Mark Mustian
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Mark Mustian, attorney, author and founder of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music. Mark grew up in Tallahassee, learned discipline in the Leon High School band and was elected student body president. At the beginning of his career, Mark said he had three life goals: be an attorney, teach and write a book. While he would eventually accomplish all three, he also would serve 10 years on the City Commission, get appointed as Tallahassee Chamber Board Chair and be instrumental in the creation of Cascades Park, turning a decades-long eyesore into a...
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5 Years Later – Tom Derzypolski
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 17 Guest Tom Derzypolski. At the end of each original episode, Dave asks his guests the same question: Where do you think “here” will be for you in three to five years? Tom and Dave listen to his answer from 2020, and he thoughtfully shares how his predictions compare to life today. If you have not already, please also listen to Tom’s original episode. It will put some context to this conversation and add additional insight into his journey. Thank you for supporting this podcast and connecting...
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Debra Harris
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Debra Harris, founder of Making Miracles Haven, a provider of faith-based housing for mothers experiencing homelessness. Debra’s journey includes years of physical and emotional abuse as a child and adult, having been let down by almost everyone she ever trusted or depended on. As a young mom, she worked to provide a better life for her children and break the cycles of abuse and financial dependence on a system that penalizes the working poor. Today, the New Orleans native is fulfilling her personal mission to help women with nowhere to turn move toward...
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Dan Campbell
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Dan Campbell, owner of Wash Around the Clock. Dan’s journey into the laundry business began in Jacksonville as the youngest of five brothers. After exceling in multiple sports, including being a state champion discus thrower, Dan was invited to walk-on at Florida State and play football for legendary coach Bobby Bowden. His time on the FSU campus included being part of FSU’s first national championship team in 1993, but more importantly it was where he met his wife, Collette. After college, Dan had great success selling ads in the Yellow Pages, which helped the...
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Sally Bradshaw
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Sally Bradshaw, owner of Midtown Reader, Tallahassee’s neighborhood independent bookstore. Sally is a Mississippi native who fell in love with books and grassroots politics at an early age. The latter would guide a career that included running gubernatorial and presidential campaigns, serving as political director for the Republican Party of Florida and returning to The White House, where she was a college intern, as President George H.W. Bush’s associate director of political affairs. But in 2016, Sally walked away from politics, and the Republican Party, and...
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5 Years Later - Talethia Edwards
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 16 Guest Talethia Edwards. At the end of each original episode, Dave asks his guests the same question: Where do you think “here” will be for you in three to five years? Talethia and Dave listen to her answer from 2020, and she thoughtfully shares how her predictions compare to life today. Spoiler alert: Things rarely go exactly as planned! If you have not already, please also listen to Talethia’s original episode. It will put some context to this conversation and add additional insight...
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Matt Thompson
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
Host Dave Fiore talks with Matt Thompson, co-founder of For the Table Hospitality, which includes the brands Charlie Park, Social Catering, Township, Social Kitchen and Madison Social—the heart and soul of College Town. Matt’s path from collecting baseball cards as a kid near Orlando to a restaurant entrepreneur has taken a number of unexpected turns. Matt came to Tallahassee on a trombone performance scholarship to Florida State, eventually earning a degree in public relations and then his master’s. He would teach public speaking back home before returning to Tallahassee to take a...
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5 Years Later – Rachel Pienta
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 15 Guest Rachel Pienta. At the end of each original episode, Dave asks his guests the same question: Where do you think “here” will be for you in three to five years? Rachel and Dave listen to her answer from 2020, and she thoughtfully shares how her predictions compare to life today. Spoiler alert: Things rarely go exactly as planned! If you have not already, please also listen to Rachel’s original episode. It will put some context to this conversation and add additional insight into...
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YP Summit: 3 Local Brewers
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
Host Dave Fiore returned to Access Tallahassee’s Young Professionals Summit for a live recording of the podcast featuring three successful women entrepreneurs representing the local brewing scene. Dave spoke with: Shannon Smith from Ground Ops Roastery and Bakehouse; Michaela Teasley from Tally Kombucha; and Alison Denny from Amicus Brewing Ventures. Guests shared their unique journeys and the obstacles they overcame along the way and then gave some practical advice for women entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams.
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5 Years Later – Keith Bowers
How I Got Here with Dave Fiore
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 13 Guest Keith Bowers. At the end of each original episode, Dave asks his guests the same question: Where do you think “here” will be for you in three to five years? Keith and Dave listen to his answer from 2020, and he thoughtfully shares how his predictions compare to life today. Spoiler alert: Things rarely go exactly as planned! If you have not already, please also listen to Keith’s original episode. It will put some context to this conversation and add additional insight into his...
info_outlineHost Dave Fiore speaks with legendary FSU quarterback and community leader Charlie Ward. Charlie's resume also includes 1993 Heisman Trophy winner, 11-year NBA veteran, longtime high school coach and public speaker. But to the Thomasville, Ga., native, the roles of mentor, husband and father have always been most important.
Charlie and his wife, Tonja, run the Ward Family Foundation and are currently developing the Champions Ranch, the vehicle for the foundation’s mission to develop youth character rooted in Christian principles through sports, arts, education and wellness.
One of Florida’s State’s most beloved athletes, Charlie shares about his college journey that included a detour through Tallahassee Community College (now Tallahassee State College), how Coach Bobby Bowden had to be convinced that Charlie for a good fit for his program, balancing the demand of basketball and football and breaking the race barrier as FSU’s first black quarterback.
We also talk a lot of football – so much that for the first time, we are offering bonus content to our email newsletter subscribers. Subscribe today to hear Charlie talk about the 1992 football season, including the birth of the fast-break offense against Georgia Tech, getting booed after early-career interceptions, his season-saving pass to Warrick Dunn against the Gators on the national championship run and finally playing basketball and living in New York City. If you are a fan, you won't want to miss it!