Behind The Curtain

About Behind The Curtain

”Behind the Curtain” is a podcast presented by Chord Real Estate, in which hosts Steve Luther and Van Hohe go deep into the heart of Nashville’s dynamic landscape. The show features deep conversations with the innovators, creators and leaders who are shaping the city through music, business and beyond. Each episode reveals the stories, passions and dreams that make Nashville unique.

Publisher

Presented by Chord Real Estate, with hosts Steve Luther and Van Hohe

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Mar 2024

Latest episode

22 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 52 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   22 Oct 2026

   The Art of the Exit | Behind the Curtain with Kristin Intress

   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. Episode Highlights 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. "Leadership became about trust and understanding that few want that responsibility. How do you protect your people, and how do you make them want to believe in going in a direction with you?... That's really all leadership is—being there for your people." — Kristin Intress Featured Guest: Kristin Intress 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

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   When You Feel Good, Life Is Good | Behind the Curtain with Candice Bruder

   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. Episode Highlights 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

3. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Mortgages as a Ministry: Building Wealth and Community Impact with Joan Fleming

   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. Episode Highlights 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. Direct Quote "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 Featured Guest: 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

Inside a recent episode

Transforming Nashville's Cultural Landscape: Jennifer Turner of TPAC | Behind The Curtain Podcast

Published 4 Jul 2024 · Transcript excerpt

[…] We have a spotlight program which is our musical theater program and it's for high school kids and we provide training and workshops year -round and then about 40 different schools participate and then we we have a competition at the end and we send the male and female winner to New York to compete with other high schools that participate in this program it's called the Jimmy's yeah when you get to New York so it's a pretty special program and they have their own like these kids that are in it have their own little cohort and I think they have their own Instagram I follow them it's cute as they should as they should yes they probably it's probably not Instagram anymore it's probably like TikTok or what's that for? […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,410,844

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

28

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

32

Contact Behind The Curtain

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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