On The Fly!

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 and launching the city’s first Housing Stabilization Hackathon, Meeka shares how innovation and government can—and must—work together to address housing, climate change, and community resilience.

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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 as Ohio’s first and only Certified B Corporation brewery.

Rhiannon shares how MadTree went from a garage startup to a three-location force for sustainability and equity. With a bold goal of delivering $5 mi...

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 shares how hackathons—intensive, solution-driven events—are changing the way governments approach problem-solving. With Flywheel as a key partner, these collaborations have not only led to community-wide improvements but have sparked new startups, fostered empathy, and reimagined how publ...

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 growing tech company making knowledge more accessible for everyday problem-solvers, these entrepreneurs are rethinking how we build sustainable systems—from the soil up.

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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 who are building with both purpose and grit. From unlocking capital in an underserved middle space to showing up emotionally for dreamers with world-changing ideas, Josie and Samuel share the backstage realities of running programs that tu...

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 what angel investing really means and why putting your dollars (and time!) into purpose-driven startups is one of the most meaningful ways to drive change. 

From their work on the awa...

What does it take to guide a social entrepreneur from vision to venture? In this insightful episode of On the Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with seasoned Flywheel coaches Mishawn Styles and Paul Szydlowski to explore what coaching really looks like behind the scenes—and how empathy, active listening, and honest guidance can transform a founder’s journey.

Both coaches bring decades of leadership, business, and human insight to Flywheel’s social enterprise accelerator. But it’s their coaching mindset—not just their resumes—that truly supports founders as they balance passion and profitability.

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In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of On the Fly!, Joan Kaup sits down with Ruth Anne Wolfe, the passionate founder of Community Happens Here, a grassroots social enterprise proving that deep, meaningful community can’t be mass-produced—it must be built, cup by cup. ☕

From her unexpected path through Japan, law, and motherhood to founding a brick-and-mortar community space in Cincinnati, Ruth Anne shares the journey that led her to reimagine what local connection really looks like. Through hospitality, art, and conversation, Ruth Anne is cultivating a place where children, entrepreneurs, and neighbors meet, learn, and bu...

Welcome to ON THE FLY!

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.

ON THE FLY! is brought to you by Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, a Cincinnati-based organization focused on supporting social entrepreneurs and impact investing.