TRENCHES with Milan Terez

In this episode of TRENCHES, Milan shares personal insights on overcoming procrastination, building consistency, and taking actionable steps to pursue curiosity and growth. Learn practical strategies to audit your interests, enable curiosity, and share your journey effectively.Learn How To:1. Audit your recent interests can reveal your natural curiosities.2. Enable curiosity involves taking small, manageable steps.3. Share your goals publicly creates accountability and support.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflection on Starting the Podcast01:27 Challenges of Building a Routine and Consistency03:08 The Reality of Podcast Industry Dropout Rates05:01 Deciding to Be Part of the 1% Who Persist05:30 Auditing Your Curiosity and Interests07:07 Taking Small Steps to Enable Curiosity08:44 Learning About Your Interests and Asking Questions09:29 Implementing Curiosity into Daily Life10:05 The Power of Telling Someone About Your Goals11:51 Using Social Media for Accountability12:50 Summary of Actionable Steps to Determine Your Next StepConnect With Me🪏TRENCHES the podcastInstagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠  / trenchesthepodcast  TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠   / trenchesthepodcast  Patreon: https://patreon.com/trenchesthepodcas...🪏Milan TerezInstagram: ⁠   / milanterez  TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠   / milanterez  podcasting, curiosity, consistency, personal growth, content creation, accountability, next steps, podcast tips

In this week's episode of TRENCHES, we sit down with Kat Sheppard, a 2x founder who has dedicated her twenties to building innovative brands in the fashion space. In the midst of operating her first venture, she began to uncover the building blocks of what would become her second venture, Tote. Kat shares her journey from launching a personal shopping app to making the strategic decision to pivot her entire business into the B2B fashion tech space. She also discusses building in public, the importance of community, how to find your co-founder, and her predictions for the future of fashion tech and AI. For any fashion it girls (& boys) — this episode is for you.

Episode Topics✨

Pivoting from consumer app to B2B fashion tech

Building AI tools for fashion brands

The importance of community and building in public

Finding and working with a co-founder

Future trends in fashion technology and AI

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to TRENCHES

00:39 Meet Kat Sheppard, Co-Founder of TOTE

02:01 What Is Tote?

02:34 When Is It Time To Pivot?

03:04 Tote Goes Tech

08:10 Co-Founder Meet Cute

13:14 How To Meet THE ONE

16:34 Rolling In The Deep (pt 2)

19:48 How To Spot A New Market Gap?

23:34 The Future of Fashion Tech

29:06 Community Is Commerce

34:14 Her Contrarian Take

38:08 Say Thank You Kat

Connect With Us🪏Kat Sheppard⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@katsheppard1

🪏ToteWebsite:⁠⁠ https://www.toteapp.ioTikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@toteapp

🪏TRENCHES the podcastInstagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠  / trenchesthepodcast  ⁠  TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trenchesthepo...

🪏Milan TerezInstagram:   / milanterez  TikTok: ⁠⁠  / milanterez  

fashion tech, AI, startup, building in public, co-founder, personalization, e-commerce, fashion industry, entrepreneurship, innovation

In this Digging Deeper episode of the TRENCHES podcast, host I get to know Lauren Olds, the founder of Leeva, a college-enriched herbal tea blend. We discuss Lauren's decision-making process, and the importance of self-care and emotional support. Lauren shares her daily rituals, non-negotiables, and future aspirations, including her dream of running a wine cafe. The conversation highlights the realities of entrepreneurship, the need for intentionality, and the significance of maintaining personal connections.

Rapid Fire Takeaways

+ Lauren Olds is the founder of Leva, an herbal tea brand.

+ The importance of intentionality in decision-making.

+ Marketing strategies often come from spontaneous ideas.

+ Self-care practices are crucial for maintaining mental health.

+ Hustle culture can lead to burnout if not managed properly.

+ Daily rituals help maintain balance in life and work.

+ Listening to advice is important, but not all opinions are valuable.

+ Mistakes in business can be costly but are part of the learning process.

+ Connecting with loved ones daily is a non-negotiable

+ Future aspirations include exploring new business concepts and a dream of owning a wine cafe.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to TRENCHES

00:44 The Journey of Entrepreneurship

00:44 Rapid Fire Insights

00:58 Heated Rivalry on Repeat

01:43 It's Giving Pop Culture Podcasts

02:31 Decisions on Easy Street

03:23 Marketing That Sticks (like spaghetti) 

04:03 Slow Down & Save Your $$$ 

04:50 Pilates Princess & King Scott

05:47 Grace & Grit

06:52 Listen Always

07:58 BREAKING NEWS

09:57 Lauren's Little Wine Cafe

11:16 Future Aspirations and Closing Thoughts

11:59 See ya Next Episode

Connect With Us

+ Lauren Olds

Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/lauren_olds/⁠

TikTok: ⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@lauren_olds⁠

+ LEEVA

For 15% Off Website: ⁠https://drinkleeva.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drinkleeva/⁠

+ TRENCHES the podcast

Instagram: ⁠  / trenchesthepodcast  ⁠ 

TikTok: ⁠  / trenchesthepodcast  ⁠ 

+ Milan Terez

Instagram: ⁠  / milanterez  ⁠ 

TikTok: ⁠  / milanterez  

In this episode of TRENCHES, host Milan sits across from Lauren Olds, the founder of Leeva, a collagen-based herbal tea blend. They discuss Lauren's journey as a female entrepreneur, the challenges of balancing multiple roles, and the importance of community support. Lauren shares insights into the formulation process of Leeva, the branding strategies that set it apart in the wellness market, and her future aspirations for the brand. The conversation emphasizes the significance of intuition, self-awareness, and the journey of building a meaningful product.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leeva and Its Founder

00:42 Introduction to Leeva and Its Founder

04:15 The Concept and Formulation of Leeva

07:35 The Origin Story of Leva

10:58 Navigating Corporate Life and Entrepreneurship

12:19 The Importance of Listening To Your Intuition

16:05 How To Embrace Your Path As A Woman

19:15 Facing Doubts and Building Resilience

23:47 Consumer Testing and Product Development

24:49 The Sweetness Dilemma: Honey vs. Monk Fruit

27:32 Crafting the Perfect Flavor: Ginger and Lemon

32:06 The Journey to Market: Timeline and Challenges

34:38 Finding the Right Formulator: A Critical Step

40:52 Naming and Branding: The Heart of Leeva

47:03 Packaging Decisions: Creating an Experience

50:24 The Launch Countdown: Balancing Chaos and Strategy

53:49 Just Start: Embracing the Journey of Entrepreneurship

58:52 Harnessing Intuition as a Founder

01:01:25 Goals Beyond the Trenches

01:04:02 Exciting Developments for Leeva

01:06:35 Time For The Applause

01:08:12 See Ya Next Episode

Connect With Us

Lauren Olds

Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/lauren_olds/⁠

TikTok: ⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@lauren_olds⁠

LEEVA

For 15% Off Website: ⁠https://drinkleeva.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drinkleeva/⁠

TRENCHES the podcast

Instagram: ⁠  / trenchesthepodcast  

TikTok: ⁠  / trenchesthepodcast  ⁠

Milan Terez

Instagram: ⁠  / milanterez  ⁠

TikTok: ⁠  / milanterez  

Leeva, herbal tea, female founder, wellness brand, entrepreneurship, product launch, balancing roles, community support, branding, marketing

TRENCHES is the part no one wants to posts about.

Hosted by Milan Terez, TRENCHES takes you inside the messy middle , where dig deep into the seasons of uncertainty, reinvention, risk, and resilience that shape real companies long before they “make it.” These are unfiltered conversations with founders who are building, breaking, pivoting, and figuring it out in real time.

We talk experiments that failed. Defining decisions that changed everything. Disasters that forced reinvention. Breakthroughs that came after doubt.

If you’re building something — a company, a brand, a new version of yourself — this show is your reminder that you’re not behind. You’re in it.

Welcome to the middle.

Welcome to TRENCHES.

In this engaging episode of Trenches the Podcast, host Milan sits down with Bo Brainerd, the founder and CEO of Ophelia, a platform that transforms online dating into real-world experiences. Bo discusses her innovative approach to dating technology, emphasizing emotional intelligence and design. The conversation flows into Bo's personal insights, including her favorite shows, music, and the challenges of leadership. The rapid-fire segment reveals her daily rituals and aspirations, showcasing her vibrant personality and commitment to redefining human connections.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to TRENCHES

00:52 Heated Rivalry

01:32 Harry Styles

01:59 The Assumptions

03:09 Legal Blues

03:22 Me & My Airpods

03:59 Unlearning & Sticking to Your Guns

05:36 RX Bar Please Sponsor Bo

07:12 Politics, Actors & Entertainment

08:28 Remember to Like, Comment & Subscribe

Connect With Us

----

Bo Brainerd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobrainerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobrainerd/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bobrainerd

Ophelia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ophelia.api/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opheliahq

TRENCHES the podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trenchesthepodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trenchesthepodcast

Milan Terez

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milanterez/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milanterez

In this episode of Trenches the Podcast, Milan sits down with Bo Brainerd, founder and CEO of Ophelia, a company focused on transforming online dating into real-world connections. Bo discusses the challenges of modern dating, the importance of emotional intelligence in tech, and her journey as a young female founder navigating the tech landscape. The conversation delves into the loneliness epidemic, the impact of college experiences on dating perspectives, and the future of human connection. Bo shares insights on building a tech company, the significance of mentorship, and the unique challenges faced by female founders in the industry.

Takeaways:

+ Ophelia aims to facilitate real-world connections from online dating.

+ The transition from a dating app to an infrastructure layer was driven by market needs.

+ Emotional intelligence is crucial in redefining tech culture.

+ College experiences shape perspectives on dating and relationships.

+ Conviction to change the dating landscape often stems from personal experiences.

+ The loneliness epidemic affects both genders and needs addressing.

+ Age differences can create friction in understanding dating tech.

+ The future of dating should focus on in-person connections.

+ Building a tech company requires resilience and adaptability.

+ Female founders face unique challenges in the tech industry.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to TRENCHES

00:39 Introduction to Ophelia and Its Mission

01:44 The Role of Technology in Human Connection

05:20 Transitioning from Dating App to API Layer

08:13 User Experience and Real-World Connections

10:41 The Impact of College & COVID Changing Human Connection

13:15 Conviction to Change the Dating Landscape

15:50 Addressing Loneliness and Insecurities in Dating

18:33 How All Generations Are Seeking Love, Dating and Connection

20:28 The Importance of In-Person Connections

24:15 Navigating the Tech Landscape as a Young Founder

28:40 The Startup Journey: Challenges and Realities

31:15 Building a Team: The Importance of Mentorship and Interns

35:52 Navigating the Tech Landscape as a Female Founder

38:45 The Future of Dating: Technology and Human Connection

41:59 Everyone Wants A Village

44:48 Love Actually Does Win

47:51 Fundraising Isn't Always Fun

51:28 Beyond the Trenches: Vision for the Future

55:11 The Importance of Integrity

57:48 Thank You For Tuning In

58:21 Connect With Us & Ophelia

Connect With Us

----

Bo Brainerd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobrainerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobrainerd/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bobrainerd

Ophelia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ophelia.api/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opheliahq

TRENCHES the podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trenchesthepodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trenchesthepodcast

Milan Terez

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milanterez/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milanterez