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. 

Overview:

Vivian Perez and Myles Powell dive into the importance of small wins in building resilience and long-term success. Myles reflects on the lessons he’s learned from early setbacks, the role of community in his growth, and how focusing on incremental progress helped him build Myles Comfort Food.

Key Takeaways:

• Celebrate Small Wins: Every step forward builds momentum.
• Adaptability is Key: Resilience comes from being open to change and pivoting when necessary.
• Community Matters: Surrounding yourself with supportive collaborators accelerates growth.

Memorable Moments:

• Myles’ reflections on turning a failed launch into a learning experience.
• How small milestones helped him maintain motivation during tough times.
• His advice on building community support to amplify growth.

Where to Listen:

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or vanpbrandstudio.com.

Overview:
Vivian Perez and Daniela Marin discuss the journey of introducing yerba mate to the Canadian market. Daniela dives into the challenges of educating consumers, adapting a traditional product for a new audience, and maintaining a focus on sustainability and community.

Key Takeaways:

• Educating Your Audience: Simplify your messaging to connect with consumers unfamiliar with your product.
• Balancing Tradition and Innovation: How Daniela adapted yerba mate’s flavor and positioning for a Canadian audience.
• Navigating Challenges: Why resilience and adaptability are crucial for breaking into a competitive market.

Memorable Moments:

• Daniela’s reflections on the importance of storytelling in introducing a new product.
• The decision to cold brew yerba mate to reduce bitterness while maintaining its health benefits.
• Lessons learned from navigating Canadian food and beverage regulations.
• Resource: Packaging guidelines HERE

Where to Listen:
Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or vanpbrandstudio.com.

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, Vivian Perez chats with Eliza Trendiak, founder of Lavoh, about her journey from running service-based salons to creating a sustainable reusable makeup remover cloth line. Eliza shares how she transformed unexpected production delays into an opportunity to create a high-impact product launch. From navigating manufacturing obstacles to leveraging grassroots marketing and her network, Eliza’s story is a powerful example of resilience and strategic thinking.

Key Takeaways:

• Turning Downtime into Opportunity: How Eliza used production delays to build momentum and craft a pre-launch strategy that made an impact.
• Leveraging Your Network: The power of reaching out to influencers, journalists, and collaborators to amplify your brand’s visibility.
• Resilience in Action: Why staying adaptable is essential for overcoming challenges in product development and launch.

Memorable Moments:

• Eliza’s decision to work with a children’s product manufacturer to ensure the highest quality for Lavoh.
• How a six-week shipping delay became a golden opportunity to connect with her audience and build buzz.
• Her reflections on managing the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and the importance of a strong support system.

Where to Listen:
Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at vanpbrandstudio.com.

Overview:
In this episode, Vivian Perez chats with Tara Duncan, founder of Urban Calm Coffee, who shares her journey from an unfulfilling job to creating a coffee brand focused on calm. Tara talks about the importance of a clear brand vision, the value of listening to the market, and how resilience has guided her through challenges.

Key Points:

• From Idea to Brand: Tara’s journey began with a brainstorm on a beach, figuring out what she wanted Urban Calm Coffee to look and feel like.
• Learning from the Market: Tara describes how she tested ideas directly with customers, saying, “I’ve literally gone to markets just to try something completely new and see if people respond to it.”
• Resilience and Consistency: Tara reminds us, “Passion is only going to take you so far. When you’re at a market, it’s 35 degrees, and nobody’s buying—can you still keep going?”

Memorable Quotes:

• “It’s not just about the product. It’s about the feeling you get with this product... It’s more than just coffee; it’s the calm moment it brings.”
• “Every decision, from the packaging to the colors, had to be part of the bigger picture... It’s about creating a vibe that resonates.”

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, host Vivian Perez sits down with Isabelle, the founder of Remix Snacks, to discuss the real journey behind building a brand in the CPG industry. Isabelle shares her story of going from kitchen creations to major retail, and the lessons learned through distribution challenges, moments of doubt, and the importance of trusting herself along the way.

Key Takeaways:

• Finding Resilience in Setbacks: Isabelle opens up about handling the hurdles of the grocery industry and staying motivated through challenges.
• Knowing When to Pivot: From pitching on Dragon’s Den to shifting her distribution strategies, Isabelle shares insights on adapting to grow.
• Building a Brand with Purpose: Learn how Remix Snacks aims to make a positive impact by reducing food waste and promoting healthier snacking.

Memorable Quotes:

• "Every challenge is a step forward if you’re willing to keep moving."
• "Trust your instincts and stay connected to your purpose—it’ll get you through the hardest days."

Connect with Us:
Don’t miss a new episode every Thursday on vanpbrandstudio.com. Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms!