David Beasley loves music. So much so that he spent several years composing for and performing in the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band near Omaha, NE. And even though he no longer lives near there, he continues to compose music for the Omaha Symphony.

In this episode, we talk about how David's been able to create connections with coworkers through their hobbies or passions. This helps out when times are tough or he needs to correct someone's work because their relationships are based on more than just work so the criticism isn't taken personally. David also points out that we're all working in order to do something else, whether that's supporting our family or to be able to do our passions more. In the end, he says, "What's the harm in sharing? There is actually no risk and a lot of reward."

The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.

This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc. article, "The Most Interesting People Know This Self-Marketing Secret" by Miranda Marcus.

When Tyler Crawford and AJ VanderWoude started at BMSS a few years ago, little did they know they’d be creating original rap videos – the latest being CPA’s on Fleek. What started out as a fun way to learn about upcoming audits has now turned into an amazing way to create strong relationships with their clients.

In this episode, we talk about how their firm, BMSS, works to find the person behind the accountant. They encourage each individual to explore those talents and then use them to better their career, which in turn benefits the firm. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone operated with this mentality?

The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.

This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Are You A Good Boss? Test Yourself With These 5 Questions" by Lisa Quast.

Byron Patrick spends a lot of time shoveling horse manure. Literally. It's what comes with the territory as the owner of a small horse farm. But whether it's digging post holes for the fences or grooming the horses, he says it's nice to sit back at the end of the day and be able to see the fruits of all his hard work.

In this episode, we talk about how talking about things that interest you and genuinely being interested in talking about things that interest those around you will lead to weird connections that you never thought were possible. He's also found his management skills have grown due to his time on the horse farm learning how to motivate horses to do what you what you need based on what interests them.

Byron Patrick is the Managing Director of CPA Practice at Network Alliance Inc. Prior to that, he spent 8 years as the CEO & Co-founder of Simplified Innovations Inc. He's been the MACPA Chair of Board of Directors, received the Baltimore SmartCEO CPA Power Player Award Recipient in 2014 and was listed in the CPA Practice Advisors 40 under 40 for five years from 2010-2014.

He graduated from Salisbury University - Perdue School of Business with a BS, Accounting. He is also holds the following certifications: CPA, CITP, MCSE, CCA and CGMA.

The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.

This week, John and Rachel discuss a Financial Review article, "How your Company's Unwritten Rules can Break its Culture" by Steve Simpson.

Jon Chudy did something he had always dreamed about since he was a kid -- play professional baseball. While his pro pitching career was short-lived, those skills he developed from years of playing baseball have translated directly to his accounting career. Not only that, but the fact he played baseball even helped him land the job!

In this episode, we talk about being a teammate, managing a rigorous schedule and mental toughness all helped him get through his first Busy Season. It helps that Jon feels comfortable where he works, which means he's able to communicate with everyone and makes the bonds between coworkers even stronger.

Jon Chuddy works as an Accountant for Keith Boyer, CPA LLC. Prior to that he was a Professional Baseball Player for the Fargo Moorhead RedHawks.

He graduated from Pace University – Lubin School of Business with Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting/Finance.

The Green Apple Podcast is going to start doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments will be released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.

This week, John and Rachel discuss a Wall Street Journal article, "How to Build Instant Rapport in an Interview: Small talk can have a big impact on the outcome; tips from bartenders and comedians" by Sue Shellenbarger.

Rebecca Kelley grew up taking one big family trip a year — to Mexico every Spring Break. Since then, she has visited a total of 14 countries, even studying abroad in India while she was in college. She’s hiked in Inca trails to Machu Picchu in Peru and hiked the Alps in Switzerland, all while working hard to become a Partner at EKS&H. She feels that these trips allow her to totally disconnect so she returns with a fresh perspective.

In this episode, we talk about how it’s important to find a place that shares similar values as you. If you feel supported by the culture then you’re more likely to share, making work more fun and relationships more meaningful. A lot of us feel the pressure to know everything when we start, especially at a larger firm, so it’s up to management to tell them it’s okay to ask questions and feel a little vulnerable. In the end, Rebecca says, “It’s not about the accounting… it’s about the people.”

Scott Usher’s first theater audition was for a background role in South Pacific. When the Director found out he knew all the songs, he was immediately cast. Since then, he hasn’t looked back, doing 1-2 performances a year — one time even acting opposite his wife. Scott says, “If you’re committed to doing what it takes to do the work, you’ll put the work first when it has to be first. Otherwise, you should be doing your hobby.”

In this episode, we talk about how his Bachelor of Arts degree combined with his theater experience has really helped him in the business world. At the very least, Scott feels that he is now much more open to conversations with both coworkers and clients, realizing that work can be very high stress so we need to lighten up when we can. He is the living example of someone that can indeed pursue their passions and have a successful business career.