Waking the Why
Don't forget, your "WHY" is worth waking up for.
A podcast hosted by Stacee Pedersen about uncovering the purpose behind life's most crucible moments. Each episode you'll hear from real people who turn their struggles into strengths, and their stories into light. If you're searching for meaning, walking through something hard, or just love stories that stir the soul you're in the right place.
Join us every other week for new episodes Monday's at 11:00 AM MST.
Find us on social media:
Instagram: @staceepedersen
TikTok: @stacee_pedersen
YouTube: @ Waking the Why
Facebook & LinkedIn: Stacee Pedersen
Creative Contributors: Jordan Garner & Katie Folk
Original Music by: Sydney Flanders
Producer: Stacee Pedersen
Video Editing: Tyler O'Hare
Logo Design: Apsen & Dax Pedersen
My Greatest Supporter: Cody Pedersen
Episodes
21 episodes
Episode 19 - Braden Welker, Why We "Search for Meaning"
This week’s guest is Braden Welker. Braden is a husband and father, business leader, mentor, and advocate for growth through adversity. With over thirty years of experience, Braden has built his career around trust, service, and helping others ...
Episode 18 - Nic Bittle, Why We Find the Bright Spot
This week’s guest is Nic Bittle. Nic is a speaker, trainer, and workforce development expert who believes values like accountability, work ethic, and personal responsibility are still essential to building strong people and successful organizat...
Episode 17 - Emily Martin Prisbrey, Why We Forgive
This week’s guest is Emily Martin Prisbrey. Emily is a connector, someone who naturally brings people together and helps them see what’s possible in their lives. With a background in relationship management, event planning, and community leader...
Episode 16 - Jo Dailami, Why We Find Support
This week’s guest is Jo Dailami. Jo is a people and culture-centered development leader, entrepreneur, and founder of Dailami, a drinkable yogurt brand focused on high protein, collagen, and fiber. Jo has taken experiences from her life to crea...
Episode 15 - Jill Koford, Why We Serve Our Community
This week’s guest is Representative Jill Koford. On January 1, 2025, Jill began her legislative service representing Utah’s House District 10, serving communities across South Ogden, Riverdale, Washington Terrace, and Uintah. An accomplished bu...
Episode 14 - Sarah Frei Mills, Why We Find Strength Together
This week’s guest is Sarah Frei Mills. On July 30, 2020, Sarah’s life changed forever when the car she was riding in was hit head-on by a drunk driver. At just seventeen years old, she suffered a T11 spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed f...
Episode 13 - Hailey Babcock, Why We Support Health
This weeks guest is Hailey Babcock. Hailey Babcock is the founder of Hailey Happens Fitness, an online fitness and nutrition brand dedicated to empowering women over 35 to feel strong, confident, and energized through every stage of midlife. Wi...
Ep. 12.2 - Trevor Anderson, Why We Fight for Life
(Part 2) This week’s guest is Trevor Anderson. Trevor is a husband, father of six, and kidney transplant recipient. At the age of 25, Trevor began experiencing symptoms of kidney failure. Over the next 15 years, he endured unimaginable medical ...
Ep. 12.1 - Trevor Anderson, Why We Fight for Life
(Part 1) This week’s guest is Trevor Anderson. Trevor is a husband, father of six, and kidney transplant recipient. At the age of 25, Trevor began experiencing symptoms of kidney failure. Over the next 15 years, he endured unimaginable medical ...
Ep. 11- Nathan Ogden, Why We Live
This week’s guest is Nathan Ogden. Nathan is a bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and resilience expert who has taught thousands how to move from paralysis to progress by confronting fear and eliminating excuses. After a life-al...
Ep. 10- Bret Rasmussen, Why We Pursue
This week’s guest is Bret Rasmussen. Bret is the founder and CEO of KURU Footwear. Bret is a passionate entrepreneur and visionary leader whose dream of starting a footwear company began in fifth grade and became reality with the foundin...
Ep. 9- Christine Jacobson-Ware, Why We Serve
This week’s guest is Christine Jacobson-Ware. Christine is a trailblazing pharmacist, entrepreneur, and health advocate who made history in 2000 as the founder of Utah’s first woman-owned independent pharmacy. The owner and manager of Wasatch P...
Ep. 8 - Weston Brandon, Why We Survive
This week’s guest is Weston Brandon. Weston is a speaker, men’s coach, and father whose life embodies resilience and purpose. After years of top-tier success in sales, his world shifted in 2019 when his wife passed away shortly after the premat...
Ep. 7- Mallory Everton, Why We Create
This week’s guest is Mallory Everton. Mallory is a creator, writer, and performer from Portland, Oregon. She co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in the feature film Stop and Go, a covid-era road trip comedy that premiered at SXSW in ...
Ep. 6.2- Holly Porter, Why We Endure
Welcome back to Part 2! This week’s guest is Holly Porter. Holly is a motivational speaker, trainer, animal lover, and survivor whose story is one of faith, grit, and resilience. After a near-fatal horseback accident left her on life support, a...
Ep. 6.1- Holly Porter, Why We Endure
This week’s guest is Holly Porter. Holly is a motivational speaker, trainer, animal lover, and survivor whose story is one of faith, grit, and resilience. After a near-fatal horseback accident left her on life support, and later losing her home...
Ep. 5- Jodi Brown, Why We Say Yes
This week’s guest is Jodi Brown. Jodi is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, certified business coach, and brain tumor survivor. At thirty-three, her life changed when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In her bestselling memoir, "Th...
Ep. 4- Portia Louder, Why We Have Accountability
This weeks guest is Portia Louder. Portia is a wife, mother, author, and speaker who has walked a remarkable road of redemption. Her journey from incarceration to freedom is one of honesty, resilience, and faith. In her book, "Living Louder: A ...
Ep. 3- Dalton Castor, Why We Recover
This week's guest is Dalton Castor. Dalton is 5+ years sober and uses his journey to recovery to give a voice to those facing similar challenges. He celebrates his new life overcoming addiction by courageously sharing his story and taking owner...
Ep. 2- Aimee Stephens, Why We Find Purpose
The week's guest is Aimee Stephens. Aimee is an athlete, mother, author, and VICTOR. She believes that all joy, fulfillment, and purpose in life begins with your own healing journey. Her book, "Turning Pain Into Purpose" shares her story and na...