The Dream Vocation Podcast with Tony Bellagamba

Hosted by Tony Bellagamba

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Sep 2025

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About the show

My name is Tony Bellagamba and I use this podcast to help people identify and achieve their Dream Vocation! A job is just a lifeless means of making money but a vocation is a calling and a passion that allows you to earn money while living out a purpose, a passion. A vocation allows you to live a meaningful and fulfilling life while also maximizing your success. So if you want to find a career that is meaningful and fulfilling and then learn how to achieve and succeed in that career, give it a listen!

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60 recent

September 17, 2025Episode 641 hr 7 min

Voice Actor (Andy Field)

In this episode we speak with Andy Field, a Voice Actor or what you might refer to as a Voiceover Artist. Yes, Andy is that guy! The guy you hear in commercials, e-learning courses, documentaries, telephone systems, TV promos, radio ads, and more. His voice is everywhere and you’ve likely heard him before, as he’s worked for such companies as Nike, Toyota, Walmart, The History Channel, Mercedez-Benz, and other brand names. And, if you’re a fan of video games, you may know him as the voice of HandUnit, the handheld computer guide, in the wildly popular Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise of games. When I told my kids that I interviewed the Five Nights at Freddy’s voice they thought I was cool for the first time ever. I don’t know about you but when listening to a commercial, I’ve always wondered, “How do I get that job?”. Well, Andy’s story is as unique as you would think. For 17 years he was a teacher in Mississippi. He also drove Uber, ran a tutoring business, was an EMT for a time, and was an infantry officer in the US Army Reserve for 32 years. But it was a simple event that brought him to his true calling of Voice Acting. One day at home in 2013, he was mimicking the football announcer from Ole Miss when his wife said, “You could be an announcer guy!” Never afraid of a side hustle, Andy took that comment to heart and began researching voice acting. He slowly built up his body of work, doing everything from Zombie sounds to positive affirmations and eventually growing into larger, higher paying projects. By 2017, Andy was earning enough that he was able to leave his teaching job and become a full-time voice actor. He now has his own professional studio at home and is in the top 1-2% of earners in the voice over industry. Andy’s story is an inspiration, as it shows that if you aren’t living the life you desire, you can go out and make your own dreams come true. Listen in to hear Andy’s career arc and some fascinating stories from his work as a voice actor. Website: www.thedreamvocation.comMaster Class (Identify and Achieve Your Dream Vocation): www.thedreamvocation.com/online-course/

July 29, 20251 hr 3 min

Rodeo Cowboy and Farrier (Nathan Klassen)

In this episode we speak with Nathan Klassen, a former rodeo bull rider and full metal jouster and current horseshoer or what is known as a farrier. That’s a hell of a career! Where do we begin?When Nathan was a kid, he dreamed of being a football player or a bull rider. So, in his young teenage years he did both! But as he grew older and saw his potential in football, he put away his spurs for a bit so that he could focus on earning a college football scholarship. He successfully did so, but after two years playing ball in college Nathan got sick and decided to hang up his cleats and put the spurs back on. He dove head first back into bull riding and centered his entire life around it. From his workouts to the types of jobs he took, it was all built around allowing him to spend as much time on the bull as possible. For years, he rode the rodeo circuit and had enough success in a few of those years that he could be a full-time bull rider. Also during this time, Nathan got involved in a reality show called Full Metal Jousting, which as Nathan says, “wasn’t dinner theater jousting or the medieval times show”. This was full-on armor and real jousting sticks. In fact, it was so real that Nathan nearly lost his eye, tore his pectoral muscle, and suffered a compound fracture of his vertebrae! In the end, after years on the rodeo circuit, father time caught up to Nathan like it does all of us. With a worn down body and a child and responsibilities at home, Nathan decided to hang up the spurs for good. But, he didn’t give up his love for the cowboy way of life. To continue following his passions and also earning money for his young family, Nathan went to farrier school. Now, this probably isn’t the career for me but Nathan absolutely loves it. He travels around the Oklahoma area taking care of horses, donkeys, and mules by trimming their hooves and placing shoes on them. He does this so that he can keep the animals healthy and make for a more comfortable life. As Nathan says, “If you pursue the stuff you really enjoy good things do happen”. From bull riding to jousting to working with animals, Nathan is a testament to following what you love. Listen in to this incredibly cool story! Website: www.thedreamvocation.comMaster Class (Identify and Achieve Your Dream Vocation): www.thedreamvocation.com/online-course/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thedreamvocation

June 10, 2025Episode 621 hr 5 min

Baseball Scout (Jim Negrych)

In this episode we speak with Jim Negrych, former professional baseball player and current professional baseball scout for the St. Louis Cardinals organization. I grew up playing baseball with Jimmy and it was clear from an early age that he was levels above the rest of us. But he didn’t rest on that talent alone. Jimmy worked his tail off as a youth player in the Buffalo, NY area to the point that he earned a college scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. At the college level his talent and hard work continued to pay off, as he was named an All-American twice and eventually drafted in the 6th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the professional level, Jimmy took to some old school, no-nonsense coaching and leveled up the hard work even more, earning success as a multiple-time all-star teams and being named the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year in 2008. After his baseball career, Jimmy could have taken his career in a variety of different ways but decided that he wanted to continue following his passion for baseball. He became a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals organization where he now scouts baseball players in the Northeast region of the United States. By following his dreams, Jimmy gets to be around the game of baseball that he loves and not only identify the next stars, but also mentor young players. Listen in to hear Jimmy’s story about a love for baseball and a career centered around that love. Website: www.thedreamvocation.comOnline Master Class: https://thedreamvocation.com/online-course/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thedreamvocation

June 10, 2025Episode 613 min

I'm Back!

Don't call it a comeback! As you may have noticed, I have not posted an episode in a while. That's because I've been working on three big projects:A website: www.thedreamvocation.comAn online course to help you identify and achieve the career of your dreams: https://thedreamvocation.com/online-course/A YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thedreamvocationCheck out this episode to learn more!

December 6, 2024Episode 6038 min

Tour Boat Captains (Captain T and Captain Kay)

In this episode we speak with Tarkan and Kayhan Peksen, known as Captain T and Captain Kay. Captain T and Captain Kay are two young entrepreneurs who own a tour boat company named Paradise Cycle Boat Cruises down in Marco Island, Florida. I met Captain T and Captain Kay when my wife and I booked a sunset cruise during a recent weekend getaway. After chatting with them and hearing a bit about their story, I knew I had to have them on the podcast to hear about their journey as tour boat owners. T and Kak were born and raised in Marco Island, Florida, an area of Florida known for its amazing beaches and golf courses. Both of them left their hometown for college but always knew that they would be drawn back by the allure of the water. As the older brother, T returned home first and like a true entrepreneur at heart, dove in headfirst and started multiple businesses, including a boat repair operation. While these businesses didn’t ultimately end up being the success that he had hoped, they taught him a lot and laid the foundation for the eventual success with Paradise Cycle Boat. Kay, meanwhile, always had a love for boats and when he returned from college, the brothers decided the time was right to combine their passions and skills. Through hard work and networking, they were able to unearth an opportunity to purchase the cycle boat and were off to the races. After just a short while, they had built enough success that they were able to buy out their competition and expand their business to a second boat. The brothers are now off and running, leading one of the most exciting and entertaining tour boat operations on the gulf coast. Listen in to hear the Dream Vocation story of brothers T and Kai. I mean, what cooler career is there than driving a boat around on the water all day? Thanks so much for listening!

October 12, 2024Episode 591 hr 13 min

Video Game Designer (Mitchell Wolfe)

In this episode we speak with Mitchell Wolfe, a video game designer out of San Diego, California. While I was growing up playing video games, and even now watching my kids play them, I always wondered, “Who are the people that have the cool job of actually creating these games?” Well, Mitchell is one of those cool people! He is a video game designer, specifically an encounter designer which means he designs the way the game feels and what you do with the character within an encounter, such as combat or a social or environmental encounters. Mitchell has worked on some amazing games, including Star Wars: Jedi Survivor.During the discussion, he not only talks about the incredibly fascinating process of designing video games but also about his career path. Mitchell knew from an early age that he wanted to design video games but as he was entering college, he believed (incorrectly as he himself says) that if he had the words “video game” in his degree, he wouldn’t be taken seriously. So, during undergrad, he focused on a degree in cognitive science. For the next several years after college Mitchell took a variety of small jobs, from working on a movie set to writing for a video game magazine. He then realized that if he wanted to go after his dream, he needed to take a more direct path. With that, he went to graduate school for games and playable media and began to leverage his experience and his newly found network to find opportunities within the world of video game design. Mitchell worked hard, performed at every opportunity that presented itself, and eventually landed at Respawn Entertainment where he is living out his dream of designing video games. This is a fascinating interview, even if you aren’t a gamer, as we get to take a sneak peak into the fascinating world of video game design. Check out Mitchell and his Dream Vocation story.

September 12, 2024Episode 581 hr 4 min

Inventor and Outerwear Entrepreneur (Howard White)

In this episode we speak with Howard White, Inventor and Entrepreneur. Howard is the founder of Constant Mountain, an outdoor jacket company centered around the infinity pocket, which Howard invented and patented. Howard’s story shows us that everyday problems can be turned into career opportunities and that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. About 7 years ago, Howard was enjoying his career as a Product Manager and going to his kids’ sporting events on nights and weekends. On one particularly chilly morning, he was at his daughter’s soccer game and tried to warm his hands by putting them in the pockets of his jacket. However, his hands were still chilly because all that was keeping them warm was the fabric of the inside pocket. Howard told his wife that he wished he had a hoodie on so that he could put his hands together and generate more warmth from the body heat. It was at that moment that the concept of the infinity pocket was born. Howard began to think, “Why can’t I have a jacket that easily zips up and down but also provides a front pocket that allows me to put my hands together?”With that, Howard did what so many entrepreneurs do and just got started. He bought a sewing machine and developed his first iteration of a jacket containing the infinity pocket. It wasn’t great but it showed him that the concept worked. Over the next several years Howard went through the painstaking process of getting his design patented. He then built a business around his design, naming it Constant Mountain. Howard is now fully out in the market, aiming to provide everyone who has ever experienced a chilly day and cold hands with a Constant Mountain jacket and infinity pocket. Listen in as Howard tells his story about how he went from Product Manager to Inventor and Business Owner.

August 29, 2024Episode 571 hr 14 min

Climate Entrepreneurs (Josh Elliott and Aaron White)

In this episode we speak with Josh Elliot and Aaron White, founders of Climate Karen, a climate tech brand committed to making the planet less hot in an innovative way that allows the everyday person to get involved. Josh and Aaron are two badasses who have had experiences and careers that took them all over the world. From drilling water wells in the Amazon to living in African villages where lions were known to prowl, these two have lived adventurous and fulfilling lives. We even talk about these wild experiences in the episode. Now they are teaming up to help put a dagger in the heart of climate change by forming a brand, which in their words, is “so ridiculous that it will get people to start talking about climate change” and do something about it.Combining Aaron’s entrepreneurial background and Josh’s “get it done, execution” mindset, they have come up with an innovative way to get the everyday person involved in fighting this massive problem. Today, there is a technology which allows us to suck carbon dioxide out of the air, turn it into liquid, and inject it into the ground to form rock and capture the carbon dioxide forever. The challenge however, is that this method costs significant money, with only the largest of organizations such as Microsoft, Google, and the Government taking part. But, Josh and Aaron believe that if we can scale this technology we can ultimately reduce the cost and thus make a much larger impact. Enter Climate Karen which provides a subscription service, allowing the average person to subscribe for as low as $15 per month and get an investment return of removing over 500 pounds of carbon dioxide permanently on an annual basis, which is equivalent to approximately 1,000 miles of driving. Josh and Aaron are beginning this venture with excitement, a big purpose, and a whole lot of energy. Listen in to hear two entrepreneurs discuss chasing their Dream Vocation and changing the world at the same time!

August 19, 2024Episode 561 hr 6 min

Music Producer (Tom Vrem)

In this episode we speak with Tom Vrem, a music producer, guitar player, and cook book author out of Nashville, Tennessee. Tom is a renaissance man to say the least, and may I say across a variety of avenues that are all pretty awesome. Anyone that can produce a killer album, rip a guitar riff and cook up a gourmet breakfast is a cool person to hang out with in my book. I’m a huge music fan so this episode was super fun for me to record. As a music fan, I’ve always wondered how songs were made. Well, that’s exactly Tom’s career. In the episode he tells us how he plays a multi-faceted role in taking a song from conception to final version. From helping the artist fine tune their song, to finding the right musicians to play instruments, and even managing personalities, Tom does it all in his role as a music producer. He even steps in as the guitar player on some of the songs!And the most inspiring part? Tom didn’t move to Nashville and begin pursuing his calling as a music producer until he was 38 years old! He began as an intern at the famous Blackbird music studio and through hard work and a commitment to his craft, he was able to forge important relationships and built a reputation as one of the best producers across the Nashville music scene, from Americana all the way to Heavy metal. But you can’t paint Tom with a narrow brush, as his talents and interests run wide. In addition to his career in music, he is also a great cook and has even published several cook books, including one with Tiffany from 80’s pop fame. Listen in as Tom tells us about his exciting career journey and tells some fascinating stories from the Nashville music scene!

July 11, 2024Episode 5549 min

Fashion Designer (Rachel Kroll)

In this episode we speak with Rachel Kroll, a fashion designer out of New York City. This episode is special to me because one of my daughters loves fashion and says she wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. So, what better gift could I give her than to interview someone living the Dream Vocation she aspires to? Plus, I’m sure there are a lot of other people out there interested in hearing about the world of fashion, so it’s a win-win for everyone. Rachel’s story is one of following your passion and not falling back on the quote unquote more traditional, reasonable career path. Like a lot of young girls, Rachel was interested in fashion from a young age. But unlike most of her counterparts, Rachel took action and pursued her passion from the get-go. She started by learning how to sew from her mother and aunt. From there, she took fashion classes in high school and even took classes at the Art Institute of Chicago on the weekends. I don’t know what you were doing on the weekends in high school, but I certainly wasn’t going to more school. Anyways, upon graduating from High School Rachel wanted to attend an art school. But, her parents required her to go to a more traditional university in case her interest in fashion fell off. So, Rachel enrolled in the fashion program at Kent State. Even then, her father encouraged her to go into Finance, which was a safer, more stable career. But once again, Rachel chose her passion and pursued passion with all of her energy. Rachel kept pursuing her dreams and eventually landed a role as a design assistant at a leading fashion brand, working specifically on footwear. Fast forward to today and Rachel is a full-fledged fashion designer, developing some of the trendiest and most popular women’s footwear that you likely see when you walk out your door. She even tells us about the design process, which is incredibly interesting. To take an idea and turn it into an actual product that people wear is a fascinating journey. Listen in as Rachel tells us her story and inspires us to follow our passions.