Flex Forward

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, and trauma-informed growth. She expla...

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 important skill for long-term success. ...

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 years and has supported athletes from...

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 business, beginning in direct response mar...

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 how his background in military inn...

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 specializing in e-commerce and SaaS platf...

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 deployments to Afghanistan, Terry transitio...

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. After experiencing a high-risk pr...

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 for Houston Moms and exploring lead...

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 entrepreneurship.

Sam talks about how wor...

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 everything

• The unique deman...

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 acquisition by a bank preserved their mission...

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 modernizing city service...

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 explores:

• Why osteoporosis is a si...

In this inspiring episode, Nic Espanet sits down with Danny Bush, founder and CEO of Fun on the Run Plus One, a mobile app revolutionizing how people connect in real life. Danny shares how his platform uses predictive AI to assess mental health and combat loneliness by instantly linking users over shared interests. From anime to networking, Fun on the Run Plus One helps people find community and joy outside their screens.

Danny div...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Earl Kilbride, a seasoned orthopedic surgeon and partner at the Austin Orthopedic Institute. Earl shares his journey from New Orleans to Austin, including his time as a collegiate baseball player, his medical training across Dallas and Los Angeles, and his unique path into orthopedic medicine.

Earl reflects on the changes in medicine over his 23+ years in p...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. John Burns, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Dallas. John shares his journey from medical school to building his own thriving cosmetic surgery practice. He opens up about the personal and professional challenges he’s faced, including self-doubt, the grind of entrepreneurship, and stepping into the world of marketing and branding as a physician.

Li...

In this insightful episode of the Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Vince Porter, the founder of Porter & Company CPAs. Vince shares how his firm uniquely serves real estate syndicators by delivering high-level tax compliance and advisory services. But Vince isn't your average CPA—he's also an investor himself, giving him a dual perspective that many in the industry find invaluable.

Vince and Nic dive into the im...

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Karl Waggoner, Director of Supply Chain and Logistics at Mammoth Freighters. Karl shares the unique work being done at Mammoth—converting retired Boeing 777 passenger planes into high-performing freighters—and what sets their team and technology apart in the aerospace industry.

Karl opens up about his career journey, which began in the Air Force and eventu...