On The Fly!

Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub

Certified Flywheel Coach Joan Kaup, an accomplished business woman, shares interesting and friendly conversations with entrepreneurs and those who support them. Each episode is a conversation with a business coach, an entrepreneur, or an expert in the social impact ecosystem. ON THE FLY! features the community of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, located in Cincinnati Ohio, who have supported more than 35 founders and generated more than $5,000,000 in revenues. Flywheel is fostering innovation, building stronger communities, and creating meaningful change. ON THE FLY! highlights businesses that have the double bottom line - both a return on investment and a positive social impact. This podcast will give you reason to smile and think. It aims to motivate you to act on ideas and personal passions. Welcome to ON THE FLY! and our community where business drives change. Listen in!

  1. 3d ago

    Don’t Let Your Zip Code Dictate Your Future: Moira Weir from United Way

    What does it take to move from responding to community crises to changing the systems that create them? On this episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring sits down with Moira Weir, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati, to talk about what it means to think beyond immediate needs and build long-term solutions for families and communities. After more than 25 years with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, Moira brought a deeply practical understanding of community needs to United Way. She talks about the shift from crisis response to systems change, why lived experience and community voice need to be at the center of decision-making, and how data can help organizations understand what a community actually needs. The conversation explores United Way’s 211 system, housing stabilization and eviction prevention, financial empowerment, free tax preparation, workforce development, and the Future of Manufacturing Fund. Moira also shares why collaboration matters so much — and why, in her words, “you can’t opt out of your community.” In this episode: Moving from crisis response to long-term systems changeWhy community voice and lived experience matterUsing 211 data to understand community needsHousing stabilization and eviction preventionFinancial empowerment and free tax preparationCreating pathways into manufacturing careersUsing technology without losing the human connectionWhy collaboration and collective ownership are essentialThe idea that your zip code shouldn't determine your futureConnect with Moira & United Way of Greater Cincinnati United Way of Greater Cincinnati: https://www.uwgc.org/ About On The Fly! On The Fly! celebrates social enterprises and the people who build them, along with the organizations and communities that support them. Each episode explores the ideas, challenges, and people working to create meaningful change. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit https://flywheelcincinnati.org/ to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

  2. Sep 26

    "Friend-Raising", Not Fundraising: Dom Peebles of Brick Gardens

    What happens when a childhood spent working on a family farm comes full circle in the heart of Cincinnati? For Domonique Peebles, it started with tomatoes, neighbors, and a lesson from his dad: if you have food, make sure your neighbors do too. That instinct eventually became Brick Gardens, a Cincinnati social enterprise using urban agriculture to grow food, create jobs, and build community. In this episode of On The Fly!, Dom talks about the unexpected path from a job at Fidelity Investments to farming, the grant application that launched Brick Gardens, and why he believes friend raising—not fundraising—is what really builds an organization. He also shares what he's learned about food insecurity, why growing food is only part of the solution, how young people can become leaders—not just workers, and why Cincinnati's parks could play a much bigger role in food access. At the heart of it all is a simple idea: sometimes you don't need to wait for the perfect resources. You just need to start doing the work—and bring your friends along. Learn more: Brick Gardens: https://www.brickgardens.com/World Resource Institute: https://www.wri.org/profile/carla-d-walker About On The Fly! On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

  3. Sep 19

    Predicting Homelessness Before It Happens: Kevin Finn on Prevention, Data & Impact

    What if you could identify a family at risk of homelessness before they lose their home — and intervene early enough to keep them there? On this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Kevin Finn, President and CEO of Strategies to End Homelessness in Cincinnati, about a radically different approach to preventing homelessness: using data to identify families at the highest risk of eviction and reaching them before they become homeless. Kevin shares his journey from working with homeless teenagers to leading a coordinated community effort involving dozens of organizations across Greater Cincinnati. He explains how Cincinnati's unusually comprehensive homelessness data helped make predictive analytics possible, and how a Flywheel innovation lab and housing stability hackathon helped lead to the creation of Tenant Guard, a tool that allows people to identify themselves as being at risk of losing their housing. The results are striking. Kevin explains why helping a family remain in their apartment can cost about $3,600, compared with an average of $22,500 after a family enters a homeless shelter. while also producing better outcomes. The conversation also explores the role of 84.51º, the City of Cincinnati's Impact Award, research with Notre Dame, the potential to take Cincinnati's model to other communities, and the policy changes Kevin hopes could shift more resources toward prevention. Most importantly, Kevin talks about what those numbers mean for real families, especially children who can avoid the disruption of homelessness, including repeatedly changing homes and schools. Learn more Strategies to End Homelessness: strategiestoendhomelessness.orgTenant Guard: tenantguard.orgAbout On The Fly!On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

  4. Sep 12

    Can Purpose and Profit Coexist? Jenna Nicholas on Impact Investing

    What if financial success and social impact aren’t competing goals? On this episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring talks with Jenna Nicholas, a social entrepreneur, investor, founder, and author whose career has focused on bringing purpose and financial models together. Jenna shares the personal experiences that led her toward social entrepreneurship, from growing up in London to studying at Stanford and discovering the work of pioneers like Muhammad Yunus and Bill Drayton. She talks about her work with Calvert Funds, the World Bank, One Planet VC, Impact Experience, and her current work with Lightpost Capital. The conversation explores one of the biggest misconceptions in impact investing: that you have to choose between financial returns and social and environmental impact. Jenna shares examples of companies demonstrating that both can reinforce one another, and explains what investors look for when evaluating purpose-driven founders. Jenna also introduces the HEAL framework — Hope, Empathy, Abundance and Legacy — and explains how these ideas can become practical guideposts for entrepreneurs, investors, and organizations. From building strong founder communities to thinking seven generations into the future, this conversation asks a bigger question: What does it look like to build businesses around a deeper sense of purpose and meaning? Connect with Jenna 🌐Jenna-Nicholas.com 🎧Enlightened Bottom Line Podcast  📖Enlightened Bottom Line Book ✏️Jenna’s Substack  About On The Fly!On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

  5. Sep 5

    Somebody's Gotta Do the Work: Allyson West on Building Cindependent

    What happens when you see something missing in your community and decide to build it yourself? For Allyson West, it started with a question: Why didn't Cincinnati have a film festival where independent filmmakers could bring their work, connect with audiences, and learn from one another? In 2018, she took the risk and launched the Cindependent Film Festival. In this episode of On The Fly!, Joey Scarillo talks with Allyson about the journey from filmmaker to founder and executive director of one of Cincinnati's independent film institutions. She shares what she learned from taking an idea that wasn't fully polished and putting it into the world, why being willing to make mistakes is part of leadership, and how community has sustained Cindependent through the years. Allyson also talks about her experience in Flywheel's 2025 cohort, where she focused on strengthening Cindependent's financial model and turning years of volunteer effort into something sustainable. And she shares the story behind Cindependent's next big project: helping bring the Marymount Theatre back to life as a nonprofit community cinema. Along the way, we talk about mascots, grassroots marketing, working boards, fundraising, popcorn, and why sometimes the most important leadership lesson is simple: somebody's gotta do the work. Connect with Allyson & Cindependent 🎬 Cindependent Film Festival: cindependentfilmfest.org 🎭 Marymount Theatre by Cindependent: Learn more and support the effort to bring this historic community cinema back to life through Cindependent. Get Involved with Flywheel At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. About On The Fly! On The Fly! puts a spotlight on social enterprises with the double bottom line—making a positive impact in the world while building sustainable businesses and organizations. Produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. Recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

  6. Sep 5

    Big Tents Solve Big Problems: Suzanne Smith on Social Entrepreneurship

    What does it take to solve the biggest challenges facing our communities? According to social entrepreneur and thought leader Suzanne Smith, it starts with bringing the right people together—even when they don't agree. In this episode of On The Fly!, Joan Kaup talks with Suzanne Smith, founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects and one of the original co-founders of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub. Suzanne reflects on the early days of Flywheel, how the social enterprise ecosystem has evolved over the past 15 years, and why the lines between nonprofit, business, and government are becoming increasingly connected. Suzanne breaks down the differences between social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise, and explains why she believes “innovation happens through collision”—when diverse perspectives come together in an environment where people feel safe enough to disagree, challenge assumptions, and stay curious. She also shares the thinking behind her new book, The Nonprofit Flywheel: A Playbook for Sustainable Growth, Smarter Strategy and Lasting Impact, coming October 1, 2026. The conversation offers a challenge to anyone who wants to make a difference: you don't have to start an organization to be a changemaker. You can start right where you are. Connect with SuzanneSuzanne Smith is the founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects, a social change agency that works with changemakers to create transformative solutions to social issues. 🌐 Social Impact Architects: socialimpactarchitects.com 📝 Social TrendSpotter: Social TrendSpotter Weekly Blog 📖 The Nonprofit Flywheel— coming October 1, 2026 🌐 Trosa: trosainc.org 🌐 Aileron: aileron.org Get Involved with Flywheel At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved. About On The Fly! On The Fly! puts a spotlight on social enterprises with the double bottom line—making a positive impact in the world while building sustainable businesses and organizations. Produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. Recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

  7. Feb 28

    How Flywheel Started Turning with Bill Tucker

    If you’ve listened to On The Fly! this season, you’ve heard his name come up again and again. From founders to coaches to investors, so many stories begin with the same phrase: “Bill told me…” or “Bill connected me to…” In this season-closing episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Bill Tucker—the visionary who helped shape Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub and, in doing so, helped launch hundreds of founders, careers, and community-changing ideas. Bill shares the origin story of Flywheel, from early conversations about social enterprise in the mid-2000s, to winning the RFP that formally launched the hub, to the hard truth that Flywheel’s original business model simply wasn’t sustainable.  💡 Listen to hear more about: How Flywheel came to life—and why it almost didn’t survive its early yearsWhy access to talent, customers, and capital matters for every startupThe shift from “building companies” to equipping foundersWhat success really looks like...How Bill thinks about legacy, wisdom, and giving back in his “third act”Rather than pointing to a single “most successful” company, Bill reframes success through the people who’ve gone on to build again, pivot, lead, and mentor others. His philosophy is simple and enduring: bet on the jockey (the founder), not the horse (the company). This episode is a love letter to founders, coaches, and anyone who believes lasting impact is built through relationships, shared learning, and a willingness to step out of the spotlight so others can shine. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we exist to help founders turn purpose into sustainable businesses—through coaching, capital, and community. Whether you’re launching your first venture or looking to give back with your time, talent, or treasure, there’s a place for you in the Flywheel ecosystem. Learn more at flywheelcincinnati.org. On The Fly! will take a little break and be back with new episodes later this year.

  8. Feb 14

    Solving a “Dumb Problem” with Last Mile Food Rescue

    In this powerful episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Eileen MacDermott Budo, CEO of Last Mile Food Rescue, to unpack how a bold idea, smart logistics, and community-powered technology are transforming food waste into meals for neighbors across Greater Cincinnati. Eileen shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Last Mile Food Rescue evolved from a rocky early concept into a tech-enabled nonprofit that has rescued more than 14 million pounds of fresh, healthy food—preventing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and delivering over 12 million meals to people facing food insecurity. Drawing on her background at Procter & Gamble and the U.S. Air Force, Eileen explains why execution, logistics, and human connection are just as important as a mission. From volunteer drivers using their own cars, to dispatch teams managing rescues in real time, to large-scale event recovery at festivals like Taste of Cincinnati and Oktoberfest, this conversation highlights how innovation and people come together to solve what Eileen calls a “dumb problem” – good food going to landfills while people go hungry. Listen to hear about: Why food waste is both an environmental and social crisis—and how rescuing just 25% could eliminate food insecurityHow Last Mile Food Rescue blends technology and human relationships to scale impactThe logistics behind real-time food rescue and volunteer coordinationWhat it takes to grow a nonprofit from a kitchen-table idea into a regional operationHow mobile markets are bringing free, fresh food directly into underserved neighborhoodsWhy failure, pivots, and the right partners were critical to Last Mile’s success To learn more about Last Mile Food Rescue, visit lastmilefoodrescue.org to explore how technology, volunteers, and partnerships are helping redirect surplus food to neighbors who need it most.  At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe stories like Eileen’s show what’s possible when mission-driven leaders combine purpose with execution. Learn how Flywheel supports social entrepreneurs, builds strong leadership teams, and helps bold ideas take flight at flywheelcincinnati.org.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Certified Flywheel Coach Joan Kaup, an accomplished business woman, shares interesting and friendly conversations with entrepreneurs and those who support them. Each episode is a conversation with a business coach, an entrepreneur, or an expert in the social impact ecosystem. ON THE FLY! features the community of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, located in Cincinnati Ohio, who have supported more than 35 founders and generated more than $5,000,000 in revenues. Flywheel is fostering innovation, building stronger communities, and creating meaningful change. ON THE FLY! highlights businesses that have the double bottom line - both a return on investment and a positive social impact. This podcast will give you reason to smile and think. It aims to motivate you to act on ideas and personal passions. Welcome to ON THE FLY! and our community where business drives change. Listen in!