On The Fly!

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 years * Why access to talent, customers, and capital matters for every startup * The shift from “building companies” to equipping founders * What 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.

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 insecurity * How Last Mile Food Rescue blends technology and human relationships to scale impact * The logistics behind real-time food rescue and volunteer coordination * What it takes to grow a nonprofit from a kitchen-table idea into a regional operation * How mobile markets are bringing free, fresh food directly into underserved neighborhoods * Why failure, pivots, and the right partners were critical to Last Mile’s success To learn more about Last Mile Food Rescue, visit lastmilefoodrescue.org [http://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 [http://flywheelcincinnati.org].

Profit, Purpose, and the Truth in Between

In this thoughtful and grounded episode of On The Fly!, Flywheel Executive Director Donna Zaring sits down with Mark Davis, CEO of TableSense and longtime Flywheel board member, to unpack what it really means to create social impact that lasts. Mark describes his journey from CPA and consultant to social entrepreneur working at the intersection of research, investment, and advocacy in the child welfare space. Along the way, he challenges some of the most common assumptions founders make about nonprofits, funding, and impact. Rather than starting with tax status or funding mechanisms, Mark offers a simple but powerful lens: Who are you creating value for—and how? This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating social enterprise models, nonprofit leaders rethinking sustainability, and anyone who believes impact work deserves clearer thinking and braver conversations. 💡 Listen to hear more about: * Why nonprofit vs. for-profit is often the wrong first question * How social enterprises differ when the beneficiary isn’t the payer * What “wicked problems” really are—and why they require partnerships * Why jobs are a critical catalyst for housing, education, and childcare * The role of investment capital as permanent social capital * How TableSense blends research, investing, and policy to drive change * Why common sense, honesty, and “directionally correct” decisions matter more than perfection Learn more about TableSense’s work and resources at tablesense.org [http://tablesense.org], and follow their insights on LinkedIn for updates on how they’re advancing opportunities in child wellbeing, workforce stability, and community resilience. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we help founders and nonprofits start with value—building businesses and organizations that deliver both financial sustainability and social impact. Learn how Flywheel supports entrepreneurs, coaches leaders, and strengthens Cincinnati’s impact ecosystem at flywheelcincinnati.org [http://flywheelcincinnati.org].

Where Questions Meet Capital: Coaching Through the Numbers

In this thoughtful and grounding episode of On The Fly!, host Joan Kaup sits down with Joe Vallo, one of Flywheel’s longest-serving subject matter experts and a trusted guide for founders navigating the world of finance. With decades of experience spanning Big Eight consulting firms, startup leadership, and independent advisory work, Joe brings clarity to a topic many entrepreneurs avoid: money. But as he explains, finance isn’t just about spreadsheets—it’s about operations, customers, and asking the right questions at the right time. Together, Joan and Joe explore the holistic nature of entrepreneurship and why financial models are really just operational stories told with numbers. 💡 Listen to hear more about: * Why your customer—not your product—should dictate how you build your business * How financial models reveal operational blind spots * Common red flags Joe sees when founders first share their spreadsheets * Why “everyone is your customer” is almost always the wrong answer * How iteration, failure, and erasing the whiteboard are part of healthy growth * The surprising similarities between nonprofit and for-profit financial management * Why coaching founders has been one of the most rewarding chapters of Joe’s career Joe also shares why Flywheel’s coaching model works so well—and why experienced business leaders should consider giving back as coaches, mentors, and supporters of social enterprise. This episode is a must-listen for founders who want to feel more confident about money, coaches who want to ask better questions, and anyone who believes business is as much about listening as it is about leading. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we bring together founders, coaches, and subject matter experts to help social enterprises build strong, sustainable businesses. Learn how Flywheel supports entrepreneurs and strengthens Cincinnati’s impact ecosystem at flywheelcincinnati.org [http://flywheelcincinnati.org].

Engineering with Empathy

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of On The Fly! host Joan Kaup sits down with Valda Freeman-Karmo, electrical engineer, mother, and social entrepreneur whose company, AARON Wearable Tech [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaron-wearable-tech/], was born from love, urgency, and lived experience. Inspired by her sons with cognitive disabilities and the realities families face during interactions with first responders, Valda set out to design technology that could save lives. The result is a wearable system—part hardware, part software—that uses GPS and communication tools to help first responders quickly understand when someone has a cognitive disability or mental health challenge. Together, Joan and Valda unpack: * How personal experience sparked a mission-driven tech startup * Why AARON Wearable Tech operates at the intersection of SaaS and social impact * The realities of funding a company through grants, bootstrapping, and sheer persistence * What makes funding tech startups different from funding social enterprises * How Flywheel’s milestone-based grants helped turn an idea into a viable product * Why accelerators, advisors, and community are essential for founders building complex solutions Valda also shares candid insights on patience, humility, and why hearing the basics over and over again—from different perspectives—can be the key to long-term success. This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating funding, caregivers advocating for safer systems, and anyone interested in how technology can be designed with dignity, empathy, and purpose at its core. At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we support founders who build solutions where purpose meets profit. Learn how Flywheel coaches entrepreneurs, funds early milestones, and helps social impact ventures grow at flywheelcincinnati.org [https://www.flywheelcincinnati.org/].