Advertise on podcast: The Story Behind Her Success

American Bald Eagle Photographer @rocked_by_kindness A friend of mine is a birder, and she posted a picture of a bald eagle, and I messaged her and said, “Where did you take that picture?  -Donna O’Kane  You are about to hear one of my all-time favorite second chapter stories!   After spending 40 years working for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Donna O’Kane decided to start photographing American Bald Eagles.   The mother of three grown children, Donna is also a breast cancer survivor who spreads kindness wherever she goes by leaving painted rocks beside park benches and on nature paths, in the hopes of making someone smile during the pandemic.  Follow her on Instagram @rocked_by_kindness.  Always the creative type, Donna noticed a post from a friend who followed eagles, watching their nests for signs of eaglets, and marveling at their mating behaviors.   She began taking pictures of eagles with her iPhone, soon graduating to more sophisticated cameras with lenses that capture the magic of birdwatching.   In this interview, Donna shares her life story, including sexual abuse by a babysitter at only 4, the physical punishments inflicted on her by her mother, the abiding love of her father, and the pain of a failed marriage. Throughout her life, and in everything she does, Donna embraces the gifts of creativity, kindness, resilience, and purpose.  “We all have choices.  We can sit and wallow, or we can get up and walk out the door every morning and rebuild our lives.” For 27 minutes that will leave you speechless and inspired, just hit that download button.  #americanbaldeagle #womeninspiringwomen#breastcancer #secondchapter 

radio pro, philanthropist, caregiver, docf.org  By heart, and with closed eyes, I have a very vulnerable spot for the unhoused.  -Sue Brady For millions of radio listeners in Boston, Sue Brady was that fun, friendly, relatable voice they heard on the air for years.  In this episode, we get to know the deepest layers of a woman who will always love radio but has turned the page to discover a whole new passion as a Certified Nursing Assistant.   Born and raised in Stoneham, Massachusetts, by an Army vet and a beloved school teacher, Sue learned lessons in kindness and charity early in life from a mother who would prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless every weekend, load her girls in the car, and distribute the food at the Boston Common.   This experience informed Sue’s devotion to the unhoused, and she has passed these values on to her own children.   A tireless volunteer and fundraiser for Boston Rescue Mission, The Winter Walk, Rosie’s Place, and Back on My Feet,  I asked Sue what she wishes people knew about the issue: “We are all the same, and we are a life choice, addiction, or diagnosis away from being homeless.”  Always willing to go the extra mile for a worthy cause, Sue also supports Boston Children’s Hospital, The Red Sox Foundation, and the Ellie Fund.  In fact, she serves on the board of the David Ortiz Children’s Fund www.docf.org and enjoys a long friendship with the Red Sox slugger and Hall of Famer who calls her “Rubia,” which means “blonde” in Spanish.  When I asked Sue to explain the motivation behind becoming a caregiver,  the story that emerged will break your heart and lift your soul.    Trust me, this conversation is gold.   Go ahead and hit that download button. #radio #homelessness #charity #hospice #caregiver #motherhood 

Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid of life. If you want to age gracefully, stay busy, positive, and connected. -Dede Ulbrich This week, we meet Dede Ulbrich, a beautiful 86-year-old woman whose secret to staying young is laughter, love, and connection.   The granddaughter of former New Hampshire Governor Francis P. Murphy and founder of WMUR radio and television stations, Dede was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her big, Irish family believed in the glory of hard work and having fun.  In this interview, Dede recalls that men returning from World War II and Vietnam were changed forever, and she was determined to live her life to the fullest. As a friend and former colleague of political consultant and White House special assistant Kenny O’Donnell, Dede attended the Inaugural Ball for President John F. Kennedy and later experienced the horror of losing her favorite president to an assassin’s bullet in Dallas. Years later, as the single mother of three sons, Dede rebuilt her life after divorce, taking a job selling running shoes at the Nike store in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Identified as a talented salesperson, she was recruited by company executives to join their elite marketing team.  Dede climbed the corporate ladder in a man’s world with zero hesitation, creating relationships with Olympic runners like Joan Benoit Samuelson.  A runner herself, she later met and married her second husband, Dick Ulbrich, DMD, experiencing the joy of finding love the second time around. Known affectionately as“Doc”, her husband built a lasting friendship with a gardener from Weston, Massachusetts named Nelson McNutt, who lived to be 105, leaving his entire estate in gratitude to the couple.  www.nelsonsgarden.com.  Filled with the kind of wisdom that can only come from a life well lived, Dede says,“Life is good. Always look for the beauty in life.  Keep searching for the things that make you happy.”   For 25 minutes of inspiration, just hit that download button. #gratitude #age #kennedyassasination #nelsonsgarden

You have to take care of yourself first in order to take care of others. -Carol McKean I’ve known Carol McKean for many years, and I’m so happy to introduce her to you.  She’s a PR superstar with her own events company, carolmckeanevents.com, and is the creator of the popular fundraising concept known as “fund-a-need.” In this interview, Carol shares her life story, including the hard parts I didn’t know about.   The story of her incredibly painful divorce is featured in the new Jan Fraser inspired life series, The Book on Love.  bookonlove.com.   Written by 40 women from the United States and around the world, the book is a fast read, filled with wisdom and the power of love.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Carol’s story reminds us that we may be born out of love, but our lives are far from perfect.  Says Carol:  “Fun times are easy, but when life deals you tragedy and hardship, it’s how you react to it and move forward that really matters.”   It took 7 grueling years for Carol and her husband to divorce, and during that time, she realized she was not safe in his presence and had lost herself in the relationship.  “When I sat down to write this story,  it just poured out of me in about 30 minutes, says Carol.  Many of my friends wondered why I was willing to share these details, but I believe we create connections when we share our stories.  What does she want readers to know?   “Whateversituation you are in, I promise there is hope…there is light.   The biggest lesson I had to learn was to love myself.”  #valentinesday #love #divorce #storytelling #bookonlove 

I went into a contemplative period in my life and retreated to my cabin for 10 years. I couldn’t find the words to express how I was feeling, so I started picking up clay. -Renee Rhodes Welcome to the life of sculptor, Renee Rhodes.  She’s worked in publishing and advertising, and even has a Ph.D. from Columbia University in Clinical Psychology, but in her 40s, Renee experienced “a dark night of the soul” and retreated into a cabin on her property, deep in the Connecticut woods.   When she emerged, she was transformed and began a new chapter as a sculptor.   Recorded on a visit to Renee’s 10-acre compound on a cold winter’s day, this interview is a rare glimpse into the brilliant mind of an artist.   Inspired by mythology and the divine feminine, Renee’s figures evoke both strength and grace.   She’s devoted to public art and believes that “when you produce public art, it’s available to everybody.  It’s out in the street, and people can relate to it on their own level, which is an honor for a sculptor because now, you’re speaking to the world.”   Her latest sculpture is named Infinity, and she has taken years to refine.  Says Renee:“I live with it, I sneak up on it in the middle of the night,  and then it tells me how it needs to change.” Before Infinity can be enlarged and bronzed,  money must be raised for her installation on Ocean Beach, New London.   www.infinitepossibilitiesCT.org celebrates unity, peace, hope, and inspiration through public art.  Says Renee:  “Whateveryou can imagine, you can make happen.”  For a 23-minute glimpse into the life of a sculptor, just hit that download button.  #scupltor #publicart #thestorybehindhersuccess #clinicalpsychology #compoundlife 

Mrs. Santa Says When I was growing up, I was that girl who was always singing into her hairbrush!  -Candy O’Terry  Welcome to the holiday edition of The Story Behind Her Success!  For the next 23 minutes, I’ll share listener emails as well as three of the holiday songs I’ve recorded over the years.   Whenever I interview a woman, I always ask her if she knew what she wanted to do with her life.  For me, the answer to that question is simple:   I just wanted to be a singer.  My radio career was directly related to wanting to be around the music.  If I wasn’t singing my favorite songs, at least I was hearing them on the radio and talking about them with listeners, LIVE on the air.    As you may know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and completed my treatment in 2024.   Hearing the words “you have breast cancer” turned my world upside down, reminding me about gratitude and the power of love.  This past year, I took a leap of faith and started releasing new music.  My fingers are crossed that if you like the songs you hear in this holiday episode, you’ll take a listen to my other songs wherever you get your music. Thank you for listening to The Story Behind Her Success.  Every woman I’ve profiled shares her wisdom and leads by example.   If she can do it, you can do it.   #womensupportingwomen #singer #Christmas2025 #grateful #radio 

In the beginning, I was usually the only woman in the room.  That was great, because it was memorable, and it was also bad, because it was memorable.  -Maureen Rystrom  Meet a woman who is at the top of her game in a male-dominated field.  As Partner & Vice President of Marketing at J. Calnan & Associates, jcalnan.com, Maureen Rystrom oversees the construction management company’s comprehensive marketing and communications initiatives. At a time when commercial messaging is often in your face, Maureen describes herself as a “thoughtful brand strategist” who takes a softer path.  Her focus?  The good work being done by J. Calnan & Associates and their customers in the communities where they build.  Says Maureen: “It’s not necessarily what we build, it’s how we build that makes us special.” In this interview, she also shares the skills she honed to make her corporate climb a success story:  Roll up your sleeves. Get out there and be seen. Be respectful of others’ time. Always follow through.  Make an impact.  A pro at breaking glass ceilings with her own brand of grace and grit, Maureen is also a rock star connector and the co-founder of PLA, the Professional Ladies’ Association.  A three-sport varsity captain in high school, Maureen says that playing sports prepared her for success in business and credits her parents for teaching her the importance of an unstoppable work ethic.  “If you want something in life, you’ve got to go out there and get it.  You earn what you have. Nothing is handed to you.” For 24 minutes of the kind of fire that can spark YOUR success story, just hit that download button.  #corporate #marketing #constructionmanagement 

I don’t do well with injustice.  -Christine Anastos 10 years ago, environmental engineer Christine Anastos knew something was wrong with her health.  When tests came back normal, her care team suggested Christine see a psychiatrist.   Her answer?  “There’s nothing wrong with my brain.  I know my body well.”    It wasn’t long before Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The suspected cause?   Environmental hazards.   The company Christine was working for as an environmental engineer had been dumping toxins into the Hudson River, and she became a whistleblower, reaching a settlement and using those funds to do good.   Today, she is the founder of a public benefit corporation called www.connect-and-thrive.com.  The mission?  To bridge the gap between conventional medicine and a holistic approach to healing.   Says Christine:  “true healing is not a destination.  It is a lifelong journey. Balancing mind, body, and spirit is the key to becoming healthy again.” Her website is a marketplace where women find evidence-based healing modalities and products not usually covered by insurance. Crowdfunding campaigns called “Kitty Funds” make powerful healing possible. Says Christine:  “Success is making a positive difference in the lives of people who are suffering. Kindness matters.” #healing #breastcancer #hope #candyoterry 

Don’t expect people to be who they seem on the surface. – Dafna Krouk-Gordon In 1980, Dafna Krouk-Gordon founded her human resources agency in one room above a drug store, with just one employee. 45 years later, Toward Independent Living and Learning (www.tillinc.org) is thriving, with 1,000 employees throughout Massachusetts and into New Hampshire, and the noble goal of improving clients’ lives, one day at a time. Dafna is also the co-author of the book: Moving Out: A Family Guide to Residential Planning for Adults with Disabilities. Recognized as a Top 100 Women-Led Business, TILL is providing innovative ways for people with disabilities to lead rich, fulfilling, independent lives. Says Dafna: “Our parents want to know that we are not just there for the moment. We will be there for the long term.” Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, by hardworking parents, Dafna and her sister were taught: “if you promise someone you are going to do something, you better do it.” Her Jewish family escaped Egypt under dire circumstances and immigrated to the United States. In this interview, Dafna recalls arriving in America: “We were told that there was money, gold in the streets, but we didn’t find any!” When reflecting on her career in human services, Dafna has always followed the guiding principles of her faith: community, social conscience, and “to fix the world, because for good or for bad, there is a lot to fix.” For 24 minutes of information and inspiration, just hit that download button! #disabilities #differences #leadership #Jewish #nonprofit #candyoterry

Our SOF warriors, or Special Operations Forces, are never really home.  They are either deployed or in training for 9 months out of the year. As a spouse, you have to figure out how to connect through the distance and build your community where you are.  -KaLea Lehman As a military spouse, this week’s guest understands what the words “service” and “sacrifice” really mean.   Meet KaLea Lehman, Executive Director and Founder of the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative www.msofc.org, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening and supporting the families of our nation’s most elite warriors.  She is also the co-author of The Warrior’s Table, a powerful cookbook and storytelling project created by a group of special operations wives who call themselves “The Cast Iron Crew.”   Designed to share recipes and stories about their military service, The Warrior’s Table is a beautiful testimony to the strong women who wrote it.  The mother of seven, including a special needs child, KaLea wishes that Americans truly understood the toll this level of military service and training takes on these warriors.  “The dirty little secret is:  there is no stop. There is no break.  There is no taking a knee, only hard-charging, all the time.  It’s constant stress.”  Under her guidance, the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative has identified 8 SOF Pitfalls and 8 Checkpoints.  What’s one of the most powerful ways for these brave men and their families to connect and heal?  Sharing a meal and conversation around the family dinner table.   For a 25-minute story full of devotion, love, service, purpose, and pride in America, just hit that download button.  #militaryfamilies #SpecialOperations#womeninspiringwomen 

Let’s transform the classroom into a place where mistake-making is an opportunity to learn and children feel a sense of connection, value, and belonging. -Noel Foy aka Neuro Noel Meet neuroeducator, anxiety/executive function coach, and author, Noel Foy. She travels the country, sharing her skill set with children, parents, and teachers. Today, in any given classroom, about 30% of students are neurodiverse. “There are many brains in these classrooms, says Noel, including children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and mental health issues. Teachers are overwhelmed, and that’s where I come in.” Her latest book, 15-minute focus, provides brief counseling techniques that work, accompanied by downloadable resources, with a focus on executive function. www.neuronoel.com. What is executive function? In her book, Noel explains that EF involves the highest aspects of brain function, including the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage daily life. The fact is, underdeveloped EF skills can derail a child. In this interview, Neuro Noel discusses the built-in distractions our children encounter throughout the day—phones, social media, and screens —and suggests that play is a great way to develop executive function. Creating games without an adult doing the thinking for you is the key to helping a child experience conflict resolution, resiliency, creativity, and memory. Neuro Noel’s advice for all of us? “Be mindful. Talk less and listen more. Take a moment to pause and reset so that your thinking brain, not your emotional brain, is running the show.” For 25 minutes of coaching from a neuroeducator, just hit that download button. #neurodiversity #children #executivefunction #education #womeninspiringwomen #thestorybehindhersuccess

There’s a stigma around the word “underwear”. You don’t talk about it until you don’t have it. -Catherine Maloy This week’s guest is a mom who saw a simple need for children in crisis and made it her mission to do something about it. Catherine Maloy is the Founder & Executive Director of a non-profit called Cocotree Kids www.cocotreekids.org. Let’s all agree: underwear is not glamorous, but it is fundamental. Without it, children may feel shamed, vulnerable, and excluded. Conceived during the pandemic and launched as a neighborhood clothing drive, Cocotree Kids has established 30 partnerships with hospitals, shelters, and schools, distributing 430,000 pairs of new underwear to 60,000 children throughout Massachusetts. “Underwear is an essential human need,” says Catherine. We want to give children in crisis the dignity, hope, comfort, and confidence they need to succeed, despite their circumstances.“ Originally from Miami, Florida, Catherine was raised in a home where philanthropic acts of service connected family to community. A 14-year veteran of Deloitte with a focus on Consulting and Human Resources, Catherine offers this advice: “Be a part of something bigger than yourself. Success is something you are supposed to be proud of.” For 20 minutes of empathy and innovation, just hit that download button. #children #non-profit #crisis #community

Facing an illness is very much like being a buoy:  we have to rise up, we have to learn to float, and carry ourselves in the storm.  While we’re staying afloat in the storm, we are also a beacon for others. -Lorna J. Brunelle There are lots of stories about the ties that bind mothers and daughters.  When Lorna Brunelle’s mother, Wanda, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, she turned heartbreak into hope by telling the story of her mother’s courage, character, wisdom and lifelong influence in the book: The Buoy Projects: A Story of Breast Cancer, Bucket Lists, Life Lessons, Facebook and Love.  A two-time cancer survivor herself, Lorna is a renowned performer, teacher, and three-time author whose work is rooted in recognizing gifts and talents, creativity, and self-determination. A graduate of The Boston Conservatory, she is the owner of The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts, The Alley Theatre, and The Patio in Middleborough, Massachusetts. www.burtwoodschool.com.   Through her writing, philanthropy, and mentorship, Lorna has changed the lives of thousands of performing arts students who have passed through her doors over the last 30 years.  The Buoy Projects is a love letter to her mother, and a testament to the power of the mother/daughter connection. For 26 minutes of engaging conversation and brilliant storytelling, just hit that download button. #womeninspiringwomen#lornabrunelle #TheBuoyProjects  #breastcancerawareness #TheStoryBehindHerSuccess #CandyOTerry #Legacy#Resilience 

That little girl in the hayloft always wanted to be a writer. I’m the poster child for following your dreams in midlife because I didn’t write my first book until I was 55. -Hank Phillippi Ryan Imagine a 43-year career as an investigative reporter with 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards. Now imagine a brilliant midlife move, where all that experience manifests itself into writing mystery novels that are nail-biting thrillers. Welcome to the incredible story of Hank Phillippi Ryan. This queen of invention sat down in my living room with a cup of tea and the willingness to share a story filled with life lessons in bravery, curiosity, imagination, and just plain smarts. The author of 16 books, her latest is called All This Could Be Yours. The story follows Tessa Calloway, a debut author on a book tour, with a stalker who threatens everything she holds dear. Raised in rural Indiana, Hank (real name: Harriet Ann) admits she was a nerdy kid who wanted nothing more than to read her Nancy Drew books up in the hayloft. A Shakespeare major at Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio, her career has taken her from politics to writing for Rolling Stone Magazine to radio and television, where her news director at WHDH in Boston tapped her as the station’s investigative reporter. “I’m not the funny one, says Hank. I hate to be lied to, and I love discovering the truth. Every one of those 37 EMMY awards represents a secret somebody didn’t want me to tell.” In this interview, she shares wisdom from her mother, and plenty of her own, including: “Worry is glue under your feet” and “success to me is one good idea a day.” For 27 minutes on the joy of reinvention, just hit that download button. #reinvention #mystery #author #television #investigativereporter

When the scariest thing happens and you get through it, you realize that you’re stronger than you ever thought you could be. -Jenna McCarthy Making that appointment to schedule her first mammogram was on Jenna McCarthy’s mind for a while. At 41, she just wanted to get it over with and “check that box.” What she didn’t expect was what happened next. In this up-close and personal interview, Jenna shares her diagnosis with DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ, an early-stage breast cancer. The mother of 4-year-old twin boys and a 9-year-old daughter, Jenna was more concerned about their state of mind than her own. Surrounded by a large and supportive extended family, she had a double mastectomy and implants just 3 months ago and is now cancer-free. In this interview, Jenna gives thanks to the Ellie Fund elliefund.org, a local non-profit devoted to supporting breast cancer patients by funding care and providing hope. Determined to spread the word about early detection, Jenna says, “Schedule your mammogram today. What if I had waited another year? If there were some way to know that a person hearing my story went out and got her mammogram, I would heal so much.” #breastcancerawareness #mammogram #thestorybehindhersuccess wife, mother & breast cancer survivor elliefund.org