Ep. 169 Patrick J. Kennedy: From U.S. Representative to Mental Health Advocate
Sharing his own struggles with mental health and addiction, Patrick J. Kennedy has spent his career fighting to end discrimination against people with mental health conditions. He founded the Kennedy Forum and spent 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He often compares today’s mental health efforts to the goals set by his uncle, President John F. Kennedy. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Patrick discusses the power of personal stories in breaking stigma and advocating for policy change.
Ep. 168 Dr. Amy Attas: From Traditional Veterinarian to Celebrity Clientele
Dr. Amy Attas is a veterinarian and the founder of City Pets Vets in Manhattan. Over the years, she has cared for over 10,000 pets, including those of everyday people and celebrities like Billy Joel, Cher and Joan Rivers. In her new memoir, Pets and the City, Dr. Amy reflects on the challenges and rewards of her unique career, sharing memorable stories from her work. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Dr. Amy discusses her journey of revolutionizing the veterinary industry with house-call vet services.
Ep. 167 Chynna Clayton: From White House Intern to Michelle Obama’s Bodywoman
Chynna Clayton was raised by her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother while her father was in prison. After graduating from college, she interned at the White House where she began working closely with First Lady Michelle Obama. Over nearly a decade as Mrs. Obama’s bodywoman, Chynna learned the importance of valuing assistant roles. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Chynna shares how Michelle Obama encouraged her to start her own company and how she advocates for these often-overlooked positions.
Ep. 166 Matt “Nur-D” Allen: From Hip Hop Artist to Activist
Matt Allen, known as “Nur-D,” is a key figure in the Minnesota hip hop scene. He has performed at Paisley Park and U.S. Bank Stadium, shared the stage with artists like Jaden Smith and Tyler the Creator and toured with Brother Ali. The murder of George Floyd was a pivotal moment for Nur-D, deepening his commitment to social justice. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Nur-D emphasizes the importance of authenticity in his work and the responsibility artists have to use their platforms to create change.
Ep. 165 Sophie Grace Holmes: From Cystic Fibrosis to Defying the Odds
Sophie Grace Holmes was born with cystic fibrosis and was told she wouldn’t reach her teenage years. Despite the challenges, she has made it her mission to show what’s possible with a healthy lifestyle. Now a fitness coach and athlete, she has accomplished feats like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, paddleboarding 80 miles from the Bahamas to Florida, and running 36 marathons in 36 days. In this episode of Flip Your Script, Sophie shares her inspiring journey and the importance of setting ambitious goals.
Ep. 164 Holly Hardman: From Pharma Frustration to Film Director and Advocate
Holly Hardman started her career as a researcher for Rolling Stone, PBS and Twentieth Century Fox before moving into writing, directing and producing short films. After a personal experience with the dangers of prescribed benzodiazepines, Holly began her latest project, As Prescribed, a documentary that shares the problems linked to these drugs. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Holly shares her advocacy for patients and the importance of understanding the risks of some prescriptions.
Ep. 163 Cullen Jones: From Nearly Drowning to Olympic Swimmer
Cullen Jones was rescued from a near-drowning incident when he was just five years old. This experience sparked his passion for swimming, leading him to become an Olympic gold medalist and the first African American to hold a world record in the sport. Cullen is now dedicated to promoting water safety and drowning prevention. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Cullen shares his journey from nearly drowning to becoming a renowned swimmer and advocate for inclusivity in water sports.
Ep. 162 Yasmine Arrington Brooks: From Incarcerated Parents to Empowering Scholars
Yasmine Arrington Brooks grew up with her parents behind bars. When she started applying for college, she noticed a lack of scholarships for students in her situation. She founded the nonprofit ScholarCHIPS, which offers scholarships, mentorship and a peer support network for students with incarcerated parents. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Yasmine discusses how ScholarCHIPS started and the inspiring stories from some of the scholars who are changing their life trajectory.
Ep. 161 Steve Hoffman: From Preparing Taxes in the Midwest to Writing in the South of France
Steve Hoffman is a tax preparer who loves writing and the French language. Looking to reignite those passions, he moved his family from Minnesota to the French countryside. Steve started journaling about his experiences connecting to the food, the wine and the people. He found a new version of himself and is rewriting his middle-aged story. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Steve talks about his recent memoir and how his perspectives changed after his move to France.
Ep. 160 Maggie Nichols: From Athlete A to NCAA Gymnastics Champion
Maggie Nichols trained as an elite-level gymnast with hopes of competing in the 2016 Olympics. Her dreams were crushed when she didn’t make the team, but she went on to become an 8-time NCAA national gymnastics champion. She’s now an advocate for young athletes after bravely speaking out about years of sexual abuse by her team physician. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Maggie talks about her memoir, Unstoppable!, the sexual abuse scandal and her relentless pursuit of justice.
Ep. 159 Devan Kline: From Pro-Athlete to Burn Boot Camp Founder
Devan Kline started Burn Boot Camp in a parking lot with his last few hundred dollars after his baseball dreams with The San Francisco Giants were shattered. He grew up in abuse and chaos but used baseball as his escape to freedom and changed the direction of his life. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Devan shares how he overcame mental challenges through physical exercise and inspires others to adopt resourcefulness and a proactive mindset.
Ep. 158 Isaac Saul: From Political Reporter to Tangle News
Isaac Saul grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, one of America’s most politically divided counties. After spending years as a political reporter, Isaac wanted to fix how people consume news. Isaac is the founder of Tangle, an independent, non-partisan politics newsletter that offers both sides of the biggest news stories. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Isaac shares how the newsletter has evolved, advice for conversations about politics and his thoughts on the upcoming election.
Ep. 157 Beth Rodden: From Climber to Survivor
Beth Rodden began climbing at a young age and quickly gained recognition for her accomplishments. However, Beth’s journey took a dramatic turn when she and three others were kidnapped by militant rebels and held captive for six days while on a climbing trip in Kyrgyzstan. This experience changed Beth’s perspective on life and climbing. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Beth shares her experience with perfectionism, seeking therapy and confronting trauma as an elite athlete.
Ep. 156 Grandma Joy & Brad Ryan: From Family Distance to Shared Travels
Grandma Joy and her grandson Brad Ryan have visited all 63 National Parks in the U.S. and are now on a new challenge to visit all seven continents. Their journey isn’t just about traveling; it’s also about forgiveness and overcoming difficult family dynamics. They’re inseparable nowadays but the grandma-grandson duo were estranged for about a decade. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Grandma Joy and Brad share their remarkable journey of travel, aging, forgiveness and personal growth.
Ep. 155 Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour: From Police Officer to America's First Black Female Combat Pilot
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour had a childhood dream of being a police officer on horseback, a dream that evolved into becoming America's first Black female combat pilot. She served two tours in Iraq, piloting an attack helicopter and now travels the country as a speaker and consultant. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, FlyGirl shares her journey of persistence, resilience and hunger for success and how she faced rejection multiple times before achieving her goals.
Ep. 154 Phil Catudal: From Childhood Cancer Survivor to Celebrity Fitness Trainer
Phil Catudal was diagnosed with leukemia as a child and lost his father to cancer when he was 12 years old. Both experiences significantly impacted his life and shaped his wellness journey. Phil is now a celebrity personal trainer with a philosophy centered on accountability, education and dedication. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Phil shares how his childhood gave him a unique perspective on health and fitness and how he uses his story to help others prioritize their well-being.
Ep. 153 Jenn Drummond: From Life-Threatening Accident to Guinness World Record
A life-threatening car accident changed Jenn Drummond’s outlook on life. She knew she was given a second chance and started prioritizing personal fulfillment and embracing experiences. Jenn broke a Guinness World Record by becoming the first woman to climb the Seven Second Summits. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Jenn emphasizes the value of perseverance and determination and shares how she overcame her car crash and developed the mindset to become a mountain climber.
Ep. 152 Carol Han Pyle: From Elle Beauty Editor to Clean Beauty Brand
Carol Han Pyle is a former fashion and beauty editor at Elle and now the founder of a luxury fragrance and candle brand. NETTE combines inspiration from her childhood with her passion for clean ingredients and a desire for a safe home following fertility struggles. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Carol shares her journey from remembering her mom’s homemade candles to creating a successful luxury brand focused on clean ingredients, sustainability and mental well-being.
Ep. 151 Stacy Lyn Harris: From Lawyer to Southern Chef
Stacy Lyn Harris started her career as a lawyer. When she met her husband, Scott, who is an avid outdoorsman, she got a taste of a different way of life. His passion became her passion, and she left her job to care for their seven children and a vegetable garden. Now, she is a southern lifestyle guru, chef and author. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Stacy talks about what inspired her to write cookbooks to share stories and how her cooking philosophy goes back to her childhood.
Ep. 150 Meir Kay: From Helping the Homeless to Hosting National Super Soul Parties
Meir Kay is best known for spreading positivity and happiness on YouTube. He is the founder of Super Soul Party, a non-profit dedicated to bringing people together and providing comfort to those facing homelessness. During the Super Bowl, they host Super Soul parties in cities across the U.S. and offer a meal, haircut, clothing and an opportunity to connect with others. In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, Meir shares the positive impact of small acts of kindness.