SBHS Mrs. Santa Says 2025

December 24, 2025December 24, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:22 — 21.4MB) | Embed

Mrs. Santa Says

When I was growing up, I was that girl who was always singing into her hairbrush!

-Candy O’Terry

Welcome to the holiday edition of The Story Behind Her Success! For the next 23 minutes, I’ll share listener emails as well as three of the holiday songs I’ve recorded over the years. Whenever I interview a woman, I always ask her if she knew what she wanted to do with her life. For me, the answer to that question is simple: I just wanted to be a singer. My radio career was directly related to wanting to be around the music. If I wasn’t singing my favorite songs, at least I was hearing them on the radio and talking about them with listeners, LIVE on the air. As you may know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and completed my treatment in 2024. Hearing the words “you have breast cancer” turned my world upside down, reminding me about gratitude and the power of love. This past year, I took a leap of faith and started releasing new music. My fingers are crossed that if you like the songs you hear in this holiday episode, you’ll take a listen to my other songs wherever you get your music. Thank you for listening to The Story Behind Her Success. Every woman I’ve profiled shares her wisdom and leads by example. If she can do it, you can do it. #womensupportingwomen #singer #Christmas2025 #grateful #radio

Maureen Rystrom – 334

December 18, 2025December 18, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:48 — 21.8MB) | Embed

In the beginning, I was usually the only woman in the room. That was great, because it was memorable, and it was also bad, because it was memorable. -Maureen Rystrom

Meet a woman who is at the top of her game in a male-dominated field. As Partner & Vice President of Marketing at J. Calnan & Associates, jcalnan.com, Maureen Rystrom oversees the construction management company’s comprehensive marketing and communications initiatives. At a time when commercial messaging is often in your face, Maureen describes herself as a “thoughtful brand strategist” who takes a softer path. Her focus? The good work being done by J. Calnan & Associates and their customers in the communities where they build. Says Maureen: “It’s not necessarily what we build, it’s how we build that makes us special.” In this interview, she also shares the skills she honed to make her corporate climb a success story:

Roll up your sleeves.
Get out there and be seen.
Be respectful of others’ time.
Always follow through.
Make an impact.

A pro at breaking glass ceilings with her own brand of grace and grit, Maureen is also a rock star connector and the co-founder of PLA, the Professional Ladies’ Association. A three-sport varsity captain in high school, Maureen says that playing sports prepared her for success in business and credits her parents for teaching her the importance of an unstoppable work ethic. “If you want something in life, you’ve got to go out there and get it. You earn what you have. Nothing is handed to you.” For 24 minutes of the kind of fire that can spark YOUR success story, just hit that download button. #corporate #marketing #constructionmanagement

Christine Anastos -333

December 11, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:43 — 20.8MB) | Embed

I don’t do well with injustice. -Christine Anastos

10 years ago, environmental engineer Christine Anastos knew something was wrong with her health. When tests came back normal, her care team suggested Christine see a psychiatrist. Her answer? “There’s nothing wrong with my brain. I know my body well.” It wasn’t long before Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer. The suspected cause? Environmental hazards. The company Christine was working for as an environmental engineer had been dumping toxins into the Hudson River, and she became a whistleblower, reaching a settlement and using those funds to do good. Today, she is the founder of a public benefit corporation called www.connect-and-thrive.com. The mission? To bridge the gap between conventional medicine and a holistic approach to healing. Says Christine: “true healing is not a destination. It is a lifelong journey. Balancing mind, body, and spirit is the key to becoming healthy again.” Her website is a marketplace where women find evidence-based healing modalities and products not usually covered by insurance. Crowdfunding campaigns called “Kitty Funds” make powerful healing possible. Says Christine: “Success is making a positive difference in the lives of people who are suffering. Kindness matters.” #healing #breastcancer #hope #candyoterry

Dafna Krouk-Gordon -332

December 4, 2025December 4, 2025 ~ thestorybehindhersuccess

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:17 — 21.3MB) | Embed

Don’t expect people to be who they seem on the surface. – Dafna Krouk-Gordon

In 1980, Dafna Krouk-Gordon founded her human resources agency in one room above a drug store, with just one employee. 45 years later, Toward Independent Living and Learning (www.tillinc.org) is thriving, with 1,000 employees throughout Massachusetts and into New Hampshire, and the noble goal of improving clients’ lives, one day at a time. Dafna is also the co-author of the book: Moving Out: A Family Guide to Residential Planning for Adults with Disabilities. Recognized as a Top 100 Women-Led Business, TILL is providing innovative ways for people with disabilities to lead rich, fulfilling, independent lives. Says Dafna: “Our parents want to know that we are not just there for the moment. We will be there for the long term.” Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, by hardworking parents, Dafna and her sister were taught: “if you promise someone you are going to do something, you better do it.” Her Jewish family escaped Egypt under dire circumstances and immigrated to the United States. In this interview, Dafna recalls arriving in America: “We were told that there was money, gold in the streets, but we didn’t find any!” When reflecting on her career in human services, Dafna has always followed the guiding principles of her faith: community, social conscience, and “to fix the world, because for good or for bad, there is a lot to fix.” For 24 minutes of information and inspiration, just hit that download button! #disabilities #differences #leadership #Jewish #nonprofit #candyoterry