Bloom Pod 30 for 30 Part 1: Lessons Learned from Episodes 1-10
When we got started with The Bloom Pod in April 2020, I didn’t dream that we’d have the audience we have; nor did I think we’d be able to land some of the guests we’ve had. Professional athletes, entrepreneurs, authors, doctors, TedX alums, NBA announcers… you name the field, we’ve had ‘em.
Looking back, the first 30 episodes feel a bit like a whirlwind. Since our last episode with championship baker Julianna Jung, I’ve navigated a move, a job change, and wrapped up my PhD coursework (dissertation, here I come!). My sidekick, Melissa, has had all sorts of her own adventures, too — moving from manager of Generous Coffee Shop to the manager of the entire Tributary Food Hall, assisting with some exciting new projects, etc.
Needless to say, there’s a reason we’ve been on such a long hiatus.
We’re excited to get back into our routine of interviewing and recapping next month. Before we do that, though, I thought it would be good to revisit some of the lessons learned from our guests across the first 30 episodes. They came from various backgrounds — personal and professional — and each of them brought a unique perspective to the show.
I’m bringing them to you in bite-sized chunks (10 at a time). Without further ado, here are the lessons we learned from the first 10 guests on #thebloompod🧅.
1. Melissa Lutz, the Bloom Pod Sidekick
Melissa’s episode was a great way to kick off the show (and to get myself a podcast sidekick). She shared her journey with the Generous Coffee Shops and why non-profit work is so important to her.
Lesson: Ask for big things. Taking big risks and reaching out to people (sometimes, on a whim) has paid off big for Melissa. She encouraged listeners to abandon hesitation and follow their dreams.
2. Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Olympic Gold Medalist
Since joining us to chat back in April of 2020, Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (Bartschy) not only secured a spot on the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Volleyball roster, but she brought home Olympic Gold. She’s a baller, and she’s cool, and she shared so much of her journey with us.
Lesson: Perseverance is the key to long-term success. Bartschy discussed the difference between college athlete status and pro athlete status, and the importance of continuously having to prove yourself. Her professional volleyball career spans approximately 10 years, and she arguably just hit the ultimate peak in earning an Olympic Gold medal. Keep going. Keep showing up. And keep moving forward!
3. Tim Bryson
Tim joined us to talk about academia, craft beer, and everything in between. Since joining us, he has launched his own podcast and an LLC, both dubbed “Walk With TFB.” He has also hosted a series of “Brewery Kickbacks” this summer.
Lesson: You can’t impeach vision. Tim shared the story behind this lesson during the podcast, but the ultimate takeaway is that when you have a vision, YOU are in charge of it. If the vision exists, you can lead from any seat in the house.
4. Connor Onion
Connor joined us to talk about his experiences in sport broadcasting at the college and semi-pro level. Since joining us in May of 2020, he has made his debut as a play-by-play announcer for the Big Ten Network.
Lesson: Authenticity is the key to success. Especially in the world of sport broadcasting, manufactured enthusiasm is a dangerous game. Connor expressed the importance of building confidence and avoiding perfection in all facets of life, but especially in highly public roles like sport broadcasting.
5. Dr. Ashlesha Lokhande
Ash shared her passion for nonprofit work and her journey leaving and re-joining the world of college athletics. She also discussed the process of her dissertation, and why her research on racial reckoning is so important to her.
Lesson: “Put the burden on God to say ‘go’”. Rather than worrying about whether we are making the “right” decisions in life, Ash encouraged us to cast those anxieties aside and put our faith in God’s plan.
6. Will Baggett
Will discussed the process of writing his book and about the power of utilizing relationships and networking as resources. Since joining us in May 2020, Will has furthered his experience as an entrepreneur with The Executive Image.
Lesson: When you establish a great brand, it can open up doors and opportunities for you that wouldn’t otherwise exist. Investing in yourself and in your brand consistently, and building a great reputation with your brand allows you to leverage your network in new ways.
7. Kari Jo Kelso
Kari Jo is the founder and owner of Rosebuds Tees, which is a company that makes “graphic tees for small town lovin’ women.” Since joining us on the show in June 2020, she has gained an additional 8k followers on Instagram. She’s also added stickers, keychains, and more merchandise to her online store.
Lesson: Side hustles only work as hard as you do. In Kari Jo’s case, turning a passion project into a legitimate business required organization and time. Take the time to organize your thoughts -- and “un-someday yourself” -- before launching.
8. N4A Panel ft. Resa Lovelace, Lamarr Pottinger, Dr. Lacee’ Carmon-Johnson, & Dr. Kristina Navarro
In our first-ever panel-style episode of The Bloom Pod, our guests shared their experiences as college athletics and student-athlete development professionals.
Lesson: We need to continue to push the importance of student-athlete development as a field in-house before scaling outward. Developing standards and assessments for what the field is trying to do is a major key, as well as showcasing the importance of the work on a visual scale.
9. Jen Fry
Jen Fry shared with us her journey from student-athlete to volleyball coach to academic administrator to social justice educator. As the founder of Jen Fry Talks, a social justice education firm that uses conversation to educate and empower audiences through an anti-racist lens, she discussed how her experiences in athletics led her to her current anti-racism work.
Tayler and Jen also talked about their shared bitterness of losing the 2011 NCAA Volleyball National Championship to UCLA.
Lesson: Re: ‘be scared but do it anyway’ — in order to advance humanity and approach true racial reckoning, we have to acknowledge whiteness and the way it impacts the world in which we live.
10. Dr. Ed Horne
Dr. Ed Horne is a former tennis student-athlete and a current tenure track professor at a higher education institution. Tayler and Ed talked about his research interests, and Ed shared insights about youth sport and coach/parent relationships.
Lesson: Embrace your experiences. Invest in the culture, the surroundings, and the overall experience of where you are. To be truly invested requires us to be vulnerable on some levels. When you allow that vulnerability to become a strength, you can begin to see greater investment in every area of your life.
Be on the lookout for the next installment of this series, which will feature lessons from guests 11-20.
Keep blooming, y’all.
