The Story Behind Her Success

Candy O'Terry
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Women from every walk of life reveal how they got to where they are today, sharing their wisdom and the lessons they have learned along the way.

  1. SBHS Dede Ulbrich: 86 years young!

    FEB 25

    SBHS Dede Ulbrich: 86 years young!

    Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid of life. If you want to age gracefully, stay busy, positive, and connected. -Dede Ulbrich This week, we meet Dede Ulbrich, a beautiful 86-year-old woman whose secret to staying young is laughter, love, and connection.   The granddaughter of former New Hampshire Governor Francis P. Murphy and founder of WMUR radio and television stations, Dede was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her big, Irish family believed in the glory of hard work and having fun.  In this interview, Dede recalls that men returning from World War II and Vietnam were changed forever, and she was determined to live her life to the fullest. As a friend and former colleague of political consultant and White House special assistant Kenny O’Donnell, Dede attended the Inaugural Ball for President John F. Kennedy and later experienced the horror of losing her favorite president to an assassin’s bullet in Dallas. Years later, as the single mother of three sons, Dede rebuilt her life after divorce, taking a job selling running shoes at the Nike store in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Identified as a talented salesperson, she was recruited by company executives to join their elite marketing team.  Dede climbed the corporate ladder in a man’s world with zero hesitation, creating relationships with Olympic runners like Joan Benoit Samuelson.  A runner herself, she later met and married her second husband, Dick Ulbrich, DMD, experiencing the joy of finding love the second time around. Known affectionately as“Doc”, her husband built a lasting friendship with a gardener from Weston, Massachusetts named Nelson McNutt, who lived to be 105, leaving his entire estate in gratitude to the couple.  www.nelsonsgarden.com.  Filled with the kind of wisdom that can only come from a life well lived, Dede says,“Life is good. Always look for the beauty in life.  Keep searching for the things that make you happy.”   For 25 minutes of inspiration, just hit that download button. #gratitude #age #kennedyassasination #nelsonsgarden

    26 min
  2. Carol McKean: This V-Day, love yourself!

    FEB 11

    Carol McKean: This V-Day, love yourself!

    You have to take care of yourself first in order to take care of others. -Carol McKean I’ve known Carol McKean for many years, and I’m so happy to introduce her to you.  She’s a PR superstar with her own events company, carolmckeanevents.com, and is the creator of the popular fundraising concept known as “fund-a-need.” In this interview, Carol shares her life story, including the hard parts I didn’t know about.   The story of her incredibly painful divorce is featured in the new Jan Fraser inspired life series, The Book on Love.  bookonlove.com.   Written by 40 women from the United States and around the world, the book is a fast read, filled with wisdom and the power of love.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Carol’s story reminds us that we may be born out of love, but our lives are far from perfect.  Says Carol:  “Fun times are easy, but when life deals you tragedy and hardship, it’s how you react to it and move forward that really matters.”   It took 7 grueling years for Carol and her husband to divorce, and during that time, she realized she was not safe in his presence and had lost herself in the relationship.  “When I sat down to write this story,  it just poured out of me in about 30 minutes, says Carol.  Many of my friends wondered why I was willing to share these details, but I believe we create connections when we share our stories.  What does she want readers to know?   “Whateversituation you are in, I promise there is hope…there is light.   The biggest lesson I had to learn was to love myself.”  #valentinesday #love #divorce #storytelling #bookonlove

    25 min
  3. Renee Rhodes: a sculptor’s story from her compound in the woods

    JAN 21

    Renee Rhodes: a sculptor’s story from her compound in the woods

    I went into a contemplative period in my life and retreated to my cabin for 10 years. I couldn’t find the words to express how I was feeling, so I started picking up clay. -Renee Rhodes Welcome to the life of sculptor, Renee Rhodes.  She’s worked in publishing and advertising, and even has a Ph.D. from Columbia University in Clinical Psychology, but in her 40s, Renee experienced “a dark night of the soul” and retreated into a cabin on her property, deep in the Connecticut woods.   When she emerged, she was transformed and began a new chapter as a sculptor.   Recorded on a visit to Renee’s 10-acre compound on a cold winter’s day, this interview is a rare glimpse into the brilliant mind of an artist.   Inspired by mythology and the divine feminine, Renee’s figures evoke both strength and grace.   She’s devoted to public art and believes that “when you produce public art, it’s available to everybody.  It’s out in the street, and people can relate to it on their own level, which is an honor for a sculptor because now, you’re speaking to the world.”   Her latest sculpture is named Infinity, and she has taken years to refine.  Says Renee:“I live with it, I sneak up on it in the middle of the night,  and then it tells me how it needs to change.” Before Infinity can be enlarged and bronzed,  money must be raised for her installation on Ocean Beach, New London.   www.infinitepossibilitiesCT.org celebrates unity, peace, hope, and inspiration through public art.  Says Renee:  “Whateveryou can imagine, you can make happen.”  For a 23-minute glimpse into the life of a sculptor, just hit that download button.  #scupltor #publicart #thestorybehindhersuccess #clinicalpsychology #compoundlife

    23 min
  4. SBHS Mrs. Santa Says 2025

    12/24/2025

    SBHS Mrs. Santa Says 2025

    Mrs. Santa Says When I was growing up, I was that girl who was always singing into her hairbrush!  -Candy O’Terry  Welcome to the holiday edition of The Story Behind Her Success!  For the next 23 minutes, I’ll share listener emails as well as three of the holiday songs I’ve recorded over the years.   Whenever I interview a woman, I always ask her if she knew what she wanted to do with her life.  For me, the answer to that question is simple:   I just wanted to be a singer.  My radio career was directly related to wanting to be around the music.  If I wasn’t singing my favorite songs, at least I was hearing them on the radio and talking about them with listeners, LIVE on the air.    As you may know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and completed my treatment in 2024.   Hearing the words “you have breast cancer” turned my world upside down, reminding me about gratitude and the power of love.  This past year, I took a leap of faith and started releasing new music.  My fingers are crossed that if you like the songs you hear in this holiday episode, you’ll take a listen to my other songs wherever you get your music. Thank you for listening to The Story Behind Her Success.  Every woman I’ve profiled shares her wisdom and leads by example.   If she can do it, you can do it.   #womensupportingwomen #singer #Christmas2025 #grateful #radio

    23 min
  5. Maureen Rystrom – 334

    12/18/2025

    Maureen Rystrom – 334

    In the beginning, I was usually the only woman in the room.  That was great, because it was memorable, and it was also bad, because it was memorable.  -Maureen Rystrom  Meet a woman who is at the top of her game in a male-dominated field.  As Partner & Vice President of Marketing at J. Calnan & Associates, jcalnan.com, Maureen Rystrom oversees the construction management company’s comprehensive marketing and communications initiatives. At a time when commercial messaging is often in your face, Maureen describes herself as a “thoughtful brand strategist” who takes a softer path.  Her focus?  The good work being done by J. Calnan & Associates and their customers in the communities where they build.  Says Maureen: “It’s not necessarily what we build, it’s how we build that makes us special.” In this interview, she also shares the skills she honed to make her corporate climb a success story:  Roll up your sleeves. Get out there and be seen. Be respectful of others’ time. Always follow through.  Make an impact.  A pro at breaking glass ceilings with her own brand of grace and grit, Maureen is also a rock star connector and the co-founder of PLA, the Professional Ladies’ Association.  A three-sport varsity captain in high school, Maureen says that playing sports prepared her for success in business and credits her parents for teaching her the importance of an unstoppable work ethic.  “If you want something in life, you’ve got to go out there and get it.  You earn what you have. Nothing is handed to you.” For 24 minutes of the kind of fire that can spark YOUR success story, just hit that download button.  #corporate #marketing #constructionmanagement

    24 min
  6. Christine Anastos -333

    12/11/2025

    Christine Anastos -333

    I don’t do well with injustice.  -Christine Anastos 10 years ago, environmental engineer Christine Anastos knew something was wrong with her health.  When tests came back normal, her care team suggested Christine see a psychiatrist.   Her answer?  “There’s nothing wrong with my brain.  I know my body well.”    It wasn’t long before Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The suspected cause?   Environmental hazards.   The company Christine was working for as an environmental engineer had been dumping toxins into the Hudson River, and she became a whistleblower, reaching a settlement and using those funds to do good.   Today, she is the founder of a public benefit corporation called www.connect-and-thrive.com.  The mission?  To bridge the gap between conventional medicine and a holistic approach to healing.   Says Christine:  “true healing is not a destination.  It is a lifelong journey. Balancing mind, body, and spirit is the key to becoming healthy again.” Her website is a marketplace where women find evidence-based healing modalities and products not usually covered by insurance. Crowdfunding campaigns called “Kitty Funds” make powerful healing possible. Says Christine:  “Success is making a positive difference in the lives of people who are suffering. Kindness matters.” #healing #breastcancer #hope #candyoterry

    23 min
  7. Dafna Krouk-Gordon -332

    12/04/2025

    Dafna Krouk-Gordon -332

    Don’t expect people to be who they seem on the surface. – Dafna Krouk-Gordon In 1980, Dafna Krouk-Gordon founded her human resources agency in one room above a drug store, with just one employee. 45 years later, Toward Independent Living and Learning (www.tillinc.org) is thriving, with 1,000 employees throughout Massachusetts and into New Hampshire, and the noble goal of improving clients’ lives, one day at a time. Dafna is also the co-author of the book: Moving Out: A Family Guide to Residential Planning for Adults with Disabilities. Recognized as a Top 100 Women-Led Business, TILL is providing innovative ways for people with disabilities to lead rich, fulfilling, independent lives. Says Dafna: “Our parents want to know that we are not just there for the moment. We will be there for the long term.” Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, by hardworking parents, Dafna and her sister were taught: “if you promise someone you are going to do something, you better do it.” Her Jewish family escaped Egypt under dire circumstances and immigrated to the United States. In this interview, Dafna recalls arriving in America: “We were told that there was money, gold in the streets, but we didn’t find any!” When reflecting on her career in human services, Dafna has always followed the guiding principles of her faith: community, social conscience, and “to fix the world, because for good or for bad, there is a lot to fix.” For 24 minutes of information and inspiration, just hit that download button! #disabilities #differences #leadership #Jewish #nonprofit #candyoterry

    23 min
  8. KaLea Lehman -331

    11/21/2025

    KaLea Lehman -331

    Our SOF warriors, or Special Operations Forces, are never really home.  They are either deployed or in training for 9 months out of the year. As a spouse, you have to figure out how to connect through the distance and build your community where you are.  -KaLea Lehman As a military spouse, this week’s guest understands what the words “service” and “sacrifice” really mean.   Meet KaLea Lehman, Executive Director and Founder of the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative www.msofc.org, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening and supporting the families of our nation’s most elite warriors.  She is also the co-author of The Warrior’s Table, a powerful cookbook and storytelling project created by a group of special operations wives who call themselves “The Cast Iron Crew.”   Designed to share recipes and stories about their military service, The Warrior’s Table is a beautiful testimony to the strong women who wrote it.  The mother of seven, including a special needs child, KaLea wishes that Americans truly understood the toll this level of military service and training takes on these warriors.  “The dirty little secret is:  there is no stop. There is no break.  There is no taking a knee, only hard-charging, all the time.  It’s constant stress.”  Under her guidance, the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative has identified 8 SOF Pitfalls and 8 Checkpoints.  What’s one of the most powerful ways for these brave men and their families to connect and heal?  Sharing a meal and conversation around the family dinner table.   For a 25-minute story full of devotion, love, service, purpose, and pride in America, just hit that download button.  #militaryfamilies #SpecialOperations#womeninspiringwomen

    25 min
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Women from every walk of life reveal how they got to where they are today, sharing their wisdom and the lessons they have learned along the way.

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