EP 1: OUT OF PAIN, INTO PURPOSE HOW JED LEPLANT STARTED HIS BAND WILD HORSES
In this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, host Bridger Hopkins sits down with musician and frontman Jed LaPlant of Wild Horses—a band that’s gone from northern Minnesota roots to touring across the country.
Jed opens up about what it really takes to build a band from the ground up—balancing the art of songwriting with the grind of booking tours, managing money, and treating music like a business.
EP 4: BUILDING TRUST, ONE TITLE AT A TIME
On this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, Bridger sits down with Jenny Giving, a powerhouse in title services whose story is rooted in family values, straight-shooting leadership, and a relentless work ethic.
From managing her family’s furniture store as a teen to climbing the corporate ladder in banking, Jenny’s journey is paved with pivots—and powered by purpose.
EP 7: Adrianne Tried Everything… Until THIS Finally Clicked With Her Career!
Adrianne’s career journey has been anything but typical. From trying multiple paths that left her feeling stuck to finally discovering her purpose in business consulting on LinkedIn, she’s navigated twists, turns, and a few dead ends along the way. In this episode, we unpack the zig-zag of Adrianne’s career, diving into the lessons she learned about persistence, self-discovery, and the power of finding work that actually clicks.
If you’ve ever felt like nothing is working, this story will remind you that sometimes it takes trying everything before the right path reveals itself.
EP 10: The Custom Home Business Model in 2025: New Obstacles, Real Margins Part 2 With Earl Williams
"Cheap today, expensive forever—that's the trap." Timbercraft Homes President, Earl Williams is back, and we're going straight into the trenches. If you're in construction, thinking about starting a build company, or wondering why your margins disappeared—this is for you.
What we cover: Where time actually goes in a modern custom home business The "value" decisions that become long-term costs Which trades control your schedule in 2025 The one change that cut callbacks in half Local housing problems and practical solutions Where the custom home business is headed next.
Bottom line: Good design is what you stop apologizing for after move-in. Spec homes don't have to be soulless. Earl's pulling back the curtain on what's working now—and what's not worth the fight anymore.
EP 2: From IT desk to drone deck: how tom hadrava left his 9-5!
How does an IT manager from northern Minnesota become a real estate media leader in sunny Southwest Florida? In this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, host Bridger Hopkins sits down with Tom Hadrava—father, founder, and visual storyteller—who left the 9-to-5 tech world behind to follow his passion behind the lens.
EP 5: BUILT STRONG, THE ROAD TO MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY
Bridger sits down with Cre Larson, a powerhouse in mental health advocacy whose story weaves together faith, grit, and a deep commitment to serving others.
As Executive Director of First Call for Help, Cre has spent more than 30 years walking alongside individuals and families in their hardest moments—turning her own personal loss into a mission to bring hope and healing.
EP 8: How To Start A Childcare Center in Minnesota: Rob & Krista's Journey Starting Roots and Wings
Rob and Krista Sjostrand are building Roots & Wings Early Learning Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota—a faith-anchored childcare with an outdoor-first design. Krista brings 25 years in the classroom; Rob brings business and a passion for the woods. Together they’re tackling a childcare shortage that costs local families and employers millions every year.
We talk calling vs. career, how delays became preparation, and why excellence doesn’t have to mean burnout. By the end, you’ll see why Roots & Wings isn’t just another daycare—it’s workforce infrastructure with trails, faith, and high standards at its core.
EP 11: You Don’t Have to Be Strong Alone — Jessica Johnson’s Journey Through Grief to Growth
Today’s guest, Jessica Johnson, is a storyteller in every sense of the word — not just with her writing, but with the way she’s lived through loss, motherhood, and the kind of rebuilding most people never see. In this episode, we talk about what happens when life doesn’t just fall apart — it keeps falling apart.
Jessica opens up about navigating tragedy, rediscovering her voice, and why true purpose often begins where self-sufficiency ends.
🛠️ What We Cover: Surviving the seasons no one prepares you for
The difference between strength and isolation How motherhood reshaped her healing process
Turning personal pain into something that serves others This isn’t a conversation about “moving on.” It’s about moving forward — slowly, stubbornly, and with your story in hand.
If Jessica’s journey resonates, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it with someone who might be standing at their own turning point.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses themes of grief, loss, and trauma. Please listen with care and step away if needed.
EP 3: All Angles Media: Detours, distance, and doing it differently.
On this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, host Bridger Hopkins is joined by the powerhouse trio behind All Angles Real Estate Media—Tom Hadrava, Renae Novak, and Joe Conaway.
With backgrounds in IT, dental hygiene, and music, this creative team took the road less traveled to build a remote-first real estate media company that spans from Florida to Northern Minnesota.
EP 6: FIRST CALL FOR HELP AND THE MISSION THAT DRIVES THEM
Bridger sits down with Cre Larson, a powerhouse in mental health advocacy whose story weaves together faith, grit, and a deep commitment to serving others.
As Executive Director of First Call for Help, Cre has spent more than 30 years walking alongside individuals and families in their hardest moments—turning her own personal loss into a mission to bring hope and healing.
EP 9: Leading with Principle: Earl Williams’ Journey from Builder to Visionary
Leading with Principle: Earl Williams’ Journey from Builder to Visionary Ever wondered how a small construction company survives economic ups and downs while staying true to its values?
In this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, host Bridger Hopkins sits down with Earl Williams, President of Timbercraft Homes, to share his journey from hands-on builder to visionary leader, and how putting principle before profit has guided every decision. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Earl’s early years: from setting trusses with his grandpa to running a custom home business The pivotal “basement-to-breakthrough” week during the Great Recession Lessons from near-shutdown moments and 3,500+ hours of hard work Why payroll teaches more about leadership than any book .
ep 12: She Turned Her Pain Into Purpose | Jessica’s Story of Becoming An Author
Trigger Warning: Childloss, Pandemic Journey, and Grief. We completely understand if this you would like to wait until next week to join us again!
When life unraveled, Jessica didn’t set out to be strong—she just wanted to make sense of the pain. What began as journal entries in the thick of grief after child loss and illness, fear during a pandemic, and chronic illness through slowly became the foundation of her writing.
In this conversation, she shares how loss reshaped her view of purpose, creativity, and what it truly means to heal. This isn’t a story about triumph. It’s about transformation—about learning to look beyond yourself when everything falls apart, and finding beauty and purpose in what remains.