From Kitchen Dreams to Community Impact: How Rachael Mahoney Built Kinney Lane EP 119
Release Date: 05/19/2025
Building a Breakthrough Brand: Hayley Segar on Confidence, Grit, and Growth EP 131
HAYVN Hubcast
In this episode, Nancy Sheed reconnects with entrepreneur Hayley Segar, who first first appeared on the show during the earliest days of building her One With Swim company. Now, with a patented product, viral traction, and a , Hayley reflects on how far the brand has come and what she has learned along the way. “You have to have almost a delusional sense of confidence, drive, execution, grit, coachability… and that’s a specific combo of things.” From overcoming limiting beliefs to building intentional growth strategies, she shares a candid look at the mindset and systems that...
info_outline
Inside An Angel Investing Network: Strategy & Opportunity with Marty Isaac EP 130
HAYVN Hubcast
In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast host Nancy Sheed talks with Marty Isaac, President and Managing Director of the Angel Investor Forum, Connecticut’s leading network of early-stage investors. Marty brings a refreshing, community-minded perspective to angel investing — one built on curiosity and collaboration. “There are no sharp elbows in our group. We all want the companies — and each other — to win.” A former GE and consumer marketing executive turned investor and civic leader, Marty shares how he built his portfolio — from early, overzealous investments to smart,...
info_outline
The Human Side of Hiring: Darcy Ahl on What Really Matters EP 129
HAYVN Hubcast
In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, Nancy sits down with seasoned executive recruiter Darcy Ahl, who shares her winding career path—from writing romance-novel blurbs to working in brand management and advertising, and ultimately building a 20-year career in executive search where she is currently partner at Ahl, Berrien & Partners. Darcy offers grounded insights on what has changed (and what has not) in recruiting, the continued importance of EQ (Emotional Intelligence), and how relationships fuel her national cross-industry success. Key Takeaways Relationships drive business:...
info_outline
Breaking Stigmas and Building Muze: The Future of Clean Cannabis with Shirley Xu-Weldon EP 128
HAYVN Hubcast
In this episode, Nancy sits down with Shirley Xu-Weldon, a former Google executive turned entrepreneur who’s redefining what it means to live and lead with purpose. Shirley shares her inspiring journey from her childhood in China to becoming a successful businesswoman in New York, where her curiosity, discipline, and drive helped her navigate industries as varied as finance, advertising, and tech. When the pandemic hit, Shirley used that pause to reflect deeply on what she wanted next. The result? A bold pivot into the cannabis and wellness space, where she founded Leafology (a welcoming,...
info_outline
We’re Not Selling Food, We’re Selling Connection: Lessons from The Granola Bar Founders EP 127
HAYVN Hubcast
On this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed sat down with Julie Mountain and Dana Noorily, the powerhouse duo behind The Granola Bar. What started as a single idea between two friends has grown into a thriving restaurant group with multiple locations and now, expansion into New York City. Julie and Dana’s story is one of grit, instinct, and staying true to their community. They shared candid insights about: Scaling with heart. Growth isn’t just about more stores, it’s about profitability, efficiency, and staying rooted in values. Partnership as a foundation. Their...
info_outline
Say Yes to the Work: Betsy Lerner’s Path from Editor to Agent to Bestselling Novelist EP 126
HAYVN Hubcast
Nancy Sheed, host of HAYVN Hubcast talks with author Betsy Lerner, and she takes us from blue pencils and slush piles to BookTok and bestsellers. She shares how she moved from editorial roles at major houses to agenting for the flexibility publishing didn’t offer at the time, and how that entrepreneurial leap paid off. We get her “discoverability” playbook (from magazine racks on the streets of New York to TikTok), candid advice on today’s path to publication, the backstory of Shred Sisters, and her refreshingly practical mindset on rejection: don’t dwell on no, keep looking...
info_outline
The Art of Connection: Building Real Relationships That Last with Penny Goffman EP 125
HAYVN Hubcast
In this high-energy episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed welcomes the dynamic Penny Goffman, connector, community builder, and curator of the POWERUp series at HAYVN. Penny shares how her lifelong gift for connection has shaped her career, and how authentic relationships are the true foundation of community and collaboration. Key Takeaways: Connection is a Superpower A strategy from childhood vacations to high school leadership roles to entrepreneurial ventures, gave Penny the chance to use her natural abilities to connect with people. What sets her apart is how she’s...
info_outline
Her Workplace: How Marilynn Joyner Uses Tech to Build Community and Career Confidence EP 124
HAYVN Hubcast
In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed sits down with Marilynn Joyner, a former commercial real estate exec turned tech founder, to unpack her journey from corporate intensity to building an AI-powered career platform designed for ambitious Gen Z and millennial women. Key Highlights: A Career on Her Terms: Marilynn’s early career in commercial real estate exposed her to a male-dominated, competitive culture. Despite early success, she realized she was following rules she didn’t create and sought more autonomy and purpose. The Pivot Point: While attending Columbia...
info_outline
From Meta to Meetup Magic: Petra Pasquina’s Journey to Founding Groopl EP 123
HAYVN Hubcast
In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed is joined by Petra Pasquina, a seasoned marketer turned tech entrepreneur and the creator of , a purpose-built app that makes it easier for small groups to connect, communicate, and stay organized. Petra shares her fascinating journey from corporate roles at Meta and MasterCard to founding a startup aimed at solving one of the most frustrating pain points of modern group life: the chaos of managing logistics across multiple platforms. “I always look for that white space… a place where people aren’t being spoken to in the right way or...
info_outline
How to Lead, Thrive, and Shine: Turning Life into Story with Kate Stone EP 122
HAYVN Hubcast
In this inspiring episode of The HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed sits down with Kate Stone, founder of Kate Stone Prep, to trace the unconventional and intentional journey that led her from aspiring actress and world traveler to top-tier college admissions strategist. Kate’s story is anything but linear, and that’s what makes it so powerful. What started as a dream of working in film and television evolved into international teaching, private tutoring across the globe, and ultimately building a business that helps students not only get into college but thrive once they're there. Highlights...
info_outlineIn this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed sat down with Rachael Mahoney, founder of Kinney Lane, a prepared foods company rooted in wellness, simplicity, and community connection. What started as a personal journey toward health became a mission to nourish others, literally and emotionally, with every meal.
Rachael shares how her summers spent on Kinney Lane in upstate New York planted the seeds for her love of fresh food and wholesome living. From working in ad tech to launching her food business out of her home kitchen while pregnant, her story is one of grit, intuition, and deep listening, to her body, her community, and her calling.
Key Takeaways:
-
A business born from struggle: Rachael’s own health and fertility challenges led her to radically change her lifestyle and, ultimately, to start Kinney Lane.
-
Trusting the timing: She didn’t have it all figured out when she started. Rachael focused on doing what she could with what she had, even if it meant 4 a.m. kitchen shifts with an infant in tow.
-
Community-centered growth: Listening closely to her customers helped her refine her offerings and expand into meal delivery.
-
Team building takes time: Finding the right hires was a five-year journey, but now her business can thrive without her being in the kitchen every day.
-
Infertility, resilience, and joy: Rachael vulnerably shares the emotional moment she found out she was pregnant after being told it wasn’t possible. That turning point gave her the push to pursue her business wholeheartedly.
If you’ve ever wondered when the right time to start something is—or how to turn your personal experience into purpose—this conversation will inspire you.
Connect with Rachael & Kinney Lane
Connect with Nancy: