Episode 232In this episode, Anne Mahlum, the founder of Solidcore walks us through her journey from launching Back on My Feet to scaling Solidcore from a single studio to 100+ locations, including the fundraising playbook that raised over $200M. She shares the toughest growth challenges, how she preserved culture during rapid expansion, the moment that reframed her view of success and failure, and why she chose to share millions from the sale with employees. Practical exit-planning advice, leadership lessons, and the founder’s next projects round out a candid conversation about building purpose-driven, scalable businesses.GuestThe beginning of Anne’s Mahlum entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2007, she found herself running by a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. She engaged the shelter to start a running club, which she quickly transformed into a national non-profit called Back on My Feet. The organization, now with an $8M annual budget, uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homelessness become empowered to change their lives. Under Anne’s leadership as CEO, she grew the organization to 14 cities. Since its inception, Back on My Feet has helped thousands of individuals achieve employment and more self-sufficient living. But Anne didn’t stop there. She created success again when she founded pilates-inspired solidcore in 2013. As its founder and CEO, she grew it into one of the country’s most successful fitness companies in less than a decade by raising more than $200M through private equity to scale it to more than 115 locations across the U.S. The company currently has thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of clients across 30 states, including former First Lady Michelle Obama Anne successfully exited [solidcore] in April 2013 and shared millions with her employees after sale.A true self-made success story, Anne’s entrepreneurial ventures have resulted in a personal net worth of over $100M. Anne has been honored many times for her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she was featured by CNBC for her continued success over the years. She has also been recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a ‘ Women Who Mean Business’ winner, and was named both an ABC World News Person of the Week and a CNN Hero for her work at Back on My Feet. She has given three TEDx talks about finding your passion, letting go of your complacency, and helping others. She has also received notable media attention highlighting her talent, including articles in CNBC, The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal and Runner’s World.HostOlyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast
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Episode 232In this episode, Anne Mahlum, the founder of Solidcore walks us through her journey from launching Back on My Feet to scaling Solidcore from a single studio to 100+ locations, including the fundraising playbook that raised over $200M. She shares the toughest growth challenges, how she preserved culture during rapid expansion, the moment that reframed her view of success and failure, and why she chose to share millions from the sale with employees. Practical exit-planning advice, leadership lessons, and the founder’s next projects round out a candid conversation about building purpose-driven, scalable businesses.GuestThe beginning of Anne’s Mahlum entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2007, she found herself running by a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. She engaged the shelter to start a running club, which she quickly transformed into a national non-profit called Back on My Feet. The organization, now with an $8M annual budget, uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homelessness become empowered to change their lives. Under Anne’s leadership as CEO, she grew the organization to 14 cities. Since its inception, Back on My Feet has helped thousands of individuals achieve employment and more self-sufficient living. But Anne didn’t stop there. She created success again when she founded pilates-inspired solidcore in 2013. As its founder and CEO, she grew it into one of the country’s most successful fitness companies in less than a decade by raising more than $200M through private equity to scale it to more than 115 locations across the U.S. The company currently has thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of clients across 30 states, including former First Lady Michelle Obama Anne successfully exited [solidcore] in April 2013 and shared millions with her employees after sale.A true self-made success story, Anne’s entrepreneurial ventures have resulted in a personal net worth of over $100M. Anne has been honored many times for her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she was featured by CNBC for her continued success over the years. She has also been recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a ‘ Women Who Mean Business’ winner, and was named both an ABC World News Person of the Week and a CNN Hero for her work at Back on My Feet. She has given three TEDx talks about finding your passion, letting go of your complacency, and helping others. She has also received notable media attention highlighting her talent, including articles in CNBC, The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal and Runner’s World.HostOlyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast
Part 2 - Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine Storytelling Expert - The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment - Meet Dr. Rod Berger
NotBasicBlonde Podcast
25 minutes
2 weeks ago
Part 2 - Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine Storytelling Expert - The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment - Meet Dr. Rod Berger
Episode 231 : Part 2This episode digs into the mechanics and organizational uses of storytelling. We examine why vulnerability and conflict are core to authentic leadership and growth, showing how tension creates stakes, invites trust, and enables real change. Practical guidance follows for leaders, organizations, and entrepreneurs on using story to build inclusion, resilience, and adaptability — from framing decisions to surfacing diverse voices and modeling narrative repair..The episode also covers reflection practices and “version control” for personal narratives: how to iterate, archive, and intentionally update stories as circumstances and values evolve. We close with a forward-looking conversation about storytelling in an AI-driven era — challenges of synthetic communication, the premium on nuance and provenance, and new tools for amplification. For entrepreneurs who feel their stories are ordinary, the message is clear: ordinariness is a source of relatability and agency — find the turning points, stakes, and choices, and you have a meaningful, useful story.Guest Dr. Rod Berger https://www.instagram.com/drrodbergeri s a keynote speaker, professional moderator, and a globally recognized expert in strategic storytelling, celebrated for his groundbreaking work in narrative communication, leadership, and media. As the author of the highly anticipated book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets the Moment (Wiley, November 2025), Dr. Berger explores the art, complexity, and transformative power of authentic storytelling across personal, professional, and global contexts. His book delivers actionable insights for professionals and leaders seeking to deepen connection, inspire teams, and ignite purposeful change through narrative.With over two decades of experience and more than 4,000 interviews worldwide—including notable conversations with global icons such as the late Pope Francis, NBA legend Magic Johnson, and F1 World Champion Jenson Button—Dr. Berger combines rich curiosity with a storyteller’s intuition. His interviews, articles, and podcasts have been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Los Angeles Magazine, and he currently serves as Editor-at-Large for Fair Observer. Dr. Berger is also renowned for his influential podcast, “Headroom with Dr. Rod Berger,” delivering in-depth stories with thought leaders, prime ministers, and innovators from around the globe. Earlier this year, Dr. Berger moderated a live keynote alongside Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Nobel Prize Nominee, and the 'Grandmother of Juneteenth', Opal Lee. A former guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management and advisor to educational and humanitarian organizations worldwide, Dr. Berger’s expertise shapes brands, builds trust, and cultivates strong workplace cultures with impact, empathy, and influence. He holds the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Award for his work in Eastern Africa and is recognized as a leading voice in the Voices of the Future series out of DubaiHost Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast
NotBasicBlonde Podcast
Episode 232In this episode, Anne Mahlum, the founder of Solidcore walks us through her journey from launching Back on My Feet to scaling Solidcore from a single studio to 100+ locations, including the fundraising playbook that raised over $200M. She shares the toughest growth challenges, how she preserved culture during rapid expansion, the moment that reframed her view of success and failure, and why she chose to share millions from the sale with employees. Practical exit-planning advice, leadership lessons, and the founder’s next projects round out a candid conversation about building purpose-driven, scalable businesses.GuestThe beginning of Anne’s Mahlum entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2007, she found herself running by a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. She engaged the shelter to start a running club, which she quickly transformed into a national non-profit called Back on My Feet. The organization, now with an $8M annual budget, uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homelessness become empowered to change their lives. Under Anne’s leadership as CEO, she grew the organization to 14 cities. Since its inception, Back on My Feet has helped thousands of individuals achieve employment and more self-sufficient living. But Anne didn’t stop there. She created success again when she founded pilates-inspired solidcore in 2013. As its founder and CEO, she grew it into one of the country’s most successful fitness companies in less than a decade by raising more than $200M through private equity to scale it to more than 115 locations across the U.S. The company currently has thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of clients across 30 states, including former First Lady Michelle Obama Anne successfully exited [solidcore] in April 2013 and shared millions with her employees after sale.A true self-made success story, Anne’s entrepreneurial ventures have resulted in a personal net worth of over $100M. Anne has been honored many times for her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she was featured by CNBC for her continued success over the years. She has also been recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a ‘ Women Who Mean Business’ winner, and was named both an ABC World News Person of the Week and a CNN Hero for her work at Back on My Feet. She has given three TEDx talks about finding your passion, letting go of your complacency, and helping others. She has also received notable media attention highlighting her talent, including articles in CNBC, The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal and Runner’s World.HostOlyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast
