Cultivate with Alex Canavan

In this episode, Alex sits down with Sean Kelsey — CEO of Nave Law Firm, foster care alumnus, community builder, and author of The Uneducated CEO — for a conversation about what it really costs to become who you're trying to be. Not in theory. In practice. In the space between the trigger and the reaction. Sean walked into one of the largest DWI law firms in Central New York with no law degree...

In this episode, host Alex sits down with Lauren Makler — Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility, a human-first fertility ecosystem that allows women to freeze their eggs for free when they donate half — for a conversation about turning personal pain into public purpose, building something counterintuitive in an industry that needed disruption, and what it really means to show up for women at one of th...

Alex is back solo, and this time she's tackling the topic every woman in this community asks her about: networking. Not the awkward, business-card-collecting kind. The intentional kind, the kind that actually turns conversations into community. This episode is the best of a recent Collective call, expanded and made even more tactical. Alex breaks down why most networking advice leaves people f...

In this episode, host Alex sits down with Sarah Pellegrini — Syracuse native, real estate veteran, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Noble Cellar — for a conversation about what it really means to bet on yourself, bet on your community, and build something that didn't exist before you showed up. Sarah has spent over 20 years executing across real estate, sales, business development, and hospitality....

In this episode, host Alex sits down with Barbara Stone — entrepreneur, author, TEDx speaker, leadership development coach, and founder of Build Your Path LLC — for a conversation about what it really costs to spend 25 years chasing someone else's version of success. And what it takes to finally walk away from it. Barb did everything right. She earned her MBA, climbed the ladder in manufacturi...

In this episode, host Alex sits down with Kennedy Myers — former corporate professional, founder of The Graze Catering and The Graze Management, and one of the most honest voices on the internet right now — for a conversation that is raw, courageous, and impossible to forget. Kennedy was doing what so many of us do: working a nine to five, building two businesses on the side, and grinding through...

In this week’s solo episode of Cultivate , Alex reflects on a transformative dinner with her advisory board and the powerful realizations that came from being in a room full of women who lead, build, and understand the weight of ambition. This episode explores: Imposter syndrome and self-doubt in entrepreneurship Why successful women still question themselves The importance of relationships that r...

In this episode, host Alex sits down with Erik Ramstad — COO of Farmwell and part of the family behind one of upstate New York's most purposeful food and beverage brands — for a conversation that is grounded, genuine, and quietly refreshing. Erik and his family didn't set out to build a beverage company. They set out to grow something real. What started as a family dream rooted in the aron...

In this episode, Alex sits down with Andrew Lunetta — Founder and Executive Director of A Tiny Home for Good — for a conversation that is honest, grounding, and genuinely inspiring. Andrew has spent the better part of his life close to homelessness — first as a shelter worker, then as someone who literally lived alongside the men he was trying to help, and now as the leader of one of Central New Y...

In this episode, Alex sits down with Monica Merante — Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®, Senior Director of Philanthropic Services at CNYCF, and one of Central New York's most thoughtful voices on generosity and legacy — for a conversation that is warm, grounding, and quietly profound. Monica has spent over a decade at the Central New York Community Foundation helping donors build legacies th...

In this episode, host Alex sits down with Kate Brodock — General Partner at The W Fund, CEO of SWITCH, and now the CEO & General Partner of 9Fresh, where she's leading the full redevelopment of the former Cazenovia College campus. Not exactly the career arc anyone maps out on paper. Kate has spent nearly two decades inside the startup ecosystem — investing in early-stage, women-led companies,...

Twenty-seven was quite the year. And in this episode, Alex isn't holding anything back. Two days before turning 28, Alex sits down for one of the most personal episodes yet — sharing life updates, business updates, and a reflection on a year defined by hard decisions, big leaps, and a lot of letting go. People. Relationships. Things. An entire lifestyle. Life feels less comfortable now. More u...

In this episode, host Alex Canavan sits down with Shamina Taylor — wealth consciousness mentor, speaker, and host of The Unapologetically Rich Show — for a conversation that is deeply personal, and for Alex, entirely full circle. For two years, Alex listened to Shamina's podcast every single week. Her voice, her perspective, and her work played a pivotal role in one of the biggest decisions of...

In this episode, host Alex Canavan sits down with Tanya Hembree — founder and visionary behind ONYX + ALABASTER, a multi-dimensional concept in Franklin, Tennessee where interior design, curated retail, and a designer coffee lounge come together under one roof to create a truly immersive experience. Featured in People, Architectural Digest, Good Housekeeping, and Martha Stewart, Tanya is known for...

This week, we're doing something a little different — and it's one you won't want to miss. In this special live recording, host Alex Canavan flips the script at the CNY Women's Summit Welcome Reception, stepping out from behind the mic and into the hot seat. Elena Bombardier takes over the interview, turning the lens on Alex herself for a rare, unfiltered look at the woman behind C...

In this episode, host Alex Canavan sits down with Gwen Crossett — registered nurse, eldercare expert, and founder of ConstantCare247, a company born from a deep commitment to putting patients and families first. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare — more than a decade of which has been dedicated specifically to eldercare — Gwen has become a trusted guide for families facing one of life&...

In this episode, host Alex Canavan sits down with Sara Grace Nickle — owner, head coach, and the powerhouse behind SGP Fight Club, a female-focused fight program right here in the Syracuse area. With 30 years of martial arts experience spanning boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, Sara Grace has channeled a lifetime of discipline and dedication into building something truly special for women. And he...

In this episode, host Alex Canavan sits down with Laura Capparelli , the woman behind Pausa Coffee — a coffee shop and cocktail lounge in the heart of downtown Syracuse that is truly unlike anything else in the area. Inspired by European café culture and the art of slow living, Pausa is by day your go-to for beautifully crafted espresso drinks, seasonal lattes, and fresh pastries — and by night, a...

In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Dr. Robert Kiltz , founder and director of CNY Fertility — one of the most innovative fertility practices in the country. Board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, Dr. Kiltz has spent more than two decades helping families grow right here in Central New York while completely reimagining what fertility care can...

In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Andriana Cannon , Syracuse native and founder of Cannon Advisory Group, a boutique accounting and advisory firm helping business owners gain clarity, confidence, and control over their finances. A LeMoyne College graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Andriana put herself through college working in the hospitality indus...

In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Ryan Benz , Founder and CEO of Redev CNY, a Syracuse-based real estate development firm transforming affordable homeownership across Central New York. A Syracuse University Whitman School of Management graduate, Ryan has built a career around creating real pathways to ownership for moderate-income households and ensuring long-term...

In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Amy Robbins , Morning Show Co-host and Executive Producer of the Ted and Amy Morning Show on WNTQ Radio in Syracuse. With nearly four decades on the air, Amy has become one of Central New York's most trusted and beloved voices. A Camden native and Ithaca College graduate, Amy shares her remarkable journey from small-town girl t...

In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Caragh Fahy , Owner and President of Madison Financial Planning Group. With over 25 years in financial services and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ credential, Caragh specializes in guiding clients through early retirement and financial independence. Caragh shares her journey from working two jobs to building a successful advisory p...

In Part Two of this special Vanderkamp feature, host Alex Canavan takes you on an intimate walking tour of the property with partners Troy, and Dan. Step inside the beautifully restored lodges—Frank, Langston, Grace, and the Boathouse—each with its own distinct character and thoughtfully curated design that honors the property's rich history. From 250-million-year-old fossils embedded in stone fir...

In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Joe, Troy, and Dan —the visionary partners behind Vanderkamp , an immersive wilderness retreat set on 850 remote acres in Upstate New York. This trio has transformed a historic church camp into a destination that redefines what retreat, hospitality, and connection to nature can look like in Central New York. In Part One of this spe...