CASE STUDIES

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey back sits down with Doug Cartwright; entrepreneur, author, speaker, and longtime friend; for one of the most personal and powerful conversations ever shared on the show. After being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer, Doug opens up about the months leading to his diagnosis, the emotional weight of confronting mortality, and the perspective shift that followed.

Together, they explore faith, friendship, resilience, and the surprising gifts that can emerge from life’s most difficult challenges. Doug shares how his relationship with God has deepened, why relationships have become his highest priority, and how a renewed sense of urgency has sharpened his appreciation for everyday moments. He also discusses the cutting edge treatment options he is pursuing, including a groundbreaking CAR-T clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania, and the resourcefulness required to keep fighting when the odds are stacked against him.

Doug’s perspective is a powerful reminder that life’s greatest challenges often reveal what matters most.

To support Doug’s treatment, medical expenses, and clinical trial journey, you can donate here: gofund.me/0ef9a2dae
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In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Taylor Randall, the 17th president of the University of Utah and former dean of the David Eccles School of Business. With a background as a distinguished economist and academic leader, Taylor brings deep insight into what it takes to lead major institutions through growth, innovation, and cultural transformation.

He shares the leadership principles that guided his decade-long transformation of the Eccles School into a nationally recognized and fast growing business program, and discusses how those same values now shape his presidency at the University of Utah. The conversation explores how to build momentum in complex systems, why fast decision making matters, and how to lead with both humility and urgency in high stakes environments.

Casey and Taylor unpack topics ranging from academic innovation and public university strategy to entrepreneurship, economics, and the future of higher education.
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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 Met
11:00 — Life Before the Accident
11:54 — Just a Normal Day
16:18 — The Moment of Impact
22:32 — Don Hears It Happen
25:06 — "We Have Her Limbs"
33:30 — The Surgery That Lasted Until Christmas Eve
36:22 — "This Is My Wife, Let's Get Going"
47:42 — Choosing to Win
49:44 — The Christmas Eve Surgery
57:54 — "Will You Make Up My Difference?"
01:03:10 — The Card
01:13:00 — Beauty From Ashes
01:18:23 — What We Know Now
01:26:38 — Happy vs. Joy

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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.

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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.

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