From Zero-Waste Challenge to Global Community with Kathryn Kellogg (Ep. 189)
Imagine fitting two years of household trash into a single 16-ounce jar. That personal challenge helped Kathryn Kellogg turn her passion for zero-waste living into a message that reached millions. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Kathryn shares how social media transformed her experiment into a career and led her to launch Going Zero Waste, a global community focused on sustainability and practical, everyday choices. She explains how small changes can reduce waste, save money and make a meaningful impact.
A Nourished Private Life, an Authentic Public Voice with Hannah Heidel (Ep. 188)
What happens when social media becomes more than a place to scroll? For Hannah Heidel, known online as @nourisheddgirl, it became a space to navigate her own health journey, connect with others and build a community centered on health and wellness. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Hannah shares how opening up about her mental and physical health struggles helped her become more comfortable with vulnerability and authenticity, while also learning when to set boundaries to keep parts of her life private.
From Social Skeptic to Executive Influencer with Mark Peters (Ep. 187)
Many leaders wonder if a social media presence is worth the effort, but Mark Peters believes it's one of today's most powerful leadership tools. As CEO of Butterball Farms, founder of The SOURCE and author of The Retention Trap, Mark has embraced social media to build trust, share meaningful insights and elevate others. In this episode of Flip Your Script, he shares his journey from a social media skeptic to executive influencer and explains why showing up online is no longer optional for today's executives.
Bring the Joy on Social Media with Jessica Janzen (Ep. 186)
When her infant son Lewiston was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Jessica Janzen turned to social media to share updates and let others know how they could support her family. After his passing, it became a space to process grief, find hope and connect with others navigating life's hardest moments. In this episode, Jessica shares how using social media with intention can foster healing, build authentic community and inspire others through the power of our stories.
The Veg King: Big Veg, Bigger Life Lessons with Gerald Stratford (Ep. 185)
Gerald Stratford never expected a photo of his giant vegetables to change his life. Known today as the Veg King, he built a global following by sharing his passion for gardening and spreading positivity. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Gerald shares how gardening helped him through cancer and the pandemic, why authenticity matters and the simple mindset that guides his life: keep your glass half full, say yes and "try hard with a smile on your face."
Meet Me in the Media Center: Turning a Library Into a Platform with Jen Miller (Ep. 184)
Most people don't think "school librarian" and "social media influencer" belong in the same sentence, but Jen Miller is changing that. As the creator of Meet Me In The Media Center, Jen has built a positive online community that has garnered millions of views while advocating for libraries and supporting global book donation efforts. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Jen shares her journey to viral success, the power of taking chances and how she balances life as an educator and content creator.
Wonderful Life with Bedford: Finding Connection Through Social Media with Jesse & Hollie Erickson (Ep. 183)
Jesse and Hollie Erickson are the parents behind the viral Instagram and TikTok account Wonderful Life with Bedford. After their son Bedford was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome (SJS), they turned to social media searching for connection, support and other families who understood their journey. In this episode of Flip Your Script, they share how their platform became a source of healing, inspired millions through Bedford’s joy and resilience and helped launch an inclusive playground project.
From Teacher to Creator: Building a Digital Legacy with Matt Eicheldinger (Ep. 182)
Matt Eicheldinger is a middle school teacher turned bestselling author and viral creator. He built his platform by sharing classroom stories and middle school humor. During the pandemic, he began posting on TikTok and everything changed. A viral video in a flooded parking lot brought millions of views and expanded his reach far beyond the classroom. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Matt shares why he chooses authenticity over trends and how he thinks about his digital legacy in everything he posts online.
The @SimonSits Story: Impacting Millions with Isabel Klee (Ep. 181)
Isabel Klee started using social media to share her journey fostering rescue dogs and daily life with her dog, Simon. What began as a personal outlet on her @simonsits account grew into a viral storytelling platform, a bestselling book and a TV show that is now in development. Her authentic, unfiltered fostering content built a deeply engaged audience that follows each foster like a new season of a TV series. In this episode, she shares how honesty, storytelling and a love for dogs connect people across backgrounds and experiences.
Building Confidence, Community and Careers with Joyce Toti (Ep. 180)
Joyce Toti is the founder and CEO of Collective Women’s Leadership, a community helping women build confidence, connect authentically and grow their careers. She began using social media to share personal updates, but during grad school realized younger generations needed mentorship. Now she uses it for connection, empowerment and leadership. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Joyce shares tips on networking, consistent content, authenticity and stepping confidently into leadership and influence.
Words Matter with McKenna DeVelbiss (Ep. 179)
McKenna DeVelbiss, better known as Cowboy Kenna, is on a mission to prove that choosing kindness can be revolutionary. Her simple, positive TikTok videos even grabbed the attention of The Today Show. From painful childhood comments to unexpected compliments from strangers, she is passionate about the power of words. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, McKenna shares how she’s using her social media platform to build a supportive online community and ensure no one feels alone.
Feeding People, Fueling Change with Maddy Goldberg (Ep. 178)
Maddy Goldberg has always been a foodie. A trained chef with high-end restaurant experience, she started sharing simple, affordable meals through her Cook Eat account, and her online following began to grow. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Maddy shares how she uses social media to educate others about the realities of food insecurity by pulling back the curtain and bringing her online audience into the kitchen as she volunteers at a food shelf.
Social Media Impact at 30,000 Feet with Paul Holte (Ep. 177)
When Paul Holte began posting about life during layovers, it was a passion project, not part of a corporate social media strategy. Now a pilot for United Airlines, he’s part of a growing group of employee content creators supported by the company. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Paul shares how authentic, behind-the-scenes storytelling builds trust, attracts future talent and strengthens brand loyalty in ways traditional advertising cannot.
Using Social Media to Create Opportunities with Adam Llorens (Ep. 176)
When his CBS Sports job unexpectedly ended, Adam Llorens leaned into his hobby: posting tours of New York City Catholic churches on social media. By educating people about architecture and history, Adam gained a large social media following, which eventually led to his current role as a digital streaming host and producer in a major TV news market. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Adam explains why he continues creating content to share stories and educate others.
Good People and Good Stories on Social Media with Lucia Knell (Ep. 175)
Lucia Knell is the Vice President of Upworthy, a media brand on a mission to share uplifting stories that foster positive connections, and the co-author of Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity. She has spent her career proving social media can uplift, connect and inspire rather than amplify negativity. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Lucia talks about Upworthy’s mission of kindness, the power of authentic storytelling and the importance of setting boundaries online.
A Journey of Intentional Storytelling with Grandma Joy and Brad Ryan (Ep. 174)
Grandma Joy and her grandson, Brad Ryan, turned a single road trip into a journey to see all 63 U.S. National Parks. Now with a global following, they show how authentic social media storytelling can spark healing, forgiveness and connection. In this episode of Flip Your Script, they discuss Brad’s upcoming book, their adventures and using social media with intention. This episode is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Using Social Media for Good with Matt and Sloan Bowen (Ep. 173)
In this episode of Flip Your Script, Kristi Piehl welcomes back Matt and Sloan Bowen five years after their first appearance on the podcast. They share how their family and social media platforms have grown and how social media has become a way to help others. Matt and Sloan talk about vulnerability, life with a disability, the realities of IVF and staying intentional online. They also discuss balancing family, content creation and brand partnerships while staying true to their purpose and values.
A New Chapter for Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl and Jo Saxton (Ep. 172)
The Flip Your Script podcast is back, sharing stories about the positive power of social media and reframing how we think about the stories we tell and the influence we have. Every post, every comment, every story we share becomes part of our digital legacy. In this relaunch episode, host and author Kristi Piehl shares highlights from her live book launch event with speaker, podcaster and leadership expert Jo Saxton. If there’s one takeaway Kristi hopes you get from each episode of Flip Your Script, it’s this: Your story matters.
Ep. 171 Alec Santelman: From Sports Injury Setback to New Perspective
The Flip Your Script podcast launched in 2020, and our first episode featured host Kristi Piehl’s journey from Emmy Award-winning TV reporter to entrepreneur. Since then, over 150 guests have shared stories of struggle and resilience. As we close this chapter of the podcast, Kristi shares another personal story as she sits down with her son Alec to discuss how a knee injury taught him the power of perseverance, faith and perspective, reminding us that setbacks can lead to new beginnings.
Ep. 170 Janice Kaplan: From Gratitude to Happiness
Janice Kaplan is a gratitude expert and author of the New York Times bestseller, The Gratitude Diaries. Her new book, What Your Body Knows About Happiness, explores the mind-body connections to happiness and shares insights on how small environmental changes and physical actions, like sitting up straight or holding a warm cup, can influence mood and perceptions. In this episode, Kristi Piehl and Janice discuss the power of gratitude, the mind-body connection to happiness and small changes that can transform your mindset.