In this episode of VoQuest, I sit down with Kase Kilchrist to talk about fitness, faith, business ownership, and what it looks like to find your path when life does not unfold in a straight line.

Kase shares how he went from studying child and family development and working as an autism specialist to becoming a trainer and eventually building an online coaching business. Along the way, he explains what people do not see behind the scenes of working for yourself: client check-ins, programming, taxes, KPIs, lead flow, ad spend, content scripting, and the constant pressure of wearing multiple hats.

We also talk about the emotional side of the journey: being a people pleaser, taking criticism from people who do not understand your goals, learning how to filter feedback, and refusing to let other people’s expectations dictate your future.

For young people interested in health and performance, Kase shares practical advice on avoiding shortcuts, staying natural, learning the basics of nutrition, and understanding why more is not always more in the gym. He also explains why real coaching and accountability still matter in a world full of apps, generic advice, and AI tools.

Toward the end, the conversation shifts to faith, surrender, and learning to trust God with your future. If you are trying to figure out your next step, build discipline, or make wiser decisions about work, health, and calling, this episode is full of honest perspective and practical encouragement.

Find Kase on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quesolifts/

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voquestpodcast/

In this episode of the VoQuest Podcast, I sit down with financial advisor Mark Schroeder to talk about the money habits most people wish they had started much earlier. We discuss why character, work ethic, vision, and decision-making come before tactics, then move into practical advice on saving, investing, avoiding emotional decisions, managing debt, and protecting what you build.

Mark gives a grounded look at what financial planning actually involves: helping people clarify their goals, understand their options, and make wise long-term decisions instead of reactive short-term ones. The conversation covers compound interest, why starting early matters even with small amounts, the difference between Roth IRAs and 401(k)s, why ETFs can be a simple starting point for beginners, and how some people think about tools like life insurance as part of a broader financial plan.

A few simple definitions for listeners:
compound interest is when your money earns returns, and then those returns begin earning returns over time;
an ETF is a basket of investments that helps you diversify instead of relying on one stock;
a Roth IRA is a retirement account funded with after-tax money, where qualified withdrawals can later be tax-free;
a 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account, often funded with pre-tax contributions;
and indexed universal life (IUL) is a type of permanent life insurance that can include a cash-value component in addition to a death benefit. This episode is for general education and reflection, not individualized financial advice.

Whether you are a student, a young adult, a parent trying to prepare your kids better than you were prepared, or someone who simply wishes they had started sooner, this episode will challenge you to think differently about money, planning, responsibility, and the kind of life you want to build.

Highlights

• Why character and work ethic are foundational financial assets
• What financial advisors really do beyond “picking investments”
• Why starting with a small amount still matters
• Roth IRA vs. 401(k) in simple terms
• Why ETFs can be a practical beginner option
• Why trying to time the market often backfires
• Good debt vs. bad debt
• How life insurance fits into long-term planning
• Why health, family, and enjoying the journey still matter
• What Mark would tell his 17-year-old self

In this episode of the VoQuest Podcast, we unpack what OT really is with occupational therapist Trevor Thompson, how it differs from physical therapy, and why it can be such a meaningful and flexible career path. Trevor shares his journey from business studies and fitness work to discovering a passion for helping people with complex medical needs, eventually earning his doctorate in occupational therapy and serving veterans in Arizona.

Along the way, Trevor explains what a day in the life of an OT looks like, from ICU and emergency room work to adaptive recreation, prosthetics, and helping patients regain the skills they need for everyday life. He also shares how shadowing helped clarify his direction, why continual learning matters long after school ends, and how his career has adapted with different stages of life.

Trevor also shares his testimony and the lessons he would share with his younger self: keep trying things, give major decisions time, and trust that God can guide your path even through confusion and pain.

Highlights

• What occupational therapy actually is and why many people misunderstand it
• Trevor’s path from fitness and business into the medical world
• How working with clients with MS, ALS, and other conditions changed his direction
• Why OT stood out in med school
• What OTs do in the ICU, ER, and hospital setting
• How occupational therapists help patients with daily life skills after injury or surgery
• The difference between OT and PT in practical terms
• Education requirements for OT, including the shift toward doctoral programs
• A lower-debt bridge path from OTA to OTD that students should know about
• Why shadowing is one of the best ways to clarify career direction
• Trevor’s framework for a fulfilling day: exercise, purpose, and relationships
• How OT can flex with changing life stages, family needs, and long-term goals
• The value of reading physical books and creating space for self-reflection
• Trevor’s advice to young people: keep jumping in, keep trying things
• Why “time is a great filter” for major life decisions
• Trevor’s personal testimony of faith, suffering, and learning to trust God again

What does a physical therapist actually do, and what does it take to become one?

In this episode, I sit down with physical therapist Cole Denton to talk about the real world of PT: what outpatient orthopedics looks like day to day, how physical therapists help people recover from injury, and why the job is much more consultative and problem-solving oriented than many people realize.

Cole shares how he found his way into physical therapy, what PT school was really like, and what students should consider before committing to the time, cost, and return on investment of the profession. They also dive into pain science, why pain doesn’t always mean structural damage, the challenge of getting patients to do their at-home exercises, and how curiosity and continued learning shape long-term success in any career.

Along the way, the conversation opens up into bigger themes that fit the heart of VoQuest: enjoying the journey, counting the cost, staying curious, and learning to grow through the hard seasons instead of only focusing on the destination.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What a day in the life of an outpatient physical therapist looks like
• The different settings physical therapists can work in
• How Cole discovered PT was the right fit for him
• What PT school requires and what it’s like once you graduate
• Why pain is often more complex than people think
• The role of biomechanics, movement, and nervous system regulation in recovery
• Common frustrations in healthcare, including insurance limits and patient compliance
• Why physical therapy can be a powerful alternative to overmedication
• How to think about ROI when choosing a career path
• Why enjoying the journey matters just as much as reaching the destination

Resource mentioned in the episode:
Does College Pay Off? A Comprehensive Return on Investment Analysis

What happens when your “plan” stops fitting and you have the courage to pivot?

In this episode, I sit down with my old friend Jackson Pollock, who went from a homeschooled kid knocking doors to mow lawns… to building and selling a lawn business… to going back to school in his late 20s… and now practicing chiropractic in Maui, Hawaii.

We talk about the uncomfortable decisions that shaped his path: walking away from college when it wasn’t the right fit, rebuilding conviction one step at a time, and making a massive family move that meant “putting life into 11 boxes” and trusting the direction they felt called to go.

Jackson also breaks down how his view of chiropractic evolved beyond “neck and back pain,” and we get into the intersection of thoughts, trauma, toxins, and what it looks like to pursue a vocation with both conviction and open hands.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Jackson started a lawn business at 12
• The mindset shift behind dropping out of college and later returning with clarity
• Selling a business, starting a new career, and leading a family through big transitions
• Chiropractic philosophy
• Why purpose and “fuel” matter when life gets hard
• The #1 thing Jackson would tell his 17/18-year-old self

If you’re a student (or parent) navigating “What’s next?”—this one’s for you.

Links & Socials

Guest: Jackson Pollock / Abundant Life Chiropractic (Maui)

• Website: https://www.abundantlifemaui.com/
  
  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifemaui/
  
  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Abundant-Life-Chiropractic/61579857370116/?sk=about

Real estate investor + FinTech founder - fellow homeschooler Andrew Carson breaks down how he got started, why slow growth wins, and the mindset shift of Extreme Ownership. Plus: a simple “Taco Bell” framework for career clarity.

What You’ll Learn

• How Andrew went from sales to full-time real estate investing
• What “off-market” deals are (and why investors chase them)
• Wholesaling vs. flipping: what’s better for beginners and why
• Hard money lenders explained (simple version)
• Branding in a business where people naturally don’t trust you
• Why “slow growth is the only growth” (and what happens with fast growth)
• A faith-based perspective on wealth: money vs. the love of money
• Andrew’s career clarity framework: Soft Skills + Hard Skills + Joy → Best-fit industries
• “Extreme Ownership” applied to life, marriage, and leadership

Where to find Andrew:

Website: https://www.ajotter.com/ and

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aj-otter/?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/AJ-Otter/100085616541488/

In this episode, CW sits down with longtime friend JP Mathews, a counselor, family man, and Wyoming Army National Guard soldier, for a wide-ranging conversation about career direction, calling, and living with open hands.

JP walks through his unconventional journey: starting in sales (and wrestling with feeling “disingenuous”), serving in youth ministry, earning a counseling degree, working with rural students, and eventually joining the military in a later season of life. Along the way, we talk about the importance of community, the power of wise voices (especially mentors 30+ years ahead), and how your past (family dynamics, conflict, hardship, and “nonlinear” steps) can reveal the strengths God has been forming in you all along.

We also dig into goals: how to avoid analysis paralysis, how to work backwards from a vision, and how to tell the difference between a hard thing you should push through vs. a hard thing that signals a pivot.

If you’re a student, young professional, or parent trying to help someone navigate “What should I do next?”, this one will give you clarity, courage, and a few quotable one-liners you won’t forget.

How do you build a meaningful career when you’re interested in more than one thing? And how do you stay grounded when life takes you into places of real danger, real responsibility, and real purpose?

In this episode, Joel shares his incredible journey — from running a phone-repair business in high school, to earning a criminology degree, to becoming a full-time police officer who still finds time to build a tech startup and manage 20 rental properties.

Joel breaks down:

• How he chose law enforcement after wrestling with business vs. purpose
• What real police work is actually like (a LOT more diverse than you think)
• How he manages multiple careers at once using a strategic shift schedule
• Creative financing and how he acquired a portfolio of 20 rental homes
• A near-death experience on the job that changed his life
• Why his faith became the foundation that pulled him out of burnout
• How “planting seeds” in people’s lives has led to unbelievable stories
• His advice for 17–18-year-olds figuring out their first steps

This is one of the most honest, surprising, and purpose-driven career stories on the show; perfect for students, young adults, and anyone trying to understand how faith, work, and calling come together in real life.

Connect with the VoQuest Podcast

• Instagram: @VoQuestPodcast — https://www.instagram.com/voquestpodcast/
• TikTok: @VoQuest.Podcast — https://www.tiktok.com/@voquest.podcast