UPDATES & INSPIRATION
A Passion for Fashion & Helping Others Feel Their Best
The BIG Dream Gathering spent some time in Reno, Nevada this week. We met with a dreamer named Britton Murdock. Britton started something called ‘The Biggest Little Fashion Truck.’ She has a goal of empowering women by helping them find clothing that truly made them...
A Photography Teacher Leaving a Lasting Impact
The BIG Dream Gathering made its way to Logan, Utah. We started our day at Logan High School with Mr. Roger C. Rigby, a photography teacher with an incredible passion for truly seeing his students. Roger had a teacher who made such an impact on him while he was in...
Experimenting & Finding a Dream in Oregon
The dream team spent some time in Eugene, Oregon this week. We began the day, as we always do, in search of good coffee. Luckily, we were featuring a dreamer who has a passion for making really good coffee. Slightly Coffee Roasters was co-founded by Joe Harrison with...
Dreaming Big by Helping Students and Teachers in Arizona!
The BIG Dream Gathering made its way to Tempe, Arizona this week. We spent some time with Treasures 4 Teachers, a nonprofit organization with the goal of providing low cost and no-cost school supplies to educators across Arizona. The founder, Barb Blalock, began the...
Making Two Dreams Work Together!
The BIG Dream Gathering spent some time in Madison, Wisconsin this week. We were able to sit down with Leigh Mills, the 4 and 6 p.m. News Anchor for NBC15 and dive into her story. Leigh recalls watching the news with her dad at a young age and knowing very early on...
Small Steps, Big Dreams, and Red Ferraris
The BIG Dream Gathering made its way to Denver, Colorado this week. Our morning began with Eric Sandoval, the Founder of Oxotic Driving Experience. From an early age, Eric remembers working on cars with his dad and now offers driving experience packages to clients who...
Conquering Life’s Mountains in Minnesota
The dream team spent some time in Winona, Minnesota this week! We began our day with Eric Barnard, the Director of the Outdoor Recreation Center for the College of Education at Winona State University. We wanted to dig into Eric’s story, so we met him where he spends...
Puppies with a Purpose
We made our way to Waverly, Iowa this week and returned to Wartburg College for a BIG Dream Gathering. We did things a little bit differently by kicking off the day with the BIG Dream Gathering. This event was part of Wartburg’s orientation kickoff so the room was...
Cold Pressed Juice Made with Love in Augusta
The dream team returned to the road this week and we spent some time in beautiful Augusta, Georgia. We met the couple behind Humanitree House, Augusta’s first organic & vegan fresh-pressed juice joint. Baruti and Denise Tucker founded Humanitree House with the...
Just Saying Hello and Making a Difference in Seattle
The BIG Dream Gathering headed to the West Coast this week. We met with a very special dreamer named Rex Hohlbein. Rex had been working as an award-winning architect for several years, when he began to interact with some people living in homelessness. It started with...
Shaping Future Leaders by Building Strong Men in Missouri
The BIG Dream Gathering visited Cape Girardeau, Missouri this week. We met with a group of incredible dreamers. Former football players and graduates of Southeast Missouri State University. This group of guys saw a need for mentorship in their community. They began by...
Family Dreamers + Pie Makers in Indiana
The BIG Dream Gathering made its way to Purdue University this week. We met with a BIG dreamer and a family who helped turn a dream into a reality. Sarah McGregor found her passion for baking pies at a very young age. With the help of her family, she found her “sweet...
Inspiration, BiG Dreams, and Maker Spaces at BGSU!
The BIG Dream Gathering visited Bowling Green State University this week. We featured an inspiring couple who saw a need to create a space for all types of people to work on their craft or experiment with new projects. Mark and Judy Bowlus founded BiG Fab Lab with...
Thank You, University of Nebraska-Lincoln!
The BIG Dream Gathering spent some time in Lincoln, Nebraska today. We kicked off the day with Blue Blood Brewing Company and Co-Founder, Brian Podwinski. A retired police officer, Brian has always had a passion for community. As he was going after his dream of...
Thank You, Wartburg College!
The BIG Dream Gathering made its way to Waverly, Iowa today. We spent our morning with a dreamer named Krista. She is the founder of an international cosmetics company called Root. She didn’t always have this dream, but saw a problem that needed to be fixed and...
Thank You, Kansas State University!
The BIG Dream Gathering team kicked off our 2018 spring tour today! We headed to Manhattan, Kansas and began the day with the Sunset Zoo. We interviewed one of their zoo keepers and K-State alum, Amelia Jerome. She has had a passion for animals her entire life, but...
Dream Boost Scholarship Winners – Winter 2018
Announcing our two new Dream Boost Scholarship Winners! Congratulations to Javon and Rebecca! We love your dreams and we’re so excited to give your dreams a boost! Javon and Rebecca will both be receiving $2,500 to put towards their dream! Plus, they’ll be...
Dream Boost Scholarship Finalists
The BIG Dream Gathering got it’s start back in 2006 when one of my big dreams was on the ropes. I was out of time, out of options and out of money but thanks to the much needed encouragement and support that came from that first BDG, my dream got the boost it...
Thank You, University of Nevada, Reno!
We headed to Reno, NV for our final BIG Dream Gathering of the semester! The morning began with Mark McKinnon, the founder of Marked Studios, Inc, a premier tattoo studio in town. We not only dove into Mark’s story, but Mitch is taking home some of his artwork...
Thank You, Saint Louis University!
The BIG Dream Gathering spent the day in St. Louis, MO with some furry friends. We began the day with Randy Grim, the big dreamer behind Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Randy has an enormous heart and has been saving animals from abusive situations since he was only five...
Thank You, University of Utah!
We spent the day in Salt Lake City with some amazing dreamers! We kicked off our morning with Ali Babcock, the founder of Rideologie. The entrepreneurial bug bit Ali at a young age. She graduated from the University of Utah and decided to bring her passion of spinning...
Thank You, University of Arizona!
The BIG Dream Gathering made its way to Tucson, Arizona today. The morning began with David Lavin, the founder of Heart of the Horse Ranch. The ranch provides equine therapy for those looking for self awareness, compassion, and connection. We were in awe of not only...
Thank You, Georgia State University!
Today the BIG Dream Gathering headed to Atlanta, Georgia. We kicked off the morning with Matt and Kim Janke, the creators of Janke Glass Studio, the first complete glassblowing center in downtown Atlanta. We were mesmerized by the beauty of their dream and the art...
Jon Mero – Advice for dreamers!
Jon Mero’s audition for the Voice 2017 is this week! When you watch it… you’ll see how much of a natural Jon is on stage. His presence… his moves… and of course… his voice. (If you haven’t seen it… check it out below.)...
Thank You, University of Wisconsin-Madison!
The dream team spent the day in Madison, Wisconsin. The morning began with Keven Stonewall, a BIG dreamer and current student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Keven has a passion for cancer research. His passion began with a curiosity about microscopes at age...
Thank You, Drake!
Today we did some dreaming in Des Moines, Iowa. The dream team returned to Drake University for the second year in a row! It’s always fun when we can come back to a campus a year later and see what dreams have taken shape. We kicked off our morning with American...
Thank You, North Dakota State University!
The BIG Dream Gathering headed to Fargo, North Dakota this week for the fourth event of the fall semester! The morning began with Sandy’s Donuts & Coffee Shop, a local gem with some fantastic donuts. We loved getting to spend some time with the CEO, Mark...
Thank You, Kent State University!
The BIG Dream Gathering spent the day in Kent, Ohio with the Akron Honey Company and Kent State University. We kicked off the morning seeing how honey was made with Wesley, the founder of the Akron Honey Company. We were also able to reconnect with a Kent State...
Thank You, St. Cloud State University!
The BIG Dream Gathering made its way to St. Cloud, Minnesota today. We began the day with Redhead Creamery and got to meet with the founders to see how cheese curds are made. We loved getting to hear about Alise’s story and how she took a family passion and made...
Thank You, Southern Illinois University!
Today we kicked off the fall 2017 semester with Southern Illinois University. We began our day with Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour and experienced some incredible zip lining. A BIG thanks to Marc and Jessica for being awesome guides and helping us push through some fears...
Thank You University of Washington!
Today we concluded our spring 2017 BIG Dream Gathering tour with our final stop in Seattle, Washington. We kicked off the day meeting with Rachel and Jess, the founders of, The Beyond Project. We were fortunate enough to not only dig into their mission but also see...
Thank You University of Denver!
After wrapping up our BIG Dream Gathering at Colorado State University, the dream team packed up and headed to Denver for a second BIG Dream Gathering. This was the first time having back-to-back events and we were ready for the adventure. We had a great time at the...
Thank You Colorado State University!
The dream team had a great day in Fort Collins, Colorado. We began our day at the FoCo Cafe, a pay-what-you-can gourmet cafe. We held a BIG Dream Gathering and were able to connect with some incredible students, staff, and American Family agents. Here’s a a...
Thank You Valparaiso University!
We had an amazing day in Valparaiso, Indiana and an incredible BIG Dream Gathering at Valparaiso University! Here’s a video to show you how we spent our day… We wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing volunteers and support team! You...
Dream. Think. Do. – Lindsay Palmer
Lindsay Palmer has made it a habit to create opportunities where none seem to exist. In this interview, Lindsay talks with Mitch about the strategies you can use to create opportunities and live more of the life you want to live. Listen To The Podcast: ...
He got clear and achieved his dream job!
Have you ever dreamed of working for a specific company… but it just seemed impossible because you didn’t know anyone that worked there? This is one of the biggest perceived obstacles getting in the way of people pursuing dream jobs. They think,...
Thank You Kent State University!
We had an amazing BIG Dream Gathering at Kent State University! Here’s a video to show you how we spent our day at Kent… We wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing volunteers and support team at Kent State University! You all...
Thank You Purdue!
We had an amazing BIG Dream Gathering at Purdue University! Here’s a video to show you how we spent our day at Purdue… We wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing volunteers at Purdue University, our campus sponsors, and to our...
Thank You University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee!
We had an amazing BIG Dream Gathering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee! Here’s a video from the day… We wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing volunteers at UW-Milwaukee! You all were incredible to work with! Also, we wanted to...
Thank You Georgia Southern University!
We had an amazing BIG Dream Gathering at Georgia Southern University! Here’s a video to wrap up our day on campus… We wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing volunteers at Georgia Southern and to our incredible partner that made it all...
Thank You Arizona State University!
We had an amazing BIG Dream Gathering at Arizona State University! Here’s a video to wrap up our day in Tempe… We wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing volunteers at ASU! You all were fantastic to work with and we loved how you...
Thank You University of Central Missouri!
We had an amazing BIG Dream Gathering at the University of Central Missouri! Here’s a video to wrap up the day… We wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing volunteers at UCMO and to our incredible partner… American Family...
A Dream with Sole
Mitch had the chance to interview the founder of WILCOX Boots, Peter Nichols on today’s DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast. Peter has a story that will motivate you to go after that BIG idea as soon as you finish this episode. After a fateful afternoon in rainy...
BIG Dream Gathering at Drake University
Drake’s campus was beginning to look like fall, but it definitely still felt like summer, despite the leaves beginning to scatter across the grass. On the walk from the parking lot to the Olmsted Building, the sidewalk was decorated with chalked phrases like: “take it...
Thank You, Drake University!
Thanks so much for dreaming BIG with us tonight. A special shoutout to our awesome volunteers for making it all possible! Here’s a recap of our day in Des Moines: Please share the video to keep the ripple effect going. Be sure to tag your event photos with...
What is the BIG Dream Gathering like?
People often ask, “What the BIG Dream Gathering like?” Here’s a video of a recent BDG at Drake University. It will help to give you a sense of what it’s like to participate in a BDG… and it’ll give you a little of our history as...
How to Raise BIG Dreamers
In honor of Father’s Day, this solocast discusses the importance of raising your kids to be weird! Mitch dives into why parents should encourage their parents to be weird, because it is the “weird ones” that change the world. These dreamers and doers...
Start Ups and BIG Dreams
Mitch met Mike Meyers when he participated in a BIG Dream Gathering in Chicago a few years ago. Mike was a total rock star and stood out from the crowd. He posted a number of big dreams… but one in particular involved a business idea that he had. He was still a...
BIG Dream Gathering – University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
LOVED the BIG Dream Gathering we had at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee last night! They know how to DREAM big and support each other at UoW – Milwaukee! They brought the awesome. Not only did they dream BIG… but we were able to get a...
Elizabeth achieves her big dream of visiting 6 continents!
In 2008, Elizabeth Saunders attended a BIG Dream Gathering and she posted a dream. It was to visit 6 continents by the end of 2013. (Here’s a photo of her actual dream sheet. Yeah… she kept it.) Guess what? This rock star… just achieved her big...
One of Mike’s BIG Dreams…
We love to share updates on BIG Dreams that have been posted at BIG Dream Gatherings. Mike Myers attended a BIG Dream Gathering as a part of Succeed Faster last summer. This is his update… in his own words. “When we were at Succeed Faster this past...
Frequently Asked Questions about the BIG Dream Gathering on campus
Here are some frequently asked questions about the BIG Dream Gathering on campuses: How does it work? First, you are given a dreamer number so you can post your dreams and goals anonymously. Then Mitch kicks it off with a 40-minute talk about the fun and...
One of Eric’s BIG dreams… accomplished!
When people post dreams on the walls… sometimes they’re complicated and sometimes they’re simple. Eric Scrivner attended a BIG Dream Gathering in Chicago this past summer. He posted a number of big dreams… but one of them was a life long dream...
One of John’s big dreams…
John Cheatem came to a BIG Dream Gathering in 2010 and posted some of his dreams about music. Since he talked with us about his big dream he’s continued to take steps toward that dream everyday. He even took one of the “leaps of faith” he mentioned...
One of Megan’s BIG Dreams…
When Megan attended her first BIG Dream Gathering in Chicago… she admitted to not being sure what her big dreams might be. But she gave herself permission to dream. She started by posting about a dream involving an internship. Then she posted another dream about...
One of Sean’s BIG dreams…
Sean Moore works for ACT. He’s an awesome dad, hubby and member of his small community. And… he had a dream. That dream was to form a band… and rock the house. Now that may sound a little simple… and it would be fine if it was. We want to celebrate all kinds of...
BIG dreams. Pure awesome.
We held a BIG Dream Gathering in Raleigh, North Carolina. As people were busy posting dreams, a man approached me. He was professionally dressed. High and tight. Buttoned up. Blue oxford shirt, perfectly ironed khakis and wire rimmed glasses. He started to hand me his...
One of Calvin’s BIG Dreams
Videographer Calvin Johannsen has attended a number of BIG Dream Gatherings. But at one particular BDG in San Antonio… he posted a dream about climbing Mnt. Kilimanjaro. Once he got his dream sheet back… he started to make a plan. He put a budget together....
Melissa’s big dream update
When WIBW’s own Melissa Brunner came to cover the BIG Dream Gathering in Topeka, Kansas… she not only told the story of the BDG, she got into the spirit of the gathering! As she did… she posted a few of her own big dreams… including the idea of...
One of Jeff’s big dreams…
Here’s one of Jeff’s big dreams in his own words… Getting my girlfriend and I back to Rome, where we met, was one of the dreams that I put on the wall at the BIG Dream Gathering in San Antonio. Not only that… but Jeff wanted to surprise her...
