Stay ConnectedBehind Her Empire is focused on highlighting self-made women leaders & entrepreneurs and how they tackle their career, money, family and life.
Each episode covers their unique journey and what it really takes to build an empire with key lessons learned along the way. The goal of the series is to empower you to see what’s possible & inspire you to create financial freedom in your own life.
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Copyright: © Yasmin Nouri
Kat Hantas 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. [03:07]
* Kat's shift from medical school to the entertainment industry. [06:33]
* Experience at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and starting her production company. [11:37]
* Film "Taking 5," hiatus, and focusing on family. [16:18]
* Kat's journey as a stay-at-home mom, health challenges, and 21 Seeds inspiration. [21:23]
* Transition from a hobby to launching 21 Seeds Tequila after nine years. [25:01]
* Significance of co-founders in 21 Seeds' success. [29:23]
* Challenges in the male-dominated tequila industry without expertise. [35:19]
* Launch process and diligent preparations for 21 Seeds. [41:47]
* Fundraising process and key lessons learned. [43:30]
* Early momentum and unique marketing for 21 Seeds. [49:12]
* Diageo's acquisition of 21 Seeds, a milestone in female-founded liquor business. [54:48]
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:
* 21 Seeds Website: https://www.21seeds.com/
* 21 Seeds Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/21seeds/
* Kat's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathantas/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever struggled with acne? While often thought of as a mere sign of puberty, acne can continue into or begin during adulthood—and it’s especially common when hormonal birth control enters the picture. Skin challenges after coming off the pill is actually what led our co-founder, Yasmin, to try seed cycling—which today’s Hormone Happy Hour guest mentions as a way to help address acne!
In this episode you’ll learn:
* Why you could be getting acne later in life
* The top root causes of acne
* Where to start on your healing journey
* How some animal products can help nourish skin
* The truth about topical-only approaches
* Foods that could be triggering flare ups
* How seed cycling can support clear skin
Kristin Cunningham is a board certified nurse practitioner who specializes in root cause treatment of complex acne cases. She earned her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and her master's degree from Georgetown University.
While she was working as a nurse practitioner in family medicine she started struggling with adult acne. She soon became disillusioned with the ineffective, expensive skin care cluttering her vanity and the harsh medications that characterized traditional acne management.
After spending months studying the root causes of acne and applying a holistic approach she was able to heal her acne. She saw the need for more awareness of this holistic model and started @The_Acne_NP on Instagram. She soon drew attention from thousands of followers who wanted to understand the root causes of acne for themselves.
Kristin currently works full time teaching people how to clear their skin through a comprehensive, holistic approach. She lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband and 3 school-age children.
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
Check out Kristin’s programs and use code BEEYA150 for $150 off here:
* Teen Acne Academy - www.bemetahealth.com/teenacneacademy
* Clear Skin Code (Adult program) - www.bemetahealth.com/clearskincode
Follow Yasmin:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/
* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/
Follow Kristin:
* Website: https://www.bemetahealth.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_acne_np/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Carolyn Childers is the CEO and co-founder of Chief, a revolutionary private membership network designed to uplift, empower and connect women executives. Chief has since achieved unicorn status, holding members in over 77% of Fortune 100 companies with a $1.1 billion valuation.
Although Carolyn never originally set out to become an entrepreneur, her journey from investment banking to strategic and business development positions at companies like Victoria's Secret, Avon Products, and eventually her role as SVP of Operations at Handy led her to a problem she wanted to solve: supporting women executives. She teamed up with her co-founder Lindsay and together they were committed to building a private platform with community groups, member meetups, flagship clubhouse access, and most importantly, a powerful, vetted community.
It’s said best by Carolyn herself, “It gets lonely at the top,” but for women, it gets lonely a lot earlier.” Today, Chief holds a wait list of tens of thousands of women and continues to empower women at all stages through its educational blog, podcast, and annual impact fund for female-focused causes. It’s clear investing in women pays off.
In our episode, Carolyn shares her unique journey to entrepreneurship, how she evaluated the risks when leaving her stable job that she was doing well in, and the many myths we all have around entrepreneurship. She also shares how she built momentum early in the business, how she dealt with rejections from many investors, and the importance of having a laser focus on community and building the best experiences. Carolyn also provides her insights on finding co-founders and important aspects to consider, how she's tackled perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and so much more.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Carolyn about:
* Myths about women in entrepreneurship. [03:26]
* Journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship. [06:72]
* Running operations at Handy, and how the idea for Chief came about. [18:27]
* Carolyn's financial planning for startup risk. [25:03]
* Carolyn's alignment with co-founder Lindsey. [28:00]
* Building the early momentum and raising capital. [32:50]
* Pushing Chief through word of mouth and organic channels. [36:30]
* Prioritizing essentials and community engagement. [41:52]
* Navigating entrepreneurship pressure. [41:52]
* Chief's focus and beneficiaries. [55:15]
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 Carolyn:
* CHIEF Website: https://chief.com/
* CHIEF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiefamongstus/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever wondered if your bedroom experience is normal? We sat down with naturopathic endocrinologist and clinical sexologist, Dr. Jolene Brighten. She helps us not only get the facts straight, but also bust through shame so many of us have around this topic. She’s basically the sex-ed teacher we wish we had when we were younger, so get your notepad ready…
In this episode you’ll learn:
* How to leverage your hormones for better sex
* The truth about orgasms for women
* Why you might have pain during sex
* If you can get pregnant while on your period
* What to consider before taking birth control
* The best ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy
* And more…
Dr. Jolene Brighten is a board certified naturopathic endocrinologist, clinical sexologist, and the founder of Rubus Health, a women’s medical clinic with emphasis in endocrine health (hormones). She is recognized as a leading expert in women's health. Dr. Brighten is the best-selling author of Beyond the Pill and Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth: The New Mom’s Guide to Navigating the Fourth Trimester. She is also an international speaker and a member of the MindBodyGreen Collective. Her work has been featured in the New York Post, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, Bustle, The Guardian and ABC News. When she’s not educating the world on female reproductive health, she can be found cooking, hiking, gardening, or snorkeling with her family.
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 Dr. Jolene:
* Website: https://drbrighten.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sasha Plavsic is the founder of ILIA Beauty, a natural skin-centric makeup and skincare brand that paved the way for the “clean-beauty” space as we know it today.
Throughout her life, Sasha noticed that some of her beauty products irritated her skin. Her mother, who was also dealing with her own health challenges, encouraged Sasha to look into the ingredients behind her favorite makeup, leading her to notice a real gap in the industry for efficacious makeup that supports healthy skin. This motivated Sasha to build from the ground up out of her parent’s garage and bootstrapping the venture herself. ILIA has now expanded to many different product lines & has award-winning skincare products, mascara, lipsticks, and more. The company has seen incredible growth and last year, was sold to the private investment fund of the Courtin-Clarins family.
In our episode, Sasha shares how she went from dreaming of becoming an architect to diving into graphic design, even dropping out of college, crossing borders, and finally discovering her true path. She candidly shares her 'aha' moment in her 30s – the catalyst that pushed her to leave behind her old life, get out of a long-term relationship, travel, and create the space for freedom that she always wanted. Sasha shares how she got ILIA off the ground with no background in makeup and the importance of sharing ideas to bring them to life. She also talks about how she started the business with very little money, the exact steps she took to take ILIA to the next level and the importance of listening to her gut and not growing too fast.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Sasha about:
* Sasha's dream of becoming an architect and college decisions. [09:01]
* Parents' reaction to Sasha's education and exploration. [16:36]
* Ending a relationship, leaving town, and traveling the world. [23:03]
* Honoring life's biggest value, freedom.[25:51]
* Supporting her mother's health, and starting ILIA. [30:29]
* Sasha's side hustles and entrepreneurial ideas. [32:37]
* Working at Saje, self-funding, and dad's support/advice.[40:03]
* How Sasha launched the first product with very little money. [43:10]
* Managing and overcoming big transitions in her life: Getting married, getting pregnant, and losing her dad to cancer. [47:02]
* Turning down Sephora and potential business partnership. [54:12]
* Being present with her kids, valuing her own time, and setting boundaries in life. [01:00:52]
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
* 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 Sasha:
* ILIA Beauty's Website: https://iliabeauty.com/
* Sasha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sashaplavsic/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever wished you could age in reverse? Turns out, you actually can—and today’s guest has the science to back it up. Join us as we dive into the world of epigenetics (meaning, “above” genetics) and discover lifestyle practices to reverse biological age.
In this episode you’ll learn:
* How to influence your gene expression
* The power of food and epinutrients
* How stress impacts the aging process
* The impact of exercise and how to move more
* How seed cycling can support healthy aging
* Considerations if you’re planning to conceive
Kara Fitzgerald, ND, IFMCP, is engaged in ongoing clinical research on DNA methylation using diet and lifestyle interventions. She is the author of Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better, a ground-breaking work detailing her original 8-week study that resulted in a 3-year reversal of biological aging, and the step-by-step program that can help others achieve those results. Her follow up research has yielded even better outcomes: a 4.6-year average biological age reversal. She also has a Younger You companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), and is an IFM Certified Practitioner. She regularly lectures internationally and hosts the podcast New Frontiers in Functional Medicine. She received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine in Oregon and is in private practice in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
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 Dr. Kara:
* Website: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mimi Ikonn is a serial entrepreneur known for founding Luxy Hair, a DTC hair extension brand, and Intelligent Change, a lifestyle brand promoting mindfulness and gratitude through consumer products. Her inspiring self-made story began with her immigration from Azerbaijan to Canada as a teenager.
Taking on the responsibility of financially supporting her family from a young age, Mimi dropped out of college, worked in banking, and took significant risks to pursue her passions and achieve financial independence, with her husband and business partner, Alex Ikonn, by her side.
Luxy Hair achieved impressive success, reaching 250,000+ customers in 165+ countries before being acquired by Beauty Industry Group. Currently, Mimi and Alex focus on Intelligent Change, selling over 1,700,000+ copies of their flagship product, The Five Minute Journal.
In our interview, Mim shares her captivating life story, from being a college dropout to discovering her passions and starting Luxy Hair with limited resources and industry connections. Her positive energy shines as she discusses overcoming hardships and depression, offering valuable tips for manifesting the life you desire, and promoting meaningful change in both personal and professional spheres.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Mimi about:
* Mimi's humble beginnings in Baku, Azerbaijan. [03:20]
* Mimi's immigration journey to Canada, financially supporting her family at 16. [11:39]
* Not going to college, working in a bank, and meeting her future husband. [17:08]
* The 4-Hour Workweek" impact on Mimi and Alex's life and business vision. [25:29]
* The inspiration behind their first business, Luxy Hair. [27:18]
* "The Body Keeps the Score" influence on Mimi's life and traumas [34:35]
* Manifesting life and practicing gratitude, Tony Robbins' program. [41:35]
* Selling Luxy Hair and creating the 5-Minute Journal by Intelligent Change. [48:39]
* Mimi's passion projects and her sustainability advocacy. [54:49]
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 Mimi:
* Intelligent Change Website: https://www.intelligentchange.com/
* Intelligent Change Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intelligentchange/?hl=en
* Mimi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimiikonn/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anyone who menstruates will navigate a range of hormonal shifts throughout their life. Today, we’re focusing on the transition between our reproductive years and menopause–otherwise known as perimenopause. If you don’t think this applies to you yet, we urge you to reconsider as we’ve learned how nourishment in our early years can be hugely supportive as our bodies shift throughout our entire lives.
In this episode you’ll learn:
* What leads to early perimenopause
* How to deal with HOT FLASHES when you’ve tried everything
* What women need to know about ALCOHOL and CAFFEINE
* How and why to get more diversity in your diet
* The best COLOR to eat for hormone health
* The truth about supplementing with melatonin
* And more…
Deanna Minich, MS, PhD, CNS, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP), is a nutrition scientist, international lecturer, teacher, and author, with over twenty years of experience in academia and in the food and dietary supplement industries.
Throughout the years, she has been active as a functional medicine clinician in clinical trials and in her own practice (Food & Spirit™), which has now become oriented towards groups, workshops, and retreats. She is the author of six consumer books on wellness topics, four book chapters, and fifty scientific publications. Her academic background is in nutrition science, including a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago (1995) and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Medical Sciences (nutrition focus) from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands (1999). For a decade, she was part of the research team led by the “father of Functional Medicine,” Dr. Jeffrey Bland, and has served on the Nutrition Advisory Board for The Institute of Functional Medicine, as well as on the Board of Directors for the American Nutrition Association.
She is Chief Science Officer at Symphony Natural Health, where she leads the medical advisory team, oversees scientific communication, and provides educational leadership for the company’s plant-derived nutraceuticals. She is passionate about helping others to live well using therapeutic lifestyle changes that impact their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
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 Dr. Deanna:
* Website: https://deannaminich.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannaminich/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Annie Lawless is a serial entrepreneur known for co-founding Suja Juice and, more recently, Lawless Beauty, a clean beauty brand. Throughout her ventures, Annie has consistently prioritized natural, clean ingredients stemming from her personal experience with autoimmune diseases.
Driven by her passion for nutrition and overall health, Annie co-founded Suja Juice, which grew into one of the largest organic cold-pressed juice companies. Eventually, they sold a minority stake to Coca-Cola and, in 2021, the company was acquired by a private equity firm.
After leaving Suja Juice, Annie's health conditions led her to search for clean beauty products only to find that what was available simply did not provide the full-pigmentation, long-lasting performance she was looking for. Inspired by this gap in the market and the community feedback on her beauty blog BLAWNDE, Annie created Lawless Beauty—a makeup brand that is both high-performing and cruelty-free.
In the episode, Annie discusses pivotal moments in her journey, leaving law school, teaching yoga, and starting her first business. She shares insights into Suja Juice's growth and emphasizes the importance of following passions aligned with purpose. Annie reminds us to focus on joy, nurture our passions, and stay true to our unique paths.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Annie about:
* Self-understanding, philosophy, and finding purpose. [05:57]
* Overcoming anxiety, leaving law school. [15:13]
* From yoga teaching to first business venture. [17:24]
* Suja Juice: Fun passion project turned business. [22:58]
* Pivotal moments for Suja Juice's success. [26:58]
* Key learnings from building Suja Juice. [30:55]
* Life after leaving the first business. [37:16]
* Lawless Beauty: Passion project turned success. [41:13]
* Embracing the unknown and creating a better life. [58:36]
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 Annie:
* Website: https://lawlessbeauty.com/
* Lawless Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawless/
* Annie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annielawless/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Did you know that only 5% of our cognition is conscious? That means that 95% of our behaviors, emotions and decisions are beyond our conscious awareness. This is why it’s often challenging for people to create change and why we repeat the same patterns over and over in our lives.
In today’s episode with Dr. Afrouz Demeri, we explore the mind-body connection and how it could be the missing piece in your healing journey.
In this episode you’ll learn:
* The #1 thing that blocks women from thriving
* How the subconscious mind impacts our health
* The importance of feeling our emotions
* What can happen when we identify with labels
* How to understand your triggers for healing
* What EMDR therapy is and who it can help
* How your greatest challenges can be your strength
Over 14+ years, Dr. Demeri has helped women get to the root cause of their health concerns so they can live healthier, more fulfilling lives. As a licensed, board-certified Naturopathic Medical Doctor, her specialty is bringing together traditional medicine and western science to help women feel empowered by the right information. She works to find the root cause for hormonal imbalances, infertility, thyroid disorders, stress, weight issues, digestive issues, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. While studying for her medical boards, she felt frustrated and defeated by a long list of symptoms. Endless painkillers, antibiotics, and specialists later, nothing was working… until she met a naturopathic doctor who changed her life. That doctor made her feel like a whole person instead of the sum of her symptoms, and inspired her life’s mission to help other women feel the same.
Dr. Afrouz has been featured in publications such as Women’s Health, Now Magazine, Weight Wise Expo, and Vitality. When she’s not helping patients find their own lifelong wellness, you can find her studying yoga, cooking for her family of four, or teaching (and dancing) at the local Zumba studio.
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 Dr. Afrouz:
* Website: https://drdemeri.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdemeri/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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