Ep. 41 Aubree Nichols: From Self-Loathing to Self Love
After experiencing addiction, divorce and eating disorders, Aubree Nichols discovered her superpower - vulnerability! Her honest take on her experiences and message of self love resonates with thousands on Instagram and readers of Vogue and Elite Daily. The self love advocate and writer joined host Kristi Piehl to discuss the power of vulnerability and why feelings shouldn’t be feared.
Ep. 40 Sheletta Brundidge: From Weeping to Laughing Until You Cry
Grab a tissue because Sheletta Brundidge’s story will bring you to tears. Five relatives were killed in a tragic accident and three of her four children received autism diagnoses. However, Sheletta’s story won’t have you crying from sadness. The radio host, TV personality and businesswoman will have you laughing as she, a comedian, shares her story of finding strength in faith and joy in giving back. Kristi Piehl and Sheletta talk about how to laugh when you want to cry and how to use your gifts for good.
Ep. 39 Nikita Crump: From Humble Home to a Life on the Road
What would you do for financial freedom? For Nikita Crump, she decided to live out of her Honda Civic. Limited by her finances, Nikita moved into her car, cutting out her largest expense - housing. Over time, she’s grown to love the simplicity of her lifestyle and wants to upgrade to the #VanLife. Her popular TikToks and YouTube videos have intrigued millions, and in this episode of Flip Your Script, Nikita and host Kristi Piehl discuss the freedom that comes from a simple life.
Ep. 38 Brandon Sawalich: From Summer Job to CEO
After a summer spent working at Starkey, Brandon Sawalich left college to pursue a career with the hearing aid company. Brandon worked through the ranks of the only American-owned hearing aid manufacturer and in 2017, was named President. His natural leadership skills helped him navigate challenging times keeping Starkey focused on their mission, “Hear Better. Live Better.” Now the President and CEO, Brandon joins host Kristi Piehl to discuss work ethic, forgiveness and the necessity of human connection.
Ep. 37 Madison Hamburg: From Film Student to HBO Director
Barbara Hamburg was murdered outside her home in 2010. The police investigated, but no one was charged. As her family grieved, her son, Madison Hamburg, began digging into and documenting his mother’s investigation for a school film project. In 2020, Madison’s docuseries “Murder on Middle Beach” premiered to rave reviews on HBO. Kristi Piehl sat down with Madison to discuss how loss can be the inspiration to turn the page.
Ep. 36 Henry Lake: From Local Radio Host to National Voice
Known for his sports commentary and dedication to talking about the issues on local radio, Henry Lake made headlines for his emotional on-air comments during the unrest after George Floyd’s murder. Henry became a national voice on issues like race, diversity and inclusion. This was nothing new for Henry; he’s been passionate about these topics for years and is glad to be having the conversations now. In this episode, host Kristi Piehl and Henry discuss the importance of adopting a “we” mindset.
Ep. 35 Mike DelGuidice: From Playing Piano Bars to Playing with the Piano Man
Mike DelGuidice grew up on Long Island looking up to the one and only, Billy Joel. Mike knew he was meant to be a musician, and began playing piano bars and fronting Big Shot, a Billy Joel tribute band, as well as working on his own music. Everything changed when Billy Joel heard Mike play and personally invited Mike to tour with his band. In this episode, Kristi Piehl, a fan of both Billy and Mike, talks with Mike about finding his passion for music and the importance of being open to opportunity.
Ep. 34 Janice Kaplan: From Accepting Status Quo to Reframing Your Mindset
We’re grateful to have sat down with the New York Times bestselling author, Janice Kaplan. Before writing “The Gratitude Diaries,” Janice worked for Good Morning America and was Editor-In-Chief at Parade. After joining a gratitude research project, Janice penned her experience and inspired a new wave of gratefulness. In 2020, Janice released her book, “The Genius of Women,” redefining who a genius is. Host Kristi Piehl and Janice discuss how reframing your mindset can inspire you to flip your script.
Ep. 33 Tony Fleecs: From Newsroom Graphics to Comic Book Art
In a newsroom in South Dakota, Tony Fleecs was creating on-screen graphics for newscasts. After hours, Tony would use the equipment to work on his passion, comics. After new management deleted his work, Tony took a leap of faith into his comic art and moved to L.A. He hustled for any job he could and has gone on to draw for comics like My Little Pony and Star Wars. Now, Tony is releasing his first comic book, “Stray Dogs.” In this episode, Kristi and Tony discuss the importance of evolving your dreams.
Ep. 32 Melissa Johnston: From Spending Nights in the NICU to Advocating for Change
Melissa Johnston’s Flip Your Script story began when she had her first-born daughter, Audrey, only to lose her at just 43 days old. Audrey was born with Trisomy 18, and as the first-time parents navigated the NICU and Audrey’s life-limiting condition, they noticed a lack of resources for their family. Three years later, Melissa learned of Crescent Cove, one of three respite and hospice facilities in the U.S. for children. Listen in as Melissa explains her passion for sharing Crescent Cove’s mission.
Ep. 31 Vanessa Drews: From a Tweet by Prince to Starting a Cheesecake Business
What do cheesecake and music legend Prince have in common? Vanessa Drews. Vanessa is the founder of Cheesecake Funk and credits Prince for naming her business. While working part-time at Paisley Park, Vanessa would make and leave cheesecake in the fridge for the musicians. One day Prince tweeted about Vanessa’s cheesecakes and later named them Cheesecake Funk. In this episode, Vanessa shares how Prince’s outward support took her by surprise and how the Prince Effect motivated her to flip her script!
Ep. 30 Skip Rohde: From Sailing Navy Ships to Entering the Smithsonian Art Archives
Skip Rohde always had a passion for art. After retiring from the Navy in 1999, Skip went back to school to be an artist, but he couldn’t resist the call of civic duty. He went overseas as a civilian to serve in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. While traveling, he would sketch people in what he calls “diplomacy through art.” The artwork he created while away has been accepted into the Smithsonian. Host Kristi Piehl and Skip discuss how finding self-confidence can give you the strength to turn the page.
Ep. 29 Finding Motivation: From Loss in 2020 to Hope in 2021
TIME Magazine declared 2020 the worst year ever. In a year of loss and grief, each of us learned lessons that will last the rest of our lives. In this episode of Flip Your Script, host Kristi Piehl helps us look back so we can look forward with hope. This episode is dedicated to providing positivity and hope to kickstart the new year. At the end of each podcast, Kristi asks, “Is there a quote or song that motivated you to flip your script?” and this episode reflects on each guest’s response.
Ep. 28 Rosemary Ugboajah: From Outsider Perspective to Building Brand Inclusivity
From the UK to Nigeria to London to Minnesota, Rosemary Ugboajah’s journey to her career in marketing shaped who she is today. Her background could have made her an outsider in the U.S., but instead, she used her perspective to challenge stereotypes in marketing. In 2013, she founded Neka Creative, a brand development agency devoted to inclusivity marketing. In this episode, you’ll learn what book Rosemary credits for her fearless transition to the U.S. and what it means to be truly inclusive.
Ep. 27 Jeannie White: From Smoking in the Cockpit to Security Checks
A stewardess and flight attendant might seem like one and the same, but Flip Your Script host Kristi Piehl sat down with retired flight attendant Jeannie White to share how different they are. Jeannie began her 43-year career in 1969 when airlines only hired single women who met weight and age limits. They discuss everything from the strict rules to smoking on airplanes to the first attempts at security. Jeannie’s stories bring to life how the airline industry evolved into what travelers experience today.
Ep. 26 Beth Kimmerle: From A Sweet Tooth to A Food and Candy Expert
Are you ready for a sweet episode? Beth Kimmerle, food author and expert, joins Kristi for a mouthwatering conversation about Beth’s passion for the artistic and scientific aspects of food. Currently, Beth works with companies to create flavorful foods and teaches the art of food tasting. In this episode, Beth shares how her soft spot for sweets flipped her script and gave her the title of food expert. Bonus: Beth shares what ingredients make up the perfect bite of food, hitting all five basic tastes.
Ep. 25 Daniel Rubin: From Hollywood Glam to Rural Simplicity
How did a New York-born, Chicago playwright and LA screenwriter end up interviewing farmers in rural communities? In this episode of Flip Your Script, host Kristi Piehl is joined by expert storyteller and author Daniel Rubin as they dive into his journey of quitting his job as a Hollywood writer to work with farmers in the heartland of America. Daniel shares how the change in scenery and pace taught him to communicate without glitz and glam, reigniting his love for story.
Ep. 24 Jody LaVoie: From Tragic Workplace Violence to Empowered CEO
In 2014, Jody LaVoie’s husband, Steve, was shot in an act of workplace violence. Three months after the accident, Steve passed away. Without a succession plan for his business, Jody took over ArrowStream and grew the company before selling it. Now, Jody is the CEO of the non-profit Female Strong, an organization on a mission to enable girls to be future leaders. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Jody shares the importance of community and the determination it takes to rewrite your story.
Ep. 23 Elaine Weiss: From Women’s Suffrage to the Voting Booth
Women earned the right to vote 100 years ago! Do you know what suffragists endured to ensure this right? Elaine Weiss, a politically active and proud voter, realized she never knew the whole story. Using her journalism skills, Elaine uncovered the decades-long journey suffragists took to secure the 19th Amendment detailing the efforts in her book, “The Woman’s Hour.” With her novel set to be a television event, Elaine joined Kristi Piehl to discuss how suffragists flipped the script for American women.
Ep. 22 Arshay Cooper: From the Noisy Streets to Peace on the Water
Growing up on the West Side of Chicago, Arshay Cooper struggled to find a place devoid of gangs, drugs and sirens. Little did Arshay know a rowing program would flip his script. Now, the award-winning author of “A Most Beautiful Thing” and the focal point of a documentary, Arshay recounts being a member of the first all-black high school rowing team. Kristi Piehl and Arshay discuss his mission to increase opportunities and accessibility and his story of finding belonging in the most unlikely of places.