People & Education
At the heart of Chasing The Unicorn Podcast is a shared belief that the best learning happens through curiosity, conversation, and experience. People & Education highlights the voices behind the podcast and the approach we take to helping others better understand, appreciate, and enjoy the craft behind a great pour.
For education, collaboration, or speaking inquiries, we welcome conversation and thoughtful partnerships.
The People Behind the Podcast
Behind Chasing The Unicorn Podcast are two educators with a shared curiosity for how craft, tradition, and experience come together. John and Shauna approach bourbon through conversation and learning—bringing complementary backgrounds that shape how stories are told and ideas are explored.
John Schuster
As a host and educator, John approaches every discussion with the mindset of a teacher—asking how decisions are made, how traditions evolve, and how complex ideas can be communicated clearly. The goal is not to define a single “right” way to enjoy bourbon, but to help others build confidence, curiosity, and appreciation in their own pursuit of the perfect pour.
John is driven by curiosity and a genuine enthusiasm for understanding how things work—and then helping others see those connections for themselves. He is drawn to both the analytical and creative sides of the bourbon world, where process, experimentation, and craftsmanship intersect. For him, the enjoyment of bourbon begins with awareness: slowing down, engaging the senses, and understanding how time, materials, and intention come together in the glass.
That passion for learning is grounded in formal education and lived experience. John holds a undergraduate degree in Business Management and an MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Over more than 26 years of military service in the Navy and retiring as an Army officer, John served at tactical to operational levels, leading combat forces in two theaters of operations, and completed his career as an military educator through the use of the adult education learning models to train the next generation of war fighters.
Across those roles, a consistent theme emerged: understanding complex systems deeply and translating them into ideas others can grasp and apply. This ability to break down complexity without losing nuance shapes how he teaches, hosts conversations, and guides sensory exploration.
Alongside his professional career, John pursued formal spirits education with the same rigor he brings to teaching. He is an Executive Bourbon Steward and has completed specialized coursework through Moonshine University, including focused study in whiskey production, barrel aging, and maturation.
The science and structure behind barrel aging resonated deeply with him—highlighting how small decisions and long timelines shape flavor. That understanding reinforced his interest in connecting what people taste in the glass back to the processes that created it.
That formal study has been reinforced through extensive hands-on engagement within the industry. John has visited more than twenty distilleries, participating in production walkthroughs, barrel tastings, and single-barrel selection experiences. These moments provided firsthand insight into how production choices, environment, and patience translate directly into sensory character.
For John, the pursuit of the perfect pour is most meaningful when it’s shared—through conversation, education, and time spent learning together.
- Executive Bourbon Steward
- Senior educator and instructor for adult and professional learning environments
- Moonshine University coursework in whiskey production and barrel aging
- Extensive distillery visits, discussions, and educational tastings, including participation in barrel tastings and single-barrel selection experiences
- Experienced guide in sensory exploration and bourbon appreciation through formal education and conversation
- 26+ years of military service as a logistics officer
- Degree in Business Management
- MBA, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
Shauna Hann
As a co-host and educator, Shauna brings structure, perspective, and historical grounding to every conversation. Her goal is not to define expertise as something out of reach, but to make understanding accessible—helping others feel confident, curious, and engaged as they explore their own pursuit of the perfect pour.
At her core, Shauna is a teacher. With more than a decade of experience teaching at the university level—including undergraduate and graduate degree–granting programs—she brings a deep understanding of how adults learn best. Her approach emphasizes structure, engagement, and relevance, creating learning environments that are rigorous yet approachable.
Whether leading a classroom, facilitating discussion, or guiding sensory education, she focuses on meeting learners where they are and helping them build confidence through clarity and context.
Shauna’s academic foundation includes undergraduate study in viticulture, where she developed an early understanding of how agriculture, fermentation, and environment influence flavor and expression. She later pursued advanced study in history and is ABD from The Ohio State University, with a scholarly focus on how institutions, traditions, and cultures evolve over time.
Her professional teaching experience includes service as a professor of history at the United States Military Academy at West Point, as well as senior instructional roles at the Army Sustainment University and the Command and General Staff College. Across these institutions, she authored and developed curriculum for multiple courses, shaping how complex subjects are taught to future leaders.
Alongside her academic career, Shauna has pursued formal spirits education as an extension of her interest in craft, history, and sensory experience. She is an Executive Bourbon Steward and has participated in numerous distillery visits, discussions, and educational tastings.
Her background in viticulture and historical study informs a thoughtful approach to bourbon—one that connects raw materials, process, and tradition to what is ultimately experienced in the glass. This perspective allows her to guide sensory exploration with both context and care.
- Executive Bourbon Steward
- Member, Bourbon Women Association
- Extensive distillery visits, discussions, and educational tastings
- Experienced guide in sensory exploration and bourbon appreciation through formal education and conversation
- Undergraduate study in viticulture
- ABD in History, The Ohio State University
- Professor of History, United States Military Academy at West Point
- Senior educator and course author for graduate-level professional military education
Experience & Credentials
The work behind Chasing The Unicorn Podcast is grounded in formal education, disciplined teaching experience, and sustained engagement with the bourbon and whiskey world. Together, John and Shauna bring complementary perspectives shaped by years of instruction, study, and firsthand exposure to how craft, process, and tradition intersect.
Their combined experience spans university-level teaching, curriculum development, adult learning environments, and formal spirits education. This foundation is reinforced through extensive distillery visits, guided tastings, and ongoing study—allowing conversations and educational engagements to remain thoughtful, accurate, and accessible.
- Executive Bourbon Stewards
- University-level teaching and curriculum development experience
- Formal spirits education and structured tasting study
- Extensive distillery engagement, including production walkthroughs and barrel tastings
- Experience guiding sensory exploration for diverse audiences
Education, Collaboration, and the Perfect Pour
We partner with distilleries, brands, and organizations to create experiences centered on education, storytelling, and connection. From guided tastings and moderated conversations to educational sessions designed for curious audiences, the focus remains the same: helping people discover their own version of the perfect pour.
Each engagement is shaped to the audience, the setting, and the story being told—whether that’s a distillery floor, a tasting room, or a private gathering.
For education, collaboration, or speaking inquiries, please get in touch.