Torch Talk

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Deanna Nichols-Stika, Director of Branches Institute, to explore the Working Genius framework and how it helps leaders build stronger, more aligned teams.

Deanna breaks down the Six Types of Working Genius — Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity — and explains how the assessment focuses on productivity and energy rather than personality. The conversation walks through how individuals can identify what truly brings them joy and momentum in their work, where frustration tends to show up, and why those distinctions matter for both personal growth and team effectiveness.

The discussion also dives into how Working Genius applies at the team level. Deanna explains the three stages of work, how to identify gaps in a team’s workflow, and how leaders can use a team map to diagnose breakdowns in recent projects. From hiring decisions to communication friction, the framework offers practical language for understanding invisible tensions and aligning people to roles where they can thrive.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The six types of Working Genius and how they function
• Why productivity style matters more than personality labels
• How to identify gaps within a team’s workflow
• Using team mapping to improve hiring and role alignment
• Bringing clarity to workplace friction and communication differences

This episode offers a practical look at team development for leaders who want clearer alignment, healthier collaboration, and stronger results inside their organizations.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Dan Owolabi, leadership expert, author of Authentic Leadership, and keynote speaker for the blaze Business Expo, for a deep conversation about authentic purpose, clarity, and building organizations that last.

Dan shares how Authentic Leadership grew from a timely book release into a globally recognized message read by executives, world leaders, and MBA programs. From there, the conversation shifts into the core idea behind his Expo keynote: authentic purpose. Dan explains the difference between authentic purpose and artificial purpose, why many businesses stumble into success without a strategy, and how clarity allows leaders to engineer impact instead of chasing trends.

The discussion walks through practical elements leaders can assess inside their organizations, including purpose, pace, employees, customers, and execution. Dan unpacks how founder temperament shapes company culture, why alignment matters, and how understanding your ideal customer creates sustainable growth. He closes with a powerful analogy about running a business as “beef” or “baby,” challenging leaders to decide whether they’re extracting value or investing for long-term impact.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The difference between authentic purpose and artificial purpose
• How clarity eliminates unnecessary decisions
• Why founder temperament affects company pace and culture
• Measuring purpose through employee engagement and customer alignment
• The “beef or baby” analogy and what it reveals about your business

This episode offers a thoughtful and practical look at leadership rooted in clarity, conviction, and long-term thinking. This is for leaders who want their business to outlast them.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Cortney Christian, Client Relationship Support at Fierce Creative Solutions, for an honest conversation about growth, feedback, and finding the right seat on a team.

Cortney shares her journey into Fierce, starting in a social media coordinator role without deep experience and learning quickly through hands-on creation, feedback, and daily iteration. She opens up about the challenge of balancing creative direction, client expectations, and internal standards, and what it was like to receive and process hard feedback in a fast-moving environment.

The conversation then shifts to a pivotal leadership moment: evaluating strengths, weaknesses, and making a role change. Lindsey and Cortney walk through what it looks like when leadership identifies a better fit for someone inside the organization and approaches that conversation with clarity and respect. They discuss the importance of intentions, cultural fit, and how “right person, right seat” isn’t just a slogan but a process that requires honesty and trust.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Navigating feedback in creative roles
• Balancing client expectations with internal standards
• The emotional side of role transitions
• What “right person, right seat” looks like in practice
• How strengths can be uncovered through honest leadership conversations

This episode offers a candid look at internal team development, especially for leaders trying to retain strong people while helping them move into roles where they can truly thrive.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Katie Koglman and Megan Wilson from United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties for an in-depth conversation about community impact, nonprofit leadership, and what it really looks like to support people behind the scenes.

Katie, the CEO, and Megan, the Marketing and Development Coordinator, walk through how United Way operates locally, why every community’s needs are different, and how their small team works across Wayne and Holmes counties to connect people with real resources. They share candid insight into leading a nonprofit, fundraising challenges, misconceptions about where donations go, and the responsibility that comes with being a community connector.

The conversation brings United Way’s work to life through real examples, from emergency housing support and lead remediation to the 2-1-1 helpline and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Katie and Megan also talk about prevention-focused solutions, collaboration with other organizations, and why flexibility matters when serving families in crisis.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How United Way supports education, housing, health, and basic needs locally
• What nonprofit leadership looks like behind the scenes
• The realities of fundraising and community misconceptions
• Why prevention is a smarter long-term investment
• How collaboration drives meaningful local impact

This episode offers a grounded look at community leadership and the everyday work that helps families, businesses, and neighborhoods move forward together.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Ty Meyer, founder of Promotion Therapy, for an honest conversation about servant leadership, family-first values, and what it really takes to build a healthcare business that puts people before profit.

Ty shares his journey into physical therapy, shaped by early injuries, a love for science, and lessons learned growing up in a family-run Dairy Queen business. He walks through his career path, from hospital leadership to launching Promotion Therapy during a busy season of family life, choosing steady, values-driven growth over rapid expansion and heavy debt.

The conversation dives deep into the realities of healthcare, including navigating insurance limitations, serving patients who need more care than coverage allows, and why Ty often chooses to help people even when it doesn’t make financial sense. He also opens up about leadership challenges, including conflict, staffing, flexibility, and carrying the weight of payroll during uncertain times like COVID.

Throughout the episode, Ty emphasizes faith, humility, and service as the foundation of his leadership, along with the importance of flexibility for employees and building a culture where people feel supported both at work and at home.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why Ty chose physical therapy and a service-based career
• Lessons learned from family business and early leadership experiences
• Building Promotion Therapy with slow, intentional growth
• Balancing faith, family, and business decisions
• Navigating healthcare challenges while doing what’s right for patients
• Leading with flexibility, humility, and long-term perspective

This episode offers a thoughtful, grounded look at leadership that prioritizes people, purpose, and integrity, both inside and outside the clinic.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Samira, President of the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, for an in-depth conversation about leadership, community, and what it looks like to serve local businesses through seasons of growth and crisis.

Samira shares her career journey, from leaving a full-time marketing role to take a part-time position at the Chamber, working multiple jobs to make it work, and eventually stepping into the president role during the height of the pandemic. She reflects on the uncertainty of that season, the responsibility she felt toward local businesses, and the moments that solidified her commitment to the Chamber’s mission.

The conversation highlights how the Chamber pivoted during COVID to support businesses, from grants and webinars to creative initiatives that kept doors open. Samira also walks through the programs the Chamber offers today, including Loyal to Local, Leadership Wooster, Manufacturing Day, Lemonade Day, workforce support, and community events that connect residents, businesses, and future leaders.

Throughout the episode, Samira emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and the power of showing up for your community, even when the path forward isn’t clear.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Samira’s nontraditional path into Chamber leadership
• Taking on the president's role during the pandemic
• How the Chamber supported businesses through the crisis
• Programs that encourage local spending, workforce development, and youth entrepreneurship
• Why connection and community matter for long-term growth

This episode offers a thoughtful look at leadership rooted in service, and the quiet, consistent work that helps communities thrive.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Craig Nolletti, owner of The Warehouse Gyms, for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, discipline, and building a business rooted in consistency and long-term thinking.

Craig shares how his journey started in fitness at a young age, eventually leading him to open multiple gyms across Ohio. He walks through the evolution of his business, from running CrossFit gyms alongside a full-time job to transitioning fully into a 24/7 gym model designed around accessibility, quality equipment, and member experience. Throughout the conversation, Craig explains how every decision he makes is guided by a simple question: what would he want as a customer?

The discussion also dives into leadership and business realities, including hiring carefully, charging what your business is worth, acting on gut instinct, and building something that can function without the owner being present every day. Craig offers candid advice for business owners who feel stretched thin, especially when it comes to health, discipline, and taking care of their bodies with the same seriousness they give to their work.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Craig built and scaled The Warehouse Gyms across multiple locations
• Why the 24/7 gym model works for both members and owners
• The importance of acting on instinct and learning through mistakes
• Why business owners must treat their health as non-negotiable
• Building a business that can grow beyond the founder

This episode offers a practical, no-nonsense look at business ownership, personal discipline, and creating something that lasts, both inside and beyond the gym.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Larry Yoder, co-executive director of Pure Gift of God, to talk about adoption, foster care, and the long-term support families need beyond the moment a child comes home. Larry shares both his personal connection to adoption and the story behind Pure Gift of God, an organization created to remove financial barriers and provide ongoing resources for adoptive and foster families.

The conversation explores the realities many families face after adoption, including trauma, behavioral challenges, and the need for community and education. Larry explains how Pure Gift of God has expanded its mission over the years, from adoption grants to support groups, parent training, therapy services, and the Halo intensive program that equips both parents and children with tools to heal and grow together.

Larry also walks through the different adoption paths, including domestic infant adoption, foster-to-adopt, and international adoption, offering practical insight into costs, timelines, and common misconceptions. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes that adoption is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey that requires support, patience, and a willingness to learn.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The mission and evolution of Pure Gift of God
• Why adoption support is just as crucial after placement
• Trauma-informed parenting and the Halo program
• The realities of foster care and adoption in Ohio
• How families can find help, community, and resources
• Ways individuals and businesses can support adoptive and foster families

This episode offers an honest, compassionate look at adoption and foster care and a reminder that no family should have to walk that journey alone.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Rick Mast, founder of Casa di Sassi, to talk about what it really looks like to build a manufacturing business rooted in craftsmanship, relationships, and long-term thinking. Rick shares the full story behind Casa di Sassi, from his early days in the stone veneer industry to launching his own company, acquiring Casa di Sassi, and eventually building a state-of-the-art production facility in Apple Creek.

Rick explains how Casa di Sassi blends natural stone artistry with precision manufacturing, including how profiles are developed, why real stone is still central to the process, and what goes into sourcing materials through hands-on “rock hunts.” He also walks through how the company balances timeless design with subtle shifts in trends, while staying focused on quality over quick wins.

The conversation dives into leadership and scale, including how Rick has intentionally built a team that doesn’t rely on him day to day, the role of automation in growing without constantly adding staff, and why morale, trust, and strong customer relationships matter more than titles or control. Rick also shares his perspective on integrity, handling mistakes, and building partnerships that last beyond transactions.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Casa di Sassi grew from a small venture into a national stone veneer manufacturer
• Why real stone, craftsmanship, and design discipline still matter
• The role of automation and efficiency in sustainable manufacturing growth
• Building a leadership team that makes the business resilient
• Why long-term relationships define success more than short-term gains

This episode offers an honest look at manufacturing, leadership, and what it takes to build a business designed to last.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with David Beasley, recently retired Goodyear executive and Chair of C12 Northeast Ohio, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, faith, and purpose in the marketplace. After nearly 40 years with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, David reflects on the lessons learned from a long corporate career and how those experiences shaped the work he’s doing today with business owners.

David shares his journey from starting in tire sales to leading the North American truck tire business, including the pivotal season he spent in China that challenged him personally, professionally, and spiritually. That experience reshaped how he viewed leadership, success, and what it means to serve God through work, not just after retirement.

The conversation explores the loneliness many business owners feel, the importance of peer relationships, and how C12 creates space for honest conversation, accountability, and action. David also explains how strategic planning, mission, vision, and values play a role in long-term business health, especially for faith-based leaders.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• David’s career journey and leadership lessons from Goodyear
• How faith and business can be integrated, not separated
• Why business owners often feel isolated and how peer groups help
• The role of strategic planning, mission, and core values
• What success looks like when people matter more than results

This episode offers a grounded, encouraging look at leadership that prioritizes people, purpose, and long-term impact, both inside and outside the workplace.