The Story Behind Her Success with Candy O’Terry

The Story Behind Her Success with Candy O’Terry

 

We all want to be successful in life, no matter what we do for a living.But how do we get to where we want to go, especially when life gets hard, or there is an obstacle in our path?

It’s tempting to just give up, but don’t do that!

Enter Candy O’Terry, radio legend and master interviewer.She’s back on the air in Boston at WRKO with The Story Behind Her Success, a 30 minute weekly show that just might help YOU find success.

Every Sunday at noon she’ll introduce you to a woman who has accomplished great things.These interviews are filled with memorable stories, and powerful life lessons. What can you learn about success from these women?Tune in and find out!

If you know a woman Candy O should interview on the show, just shoot her an email: candy@candyoterry.com.

What’s your story?

Email

candy@candyoterry.com

SBHS Cara Belvin

SBHS Kim Carrigan

 Host of Carrigan & Company

carriganandcompanypod.com

I have appreciated every day and every minute of this big, huge career I’ve been blessed with. 
-Kim Carrigan 
This episode features a woman I have admired for many years, not only because she’s an award-winning news anchor but because she is savvy, smart, resilient, and kind.  Kim Carrigan is an example of what I would call:  grace under fire.  Born and raised in Missouri, Kim got her start
on television at her college TV station and later climbed the ladder at stations throughout the Midwest.  Married to her college sweetheart, Kim and her husband moved 5 times during her early years on the air, requiring him to pass the bar in 5 states!  In this interview, Kim shares stories about reporting live when historic tragedies like 9/11, the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr and his wife Carolyn Bessett, and the Boston Marathon Bombings took place.   She also talks about how devastating it was to be fired while pregnant, following contract disputes at Boston’s WHDH, where she and her co-host Randy Price were consistently #1 in the ratings; a story so controversial, it made the New York Times.  When I asked her how she made it through this difficult time in her life, Kim replied: “I have the most supportive husband on earth and I made a decision that I was going to take care of my 4 year old son and wait for my baby girl to be born, but through it all, I learned a tough lesson:   In life, we can do the best that we can do, but sometimes, the universe has a different plan.”   For Kim, adversity gave way to good fortune when she moved to mornings on Boston’s Fox 25, enjoying 10 years of ratings superiority, during which time the unique ensemble cast of broadcasters became a national model for the network.   Now the host of the podcast series Carrigan & Company carriganandcompanypod.com, Kim loves the concept of co-hosting with someone new every week.   She’s living her best life, taking the reins of her own career while cherishing time with her husband, Randy, and their two grown children.  Listener alert:  I made Kim Carrigan cry in this interview.  Sorry, not sorry!  For 27 minutes of outstanding storytelling, grace and guts, just hit that download button.  #womeninspiringwomen

SBHS Lindsey Disch

PPD survivor & outpatient therapist soleowellness.com

When I finally sat down to write my postpartum depression story, the words just came pouring out. -Lindsey Disch 
In this latest episode,  we meet Lindsey Disch, whose journey through Post Partum Depression or PPD casts a bright light on a condition many people still don’t understand. Profiled in a prominent women’s magazine,  Lindsey’s “A Letter to My Daughter” essay caught my heart and my attention. 
https://www.pinkchairstorytellers.com/storytellers/lindsey-disch.   Back in the day, people would see a mom who felt sad after childbirth and wave her off, saying, “she’s got the baby blues,” but thanks to heightened medical protocols regarding PPD, more women are getting the help they need.  For Lindsey, that meant admission to a mental hospital during the first year of her daughter Alexa’s life.   In this interview, she reveals what it was like to give birth after a complicated and unexpected pregnancy and shares the story of how ashamed and overwhelmed she was in the weeks following her daughter’s birth. “I just didn’t care about anything anymore. All I wanted to do was lay in bed, and I thought this horrible feeling would never end.” It was during this time that her husband found her crying in the closet.  A certified mental health clinician herself, Lindsey knew there was something wrong with her.  She sought counseling and was prescribed medication, but nothing worked.  A trip to the ER resulted in Lindsey being admitted as an inpatient at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts (mcleanhospital.org).   Nationally recognized as the #1 psychiatric care facility in the nation, Lindsey followed the advice of her care team and received 30 rounds of ECT or Electroconvulsive Therapy.  Administered under anesthesia, ECT treatment sends small electric currents through the brain, changing its chemistry, often improving symptoms of certain mental health conditions, including severe dep

SBHS Donna O’Kane

American Bald Eagle Photographer

@rocked_by_kindness

A friend of mine is a birder, and she posted a picture of a bald eagle, and I messaged her and said, “Where did you take that picture? -Donna O’Kane 
You are about to hear one of my all-time favorite second chapter stories!   After spending 40 years working for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Donna O’Kane decided to start photographing American Bald Eagles.   The mother of three grown children, Donna is also a breast cancer survivor who spreads kindness wherever she goes by leaving painted rocks beside park benches and on nature paths, in the hopes of making someone smile during the pandemic.  Follow her on Instagram @rocked_by_kindness.  Always the creative type, Donna noticed a post from a friend who followed eagles, watching their nests for signs of eaglets, and marveling at their mating behaviors.   She began taking pictures of eagles with her iPhone, soon graduating to more sophisticated cameras with lenses that capture the magic of birdwatching.   In this interview, Donna shares her life story, including sexual abuse by a babysitter at only 4, the physical punishments inflicted on her by her mother, the abiding love of her father, and the pain of a failed marriage. Throughout her life, and in everything she does, Donna embraces the gifts of creativity, kindness, resilience, and purpose. “We all have choices.  We can sit and wallow, or we can get up and walk out the door every morning and rebuild our lives.” For 27 minutes that will leave you speechless and inspired, just hit that download button.  #americanbaldeagle #womeninspiringwomen#breastcancer #secondchapter

SBHS Sue Brady: heart of gold

radio pro, philanthropist, caregiver, docf.org 

By heart, and with closed eyes, I have a very vulnerable spot for the unhoused. -Sue Brady

For millions of radio listeners in Boston, Sue Brady was that fun, friendly, relatable voice they heard on the air for years.  In this episode, we get to know the deepest layers of a woman who will always love radio but has turned the page to discover a whole new passion as a Certified Nursing Assistant.   Born and raised in Stoneham, Massachusetts, by an Army vet and a beloved school teacher, Sue learned lessons in kindness and charity early in life from a mother who would prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless every weekend, load her girls in the car, and distribute the food at the Boston Common.   This experience informed Sue’s devotion to the unhoused, and she has passed these values on to her own children.   A tireless volunteer and fundraiser for Boston Rescue Mission, The Winter Walk, Rosie’s Place, and Back on My Feet,  I asked Sue what she wishes people knew about the issue: “We are all the same, and we are a life choice, addiction, or diagnosis away from being homeless.”  Always willing to go the extra mile for a worthy cause, Sue also supports Boston Children’s Hospital, The Red Sox Foundation, and the Ellie Fund.  In fact, she serves on the board of the David Ortiz Children’s Fund www.docf.org and enjoys a long friendship with the Red Sox slugger and Hall of Famer who calls her “Rubia,” which means “blonde” in Spanish.  When I asked Sue to explain the motivation behind becoming a caregiver,  the story that emerged will break your heart and lift your soul.    Trust me, this conversation is gold.   Go ahead and hit that download button. #radio #homelessness #charity

SBHS Dede Ulbrich: 86 years young!

Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid of life. If you want to age gracefully, stay busy, positive, and connected. -Dede Ulbrich

This week, we meet Dede Ulbrich, a beautiful 86-year-old woman whose secret to staying young is laughter, love, and connection.   The granddaughter of former New Hampshire Governor Francis P. Murphy and founder of WMUR radio and television stations, Dede was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her big, Irish family believed in the glory of hard work and having fun.  In this interview, Dede recalls that men returning from World War II and Vietnam were changed forever, and she was determined to live her life to the fullest. As a friend and former colleague of political consultant and White House special assistant Kenny O’Donnell, Dede attended the Inaugural Ball for President John F. Kennedy and later experienced the horror of losing her favorite president to an assassin’s bullet in Dallas. Years later, as the single mother of three sons, Dede rebuilt her life after divorce, taking a job selling running shoes at the Nike store in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Identified as a talented salesperson, she was recruited by company executives to join their elite marketing team.  Dede climbed the corporate ladder in a man’s world with zero hesitation, creating relationships with Olympic runners like Joan Benoit Samuelson.  A runner herself, she later met and married her second husband, Dick Ulbrich, DMD, experiencing the joy of finding love the second time around. Known affectionately as“Doc”, her husband built a lasting friendship with a gardener from Weston, Massachusetts named Nelson McNutt, who lived to be 105, leaving his entire estate in gratitude to the couple.  www.nelsonsgarden.com.  Filled with the kind of wisdom that can only come from a life well lived, Dede says,“Life is good. Always look for the beauty in life.  Keep searching for the things that make you happy.”   For 25 minutes of inspiration, just hit that download button. #gratitude #age #kennedyassasination

Carol McKean: This V-Day, love yourself!

You have to take care of yourself first in order to take care of others. -Carol McKean

I’ve known Carol McKean for many years, and I’m so happy to introduce her to you.  She’s a PR superstar with her own events company, carolmckeanevents.com, and is the creator of the popular fundraising concept known as “fund-a-need.” In this interview, Carol shares her life story, including the hard parts I didn’t know about.   The story of her incredibly painful divorce is featured in the new Jan Fraser inspired life series, The Book on Love.  bookonlove.com.   Written by 40 women from the United States and around the world, the book is a fast read, filled with wisdom and the power of love.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Carol’s story reminds us that we may be born out of love, but our lives are far from perfect.  Says Carol: “Fun times are easy, but when life deals you tragedy and hardship, it’s how you react to it and move forward that really matters.”   It took 7 grueling years for Carol and her husband to divorce, and during that time, she realized she was not safe in his presence and had lost herself in the relationship. “When I sat down to write this story,  it just poured out of me in about 30 minutes, says Carol.  Many of my friends wondered why I was willing to share these details, but I believe we create connections when we share our stories.  What does she want readers to know?   “Whateversituation you are in, I promise there is hope…there is light.   The biggest lesson I had to learn was to love myself.”  #valentinesday #love #divorce #storytelling #bookonlove 

Renee Rhodes: a sculptor’s story from her compound in the woods

I went into a contemplative period in my life and retreated to my cabin for 10 years. I couldn’t find the words to express how I was feeling, so I started picking up clay. -Renee Rhodes

Welcome to the life of sculptor, Renee Rhodes.  She’s worked in publishing and advertising, and even has a Ph.D. from Columbia University in Clinical Psychology, but in her 40s, Renee experienced “a dark night of the soul” and retreated into a cabin on her property, deep in the Connecticut woods.   When she emerged, she was transformed and began a new chapter as a sculptor.   Recorded on a visit to Renee’s 10-acre compound on a cold winter’s day, this interview is a rare glimpse into the brilliant mind of an artist.   Inspired by mythology and the divine feminine, Renee’s figures evoke both strength and grace.   She’s devoted to public art and believes that “when you produce public art, it’s available to everybody.  It’s out in the street, and people can relate to it on their own level, which is an honor for a sculptor because now, you’re speaking to the world.”   Her latest sculpture is named Infinity, and she has taken years to refine.  Says Renee:“I live with it, I sneak up on it in the middle of the night,  and then it tells me how it needs to change.” Before Infinity can be enlarged and bronzed,  money must be raised for her installation on Ocean Beach, New London.   www.infinitepossibilitiesCT.org celebrates unity, peace, hope, and inspiration through public art.  Says Renee: “Whateveryou can imagine, you can make happen.”  For a 23-minute glimpse into the life of a sculptor, just hit that download button.#scupltor #publicart #thestorybehindhersuccess

SBHS Mrs. Santa Says 2025

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

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: 
  1. Roll up your sleeves.
  2. Get out there and be seen.
  3. Be respectful of others’ time.
  4. Always follow through. 
  5. 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