Iona Morris-Jackson is an actor, director, producer, and host of The Vision is Possible. She's spent decades in entertainment, but the most transformative moment didn't happen on set—it happened in a linen store. "Who am I? Not what mommy wants, daddy wants, what my friends want—but what do I want? And it just changed everything for me in that moment."

In this episode, Iona shares:

✨ The linen store epiphany: "Who am I?"

✨ "You are your brand" - actors as entrepreneurs

✨ You are your own startup

✨ Growing up in a family of performers

✨ Starting as a voiceover artist

✨ The business of being an actor

✨ Directing vs. acting: different muscles

✨ The Vision is Possible: her platform for creative entrepreneurs

✨ Rejection and resilience in the entertainment industry

✨ Finding your voice as an actor

✨ The difference between theater and film/TV

✨ You are the CEO of your own company

✨ Creating work when the work isn't coming to you

Whether you're in entertainment, creative entrepreneurship, or searching for "who am I?", Iona's story proves that knowing yourself is the foundation of building your brand.

About Iona Morris-Jackson:

Iona Morris-Jackson is an actor, director, producer, mentor, coach, and host of The Vision is Possible. From voiceover artist to theater to film and TV, Iona has built a career on knowing who she is and helping others do the same.

🎭 Learn more at https://thevisionispossible.com/

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://www.f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: Who Am I? The Linen Store Moment

0:54 Introduction: Actor, Director, Producer

1:15 Coaching & Mentoring Actors

1:36 You Are Your Own Startup

2:51 Going Back to Poetry

3:32 Starting as a Voiceover Artist

5:00 Growing Up in a Family of Performers

5:53 The Vision is Possible

7:00 Finding My Voice

8:55 I Have to Act Again

9:46 You Are Your Brand

11:00 The Business of Being an Actor

13:00 CEO of Your Own Company

15:00 Auditioning & Rejection

17:00 Building Resilience

19:00 Directing: Different Muscles

21:00 Working with Actors as a Director

22:36 Marriage & Partnership

25:00 Creating Your Own Work

28:00 The Industry Evolution

30:00 Theater Roots

33:00 Voice Acting Craft

36:00 Self-Discovery Journey

39:00 Knowing Your Worth

42:00 Producing Projects

45:00 Mentoring the Next Generation

48:00 Booking the Job

50:00 Theater vs Film/TV

53:00 The Hustle of Show Business

55:00 Faith & Perseverance

58:00 Advice for Creative Entrepreneurs

1:00:00 Rapid Five Q&A

Symone Opara was a Principal Director in Engineering at Microsoft with 11 directors reporting to her across the world. She had five kids, a demanding job, and wanted to cook from-scratch meals every night. "How do I work for Microsoft and we don't have a technical solution for this?" So she and her husband built LeCuckoo—a platform for home cooks to share recipes and get paid. Then she made the leap: "I left with arrogance—'if I want to come back, I can always come back.' Then Microsoft started doing all its layoffs."

In this episode, Symone shares:

✨ "I made the leap with arrogance"—then Microsoft layoffs hit

✨ Three kids in three different colleges while starting a business

✨ Principal Director with 11 directors across the world at Microsoft

✨ "Startups are a whole other language—completely different game"

✨ Her husband is from Nigeria—his mom died when their third child was 6 months old

✨ Learning Nigerian cooking: "CKSP means cooking spoon—that's how they measure"

✨ Five kids with allergies, vegetarian phases, and one who doesn't like cheese

✨ Seven people = doubling or halving every recipe

✨ Printed recipes in notebooks that got gross and torn

✨ 12 years at Microsoft, American Express before that

✨ Married 26 years with five kids, eight chickens, two pugs

✨ LeCuckoo = French slang for "hey"

Whether you're in tech, food, or dreaming of entrepreneurship, Symone's story proves that sometimes you need to leap with confidence—even when the timing isn't perfect.

About Symone Opara:

Symone Opara is the Founder and Board Advisor of LeCuckoo, a platform empowering home cooks to share recipes and earn money. From Phoenix to Boston University to Microsoft Principal Director to Seattle entrepreneur, Symone is solving problems at the intersection of food, culture, and technology.

🍳 Learn more at https://luc.cooking/

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://www.f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: I Made the Leap with Arrogance

0:51 Introduction: Symone Opara & Le Cuckoo

1:41 From Phoenix to Boston, San Francisco & Seattle

3:48 Married 26 Years, Five Kids, Eight Chickens

5:13 Boston University: From Computer Science to Mass Comm

6:06 Connecting Through International Food

7:07 Marrying Into Nigerian Culture & Cooking

8:13 What is a "CKSP"? (A Cooking Spoon)

9:55 The Catalyst: Microsoft, Five Kids, From-Scratch Cooking

12:39 Taking the Leap During Microsoft's Layoffs

13:39 Where the Names Le Cuckoo & Luke Come From

15:25 The Luke Experience: Freemium to Professional

16:55 Personalization That Remembers You

17:33 A Growth Path for Chefs

18:25 Reimagining the Cookbook

20:39 Why Start With Recipes

22:32 The Creator Economy Problem

24:00 The Numbers: 175 Million People Looking for Recipes

27:30 The Imbalance in the Food Industry

28:15 Food as Connection: The Potluck Tradition

30:55 Tasting the Stories Behind the Food

33:42 Patenting the Royalty Model (Like Apple Music for Recipes)

40:54 Signal: AI for the Food Industry

38:28 Corporate Experience Meets Startup Life

39:54 "You Don't Know How to Speak Startup"

40:48 The Team, Equity & What's Next

43:33 Wefunder: Investing the Everyday Person

44:33 The Hardest Part: Marketing Yourself

47:05 Advice for Founders: Don't Buy Everything Year One

49:00 Build Your Board Early

51:18 Be Wary of Incubators

51:46 Rapid Five: Chef Dreams I Regret Not Chasing

55:13 Wrap-Up

Ashley Bradley turned a gap in the eyewear market into Palma Eyewear—all while raising young kids and working from her kitchen table. In just one year, she's built a thriving brand that prioritizes quality, intentional growth, and community over going viral.

In this episode, Ashley shares:

✨ Why she started from her kitchen table with a 5-month-old (and why you can too)

✨ How to work with Chinese manufacturers and get designer-quality at accessible prices

✨ The moment she saw a stranger wearing her sunglasses in public

✨ Growing intentionally vs. chasing viral moments and fake followers

✨ Becoming a "jack of all trades" to build a business you're proud of

✨ Why protecting your IP and testing your products matters from day one

✨ Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship without the guilt

Whether you're in fashion, e-commerce, or just dreaming of starting something of your own, Ashley's journey proves that you don't need a perfect setup—you just need to begin.

About Ashley Bradley:

Ashley is the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Palma Eyewear, an Australian eyewear and accessories brand offering high-quality, polarized sunglasses at accessible prices. From magazine styling to motherhood to entrepreneurship, Ashley is building a brand that makes women feel confident and amazing.

🕶️ Shop La Palma Eyewear and follow their journey at https://palmaeyewear.com

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://www.f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: I Started from My Kitchen Table

0:25 Introduction: La Palma Eyewear

1:21 Growing Up: Academics & Creatives

1:53 Working for House and Garden Magazine

2:25 Having Children & Career Pivot

2:37 The Gap in the Eyewear Market

2:50 Quality Sunglasses at Accessible Prices

3:30 Working with China: Debunking the Myths

5:00 Highest Quality Materials & Technology

6:17 Independent Testing in Australia

7:30 Protecting Your Investment

8:42 The Motherhood & Business Juggle

9:39 Compartmentalizing: When I'm With My Kids, That's What I Do

10:30 Suppliers, Boxes, Tissue—Everything Comes From Everywhere

11:13 The Bondi Moment: Seeing a Stranger Wear Them

12:10 Design Quality Feels at Accessible Prices

12:38 Growing Intentionally vs Going Viral

13:03 My Son Was 5 Months Old at the Kitchen Table

13:45 Becoming a Jack of All Trades

14:30 Learning Meta Ads, Supply Chain, Everything

15:15 Advice: Just Start. Just Do It. Why Not?

Trish Church-Podlasek spent decades as a creative director for craft magazines. She and her husband dreamed of opening a store together since before they were even married—coming up on their 45th wedding anniversary. Then illness struck. "Once I finished through that process, I said, 'If we're going to do this, it's time.'" Now Cuorebella is a peaceful haven in South Carolina where Trish creates watercolor art, teaches workshops, and helps people find beauty.

In this episode, Trish shares:

✨ The illness that made her say "It's time"

✨ 45 years of dreaming with her husband before opening the shop

✨ "I was done with corporate—it was never something I truly loved"

✨ From magazine creative director to product designer

✨ Starting watercolor workshops: "I was afraid—I don't know if I could do it"

✨ Why people say "It's so peaceful here" every single day

✨ Teaching watercolor for 8 years

✨ Creating Cuorebella Paper: her florals, paintings, cards

✨ The scary thing about starting your own business

✨ Drake University: Graphic Design & Jewelry/Silversmithing

✨ Why she loves telling artists' stories

Whether you're in design, retail, teaching art, or dreaming of opening a shop with your partner, Trish's story proves it's never too late to go after your dream.

About Trish Church-Podlasek:

Trish Church-Podlasek is the Owner, Graphic Artist, and Watercolor Artist at Cuorebella in South Carolina. From craft magazine creative director to shop owner and watercolor teacher, Trish creates peaceful spaces where beauty and art feed the soul.

🎨 Visit Cuorebella, watercolor florals & stationery https://cuorebella.com/

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://www.f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: After My Illness, I Said It's Time

0:25 Introduction: Cuorebella

1:00 Magazine to Product Transition

2:00 Growing Up Creative

2:26 Begging Dad for Art Lessons

3:13 High School Art Curriculum

3:27 Drake University

3:45 Graphic Design & Jewelry/Silversmithing

5:00 Early Career in Magazines

6:30 Creative Director Journey

8:42 Before We Were Even Married

8:58 45-Year Dream with My Husband

9:45 Done with Corporate Structure

10:06 The Illness: It's Time to Go After This

10:54 The Scary Thing About Starting

11:30 The Investment & The Will

13:00 Opening Cuorebella

15:27 People Say: It's So Peaceful Here

16:30 We've Made It Happen

17:38 Helping Artists Get Started

18:10 I Was Afraid I Couldn't Teach

18:39 Teaching Watercolor for 8 Years

20:00 The Workshop Experience

22:00 Building Community Through Art

25:00 Cuorebella Paper: My Florals & Paintings

27:00 Wholesale Business Journey

30:00 Patience in Business Growth

33:00 Working with Local Artists

36:00 The Shop Layout & Design

39:01 Feeding People's Souls

42:00 Why We Do This

45:00 Marriage & Business Partnership

48:00 Advice for Entrepreneurs

52:00 Balancing Art & Business

55:00 What's Next

57:00 Rapid Five Q&A

Vicky Pasche went from casino marketing director to fashion entrepreneur with zero fashion background. When she finally found clothes that fit her masculine-presenting body, everything changed. Now Dapper Boi—the inclusive clothing brand she co-founded with her wife—is saving lives. A parent once reached out to say their suicidal 14-year-old started smiling again after seeing a Dapper Boi ad, knowing she belonged on this earth.

In this episode, Vicky shares:

✨ Why a suicidal teen started smiling again after seeing their ad

✨ The moment a friend gave her "permission" to shop in the men's department

✨ Trying on her first pair of men's jeans: "I had never felt so confident"

✨ Her wife's honest words: "You look like a hot mess"

✨ Why men's clothes didn't fit her body (two sizes too big for her butt)

✨ Launching on Kickstarter with zero fashion background

✨ Getting hung up on by manufacturers: "Do you know what you're talking about?"

✨ The VP who said her ideas were "terrible"—then promoted her the next day

✨ Merging women's functional pockets with men's durability

✨ Why Dapper Boi is their "third child"

✨ Creating hotel uniforms so employees can feel confident at work

✨ Building a gender-neutral brand without being "triggering"

Whether you're LGBTQ+, masculine-presenting, or just tired of clothes that don't fit, Vicky's story proves that representation matters and confidence changes everything.

About Vicky Pasche:

Vicky Pasche is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dapper Boi, an inclusive clothing brand for everybody and every body. From Saratoga, NY to San Diego casinos to Valencia, Spain, Vicky is building a brand that helps people feel seen, confident, and like they belong.

👔 Shop Dapper Boi at https://www.dapperboi.com/

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: A 14-Year-Old Started Smiling Again

1:11 Introduction: Dapper Boi Co-Founder

1:53 Casino Marketing Director

2:09 Growing Up in Saratoga, NY

3:00 College & Early Career

4:52 Your Ideas Are Terrible—Promoted the Next Day

6:00 Moving to San Diego

7:11 Felt Frumpy, Unseen, Unconfident

7:51 A Friend Gave Me Permission

8:31 Shopping in the Men's Department

9:17 Never Felt So Confident

9:50 Meeting My Wife

10:18 You Look Like a Hot Mess

10:50 Two Sizes Too Big for My Butt

11:19 Dapper = Confidence, Not Suits

11:58 Manufacturers Hung Up on Us

13:04 Merging Men's & Women's Jeans

14:00 Launching on Kickstarter

16:00 Zero Fashion Background

18:00 Building the Brand

20:00 Marketing & PR Strategy

22:00 The Community Response

24:16 The Suicidal 14-Year-Old: Full Story

25:00 Dapper Boi is Our Third Child

26:16 Connect Early and Often

28:00 Fundraising & Investors

30:47 Free PR: Pitching Media

33:00 Manufacturing & Supply Chain

35:00 Product Development

37:00 Inclusive Fashion Mission

39:51 Hotel & Hospitality Uniforms

42:00 B2B Opportunity

44:00 Advice for Entrepreneurs

45:03 Rapid Five Q&A

Peggy Curry spent 17 years searching for answers. She had severe panic disorder and agoraphobia. Her husband had debilitating migraines. All four of their kids were chronically sick. No doctor could help them. Then one client said, "Get tested for gluten intolerance." Within a month, their entire family's lives changed. Now Peggy is the Co-Founder of Curry Girls Kitchen and author of "Damn Good Gluten Free Eating," on a mission to help others discover food is medicine.

In this episode, Peggy shares:

✨ 17 years of searching before discovering gluten intolerance

✨ Managing severe panic disorder and agoraphobia from ages 18-28

✨ Teaching special ed while friends drove her to work

✨ Four kids all chronically sick—no doctor ever mentioned food

✨ Her daughter Megan's debilitating symptoms from birth

✨ The moment everything changed: "We're all gluten intolerant"

✨ Creating Eva's Garden Organic Marinara after her mom died of breast cancer

✨ "I no longer wanted to raise money for disease—I wanted to teach prevention"

✨ The Curry Girls Method: Bio-individuality in food

✨ Why "Damn Good Gluten Free" took 12 years to write

✨ Growing Great: Teaching kids where food comes from

✨ "Happy cells, happy body, happy life"

Whether you're struggling with chronic health issues, food sensitivities, or just want to feel better, Peggy's story proves that when doctors can't help, food can heal.

About Peggy Curry:

Peggy Curry is the Co-Founder of Curry Girls Kitchen, Co-Founder and Board Member of Growing Great, and author of "Damn Good Gluten Free Eating." From special ed teacher to food-as-medicine advocate, Peggy is transforming lives by teaching people that food is medicine.

📖 Get the cookbook: "Damn Good Gluten Free Eating"

🥗 Learn more at https://currygirlskitchen.com/

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://www.f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: 17 Years of Hell

0:26 Introduction: Curry Girls & Growing Great

1:00 Damn Good Gluten Free Eating

1:30 Growing Up in West L.A.

2:30 Mom's Business: Lily's of Beverly Hills

3:30 Met Her Husband at 15

4:20 Getting Sick: Panic Disorder

5:00 Becoming a Special Ed Teacher

6:37 Teaching in Culver City

7:30 Friends Who Took Care of Me

8:30 Starting a Family

9:41 Megan Was So Sick from Birth

10:30 All Four Kids Were Sick

11:29 Never Giving Up

11:45 17 Years of Hell

12:17 Get Tested for Gluten Intolerance

12:43 We're All Gluten Intolerant

12:56 Within a Month, All Our Lives Changed

13:54 Mom Died of Breast Cancer

15:00 Eva's Garden Organic Marinara

16:00 No Longer Raising Money for Disease

17:00 Teaching People How to Eat for Health

19:00 The Food Cleanse & Reset

21:57 Curry Girls Kitchen

24:00 Growing Great: Kids & Food

27:00 The Cookbook Journey

30:00 Make Life Delicious Every Day

31:02 Bio-Individuality: What Works for You

31:07 Happy Cells, Happy Body, Happy Life

35:00 Damn Good Gluten Free: 12 Years in the Making

40:00 Refine Your Mission

45:00 Community & Support

50:00 Advice for Entrepreneurs

55:28 Rapid Five Q&A

Erica Keith spent 18 years at Hallmark Cards, collaborating with Dr. Maya Angelou and Jill Scott. Then she took a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. When her seven-year-old son Kingston ran crying to the backyard after seeing George Floyd's death, everything changed. That moment sparked Black Forward—a brand celebrating Black culture, representation, and positive messages for the Black and brown community.

In this episode, Erica shares:

✨ Why her son's tears became the catalyst for Black Forward

✨ Leaving the security of corporate America with three kids and a new house

✨ Her husband's powerful words: "You should do you"

✨ Creating Juneteenth t-shirts when no one was really talking about Juneteenth

✨ 18 years at Hallmark collaborating with Maya Angelou and Jill Scott

✨ Starting with a portfolio that "lacked" and returning years later: "You're in"

✨ The intersection of design and activism

✨ Opening a pop-up shop on historic Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia

✨ Building community while being a solopreneur, mom, choir director, and volunteer

✨ Why knowing our history helps us have a stronger future

Whether you're in design, building a purpose-driven brand, or making the leap from corporate to entrepreneur, Erica's story will inspire you to create something meaningful.

About Erica Keith:

Erica Keith is a creative strategist, art director, and CEO & Founder of Black Forward, a brand celebrating Black culture through apparel, home goods, and positive messaging. From Cincinnati to Philadelphia to 18 years at Hallmark, Erica now uses design to shape culture and community narratives.

🖤 Shop Black Forward at https://www.ericakeith.com/blackforward

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: My Son Asked Why Police Killed George Floyd

0:30 Introduction

1:30 From Cincinnati to Philadelphia

2:24 Extremely Quiet Child Observing Beauty

3:06 Drawing from Jet and Ebony Magazines

4:00 Applying to Tyler School of Art

4:44 Portfolio Lacking—Come Back

5:00 Community College of Philadelphia

5:45 Falling in Love with Graphic Design

6:20 Portfolio Review: You're In

6:53 Hallmark Recruiting at Tyler

7:19 Moving to Kansas City

9:45 Collaborating with Dr. Maya Angelou

10:49 The Jill Scott Collection

12:30 18 Years at Hallmark

13:07 Becoming an Adjunct Professor

15:00 Teacher, Counselor, Therapist

16:00 Moving Back to Philadelphia

16:36 Director of Diversity & Inclusion

17:20 The Call to Become an Entrepreneur

17:35 My Husband Said: You Should Do You

18:18 Everything Fell Into Place

20:49 Design as Activism

23:21 Kingston Was Seven Years Old

25:13 The First Juneteenth T-Shirts

26:20 Black Forward: The Name

28:00 Print on Demand Model

30:09 Knowing Our History = Stronger Future

32:14 Pop-Up Shop on Germantown Avenue

34:00 Balancing Black Forward & Client Work

37:00 The Importance of Community

40:00 Youth Choir & School Volunteer

42:00 Boundaries & Self-Care

45:00 What's Next: 5-10 Year Plan

45:35 Rapid Five Q&A

51:08 Advice: Take a Mini Business Course

0:00 Opening: The Algorithm is Bullshit

0:30 Introduction: Creative Director to Handbag Designer

1:30 Growing Up Creative: Movies & Family

2:06 The Bangkok Buying Trip

2:45 Finding the Sparkly Recycled Material

3:21 The Sustainability Story

4:00 Deciding to Make Bags, Not Suits

5:00 Late Night Birthday Conversation

5:37 Creating Film Scripts for Each Bag

7:00 Storytelling Over Product Shots

8:30 Naming Le Sept: The Seven

10:52 The Seven Bag Personalities

13:00 Building the Brand Without Money

15:00 Who You Know vs What You Know

17:38 When Mistakes Become Wins

18:30 Working with Suppliers in Thailand

19:43 The Algorithm is Bullshit: Full Story

21:31 Customers Don't Know What They Want

22:00 We're Going Into a Clone Society

23:06 Find Your Own Thing

From creative director in advertising to handbag designer, Alex Antoniou is building Le Sept on her own terms—and rejecting the algorithm-driven sameness of modern fashion. Her bags have personality, her brand has story, and her approach to business is refreshingly rebellious.

In this episode, Alex shares:

✨ Why the algorithm is bullshit and makes everyone look the same

✨ How a random buying trip in Bangkok turned into a business

✨ Building a brand through storytelling and film, not product shots

✨ Why you should be your own number one customer

✨ The power of pulling in favors and collaborating with creative friends

✨ How a manufacturing mistake became her best design

✨ Going against the Instagram template culture to stay true to your vision

✨ Why customers don't know what they want (and why that's okay)

Whether you're in fashion, creative industries, or building any kind of brand, Alex's approach will inspire you to trust your instincts and create something that actually stands out.

About Alex Antoniou:

Alex is the Founder of Le Sept, an Australian handbag brand built on storytelling, sustainability, and serious style. With a background in creative directing for major brands, Alex is now channeling her experience into building something uniquely her own—bags with personality and a brand with soul.

👜 Discover Le Sept and the stories behind each bag at https://www.lesept.com.au

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://www.f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: I Declined Celebrity Clients

0:44 Introduction: DeyThaMUA & Shine by Dey

1:53 Growing Up: Always Into Art

2:08 Drawing on Her Shirt at Age 4

2:39 Creating Shine by Dey Cosmetics

4:00 Chi Arts: Chicago High School for the Arts

6:33 Imposter Syndrome Still Exists

8:39 Discovering Makeup Through YouTube

10:58 Charging the First Client

11:41 Starting Makeup in Her Dorm Room

12:42 When I First Started, I Would Cry

15:30 Building a Client Base

18:00 Service-Based to Product-Based Business

22:00 Art as a Collage

25:00 Working with Elite Clientele

27:42 My Heart Has to Be In It

30:25 Your Prom Girl Matters Just as Much

35:00 Boundaries & Non-Negotiables

40:00 The Importance of Community

42:28 Going to DePaul University

45:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

49:34 Rapid Five Q&A

Deja Blackwell started doing makeup in her college dorm room, crying about who would pay her. Now she's the Founder and CEO of DeyThaMUA and Shine by Dey Cosmetics—working with elite clients while staying true to her values. When celebrity requests started coming in, she did something most artists wouldn't: she said no.

In this episode, Deja shares:

✨ Why she declined celebrity clients who wanted her to cancel on regular clients

✨ Starting her business crying in her dorm room, wondering who would pay her

✨ The imposter syndrome that persists even after achieving your dreams

✨ How she went from service-based (makeup artistry) to product-based (cosmetics line)

✨ Learning your non-negotiables and staying true to your values

✨ Why your prom girl and wedding client matter just as much as any celebrity

✨ Building a business where your heart is always in it

✨ The moment she realized she needed to create her own cosmetics line

Whether you're in beauty, service-based business, or building a brand, Deja's story will remind you that integrity and authenticity matter more than any opportunity.

About Deja Blackwell:

Deja Blackwell is the Founder and CEO of DeyThaMUA, a makeup artistry business, and Shine by Dey Cosmetics. From her Chicago roots and Chi Arts High School training to working with elite clientele, Deja has built a business grounded in art, integrity, and keeping her word.

💄 Learn more at https://www.deythamua.com/

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://f5collective.com

0:00 Opening: I Got Funded 3 Weeks After I Quit My Job

0:46 Growing Up: Always Interested in Math & Science

1:09 Seeing Math Come Alive in Science

1:53 Rocket Engineer Cousin & Choosing MIT

2:21 Plasma Physics: Energy from the Sun

3:27 How Food Became the Focus

3:52 NASA & The Apollo Space Program

4:09 How Do You Feed Astronauts on Long Space Journeys?

4:43 Using Cultures Like Yogurt to Make Food

4:53 Feeding 9 Billion People: Where Will the Land Come From?

5:25 Meeting John Reid & Starting the Journey

6:12 The Business Plan Competition

6:41 Kiverdi to Air Protein: The Evolution

7:05 Dad the Entrepreneur: 55 Hair Salons

7:49 Family of Entrepreneurs Following Dad

11:27 NASA Technology Transfer Program

12:36 Raising Capital & December 2020

22:32 Lisa, You're Taking Too Much Risk

31:23 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

31:43 Watching Dad's Highs & Lows

32:13 Many Entrepreneurs Sprint for Too Long

33:06 Product-Market Fit: It May Take 4 Iterations

36:25 Go For It & Put Your Whole Self In

37:00 The Commitment Story: 3 Weeks After Quitting

37:40 Rapid Five Q&A

38:02 What Did You Want to Be When You Grew Up?

38:46 What Always Makes You Smile?

39:11 What You Know Now: Embracing Failure & Iteration

39:50 Iterate Faster, Get Further

40:14 Guilty Pleasure: Half a Cheesecake for Dinner

41:13 Cat or Dog: Buddy the Australian Yorkshire Terrier

41:43 How to Avoid Founder Burnout

42:08 Non-Negotiable Boundaries

42:54 Be Optimistic AND Realistic

Dr. Lisa Dyson is solving world hunger with space-age technology. As CEO and Co-Founder of Air Protein, she's using NASA-inspired science to create protein from elements in the air—no farmland, minimal resources, maximum impact. Her journey from MIT physicist to climate tech entrepreneur is proof that when you commit fully, everything shifts.

In this episode, Lisa shares:

✨ Why she got funded 3 weeks after quitting her job (the power of full commitment)

✨ How NASA's Apollo space program inspired a solution to feed 9+ billion people

✨ Transitioning from physics PhD to climate tech entrepreneur

✨ Why iteration beats perfection (and how she learned this in grad school)

✨ Growing up with an entrepreneur dad and 55 hair salons

✨ The non-negotiable boundaries that prevent founder burnout

✨ Celebrating small wins when you're building something massive

✨ Being optimistic AND realistic as a founder

Whether you're in climate tech, biotech, deep tech, or just building something ambitious, Lisa's story will inspire you to think bigger and commit harder.

About Dr. Lisa Dyson:

Dr. Lisa Dyson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Air Protein, a company making sustainable protein using elements from the air. With a PhD in Physics from MIT and a passion for solving climate change through innovation, Lisa is building the future of food—inspired by 1960s NASA research.

🌍 Learn more at http://airprotein.com

The growth engine for women who mean business.

http://f5collective.com