CASE STUDIES

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Heather and Don Van Boerum — a Utah couple whose ordinary trip to Costco became a moment that divided their lives into before and after — for an honest conversation about trauma, faith, marriage, and what it means to find joy on the other side of the unthinkable.Heather opens up about losing both legs below the knee in a parking lot accident just days before Christmas, navigating 14-plus hours of surgery, and the quiet spiritual premonition she'd had only a week before it happened. Don, a trauma surgeon who has spent his career walking into the worst moments of strangers' lives, reflects on what it was like to jump into the back of an ambulance and realize it was his wife — and the dark night he spent wandering back to the Costco parking lot wondering if they'd made the wrong call.The conversation explores the thin line between survival and loss, the choice to compete instead of collapse, the son who wrote a forgiveness card to the driver before his mom had even thought to be angry, and the kind of joy that can only be found on the other side of deep suffering. Heather and Don talk about what presence actually means, how tragedy clarified their marriage, and why four and a half years later, neither of them would trade what this experience has given them.This episode is a powerful listen for anyone navigating hardship, anyone who's ever questioned whether faith holds up under real pressure, and anyone who needs a reminder that the richest lives are rarely the ones that went according to plan.00:00 — Introduction & How They Met11:00 — Life Before the Accident11:54 — Just a Normal Day16:18 — The Moment of Impact22:32 — Don Hears It Happen25:06 — "We Have Her Limbs"33:30 — The Surgery That Lasted Until Christmas Eve36:22 — "This Is My Wife, Let's Get Going"47:42 — Choosing to Win49:44 — The Christmas Eve Surgery57:54 — "Will You Make Up My Difference?"01:03:10 — The Card01:13:00 — Beauty From Ashes01:18:23 — What We Know Now01:26:38 — Happy vs. Joy

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Dan Snow, Berkeley PhD and Harvard Business School professor turned BYU educator; for a thoughtful conversation on identity, reinvention, and choosing a life of deep purpose over conventional success.Dan shares his journey from the factory floors of Ford to the lecture halls of Harvard, and why he ultimately walked away from the elite academic path to teach and mentor at BYU. With rare humility and clarity, he unpacks the quiet courage it takes to start over, the challenges of being “the outsider,” and what it means to build a life that actually aligns with your values.They explore leadership, legacy, and how the most meaningful growth often comes from embracing discomfort. Whether it’s navigating faith in unfamiliar environments or making high stakes career pivots, Dan’s story is a powerful reminder that status isn’t the goal, impact is.

In this solo episode of Case Studies, Casey explores one of the most influential principles of his life: keeping learning ahead of earning. Drawing from more than two decades of intentional self-education and over a million dollars invested in personal development, he shares why the greatest asset anyone can build is their own ability to create value.  Casey reflects on the mentors, books, seminars, and experiences that shaped his career, from early lessons in sales and leadership to executive education at Harvard Business School and transformational experiences with Tony Robbins. Along the way, he unpacks the concept of human life value, the power of Kaizen and continuous improvement, and why the habit of learning matters far more than any individual investment.Casey challenges listeners to think differently about personal growth and success. He makes the case that the highest-return investment is rarely a stock, a business, or a market opportunity; it’s the commitment to continuously develop new skills, expand knowledge, and increase your ability to create value. For entrepreneurs, leaders, and high performers, this episode offers a practical framework for building a life of momentum, opportunity, and long-term fulfillment through intentional learning.  

In this episode, Casey sits down with Chris Crittenden, entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of Sandbox, for a conversation on courage, innovation, and rethinking what education should be. From selling a startup to Walmart to leading at BYU and now building Sandbox into a movement across multiple universities, Chris shares why closing doors and going deep often leads to the greatest returns.He and Casey explore the flaws of traditional higher education, the trap of chasing prestige, and the power of learning by doing. Chris outlines how Sandbox is equipping students to launch real companies while reshaping themselves in the process. Their discussion dives into resilience, resourcefulness, and why the greatest opportunities often lie off the beaten path.This episode is both a critique of the old system and a vision for a new one, where students learn through building, failure is embraced as part of the process, and desire becomes the ultimate differentiator.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Mel Torrie, founder and CEO of Autonomous Solutions, for a remarkable conversation on entrepreneurship, faith, resilience, and building one of the world’s leading autonomous robotics companies from the ground up.Raised on a farm in Canada as the oldest of nine children, Mel shares how long days driving tractors inspired a vision that would eventually lead him to pioneer autonomous technology across agriculture, mining, construction, and logistics. What began as a university research project at Utah State evolved into a 25 year journey filled with setbacks, near-bankruptcies, massive technological breakthroughs, and partnerships with companies like John Deere and SoftBank.Mel opens up about the painful lessons that shaped his leadership style, why he rejected fear based leadership culture, and how humility became the foundation of his company’s success. He also shares the deeply personal story of losing his son during one of the darkest seasons of his business career, and how faith carried him through unimaginable adversity.This episode is a powerful masterclass on endurance, optimism, leadership, and believing in a future no one else can yet see.

In this episode, Casey sits down with entrepreneur and investor Matt Mathison to explore how truth, resilience, and purpose define what it really means to thrive. From Wall Street highs to a public collapse, Matt shares how radical transparency, discipline, and faith shaped his comeback and his creation of Allevio, a healthcare platform designed to “empower healing anywhere.”He unpacks the Thrive Playbook — a practical framework of market tailwinds, operational systems, and maniacal cashflow discipline — showing how great leaders and businesses thrive by aligning people, purpose, and profit. Matt’s story reveals that thriving isn’t about avoiding pain, but transforming it into clarity and action.For entrepreneurs and high performers, this episode delivers raw lessons on leadership, marriage, and mindset — from rebuilding after loss to creating daily rhythms that keep priorities straight. Through it all, Matt models how truth and love, in business and life, create the foundation for lasting success.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with David Butler, teacher, author, and tour leader, for a thoughtful conversation on faith, imagination, and what it means to believe in a God bigger than we often dare to picture.David shares his story of growing up in Texas, teaching seminary and institute, and navigating a faith journey shaped by encounters with world religions, moments of doubt, and unexpected experiences in places like China and Rome that reshaped his view of God’s reach. He reflects on why the opposite of faith is not doubt but false certainty, and how embracing questions can actually deepen trust.Together, they explore themes of sin and repentance through fresh lenses, the importance of language in shaping our spiritual lives, and why patience, curiosity, and humility matter in both leadership and discipleship. David also opens up about leading “holy envy” tours, posting weekly reflections that serve as “church” for many, and walking through personal loss while holding onto hope.This conversation is an invitation to entrepreneurs, leaders, and seekers alike to expand their perspective, embrace the tension of growth, and live with more wonder, courage, and compassion.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community builder Mark Durham for a powerful conversation on persistence, faith, leadership, and creating meaningful impact over a lifetime. Mark shares the journey from winning state debate championships and pursuing art on a scholarship at the University of Utah, to building and selling successful businesses, leading a mission in Tokyo, and eventually launching initiatives that are transforming cities across Utah. Through stories of entrepreneurship, painful setbacks, grit-filled seasons of debt, and moments of spiritual clarity, Mark reveals how faith quietly shaped every major decision in his life. Casey and Mark explore what it means to build businesses with strong culture, why persistence matters more than talent, and how true leadership comes from empowering great people. They also dive into the vision behind My Hometown and City Strong Foundation, organizations focused on revitalizing communities through education, service, housing, and neighborhood transformation. This episode is a masterclass on long-term thinking, stewardship, and the compounding power of consistent service over time.