006 - Trying Hard Things. Also Parenting.

In this episode of Midnight Cheesecake, we dive into what it really takes to motivate kids, especially when quitting seems easier than pushing through. Bekah reflects on how a strings camp became a lesson in perseverance, while we swap stories about our own childhoods and how being nudged out of our comfort zones shaped who we are now. The conversation winds through financial literacy—how we’re trying to be more intentional with our kids than our own parents were—and into childhood dreams, from “starving artist” ambitions to engineering paths. Bekah also shares her unforgettable RAGBRAI ride across Iowa, complete with grit, tears, and an 85-year-old cyclist who outpaced everyone. It’s heartfelt, honest, and full of those parenting “aha” moments—tied together, naturally, with some midnight cheesecake. Chapters 0:14 Welcome to Midnight Cheesecake Podcast 1:03 Motivating Our Kids 12:19 Teaching Financial Literacy 14:19 Dreams and Career Aspirations 23:04 Balancing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation 27:41 Episode Wrap-Up