Bridge Out Ahead

Revisit: Built Strong: The Road to Mental Health Advocacy with Cre Larson

Trigger Warning: Heavy themes of depression, mental health, child loss. On this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, Bridger sits down with Cre Larson, a powerhouse in mental health advocacy whose story weaves together faith, grit, and a deep commitment to serving others. As Executive Director of First Call for Help, Cre has spent more than 30 years walking alongside individuals and families in their hardest moments—turning her own personal loss into a mission to bring hope and healing. From her early days in social services to leading an agency that now impacts communities across Minnesota, Cre shares how faith, vision, and a “never quit” mindset have carried her through life’s toughest seasons. Her journey is proof that even in the face of tragedy, something powerful can be built. Key Topics Covered: Faith in Action: How Cre turned the loss of her infant son into a lifelong calling Daily Grounding Practices: Gratitude, prayer, and the 0–10 depression self-check Leading Through Change: Navigating shifting funding and community needs Vision & Legacy: How First Call for Help is shaping the future of mental health in Minnesota Breaking Stigma: Why she calls herself “1 in 4” in the mental health conversation. 🛠️ Toolbox Takeaway: Life is always under construction build with intention Strong foundations come from gratitude, faith, and community You can’t pour from an empty cup self-check daily and protect your energy. ✨ If you’ve ever faced loss, led through change, or wanted to better understand the heart of mental health advocacy, this conversation will inspire you to keep building one step, one choice, and one act of service at a time.

Revisit: She Turned Her Pain Into Purpose | Jessica’s Story of Becoming An Author

Trigger Warning: Childloss, Pandemic Journey, and Grief. We completely understand if this you would like to wait until next week to join us again! When life unraveled, Jessica didn’t set out to be strong—she just wanted to make sense of the pain. What began as journal entries in the thick of grief after child loss and illness, fear during a pandemic, and chronic illness through slowly became the foundation of her writing. In this conversation, she shares how loss reshaped her view of purpose, creativity, and what it truly means to heal. This isn’t a story about triumph. It’s about transformation—about learning to look beyond yourself when everything falls apart, and finding beauty and purpose in what remains.

Revisit: She Couldn't Pick a Path...Until This One Changed Everything!

Adrianne’s career journey has been anything but typical. From trying multiple paths that left her feeling stuck to finally discovering her purpose in business consulting on LinkedIn, she’s navigated twists, turns, and a few dead ends along the way. In this episode, we unpack the zig-zag of Adrianne’s career, diving into the lessons she learned about persistence, self-discovery, and the power of finding work that actually clicks. If you’ve ever felt like nothing is working, this story will remind you that sometimes it takes trying everything before the right path reveals itself. Key Topics Covered: The career detours that taught Adrianne resilience and self-awareness How LinkedIn became the platform that opened new doors The mindset shifts that turned “failure” into stepping stones Strategies for identifying work that aligns with your strengths and values Advice for anyone feeling stuck or lost in their career path

Revisit:Building Trust, One Title at a Time

On this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, Bridger sits down with Jenny Giving, a powerhouse in title services with deep roots in family values, bold leadership, and an unstoppable work ethic. From running her family’s furniture store as a teen to navigating 17 years in banking, Jenny’s journey is full of pivots—and purpose. Today, she leads with heart and hustle in the world of title work, balancing motherhood, leadership, and legacy. Key Topics Covered: * Title Work 101: What it actually is—and why it matters more than you think * Career Leaps: Making bold moves after nearly two decades in banking * Staying Grounded: How to lead when life feels chaotic * Legacy Building: What Jenny hopes to pass on to her daughters and her Minnesota community * Real Talk: Burnout, curveballs, and the joy of the “messy middle” 🛠️ Toolbox Takeaway: * Honesty wins * Hard isn’t bad—it’s where the best work gets done * Be the problem solver people can count on ✨ If you’re someone who’s building something meaningful—through challenge, change, and a whole lot of heart—this episode is for you.

Revisit: Out of Pain, Into Purpose: How Jed LaPlant started his band Wild Horses

In this episode of Bridge Out Ahead, host Bridger Hopkins sits down with musician and frontman Jed LaPlant of Wild Horses. Jed opens up about what it really takes to build a band from the ground up—balancing the art of songwriting with the grind of booking tours, managing money, and treating music like a business.