Explore every episode of the podcast On The Fly!

What are investors really looking for when they evaluate an early-stage venture?

In this episode of On The Fly!, Dr. Jonathan Preedom explores what happens when entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to investors, how storytelling shapes investor decision-making, and why a great pitch is really about earning the next conversation, not walking away with a check.

Jonathan brings both academic research and firsthand entrepreneurial experience to the conversation. His research focuses on investor decision-making, entrepreneurial storytelling, market emergence, and how entrepreneurs and investors make sense of uncertain situations. Before pursuing his PhD, Jonathan founded two ventures of his own, giving him a firsthand perspective on the challenges founders face.

Jonathan and Joan talk about why entrepreneurs should think of themselves as risk managers rather than simply risk takers, how founders can distinguish the size of a problem from the size of their actual market, and why investors, employees, and other stakeholders are ultimately investing in the future they can envision.

They also dig into what larger companies can learn from smaller, more nimble businesses, why rural entrepreneurship deserves more attention, the role communities play in creating an environment where social enterprises can grow, and why social ventures don't have to choose between doing good and making money.

Jonathan was also part of Flywheel's 2026 Impact Catalyst Midwest event, where he coached purpose-driven entrepreneurs through their pitches and led the Elevator Pitch Showcase.

Learn more about Jonathan Preedom and his research:
https://www.lsu.edu/business/directory/employee-profiles/preedom-jonathan-sdeis.php

Learn more about Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub:
https://flywheelcincinnati.org/

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Ha

Denisha Porter believes the work is hard, but it’s not impossible.

As the founder and Executive Director of All In Cincinnati, Denisha has spent years bringing people together to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the community, from health and housing to education, economic mobility, and justice. Her approach is rooted in systems change: bringing the right people to the table, finding common ground, and turning conversation into action.

In this episode of On The Fly!, Denisha talks about growing up in Avondale, finding her voice, building All In Cincinnati from a team of one, and what happens when a community decides it’s not enough to simply talk about the problems. She also shares how a Flywheel business plan helped connect her work with George Washington University and ultimately helped All In Cincinnati become part of a national conversation around systems change.

Denisha is also featured in America’s Truth: Cincinnati, a documentary produced by the Center for Community Resilience at George Washington University. The film examines how structural racism in policies, practices, and programs creates and sustains racial inequity, and follows Cincinnati’s efforts to address those systems through truth, healing, and equity.

Watch America’s Truth: Cincinnati:
https://ccr.publichealth.gwu.edu/americas-truth#americas-truth-stream

Learn more about All In Cincinnati:
https://allincincinnati.org/

Learn more about the George Washington University Institute for Socioeconomic Opportunity:
https://socioeconomicopportunity.gwu.edu/

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What if waste wasn't waste?

In this episode of On The Fly!, Sherwood MacVeigh, Vice President of Marketing at Ohio Valley Goodwill, takes us inside CIRCLE, a collaboration bringing together Goodwill, UC DAAP, Standard Textile, Sew Valley and Flywheel to rethink what happens to textiles after they're no longer wanted.

What started with a big idea and a bale of clothing has grown into a broader exploration of circular fashion, sustainable design, manufacturing, workforce development and social enterprise.

Sherwood talks about why she didn't want to simply do another fashion show, and how a group of partners began asking a bigger question: how can we use creativity, education and collaboration to actually solve the problems created by textile waste?

• The surprising scale of textile waste
• Why designers can help solve sustainability problems, not just create products
• Turning reclaimed materials into new designs and scalable products
• The CIRCLE initiative and its growing network of partners
• Circular fashion and the future of textile recycling
• The connection between environmental sustainability and workforce development
• How Goodwill has evolved for more than a century by listening to community needs
• Why sustainable communities aren't just about sustainable materials, but about building people and opportunity

Sherwood's philosophy is simple: think big, start small, bring the right people together, and keep moving.

Connect with Ohio Valley Goodwill: https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/

Learn more about CIRCLE: https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/humanity-in-fashion/

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! explores the people, ideas and organizations working to create positive social impact through entrepreneurship, innovation and community.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What happens when you stop editing an idea before it has a chance to become something?

On this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Michael O’Bryan, founder and CEO of humanature and founder of The Wealth + Work Futures Lab, about social design, human potential, creativity, economic opportunity, and the importance of giving big ideas room to develop.

Michael's path is anything but conventional. Growing up in Hartford, Connecticut, he went from selling ICEEs as a kid to studying music and performing professionally before his work in art, public health, mental health, workforce development, and social design eventually led him to focus on the economic conditions underneath many of the challenges people face.

He shares lessons on entrepreneurship, delegation, hiring, leadership, AI, long-term thinking, and the importance of keeping people at the center of technological change.

And then there's the Purple Dragon.

Michael explains why brainstorming requires us to resist the urge to edit too early — because sometimes the idea that comes several steps after the “ridiculous” one is exactly the idea we needed.

In this episode:

• Michael's unconventional path from music and theater to social design
• Why economic conditions are often underneath the problems we try to solve
• Building humanature and The Wealth + Work Futures Lab
• Learning to delegate and giving yourself grace as an entrepreneur
• What makes a good hiring process
• Why defining failure can be as important as defining success
• Keeping humans at the center of AI and technology
• Cathedral thinking and planning across generations
• Human ecology and the systems that shape our lives
• Why you can't edit while you're brainstorming
• “Riding the Purple Dragon to the Moon”
• Curiosity, critical thinking, and informed intuition
• Building a future around human potential and well-being

Connect with Michael

• humanature
• The Wealth + Work Futures Lab
• Michael O’Bryan on Flywheel
• Michael O’Bryan

About On The Fly!
On The Fly! celebrates social enterprises and the people who build them, along with the organizations and communities that support them. Each episode explores the ideas, challenges, and people working to create meaningful change.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What does it take to move from responding to community crises to changing the systems that create them?

On this episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring sits down with Moira Weir, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati, to talk about what it means to think beyond immediate needs and build long-term solutions for families and communities.

After more than 25 years with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, Moira brought a deeply practical understanding of community needs to United Way. She talks about the shift from crisis response to systems change, why lived experience and community voice need to be at the center of decision-making, and how data can help organizations understand what a community actually needs.

The conversation explores United Way’s 211 system, housing stabilization and eviction prevention, financial empowerment, free tax preparation, workforce development, and the Future of Manufacturing Fund. Moira also shares why collaboration matters so much — and why, in her words, “you can’t opt out of your community.”

In this episode:

• Moving from crisis response to long-term systems change
• Why community voice and lived experience matter
• Using 211 data to understand community needs
• Housing stabilization and eviction prevention
• Financial empowerment and free tax preparation
• Creating pathways into manufacturing careers
• Using technology without losing the human connection
• Why collaboration and collective ownership are essential
• The idea that your zip code shouldn't determine your future

Connect with Moira & United Way of Greater Cincinnati

United Way of Greater Cincinnati: https://www.uwgc.org/

About On The Fly!

On The Fly! celebrates social enterprises and the people who build them, along with the organizations and communities that support them. Each episode explores the ideas, challenges, and people working to create meaningful change.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What happens when a childhood spent working on a family farm comes full circle in the heart of Cincinnati?

For Domonique Peebles, it started with tomatoes, neighbors, and a lesson from his dad: if you have food, make sure your neighbors do too. That instinct eventually became Brick Gardens, a Cincinnati social enterprise using urban agriculture to grow food, create jobs, and build community.

In this episode of On The Fly!, Dom talks about the unexpected path from a job at Fidelity Investments to farming, the grant application that launched Brick Gardens, and why he believes friend raising—not fundraising—is what really builds an organization.

He also shares what he's learned about food insecurity, why growing food is only part of the solution, how young people can become leaders—not just workers, and why Cincinnati's parks could play a much bigger role in food access.

At the heart of it all is a simple idea: sometimes you don't need to wait for the perfect resources. You just need to start doing the work—and bring your friends along.

Learn more:
Brick Gardens: https://www.brickgardens.com/
World Resource Institute: https://www.wri.org/profile/carla-d-walker

About On The Fly!

On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What if you could identify a family at risk of homelessness before they lose their home — and intervene early enough to keep them there?

On this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Kevin Finn, President and CEO of Strategies to End Homelessness in Cincinnati, about a radically different approach to preventing homelessness: using data to identify families at the highest risk of eviction and reaching them before they become homeless.

Kevin shares his journey from working with homeless teenagers to leading a coordinated community effort involving dozens of organizations across Greater Cincinnati. He explains how Cincinnati's unusually comprehensive homelessness data helped make predictive analytics possible, and how a Flywheel innovation lab and housing stability hackathon helped lead to the creation of Tenant Guard, a tool that allows people to identify themselves as being at risk of losing their housing.

The results are striking. Kevin explains why helping a family remain in their apartment can cost about $3,600, compared with an average of $22,500 after a family enters a homeless shelter. while also producing better outcomes.

The conversation also explores the role of 84.51º, the City of Cincinnati's Impact Award, research with Notre Dame, the potential to take Cincinnati's model to other communities, and the policy changes Kevin hopes could shift more resources toward prevention.

Most importantly, Kevin talks about what those numbers mean for real families, especially children who can avoid the disruption of homelessness, including repeatedly changing homes and schools.

Learn more

• Strategies to End Homelessness: strategiestoendhomelessness.org
• Tenant Guard: tenantguard.org
  
  

About On The Fly!
On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What if financial success and social impact aren’t competing goals?

On this episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring talks with Jenna Nicholas, a social entrepreneur, investor, founder, and author whose career has focused on bringing purpose and financial models together.

Jenna shares the personal experiences that led her toward social entrepreneurship, from growing up in London to studying at Stanford and discovering the work of pioneers like Muhammad Yunus and Bill Drayton. She talks about her work with Calvert Funds, the World Bank, One Planet VC, Impact Experience, and her current work with Lightpost Capital.

The conversation explores one of the biggest misconceptions in impact investing: that you have to choose between financial returns and social and environmental impact. Jenna shares examples of companies demonstrating that both can reinforce one another, and explains what investors look for when evaluating purpose-driven founders.

Jenna also introduces the HEAL framework — Hope, Empathy, Abundance and Legacy — and explains how these ideas can become practical guideposts for entrepreneurs, investors, and organizations.

From building strong founder communities to thinking seven generations into the future, this conversation asks a bigger question: What does it look like to build businesses around a deeper sense of purpose and meaning?

Connect with Jenna

🌐Jenna-Nicholas.com

🎧Enlightened Bottom Line Podcast 

📖Enlightened Bottom Line Book

✏️Jenna’s Substack 

About On The Fly!
On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What happens when you see something missing in your community and decide to build it yourself?

For Allyson West, it started with a question: Why didn't Cincinnati have a film festival where independent filmmakers could bring their work, connect with audiences, and learn from one another? In 2018, she took the risk and launched the Cindependent Film Festival.

In this episode of On The Fly!, Joey Scarillo talks with Allyson about the journey from filmmaker to founder and executive director of one of Cincinnati's independent film institutions. She shares what she learned from taking an idea that wasn't fully polished and putting it into the world, why being willing to make mistakes is part of leadership, and how community has sustained Cindependent through the years.

Allyson also talks about her experience in Flywheel's 2025 cohort, where she focused on strengthening Cindependent's financial model and turning years of volunteer effort into something sustainable. And she shares the story behind Cindependent's next big project: helping bring the Marymount Theatre back to life as a nonprofit community cinema.

Along the way, we talk about mascots, grassroots marketing, working boards, fundraising, popcorn, and why sometimes the most important leadership lesson is simple: somebody's gotta do the work.

Connect with Allyson & Cindependent

🎬 Cindependent Film Festival: cindependentfilmfest.org

🎭 Marymount Theatre by Cindependent: Learn more and support the effort to bring this historic community cinema back to life through Cindependent.

Get Involved with Flywheel

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved.

About On The Fly!

On The Fly! puts a spotlight on social enterprises with the double bottom line—making a positive impact in the world while building sustainable businesses and organizations.

Produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. Recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

What does it take to solve the biggest challenges facing our communities? According to social entrepreneur and thought leader Suzanne Smith, it starts with bringing the right people together—even when they don't agree.

In this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Suzanne Smith, founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects and one of the original co-founders of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub. Suzanne reflects on the early days of Flywheel, how the social enterprise ecosystem has evolved over the past 15 years, and why the lines between nonprofit, business, and government are becoming increasingly connected.

Suzanne breaks down the differences between social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise, and explains why she believes “innovation happens through collision”—when diverse perspectives come together in an environment where people feel safe enough to disagree, challenge assumptions, and stay curious.

She also shares the thinking behind her new book, The Nonprofit Flywheel: A Playbook for Sustainable Growth, Smarter Strategy and Lasting Impact, coming October 1, 2026. The conversation offers a challenge to anyone who wants to make a difference: you don't have to start an organization to be a changemaker. You can start right where you are.

Connect with Suzanne
Suzanne Smith is the founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects, a social change agency that works with changemakers to create transformative solutions to social issues.

🌐 Social Impact Architects: socialimpactarchitects.com

📝 Social TrendSpotter: Social TrendSpotter Weekly Blog

📖 The Nonprofit Flywheel— coming October 1, 2026

🌐 Trosa: trosainc.org

🌐 Aileron: aileron.org

Get Involved with Flywheel

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved.

About On The Fly!

On The Fly! puts a spotlight on social enterprises with the double bottom line—making a positive impact in the world while building sustainable businesses and organizations.

Produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. Recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

If you’ve listened to On The Fly! this season, you’ve heard his name come up again and again. From founders to coaches to investors, so many stories begin with the same phrase: “Bill told me…” or “Bill connected me to…”

In this season-closing episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Bill Tucker—the visionary who helped shape Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub and, in doing so, helped launch hundreds of founders, careers, and community-changing ideas.

Bill shares the origin story of Flywheel, from early conversations about social enterprise in the mid-2000s, to winning the RFP that formally launched the hub, to the hard truth that Flywheel’s original business model simply wasn’t sustainable. 

💡 Listen to hear more about:

• How Flywheel came to life—and why it almost didn’t survive its early years
• Why access to talent, customers, and capital matters for every startup
• The shift from “building companies” to equipping founders
• What success really looks like...
• How Bill thinks about legacy, wisdom, and giving back in his “third act”

Rather than pointing to a single “most successful” company, Bill reframes success through the people who’ve gone on to build again, pivot, lead, and mentor others. His philosophy is simple and enduring: bet on the jockey (the founder), not the horse (the company).

This episode is a love letter to founders, coaches, and anyone who believes lasting impact is built through relationships, shared learning, and a willingness to step out of the spotlight so others can shine.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we exist to help founders turn purpose into sustainable businesses—through coaching, capital, and community. Whether you’re launching your first venture or looking to give back with your time, talent, or treasure, there’s a place for you in the Flywheel ecosystem. Learn more at flywheelcincinnati.org.

On The Fly! will take a little break and be back with new episodes later this year. 

In this powerful episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Eileen MacDermott Budo, CEO of Last Mile Food Rescue, to unpack how a bold idea, smart logistics, and community-powered technology are transforming food waste into meals for neighbors across Greater Cincinnati.

Eileen shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Last Mile Food Rescue evolved from a rocky early concept into a tech-enabled nonprofit that has rescued more than 14 million pounds of fresh, healthy food—preventing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and delivering over 12 million meals to people facing food insecurity. Drawing on her background at Procter & Gamble and the U.S. Air Force, Eileen explains why execution, logistics, and human connection are just as important as a mission.

From volunteer drivers using their own cars, to dispatch teams managing rescues in real time, to large-scale event recovery at festivals like Taste of Cincinnati and Oktoberfest, this conversation highlights how innovation and people come together to solve what Eileen calls a “dumb problem” – good food going to landfills while people go hungry.

Listen to hear about:

• Why food waste is both an environmental and social crisis—and how rescuing just 25% could eliminate food insecurity
• How Last Mile Food Rescue blends technology and human relationships to scale impact
• The logistics behind real-time food rescue and volunteer coordination
• What it takes to grow a nonprofit from a kitchen-table idea into a regional operation
• How mobile markets are bringing free, fresh food directly into underserved neighborhoods
• Why failure, pivots, and the right partners were critical to Last Mile’s success

To learn more about Last Mile Food Rescue, visit lastmilefoodrescue.org to explore how technology, volunteers, and partnerships are helping redirect surplus food to neighbors who need it most. 

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe stories like Eileen’s show what’s possible when mission-driven leaders combine purpose with execution. Learn how Flywheel supports social entrepreneurs, builds strong leadership teams, and helps bold ideas take flight at flywheelcincinnati.org.

In this thoughtful and grounded episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel Executive Director Donna Zaring sits down with Mark Davis, CEO of TableSense and longtime Flywheel board member, to unpack what it really means to create social impact that lasts.

Mark describes his journey from CPA and consultant to social entrepreneur working at the intersection of research, investment, and advocacy in the child welfare space. Along the way, he challenges some of the most common assumptions founders make about nonprofits, funding, and impact. Rather than starting with tax status or funding mechanisms, Mark offers a simple but powerful lens: Who are you creating value for—and how?

This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating social enterprise models, nonprofit leaders rethinking sustainability, and anyone who believes impact work deserves clearer thinking and braver conversations.

💡 Listen to hear more about:

• Why nonprofit vs. for-profit is often the wrong first question
• How social enterprises differ when the beneficiary isn’t the payer
• What “wicked problems” really are—and why they require partnerships
• Why jobs are a critical catalyst for housing, education, and childcare
• The role of investment capital as permanent social capital
• How TableSense blends research, investing, and policy to drive change
• Why common sense, honesty, and “directionally correct” decisions matter more than perfection

Learn more about TableSense’s work and resources at tablesense.org, and follow their insights on LinkedIn for updates on how they’re advancing opportunities in child wellbeing, workforce stability, and community resilience.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we help founders and nonprofits start with value—building businesses and organizations that deliver both financial sustainability and social impact. Learn how Flywheel supports entrepreneurs, coaches leaders, and strengthens Cincinnati’s impact ecosystem at flywheelcincinnati.org.

In this thoughtful and grounding episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Joe Vallo, one of Flywheel’s longest-serving subject matter experts and a trusted guide for founders navigating the world of finance.

With decades of experience spanning Big Eight consulting firms, startup leadership, and independent advisory work, Joe brings clarity to a topic many entrepreneurs avoid: money. But as he explains, finance isn’t just about spreadsheets—it’s about operations, customers, and asking the right questions at the right time.

Together, Joan and Joe explore the holistic nature of entrepreneurship and why financial models are really just operational stories told with numbers.

💡 Listen to hear more about:

• Why your customer—not your product—should dictate how you build your business
• How financial models reveal operational blind spots
• Common red flags Joe sees when founders first share their spreadsheets
• Why “everyone is your customer” is almost always the wrong answer
• How iteration, failure, and erasing the whiteboard are part of healthy growth
• The surprising similarities between nonprofit and for-profit financial management
• Why coaching founders has been one of the most rewarding chapters of Joe’s career

Joe also shares why Flywheel’s coaching model works so well—and why experienced business leaders should consider giving back as coaches, mentors, and supporters of social enterprise.

This episode is a must-listen for founders who want to feel more confident about money, coaches who want to ask better questions, and anyone who believes business is as much about listening as it is about leading.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we bring together founders, coaches, and subject matter experts to help social enterprises build strong, sustainable businesses. Learn how Flywheel supports entrepreneurs and strengthens Cincinnati’s impact ecosystem at flywheelcincinnati.org.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup sits down with Valda Freeman-Karmo, electrical engineer, mother, and social entrepreneur whose company, AARON Wearable Tech, was born from love, urgency, and lived experience.

Inspired by her sons with cognitive disabilities and the realities families face during interactions with first responders, Valda set out to design technology that could save lives. The result is a wearable system—part hardware, part software—that uses GPS and communication tools to help first responders quickly understand when someone has a cognitive disability or mental health challenge.

Together, Joan and Valda unpack:

• How personal experience sparked a mission-driven tech startup
• Why AARON Wearable Tech operates at the intersection of SaaS and social impact
• The realities of funding a company through grants, bootstrapping, and sheer persistence
• What makes funding tech startups different from funding social enterprises
• How Flywheel’s milestone-based grants helped turn an idea into a viable product
• Why accelerators, advisors, and community are essential for founders building complex solutions

Valda also shares candid insights on patience, humility, and why hearing the basics over and over again—from different perspectives—can be the key to long-term success.

This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating funding, caregivers advocating for safer systems, and anyone interested in how technology can be designed with dignity, empathy, and purpose at its core.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we support founders who build solutions where purpose meets profit. Learn how Flywheel coaches entrepreneurs, funds early milestones, and helps social impact ventures grow at flywheelcincinnati.org.

In this high-energy episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup brings back to the pod two globally minded founders whose paths collided inside Flywheel’s accelerator — and sparked a collaboration grounded in sustainability, product innovation, and a shared history of building businesses across Asia.

Flywheel is excited to welcome back Andrew Bliss, and Lucas Williamson, for a bonus conversation with both amazing founders. 

Andrew is the founder of EcoShell, who turn discarded eggshells into breakthrough materials used in plastics, packaging, footwear, and more. Lucas is the founder of Product Refinery, he is the design and engineering mind behind hundreds of consumer products brought from sketch to shelf.

Though their companies are different, their values align: design with intention, build sustainably, fail forward, and always tell the truth about what it takes to create physical products that last. 

Their work spans continents — from Cincinnati to Asia and back — transforming discarded materials into sustainable plastics and turning bold product ideas into market-ready reality.

💡 Listen to hear more about:

• The unexpected ways Taiwan and China shaped their careers
• What founders get wrong about manufacturing and supply chains
• Why sustainability is a design challenge—not just a materials challenge
• The power of advisory boards, mentors, and diverse support networks
• How Flywheel creates collisions that turn founders into collaborators
• Why Cincinnati is one of the most supportive environments for social entrepreneurs

This episode is a masterclass in global entrepreneurship, product innovation, and the gritty reality of building things that matter.

Learn more at EcoShell.eco and Product Refinery.co!

📣 Call to Action:
 At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in founders who build for both profit and purpose. Explore how we support entrepreneurs, connect coaches, and help social impact ideas grow at flywheelcincinnati.org.

On this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup sits down with Lucas Williamson, founder of Product Refinery and a serial entrepreneur who’s helped creators around the world turn ideas into reality. From electric skateboards to baby gear, Lucas has spent his career helping founders take their ideas from napkin sketches to market-ready products—while learning what it truly takes to build something that lasts.

Lucas shares how a local litter hackathon sparked his social enterprise Clean Up Collective, why self-awareness matters more than a Shark Tank deal, and how defining your own version of success can reshape the way you work and live.

Listen to hear more about:

• How Lucas took a design hobby and turned it into a global product development company.
• Lessons learned from nearly making it to Shark Tank—twice.
• The creation of Clean Up Collective and how it’s tackling litter with entrepreneurial innovation.
• Why he believes “people over profits” should be the guiding principle for every founder.
• How Flywheel’s accelerator helped refine his pitch, sharpen his business model, and connect him to Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in founders who build for both profit and purpose. Learn how we support entrepreneurs, connect coaches, and help social impact ideas grow at flywheelcincinnati.org

On this fascinating episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with global entrepreneur Andrew Bliss, founder and CEO of EcoShell, a company transforming agricultural waste into sustainable materials used in plastics. 

Andrew’s journey is anything but ordinary, from teaching abroad in Asia, to launching multiple companies in Taiwan, to discovering an innovative eggshell-based technology that brought him back home to Cincinnati. With humor, humility, and candor, he shares how cultural immersion, language learning, and early failures sharpened his entrepreneurial instincts.

EcoShell’s patented technology is already making waves around the world, replacing a significant portion of traditional plastics with repurposed eggshells—reducing environmental impact without compromising performance.

Andrew talks about what it takes to build trust overseas, why he returned to Cincinnati to launch EcoShell, and how accelerators like Flywheel helped him translate a breakthrough material into a viable business.

💡 Listen to hear more about:

• How a “life reset” launched Andrew into global entrepreneurship and shaped the creation of EcoShell
• Why eggshells are a powerful agricultural waste with massive sustainability potential
• What makes EcoShell’s patented material different from typical fillers
• How major brands are exploring EcoShell’s eggshell-based innovation
• How Flywheel’s Sustainability Accelerator helped refine Andrew’s pitch, financial story, and U.S. market strategy
• Why Andrew believes connections—not ideas—are the most powerful fuel for entrepreneurs

🗓️Since the Podcast EcoShell has skyrocketed forward. Andrew and his team have:

• Joined the competitive MassChallenge accelerator in Switzerland, building global partnerships and expanding EcoShell’s international reach
• Launched a collaboration with a leading plastics manufacturer to create sustainable films and trays designed to extend product shelf life
• Entered large-scale trials with a major global footwear brand using EcoShell’s material innovations
• Spoken on a Startup Cincy Week panel about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the new entrepreneurial landscape

EcoShell is quickly becoming an international force in sustainable material innovation, and Flywheel is proudly part of its origin story. You can learn more and connect with EcoShell at EcoShell.eco or on their LinkedIn. 

📣 Call to Action:
 At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in entrepreneurs building for both profit and purpose. Explore how we support founders, invest in big ideas, and strengthen Cincinnati’s innovation ecosystem: flywheelcincinnati.org

In this special bonus episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup flips the script and sits down with Joey Scarillo—the producer of the show and a Flywheel coach—to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to make a podcast.

From his early days stage managing theater productions and curating road-trip podcasts, to launching award-winning branded podcasts in New York, Joey shares the journey that led him to Cincinnati and to producing On The Fly! for Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub. Along the way, he offers practical advice for founders considering podcasting as part of their storytelling toolkit.

✨ Listen to hear more about:

• Joey’s path from theater to advertising to podcasting.
• Lessons from producing Grey’s Matter and #5Things podcasts—both recognized with Webby and Adweek Awards.
• Why Flywheel needed a podcast and how On The Fly! was born.
• Practical tips for entrepreneurs: when to start a podcast, when to hold off, and why guesting on shows can be just as powerful.
• The importance of clarity, consistency, and avoiding “podfade.”

📌 Learn more about Joey’s work at joeyscarillo.com. Check out other podcasts: Grey Matter, #5Things, and the 4-part fiction podcast: The Box. 

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in the power of storytelling to amplify social entrepreneurs, coaches, and investors driving change in Cincinnati. Explore how we support founders and fuel impact: flywheelcincinnati.org.

Recorded LIVE at StartUpCincy Week 2025, this episode of On The Fly! brings together leaders from city government, business, and the social impact ecosystem to explore how collaboration powers innovation in Cincinnati.

Host Joan Kaup moderates a lively conversation with Cincinnati Council Member, Evan Nolan, First Financial Bank’s CMO, Jenny Powell, and Flywheel’s Program Director, Samuel Baker about how social entrepreneurship, civic partnerships, and creative problem-solving are transforming the region—from filling potholes to fueling startups.

💡 Listen to hear more about:

• How the Pave the Way Innovation Lab helped Cincinnati rethink infrastructure using entrepreneurial talent.
• The role of collaboration between the city, local businesses, and Flywheel in tackling community challenges.
• Examples of startups creating tangible social and economic impact from affordable housing to renewable energy.
• Why coaching and mentorship are vital to building a thriving innovation ecosystem.
• How social enterprises strengthen local economies, create jobs, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.

📣 Reach out: 

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we connect social entrepreneurs, coaches, and community partners to drive double-bottom-line impact across Cincinnati. Learn more about how we support founders and fuel innovation for good at flywheelcincinnati.org

📢 Shout out: 

The producers of On The Fly! would like to thank Evan Garcia, and the team at StartUp Cincy Week for their support and contributions to making this episode possible! 

In this energetic episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup sits down with Shailah Maynard, co-founder and CEO of Sew Valley, alongside Madeleine “Maddie” Tepe Misleh and Aubrey Krekeler, co-directors of operations. Together, these three women are reshaping what apparel manufacturing can look like, based in Cincinnati.

From providing living-wage jobs in a historically exploitative industry to innovating zero-waste solutions and creating custom stage jackets for the Cincinnati Pops, Sew Valley proves that clothing can be designed, produced, and celebrated in ways that honor both people and planet.

Listen to hear more about:

• Why Sew Valley launched as a nonprofit and how it sustains its mission in a tough industry.
• The power of collaboration and co-leadership in running a small but mighty team.
• Tackling sustainability challenges with creative solutions, from fabric scrap recycling to thoughtful design practices.
• How Sew Valley supports students, entrepreneurs, and brands through education, incubation, and cut-and-sew services.
• What it takes to rebuild an industry that barely exists in the U.S.—and why they’re ringing a thrift-store bell to celebrate wins along the way.

Explore Sew Valley’s workshops, services, and mission at sewvalley.org or follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @sewvalley.

Since the podcast: Sew Valley’s craftsmanship reached an international stage at New York Fashion Week in September. Partnering with designer Gabe Gordon and his team, Sew Valley transformed recycled gray T-shirts into a striking dress that appeared in Gordon’s Autoerotic collection, garnering praise from Vogue and spotlighting Cincinnati’s role in pushing sustainable fashion forward.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in the power of social entrepreneurs like Sew Valley to drive equity and impact in our neighborhoods. Learn how Flywheel supports founders, invests in big ideas, and helps social enterprises thrive: flywheelcincinnati.org

On this episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel board member and Inclusion Building Solutions founder Byron Stallworth steps in as guest host for a conversation with Brooke Foley, CEO of Jayne Agency and Donna Zaring, Executive Director of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub. Together, they explore the art and science of brand clarity—and why mastering your pitch matters more than perfecting your slides.

From her early career in Chicago’s high-powered ad world to building a methodology that brings clarity to Fortune 500s and startups alike, Brooke shares her insights into how entrepreneurs can refine their message, practice with intention, and deliver a pitch that resonates—whether it’s to investors, customers, or neighbors at the zoning board.

Listen to hear more about:

• Why your brand’s position and promise form the foundation of every pitch.
• How practice (yes, in front of the bathroom mirror!) transforms nerves into confidence.
• What investors are really listening for when you pitch—and how they assess risk.
• The role of mentorship, coachability, and feedback in winning investment.
• How staying true to your brand strategy protects against scope creep and burnout.

Learn more about Brooke’s work at Jayne Agency and explore her Clarity University offerings at jayneagency.com You can also connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Information about Jonathan Preedom can be found at  www.jonathanpreedom.com.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we know that brand clarity and storytelling are powerful tools for founders balancing profit and purpose. Explore how Flywheel supports social entrepreneurs through coaching, mentorship, and accelerator programs: flywheelcincinnati.org

What exactly is a Philanthropreneur—and why are they so important to Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem? In this inspiring episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Flywheel Executive Director Donna Zaring along with seasoned philanthropreneurs Melisse May, Sandy Hughes and Bob Ziek to explore how combining the mindset of an entrepreneur with the generosity of a philanthropist is transforming our community.

From milestone-based funding for social impact startups to deep mentoring relationships and hands-on board involvement, this is impact investing with heart. You’ll hear how Philanthropreneurs help early-stage founders scale their ideas into sustainable enterprises—and why you don’t need to be a millionaire to make a difference.

 Listen to hear more about:

• The origins of Flywheel’s trademarked Philanthropreneur® program
• How $500 “Changemaker” opportunities open the door to impact investing
• Why milestone stipends are game-changers for early-stage founders
• Success stories like Last Mile Food Rescue and Cincinnati Recycling & ReUse Hub
• The personal rewards of seeing your investment multiply through community impact

Call to Action:
At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we connect social entrepreneurs with the coaches, investors, and resources they need to thrive. Whether you want to be a $500 ChangeMaker or a $5,000 Philanthropreneur, there’s a seat at the table for you. Learn more at flywheelcincinnati.org.

In this forward-looking episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel’s Program Director Samuel Baker sits down with Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens. Elected in 2021, Meeka is helping lead one of the first local government climate committees in the nation to prioritize sustainability, racial equity, and measurable results.

From updating the Green Cincinnati Plan to centering equity in climate action and launching the city’s first Housing Stabilization Hackathon, Meeka shares how innovation and government can—and must—work together to address housing, climate change, and community resilience.

Listen to hear more about:

• How climate policy intersects with housing, transportation, and quality of life
• The 3 S’s of affordable housing: stabilization, subsidy, and stock
• How Cincinnati used its first-ever Impact Award to address eviction prevention
• The role of hackathons in creating tech-enabled housing solutions
• Why government, entrepreneurs, and social services must collaborate to solve systemic issues

Call to Action:
 At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in bringing together innovators, policymakers, and community leaders to solve our city’s toughest challenges. Learn how we’re helping founders build sustainable, equitable solutions at flywheelcincinnati.org.

What does it look like when a company brews more than beer, it brews lasting impact? In this energizing episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup welcomes Rhiannon Hoeweler, VP of Experience & Impact at MadTree Brewing, a Cincinnati-based company redefining what a brewery can be. From composting and green energy to urban tree planting and employee-led volunteering, MadTree is leading by example as Ohio’s first and only Certified B Corporation brewery.

Rhiannon shares how MadTree went from a garage startup to a three-location force for sustainability and equity. With a bold goal of delivering $5 million in community impact by 2030, this isn’t just a craft beer brand — it’s a full-fledged social enterprise.

Listen to hear more about:

• What it takes to become a Certified B Corp and why it matters
• How MadTree integrates environmental and social impact into every aspect of its operations
• How MadTree’s internal culture of volunteering and green values attracts talent
• Lessons for emerging entrepreneurs on patience, progress, and building a vision over time

Learn more:

• MadTree and their taproom locations, events, and impact stories:
• MadTree Brewing, Instagram, and LinkedIn 
• Mad Tree’s annual tree-planting events: Let’s Grow Local 
• Nonprofit partners: Strategies to End Homelessness 

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we love partnering with companies like MadTree that blend vision with accountability, community with commerce. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or just someone who loves seeing good business done well, learn how Flywheel supports social innovation at flywheelcincinnati.org.

In this dynamic episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel Executive Director Donna Zaring sits down with Liz Keating, former Cincinnati City Council member and current VP of Government Affairs at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, to explore how civic innovation can thrive when entrepreneurs and policymakers join forces.

From tackling litter and recycling to addressing eviction and housing instability, Liz shares how hackathons—intensive, solution-driven events—are changing the way governments approach problem-solving. With Flywheel as a key partner, these collaborations have not only led to community-wide improvements but have sparked new startups, fostered empathy, and reimagined how public funding can drive long-term, people-first impact.

Listen to hear more about:

• How a groups co-created winning solutions to Cincinnati’s litter problem
• The birth of the Cleanup Cart from Product Refinery, a startup launched through a Flywheel hackathon
• Why housing stabilization is an economic, human, and entrepreneurial issue, and how Cincinnati piloted an innovative grant to prevent eviction
• The ripple effect of bringing together government, community, and entrepreneurs to solve shared challenges
• How policies around childcare, housing, and transit connect directly to workforce growth and business success

Mentioned in this episode:

• Product Refinery – Startup that developed the Cleanup Cart
• Strategies to End Homelessness – Partner in the housing stabilization hackathon
• Main Street Ventures – Funders supporting startups born from civic innovation

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe entrepreneurs are some of our greatest problem solvers. From the litter on our streets to the housing crisis in our neighborhoods, Flywheel brings together innovation, empathy, and real-world application to drive double-bottom-line solutions. Learn how to get involved or support our mission at flywheelcincinnati.org.

What do native pollinators, backyard blooms, and AI-powered problem solving have in common? In this buzzing episode of On The Fly!, Paul Szydlowski dives deep with Flywheel alumni Brandon Reynolds and Johnny Avant—two founders turning passion for nature and human behavior into powerful, purpose-driven ventures.

From B The Keeper, a Cincinnati-based ecological landscaping business, to Sprout, a growing tech company making knowledge more accessible for everyday problem-solvers, these entrepreneurs are rethinking how we build sustainable systems—from the soil up.

Listen to hear more about:

• How B The Keeper evolved from backyard beehives to city-wide pollinator habitats
• The birth of Sprout—a tool that connects lived experience with automation to solve everyday problems
• Why coaching is the “secret sauce” of Flywheel’s accelerator model
• How real-world tension and pivoting can clarify a founder’s vision
• The intersection of AI, cognitive science, and conservation—and what it means for the future of local ecosystems

 Check them out online:

🐝 B The Keeper: bthekeeper.co | Instagram: @b_thekeeper

🌱 Sprout: gosprout.us

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we don’t just talk innovation, we cultivate it. From backyard gardens to bold tech ventures, we support founders with the coaching, structure, and community they need to create lasting impact. Learn how to get involved, join a cohort, or support our mission at flywheelcincinnati.org

In this lively episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring sits down with two passionate builders shaping the next generation of social entrepreneurship: Josie Dalton, the originator of Flywheel’s accelerator programming and now at the UC Center for Entrepreneurship, and Samuel Baker, current Program Director at Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub.

Together, they reflect on what it takes to support founders who are building with both purpose and grit. From unlocking capital in an underserved middle space to showing up emotionally for dreamers with world-changing ideas, Josie and Samuel share the backstage realities of running programs that turn community-minded entrepreneurs into impact-driven leaders.

Listen to hear more about:

• The evolution of Flywheel’s cohort model and the early days of social enterprise in Cincinnati
• The unique funding challenges social entrepreneurs face, and how Flywheel is bridging the gap
• How mission-driven founders are reshaping what entrepreneurship looks like and why “crazy passion” is a feature, not a bug
• Why emotional intelligence, not just business acumen, is a critical ingredient in supporting entrepreneurs
• PLUS some unexpected real-life behind-the-scenes moments

Whether you're a founder, mentor, or future coach, this episode offers a powerful reminder: creating change is messy, personal, and totally worth it.

 At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in coaching the whole entrepreneur—not just the business plan. Our programs give social impact founders the structure, community, and belief they need to scale good ideas into real results. Learn how you can get involved, support our work, or become part of a cohort at flywheelcincinnati.org.

In this energizing and eye-opening episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring is joined by two powerhouse leaders in the world of impact investing: Marcia Dawood, Vice Chair of the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee and author of Do Good While Doing Well, and Sue Bevan Baggott, executive advisor, innovation catalyst, and contributor to You Can, You Will.

Together, they break down what angel investing really means and why putting your dollars (and time!) into purpose-driven startups is one of the most meaningful ways to drive change. 

From their work on the award-winning documentary Show Her the Money to supporting women founders and redefining who gets funded and why, Marcia and Sue are reshaping the investing landscape and proving that profit and purpose don’t have to be opposites, they can be partners.

Listen to hear more about:

• What angel investing is and why it matters for social entrepreneurs
• Why more women and everyday people should step into the investing space
• Real examples of startups disrupting systems in women’s health, mental health, and community finance
• The power of equity crowdfunding
• The story behind the award-winning documentary Show Her the Money and how storytelling is helping close the gender funding gap

Explore Marcia’s work at marciadawood.com, and learn more about Sue on LinkedIn. 

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in the power of social entrepreneurs and the angels who champion them. Whether you're ready to invest or just eager to learn, explore how Flywheel supports founders, educates investors, and fuels social impact at flywheelcincinnati.org.

What does it take to guide a social entrepreneur from vision to venture? In this insightful episode of On the Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with seasoned Flywheel coaches Mishawn Styles and Paul Szydlowski to explore what coaching really looks like behind the scenes—and how empathy, active listening, and honest guidance can transform a founder’s journey.

Both coaches bring decades of leadership, business, and human insight to Flywheel’s social enterprise accelerator. But it’s their coaching mindset—not just their resumes—that truly supports founders as they balance passion and profitability.

💡 You’ll hear:

• The difference between coaching and mentoring—and why both matter
• How Flywheel coaches help founders refine their business model, develop their pitch, and face personal blocks
• Why entrepreneurship is more about mindset than mechanics
• Real stories from the front lines of startup growth, founder breakthroughs, and the power of team coaching
• What it really means to “get out of your own way” as a founder

Whether you're launching your first social enterprise or guiding others to do so, this episode is packed with wisdom on how to stay grounded, focused, and supported through it all.

Learn more about Mishawn’s work: StylesHR.com

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved.

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of On the Fly!, Joan Kaup sits down with Ruth Anne Wolfe, the passionate founder of Community Happens Here, a grassroots social enterprise proving that deep, meaningful community can’t be mass-produced—it must be built, cup by cup. ☕

From her unexpected path through Japan, law, and motherhood to founding a brick-and-mortar community space in Cincinnati, Ruth Anne shares the journey that led her to reimagine what local connection really looks like. Through hospitality, art, and conversation, Ruth Anne is cultivating a place where children, entrepreneurs, and neighbors meet, learn, and build trust across differences.

Listen to hear more about: 

• The origins of Community Happens Here and its mission to combat loneliness through radical localism.
• Ruth Anne’s experience in Flywheel’s accelerator and the “aha” moments that shaped her approach to social enterprise.
• How sliding-scale coworking, youth-led coffee service, and sidewalk tea transform a neighborhood block.
• The importance of being your own angel investor when your vision doesn't fit traditional funding models.
• Why “you can't be what you can't see”—and how that philosophy shapes everything from mentoring to measuring impact.

 Visit communityhappenshere.org to explore coworking options, attend an event, or stop by for free coffee on a Saturday from 11am–1pm at 6238 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati.
Follow Community Happens Here on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in the power of social entrepreneurs like Ruth Anne to drive equity and impact in our neighborhoods. Learn how Flywheel supports founders, invests in big ideas, and helps social enterprises thrive: flywheelcincinnati.org

Welcome to ON THE FLY!

ON THE FLY! highlights businesses that have the double bottom line - both a return on investment and a positive social impact.

This podcast will give you reason to smile and think.

It aims to motivate you to act on ideas and personal passions.

ON THE FLY! is brought to you by Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, a Cincinnati-based organization focused on supporting social entrepreneurs and impact investing.