a new life with his aunt and uncle. That story sets the stage for a conversation filled with resilience, perspective, and unexpected turns.

From there, Dan shares how he left a successful sales career to pursue writing after the encouragement of his wife, who worked for the National Security Agency. What followed were lean years, a breakthrough piece published in USA Today, and the opportunities that ultimately led him to Connect Business Magazine, where he spent nearly 19 years documenting the people and businesses that shaped Southern Minnesota.

We also explore his ghostwriting career, fascinating stories about life alongside someone working in the NSA, and the path that eventually led him to become a mental health therapist serving individuals living with serious mental illness.

This is a conversation about resilience, journalism, purpose, and the remarkable places that a simple curiosity about people can lead.

🎧 Catch new episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Qcu78j5wLsC7ZYfUPMp22?si=c_ESJ-HKSDWUiGy_bi4zMw&utm_source=copy-link

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
Community Bank Mankato, @chankaska.wines, and @vanderbergclean

#GetDeepPodcast #DanVance #ConnectBusinessMagazine #SouthernMinnesota #Journalism by @getdeepcast

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

Ep 152 Jesse Hicks: Coming Home to Lead Loyola Catholic School.

In this episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Jesse Hicks, the new President and Chief Advancement Officer of Loyola Catholic School, for a conversation about leadership, faith, football, fundraising, and coming home.

Jesse’s story starts in the halls of Loyola, where he was once a student himself. He reflects on the people, values, and experiences that shaped him during those formative years — including his time on the football field, which eventually led him to play college football at Saint John’s University under legendary coach John Gagliardi.

From there, Jesse walks us through his professional life, including how he landed his first job in development at Loyola and the career that followed across education, healthcare, philanthropy, and institutional advancement. Along the way, he shares stories from each chapter — the lessons learned, the mentors who shaped him, and the moments that helped define his approach to leadership and service.

We also dive into the bigger picture: what it means to return to Loyola at this stage of his career, how advancement work is really about relationships and trust, and what he believes the future of education — and Loyola specifically — can look like in the years ahead.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
Community Bank Mankato, @vanderbergclean, and @chankaska.wines

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota

Catch the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BKdyurgzWf0BjOzdVbURY?si=R6X3RpNxRTyRioEf_qd-6g&utm_source=copy-link by @getdeepcast

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3 months ago

Ep 150 Jeremy Thomas: Classic Cars, Famous Rides, and the Stories Behind the Steel.

In this episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy, owner of @uniquemankato and Unique Marine in Mankato, for a conversation about cars, risk, nostalgia, and building a business around things people truly care about.

Jeremy shares how Unique Classic Cars grew from a small lot with just a handful of vehicles into a nationally respected classic and specialty car operation, trusted by buyers and sellers from across the country. From restoring, consigning, buying, and selling classic cars to expanding into the marine world with Unique Marine, Jeremy has built a business rooted in passion — but powered by systems, instinct, and a deep understanding of what makes people connect with a machine.

We talk about the rise of Unique Classic Cars, the company’s appearance on the History Channel’s Dirty Old Cars, and what it takes to run a business where every vehicle has a story. Jeremy also shares what it’s been like working with everyone from everyday collectors to celebrities like Charlie Sheen and professional athletes.

And then there are the cars themselves. Jeremy walks us through some of the most famous vehicles he’s owned, including a car connected to one of The Godfather shooting scenes and Johnny Cash’s final car. He also reveals the surprise he found inside Johnny Cash’s car after purchasing it — a story that had not been publicly shared until this episode.

This conversation goes well beyond horsepower and chrome. It’s about nostalgia, storytelling, entrepreneurship, restoration, and why classic cars are never really just cars.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
Community Bank Mankato, @vanderbergclean and @chankaska.wines

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #JeremyThomas #UniqueClassicCars UniqueMarine Mankato ClassicCars

Catch the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/34Acm0Ll98d2mdSZp2GBc3?si=0ci-wizOTe-s2Wc5xSWABw&utm_source=copy-link by @getdeepcast

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3 months ago

Ep148 Emily Giddings: Curiosity, Confidence, and the Business of Feeling Better.

In this episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Emily Giddings, founder of @giddieskin Med Spa, for a conversation that goes well beyond skincare.

From a homeschooled upbringing to a passion for travel—and even raising buffalo—Emily has always followed her curiosity. That same mindset shows up in how she’s built her business and approached an industry that’s constantly evolving.

We dive into the world of medical aesthetics, including the innovation shaping the field today. Emily shares insight into advanced treatments—from skin-focused services to more specialized offerings like vaginal rejuvenation and treatments for penile dysfunction—breaking down what these services are, who they’re for, and why conversations around them are becoming more normalized.

We also explore the artistic side of her work and the level of trust required between provider and patient—how outcomes aren’t just about technique, but about understanding the person, making thoughtful decisions, and helping people feel confident in their own skin.

Emily also shares the story behind her new location on St. Andrews Drive and what this next chapter means for Giddie Skin.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors: @vanderbergclean, @chankaska.wines, and Community Bank

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #MinnesotaBusiness

🎧 Catch the episode here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/63pAmMe8Ni9KvCmH1KoHr0?si=G51AAK5uSICeUdwmVG4hBw by @getdeepcast

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6 months ago

Ep147 Josh Vanderberg: Building a Business Leaders Can Trust.

We sit down with Josh Vanderberg—President and CEO of @vanderbergclean and a second-generation leader in Southern Minnesota’s janitorial industry.

Josh’s story begins in Mankato, learning the business from his grandparents, founders of Sharon’s Cleaning Service in the 1970s. But early in this episode, he opens up about something far more personal—his mother’s mental health struggles and how those challenges shaped his resilience, faith, and drive to build something stable and meaningful.

Today, Vanderberg Clean is far more than a residential carpet cleaning company. Over 90% of its work serves commercial clients across Southern Minnesota. Under Josh’s leadership, the company delivers more than a clean environment—it delivers confidence. Confidence that your facility will be handled professionally. Confidence that your space will remain secure. Confidence that the job will be done right, every time.

We also dive into scaling, culture, and Josh’s commitment to learning from leaders in every industry to continually improve his team and systems.

This is a conversation about faith, growth, resilience, and building a company local leaders can trust.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
@chankaska.wines, Community Bank, and South Central Small Business Development Center

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #MinnesotaBusiness

🎧 Catch the episode here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/30PXjV02lXyCmwoMsnYOnw?si=9Prqw-5bQFuoAuTPE_AzoA by @getdeepcast

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

🔊 Ep145 Justin Montemurno: Systems, Strategy, and the Power Behind the Power.

In this high-voltage episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Justin Montemurno—a Southern Minnesota native whose journey from wrench-turning teen to global infrastructure strategist is anything but ordinary. Justin shares his story of growing up in St. James, tinkering with engines, learning from uncles, and developing the work ethic that would power a career spanning technical sales, engineering, and global energy infrastructure.

We dive into Justin’s early experiences in manufacturing and process improvement at Kato Engineering, where he helped redesign workflows that massively increased output—and caught the attention of leadership. From there, he took the leap into technical sales, finding his sweet spot translating complex systems into strategies clients could actually understand.

Now working with IPS, Justin operates at the intersection of business development, engineering, and hyper-scale infrastructure, helping to design and deliver the massive power systems that fuel data centers, cloud computing, and the AI revolution. He breaks down exactly what a data center is, why power demand is spiking globally, and what it all means for the future of tech—and your electric bill.

This episode is packed with insight on leadership, problem-solving, power systems, and the long game of building infrastructure that keeps the modern world running.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
@chankaska.wines, Community Bank, and South Central Small Business Development Center

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #MinnesotaBusiness #DataCenters

🎧 Catch the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1isn3VULWVMrBxFl2GhmKR?si=qHCqikTcQ7ueD8eBQ8gKOw by @getdeepcast

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9 months ago

🔊 Ep144 Rachel Wilke & Molly Jones: Breaking Cycles and Building “Therapy is Cool.”

In this personal and powerful episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Rachel Wilke and Molly Jones—licensed therapists and co-founders of @therapyiscoolmn, a Mankato-based mental health practice focused on helping children, families, and entire generations heal.

Rachel and Molly share their winding paths into the world of therapy—from childhood experiences and early career burnout to their first meeting at a local mental health center, where their shared vision for a new kind of practice began to take shape. The two bonded over a belief that therapy should be approachable, proactive, and rooted in long-term impact.

Together, they explore intergenerational trauma, emotional patterning, and the life-changing power of understanding your own coping mechanisms. Rachel also opens up about her experience working in high-intensity environments across multiple states, her family’s battle with infertility, and how those experiences shaped her empathy and drive.

We also dive into the behind-the-scenes journey of building Therapy is Cool—including how the South Central SBDC helped them turn their vision into a thriving private practice. Throughout the episode, Rachel and Molly share practical tools for managing stress, anxiety, and mental health in the workplace—reminding us that therapy isn’t just for when things go wrong. It’s a tool for anyone, at any time.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
@chankaska.wines, Community Bank Mankato, South Central Small Business Development Center, and @iwealth4me

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #TherapyIsCool #wesotto #aaronjones

🎧 Catch the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MvGQZcaN041m5RfKWGKr7?si=di_mXjAsRraCgyp21dHu0A by @getdeepcast

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10 months ago

🔊 Ep143 Ritchie Schaefer: Hive Minds, Bee Drama, and the Rise of B2B Honey.

In this episode of the Get Deep Podcast, we sit down with Ritchie Schaefer—beekeeper, entrepreneur, and founder of B2B Honey. A Mankato native with a love for agriculture, Ritchie takes us deep into the world of bees, hives, and honey with a mix of science, passion, and raw honesty.

Ritchie’s path to business ownership was anything but conventional. After studying ag at North Dakota State and spending years in agricultural sales, he was moved to start beekeeping following the sudden passing of a young beekeeper whose hives were kept on his family’s farm. That moment sparked a personal transformation—and a new calling.

Now the founder of B2B Honey, Ritchie shares how he built his operation from the ground up, starting at the Mankato Farmers Market and Schell’s Brewery before scaling into a migratory beekeeping business, with hives moving between river valleys in Minnesota and heading south for the winter. Along the way, he’s faced steep learning curves and major setbacks—including losing bees in California and a particularly angry hive incident that required help from the fire department’s water truck (no flames, just a creative rain simulation).

We dive into the fascinating social structure of bees—how they pick homes, the ruthless competition to become queen, and what makes hive life tick. Ritchie also treats the hosts to a tasting of his ever-expanding product line, proving that honey is just the beginning.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
@chankaska.wines, Community Bank Mankato, South Central Small Business Development Center, and @iwealth4me

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #WesOtto #AaronJones

🎧 Catch the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1SCc8CX7VGixXIyvMsVNj3?si=V2sIRlBOQ8OvhDu6YK3pjA by @getdeepcast

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10 months ago

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10 months ago

🔊 Ep141 Colleen VanBlarcom: McDonald’s Operator, Legacy Builder, and Culture Champion.

In this episode, we sit down with Colleen VanBlarcom—owner/operator of 11 McDonald’s restaurants across Southern Minnesota. With a career spanning four decades and roots in one of McDonald’s most storied family lineages, Colleen shares what it takes to lead a growing, values-driven organization under the Golden Arches.

From scrubbing floors as a teen to managing multi-unit operations in Mankato, Owatonna, Waseca, Medford, and Eagan, Colleen’s story is steeped in grit, growth, and generational wisdom. She opens up about her father’s early days with McDonald’s—back when there were just over 200 locations nationwide—and how his legacy shaped her path as both a business leader and community builder.

Colleen reflects on small-town adjustments, lessons learned from corporate legends, and how a surprise visit from Ray Kroc changed the course of her family’s journey. She shares insights on leadership, problem-solving, and what it takes to maintain a strong culture in one of the world’s most recognizable brands.

And in a Get Deep exclusive, Colleen reveals the future location of Mankato’s newest McDonald’s restaurant—news you’ll hear here first.

Stick around for a heartfelt conversation about service, resilience, and the human side of fast food—plus powerful stories about her team’s impact through the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

🎙️ Brought to you by our episode sponsors:
@chankaska.wines, Community Bank Mankato, South Central Small Business Development Center, and @iwealth4me

#GetDeepPodcast #SouthernMinnesota #McDonalds #ColleenVanBlarcom #BAMCO #WesOtto #AaronJones @mcdonalds @ronaldmcdonaldhouse @ronaldmcdonaldhousemnwi

🎧 Catch the episode here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Jc5oYysL3tZLO4f3ySYx8?si=UYt17cvPTvKdqaF0Bq_LDg&pi=2NK1nmnzQhW24&t=2 by @getdeepcast

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10 months ago