Flex Forward

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Amy Urban, a dentist turned entrepreneur who is redefining how we think about sleep apnea, airway health, and women’s wellness. Dr. Urban shares how her curiosity—and habit of asking “why”—led her to uncover a major gap in patient care. After noticing that many of her patients were struggling with poor sleep and undiagnose...

Motherhood isn’t perfect—and it was never meant to be. In this episode, Kailynn Klepher shares how she helps moms navigate the emotional highs and lows of pregnancy, postpartum life, and beyond, while reminding us all that unconditional love matters more than perfection. Kailynn Klepher is a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and founder of Evolve Texas Therapy Services. She specializes i...

What happens when a lifelong love of maps turns into a 40-year career shaping global intelligence? In this episode, Anthony Troche shares his journey from cartographer to geopolitical advisor—and how mapping evolved into a critical tool for modern warfare and cybersecurity. Anthony Troche joins The Flex Forward Podcast to walk through a remarkable career spanning over four decades in U.S. governme...

This week on The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with leadership coach and organizational consultant Kirsten Penaloza to explore what it truly means to lead with a human-centered approach. From navigating career transitions to building resilience and breaking down workplace silos, Kristen shares powerful insights on how people—not just systems—drive success. Kirsten brings over a decad...

In this episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Amanda Lewis, a dentist turned entrepreneur who made the bold decision to leave behind a thriving dental practice to build a consumer brand from the ground up. Amanda shares her journey of reinvention, resilience, and what it really looks like to start over in a completely new industry. Amanda is the founder and CEO of Louis, an oral health and wellness...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, we sit down with Dr. Triwanna Fisher-Wikoff, a board-certified family physician and obesity medicine specialist, to unpack the truth about weight loss and long-term health. Dr. Fisher-Wikoff explains why obesity is a chronic, relapsing condition—not simply a matter of willpower. She breaks down the four pillars of obesity medicine: nutr...

What happens when a seasoned CIO steps away from corporate life to build something of his own? In this episode, Tony Caesar shares his journey from nearly four decades in corporate leadership to launching a fractional CIO business—and what he’s seeing on the frontlines of AI, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Tony Caesar, founder of Czar Technology Group, brings over 38 years of experience as a CI...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Sandy Murphy opens up about her life journey—from surviving severe domestic violence at just 18 years old to becoming a counselor, mentor, and advocate for children and families. Sandy shares a deeply personal story of abuse, survival, and the moment that changed everything. Rather than letting her past define her, she turned her pain i...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Christopher Chamberland, who works in quantum computing at NVIDIA. Christopher breaks down the complex world of quantum computers in a simple and engaging way, explaining how they differ from classical computers and why they hold so much promise. He shares how quantum computers could revolutionize fields like cryptography and...

In this conversation, Prem Kumar, CTO and Head of AI at Hitachi Digital Services, joins Nic Espanet to share his journey through the technology world and into leadership. Prem explains how AI has evolved from a niche skill into something everyone interacts with daily, and why companies must focus on building with AI, not just building AI. Prem highlights three key factors behind his success: stayi...

In this episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Francina “Frankie” Ashok, a global IT consulting leader with over 17 years of experience. Frankie shares her journey from overcoming personal challenges like stuttering and self-doubt to leading complex technology initiatives and working with executive-level teams. She dives into the importance of pushing beyond your comfort zone, staying relevant in a r...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Stephanie Byerly—an anesthesiologist, women-centered coach, and transformational speaker—who is helping women redefine success from the inside out. Stephanie shares her unique journey from a 25-year medical career in academic anesthesiology to becoming a coach focused on women’s leadership, identity transformation, an...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with David Reid—CEO and President of Red M and CTO/CMO at NOV. David shares his fascinating career journey from working in a repair shop to becoming a global technology and marketing leader in a multi-billion-dollar company. Along the way, he discusses innovation, leadership, and why understanding yourself may be the most impo...

What does it take to build a thriving business in sports nutrition? In this episode, Amy Goodson joins Nic Espanet to share how she built a career helping athletes perform at their best while also growing multiple businesses in the nutrition space. Amy Goodson is a sports dietitian, nutrition communications consultant, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She has worked in sports nutrition for 20 ye...

Entrepreneurs often build successful businesses but quietly sacrifice their time, family life, and personal freedom in the process. In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, serial entrepreneur George Rivera shares a powerful story about redefining success—not just through revenue, but through time, presence, and family connection. George has spent more than 30 years in busines...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Gabe Arrington, co-founder and CEO of Hire a Piranha and an active duty Air Force senior officer preparing for retirement. Gabe shares his unique journey from flying five different aircraft and completing over 270 combat missions to co-founding a cutting-edge XR company focused on mental wellness and mindfulness. Gabe explains...

What does it really mean to “adapt or die” in today’s AI-driven world? In this episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Paul Byrne, software engineering consultant, entrepreneur, and author, to talk about artificial intelligence, leadership, failure, and what it takes to stay relevant in rapidly changing industries. Paul is the President and Founder of Razorio, a software engineering consultancy specia...

What does it really take to build success the right way? In this episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Terry Flood to talk about leadership, failure, networking, and why continuous improvement matters more than perfection. Dr. Terry Flood is a retired military veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Integrated Services and Solutions. After serving 17 years in the military, including three deployme...

What happens when a personal health crisis turns into a mission to help others live healthier, happier lives? In this episode, Ruchika Gupta shares how her own postpartum health struggles led her to build an AI-powered wellness platform designed to make personalized coaching accessible and affordable for everyone. Ruchika is the Founder and CEO of The Unlimited, formerly known as Health Click Away...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Stephanie Belz—an occupational therapist, cancer survivor, writer, and passionate child safety advocate. Stephanie opens up about how her battle with cancer became the wake-up call that propelled her into a life filled with purpose and impact. From serving as a board member of a global digital child safety organization to writing...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with petroleum and reservoir engineer turned angel investor, Sam Betts, to discuss his incredible journey from offshore oil rigs to startup investing. Sam shares insights on the technical world of drilling and production, the drive behind his work ethic, and the life-altering health challenges that led him to pivot into entrep...

Dr. David Johnston, a seasoned radiologist at Solis Mammography, joins Nic Espanet to share the winding road that led him to specialize in breast imaging. From almost dropping out of med school to having a lightbulb moment mid-board exam, Dr. Johnston opens up about the personal and professional turning points that shaped his career. He discusses: How discovering the role of a radiologist changed...

In this insightful episode, Nic Espanet talks with Nimi Natan, founder and president of Gulf Coast Small Business Lending—a subsidiary of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. Nimi breaks down how his company provides SBA, USDA, and franchise finance solutions with a focus on owner-operators and real-world repayment strategies. They discuss how Nimi grew his company from the ground up, how their acquisitio...

Join us on this inspiring episode as we talk with Jorge Cardenas, the forward-thinking CIO of the City of Brownsville, Texas. With a background in the Marine Corps, Department of Defense, and private sector, Jorge brings a unique and powerful perspective to public sector technology leadership. Key Takeaways: Jorge’s journey from the military to CIO and smart city strategist The role of technology...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Kimberly Denney, Senior VP and GM of MediMaps, to talk about the revolutionary advances in osteoporosis detection and bone health. Kimberly reveals how MediMaps' AI-driven technology helps assess bone quality—not just density—providing critical insight into fracture risk that traditional DEXA scans miss. The conversation explo...