Flex Forward

In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Kimberli Carroll, President and CEO of Ruiz Foods. Kimberli shares her remarkable 25-year journey from working in marketing to leading one of America's largest family-owned frozen food companies.
Kimberli discusses the importance of creating value, embracing lifelong learning, and surrounding yourself with talented people. She explains how a culture built on trust and relationships has helped Ruiz Foods grow more than tenfold over the last two decades. Along the way, she offers practical leadership lessons that anyone can apply, whether they are just starting their career or leading a large organization. These show notes follow recommended best practices for engaging podcast descriptions and guest information.
 
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In this episode of The Flex Forward Podcast with Nic Espanet, therapist and recovery advocate James Saxton shares his personal and professional journey. Drawing from his own experience with recovery and years of counseling work, James explains why addiction is often not the real problem, but a way people try to soothe deeper wounds.
James discusses how childhood experiences and trauma can shape behaviors later in life and why creating safe spaces for healing is so important. He also shares insights into his unique approach to therapy, the importance of relationships, and his vision for bringing trauma-informed care to the addiction counseling field.
 
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This week on The Flex Forward Podcast, Nic Espanet sits down with Chris Moose, Vice President of Life Sciences and Data at Wheel, to explore how technology is transforming healthcare access. Chris shares his journey from IBM's healthcare consulting practice to helping build nationwide telehealth infrastructure that allows organizations to deliver healthcare experiences more efficiently and transparently. These show notes were created following podcast show note best practices.
Together, Nic and Chris discuss the challenges of matching patients with clinicians across state lines, the importance of cost transparency, and why making healthcare easier to understand benefits everyone. Chris also shares valuable leadership lessons, including the importance of saying no, making reversible decisions, and focusing on long-term opportunities instead of short-term trends.
 
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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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