In this episode of Behind the Curtain, hosts Steve Luther and Van Hohe sit down with Kristin Intress, a relentless entrepreneur, former military soldier, international hospitality executive, and the CEO of Firefly Venues. From leaving home at 16 and serving in the U.S. Army to running cardiac clinics, acting on stage and film, and serving as CEO of WorldHotels across 65 countries, Kristin’s journey is anything but traditional.

Kristin shares how her diverse background culminated in the founding of Firefly Venues—a curated collection of private retreat environments just outside Nashville, including Leon Russell’s legendary former recording studio in Gallatin. Designed specifically for corporate leadership teams and executive peer groups, Firefly Venues is built on the belief that where we gather fundamentally changes how we think, connect, and lead. Kristin pulls back the curtain on structuring businesses with an exit strategy in mind, scaling without losing the human touch, and why real leadership is about building trust and removing barriers for your team.

• Unconventional Roots to Army Grit: Kristin recounts leaving home at 16, overcoming severe dyslexia through pure work ethic, studying pharmacy in the U.S. Army, and how her military experience taught her the true essence of leadership and trust.
• From Theater and Cardiac Clinics to Global CEO: Discover how Kristin’s eclectic path—from winning stage roles in LA to earning an Executive MBA at Kellogg—prepared her to acquire, scale, and lead major international tech and hospitality brands.
• The Magic of Firefly Venues: An inside look at how Kristin transformed historic spaces like Leon Russell's former recording studio into immersive, safe-haven retreat venues that spark authentic executive conversations around the fire pit.
• Always Plan the Exit: Why small business owners struggle to scale due to fear and control, and why Kristin builds every venture with a clear, intentional exit and legacy strategy from day one.
• "Surprise and Delight" Hospitality: How Firefly Venues replaces rigid corporate hotel pricing with all-inclusive, experience-driven hospitality—featuring farm-to-table dining, custom breakout spaces, and unexpected moments of delight.

Kristin Intress is the CEO of Firefly Venues and an adjunct professor in the capstone program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. She is a former CEO of InnLink and WorldHotels, with a proven track record of founding, scaling, and selling companies across healthcare, technology, and luxury hospitality.

Connect with Kristin & Firefly Venues:

• Website: FireflyVenues.com

#BehindTheCurtain #KristinIntress #FireflyVenues #ExecutiveRetreats #LeadershipDevelopment #NashvilleBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Hospitality #ExitStrategy #LeonRussellStudio

In this episode of Behind the Curtain, hosts Steve Luther and Van Hohe sit down with Candice Bruder, Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Pure Sweat Studios. Candice shares her dynamic career transition from leading high-profile public relations campaigns in New York City for luxury real estate, hospitality, and entertainment brands to launching a national wellness franchise centered around infrared saunas, float therapy, and cold plunging.

Candice details how her personal sauna practice and a transformative float experience inspired her to leave corporate PR, move to Nashville, and build spaces dedicated to deep restoration, mental clarity, and community. From explaining the ancient history of sauna culture and the neuroplasticity of mindfulness to navigating the challenges of scaling a franchise, Candice offers a powerful look at how betting on your own wellness practice can evolve into a thriving, purpose-driven business.

• The NYC to Nashville Pivot: How the fast-paced grind of New York City PR led Candice to embrace infrared sauna and float therapy, eventually sparking the spiritual "download" to launch Pure Sweat Studios in Nashville.
• Sauna Culture & The Contrast Therapy Experience: An exploration of infrared sauna technology, sensory-deprivation floating ("baby in the womb"), and how pairing hot saunas with 60-degree cold plunges builds mental fortitude and fires up cellular health.
• Entrepreneurship as a Master Teacher: Candice reflects on how owning a business acts as a magnifying glass for your strengths and weaknesses, requiring true grit, operational discipline, and clear boundaries.
• Scaling with Purpose: How Pure Sweat Studios grew from a single local studio into a national franchise across 14 locations without losing its core mission of client care and community connection.
• The Power of Stillness: A discussion on why modern society has lost the ability to sit quietly, and how simple practices of stillness can rewire neural pathways to lower stress and elevate daily life.

"Entrepreneurship is a master teacher. It is going to reveal to you your great superpowers... and it is going to reveal to you your challenges and your deficits... All of that is about growth." — Candice Bruder

Connect with Candice & Pure Sweat Studios:

• Website: puresweatstudios.com
• Franchise Opportunities: Learn more at Pure Sweat Franchising
• LinkedIn: Candice Bruder

#BehindTheCurtain #CandiceBruder #PureSweatStudios #InfraredSauna #FloatTherapy #ColdPlunge #NashvilleWellness #FranchiseOwner #Mindfulness #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Behind the Curtain, hosts Steve Luther and Van Hohe sit down with Joan Fleming, Senior Vice President at Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company. Celebrating over 31 years in Nashville and 16 years with Citizens, Joan takes us on her journey from starting as a marketing assistant at SunTrust to founding her own firm, Creative Vision Mortgage, and ultimately shaping the mortgage division at Citizens.

Joan shares her passion for serving first-time homebuyers and underserved communities, describing how she views mortgage lending not just as a job, but as a true ministry that turns income into generational wealth. The conversation covers the breaking news of Citizens launching its new mortgage subsidiary, CBN Mortgage, the power of 100% financing programs without income limits, navigating fluctuating interest rates, and why financial literacy is essential for young home buyers.

• Mortgages as a Ministry: Joan shares how a conversation with her 9-year-old daughter convinced her to stay in banking rather than switching careers to nursing during a recession.
• Breaking News (CBN Mortgage): Joan announces publicly for the first time that Citizens Bank & Trust is expanding its mortgage department into a full mortgage subsidiary called CBN Mortgage to bring more programs to clients.
• The 100% Financing Game-Changer: Discover how Citizens created a 100% financing program up to conforming loan limits without location or income restrictions to help buyers walk through the door with zero down payment.
• Pivoting with Joy: From napkin-sketching loan programs with her Chief Credit Officer to adapting through economic recessions, Joan discusses the freedom and flexibility of working with a local community bank.
• Advice to First-Time Homebuyers: Joan explains why young buyers need to look past current interest rates, focus on long-term equity over "dream home" expectations, and practice sound budgeting before taking on a mortgage.

"All I do is at the end of the day to ensure that the American dream is met... My daughter basically said, 'Mommy, mortgages are your ministry. If you leave, then who's going to help all the people?'" — Joan Fleming

Joan Fleming is the Senior Vice President at Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company and a graduate of Tennessee State University. With decades of experience in lending, management, and team building, she is a passionate advocate for homeownership and financial literacy throughout the Nashville community.

Connect with Joan:

• Website: AskJoan.net (for pre-qualification, budgeting, and inquiries)
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joan-fleming-a47563117/

#BehindTheCurtain #JoanFleming #CitizensBankAndTrust #CBNMortgage #NashvilleRealEstate #Homeownership #FirstTimeHomebuyer #100PercentFinancing #CommunityBanking #FinancialLiteracy