Send us a text

I don’t usually sit down with history professors, but after this conversation, I might need to start.

In this episode, I’m joined by Hasan Kwame Jeffries, College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University, and I’ll be honest, I was little intimidated.

What followed was one of those conversations that stretches you. Not because it’s heavy, but because it’s honest.

We talk about history as story, not nostalgia. About why banning books is a hard no. About capitalism, debt, incarceration, and the long shadow of slavery and how those systems didn’t disappear, they just changed shape. Professor Jeffries breaks down complex ideas in a way that’s accessible, grounded, and deeply human.

He also shares a story about his dad, a baseball call that “was too close to take,” and how that lesson shaped his discipline, his truth-telling, and the way he shows up in the world.

We get into what today’s college students are really like post-COVID and what it means to live through this moment in America without fear-mongering or performance.

This isn’t a lecture. It’s me asking real questions, sometimes for dummies (my words, not his), and having a conversation that left me thinking long after the cameras stopped rolling.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, confused, or just hungry for context about how we got here this episode is for you.

Send us a text

What happens when the validation disappears and you’re left alone with yourself?

In this episode, Keri sits down with Achea Redd for a raw, honest conversation about counterfeit relationships, people-pleasing, and learning how to trust your intuition. Achea shares how being married to NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Redd, sharpened her ability to spot fake energy, forced her to protect her peace, and ultimately pushed her into a deeper relationship with herself.

Achea opens up about growing up in a chaotic religious household, becoming addicted to external validation, and how anxiety and panic attacks brought her life to a halt. She reflects on the unseen emotional labor of supporting a high-profile athlete, the identity loss that can come with visibility, and why becoming your own best friend is the foundation for every healthy relationship.

This episode explores:

• What “counterfeit relationships” really look like
• Why visibility and success reveal people’s true intentions
• Learning to trust your intuition without over-explaining
• Anxiety, panic attacks, and breaking the stigma around medication
• Reparenting yourself and setting boundaries with family
• Choosing peace, even when it costs you relationships

This conversation is for anyone who’s outgrown old versions of themselves, is tired of chasing validation, or is learning how to choose themselves without apology.

🎧 Listen now and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder.

Send us a text

This week, I’m sitting down with Ashtyn Pharis, founder of Pilates by Ashtyn, the largest Pilates studio in Ohio, to talk about the long game of building: discipline, identity, and knowing when to go all in… and when to walk away.

We unpack her path from elite athletics to heavy weightlifting, shutting down a decade-long online fitness business, and rebuilding from the ground up with a business rooted in relationships not transactions. We also talk about control, scaling, burnout, and why the client experience matters more than trends, algorithms, or competition.

Send us a text

We weren’t planning on dropping another episode before the new year, but when the timing feels right, you listen.

This is a special holiday re-share of my conversation with Vanessa Torres from Freedom a la Cart, an organization doing some of the most important, powerful work in our community.

In this episode, Vanessa shares her personal story of surviving human trafficking and what real healing actually looks like when someone is met with safety, employment, community, and time. We talk about trauma bonds, recovery, motherhood, and the long road back to trust. Both in others and in yourself. It’s honest, heavy at times, and deeply human.

We’re bringing this conversation back right now because Freedom a la Cart, like many nonprofits, was recently denied grant funding they were counting on. In response, their team launched an end-of-year giving campaign to help bridge the gap and continue supporting survivors during a season when the need is especially real.

If this episode moves you, you’ll find a link to their Freedom Matters campaign below. Whether you give, share, or simply listen with intention. Every bit of support matters.

✨ Learn more or support their campaign here: https://freedomalacart.org/freedom-matters/

Thank you for being here and for being part of a community that shows up when it counts.

Send us a text

It’s just you and me today, friend—and this one has been a long time coming. I’m giving you the full behind-the-scenes download on everything we’ve been building: why the show has been quiet, what’s happening inside our tiny-but-mighty team, and why 2026 is about to be our biggest year yet.

I’m also breaking down the heartbeat of all of it: Mental Athleticism. How I use it. Why it matters. And how it became the foundation for the B10 Challenge (starting January 12) and the Build Your Empire Immersion we’re launching early next year.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or convinced your dream is “for other people,” I promise you’re not alone. I talk about my own moments of doubt, the quote that pulls me off the ledge every time, and why everything feels impossible… until it doesn’t.

Grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s dive into what’s coming, what’s changing, and how you can be part of it. Let’s keep moving, baby.

👉 Reserve your spot for The B10 Challenge

👉 Learn more about The B10 Challenge

👉 Apply for The BYE Immersion

Send us a text

This Halloween, we’re taking you inside Columbus’s viral goth bakery—Bite This—where the bagels are skull-shaped, the playlists are heavy metal, and the owner, Annie Dixon, is redefining what it means to build a brand with bite.

In this raw and wildly fun conversation, Annie opens up about her journey from elder emo to entrepreneur — including the dark humor, brutal honesty, and radical self-acceptance that fuel her success.

You’ll hear:

• How Annie built Bite This, the goth bakery everyone’s lining up for
• The story behind her viral Skull “Reapers” and bagel bombs
• The truth about addiction, recovery, and rebuilding your life
• The business lessons she’s learning while scaling a cult favorite

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or just someone who loves a good comeback story — this one’s got layers. (Like a killer brownie.)

Connect with Annie:
Bite This: https://www.bitethisbyannie.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitethisbyannie/

Connect with Keri:
Watch this episode: https://www.kericroft.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekericroftshow

Send us a text

The Riveter’s Amy Nelson joins me on the pod to launch The Brave Shift Live Series—a brand-new collaboration between The Riveter and The B Lab that helps people in business build through the mess.

Together, we go deep on what it really means to make a brave shift—the kind that changes everything. From career pivots and business reinvention to mindset and mental athleticism, this episode explores how to listen to your intuition, reset your focus, and build through change with clarity and courage.

✨ Inside this episode:

• The story behind The Riveter x The B Lab collaboration
• What “The Brave Shift” means—and how to know if you’re in one
• My personal journey through a brave shift
• Amy’s evolution through growth, loss, and reinvention
• Frameworks like The Focus Formula, Internal + External Audits, and DOT (Do One Thing)
• A first look at The B10 Challenge and how to join

Whether you’re pivoting, rebuilding, or just ready for more alignment in your life—this episode will remind you that you’re not alone, and that you can build through anything.

Listen, subscribe, and join the Brave Shift movement:
→ The Riveter
→ The B Lab newsletter
→ Follow @TheKeriCroftShow on Instagram for updates

Send us a text

This week, I’m sitting down with Joel Furno, the founder of Citrin—a valet company that started with $200 and a dream—and now employs over 700 people across the country. But this episode isn’t just about business growth. It’s about personal growth.

Joel gets real about the shadows behind success—depression, marriage struggles, and what happens when achievement isn’t enough—and how a single psychedelic journey cracked him wide open. We go there: the messy middle of building a company, the healing work that saved his marriage, and why true leadership always starts within.

We talk about:
⚡ How he built a multimillion-dollar company while still in college
⚡ Why employee-first culture is his secret weapon
⚡ The spiritual awakening that changed his life—and his marriage
⚡ The role psychedelics can play in healing trauma and addiction
⚡ Why “marriage coaching” might just be your next power move

This one’s deep, funny, and brutally honest—the kind of conversation that reminds you success means nothing if you don’t know yourself.

💡 If this episode lit a fire under you to get more intentional about how you lead, build, or pivot—come hang with me inside The B Lab. It’s where brave entrepreneurs go to get unstuck, sharpen their vision, and build something meaningful. Interested? Email me at keri@theblab.co.