Behind Her Empire

Bethany McDaniel is the founder of Primally Pure, a toxin-free and completely natural skincare and wellness brand. 

Bethany had no intention of getting into the skincare business. However, after years of battling severe acne and skin irritation caused by harsh chemicals in conventional products, she began experimenting with more natural options in her kitchen. At the same time, her family started an organic livestock farm, where her appreciation for real ingredients grew. With just $250, she bootstrapped the company while living with her in-laws, tirelessly working 12-hour days to handcraft products, manage customer service, and personally fulfill orders. Today, Primally Pure is a high-growth, multi-million-dollar brand with a cult following—and one of my personal favorites.

In this week’s episode, Bethany shares her journey from working 9-5 jobs at places like Trader Joe's and Lululemon, to freelancing as a writer, to then working with the Special Olympics. She explains how each of these different roles played a part in eventually leading her to start her own brand. We discuss the challenges she faced in launching her business with little money, no connections, and no prior experience, emphasizing how her passion and mindset were crucial to her early success. Bethany also talks about the obstacles she overcame, the mistakes that made her a stronger leader, and how she managed conflict and stress during those initial days. We explore the key pillars she focused on while growing her business as a one-person team, her top advice for anyone starting a business, why it's essential to start small and be truly passionate to bring your dreams to life, and so much more.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Bethany about:

* Graduating college and exploring many different careers in her 20s. [05:08]

* Insights from interviewing other founders. [07:49]

* How not having a “big goal” helped Bethany. [09:48]

* How to not compare yourself to others. [10:48]

* Leaving her 9-5 and moving to a farm with her husband. [12:00]

* Struggles with acne and starting Primally Pure. [16:18]

* Early stages of Primally Pure. [21:22]

* Bethany’s toughest business experience. [25:51]

* Hiring the first team member. [30:29]

* How Bethany educates herself as a business owner. [32:11]

* In-house product creation. [39:14]

* Benefits of growing the business slowly. [43:01]

* Key factors driving Primally Pure’s growth. [50:08]

* Challenges and failures Bethany has experienced over the years. [53:51]

* Bethany’s daily routine and habits. [57:38]

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.

* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Bethany:

* Website: https://primallypure.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primallypure/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethanyjmcdaniel/

Apple:

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Did you know the heart has 40,000 neurons? 🤯 That’s right—it’s not just the brain! By using a simple meditation technique, you can sync your heart and brain for greater clarity, focus, emotional intelligence, stress resilience, immunity, gut health, and happier hormones. Interested? Don’t miss this week’s conversation.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* How the mind really impacts the body

* The truth about heart intelligence

* One powerful meditation technique to try

* The truth about affirmations and gratitude lists

* How breathwork can change your body

* And more…

Kimberly Snyder is a 3x New York Times bestselling author, spiritual and meditation teacher, international speaker, nutritionist, and wellness expert. She is the founder of Solluna®, a holistic lifestyle brand that offers supplements, meditations and courses. She is the host of the top-rated Feel Good Podcast on the Podcast One Network. She's also worked with dozens of top celebrities to help them feel their best, including Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington and Channing Tatum, and is regularly featured by numerous national media outlets, including Good Morning America, The Today Show, The New York Times, Ellen, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. 

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.

* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Kimberly:

* Pre-order her NEW BOOK: https://mysolluna.com/fiveheartsbook/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kimberlysnyder/

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Melissa Palmer is the CEO and co-founder of OSEA, a heritage skincare brand with nearly 30 years of history, known for its use of seaweed as a signature ingredient in its products.

Melissa grew up surrounded by women who were deeply inspired by the sea, and OSEA is the result of four generations of Palmer women. From a young age, she was taught the importance of wellness and the power of natural foods and beauty. Her mother and co-founder, Jenefer, spent decades perfecting her formulas, often filling their bathtub with seaweed and experimenting with various concoctions in their kitchen. Through these experiences, Melissa learned the value of hard work, passion, and what it takes to become an entrepreneur by watching her mother build these formulas from the ground up. Twenty years later, this mother-daughter duo continues to run a successful business, achieving profitability every year since its inception.

In this week’s episode, we speak with Melissa about the importance of authenticity, storytelling, and staying true to your roots when building a strong, sustainable brand. She reflects on her unique upbringing and the visionary legacy of her great-grandmother, which inspired the creation of OSEA. Melissa discusses the early days of building the business from her home, her evolving relationship with perfectionism, and how failures with another business fueled her determination to elevate OSEA. She delves into the challenges of scaling in the clean beauty industry, the transition from a spa brand to a direct-to-consumer business, and how they built awareness and a loyal customer base before clean beauty became mainstream. Melissa also shares insights on the benefits of growing a business "slowly," why they turned down certain opportunities, their future expansion plans, and much more.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Melissa about:

* Melissa’s relationship with perfectionism and control. [03:38]

* The impact Melissa’s great-grandmother had on her and the business. [09:41]

* Melissa’s childhood and early entrepreneurial spirit. [12:46]

* OSEA’s early days shipping from their garage. [17:41]

* Lessons learned from hula hoop business. [19:11]

* Melissa’s growing self-confidence. [21:30]

* Being early in the clean beauty space and OSEA’s growth. [23:07]

* What it’s like working in a family business. [34:50]

* The significant role of a family coach and a therapist. [37:24]

* OSEA during the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually bringing an investor on board. [39:14]

* Melissa’s relationship with her business partners. [44:09]

* Melissa’s constant evolution of workflow. [47:50]

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.

* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Melissa:

* Website: https://oseamalibu.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oseamalibu/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happypalmer/

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In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes from last year with Kat Hantas. Kat is the co-founder of 21 Seeds Tequila, one of the fastest-growing flavored tequilas. 

Kat’s had an interesting journey - from thinking she wanted to be a doctor, then pivoting to the entertainment industry, and then being a stay-at-home mom for many years. She never would have thought that she’d launch a business in the liquor industry. It wasn’t until she started noticing that her evening wine wasn’t making her feel good and her doctor recommended that she move away from fermented spirits and into distilled spirits. 

In the process of exploring tequila options, Kat came up with the idea to start 21 Seeds Tequila - a fresh natural tequila made with real fruit. She was making this in her kitchen for years, until one day the demand became so much that her friend inspired her to start selling the bottles. This sparked the idea and Kat co-founded the business with her sister and good friend to make it a reality. 

The business was acquired by Diageo in just three years in March 2022 and the deal marked one of the largest female-founded liquor acquisitions to-date.

In this podcast episode, Kat opens up about her journey with imposter syndrome and shares tips on overcoming it in her career in the entertainment industry and entrepreneurial ventures. She discusses her transition from being a stay-at-home mom to launching 21 Seeds, highlighting the challenges of finding a distillery, creating product-market fit, and building a supportive network. Kat ends by sharing the playbook she used in marketing and the importance of knowing your customer, and so much more. 

In this episode, we’ll talk to Kat about:

* Impostor syndrome and its impact on women's aspirations. [03:44]

* From medical school to the entertainment industry. [07:10]

* Experience at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and starting her production company. [12:14]

* Film "Taking 5," hiatus, and focusing on family. [16:55]

* Kat's journey as a stay-at-home mom, health challenges, and 21 Seeds inspiration. [22:00]

* From a hobby to launching 21 Seeds Tequila after nine years. [25:38]

* Significance of co-founders in 21 Seeds' success. [30:00]

* Challenges in the male-dominated tequila industry without expertise. [35:56]

* Launch process and diligent preparations for 21 Seeds. [42:24]

* Fundraising process and key lessons learned. [44:07]

* Early momentum and unique marketing for 21 Seeds. [49:49]

* Diageo's acquisition: a milestone in female-founded liquor business. [55:25]

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.

* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Kat:

* Website: https://www.21seeds.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/21seeds/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathantas/

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Know someone with multiple sclerosis? Dr. Terry Wahls brings hope to nearly 3 million people with MS worldwide. In this inspiring episode, she shares her incredible story of reversing her progressive MS symptoms. From using two walking sticks to eventually riding her bike, her journey highlights the transformative power of food, targeted supplementation and determination. Dr. Wahls' experience illuminates new possibilities for those living with MS.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* Who is most likely to get autoimmune conditions

* Top foods to start eating today for less autoimmunity

* Supplements to support multiple sclerosis

* The role of sleep in autoimmunity

* Life changing perspective for staying healthy

* And more…

Dr. Terry Wahls is more than a doctor. She’s an educator, a speaker, an author, and she’s also a patient. In 2000, she was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Dr. Wahls was determined not to let the disease control her life, so she began doing her own research. In December 2007, she began the Wahls Protocol® — a therapeutic diet and lifestyle program that focuses on functional medicine and nutrient-rich foods.

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Dr. Wahls: 

* Website: https://terrywahls.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drterrywahls/?hl=en

* FREE online MS and Neuroimmune Summit from 8/20 to 8/26 https://drtalks.com/multiple-sclerosis-summit-2024/?oid=77&ref=2476&uid=768

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In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes from last year with Anastasia Soare. Anastasia is an iconic beauty mogul, eyebrow queen, and founder/CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills.

From moving to the US from Romania without speaking any English with minimal financial means to founding one of the fastest-growing brands in the beauty industry, Anastasia’s story is nothing short of incredible. Her brow-shaping technique, known as the Golden Ratio, placed her ahead of the curve, leading to what is now a celebrity favorite, a beloved product line, and billion dollar empire. 

Anastasia created a new category for brows in service, pushing through multiple instances of people not believing in her or her vision. Her path has been anything but easy, and today’s conversation is an honest look at what it took to build her empire over the past 25-years. 

Anastasia’s work has graced the faces of Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey and Victoria Beckham, to name a few, and her brand has more than 20 million followers across Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

In this episode, Anastasia shares her story of courage and confidence, leaving the safety of working for other people to pursue her dreams and create a new category for eyebrows. Anastasia believes that failure is a necessary stop on the road to success and gets real about the mistakes she’s made along the way. Her path has not been easy and we get a real behind the scenes look in her journey building her business to the cult-following brand it is today, and how with confidence and self-belief, anyone can realize their biggest passions and dreams.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Anastasia about:

* Anastasia’s upbringing and her female role models. [03:12]

* Leaving Romania in search of a better life for herself and her family. [04:58]

* Her first job in the US before becoming the Eyebrow Queen. [08:12]

* Developing the Golden Ratio for eyebrows based on the fine art principle. [11:12]

* Leaving the the salon to focus on her own endeavors. [18:09]

* Starting a new line of products for herself. [28:37] 

* Failures on the road to success. [31:57]

* Flipping houses, stocking Nordstrom, and flying all the time. [34:37]

* Misconceptions around what business is actually like. [35:30]

* Common mistakes made by women in business. [36:06]

* Becoming the first beauty brand to have an online presence. [41:29]

* Challenges of a family business and what she loves about working with her incredible daughter. [44:49]

* Her hard-working and creative daughter, who is a cornerstone of the business. [48:01]

* Self-funding the business and the decision to bring in an investor. [49:00]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Anastasia: 

* Website: https://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiasoare/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiabeverlyhills/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes from last year with Katerina Schneider. Katerina is the Founder and CEO of Ritual, a personal health brand bringing a new level of transparency to the health & wellness industry. While pregnant and in search of a prenatal she could trust, Katerina took matters into her own hands and pioneered a new standard of high-quality multivitamins and supplements that are backed by science. Now as one of the most trusted brands in the category, Ritual has had more than a million customers and has the top-selling online prenatal multivitamin.

In this week's episode, we delve into Katerina's family's immigration journey, arriving in the US with only $50 & a suitcase, and how it has influenced her views on success and money. We explore her transition from finance to a different career path & the role of relationships in her journey. We also touch on the significant pivots Ritual made in terms of product, branding, & marketing very early on, as well as the biggest challenges she faced. Katerina also shares how she incorporates wellness in her life as a mother of three and business owner, highlighting the importance of being a little selfish when it comes to self-care, & so much more.

We talk to Katerina about:

* Migrating to the US with her family with only $50 and a suitcase. [03:27]

* Katerina’s finance career and involvement in a major US bank failure. [06:07]

* Working at Universal Music, rebuilding her confidence, & discovering passions. [12:45]

* Katerina’s transition to a new industry. [14:42]

* Advice on embracing uncertainty and trusting the process. [18:53]

* Ritual's inspiration rooted in Katerina's personal experience during her first pregnancy.[21:51]

* How Katerina thrived being both a mother and entrepreneur. [29:31]

* The original idea of Ritual and how it changed over time. [34:46]

* Taking care of yourself, building habits, and going back to the basics. [41:39]

* Why EVERYONE should start a business, and knowing when to take that leap. [47:47]

Episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you're struggling with hormonal imbalances, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances

* Get $10 off with promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Katerina:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katandkale/

* Website: https://ritual.com/

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Do you believe in the power of your mind? It turns out, one of the most powerful tools for healing happens to be right between your ears. Not only is there science to prove it, but there are endless stories of people restoring their health through these subtle mental shifts—which we got to hear from Kelly Gores, the woman behind the award-winning Heal documentary.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* Where to start with mindset work

* How to shift from fear to love for healing

* The real power of visualization

* How words can impact our bodies

* And more…

Kelly Noonan Gores has been working in entertainment since she was seven years old. In 2012, she transitioned from acting and started Elevative Entertainment with the intention to create conscious media that informs, empowers, and inspires. She is the writer, director, and producer of the 2017 award-winning feature-length documentary Heal, and, due to the film's popularity, wrote the companion book. To continue the conversation around healing, consciousness, and personal transformation, she founded and hosts The HEAL Podcast. She is a mother, a seeker, a meditator, and loves to read, write, play sports, travel and spend time in nature. For more information, visit her websites at thehealbook.co and healdocumentary.com.

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.

* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.

Follow Yasmin:

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

Follow Kelly:

* Website: https://healwithkelly.co/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healwithkelly/

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In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes from last year with Denise Woodard. Denise is the founder and CEO of Partake Foods, an allergy-friendly snack company.

Denise's journey began back in 2016, while juggling a day job and the new role of mom to a daughter with multiple food allergies. Frustrated by the lack of tasty options available for her little one, she took the advice of her babysitter and decided to "do something about it." From there, Partake Foods was born.

Denise started creating recipes in her home kitchen and began selling cookies out of her car to get the word out about her business. With no prior experience in the food industry, Denise had a lot to learn and made mistakes along the way. However, she was determined to make it work, and self-funded the business using all of her savings and even selling her engagement ring to make ends meet.

As the business grew, Denise knew she needed more funding to take it to the next level. So, she set out on a fundraising journey and dealt with many rejections that eventually led her to the right partner, Jay-Z's venture fund, Marcy Venture Partners. To date, she has raised up to $19M, making her the first Black woman to raise over $1 Million publicly for a CPG food startup. 

In this episode, we’ll talk to Denise about:

* What holds people back from their biggest goals and dreams. [03:22]

* How Denise’s parents shaped her identity. [05:10]

* Her parents’ definition of success and its influence on her. [07:18]

* What Denise would have done differently in her corporate career. [08:30]

* Denise's entrepreneurial nature. [10:59]

* The benefits of working on side hustles while employed full time.[12:05]

* What big brands can’t recreate no matter how much money they have. [13:01]

* The 2016 incident that motivated Denise to solve a problem for her daughter. [18:45]

* How Denise’s nanny motivated her to create a business. [20:41]

* The early days of Partake Foods and overcoming challenges. [22:08]

* Barriers to entry in the food allergy consumer market. [29:27]

* How their product list has changed over time. [30:22]

* Raising money beyond bootstrapping. [30:50]

* Managing stress and burnout. [33:48]

* Investors who initially said no but later wanted to participate. [37:48]

* Fundraising advice for other entrepreneurs. [38:30]

* Why it is a mistake to try to grow too quickly. [40:15]

* What’s keeping Denise up at night at this stage of the business. [43:02]

* How Denise involves her daughter in the business as chief taste tester. [45:45]

* Advice for women balancing life at home with running a business. [47:44]

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.

* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Denise:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partakefoods/

* Website: https://partakefoods.com/

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Gabby Reece is a volleyball legend, host of The Gabby Reece Show podcast which ranks No. 1 in the mental health category, New York Times bestselling author, and serial entrepreneur. 

Together with her husband, big-wave surf pioneer and entrepreneur Laird Hamilton, they run the plant-based food company Laird Superfood along with many other businesses in the health and wellness category, including Laird Apparel and XPT.  

In our episode together, we talk to Gabby about one theme in her life that stands out: being an outsider and how it’s shaped every single life and career move she’s had. She shares her experiences of not fitting into conventional family structures, being a tall athlete in a non-traditional sport, and feeling like an island in her personal and professional life. Gabby emphasizes the importance of embracing who you are and finding the lessons and skills needed to navigate your unique path. 

We also talk about her journey building Laird Superfood with her husband and a behind the scenes look into what it takes to create a wellness brand with high-quality products. Gabby shares tips for embracing discomfort and seeing challenges as part of the journey, why we should all trust the universe, and so much more. 

In this episode, we’ll talk to Gabby about:

* Why being an outsider has been a recurring theme in Gabby's life. [02:04]

* Managing the urge to fit in during her teenage years. [05:24]

* Gabby’s strong survival patterns throughout her life. [07:35]

* How Gabby manages motherhood and business. [11:32]

* The unfolding of Gabby's wellness journey. [16:58]

* Mindset similarities between sports and business. [19:07]

* Adaptability and resilience in life. [22:27]

* The origin of the idea for Laird Superfood. [26:01]

* Gabby's other entrepreneurial ventures.[30:33]

* The philosophy behind Laird Superfood. [33:40]

* Gabby's transition from professional athlete to entrepreneur. [34:57]

* The importance of having a clear why and purpose. [27:22]

* What keeps Gabby motivated and inspired. [41:37]

* How Gabby and her husband handle scrutiny. [43:14]

* Managing investors and stocks. [45:32]

* The most important do's and don'ts when starting a business with your partner. [48:07]

* Balancing feminine and masculine perspectives. [51:50]

* Advice on trusting oneself. [55:50]

* Why women shouldn't overcompensate by doing things like men. [58:51]

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.

* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Gabby:

* Website: https://gabriellereece.com/

* Website: https://lairdsuperfood.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lairdsuperfood/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.