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
29 episodes
Ep. 26 - Bella Wilson, Why We Find Courage
This week’s guest is Bella Wilson, whose life changed at just four years old after a medical incident left her facing challenges she never could have expected. Growing up, Bella has navigated surgeries, hospital stays, treatments, setbacks, and...
Ep. 25 - Bree Pedersen, Why We Find Our Calling
This week’s guest is Doctor Bree Pedersen. Stacee takes the opportunity to interview her oldest daughter. Bree has recently graduated from PT school and is interviewed minutes after her pinning ceremony at the end of her Physical Therapy school...
Ep. 24 - Mandy Chapple, Why We Educate
This week’s guest is Mandy Chapple, wife, mother, educator, and experienced school district administrator whose journey has been shaped by learning to trust the path in front of her. With a career dedicated to education and supporting both teac...
Ep. 23.2 - Stacee Pedersen, Finding Your Why
Part 2 is here! This week’s guest is a familiar face but for the first time, she’s on the other side of the questions. Stacee Pedersen, creator and host of Waking the Why, is stepping into the guest seat while former guest Holly Porter...
Ep. 23.1 - Stacee Pedersen, Finding Your Why
This week’s guest is a familiar face but for the first time, she’s on the other side of the questions. Stacee Pedersen, creator and host of Waking the Why, is stepping into the guest seat while former guest Holly Porter takes over as h...
Ep. 22 - Becky Richards, Why We Set the Example
This week’s guest is Becky Richards. Becky is a mother, grandmother, devoted wife, and woman of faith whose story is one of remarkable courage, resilience, and love. Twenty-two years ago, while in Guatemala, Becky survived a harrowing robbery t...
Ep. 21 - Nancy Sylvester, Why We Search for Our Path
This week’s guest is Nancy Sylvester. Nancy is an employment attorney, legal advisor, and community advocate with over a decade of experience helping organizations build ethical, inclusive, and high-performing workplaces. Beyond her legal pract...
Ep. 20 - Hermana Mylee Pedersen, Why We Leave Our Comfort Zone
This week’s guest is Hermana Mylee Pedersen. A very special episode where Stacee interviews her daughter who is currently serving a mission upstate New York for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . Before her time on the mission, ...
Ep. 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 ...
Ep. 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...
Ep. 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...
Ep. 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...
Ep. 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...
Ep. 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...
Ep. 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...