How I Got Here with Dave Fiore | Tallahassee's Podcast
Hosted by Dave Fiore, the How I Got Here podcast offers listeners candid and unfiltered conversations with Tallahassee leaders, business owners and innovators about the journey that led them to this point in their life. Listeners can learn more about people they already know or be introduced to a future friend or collaborator. Either way, you are sure to be encouraged and inspired by the stories you hear.
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Jon Jopling
04/08/2026
Jon Jopling
Host Dave Fiore sits down with Jon Jopling, owner of Real Talk 93.3, Tallahassee's only locally owned FM radio station. Jon has had a lot of different jobs – jazz musician, instrument repair tech, wedding band owner and radio salesman. None of them were part of a plan, and somehow they all connect. He grew up in Miami, met his future wife in band at 14, and earned a jazz performance degree at FSU. He spent years building an entertainment company before a chance conversation with a wedding client opened an unexpected door into radio sales. A few years later he was running the station. A few years after that, he bought it. In between, he and his wife navigated her cancer diagnosis early in their marriage, years of IVF, and his own cancer scare at 37. Life kept interrupting, and they kept going. Dave and Jon talk about music, marriage, what local radio is actually for, and how you end up buying a business you never set out to own. Show Notes Learn more about Real Talk 93.3: _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later - Skip Foster
03/18/2026
5 Years Later - Skip Foster
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 19 Guest Skip Foster. Skip shares about the origins of Red Tape Florida, his unchanged thoughts about growth in this community and creating a new lane advocating for opinions he views as underrepresented. If you have not already, please also listen to Skip’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 with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Tasha Pizarro
03/04/2026
Tasha Pizarro
Host Dave Fiore talks with Tasha Pizarro, owner of Momma P’s Ice Cream — Tallahassee’s only old-school neighborhood ice cream truck. But as Tasha will tell you, she’s about a lot more than ice cream. Her mission is simple: bring joy, create memories and build real relationships in the community she serves. Tasha grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, raised by a single mom and shaped by early lessons in hustle and responsibility. From delivering newspapers in blizzards at 10 years old to working at one of the busiest McDonald’s in the Midwest, she learned systems, discipline and the value of showing up. That foundation carried her into a 12-year career in education that eventually led her to Tallahassee. After a difficult school year stripped the joy from the classroom, Tasha made the unexpected decision to walk away from teaching and finally pursue an 18-year-old dream: a super cute, polka-dotted ice cream truck. What followed was a crash course in entrepreneurship — navigating Florida’s commissary laws, cold-calling businesses and schools, surviving a blown engine and even pivoting during COVID to keep the business alive. They talk about resilience, faith, relationships and what it really means to serve people, because for Tasha, the ice cream is just the vehicle. The real work is connection. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Bill Schack
02/11/2026
Bill Schack
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Bill Schack, founder of Inclusion Café and Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people with intellectual disabilities through job and life skills training. Bill grew up in New Jersey, where early responsibility and exposure to both hard work and opportunity helped form his values. After coming to Florida State University, he built a 20-year career in the restaurant industry, opening stores, leading teams, and learning how to motivate and care for people. Along the way, Bill became deeply involved in this community, helping build and lead the food program at the Kearney Center, serving hundreds of meals a day to people experiencing homelessness. Following a life-altering battle with COVID, Bill returned to his work with a renewed sense of purpose that included serving as a chef with Social Kitchen. He has run for public office, was a longtime Special Olympics volunteer and has been named regional high school golf coach of the year. Bill brings the heart of a servant leader and mentor with the vision to create opportunity and belonging for others. Program Note: Bill started a new job between the time we recorded this episode and its release date. He has joined the team at the new Flying Biscuit Café. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Lashawn Gordon
01/14/2026
Lashawn Gordon
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Lashawn Gordon, executive director of United Partners for Human Services. Lashawn grew up in Pensacola as a big sister to four boys with lots of responsibility but also support from extended family and a caring community. She saw that education and work could also lead to other opportunities, which she took full advantage of. She came to Tallahassee to finish her undergraduate education at FAMU and got connected to the Pace Center for Girls, where she would serve the young women in our community for 16 years. Lashawn has the heart of a counselor and mentor with the vision for leading an organization and finding innovative solutions to serve our local human services agencies and those who depend on them. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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David Clark
12/17/2025
David Clark
Host Dave Fiore speaks with David Clark, owner of Allegiant Strategies Group and MyGovGuide. The Tallahassee-area native is a former military officer and entrepreneur with a passion for leadership and making the most of every opportunity. David began his career answering phones at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, saw opportunities to make himself invaluable and eventually was named Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis, which included helping deliver Florida’s response to the worldwide pandemic. Raised by a World War II veteran father and a mother from British Guiana, David learned early the value of hard work, humility and learning from others. That perspective carried him into the Army, where he graduated at the top of his class and allowed him to choose his assignment to the 82nd Airborne to honor his father. After a parachute malfunction and traumatic brain injury ended his military service, David transitioned into entrepreneurship. They talk about being coachable, servant leadership and the importance of mentorship, faith, and most of all, family. The conversation also covers David’s decision to start multiple companies—including Allegiant Strategies Group, MyGovGuide, and also Divergent Solutions, all while pursuing concurrent MBA degrees. When it comes to tackling new challenges, David’s philosophy is actually pretty simple. He just asks himself, “Why not, why not me, and why not now.” _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Sky Nobles
11/24/2025
Sky Nobles
Host Dave Fiore talks with Sky Nobles, a Tallahassee native, entrepreneur and the creative mind behind Fizz & Foam and Sky Pop Balloons. Sky grew up immersed in books and storytelling, a love that led her to study editing, writing and media at Florida State University and eventually to a career in public relations. Sky’s path has been fueled by curiosity and connection. After experiencing agency life at BowStern, the Zimmerman Agency and now with True Story PR, her journey took an unexpected turn when a Pinterest-inspired idea led to Tallahassee’s first mobile bartending service for weddings and other special occasions. That success opened the door to Sky Pop Balloons, a spin-off that adds color, joy and a little bit of whimsy to any occasion. Today, Sky juggles entrepreneurship, a growing PR career, a thriving social media presence and the launch of Tallahassee Gals — an online community designed to uplift and connect local women. Along the way, she’s learned the power of trusting her instincts, asking for help and staying grounded in purpose. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Mark Mustian
10/29/2025
Mark Mustian
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 community treasure. Mark recently published his third book, receiving great reviews and literary awards. But it is the impact of Word of South for which he is perhaps best known locally. Now more than 10 years old, the festival attracts national attention and talent, held appropriately in the park he helped make a reality. Mark is already working on his next novel but wanted to keep the details under wraps – at least for now. Learn More About Mark Mustian LinkedIn: Website: Books "The Return:" "The Gendarme:" "Boy With Wings:" Word of South: _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Tom Derzypolski
09/24/2025
5 Years Later – Tom Derzypolski
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 with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Debra Harris
09/03/2025
Debra Harris
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 self-sufficiency with support and confidence. She is grateful for God’s provision in her life and her ministry and for those who continue to come alongside her to ensure Making Miracles does just that for years to come. Warning to listeners: This episode includes explicit discussion of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Please listen with care. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Dan Campbell
08/13/2025
Dan Campbell
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 couple make a series of smart investments in real estate and small business, which eventually led to building their clothes-cleaning empire one quarter at a time. Dan loves football, travel and adventure, but his priorities and clear and strong – faith, family and making a difference in the community. Much like the slogan of the Sunrise Rotary Club he recently served as president, Dan likes to Do Good and Have Fun! _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Sally Bradshaw
07/23/2025
Sally Bradshaw
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 opened up a bookstore on Thomasville Road. They talk about Sally’s love of lifelong learning, her role as Chair of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital’s Board of Directors, the future of local healthcare in our community and why having a thriving independent bookstore is vital for a healthy community ecosystem. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later - Talethia Edwards
07/16/2025
5 Years Later - Talethia Edwards
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 into her journey. Thank you for supporting this podcast and connecting with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Matt Thompson
06/25/2025
Matt Thompson
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 digital marketing position at The Zimmerman Agency. But when a college buddy offered him a chance to be part of a new concept in an undeveloped industrial area in the shadow of Doak Campbell Stadium, Matt jumped at the chance. The rest is history—with a side of BLT dip. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Rachel Pienta
06/05/2025
5 Years Later – Rachel Pienta
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 her journey. Thank you for supporting this podcast and connecting with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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YP Summit: 3 Local Brewers
05/21/2025
YP Summit: 3 Local Brewers
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. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Keith Bowers
05/14/2025
5 Years Later – Keith Bowers
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 journey. Thank you for supporting this podcast and connecting with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Darius (Doc D) Baker
05/08/2025
Darius (Doc D) Baker
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Darius (Doc D) Baker, music producer and founder of Tallahassee Nights Live. Doc has been launching music careers since middle school, producing up-and-coming artists and creating a platform for local entertainers of all experience levels to hone their craft in front of grateful and enthusiastic audiences around the world. The Havana native is a married father of four boys who remains committed to providing opportunities for anyone with a love of music and a willingness to put in the work to achieve their dreams. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Elizabeth Emmanuel
04/23/2025
5 Years Later – Elizabeth Emmanuel
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 12 Guest Elizabeth Emmanuel. 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? Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth’s original episode. It will put some context to this conversation and add additional insight into her journey. Thank you for supporting this podcast and connecting with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Carrie Zimmerman
04/16/2025
Carrie Zimmerman
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Carrie Zimmerman, co-founder and former CEO of The Zimmerman Agency. Carrie is a native Tallahassean whose family has been in the Capital City for more than 100 years. She grew up in a competitive, sports-oriented environment, but it was rolling on the mats of the Tallahassee Tumbling Tots that sparked a passion that would lead to exploring gymnastics, training full-time in Oregon at age 15 and earning a coveted spot on the 1976 U.S. Olympic team – a memory that still elicits great emotion. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Carrie worked with her husband, Curtis, at an ad agency in Atlanta, before moving to Tallahassee to be near her family. Starting with no clients but a considerable Rolodex, the couple started The Zimmerman Agency, which today has more than 130 employees and competes with New York agencies (and often wins) for the right to represent some of the most prestigious brands in the world. Recently retired, Carrie now focuses on travel, FSU sports and enjoying being a grandmother. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Danny Shrine
03/26/2025
5 Years Later – Danny Shrine
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 9 guest Danny Shrine. 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? Danny and Dave listen to his answer from 2019, 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 Danny’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 with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Emily Saras
03/12/2025
Emily Saras
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Emily Saras, CEO and data scientist with Knowli Data Science. The self-described overachiever with a nerd persona loved field hockey in high school and was her class valedictorian in her hometown of Hopedale, Massachusetts. Emily entered prestigious Wellesley College with plans to be a doctor, only to make a significant pivot to study anthropology and opera singing. Wanting to connect with her family heritage, she earned a scholarship to study ethnomusicology and opera performance in Lithuania under the nation’s top soprano. Emily spent two more years studying in Europe before returning home as an AmeriCorps fellow, where she worked with underserved Boston teens. It was there that Emily was recommended for a position at Florida State, which she took thinking it would be a short-term stop on her life journey. She was wrong. Emily would go on to earn her Ph.D. in sociology from FSU, fall in love with Tallahassee and get connected to Knowli, a women-owned company that translates big data for policy makers in a variety of fields, including health and human science agencies and educational institutions across the Southeast. Emily says her journey to CEO has been a “joyful challenge,” and she greatly appreciates the opportunity to serve as the company’s cultural ambassador. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Jami Coleman
03/05/2025
5 Years Later – Jami Coleman
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 8 Guest Jami Coleman. 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? Jami and Dave listen to her answer from 2019, 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 Jami’s original episode. It will put some context to this conversation and add additional insight into her journey. Thank you for supporting this podcast and connecting with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Brad Buckenheimer
02/26/2025
Brad Buckenheimer
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Brad Buckenheimer, co-founder and CEO of Canopy Road Cafe. The Tampa native got his first taste of the hospitality industry as a country club cabana boy at age 14 and says he always had a job. His path to entrepreneurship, which includes owning 13 Canopy Road locations and being a partner in several other concepts including the popular Lemon & Thyme in Midtown, has had some unexpected twists. An internship in Los Angeles led to touring as a fill-in drummer for a popular band. Brad was a bartender, corporate trainer for a major restaurant chain and developed leadership skills that would unknowingly come in handy later in life. But it was a call from his former FSU roommate and best friend saying that he had just purchased Jenny’s Lunchbox, a small restaurant where they both worked in college, that would put his future in motion. And while Brad is proud of all that he has accomplished, he acknowledges that none of it would have been possible without the love and support of many others – most importantly his parents and wife, Allison. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Bill Kelly
02/18/2025
5 Years Later – Bill Kelly
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 7 Guest Bill Kelly. 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? Bill and Dave listen to his answer from 2019, 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 Bill’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 with your community. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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Ricardo Schneider
02/12/2025
Ricardo Schneider
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Ricardo Schneider, executive advisor and recently retired president and CEO of Danfoss Turbocor. The Tallahassee-based company produces high efficiency, oil-free compressors for commercial air conditioning systems around the world. Ricardo’s lifelong passion for improving the world through better refrigeration and air conditioning led him to a position with Danfoss in his home country of Brazil, where he grew up in a community of German immigrants. He excelled in every opportunity with the company and worked his way up to global vice president and a move from Mexico to Baltimore. While Danfoss has more than 40,000 employees and $12 billion in global revenue, the operation in Tallahassee was in trouble when Ricardo arrived. He quickly turned things around, doubling the company in size every five years, managing multiple expansions and delivering hundreds of millions in economic impact to our community. He remains inspired to create greater global and local impact through innovative and disruptive thinking and helping create tomorrow’s leaders. And while he is in transition toward the next season of his life, Ricardo says, “purpose does not retire.” He is proud of what he has accomplished but says his best products for the world are his three children, made in partnership with his wife, Juliana. _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by , a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates. Connect with Dave Fiore: Explore more local podcasts: Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here | |
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5 Years Later – Drew McLeod
01/28/2025
5 Years Later – Drew McLeod
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 6 podcast guest Drew McLeod. 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? Drew and Dave listen to his answer from 2019, and he thoughtfully shares how his predictions compare to life today.
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Susie Busch-Transou
01/14/2025
Susie Busch-Transou
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Susie Busch-Transou, founder and owner of Hearth and Soul and vice president/co-owner of Tri-Eagle Sales.
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Katrina Rolle
12/04/2024
Katrina Rolle
Host Dave Fiore speaks with Katrina Rolle, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of North Florida. From her days as a varsity cheerleader and student government president at Miami Carol City High School to continuing her family legacy at Tuskegee University and working her way through the University of Florida Law School, even though it was against the rules, Katrina has always found a way to get things done.
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5 Years Later – Mickey Moore
11/21/2024
5 Years Later – Mickey Moore
On this mini-episode of How I Got Here: 5 Years Later, host Dave Fiore catches up with Episode 4 guest Mickey Moore. 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? Mickey and Dave listen to his answer from 2019, and he thoughtfully shares how his predictions compare to life today.
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