On The Fly

Recorded LIVE at StartUpCincy Week 2025, this episode of On The Fly! brings together leaders from city government, business, and the social impact ecosystem to explore how collaboration powers innovation in Cincinnati.Host Joan Kaup moderates a lively conversation with Cincinnati Council Member, Evan Nolan, First Financial Bank’s CMO, Jenny Powell, and Flywheel’s Program Director, Samuel Baker...

In this energetic episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup sits down with Shailah Maynard, co-founder and CEO of Sew Valley, alongside Madeleine “Maddie” Tepe Misleh and Aubrey Krekeler, co-directors of operations. Together, these three women are reshaping what apparel manufacturing can look like, based in Cincinnati.From providing living-wage jobs in a historically exploitative industry to...

On this episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel board member and Inclusion Building Solutions founder Byron Stallworth steps in as guest host for a conversation with Brooke Foley, CEO of Jayne Agency and Donna Zaring, Executive Director of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub. Together, they explore the art and science of brand clarity—and why mastering your pitch matters more than perfecting your slides.From...

What exactly is a Philanthropreneur—and why are they so important to Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem? In this inspiring episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Flywheel Executive Director Donna Zaring along with seasoned philanthropreneurs Melisse May, Sandy Hughes and Bob Ziek to explore how combining the mindset of an entrepreneur with the generosity of a philanthropist is...

In this forward-looking episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel’s Program Director Samuel Baker sits down with Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens. Elected in 2021, Meeka is helping lead one of the first local government climate committees in the nation to prioritize sustainability, racial equity, and measurable results.From updating the Green Cincinnati Plan to centering equity in climate action...

What does it look like when a company brews more than beer, it brews lasting impact? In this energizing episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup welcomes Rhiannon Hoeweler, VP of Experience & Impact at MadTree Brewing, a Cincinnati-based company redefining what a brewery can be. From composting and green energy to urban tree planting and employee-led volunteering, MadTree is leading by example...

In this dynamic episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel Executive Director Donna Zaring sits down with Liz Keating, former Cincinnati City Council member and current VP of Government Affairs at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, to explore how civic innovation can thrive when entrepreneurs and policymakers join forces.From tackling litter and recycling to addressing eviction and housing instability, Liz...

What do native pollinators, backyard blooms, and AI-powered problem solving have in common? In this buzzing episode of On The Fly!, Paul Szydlowski dives deep with Flywheel alumni Brandon Reynolds and Johnny Avant—two founders turning passion for nature and human behavior into powerful, purpose-driven ventures.From B The Keeper, a Cincinnati-based ecological landscaping business, to Sprout, a...

In this lively episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring sits down with two passionate builders shaping the next generation of social entrepreneurship: Josie Dalton, the originator of Flywheel’s accelerator programming and now at the UC Center for Entrepreneurship, and Samuel Baker, current Program Director at Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub.Together, they reflect on what it takes to support founders...

In this energizing and eye-opening episode of On The Fly!, Donna Zaring is joined by two powerhouse leaders in the world of impact investing: Marcia Dawood, Vice Chair of the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee and author of Do Good While Doing Well, and Sue Bevan Baggott, executive advisor, innovation catalyst, and contributor to You Can, You Will.Together, they break down...