Flex Forward

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Nic sits down with Chris Persaud, Vice President of Emerging Technologies at Maximus, to discuss leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and why failure is often the greatest teacher.
Chris shares his journey from military service with the 82nd Airborne to building a successful career in technology leadership. He explains how solving customer problems, thinking creatively, and being willing to experiment have helped him rise from an inside sales representative to a vice president role in less than twelve years.
The conversation also explores Chris's passion project, The Hypertrophy Lab, an AI-powered fitness app designed to create customized workout programs that adapt to each user over time. Chris discusses how building the app taught him valuable lessons about software development, perseverance, and continuous improvement.
Throughout the episode, Chris emphasizes that growth comes from taking action rather than waiting for perfect conditions. Drawing lessons from golf, jiu-jitsu, entrepreneurship, and life, he explains why setbacks should be viewed as opportunities to learn and improve.
 
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Could your dentist be the first person to spot serious health problems? In this episode, Dr. Sarah Tevis explains how functional dentistry goes far beyond treating cavities and creating beautiful smiles.
Nic Espanet sits down with Dr. Sarah Tevis, owner of Dallas Functional Dentistry, to discuss how oral health is closely connected to overall wellness. Dr. Tevis shares her personal journey into functional dentistry and explains why breathing, sleep quality, nutrition, and inflammation all play an important role in long-term health.
The conversation explores how mouth breathing and sleep apnea affect both children and adults, why many health conditions can first show up in the mouth, and how dentists can work alongside physicians to help patients live healthier lives.
Dr. Tevis also discusses her own experience with heavy metal exposure, the importance of the oral microbiome, and why airway-focused orthodontics can make a lasting difference for children and adults alike.
 
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In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Kevin Parker shares his journey from practicing chiropractor to building and leading successful medical equipment businesses. Along the way, he discovered that leadership, relationships, and helping others succeed create far greater rewards than simply chasing numbers.
Kevin explains why he walked away from private practice, what he learned from the corporate world, and how his unique philosophy of putting people first has helped create a thriving team across the country. 
 
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What does it take to become more than just a lawyer? In this episode, Matt Bracy shares how decades of experience have shaped him into a trusted advisor and strategic problem solver for entrepreneurs and business owners. From mergers and acquisitions to helping founders navigate growth and eventual exits, Matt explains why relationships and practical guidance matter just as much as legal expertise.
Host Nic Espanet sits down with Matt Bracy, a corporate and transactional attorney at Sheaf & Stone, to discuss the challenges facing middle-market businesses and why entrepreneurs need advisors who understand both the legal and business sides of growth.
Matt reflects on his unique career path, including years as a business litigator and thirteen years serving in-house as corporate counsel. Those experiences have given him the ability to view problems from multiple angles and provide clients with practical solutions beyond traditional legal advice.
 
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What happens when a firefighter with 30 years of service decides to tackle the health challenges facing first responders from a completely different angle?
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Lee Vernon, retired firefighter, licensed naturopathic practitioner, founder of The Holistic Wellness Center, and CEO of True North Medical and Safety Group. Lee shares his personal journey through post-traumatic stress, the lessons he learned while overcoming it, and why he dedicated his life to helping first responders and industrial emergency response teams improve both their physical and mental health.
Lee discusses the hidden impact of metabolic dysfunction, the unique challenges faced by first responders, and why addressing root causes is critical for long-term wellness. He also explains how his firsthand experience allows him to connect with the people he serves in a way that many traditional healthcare providers cannot.
The conversation explores the growing acceptance of naturopathic medicine, the importance of accountability, the role of lifestyle changes in healing, and why true success includes investing in your physical, mental, spiritual, and financial well-being.
 
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What does it take to successfully pivot your career while staying true to your purpose? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Nicholas Nelson, a public health professional turned research leader who is helping shape the future of healthcare technology.
Nicholas shares his journey from serving as a public health educator in St. Louis to conducting research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His work focuses on understanding how older adults experience hearing, mobility, and vision challenges and how technology can improve their quality of life.
Throughout the conversation, Nicholas discusses the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and stepping outside your comfort zone. He explains how embracing change allowed him to transition into a more technology-focused role and create a greater impact through research.
The discussion also explores personal growth, mentorship, investing, and the mindset shifts necessary for long-term success. Nicholas shares several influential books and lessons that have helped shape his outlook, including Psycho-Cybernetics and The Magic of Thinking Big.
Finally, Nicholas provides insight into an exciting healthcare technology initiative aimed at improving electronic medical records and creating better communication between healthcare disciplines.
 
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What happens when a former family law judge, successful attorney, podcast host, and survivor of personal adversity shares her story?
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Michele Locke, host of the Love Lust Law Podcast, family law attorney, and former family court judge. Michele shares her unique perspective gained from decades in family law, both professionally and personally, and discusses how resilience, self-care, and kindness have shaped her journey.
Michele opens up about her experience navigating divorce, co-parenting challenges, health struggles, and rebuilding her life after leaving a 22-year marriage. Drawing from her time on the bench handling family law, domestic violence, and child protective services cases, she offers valuable insights into the realities of family court and the importance of understanding the legal system.
The conversation also explores personal growth, overcoming failure, parenting lessons, mental health awareness, ADHD diagnosis in women, and why putting yourself first is not selfish—it's necessary.
Throughout the discussion, Michele shares practical wisdom on resilience, empathy, communication, and finding purpose beyond adversity.
 
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What does it take to rebuild your life after addiction, and how can recovery become the foundation for a greater purpose?
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, Nic sits down with Scott Vandenberg, Executive Director of Guardian Recovery's Dallas Addiction Center, to discuss addiction recovery, leadership, second chances, and the power of personal transformation.
Scott shares his remarkable journey from battling alcoholism and addiction to celebrating 14 years of sobriety and leading a team dedicated to helping others begin their own recovery journeys. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, Scott offers valuable insight into the realities of addiction, the importance of treatment, and why recovery is about much more than simply completing a rehab program.
The conversation explores the challenges individuals and families face when addiction takes hold, the importance of continuing care after treatment, and the role education, mentorship, and personal growth have played in Scott's career evolution from construction business owner to licensed counselor and healthcare executive.
Scott also discusses his work helping build Guardian Recovery's newest facility in Plano, Texas, and shares how he and his wife are expanding their impact through their private counseling practice, Tonali Services.
 
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What happens when a career path takes an unexpected turn? In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Laura Mathwig, Executive Vice President of Operations at Spectrum VoIP, to discuss her journey from hospitality management to technology leadership and the lessons she learned along the way.
Laura shares how her background in hotel and restaurant management unexpectedly prepared her for success in operations, leadership, and technology. After spending years in hospitality and taking time away from work to focus on family, she re-entered the workforce and found a new path with Spectrum VoIP, where she has grown from sales into executive leadership as the company expanded from five employees to more than four hundred.
 
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Insurance touches nearly every part of life and business, yet most people never think about it until something goes wrong.
In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Tamara Bruno, Lead Texas Partner in the Insurance Recovery and Advisory Practice at Pillsbury, to explore the hidden world of insurance claims, risk management, litigation support, and how insurance shapes major business decisions.
Tamara shares her unique journey from growing up in rural Ohio to studying theater at NYU, teaching the LSAT, earning a law scholarship, and eventually becoming a law firm partner. Her story highlights the power of embracing opportunities, adapting to change, and building a career without following a traditional path.
The conversation also explores financial literacy, career growth, and how AI is beginning to reshape the insurance industry.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://flexforwardpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.