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On The Fly!

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Rating
★★★★★
5
from
6 reviews
This podcast has
30 episodes
Language
English
Date created
2025/05/31
Latest episode
2026/10/17
Average duration
30 min.
Release period
23 days

Description

Certified Flywheel Coach Joan Kaup, an accomplished business woman, shares interesting and friendly conversations with entrepreneurs and those who support them. Each episode is a conversation with a business coach, an entrepreneur, or an expert in the social impact ecosystem. ON THE FLY! features the community of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, located in Cincinnati Ohio, who have supported more than 35 founders and generated more than $5,000,000 in revenues. Flywheel is fostering innovation, building stronger communities, and creating meaningful change. ON THE FLY! highlights businesses that have the double bottom line - both a return on investment and a positive social impact. This podcast will give you reason to smile and think. It aims to motivate you to act on ideas and personal passions. Welcome to ON THE FLY! and our community where business drives change. Listen in!

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Circular Fashion & Social Impact: Sherwood MacVeigh of Goodwill
2026/10/17
What if waste wasn't waste? In this episode of On The Fly!, Sherwood MacVeigh, Vice President of Marketing at Ohio Valley Goodwill, takes us inside CIRCLE, a collaboration bringing together Goodwill, UC DAAP, Standard Textile, Sew Valley and Flywheel to rethink what happens to textiles after they're no longer wanted. What started with a big idea and a bale of clothing has grown into a broader exploration of circular fashion, sustainable design, manufacturing, workforce development and social enterprise. Sherwood talks about why she didn't want to simply do another fashion show, and how a group of partners began asking a bigger question: how can we use creativity, education and collaboration to actually solve the problems created by textile waste? • The surprising scale of textile waste• Why designers can help solve sustainability problems, not just create products• Turning reclaimed materials into new designs and scalable products• The CIRCLE initiative and its growing network of partners• Circular fashion and the future of textile recycling• The connection between environmental sustainability and workforce development• How Goodwill has evolved for more than a century by listening to community needs• Why sustainable communities aren't just about sustainable materials, but about building people and opportunity Sherwood's philosophy is simple: think big, start small, bring the right people together, and keep moving. Connect with Ohio Valley Goodwill: https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/ Learn more about CIRCLE: https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/humanity-in-fashion/ At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! explores the people, ideas and organizations working to create positive social impact through entrepreneurship, innovation and community. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
Thinking Like a Social Designer: Michael O’Bryan on Creativity & Social Design
2026/10/10
What happens when you stop editing an idea before it has a chance to become something? On this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Michael O’Bryan, founder and CEO of humanature and founder of The Wealth + Work Futures Lab, about social design, human potential, creativity, economic opportunity, and the importance of giving big ideas room to develop. Michael's path is anything but conventional. Growing up in Hartford, Connecticut, he went from selling ICEEs as a kid to studying music and performing professionally before his work in art, public health, mental health, workforce development, and social design eventually led him to focus on the economic conditions underneath many of the challenges people face. He shares lessons on entrepreneurship, delegation, hiring, leadership, AI, long-term thinking, and the importance of keeping people at the center of technological change. And then there's the Purple Dragon. Michael explains why brainstorming requires us to resist the urge to edit too early — because sometimes the idea that comes several steps after the “ridiculous” one is exactly the idea we needed. In this episode: Michael's unconventional path from music and theater to social designWhy economic conditions are often underneath the problems we try to solveBuilding humanature and The Wealth + Work Futures LabLearning to delegate and giving yourself grace as an entrepreneurWhat makes a good hiring processWhy defining failure can be as important as defining successKeeping humans at the center of AI and technologyCathedral thinking and planning across generationsHuman ecology and the systems that shape our livesWhy you can't edit while you're brainstorming“Riding the Purple Dragon to the Moon”Curiosity, critical thinking, and informed intuitionBuilding a future around human potential and well-beingConnect with Michael humanatureThe Wealth + Work Futures LabMichael O’Bryan on FlywheelMichael O’BryanAbout On The Fly!On The Fly! celebrates social enterprises and the people who build them, along with the organizations and communities that support them. Each episode explores the ideas, challenges, and people working to create meaningful change. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
Don’t Let Your Zip Code Dictate Your Future: Moira Weir from United Way
2026/10/03
What does it take to move from responding to community crises to changing the systems that create them? On this episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring sits down with Moira Weir, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati, to talk about what it means to think beyond immediate needs and build long-term solutions for families and communities. After more than 25 years with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, Moira brought a deeply practical understanding of community needs to United Way. She talks about the shift from crisis response to systems change, why lived experience and community voice need to be at the center of decision-making, and how data can help organizations understand what a community actually needs. The conversation explores United Way’s 211 system, housing stabilization and eviction prevention, financial empowerment, free tax preparation, workforce development, and the Future of Manufacturing Fund. Moira also shares why collaboration matters so much — and why, in her words, “you can’t opt out of your community.” In this episode: Moving from crisis response to long-term systems changeWhy community voice and lived experience matterUsing 211 data to understand community needsHousing stabilization and eviction preventionFinancial empowerment and free tax preparationCreating pathways into manufacturing careersUsing technology without losing the human connectionWhy collaboration and collective ownership are essentialThe idea that your zip code shouldn't determine your futureConnect with Moira & United Way of Greater Cincinnati United Way of Greater Cincinnati: https://www.uwgc.org/ About On The Fly! On The Fly! celebrates social enterprises and the people who build them, along with the organizations and communities that support them. Each episode explores the ideas, challenges, and people working to create meaningful change. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
"Friend-Raising", Not Fundraising: Dom Peebles of Brick Gardens
2026/09/26
What happens when a childhood spent working on a family farm comes full circle in the heart of Cincinnati? For Domonique Peebles, it started with tomatoes, neighbors, and a lesson from his dad: if you have food, make sure your neighbors do too. That instinct eventually became Brick Gardens, a Cincinnati social enterprise using urban agriculture to grow food, create jobs, and build community. In this episode of On The Fly!, Dom talks about the unexpected path from a job at Fidelity Investments to farming, the grant application that launched Brick Gardens, and why he believes friend raising—not fundraising—is what really builds an organization. He also shares what he's learned about food insecurity, why growing food is only part of the solution, how young people can become leaders—not just workers, and why Cincinnati's parks could play a much bigger role in food access. At the heart of it all is a simple idea: sometimes you don't need to wait for the perfect resources. You just need to start doing the work—and bring your friends along. Learn more: Brick Gardens: https://www.brickgardens.com/World Resource Institute: https://www.wri.org/profile/carla-d-walker About On The Fly! On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
Predicting Homelessness Before It Happens: Kevin Finn on Prevention, Data & Impact
2026/09/19
What if you could identify a family at risk of homelessness before they lose their home — and intervene early enough to keep them there? On this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Kevin Finn, President and CEO of Strategies to End Homelessness in Cincinnati, about a radically different approach to preventing homelessness: using data to identify families at the highest risk of eviction and reaching them before they become homeless. Kevin shares his journey from working with homeless teenagers to leading a coordinated community effort involving dozens of organizations across Greater Cincinnati. He explains how Cincinnati's unusually comprehensive homelessness data helped make predictive analytics possible, and how a Flywheel innovation lab and housing stability hackathon helped lead to the creation of Tenant Guard, a tool that allows people to identify themselves as being at risk of losing their housing. The results are striking. Kevin explains why helping a family remain in their apartment can cost about $3,600, compared with an average of $22,500 after a family enters a homeless shelter. while also producing better outcomes. The conversation also explores the role of 84.51º, the City of Cincinnati's Impact Award, research with Notre Dame, the potential to take Cincinnati's model to other communities, and the policy changes Kevin hopes could shift more resources toward prevention. Most importantly, Kevin talks about what those numbers mean for real families, especially children who can avoid the disruption of homelessness, including repeatedly changing homes and schools. Learn more Strategies to End Homelessness: strategiestoendhomelessness.orgTenant Guard: tenantguard.orgAbout On The Fly!On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
Can Purpose and Profit Coexist? Jenna Nicholas on Impact Investing
2026/09/12
What if financial success and social impact aren’t competing goals? On this episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring talks with Jenna Nicholas, a social entrepreneur, investor, founder, and author whose career has focused on bringing purpose and financial models together. Jenna shares the personal experiences that led her toward social entrepreneurship, from growing up in London to studying at Stanford and discovering the work of pioneers like Muhammad Yunus and Bill Drayton. She talks about her work with Calvert Funds, the World Bank, One Planet VC, Impact Experience, and her current work with Lightpost Capital. The conversation explores one of the biggest misconceptions in impact investing: that you have to choose between financial returns and social and environmental impact. Jenna shares examples of companies demonstrating that both can reinforce one another, and explains what investors look for when evaluating purpose-driven founders. Jenna also introduces the HEAL framework — Hope, Empathy, Abundance and Legacy — and explains how these ideas can become practical guideposts for entrepreneurs, investors, and organizations. From building strong founder communities to thinking seven generations into the future, this conversation asks a bigger question: What does it look like to build businesses around a deeper sense of purpose and meaning? Connect with Jenna 🌐Jenna-Nicholas.com 🎧Enlightened Bottom Line Podcast  📖Enlightened Bottom Line Book ✏️Jenna’s Substack  About On The Fly!On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
Somebody's Gotta Do the Work: Allyson West on Building Cindependent
2026/09/05
What happens when you see something missing in your community and decide to build it yourself? For Allyson West, it started with a question: Why didn't Cincinnati have a film festival where independent filmmakers could bring their work, connect with audiences, and learn from one another? In 2018, she took the risk and launched the Cindependent Film Festival. In this episode of On The Fly!, Joey Scarillo talks with Allyson about the journey from filmmaker to founder and executive director of one of Cincinnati's independent film institutions. She shares what she learned from taking an idea that wasn't fully polished and putting it into the world, why being willing to make mistakes is part of leadership, and how community has sustained Cindependent through the years. Allyson also talks about her experience in Flywheel's 2025 cohort, where she focused on strengthening Cindependent's financial model and turning years of volunteer effort into something sustainable. And she shares the story behind Cindependent's next big project: helping bring the Marymount Theatre back to life as a nonprofit community cinema. Along the way, we talk about mascots, grassroots marketing, working boards, fundraising, popcorn, and why sometimes the most important leadership lesson is simple: somebody's gotta do the work. Connect with Allyson & Cindependent 🎬 Cindependent Film Festival: cindependentfilmfest.org 🎭 Marymount Theatre by Cindependent: Learn more and support the effort to bring this historic community cinema back to life through Cindependent. Get Involved with Flywheel At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. About On The Fly! On The Fly! puts a spotlight on social enterprises with the double bottom line—making a positive impact in the world while building sustainable businesses and organizations. Produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. Recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
Big Tents Solve Big Problems: Suzanne Smith on Social Entrepreneurship
2026/09/05
What does it take to solve the biggest challenges facing our communities? According to social entrepreneur and thought leader Suzanne Smith, it starts with bringing the right people together—even when they don't agree. In this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Suzanne Smith, founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects and one of the original co-founders of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub. Suzanne reflects on the early days of Flywheel, how the social enterprise ecosystem has evolved over the past 15 years, and why the lines between nonprofit, business, and government are becoming increasingly connected. Suzanne breaks down the differences between social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise, and explains why she believes “innovation happens through collision”—when diverse perspectives come together in an environment where people feel safe enough to disagree, challenge assumptions, and stay curious. She also shares the thinking behind her new book, The Nonprofit Flywheel: A Playbook for Sustainable Growth, Smarter Strategy and Lasting Impact, coming October 1, 2026. The conversation offers a challenge to anyone who wants to make a difference: you don't have to start an organization to be a changemaker. You can start right where you are. Connect with SuzanneSuzanne Smith is the founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects, a social change agency that works with changemakers to create transformative solutions to social issues. 🌐 Social Impact Architects: socialimpactarchitects.com 📝 Social TrendSpotter: Social TrendSpotter Weekly Blog 📖 The Nonprofit Flywheel— coming October 1, 2026 🌐 Trosa: trosainc.org 🌐 Aileron: aileron.org Get Involved with Flywheel At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. About On The Fly! On The Fly! puts a spotlight on social enterprises with the double bottom line—making a positive impact in the world while building sustainable businesses and organizations. Produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. Recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.
How Flywheel Started Turning with Bill Tucker
2026/02/28
If you’ve listened to On The Fly! this season, you’ve heard his name come up again and again. From founders to coaches to investors, so many stories begin with the same phrase: “Bill told me…” or “Bill connected me to…” In this season-closing episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Bill Tucker—the visionary who helped shape Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub and, in doing so, helped launch hundreds of founders, careers, and community-changing ideas. Bill shares the origin story of Flywheel, from early conversations about social enterprise in the mid-2000s, to winning the RFP that formally launched the hub, to the hard truth that Flywheel’s original business model simply wasn’t sustainable.  💡 Listen to hear more about: How Flywheel came to life—and why it almost didn’t survive its early yearsWhy access to talent, customers, and capital matters for every startupThe shift from “building companies” to equipping foundersWhat success really looks like...How Bill thinks about legacy, wisdom, and giving back in his “third act”Rather than pointing to a single “most successful” company, Bill reframes success through the people who’ve gone on to build again, pivot, lead, and mentor others. His philosophy is simple and enduring: bet on the jockey (the founder), not the horse (the company). This episode is a love letter to founders, coaches, and anyone who believes lasting impact is built through relationships, shared learning, and a willingness to step out of the spotlight so others can shine. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we exist to help founders turn purpose into sustainable businesses—through coaching, capital, and community. Whether you’re launching your first venture or looking to give back with your time, talent, or treasure, there’s a place for you in the Flywheel ecosystem. Learn more at flywheelcincinnati.org. On The Fly! will take a little break and be back with new episodes later this year.
Solving a “Dumb Problem” with Last Mile Food Rescue
2026/02/14
In this powerful episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Eileen MacDermott Budo, CEO of Last Mile Food Rescue, to unpack how a bold idea, smart logistics, and community-powered technology are transforming food waste into meals for neighbors across Greater Cincinnati. Eileen shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Last Mile Food Rescue evolved from a rocky early concept into a tech-enabled nonprofit that has rescued more than 14 million pounds of fresh, healthy food—preventing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and delivering over 12 million meals to people facing food insecurity. Drawing on her background at Procter & Gamble and the U.S. Air Force, Eileen explains why execution, logistics, and human connection are just as important as a mission. From volunteer drivers using their own cars, to dispatch teams managing rescues in real time, to large-scale event recovery at festivals like Taste of Cincinnati and Oktoberfest, this conversation highlights how innovation and people come together to solve what Eileen calls a “dumb problem” – good food going to landfills while people go hungry. Listen to hear about: Why food waste is both an environmental and social crisis—and how rescuing just 25% could eliminate food insecurityHow Last Mile Food Rescue blends technology and human relationships to scale impactThe logistics behind real-time food rescue and volunteer coordinationWhat it takes to grow a nonprofit from a kitchen-table idea into a regional operationHow mobile markets are bringing free, fresh food directly into underserved neighborhoodsWhy failure, pivots, and the right partners were critical to Last Mile’s success To learn more about Last Mile Food Rescue, visit lastmilefoodrescue.org to explore how technology, volunteers, and partnerships are helping redirect surplus food to neighbors who need it most.  At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe stories like Eileen’s show what’s possible when mission-driven leaders combine purpose with execution. Learn how Flywheel supports social entrepreneurs, builds strong leadership teams, and helps bold ideas take flight at flywheelcincinnati.org.
Profit, Purpose, and the Truth in Between
2026/01/31
In this thoughtful and grounded episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel Executive Director Donna Zaring sits down with Mark Davis, CEO of TableSense and longtime Flywheel board member, to unpack what it really means to create social impact that lasts. Mark describes his journey from CPA and consultant to social entrepreneur working at the intersection of research, investment, and advocacy in the child welfare space. Along the way, he challenges some of the most common assumptions founders make about nonprofits, funding, and impact. Rather than starting with tax status or funding mechanisms, Mark offers a simple but powerful lens: Who are you creating value for—and how? This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating social enterprise models, nonprofit leaders rethinking sustainability, and anyone who believes impact work deserves clearer thinking and braver conversations. 💡 Listen to hear more about: Why nonprofit vs. for-profit is often the wrong first questionHow social enterprises differ when the beneficiary isn’t the payerWhat “wicked problems” really are—and why they require partnershipsWhy jobs are a critical catalyst for housing, education, and childcareThe role of investment capital as permanent social capitalHow TableSense blends research, investing, and policy to drive changeWhy common sense, honesty, and “directionally correct” decisions matter more than perfectionLearn more about TableSense’s work and resources at tablesense.org, and follow their insights on LinkedIn for updates on how they’re advancing opportunities in child wellbeing, workforce stability, and community resilience. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we help founders and nonprofits start with value—building businesses and organizations that deliver both financial sustainability and social impact. Learn how Flywheel supports entrepreneurs, coaches leaders, and strengthens Cincinnati’s impact ecosystem at flywheelcincinnati.org.
Where Questions Meet Capital: Coaching Through the Numbers
2026/01/17
In this thoughtful and grounding episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Joe Vallo, one of Flywheel’s longest-serving subject matter experts and a trusted guide for founders navigating the world of finance. With decades of experience spanning Big Eight consulting firms, startup leadership, and independent advisory work, Joe brings clarity to a topic many entrepreneurs avoid: money. But as he explains, finance isn’t just about spreadsheets—it’s about operations, customers, and asking the right questions at the right time. Together, Joan and Joe explore the holistic nature of entrepreneurship and why financial models are really just operational stories told with numbers. 💡 Listen to hear more about: Why your customer—not your product—should dictate how you build your businessHow financial models reveal operational blind spotsCommon red flags Joe sees when founders first share their spreadsheetsWhy “everyone is your customer” is almost always the wrong answerHow iteration, failure, and erasing the whiteboard are part of healthy growthThe surprising similarities between nonprofit and for-profit financial managementWhy coaching founders has been one of the most rewarding chapters of Joe’s careerJoe also shares why Flywheel’s coaching model works so well—and why experienced business leaders should consider giving back as coaches, mentors, and supporters of social enterprise. This episode is a must-listen for founders who want to feel more confident about money, coaches who want to ask better questions, and anyone who believes business is as much about listening as it is about leading. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we bring together founders, coaches, and subject matter experts to help social enterprises build strong, sustainable businesses. Learn how Flywheel supports entrepreneurs and strengthens Cincinnati’s impact ecosystem at flywheelcincinnati.org.
Engineering with Empathy
2026/01/03
In this powerful and deeply personal episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup sits down with Valda Freeman-Karmo, electrical engineer, mother, and social entrepreneur whose company, AARON Wearable Tech, was born from love, urgency, and lived experience. Inspired by her sons with cognitive disabilities and the realities families face during interactions with first responders, Valda set out to design technology that could save lives. The result is a wearable system—part hardware, part software—that uses GPS and communication tools to help first responders quickly understand when someone has a cognitive disability or mental health challenge. Together, Joan and Valda unpack: How personal experience sparked a mission-driven tech startupWhy AARON Wearable Tech operates at the intersection of SaaS and social impactThe realities of funding a company through grants, bootstrapping, and sheer persistenceWhat makes funding tech startups different from funding social enterprisesHow Flywheel’s milestone-based grants helped turn an idea into a viable productWhy accelerators, advisors, and community are essential for founders building complex solutionsValda also shares candid insights on patience, humility, and why hearing the basics over and over again—from different perspectives—can be the key to long-term success. This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating funding, caregivers advocating for safer systems, and anyone interested in how technology can be designed with dignity, empathy, and purpose at its core. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we support founders who build solutions where purpose meets profit. Learn how Flywheel coaches entrepreneurs, funds early milestones, and helps social impact ventures grow at flywheelcincinnati.org.
Cincy → Asia: Lucas and Andrew’s Journey Continues
2025/12/20
In this high-energy episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup brings back to the pod two globally minded founders whose paths collided inside Flywheel’s accelerator — and sparked a collaboration grounded in sustainability, product innovation, and a shared history of building businesses across Asia. Flywheel is excited to welcome back Andrew Bliss, and Lucas Williamson, for a bonus conversation with both amazing founders.  Andrew is the founder of EcoShell, who turn discarded eggshells into breakthrough materials used in plastics, packaging, footwear, and more. Lucas is the founder of Product Refinery, he is the design and engineering mind behind hundreds of consumer products brought from sketch to shelf. Though their companies are different, their values align: design with intention, build sustainably, fail forward, and always tell the truth about what it takes to create physical products that last.  Their work spans continents — from Cincinnati to Asia and back — transforming discarded materials into sustainable plastics and turning bold product ideas into market-ready reality. 💡 Listen to hear more about: The unexpected ways Taiwan and China shaped their careersWhat founders get wrong about manufacturing and supply chainsWhy sustainability is a design challenge—not just a materials challengeThe power of advisory boards, mentors, and diverse support networksHow Flywheel creates collisions that turn founders into collaboratorsWhy Cincinnati is one of the most supportive environments for social entrepreneursThis episode is a masterclass in global entrepreneurship, product innovation, and the gritty reality of building things that matter. Learn more at EcoShell.eco and Product Refinery.co! 📣 Call to Action: At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in founders who build for both profit and purpose. Explore how we support entrepreneurs, connect coaches, and help social impact ideas grow at flywheelcincinnati.org.
Designing and Refining with Product Refinery
2025/12/06
On this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup sits down with Lucas Williamson, founder of Product Refinery and a serial entrepreneur who’s helped creators around the world turn ideas into reality. From electric skateboards to baby gear, Lucas has spent his career helping founders take their ideas from napkin sketches to market-ready products—while learning what it truly takes to build something that lasts. Lucas shares how a local litter hackathon sparked his social enterprise Clean Up Collective, why self-awareness matters more than a Shark Tank deal, and how defining your own version of success can reshape the way you work and live. Listen to hear more about: How Lucas took a design hobby and turned it into a global product development company.Lessons learned from nearly making it to Shark Tank—twice.The creation of Clean Up Collective and how it’s tackling litter with entrepreneurial innovation.Why he believes “people over profits” should be the guiding principle for every founder.How Flywheel’s accelerator helped refine his pitch, sharpen his business model, and connect him to Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem.At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in founders who build for both profit and purpose. Learn how we support entrepreneurs, connect coaches, and help social impact ideas grow at flywheelcincinnati.org

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