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Let’s just call it like it is—Troy Allen has a reputation. Some people call him a visionary. Others? An a**hole.

On this week’s episode, I sit down with the man behind Pins, 16-Bit, and some of the biggest nightlife and entertainment concepts in Columbus and beyond. Troy’s been building incredible brands people actually feel for decades—and he’s not afraid to ruffle feathers along the way.

We talk about the highs, the hits, and the hard truths that come with being known as a controversial leader. From losing his marriage and shutting down concepts, to reinventing brands and confronting depression head-on, Troy opens up about his reputation, how he’s evolved, and what he’s learned from both failure and success.

And for everyone asking—yes, we get into the future of The Bogey project. But I'm not spilling the tea here—you'll have to tune in for that 😉.

This conversation is raw, real, and full of the kind of unfiltered honesty you don’t get from most business leaders. Whether you think Troy’s misunderstood or just brutally direct, you’ll hear a side of him you’ve never seen before.

Because at the end of the day, building big shit isn’t about playing nice—it’s about being all in or getting out.

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What happens when you stop reasoning with yourself, stop waiting for permission, and just decide?

You get Cory Gregory.

This week we packed up the mics and headed out to Buckeye Lake to sit down with Cory on his turf—Muscle Island. And let me tell you…this place isn’t just a slice of paradise. It’s a masterclass in vision, grit, and relentless execution.

We’re talking about:
⚡ The decisions over feelings mindset that has fueled Cory since day one.
⚡ How he turned a wild daydream into a multimillion-dollar legacy property for his family.
⚡ Why consistency—not motivation—is the real superpower.
⚡ The financial IQ and life lessons baked into building Muscle Island from scratch.
⚡ And how to channel discipline into confidence, momentum, and results.

Cory doesn’t just preach it—he lives it. From 4AM training sessions to building businesses and writing books, his story is proof that if you’re willing to put in the work, you can change your trajectory.

Quick heads up: my mic had a little attitude during this recording, so my audio isn’t as crystal clear as usual—but the conversation is too damn good not to share.

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This week, Amy Nelson is back in the studio with me—and we’re talking about something I honestly wish we didn’t have to: the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Not from a political lens, but from a human one. From the lens of being parents trying to raise kids in a world where violence is live-streamed, group chats move faster than the news cycle, and childhood innocence feels harder and harder to protect.

We talk about:
 ✨ What it means to have real conversations with our kids about violence and humanity.
 ✨ The tension between wanting to keep them safe while also telling them the truth.
 ✨ How we, as parents, are holding the weight of this moment—and why silence isn’t an option.

This isn’t about red vs. blue. It’s about compassion, courage, and community. It’s about asking the hard questions out loud, even when we don’t have the answers.

Take a breath with us. Tune in. And maybe—just maybe—this conversation helps you feel a little less alone in the heaviness of it all.

👉 And if this episode hits home for you, DM me and join the conversation. I want to know how you’re navigating this with your kids, your family, your own heart. Let’s talk about it—together.

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Some dreams take everything you’ve got. And then they ask for more.

Today, I sat down with Krista Guagenti, founder of Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique, whose story proves what it really means to keep moving—even when the setbacks pile up and the odds feel impossible.

Krista didn’t grow up with a roadmap to entrepreneurship. She was the first in her family to graduate college, worked 90-hour weeks in corporate America, got turned down by banks (and then turned down again), and faced roadblock after roadblock on the way to bringing Panacea to life. Most people would’ve quit. Krista doubled down.

Because when you believe in your vision—even when no one else does—you find a way.

In this episode, we dig into:
 ⚡ Why grit—not luck—is the real differentiator in business
 ⚡ How Krista kept pushing when every door slammed in her face
 ⚡ The messy, non-linear path from Budget Blinds to Panacea
 ⚡ How personal loss solidified her mission to create a space for healing
 ⚡ The future of Panacea, including a major new expansion in Bridge Park

If you’ve ever felt like giving up on your dream, Krista’s story will remind you: setbacks aren’t stop signs. They’re the proving ground.

Follow Krista & Panacea:

• Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique
• Instagram: @panacealuxuryspa
• Tune into Krista’s podcast Serenity and Fire wherever you listen. Also, give her a follow on IG @serenityandfire

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Before you can build a business, you’ve got to build belief.

This week I’m pulling back the curtain on a very special B Lab client of mine—Megan Goodman. Megan came in with a head full of ideas, a ton of passion, and (like so many of us) a little voice in her head that kept saying who am I to do this?

In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to start from scratch—without a clear roadmap. From vision boards to brand kits, from big dreams to tiny first steps, Megan and I dig into how you move past self-doubt and start building something that feels authentic to you.

✨ What we cover in this episode:

• Why belief in yourself always comes before the business plan
• How to find your “first pin on the map” when you want to do all the things
• Why changing your mind (again and again) is part of the creative process
• What happens when you give yourself permission to start small—and grow from there

Megan’s story is proof that you don’t have to have it all figured out to take action. You just have to start.

🎙 And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a new episode.

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Amy Nelson is back! Every time we sit down, I walk away fired up and inspired to do more, be more, and lead with more clarity. This time we dove into women in leadership and how damn hard it can be to walk the line between being “too soft” or “too much.”

We get into:
⚡ Leading with authenticity
⚡ Why being “bossy” is actually a compliment
⚡ Why asking for forgiveness beats waiting for permission

We also cracked open something really close to my heart right now: The B Lab. It’s the engine I’ve been quietly building to help entrepreneurs cut through the noise, get clear on what they really want, and actually start moving. Talking it through with Amy reminded me exactly why I started—because waiting for permission is a waste of your damn time.

Amy, thank you for always bringing your wisdom, your honesty, and your fire to this show. Every conversation with you leaves me better—and I know you'll feel the same.

Got questions for Amy? DM the show on Instagram or email us at [email protected].

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What do you do when someone tells you you’ve only got seven months to live?

If you’re Jason Tharp, you decide to do the exact opposite of giving up. You strip away the masks, you stop apologizing for who you are, and you start spreading joy in the most unexpected ways.

Jason is an author, artist, and cancer survivor who’s beating the odds every single day. In our chat, he shares how a Stage 4 brain cancer diagnosis became the thing that set him free — from self-loathing, from fear, from living small.

We get into:
⚡ The wild story of firing his doctor after being told he’d be dead in 7 months.
⚡ How he went from 400 pounds to reclaiming his health.
⚡ Why he started leaving handwritten notes of encouragement for strangers.
⚡ And the perspective shift that changed everything: cancer isn’t happening to him, it’s happening through him.

This one’s about survival, sure. But more than that, it’s about choosing to really live.

And Jason — if you’re reading this — thank you for sitting across from me and sharing your story so openly. You filled my cup (and then some), and I know you’ll do the same for everyone who listens.

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You can’t plan for the moments that change you, but you can decide what to do with them. That’s what I loved about my conversation with Sarah Gormley.

Sarah is a Columbus local and the owner of Sarah Gormley Gallery in the Short North—and she’s lived one hell of a story. We got into everything: standing on the porch screaming “F***” with her daughter in response to her mom's cancer diagnosis, dating as an adult while living in her childhood bedroom, getting fired by Martha Stewart, and what it’s really like to run an art gallery in a tough market.

She’s also written a book, The Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy, that didn’t even use the word “joy” until the last chapter — which tells you everything about the journey it took to find it.

We talked grief, love, starting over, and the work it takes to quiet that inner critic long enough to build a life you actually want to live. It’s proof that joy has a funny way of showing up when you least expect it.

📚 Grab Sarah’s book HERE.

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Michael Flinner spent 17 years building a successful logistics company—only to walk away and start from scratch with something completely different: The Fluff, a premium pickup-and-delivery laundry service in Central Ohio.

We get into the unsexy realities of building something sustainable, why convenience is the new currency, and the importance of staying “in the mud” when you’re laying the foundation of a business. We talk pricing psychology, narrowing your audience, and how to keep climbing new mountains without burning out.

And somewhere along the way, Michael turned the tables and started asking me the questions—which got me a little fired up (in the best way).

If you’re an entrepreneur in the dreaming stage, stuck in the messy middle, or staring down the next big climb, this one’s packed with perspective, strategy, and a few laughs.

#TheKeriCroftShow #TheFluff #PodcastNowLive #EntrepreneurLife #ColumbusOhio

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I’ve been following Ali Prato for a long time—so having her on the show was a full circle moment.

Ali is the host of Infertile AF and co-founder of Fertility Rally, and she’s been one of the loudest, realest, and most compassionate voices in the infertility space since 2019. In this episode, she shares her own journey with secondary infertility, miscarriage, and IVF—and how she turned it all into a platform that’s helped thousands of people feel seen.

We also get into:

• Her wild career pivot from Playboy editor to infertility advocate
• The kids’ book series she’s writing to help families talk openly about ART (assisted reproductive technology)
• Why she started the Fertility Rally and what it means to create space for all infertility stories

If you’ve ever felt like you were the only one going through it—you’re not. This one’s personal, and I’m so grateful Ali shared her story with us.

🧡 Want to hear more real stories about infertility?
Check out our Infertility Series we hosted back in April—featuring powerful conversations with women who’ve walked the path of IVF, miscarriage, surrogacy, and more.

#TheKeriCroftShow #InfertileAF #AliPrato #FertilityRally #IVFStories #InfertilityAwareness #PodcastShowNotes #WomenSupportingWomen