"Good brands have great tension."

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, host Vivian Perez (Vamp Brand Studio) sits down with Viggy Venkat, the mastermind behind Tocha Foods. This isn’t your typical "hot sauce" story; it’s a masterclass in using customer discovery to identify a market gap so wide you could drive a distribution truck through it.

Memorable Moments:

Iconic Quotes:

Resources & Links:

Work With Vamp Brand Studio: We build resilient identities for founders ready to play the long game. From high-end packaging that stops the scroll to digital strategies that convert, we help you master the details.

"Getting distribution is not easy... but the hard part is getting it off the shelf."

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, host Vivian Perez (Vamp Brand Studio) sits down with CPG veterans Michelle McKay-Prychidny and Koreann Webster, the co-founders of Roadmap CPG. After serving as early key employees for industry giants like Vega and SmartSweets, they have seen exactly what it takes to survive the retail shelf—and the expensive mistakes that get brands kicked out.

Key Topics Covered:

"Get a thousand people to try your product... it's gonna save you so much money later on."

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, host Vivian Perez (Vamp Brand Studio) sits down with Tony, the co-founder behind Queen Street Bakery, to discuss the wild journey of transforming an allergen-friendly bread concept into a national powerhouse available in over 3,000 stores.

Key Topics Covered:

"If you ever knew what it would take to get where you want to go... you'd never do it."

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, host Vivian Perez (Vamp Brand Studio) sits down with Jason James, the visionary behind Vegan Supply, to discuss the transformation of the vegan industry from a niche market to a powerhouse of innovation.

Key Topics Covered:

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Vanp Brand Studio:

"I thought, I'm going to make mistakes and that's okay. And I was okay with it all. So just be kind to myself about it. But learn as much as I can."

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, host Vivian Perez (Vamp Brand Studio) sits down with Katie Merchant, the beekeeper and visionary behind The Honey Merchants, to discuss her transformation from a stay-at-home mom to a thriving CPG founder.

Key Topics Covered:

Resources Mentioned:

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Services: Strategy, Identity, Packaging, Web, and Social Design for Resilient Founders.

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, Vivian Perez sits down with Tirzah Adrian, a passionate entrepreneur, to talk about the challenges of burnout, overcoming self-doubt, and building a brand rooted in community and collaboration. Tirzah shares how she learned to trust herself, embrace vulnerability, and collaborate with others to create deep connections with her audience and expand her brand’s reach.

This episode is packed with emotional insights and practical strategies for entrepreneurs navigating setbacks, fear of failure, and personal growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Trust Your Instincts: Your intuition is built from experience—learn to trust it.
• Vulnerability Builds Connection: Sharing your story humanizes your brand and deepens relationships.
• Collaboration Amplifies Impact: Partnering with others helps scale your business while maintaining authenticity.
• Prioritize Self-Care: Emotional well-being is critical for sustainable business growth.

Memorable Moments:

• Tirzah’s reflections on burnout and how it impacted both her business and personal life.
• A moment when collaboration with trusted partners helped her regain momentum after a major setback.
• Tips on integrating self-trust, storytelling, and collaboration into your business strategy.

Where to Listen:

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or vanpbrandstudio.com for more insights on building resilient brands that connect.

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, Vivian Perez sits down with Isabelle Guilmette, the heart behind Washboard Soapery & Such—a natural soap and personal care brand that started with a DIY deodorant and evolved into a 130+ SKU product line. 

What began as a passion project in her kitchen grew into a thriving, values-driven business rooted in beauty, slowness, and integrity. Isabelle opens up about how she’s scaled intentionally and navigated major curveballs—from a flooded studio to a hospitalization that forced her to rethink her entire structure.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that slow growth, strong systems, and staying rooted in your why are not just nice-to-haves—they’re how you build something that lasts.

• 🧼 How a single DIY deodorant sparked a full personal care line
• 💥 How unexpected challenges (a flood + health crisis) became turning points
• ✨ Why beauty isn’t just surface-level—it’s how you show care, depth, and intention

• “This brand was born from necessity—but it bloomed from love.” — Isabelle
• The story of how a flooded studio pushed her to rebuild smarter, not harder
• Her approach to branding as care—through touch, scent, storytelling, and texture

Where to Listen:

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or vanpbrandstudio.com for more insights on building resilient brands that connect.

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, Vivian Perez sits down with Andy Knox, the founder of Knox Your Socks Off Hot Sauce, to talk about his journey from homegrown side hustle to an award-winning product line. Andy shares how experimenting with ingredients, listening to customers, and showing up consistently built a business that’s as bold as the flavors in every bottle.

When Andy Knox started playing with hot sauce recipes in his kitchen, he had no idea it would lead to international flavor awards, a strong community following, and a brand known for turning up the heat in the most unexpected ways. Andy walks us through his spicy journey—from refining recipes through customer feedback at farmers' markets to winning international awards and scaling with authenticity. This one’s for the founders blending purpose with punch—and looking to grow with heart.

This episode is packed with:

🔥 Lessons in trusting your gut (literally and figuratively)

🌶️ Tips for using community feedback as a growth engine

🏆 How to grow organically—and win awards doing it

Key Takeaways

• Lean into what your community tells you—they’ll shape your product
• Branding is more than design—it’s how you show up
• Passion, grit, and experimentation— can take you from scrappy beginnings to shelf-worthy success

Memorable Moments

• How Andy’s passion project turned into a premium hot sauce line
• The power of customer feedback in local markets
• Why authenticity (and good flavor) always wins

Where to Listen:

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or vanpbrandstudio.com for more insights on building resilient brands that connect.

How to build a successful brand without formal training? In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, Vivian Perez sits down with Leah Yard, founder of Leah Yard Designs to share her journey from crafting jewelry as a hobby to building a thriving brand—without formal training or a business degree. In this episode, Leah opens up about battling imposter syndrome, navigating the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and how embracing a growth mindset transformed her path.

Listen in for actionable takeaways on starting a business, the importance of personal development, and the courage to pursue your passion. If you’ve ever doubted your next big move, this conversation is for you!

Key takeaways:

• The Importance of Self-Belief – Confidence and persistence were crucial in turning her creative vision into reality.
• Social Media is a Double-Edged Sword - While it's great for exposure, it can also distort reality and create unrealistic expectations.
• Find your rhythm - Some thrive in fast-paced action, while others need deep focus—both are valid approaches.

Memorable Moments:

• Leah's unusual upbringing on a Lighthouse island and how it sparked her creativity.
• Start Before You Feel Ready - Leah Yard never felt "ready" to launch her business but did it anyway.
• "If you want to start something, just go for it." Leah's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Where to Listen:

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or vanpbrandstudio.com for more insights on building resilient brands that connect. 

In this episode, Vivian Perez and Sara Jónsdóttir discuss how Revol Cares was built to solve real problems for women through sustainable and socially impactful products. Sara opens up about the importance of storytelling, transparency, and balancing profitability with purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Sustainability as Core: Building sustainability into your brand’s DNA fosters trust and long-term success.
• Storytelling Matters: Authentic storytelling helps create emotional connections with customers.
• Balancing Growth and Impact: Navigating financial trade-offs is necessary to maintain both sustainability and profitability.

Memorable Moments:

• Sara’s reflections on how personal experiences inspired her product innovations.
• The story of how customer feedback influenced packaging and product development.
• Tips on simplifying messaging to better educate consumers without overwhelming them.

Where to Listen:

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or vanpbrandstudio.com for more insights on building resilient brands that connect.