B Student Podcast

In this episode of The B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner, president of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, sits down with former U.S. Representative Stephanie Murphy for a powerful conversation on belonging, bipartisanship, and the future of American communities. Stephanie shares her remarkable journey from escaping communist Vietnam as a six-month-old baby on a boat, to being rescued by the...

Loyalty might sound old-fashioned, but in an AI-enabled world, it’s quickly becoming one of the most powerful “unautomatable” skills you can have. In this episode of the B-Student Podcast, we sit down with attorney and community leader Laura Walda , shareholder at Lowndes , to explore what loyalty really looks like in law, leadership, friendship, and civic life. Laura shares her journey from growi...

What you wear is a message. In this B-Student  Study Abroad  episode, host Betsy Gardner sits down in London with Fiona Rubie — fashion stylist and brand consultant, former Fashion Director at BOAT International, and former Senior Fashion Editor at Harper’s Bazaar UK and InStyle UK. With credits spanning Eva Green, Linda Evangelista, and brand work for Graff, Monica Vinader, and Bergdorf Goodman,...

Give first. Get later. In this B-Student Study Abroad episode, host Betsy Gardner sits down in London with her longtime friend Juliet Mayhew — actress turned event and lifestyle imaginator, philanthropist, brand personality, and cast member of Real Housewives of London — to unpack the “give first” mindset that can transform your work, your network, and your life. You’ll hear Juliet’s global story...

Welcome back to The B-Student Podcast with your host Betsy Gardner — where we explore the B-Side of people’s stories: the lessons, curiosities, and moments that shape who we become and how we show up in life, leadership, and business. In this special  Study Abroad  episode, Betsy takes us to London, England, her former home and one of the cities that most transformed her personally and professiona...

If you want to look sharp, scale a business, and lead with gut and grit, this one is for you. Betsy sits down with menswear icon Craig DeLongy, founder of John Craig Clothier with eight Florida locations, to unpack the B-side of his 30-year journey from a single Park Avenue shop to a statewide brand known for service, style, and community. Award-winning retailer behind John Craig Clothier in Winte...

How you do anything is how you do everything. In this B Student Podcast episode, host Betsy Gardner sits down with Scott Millson — U.S. Navy veteran, COO, entrepreneur, mentor and author of "The Frequency of Excellence" — to unpack the habits and mindsets that turn small details into big outcomes. From folding uniforms in boot camp to leading high-performing teams, Scott shares practical ways to “...

Authentic… or “plastic fantastic”? In this B-Student Podcast episode, Betsy sits down with CMO (and resident Gen Z/Millennial lens) Addison Cursey to unpack how to show up at work—without tanking your credibility. From email punctuation and dress codes to “managing up,” building trust, and navigating AI, this is a practical guide for early-career pros and the managers who lead them. What you’ll le...

Betsy sits down with Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores, authors of the bestselling Winter Park–set thriller  The  Happy Wife . We dig into what animates their story and how those same skills make you better at business and with AI: curiosity, collaboration, belonging, and choosing creativity over fear. We talk about: Turning a sense of place into a page-turner Writing partners, failure toleranc...

What does it really take to build something from nothing? In this episode, Betsy sits down with entrepreneur and craft distiller Paul Twyford, co-founder of Winter Park Distilling Company, to unpack the unglamorous, real-world path from door-to-door dry cleaning to award-winning bourbon. Paul shares the cheat codes he wishes he had at 28: start with the problem, say yes more often, build relations...

In this special live-recorded episode of the B-Student Podcast, we welcome Dr. Yoni Appelbaum—historian, Harvard lecturer, Deputy Executive Editor at The Atlantic, and author of Stuck: How the Privileged and the Property Broke the Engine of American Opportunity. Hosted at Hi Hello Labs with a live studio audience, this conversation unpacks one of the most pressing issues of our time: housing as th...

In this episode of B-Student Podcast, Betsy sits down again with Addison, Chief Marketing Officer at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, to continue a candid, funny, and practical conversation on navigating Gen X–Gen Z dynamics at work. We talk about: Why humor (yes, even the “how do I open this PDF?” moment) can bridge generations without belittling anyone The real “cheat codes” early-career pro...

Welcome back to the B-Student Podcast!  Today, Betsy sits down with Congressman Maxwell Frost, the youngest member ever elected to the United States House of Representatives , to talk about the B-side of his record. This episode isn’t about politics—it’s about resilience, hustle, and the journey behind the headlines. From driving Uber during his campaign, working shifts at Olive Garden, and launch...

In this episode of the B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with world-renowned brand strategist and content creator Phil Pallen to uncover the B-side of branding, AI, and… watches. Phil has worked with over 400 clients across 30+ countries, is a trusted advisor for Adobe, and helps entrepreneurs, creators, and small businesses show up consistently both online and offline.  In this cand...

In this powerful episode of the B-Student Podcast, host Betsy sits down with Karen Moreno, owner of The Bar Method Winter Park and recipient of the Woman of Influence 2025 award. Karen’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and community — and it’s packed with lessons every leader and entrepreneur can apply. From starting out as a teacher and full-time mom, to relaunching her career as a busin...

How do you turn an online community into real business? In this episode of the B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with Trevor Brown, a dynamic realtor with Fannie Hillman and Associates in Winter Park, Florida. Trevor shares how he went from an advertising career to disrupting the real estate game by building community, showing up consistently on social media, and converting connectio...

What happens when a Gen X CEO and a Gen Z CMO join forces to build something big?  In this episode of B Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with her collaborator and Chief Marketing Officer, Addison Cursey, for a real conversation on navigating multigenerational leadership in the modern workplace. From decoding communication differences to wardrobe hacks that build credibility, this epis...

In this episode of The B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with the incomparable Bob Jimenez, founder and gallerist of Solana Fine Art Gallery and a former executive with The Walt Disney Company, Cox Enterprises, and AdventHealth. Together, they explore the power of authenticity and curiosity as foundational traits for impactful leadership, crisis communication, and purpose-driven netw...

Award-winning photographer, speaker, and author Gary Hughes joins Betsy Gardner for a deep dive into what it really takes to build a sustainable creative business without losing your soul. From life on the road as a touring musician to leading a nationally recognized photography studio, Gary shares lessons on empathy, resets, not being “too precious,” and the hard truths creatives need to hear. To...

This episode is a little different — it’s personal. Host Betsy Gardner brings her dog Axel along for a heartfelt solo episode reflecting on the journey of The B Student Podcast, entrepreneurship, and the values that shape us. From launching the UCF marching band with no students and no uniforms … to getting a tween swimwear brand into Harrods … to charting in Brazil and France with a podcast — Bet...

In this episode of The B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with Dr. Haifa Maamar, Executive Director of Emerging Technologies at Full Sail University. With an incredible career that spans continents, stock exchanges, and emerging tech, Haifa shares her journey from a curious six-year-old coding in her father’s office in France to becoming a global leader in AI, gaming, simulation, and...

Betsy Gardner sits down with Carroll Hanley Goggin, a respected business owner, community advocate, and champion of “quiet influence" in this episode of the B Student podcast. Together, they explore how real leadership often comes without fanfare—through calm decision-making, trusted relationships, strategic advocacy, and lifelong learning. From shaping state arts funding to navigating supply chai...

In this powerful episode of the B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with her longtime friend and community champion, Chevalier Lovett—Chief Impact & Advocacy Officer at 26Health and a classically trained musician whose voice is as rich as his story. From growing up in Winter Park’s Hannibal Square and teaching himself piano over spring break, to performing on some of the region’s b...

In this sizzling new episode of the B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner welcomes one of the most dynamic and celebrated chefs in the Latin Caribbean culinary scene—Chef Mario Pagán. Known for his architectural approach to food, his passion for art, and his humility in leadership, Chef Mario shares the story behind his wildly imaginative path from Puerto Rico to Winter Park, Florida, where he’s s...

In this powerful episode of the B-Student Podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with Debora Mendonca, Executive Director of the Glass Knife and a shining example of resilience, hustle, and leadership. From arriving in New York City with one suitcase, no English, and a big dream, to now leading a multi-million dollar business in Central Florida, Debora’s story is anything but ordinary. You’ll hear...