Stream of Consciousness with Dan: Stories from the Midwest
Stream of Consciousness is a Midwest-rooted podcast where honest, inspiring conversations take center stage. Hosted by Dan in Omaha, Nebraska, each episode explores the stories, values, and voices that shape our communities - from athletes and creatives to local business owners who bring heart and hustle to the region.
Whether it's legendary NFL nose tackle or the soul behind a beloved neighborhood kitchen, Stream of Consciousness invites guests to share their journeys, challenges, and reflections in a space built on authenticity and connection.
Episodes
90 episodes
Stream of Consciousness #71 - Johnny Manchild
Recorded at Edge of the Universe Café in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha — just hours before Johnny Manchild, frontman of Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards' show at Reverb Lounge — this conversation feels like two Midwestern ...
Stream of Consciousness Episode #70 - Jono Mata - Sly Withers
Dan sits down with Jono Mata of Sly Withers for a conversation that drifts from teenage busking in Perth to the band’s evolution into one of Australia’s most quietly fearless alt‑rock outfits. Along the way, they swap US/Australian sla...
Stream of Consciousness #69 - Gail Graeve & Teresa Mardesen - Heartland Honors 9/11
In this special conversation, Dan sits down with Gail Graeve, VP of Social Impact at Mutual of Omaha, and Teresa Mardesen, Executive Director of SHARE Omaha, to talk about Heartland Honors 9/11 — an 11‑day initiative dedica...
Stream of Consciousness #68 - Tijana Tucic
This conversation with Tijana Tučić is one of the most powerful episodes I’ve ever recorded. Born in Yugoslavia in 1977, Tijana grew up in a world that was breaking apart — war, scarcity, fear, and the kind of instability most people neve...
Stream of Consciousness #67 - Kyle Knall
Chef Kyle Knall joins the show to talk about a career shaped by Southern roots, New York precision, and a deliberate choice to build something meaningful in Milwaukee. From his early days cooking under Frank Stitt, to fourteen years at Gr...
Stream of Consciousness #66 - Justin Warner
Chef Justin Warner has never fit neatly into a box — and that’s exactly why this conversation works. From his Food Network rise to his boundary‑pushing culinary experiments, Justin has carved out a lane that’s equal parts curiosity, chaos, and ...
Stream of Consciousness #65 - Mike Walker - Lakefront Brewery
Mike Walker has spent nearly fourteen years inside one of Milwaukee’s most iconic breweries, and in this conversation he opens the doors to Lakefront in a way most people never get to hear. We talk about the culture behind the taps, the creativ...
Stream of Consciousness #64 - Kurt Bush
This episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan dives into a fast‑moving, no‑nonsense conversation with coach Kurt Bush — a coach who works with people from every walk of life, not just athletes. We get into what real coaching looks like today: ...
Friday's w/ Dan #16
This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, we talk about a week that felt heavier than most. The sudden loss of Kyle Busch, a driver woven into the fabric of my childhood, brings a reminder of how fragile life really is. From there, we shift into the ...
Stream of Consciousness #63 - Rebekah Henshel - Henning's Cheese
This episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan features a conversation with Rebekah Henshel from Henning’s Cheese, part of the family behind one of Wisconsin’s long‑standing cheese companies. We talk about what it’s like to grow up around...
Stream of Consciousness #62 - Caroline Crocker
In this episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan, Dr. Caroline Crocker joins the show for a conversation that moves effortlessly between science, story, and the human heart. A former microbiologist, professor, CEO, and international s...
Friday's w/ Dan #15
This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, we start with family and legacy. I talk about my Uncle Jim, who passed in 2018 in a tragic accident near the farm he loved. In his honor, my family created the James R. Backes Memorial Scholarship, ...
Stream of Consciousness #61 - Al Bekkum - Nordic Creamery
This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, I sit down with Al Bekkum of Nordic Creamery — a licensed cheesemaker, buttermaker, and the heart behind one of Wisconsin’s most beloved family dairies. We talk about his family’s century‑long farming legacy,...
Friday's w/ Dan #14
After a week in the hospital, I’m recording from Brodhead, Wisconsin, where I’m staying with my parents and rebuilding my strength. In this episode, I talk about being discharged, starting AA, and reaching two weeks of sobriety. From quie...
Friday's w/ Dan #13
This week’s episode comes from Methodist Hospital in Omaha, where I’m recovering after years of alcohol abuse finally caught up with me. I talk honestly about facing the reality of my condition, beginning sobriety, and reconciling with God, my ...
Episode 60 - Steve Stetter - Decatur Dairy
Today we’re heading to Decatur, Wisconsin to talk with someone who’s been shaping the state’s cheese story for decades. Steve Stettler is a Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker, but what really stands out is the way he approaches the work — steady, ...
Stream of Consciousness #59 - Marieke Penterman - Marieke Gouda
In this episode, we head to Thorp, Wisconsin, to explore the story behind Marieke Gouda — a creamery built on Dutch heritage, Wisconsin soil, and a relentless commitment to craft. We talk about the traditions, techniques, and passion that turne...
Friday's w/ Dan #12
This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, I share an update on Chuck Bigler, who recently suffered a serious stroke but has now been moved out of the ICU and is receiving good care at St. Mary’s in Madison. If you’d like to send prayers or a card, hi...
Stream of Consciousness #58 - Nelson Schrock - Kingston Creamery
In this episode, I sit down with Nelson Schrock, General Manager of Kingston Creamery in Cambria, Wisconsin. Nelson brings a quiet, grounded presence as he talks about the craft of cheesemaking, the values that guide their work, a...
Friday's w/ Dan #11
This week’s episode sits in that space where heaviness and hope overlap. I talk about the unexpected losses that hit close to home, the people who shaped me, and the reminders of how quickly life can change. But I also share the light that brok...
Stream of Consciousness #57 - Elle Williams - Carr Valley Cheese
In this episode of the Wisconsin Makers Series, Daniel sits down with Elle Williams, Director of Sales and Brand Development at Carr Valley Cheese and a licensed cheese grader (#489) — one of the rare people in the state wh...
Friday's w/ Dan #10
This week’s Friday’s w/ Dan goes deep. I talk about Augie Nieto, the impact he left behind, and why his story hit me harder than I expected. I share my own connection to ALS through my fraternity brothers, the work we did, and the people we los...
Stream of Consciousness #56 - Magic Barclay
Magic Barclay has lived through more than most people could imagine — and she’s turned every chapter of that story into a mission to help others heal. In this episode, Magic opens up about the physiology of trauma, the patterns our bodies hold ...
Stream of Consciousness #55 - Chuck Bigler - Puempel's Tavern
This one’s a little surprise drop. I sat down with Chuck Bigler of Puempel’s Tavern in New Glarus, Wisconsin — a place with more history and character than just about anywhere in the state. Chuck talks about what it means to keep a place like P...