Flex Forward

Nic Espanet
  • 4.9 (15)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

FLEX Forward is a powerful podcast showcasing stories of resilience, reinvention, and rise. Hosted by Nic Espanet, each episode delves into the inspiring journeys of professionals who have overcome obstacles, made bold career pivots, and discovered new paths to personal and financial growth. With a theme of Growth. Grit. Gains., FLEX Forward highlights the determination and adaptability that drive success. Whether it’s bouncing back from setbacks, reinventing one’s path, or climbing to new heights, these conversations prove that every story of struggle and triumph has the power to motivate others. Tune in for real, raw, and relatable stories that will push you to flex forward in your own life.

  1. 2d ago

    Protecting What Matters: Cybersecurity, Family & Financial Freedom with Wayne Sallee

    What does it take to protect the systems that keep our world running while also building a great life outside of work? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Wayne Sallee, Senior Technical Manager at Octave, to talk about cybersecurity, career growth, investing, and family. Wayne shares how an unexpected change in his family life led him away from pursuing a PhD and into a career in industrial technology. Today, he helps lead engineering services across North and South America, working to protect the control systems used in industries like oil and gas, manufacturing, and chemical processing. Wayne explains the difference between traditional IT cybersecurity and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity. He also shares why protecting industrial systems is so important, how his team helps companies understand their risks, and why new technology like AI must be used with care. The conversation also turns personal as Wayne talks about working with his wife on their family's investments, exploring new sources of income, and making time for what matters most. As a father of three boys, Wayne believes that creating lasting family memories is more valuable than buying more things. He also shares why mentorship and helping others are important parts of his life. Whether you're interested in technology, growing your career, building financial freedom, or finding a better balance between work and family, this conversation offers something to think about. Meet Wayne Sallee Wayne Sallee is a Senior Technical Manager at Octave, where he leads engineering services focused on automation and cybersecurity for industrial control systems across North and South America. With a background in science and engineering, Wayne brings technical knowledge and a passion for helping others learn and grow. Wayne is also a husband, father of three, and an advocate for mentorship, financial planning, and meaningful family experiences.

    Protecting What Matters: Cybersecurity, Family & Financial Freedom with Wayne Sallee

  2. 3d ago

    Patrick Greyard: From Managing Restaurants to Leading Leaders

    What does it take to become a great leader? And why is good old-fashioned hospitality more important than ever? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Patrick Greyard, a restaurant industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience and the Vice President of Operations for a Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchise group in West Texas. Patrick has worked with major restaurant brands, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Fogo de Chão. He's also helped open more than 50 restaurants around the world. But some of his biggest lessons have come from learning how to lead people. Patrick shares why moving from managing one restaurant to leading several locations can be such a challenge. He talks about the mentors who helped him grow, the value of honest feedback, and why great leaders must learn to listen. He also explains why he believes the restaurant industry has lost some of its personal touch and how bringing back real hospitality can help a business stand out. Nic and Patrick also discuss restaurant growth in West Texas, building strong teams, and Patrick's plans for future ownership and expansion.

    Patrick Greyard: From Managing Restaurants to Leading Leaders

  3. 4d ago

    Tazeen Qidwai: Beyond the Symptoms: A Whole-Person Approach to Healing

    What if feeling healthy means more than just having good lab results? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet welcomes Dr. Tazeen Qidwai, a functional medicine and homeopathy practitioner with 17 years of experience, to explore a different way of looking at health. Dr. Qidwai believes that understanding a person's health means looking beyond their symptoms. She shares her approach to whole-person care and explains why she considers physical health, emotional well-being, stress, and personal experiences when working with patients. With a special interest in autoimmune conditions and mental health, Dr. Qidwai discusses the challenges people face when living with long-term health concerns. She also explains her perspective on how homeopathy can complement conventional medical care. But this conversation isn't just about health. Dr. Qidwai also shares her inspiring journey from working in critical care and cardiology in Mumbai, India, to building an international practice and starting a new chapter in the United States. Her story is one of curiosity, determination, and the courage to take a new path. In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why Dr. Qidwai believes good health is about more than lab results. How she approaches the connection between mental and physical well-being. Why she believes each patient deserves an individual approach to care. What led her to move from critical care and cardiology into homeopathy. The challenges of building a professional life in a new country. How persistence and a desire to help others have shaped her journey. Meet Dr. Tazeen Qidwai Dr. Tazeen Qidwai is a practitioner originally from Mumbai, India, with 17 years of experience. Her work focuses on functional medicine and homeopathy, with special interests in autoimmune conditions and mental health. She has worked with patients across several countries, including India, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. After moving to the U.S., she began working toward establishing her professional practice in a new healthcare environment.

    Tazeen Qidwai: Beyond the Symptoms: A Whole-Person Approach to Healing

  4. Oct 20

    From Humble Beginnings to Global Leadership with Angela Mincey

    What does it take to build a successful career when the path forward isn't always clear? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, host Nic Espanet sits down with Angela Mincey, Chief Operating Officer at Airvolt, Inc., to talk about leadership, business growth, overcoming challenges, and the power of building meaningful relationships. Angela shares her journey from growing up with very little to becoming a global business leader. With approximately 15 years of experience in global partnerships, she has learned that success often starts with seeing possibilities where others see limitations. As COO of Airvolt, Angela helps grow a company developing innovative solutions, including advertising displays designed to help clean the air. She also shares how her passion for business strategy and helping others inspired her to launch her own consulting firm, WeScale Partnerships and Strategy Solutions. Nic and Angela explore why lifelong learning matters, how artificial intelligence can make work easier without replacing human connection, and why strong relationships are so important in business. Angela also opens up about the challenges she has faced as a Black woman in leadership and why she is passionate about inspiring young people to believe in their own potential. This conversation is a reminder that where you start doesn't have to determine where you finish.

    From Humble Beginnings to Global Leadership with Angela Mincey

  5. Oct 17

    When One Door Closes, AI Opens Another: Josie Kaye's Story

    From Hollywood to AI: Reinventing Creativity with Josie Kaye What happens when you stop waiting for someone to say yes to your ideas and start making them happen yourself? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, we meet Josie Kaye, an AI creative director and story architect who found a new way to bring her stories to life. Josie spent years working in marketing, film, and entertainment. She made commercials, wrote scripts, and pitched TV shows in Hollywood. But even when people liked her ideas, they often said the projects were too different or too risky. Then she found AI, and everything changed. Josie shares how one video sent by her brother led her down a new path. She taught herself how to make AI videos, created her own short film, and began building a new career around the stories she loves to tell. Nic and Josie also talk about why it's okay to fail, how curiosity helps us learn, and why we should all bring our inner child along when trying something new. You'll hear how Josie is now teaching others to use AI, making creative work for brands, and building a new business with a partner. In this episode, you'll discover: How Josie went from Hollywood screenwriter to AI creative director. Why AI can help people bring their creative ideas to life. How to start learning AI, even if you're new to it. Why trying, failing, and trying again can lead to success. How finding the right business partner can help you grow. Why it's never too late to take your career in a new direction.

    When One Door Closes, AI Opens Another: Josie Kaye's Story

  6. Oct 16

    From Coding to Leadership: Neka Hickmon on Career Growth and Success

    What if one simple conversation could change your whole career? On this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Nic sits down with Neka Hickmon, a global business technology and operations leader who was named one of the Top 100 Women in Finance in 2024. Neka shares how a chance meeting in a break room at Lockheed Martin helped move her career from software development into project management and leadership. Her story shows how building relationships, staying open to change, and taking chances can lead to new opportunities. Nic and Neka talk about the power of problem solving, why good leaders need to know when to step back, and how to explain complex ideas in ways everyone can understand. Neka also shares how raising three children has helped her become a better leader, why technology offers more career paths than many people realize, and how setting financial goals early can help build a stronger future. In this episode, you'll discover: How an unexpected conversation changed Neka's career path. Why strong relationships can open doors to new opportunities. How to become a better problem solver and stay flexible when plans change. Why great leaders help others grow instead of doing everything themselves. How to communicate complex technology issues in simple terms. What parenting can teach us about leadership and working with different personalities. Why STEM skills matter in nearly every industry. How early retirement savings and financial goals can support long-term success. About Neka Hickmon Neka Hickmon is a global business technology and operations leader with a computer science degree from Texas Tech University. She has built a career helping organizations develop safe and reliable technology solutions. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Finance in 2024, Neka is passionate about leadership, mentoring, STEM education, and helping others reach their career goals.

    From Coding to Leadership: Neka Hickmon on Career Growth and Success

  7. Oct 7

    From Pharmacist to Global Health Advocate: Hala Ghoson’s Journey of Impact

    What can happen when you stop underestimating yourself and start saying yes to opportunities? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet talks with Hala Ghoson, a research pharmacist, global health advocate, and founder of the nonprofit United Voices for Global Impact. Hala shares lessons from more than two decades in pharmacy and clinical research. She explains why healthcare professionals must continue learning as technology and AI change the field, while still protecting the human side of healthcare. She also shares a turning point in her career: taking on the challenge of oncology pharmacy even when others warned her how difficult it would be. That decision helped open doors for years to come and taught her an important lesson—never let other people underestimate you, and more importantly, never underestimate yourself. Hala and Nic also talk about the importance of trying new things, learning from failure, building financial stability early in life, and creating the freedom to pursue meaningful work. Today, that freedom helps Hala serve communities around the world. Through United Voices for Global Impact, she is involved in humanitarian medical missions and projects including a feeding program supporting approximately 120 children in Malawi. Hala’s story is a reminder that the choices you make today can shape where you are years from now—and that small efforts can create a meaningful impact.

    From Pharmacist to Global Health Advocate: Hala Ghoson’s Journey of Impact

  8. Oct 2

    From Spaceflight to Wall Street: Rick Hashop’s Entrepreneurial Journey

    What does it take to leave a career at NASA, step into the unknown, and build a new path helping business owners grow their companies? On this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Rick Hashop, founder and managing partner of Space Rock Capital. Rick shares a career journey that began more than 35 years ago in the space industry and eventually took him to NASA, where he trained flight controllers, became a flight controller himself, and helped develop procedures supporting the International Space Station. But Rick’s story goes far beyond spaceflight. He explains why he eventually made the difficult decision to leave NASA and move into business development and entrepreneurship. Today, Rick and his partners at Space Rock Capital work with business owners on growth strategies, acquisitions, government contracting opportunities, and potential paths to the public markets. Rick also shares his perspective on venture capital, maintaining control of a growing company, building relationships with larger businesses, and the importance of finding experienced mentors. The conversation gets personal when Rick talks about being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age two. After spending part of his childhood in a wheelchair and missing years of school, Rick says those experiences helped shape the person he became. His story offers a powerful perspective on resilience, hard work, and having the courage to make major changes. Nic and Rick also discuss investing, real estate, creating generational wealth, paying knowledge forward, and why relationships can make such a difference in business.

    From Spaceflight to Wall Street: Rick Hashop’s Entrepreneurial Journey
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4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

FLEX Forward is a powerful podcast showcasing stories of resilience, reinvention, and rise. Hosted by Nic Espanet, each episode delves into the inspiring journeys of professionals who have overcome obstacles, made bold career pivots, and discovered new paths to personal and financial growth. With a theme of Growth. Grit. Gains., FLEX Forward highlights the determination and adaptability that drive success. Whether it’s bouncing back from setbacks, reinventing one’s path, or climbing to new heights, these conversations prove that every story of struggle and triumph has the power to motivate others. Tune in for real, raw, and relatable stories that will push you to flex forward in your own life.

Information

  • Creator
    Nic Espanet
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Flex Forward