F'ing Up
F’ing Up is a podcast that peels back the highlight reel of success. Hosted by Deanne Rhynard, each episode features accomplished guests who share the messy, real, and often uncomfortable parts of their journeys—the moments that shaped their eventual success.
In a world where social media sells the illusion of overnight success, F’ing Up reminds listeners (especially those early in their careers or considering a major pivot) that growth is never linear. Deanne invites guests to drop the polished narrative, explore their stumbles, and reflect on what those experiences taught them in real time.
Because the truth is: what we often label as failure is usually just part of the climb.
After all, we’re all F’ing Up.
ABOUT THE HOST
Deanne Rhynard is a Success Mentor and the Host of The F’ing Up Podcast, where she translates failure into clarity, confidence, and momentum. Known for her grounded honesty and sharp emotional intelligence, she helps people cut through noise, confront blind spots, and define success on their own terms.
Before launching F’ing Up, Deanne spent nearly two decades as a Chief People Officer and startup advisor, helping companies navigate the messy, high-pressure stages of growth and scale. She shaped culture and leadership at organizations including Performio and Olo—the restaurant-tech pioneer where she scaled the team more than 30x, led the company through an IPO and two acquisitions, and built a remote-first culture well before the rest of the world caught up.
Her background spans people operations, corporate relations, and management roles at the UVA Darden School of Business, KKR, Marriott, and several early-stage startups. This breadth gives her an uncommon ability to read people quickly and understand what unlocks their potential—whether they’re early in their career or leading from the C-suite.
Deanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Walla Walla University and lives in Washington State with her husband and three sons.
F'ing Up
Philip Eil on F’ing Up - S3 Ep14
In this deeply honest and vulnerable episode, we dive into the personal journey of dealing with anxiety, depression, and the profound effects they've had on both personal and professional life. Philip Eil opens up about the challenges of battling mental health, facing rejection, and pushing through discomfort to pursue his passions.
This episode explores the messy realities of self-doubt and rejection. Through all the turmoil, this guest has emerged stronger, finding healing through writing, commitment to therapy, and a sense of purpose in sharing their experiences with the world.
Key topics in this episode:
- The raw emotions behind not following the traditional milestones of adulthood (marriage, homeownership, etc.).
- The discomfort of being in a job that doesn’t align with your talents and the struggle to find what’s next.
- Overcoming rejection: how 25 publishers passed on the guest’s book, and the emotional rollercoaster of freelance journalism.
- A candid discussion about the realities of mental health struggles, including the times it’s knocked them completely out of action.
- The power of vulnerability and why writing about mental health has become a source of healing and purpose.
This episode serves as a reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health and that we are all in this together. If you've ever struggled with your own mental health or faced rejection in your journey, this one is for you.
ABOUT PHILIP EIL
Philip Eil is an award-winning freelance journalist based in his hometown, Providence, Rhode Island. He is the former news editor of the alt-weekly newspaper, The Providence Phoenix. Since the paper’s close in 2014, he has contributed to The Atlantic, Men’s Health, the Boston Globe, Huffington Post, and the Columbia Journalism Review, among other outlets. He has also taught writing and journalism classes at Brown University, Columbia University’s School of the Arts, and the Rhode Island School of Design. He holds an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the Columbia University School of the Arts. Prescription for Pain is his first book.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers’ own and do not represent the
views, thoughts, and opinions of the companies or individuals referenced during this recording. The material and information presented is for general information purposes only.
