CURIOUS? with Dan Alber

011 Tristan Cusick (Cusick Media, Ruak) - Discipline Is Contagious

Tristan Cusick is a filmmaker and entrepreneur who built Cusick Media from the ground up—taking on tour work, directing music videos, and learning business the hard way. But after years of saying yes to everything, he hit a wall. What followed was Ruak—a wellness-forward creative community aimed at helping artists take care of themselves while staying inspired. In this episode, Tristan shares what it’s really like to lead a creative team, why failure taught him more than success ever did, and how cold plunges and community runs became part of his healing. He opens up about starting something new in the middle of a busy career, and what it means to be both creative and well—without burning out. This conversation is about work, health, leadership, and permission. Permission to ask for help, to pivot, to rest, and to build something that reflects who you actually are.

010 Tim Sheppard - On Fatherhood

Tim Sheppard is a minister, musician, and father who has spent over 40 years leading others in faith and family. A pioneer in early Christian music, Tim chose a life of integration—bringing his family on the road, living out his values in public, and defining success by the depth of connection rather than applause. In this episode, Tim reflects on the sacred call of fatherhood, the tension between gifting and responsibility, and how becoming a parent reshaped his relationship with God. He shares how names carry meaning, why legacy is built in small, consistent moments, and how spiritual leadership often starts at home. The conversation explores faith, identity, family, and what it means to carry both calling and tenderness over a lifetime.

009 Brandon Puckett - The Risk Of Staying

Brandon Puckett is a CFO, a husband, a father of four, and a leader who doesn’t just talk about growth—he lives it. But he didn’t start that way. In this episode, Brandon opens up about his journey from risk-averse corporate climber to someone who’s learning to lead with intention, vulnerability, and purpose. We talk about the kind of risk that doesn’t look brave from the outside, the hidden transformation that comes from staying put, and why the goal isn’t growth for its own sake—it’s health. Brandon shares how leadership, fatherhood, and faith have reshaped his identity, and what it really means to be safe enough to grow. This episode is about slow change, quiet conviction, and the kind of strength that takes years to build.

008 Ashley Morgan - On Purpose

Ashley Morgan is a music manager whose work lives at the intersection of vision, logistics, and belief. She’s spent the last decade helping artists bring their message to the world—and making sure the story holds up even when they’re not in the room. In this conversation, Ashley shares what it actually means to manage a creative career, why purpose is non-negotiable, and how ambition and surrender can coexist. She unpacks what it’s like to build someone else’s platform while holding onto her own convictions, and why collaboration—not competition—is the new standard.

007 Tip Frank - Bet On Yourself

Tip Frank is a former touring musician and the founder of Spiritual World Tour, a fashion brand rooted in simplicity, self-awareness, and subtle confidence. After nearly a decade on the road, he transitioned into the world of clothing design—driven not by trend, but by a desire to create pieces that feel honest to wear. In this episode, Tip shares how body image, grief, and reinvention quietly shaped both his creative path and his personal one. He reflects on losing his father as a teenager, shifting dreams in adulthood, and the tension between making something you love and hoping others see themselves in it. The conversation touches on creative identity, the weight of unspoken grief, and what it means to bet on yourself when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. It’s a story about subtle confidence, staying tender through transition, and how the things we make often mirror the lives we’ve lived.