Failing Forward

Casey Hilmer Ward started running in elementary school and later joined her school’s cross country team. In July 2003, 13-year-old Casey went on a training run and was attacked a quarter-mile from her house. She managed to break free but only after being stabbed four times, including in the neck.

On episode 101, Casey shares her survival story and the scars—visible and invisible—she carried until later in high school. As a motivational speaker, she tells audiences you have to keep going through the tough times in life and embrace failure. After all, she opened her indoor cycling and fitness studio, Power Ryde, after being rejected from medical school.

Show Notes:

- Learn about Power Ryde: https://www.powerryde.com/

Some of Henry Fenichel’s earliest memories are during one of humanity’s darkest eras: the Holocaust. His family was targeted along with many other Jews living in The Netherlands in the 1930s and ’40s. Miraculously, he and his mother escaped to Palestine—only to be separated once more.

On our 100th episode, Henry recounts what it was like living in a Jewish ghetto, how he made it to safety, and how he eventually reunited with his mother permanently. He credits his mom immensely for her strength in the face of countless horrors and her determination to keep them alive. Now a retired physics professor, Henry serves as a board member for The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center and lives in the Cincinnati area with his wife of 60 years.

Show Notes:

- Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center and museum: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/

We think of entrepreneurs as strong visionaries who are ready to tackle any problem, and if you met Bill DeVille today, that’s probably what you’d think, too. As a kid, the founder and CEO of Health Carousel was mech less self-assured and way more fatalistic. Then one day, his mom shocked him into changing his mindset.

On episode 99, Bill shares what his mom told him way back when and explains how he realized he was a risk taker. His approach for assessing risk is similar to Jeff Bezos’ regret minimization framework, and Bill has used it for making business and life decisions.

Adam Symson says he owes his position as president of CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company to his failures. Or more accurately, his fortitude. He’s had to navigate layoffs, acquisitions, and a global pandemic in his role, and his resilience has come in handy.

On episode 98, Adam tells us why and how he embraces failure. He also shares how his family’s immigrant history and Jewish identity subtly influenced him to become a journalist. His dream of being an investigative reporter didn’t go as planned, but Adam embraced an alternate path that’s led him to being a media executive of the country’s fourth-largest local TV broadcaster.

In 2003, while working at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cincinnati, Wende Cross decided to apply for a federal magistrate position. She was selected over 100 other people from around the country but ultimately withdrew her name after concerns about her now ex-husband’s record.

On episode 97, Wende explains how she got threw the dark period that ensued and how she ended up becoming a magistrate after all. Today, Wende is a judge for the Hamilton County Common Pleas court. She shares how her faith has been an integral part of her professional decision-making and what she has learned in her career so far.

As chef and co-owner of La Petite Pierre, Suzy DeYoung served sitting presidents, celebrities, and countless other people. She loved the challenge and creativity—until she didn’t anymore. She felt stuck because leaving the catering business would mean leaving her business partner—one of her two sisters—without a chef.

On episode 96, Suzy explains how she gained the courage to leave La Petite Pierre and how her passion for curbing food waste led her to start La Soupe in 2014. Today, the food rescue non-profit has 29 employees, receives about 25,000 pounds of food each week, and re-distributes it to food-insecure Cincinnatians and other outlets.

Show Notes:

- Find more about La Soupe: https://lasoupe.org/

We’ve all had dreams that have stuck with us. Sometimes it’s because they are frightening or jarring, other times we have the same dream again and again. It makes us wonder: What did that mean?

On episode 95, Steve Kampmann returns to the show to delve into the history and importance of dreams. The host of The Dreams Course Podcast shares a language we can use to interpret them, and more broadly, discusses how we can leave our egos behind and connect to our most confident, aligned selves.

Show Notes:

- Learn more about Steven’s coaching program, The Dreams Course: www.thedreamscourse.org/dreamcourse

- Listen to The Dreams Course Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-…st/id1532417265

- Watch the “Clifford” screen test with Steven Kampmann and Martin Short: https://vimeo.com/536064868

- Read Breath by James Nestor: https://www.mrjamesnestor.com/breath

Amanda Valentine had been trying to lose weight and get control of her binge eating disorders for years. Then, the former radio host made a 90-day resolution on air to lose 15 pounds. Three months later, she had shed 20 pounds and was determined to keep going.

On episode 94, Amanda shares some great reframing tips that can be useful beyond the health and wellness realm, too. She also tells us about the time she was fired in the middle of radio show and pivoting from her dream job in radio to becoming an independent podcast host and health coach.

Show Notes:

- Listen to the Pound This podcast: https://poundthis.com/

- Learn about Amanda’s health coaching and products: https://www.amandavalentinebites.com/

Jennifer McClure made just $12,000 in the first year of her business consulting firm, Unbridled Talent. Despite being an introvert, finding clients wasn’t the problem. A lack of systems and knowledge—like how to send an invoice—was.

On episode 93, Jennifer tells us about growing her business, how she learned to network, and how stepping out of her comfort zone led to the creation of DisruptHR. The event invites atypical speakers to share their best ideas in 5 minutes, with 20 slides and 15 seconds per slide. In the past eight years, Disrupt event have happened in 158 cities across 37 countries. An avid horse-lover, Jennifer also shares an incredible leadership lesson she learned from her horses.

Show Notes:

- About Jennifer and Unbridled Talent: https://jennifermcclure.net/

- Learn about DisruptHR: https://disrupthr.co/

In 2014, Barbara Hauser used her talents of community building and creativity to launch The Red Door Project, a pop-up art show and silent auction held around Cincinnati. She often fielded questions about how successful each show was, but Barbara chaffed at the idea of measuring success based on attendance or number of pieces sold.

On episode 92, Barbara explains the inspiration behind The Red Door Project and how she refined her definition of success. She believes everyone is an artist and encourages creativity at every turn. Barbara also tells us about her work as Senior Community Relations Manager for P&G.

Show Notes:

- Follow The Red Door Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thereddoorproject/

- Follow The Red Door Project on Instagram @thereddoorproject: https://www.instagram.com/thereddoorproject/