NotBasicBlonde Podcast

Episode 235

In this episode I sit down with Albert Preciado, a seasoned founder and operator to trace the experiences that shaped their career and extract practical playbooks for high-performance decision‑making. Topics include reaching peak mental state for sustained focus and resilience; the rationale behind “don’t get married until you buy a house” framed as financial and life‑planning advice; how to cast a compelling vision and rally teams around it; credit‑card strategies and money‑management hacks; a candid account of a pivotal failure and the lessons it taught about execution and grit; a decision‑framework for choosing opportunities (filters, risk vs. upside, optionality); balancing intuition with data, illustrated by a real example; tradeoffs between quick money and long‑term investments; hiring principles and the character/skill mix they prioritize when building teams; and future trends likely to reshape the field over the next 5–10 years. Final segment delivers practical, actionable advice for aspiring founders and professionals looking to follow a similar path. Key takeaways: prioritize mental fitness, build optionality, make data‑informed bets, hire for humility + rigor, and plan financially while keeping a long‑term vision.

Guest

Albert Preciado https://www.instagram.com/thealbertpreciado is the Founder and CEO of The Mortgage Guys, Ambiance Realty and Driven Enterprises. Albert is also a Real Estate Investor. In 2013 Albert bought a 3 unit property and like everything else Albert does he went all in and acquired as many multi-units as possible. This would end up being a Life Changer. Albert’s original company was The Mortgage Guy and after mentorship sessions the company’s name changed to The Mortgage Guys. This was another Life Changer. Albert has been in the mortgage industry since 2005, he is a licensed Broker and Mortgage Originator. Albert went through the toughest times of his life in 2008 when we had a market recession and Mortgage Meltdown but decided to weather the storm and not quit the industry he believed in. The reason why Albert started a mortgage company was because of the pain endured by his parents and himself when they got turned down for a mortgage time after time in the early 90s. Albert always had a dream; to have a house with a big yard and a dog since he was a kid, and it never happened because of unprofessional Real Estate and Mortgage Agents. Looking back, Albert realized how his parents did qualify for a home loan but due to the incompetence of the Real Estate and Mortgage Agents helping at the time, nothing ever happened. Albert committed to start a Mortgage Company from scratch and create a company that will help humble families make their American Dream a reality. Albert’s life wasn’t always perfect and his mid 20s were full of costly mistakes that could have costed him his life.

After many mistakes that led to DUI’s, almost death situations and losing everything in the 2008 Mortgage Meltdown and becoming homeless, Albert turned his life around in 2013 when he committed to self improvement and cutting the bullshit from his life one at a time. Today Albert lives his Dream Life with his wife Silvia, his daughter Italia and soon to be born Berlin in the city of Beverly Hills. 

Host

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 234: Part 2 

With TereZa Lolli

In this episode TereZa shares the story of their joint transformation and the empire they built together — from Rapid Realty’s rapid scaling and Anthony becoming a millionaire by 23 to the 125‑pound life change that led them into wellness, biohacking, and Lolli Brands Entertainment. TereZa offers practical advice for a happy marriage while co‑leading a business, covering communication, shared vision, and balancing family with ambition. They discuss their “assembly line” sales model, hiring for potential, high‑profile creative partnerships, documenting their journey in award‑winning films, and the philanthropic values rooted in their immigrant family history. Closing takeaway: systematize your business, hire for potential, and prioritize your relationship as the foundation of long‑term success.

Guests

Anthony and TereZa Lolli are the power couple behind Biohack Yourself Media — the fastest-growing independent health and wellness news platform in the world — reaching millions with expert-driven journalism, science-backed content, and award-winning storytelling.

But before they became health media disruptors… they were in survival mode. Anthony Lolli is a real estate mogul and the best-selling author of The Heart of the Deal, who built a multimillion-dollar empire from scratch. But at 315 pounds, facing major health decline, he made the radical decision to document his 125-pound transformation on camera — launching the now-viral documentary Fat Lolli to Six Pack Lolli, which became a global phenomenon on Prime Video and Apple TV.

TereZa Hakobyan-Lolli is an Armenian-born actress, recording artist, mother, and editor-in-chief who turned postpartum hormonal collapse into a wellness revolution — winning two bikini world titles and documenting it all through films like The Super Lollis, Skin Deep, and SHEALED.

Together, they’ve co-founded Lolli Brands Entertainment — producing more than a dozen acclaimed health and transformation documentaries. And they’re raising two young trailblazers, Love and Legend Lolli, who are already reporting on health news, building media projects, and investing in real estate — all before age 10.

In 2024, their influence reached national heights when Biohack Yourself Media was selected as the exclusive health press at RFK Jr.’s MAHA Inaugural Ball.

They’re not just content creators — they’re immersive documentarians, performance marketers, and media entrepreneurs turning pain into purpose… and purpose into platforms. This is what it looks like when you combine hustle, healing, and a whole lot of heart.

Host 

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 234 : Part 1

Part 1 with Anthony Lolli

In this episode Anthony shares his personal transformation and how he built his empire — from founding Rapid Realty, becoming a millionaire by 23, and scaling the company to 70+ locations with an unconventional "assembly line" sales model and hiring for potential, to a life-changing 125‑pound weight loss that prompted a pivot into wellness and biohacking. He discusses documenting the journey in award-winning films, launching Lolli Brands Entertainment, forming high-profile creative partnerships, and channeling his immigrant-family values into broad philanthropy — closing with the lessons and legacy he hopes to leave future entrepreneurs.
Key business advice he shares: hire for potential and systematize repeatable processes so culture and growth scale together.

Guests

Anthony and TereZa Lolli

Today’s guests are a couple who didn’t just survive the system — they rebuilt it. Anthony and TereZa Lolli are the power couple behind Biohack Yourself Media — the fastest-growing independent health and wellness news platform in the world — reaching millions with expert-driven journalism, science-backed content, and award-winning storytelling.

But before they became health media disruptors… they were in survival mode.

Anthony Lolli is a real estate mogul and the best-selling author of The Heart of the Deal, who built a multimillion-dollar empire from scratch. But at 315 pounds, facing major health decline, he made the radical decision to document his 125-pound transformation on camera — launching the now-viral documentary Fat Lolli to Six Pack Lolli, which became a global phenomenon on Prime Video and Apple TV.

TereZa Hakobyan-Lolli is an Armenian-born actress, recording artist, mother, and editor-in-chief who turned postpartum hormonal collapse into a wellness revolution — winning two bikini world titles and documenting it all through films like The Super Lollis, Skin Deep, and SHEALED.

Together, they’ve co-founded Lolli Brands Entertainment — producing more than a dozen acclaimed health and transformation documentaries. And they’re raising two young trailblazers, Love and Legend Lolli, who are already reporting on health news, building media projects, and investing in real estate — all before age 10.

In 2024, their influence reached national heights when Biohack Yourself Media was selected as the exclusive health press at RFK Jr.’s MAHA Inaugural Ball. They’re not just content creators — they’re immersive documentarians, performance marketers, and media entrepreneurs turning pain into purpose… and purpose into platforms.

This is what it looks like when you combine hustle, healing, and a whole lot of heart.

Host

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 233

Bonus Episode: 

In this episode I recap my time at the America Business Forum where Jeff Bezos was a keynote speaker and shared several provocative pieces of business advice. Bezos urged founders to stop chasing work‑life “balance” and instead pursue harmony that lets priorities flow without constant tradeoffs. He described how some of his boldest inventions sprang from intuition and a willingness to bet on ideas before they were fully proven. Looking farther ahead, Bezos argued humanity will expand beyond Earth — a long‑term perspective that shapes audacious strategy. He also urged listeners not to fear AI, framing it as a powerful tool that, when used well, amplifies creativity and business success. I close with practical takeaways for entrepreneurs: trust informed intuition, design for harmony, think long, and adopt AI as an accelerant rather than a threat.

Host - Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

Podcast - @nbbpodcast 

Episode 232

In this episode, Anne Mahlum, the founder of Solidcore walks us through her journey from launching Back on My Feet to scaling Solidcore from a single studio to 100+ locations, including the fundraising playbook that raised over $200M. She shares the toughest growth challenges, how she preserved culture during rapid expansion, the moment that reframed her view of success and failure, and why she chose to share millions from the sale with employees. Practical exit-planning advice, leadership lessons, and the founder’s next projects round out a candid conversation about building purpose-driven, scalable businesses.

Guest

The beginning of Anne’s  Mahlum entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2007, she found herself running by a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. She engaged the shelter to start a running club, which she quickly transformed into a national non-profit called Back on My Feet. The organization, now with an $8M annual budget, uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homelessness become empowered to change their lives. Under Anne’s leadership as CEO, she grew the organization to 14 cities. Since its inception, Back on My Feet has helped thousands of individuals achieve employment and more self-sufficient living. But Anne didn’t stop there. She created success again when she founded pilates-inspired solidcore in 2013. As its founder and CEO, she grew it into one of the country’s most successful fitness companies in less than a decade by raising more than $200M through private equity to scale it to more than 115 locations across the U.S. The company currently has thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of clients across 30 states, including former First Lady Michelle Obama Anne successfully  exited [solidcore] in April 2013 and shared millions with her employees after sale.

A true self-made success story, Anne’s entrepreneurial ventures have resulted in a personal net worth of over $100M. 

Anne has been honored many times for her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she was featured by CNBC for her continued success over the years. She has also been recognized by the Washington Business Journal as a ‘ Women Who Mean Business’ winner, and was named both an ABC World News Person of the Week and a CNN Hero for her work at Back on My Feet. She has given three TEDx talks about finding your passion, letting go of your complacency, and helping others. She has also received notable media attention highlighting her talent, including articles in CNBC, The Washington Post, The Washington Business Journal and Runner’s World.

Host

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 231 : Part 2

This episode digs into the mechanics and organizational uses of storytelling. We examine why vulnerability and conflict are core to authentic leadership and growth, showing how tension creates stakes, invites trust, and enables real change. Practical guidance follows for leaders, organizations, and entrepreneurs on using story to build inclusion, resilience, and adaptability — from framing decisions to surfacing diverse voices and modeling narrative repair..

The episode also covers reflection practices and “version control” for personal narratives: how to iterate, archive, and intentionally update stories as circumstances and values evolve. We close with a forward-looking conversation about storytelling in an AI-driven era — challenges of synthetic communication, the premium on nuance and provenance, and new tools for amplification. For entrepreneurs who feel their stories are ordinary, the message is clear: ordinariness is a source of relatability and agency — find the turning points, stakes, and choices, and you have a meaningful, useful story.

Guest 

Dr. Rod Berger https://www.instagram.com/drrodbergeri s a keynote speaker, professional moderator, and a globally recognized expert in strategic storytelling, celebrated for his groundbreaking work in narrative communication, leadership, and media. As the author of the highly anticipated book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets the Moment (Wiley, November 2025), Dr. Berger explores the art, complexity, and transformative power of authentic storytelling across personal, professional, and global contexts. His book delivers actionable insights for professionals and leaders seeking to deepen connection, inspire teams, and ignite purposeful change through narrative.
With over two decades of experience and more than 4,000 interviews worldwide—including notable conversations with global icons such as the late Pope Francis, NBA legend Magic Johnson, and F1 World Champion Jenson Button—Dr. Berger combines rich curiosity with a storyteller’s intuition. His interviews, articles, and podcasts have been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Los Angeles Magazine, and he currently serves as Editor-at-Large for Fair Observer. Dr. Berger is also renowned for his influential podcast, “Headroom with Dr. Rod Berger,” delivering in-depth stories with thought leaders, prime ministers, and innovators from around the globe. Earlier this year, Dr. Berger moderated a live keynote alongside Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Nobel Prize Nominee, and the 'Grandmother of Juneteenth', Opal Lee. 
A former guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management and advisor to educational and humanitarian organizations worldwide, Dr. Berger’s expertise shapes brands, builds trust, and cultivates strong workplace cultures with impact, empathy, and influence. He holds the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Award for his work in Eastern Africa and is recognized as a leading voice in the Voices of the Future series out of Dubai

Host 
Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_
NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 231: Part 1

In this episode Dr. Rod shares storytelling as a strategic practice for agency and leadership. We trace the origin of using story beyond art — as a cross-cultural tool that empowers individuals and leaders to shape influence across generations. The conversation highlights origin stories and practical steps for reclaiming authorship when personal narratives have been written by others: naming influences, excavating overlooked facts, and practicing small rewrites that shift identity and choices.

You’ll hear patterns distilled from thousands of interviews — recurring themes of resilience, meaning-making, and the connective power of vulnerability. The host introduces a modular, choose-your-own-adventure structure for the book that lets listeners pick pathways relevant to their context and apply concise storytelling frameworks. The main takeaway: story work is actionable — by intentionally crafting and rehearsing narrative moves, anyone can increase agency, credibility, and directional clarity.

Guest

Dr. Rod Berger https://www.instagram.com/drrodbergeri s a keynote speaker, professional moderator, and a globally recognized expert in strategic storytelling, celebrated for his groundbreaking work in narrative communication, leadership, and media. As the author of the highly anticipated book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets the Moment (Wiley, November 2025), Dr. Berger explores the art, complexity, and transformative power of authentic storytelling across personal, professional, and global contexts. His book delivers actionable insights for professionals and leaders seeking to deepen connection, inspire teams, and ignite purposeful change through narrative.

With over two decades of experience and more than 4,000 interviews worldwide—including notable conversations with global icons such as the late Pope Francis, NBA legend Magic Johnson, and F1 World Champion Jenson Button—Dr. Berger combines rich curiosity with a storyteller’s intuition. His interviews, articles, and podcasts have been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Los Angeles Magazine, and he currently serves as Editor-at-Large for Fair Observer. Dr. Berger is also renowned for his influential podcast, “Headroom with Dr. Rod Berger,” delivering in-depth stories with thought leaders, prime ministers, and innovators from around the globe. Earlier this year, Dr. Berger moderated a live keynote alongside Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Nobel Prize Nominee, and the 'Grandmother of Juneteenth', Opal Lee. 

A former guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management and advisor to educational and humanitarian organizations worldwide, Dr. Berger’s expertise shapes brands, builds trust, and cultivates strong workplace cultures with impact, empathy, and influence. He holds the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Award for his work in Eastern Africa and is recognized as a leading voice in the Voices of the Future series out of Dubai

Host 

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 230

The One Trade That Changed Everything: A Trader’s Confession - Smart Money Moves for Chaotic Markets 

In this episode veteran options trader and commentator Jon Najarian walks listeners through his path into options trading, revealing the pivotal moment that set his focus and the trade that taught him his biggest lessons in discipline and risk management. Najarian discusses how trade wars, government shutdowns and other macro events shape market behavior, and explains how options‑flow and retail order flow have altered dynamics over the past five years. He outlines the most common beginner mistakes (and corrective habits emphasized by Market Rebellion), shares his approach to trading volatility around earnings and Fed decisions, and describes when he favors defined‑risk structures versus directional plays. Najarian also covers the psychology of trading—managing fear and FOMO—and offers practical coaching tips. Finally, he weighs the benefits and risks of commission‑free/social trading, suggests how regulators should balance access with protection, highlights sectors he’s watching now, and gives long‑term skills and habits for listeners building multi‑decade trading plans.

Guest

Jon Najarian, ‘‘DRJ,” was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears before he turned to another kind of contact sport – trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. He became a member of the CBOE, NYSE, CME and CBOT and worked as a floor trader for some 25 years.

In 1990 he founded Mercury Trading, a market-making firm at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), which he sold in 2004 to Citadel, one of the world’s largest hedge funds. In 2005 Jon co-founded optionMONSTER and tradeMONSTER. He partnered with private equity firm General Atlantic Partners in 2014 and they sold the firm to E*Trade for $750 million in September of 2016. Today, he is a professional investor, money manager and media analyst.

Jon has earned a reputation in the industry as an options trading expert and pioneer. He developed and patented trading applications and algorithms used to identify unusual activity in stock, options, and futures markets. optionMONSTER, the options news and education site he co-founded, was described by Securities Industry News as “content king of the options business.” For years, tradeMONSTER was consistently rated “Best for Options Traders” by Barron’s and was the first online broker to deploy streaming, desktop-like trading in a web browser.

Jon and Pete invest in and work with start-ups via Rebellion Partners, a venture consulting firm they launched in 2015. In 2016 Jon and Pete co-founded Market Rebellion, a company focused on educating the individual investor.

Formerly, Jon was a 16-year contributor to a variety of CNBC programs including Worldwide Exchange, The Halftime Report, Fast Money, and Power Lunch. Today, you can catch Jon on Fox Business and Market Rebellion’s exclusive, regularly scheduled shows on Market Rebellion TV.

Host

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 229

Million-Dollar Moves: Kyle Fraser’s Survivor Playbook

In this episode, Kyle Fraser shares his journey from applicant to Sole Survivor. Kyle explains what pushed him to apply and when he committed to playing, then connects how his background as a teacher and lawyer shaped a methodical, investigative approach to strategy and social play. He outlines his pre-game routine—mental conditioning, physical prep, and game planning—and assesses how accurately the TV edit captured his personality and moves.

After weeks of living in Fiji, outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting the competition, Kyle walked away with the $1,000,000 prize and the title of sole survivor. Celebrated for his sharp strategy, clutch immunity performances, and knack for earning trust in cutthroat moments, his season has been labeled one of the most thrilling in recent memory.

Kyle identifies the single moment that defined his season and breaks down his core strategy: amplifying a likable persona while concealing his legal career, using investigative instincts over surface-level reads, and adapting tactics as the game progressed. He contrasts early alliance-building with late-game maneuvering and describes how he balanced being likable enough to earn trust with making the hard, cutthroat moves needed to win.

Finally, Kyle discusses life after the show—how the win altered his personal and professional life, the practical steps he’s taken with the money (and why a safety net mattered), the judge who helped him manage work and filming, and what Survivor taught him about resilience and priorities.

Host 

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast

Episode 228: Part 2

In this episode, Jennifer's story isn't just about business growth; it's about redefining what's possible for creators and giving them the tools to become industry leaders in their own right.

Jennifer's expertise has been spotlighted in leading outlets including BoF, Forbes, and Vogue Business.

Talking Points:

•  Multiple Streams, Maximum Stability: Practical ways to diversify income beyond brand deals, so your business thrives no matter the algorithm.
•  Data-Driven Decisions: Using your social media analytics to choose the right product to develop and avoid costly missteps.
•  The Creator Business Blueprint: Affiliate revenue streams, choosing the right platforms, scaling smart, and how to stop overthinking and start taking strategic action.

Guest
Jennifer has built a career transforming creators into globally recognized brands, securing groundbreaking licensing deals for names like Chiara Ferragni, Rumi Neely, and Sincerely Jules.
Known as the "influencer's influencer," she's the woman who spotted the creator economy in 2008 before it had a name, leaving a thriving career as a top modeling agent in 2017 to represent fashion bloggers (back when people still asked, "Wait... what's a blogger?"). That leap didn't just pay off; it rewrote the rules of the industry. She saw the future: a world where creators could be more than just a middleman for brands.
Now, as the CEO of JP Inc., she's built licensing deals, capsule collections, and product launches for icons like Danielle Bernstein. She's the first person credited with representing digitally native talent, a Business of Fashion 500 honoree, and the creator of The Creator's Path to Product, a course that shows influencers exactly how to turn their trust with an audience into long-term wealth through their own products. Other agencies even send their talent to Jennifer when it comes to IP, because she's one of the few who knows how to transform analytics from affiliate sales and brand partnerships into multi-million-dollar licensing strategies.

Host 

Olyasha Novozhylova @notbasicblonde_

NotBasicBlonde Podcast @nbbpodcast