Ep. 48 Syn Martinez: From Overweight to Athletic Brand Boss
By the age of 36, Syn Martinez was a self-made man, climbing his way up from working in the mailroom to traveling the country as a successful sales consultant. The grind took a major toll on his body. He soon tipped the scales at 315 pounds and was faced with serious health issues. Rather than give up, Martinez found lasting fitness and family at the gym. He shares how he took his love for athletics and used it to build a successful brand on Flip Your Script with host Kristi Piehl.
Ep. 47 Julia Waller: From Strong Weaknesses to Unique Ability
Do you hate going to work or dread doing certain tasks? Julia Waller wants to help people discover the key to a happy, successful life by unlocking their unique abilities. On the one year anniversary of Flip Your Script, she explains the process that sparked host Kristi Piehl to start her own podcast.
Ep. 46 Nancy O’Brien: From Burned Out to Happiness Hero
On paper and on social media, Nancy O’Brien’s life looked pretty close to perfect. But on the inside, she was absolutely miserable, beyond burned out and suicidal. Together with one of her closest friends, she founded The Happiness Practice™, a wellness program that aims to reduce stress and increase happiness. She shares her journey to self love and self worth with Flip Your Script host Kristi Piehl.
Ep. 45 Bill Danko: From Professor to New York Times Bestseller
How do you get and stay rich in the United States? That’s the question Bill Danko answers in his book, “The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy.” But Danko’s road to becoming a New York Times bestselling author wasn’t paved with diamonds and caviar. He shares how he turned his passion for consumer behavior into finding out what makes a millionaire with Flip Your Script host Kristi Piehl.
Ep. 44 Darrion Cockrell: From Gang Member to Teacher of the Year
Dead or in jail. That’s how Darrion Cockrell thought he would end up after joining a gang at the age of 10. In and out of foster care, his life turned around after his football coach and his wife adopted him. Now, Cockrell is known as “Mr. DC” by his students and as Missouri’s Teacher of the Year. He shares how he was able to break free from his past with Flip Your Script host Kristi Piehl.
Ep. 43 Natasha Miller: From Childhood Struggles to a Booming Business and Pandemic Pivot
Natasha Miller, an event planning entrepreneur, focuses on what people see in front of the curtain. For her, that was a successful multi-million dollar business. In this episode, Natasha pulls back the curtain with host Kristi Piehl and shares how she overcame a pandemic-induced panic attack to fight for her business and life.
Ep. 42 Nathan “Doggface208” Apodaca: From a Factory Worker to a TikTok Star & Influencer
Who knew when Nathan Apodaca’s, a.k.a Doggface208, truck broke down that his life was about to change? The factory worker jumped on a longboard and made a TiKTok while drinking Cran-Raspberry Ocean Spray and lip-syncing “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. His video went viral bringing joy to millions around the world. The fame turned Doggface into an influencer, investor and has given him the opportunity to give back. You can’t help but smile as Doggface shares his story with Flip Your Script host Kristi Piehl.
Ep. 41 Aubree Nichols: From Self-Loathing to Self Love
After experiencing addiction, divorce and eating disorders, Aubree Nichols discovered her superpower - vulnerability! Her honest take on her experiences and message of self love resonates with thousands on Instagram and readers of Vogue and Elite Daily. The self love advocate and writer joined host Kristi Piehl to discuss the power of vulnerability and why feelings shouldn’t be feared.
Ep. 40 Sheletta Brundidge: From Weeping to Laughing Until You Cry
Grab a tissue because Sheletta Brundidge’s story will bring you to tears. Five relatives were killed in a tragic accident and three of her four children received autism diagnoses. However, Sheletta’s story won’t have you crying from sadness. The radio host, TV personality and businesswoman will have you laughing as she, a comedian, shares her story of finding strength in faith and joy in giving back. Kristi Piehl and Sheletta talk about how to laugh when you want to cry and how to use your gifts for good.
Ep. 39 Nikita Crump: From Humble Home to a Life on the Road
What would you do for financial freedom? For Nikita Crump, she decided to live out of her Honda Civic. Limited by her finances, Nikita moved into her car, cutting out her largest expense - housing. Over time, she’s grown to love the simplicity of her lifestyle and wants to upgrade to the #VanLife. Her popular TikToks and YouTube videos have intrigued millions, and in this episode of Flip Your Script, Nikita and host Kristi Piehl discuss the freedom that comes from a simple life.
Ep. 38 Brandon Sawalich: From Summer Job to CEO
After a summer spent working at Starkey, Brandon Sawalich left college to pursue a career with the hearing aid company. Brandon worked through the ranks of the only American-owned hearing aid manufacturer and in 2017, was named President. His natural leadership skills helped him navigate challenging times keeping Starkey focused on their mission, “Hear Better. Live Better.” Now the President and CEO, Brandon joins host Kristi Piehl to discuss work ethic, forgiveness and the necessity of human connection.
Ep. 37 Madison Hamburg: From Film Student to HBO Director
Barbara Hamburg was murdered outside her home in 2010. The police investigated, but no one was charged. As her family grieved, her son, Madison Hamburg, began digging into and documenting his mother’s investigation for a school film project. In 2020, Madison’s docuseries “Murder on Middle Beach” premiered to rave reviews on HBO. Kristi Piehl sat down with Madison to discuss how loss can be the inspiration to turn the page.
Ep. 36 Henry Lake: From Local Radio Host to National Voice
Known for his sports commentary and dedication to talking about the issues on local radio, Henry Lake made headlines for his emotional on-air comments during the unrest after George Floyd’s murder. Henry became a national voice on issues like race, diversity and inclusion. This was nothing new for Henry; he’s been passionate about these topics for years and is glad to be having the conversations now. In this episode, host Kristi Piehl and Henry discuss the importance of adopting a “we” mindset.
Ep. 35 Mike DelGuidice: From Playing Piano Bars to Playing with the Piano Man
Mike DelGuidice grew up on Long Island looking up to the one and only, Billy Joel. Mike knew he was meant to be a musician, and began playing piano bars and fronting Big Shot, a Billy Joel tribute band, as well as working on his own music. Everything changed when Billy Joel heard Mike play and personally invited Mike to tour with his band. In this episode, Kristi Piehl, a fan of both Billy and Mike, talks with Mike about finding his passion for music and the importance of being open to opportunity.
Ep. 34 Janice Kaplan: From Accepting Status Quo to Reframing Your Mindset
We’re grateful to have sat down with the New York Times bestselling author, Janice Kaplan. Before writing “The Gratitude Diaries,” Janice worked for Good Morning America and was Editor-In-Chief at Parade. After joining a gratitude research project, Janice penned her experience and inspired a new wave of gratefulness. In 2020, Janice released her book, “The Genius of Women,” redefining who a genius is. Host Kristi Piehl and Janice discuss how reframing your mindset can inspire you to flip your script.
Ep. 33 Tony Fleecs: From Newsroom Graphics to Comic Book Art
In a newsroom in South Dakota, Tony Fleecs was creating on-screen graphics for newscasts. After hours, Tony would use the equipment to work on his passion, comics. After new management deleted his work, Tony took a leap of faith into his comic art and moved to L.A. He hustled for any job he could and has gone on to draw for comics like My Little Pony and Star Wars. Now, Tony is releasing his first comic book, “Stray Dogs.” In this episode, Kristi and Tony discuss the importance of evolving your dreams.
Ep. 32 Melissa Johnston: From Spending Nights in the NICU to Advocating for Change
Melissa Johnston’s Flip Your Script story began when she had her first-born daughter, Audrey, only to lose her at just 43 days old. Audrey was born with Trisomy 18, and as the first-time parents navigated the NICU and Audrey’s life-limiting condition, they noticed a lack of resources for their family. Three years later, Melissa learned of Crescent Cove, one of three respite and hospice facilities in the U.S. for children. Listen in as Melissa explains her passion for sharing Crescent Cove’s mission.
Ep. 31 Vanessa Drews: From a Tweet by Prince to Starting a Cheesecake Business
What do cheesecake and music legend Prince have in common? Vanessa Drews. Vanessa is the founder of Cheesecake Funk and credits Prince for naming her business. While working part-time at Paisley Park, Vanessa would make and leave cheesecake in the fridge for the musicians. One day Prince tweeted about Vanessa’s cheesecakes and later named them Cheesecake Funk. In this episode, Vanessa shares how Prince’s outward support took her by surprise and how the Prince Effect motivated her to flip her script!
Ep. 30 Skip Rohde: From Sailing Navy Ships to Entering the Smithsonian Art Archives
Skip Rohde always had a passion for art. After retiring from the Navy in 1999, Skip went back to school to be an artist, but he couldn’t resist the call of civic duty. He went overseas as a civilian to serve in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. While traveling, he would sketch people in what he calls “diplomacy through art.” The artwork he created while away has been accepted into the Smithsonian. Host Kristi Piehl and Skip discuss how finding self-confidence can give you the strength to turn the page.
Ep. 29 Finding Motivation: From Loss in 2020 to Hope in 2021
TIME Magazine declared 2020 the worst year ever. In a year of loss and grief, each of us learned lessons that will last the rest of our lives. In this episode of Flip Your Script, host Kristi Piehl helps us look back so we can look forward with hope. This episode is dedicated to providing positivity and hope to kickstart the new year. At the end of each podcast, Kristi asks, “Is there a quote or song that motivated you to flip your script?” and this episode reflects on each guest’s response.