In Studio with Kimberly Lovi

Latest Episodes:

Persian Hospitality, Family Roots, and Reimagining a Legacy with Rouz and Mehrnoush Yazdanyar Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 217 - Kimberly welcomes siblings and old friends Rouz and Mehrnoush Yazdanyar to discuss their journey transforming Rouz's 20-year-old restaurant, Zen Bistro, into their new family-owned concept: Yar on the Lake in Westlake Village, California. The siblings share their family's story of immigrating from Iran in 1983 and losing their father shortly after. They discuss how their mother, uncle, and Persian heritage shaped their commitment to community, generosity, and hospitality. They also discuss the full transformation of their 20 year old restaurant. Over a 3.5-month renovation, the team revamped the entire space, introduced an elevated menu, and hired a brand-new staff under General Manager Tracy and an Executive Chef. Yar Menu & Drink Favorites: Drinks: Rouz highlights fresh-ingredient cocktails like the YAR Margarita and Saffron 75, while Mehrnoush praises their classic kettle martini and a refreshing gin-based cocktail (Mediterranean Muse). Food: Standout dishes include 14-day dry-aged branzino, in-house baked breads and pastries, "Yar chips" (zucchini and eggplant over tzatziki), fresh-made calamari, and a unique hen-of-the-woods mushroom dish.

Chapter Timestamps:

1:03 – The Transition from Zen Bistro to a New Partnership

2:20 – How "YAR on the Lake" Got Its Name & Meaning

3:02 – The Emotional Story Behind Choosing the Space

4:46 – Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic & Outdoor Patio

9:40 – Immigrating from Iran to Westlake Village

10:37 – Persian Hospitality & Rebranding the Restaurant

12:08 – Family Roots & Leaving Iran in the 1980s

14:20 – Overcoming Business Challenges & Building Team Culture

16:42 – Rouz's 20-Year Journey & The Renovation Process

18:24 – Hiring a Top-Tier Staff & Hands-on Training

22:43 – Building the Outdoor Community Bar & Dining Area

25:34 – Honoring Their Late Father & Mother's Generosity

28:18 – Personal Loss, Grief, and Keeping Memories Alive

32:53 – Reflecting on Human Rights, Freedom, and Iranian Culture

37:37 – Rapid Fire: Favorite Specialty Drinks & Cocktails

40:17 – Rapid Fire: Must-Try Menu Dishes (Dry-Aged Branzino, Breads, Dips)

43:41 – Closing Remarks & Where to Find YAR on the Lake

Visit Yar on the Lake: https://yaronthelake.com/

See Yar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaronthelake/

Follow Kimberly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Why Being Great at Your Job Isn't Enough Anymore Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 216 - Kimberly addresses a critical shift for leaders and founders: delivering exceptional work behind the scenes is no longer enough if you remain invisible. Drawing from her own transition from corporate strategist and co-CEO to building Iconic Nation Media, Kimberly breaks down a five-part framework for moving from an invisible expert to a recognized authority. She outlines why credentials alone don't build trust, explains how personal branding elevates a corporate ecosystem, and offers practical strategies—like owning a bold point of view and creating repeatable intellectual property—to help executives build strategic visibility that directly grows their business.

Chapter Timestamps:

1:18 - The Trap of Letting Your Work Speak for Itself

2:57 - Kimberly Lovi's Journey: PwC to Media Founder

5:32 - Corporate Brand vs. Personal Brand

6:39 - Unpacking the Iconic Nation Ecosystem

8:54 - How to Become Visible: Own Your Point of View

10:04 - Creating Repeatable Intellectual Property

10:36 - Visibility vs. Vanity Metrics

12:40 - Consistency Over Virality

13:25 - Message to Hiding Executives & Founders

14:45 - Closing Thoughts

Follow Kimberly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Follow Kimberly on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kimberlylovi

Join the ICONIC Community: https://www.youtube.com/@iconicnationmedia

From Paralyzed to Walking: The Power of Forgiveness with Jaikishaan Sharma Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 215 - Kimberly sits down with author, speaker, and mind-set coach Jaikishaan Sharma. After losing his job, buying a home, and welcoming a newborn daughter, Jackishan suffered a life-altering accident when he was hit by a speeding car as a pedestrian. Doctors gave him just a 5% chance of ever walking again. Paralyzed from the waist down, Jackishan plunged into financial hardship, severe depression, and suicidal ideation. However, a single transformative moment with his young daughter sparked a inner shift. Through intense mindset work, journaling, formal and informal mindfulness, water therapy, and sheer determination, Jackishan went from paralyzed in a wheelchair to standing back up on his feet. Today, he shares his roadmap to help others break through physical and emotional trauma.

Chapter Timestamps:

1:48 – The Perfect Storm (Job Loss, New Baby & Mortgage)
5:19 – The Accident & Diagnosis
7:13 – Inpatient Rehab, Financial Stress & Depression
12:00 – Forgiving the Driver & Finding Healing
17:41 – The Turning Point & Mindset Work
25:15 – Journaling, Mindset Shifts & Keeping the Wheelchair
28:10 – The First Sign of Recovery (The Moving Toe)
29:54 – Priming, Mindfulness & Visualizations
33:58 – Standing Up & Surprising the Doctor
38:31 – The Emotional Breakdown & Gratitude for Family
42:18 – Walking Again & Transitioning Off the Wheelchair
43:40 – Finding Purpose & Helping Others Online
47:44 – Trauma Coaching & From Wheelchair to Dream Chair
51:24 – Redefining Success & Final Words of Wisdom
53:12 – Outro & Where to Connect

Follow Jaikishaan Sharma: https://www.instagram.com/jaikishaansharma/

Follow Kimberly: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Overcoming Camera Fear, Finding Your Content Pillars, and Why Experts are the New Influencers Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 214 - Kimberly addresses the universal struggles of building a personal brand, focusing on three major social media pain points: not knowing what to post, struggling with consistency, and fearing the camera. To overcome these blocks, Kimberly introduces the concept of "content pillars"—authentic anchors derived from your actual daily schedule, such as her own mix of media building, motherhood, and tennis. She encourages listeners to stop over-curating their lives and instead share the micro-details that make them unique. Furthermore, she tackles camera shyness by advising creators to stop judging themselves and shift their focus entirely toward the value they are providing to their audience, treating the lens like a conversation with a trusted friend. The episode also highlights a massive cultural shift in the digital landscape: the rise of the "expert influencer." While high-level professionals historically remained private, Kimberly explains that audiences are now hungry for real-world experience over empty theories, giving executives and founders permission to step into the light and share their leadership insights safely. By consistently showing up and sharing authentic expertise, business owners can leverage attraction marketing—drawing in clients naturally and joyfully rather than chasing them down through cold outreach. Ultimately, Kimberly emphasizes that embracing your true self on digital platforms is the most efficient, cost-effective, and enjoyable way to build a successful business and an iconic life.

Chapter Timestamps

0:34 — The 3 Big Social Media Pain Points
1:22 — Connection at Scale: Why Digital Presence Matters
2:11 — Demystifying Content Pillars
5:18 — The Power of Micro-Details in Daily Life
8:17 — Eradicating Mindset Blocks to Post Consistently
10:03 — How to Stop Hating the Camera
13:44 — Attraction Marketing & Staying Top-of-Mind
19:51 — Playful Joy vs. Constant Hustle
22:22 — The New Era: Experts are the New Influencers
26:44 — What Professionals Can Safely Share

Follow Kimberly: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Decoding AI: Smart Systems for Small Business with Paul Tacci Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Check out Tacci Bots: https://taccibots.com/

Follow Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paultacci/

Follow Kimberly: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Ep. 213 - Kimberly is joined by AI Systems Architect and Integrator Paul Tacci to demystify the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Designed specifically for small-to-medium business owners who feel overwhelmed by the sheer velocity of modern technology, the conversation outlines Tacci's expert "AI Blueprint" framework for auditing business operations from A to Z. He discusses how companies can eliminate ancient, manual workflows and error-prone spreadsheets by introducing AI layers organically—one bite-sized piece at a time. The episode features a definitive breakdown of when to utilize ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, highlighting the core philosophy that the goal of technology is not to replace human experts, but to automate repetitive busywork so professionals can focus on high-value client experiences. Beyond business automation, the discussion takes a deep dive into the realities of parenting in the digital age. As a hands-on father of four, Tacci opens up about navigating AI usage at home, setting crucial guardrails for minors, and the psychological importance of ensuring children turn to the trusted humans in their lives for support rather than an AI chat interface. The episode also uncovers the hidden operational goldmine within everyday meeting recordings and voice notes, explaining how businesses can easily transform standard transcripts into robust content factories. Packed with practical, actionable strategies, this interview provides viewers with a clear roadmap to keep their organizations on the cutting edge without sacrificing brand standards or the vital human touch!

Chapter Timestamps:

02:15 - Navigating the "Home Alone" Reality of Large Families

03:30 - The Merch Business & Brand Standards

04:55 - Growing Up in the Silicon Valley Tech Boom

06:15 - The Bite-Sized Tech Rule: How to Avoid AI Overwhelm

07:30 - The AI Blueprint: Auditing Your Workflows ($1M–$50M Revenue)

10:00 - Custom Knowledge Bases vs. Public LLMs

11:30 - Will AI Replace Sales Teams?

13:00 - ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini: Which Should You Use?

15:15 - Writing 10,000 Lines of Code in Weeks, Not Years

16:45 - AI in the Household: Parenting, Ethics, and Guardrails

19:30 - The Goldmine of Transcripts: Meetings & Voice Notes

21:30 - Wrapping Up & Where to Find Paul

Mothering the Community with Sara Raoof Jacobs Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 212 - When her mother passed away from cancer, Sara Raoof Jacobs channeled her grief into a profound mission: giving others the comforting feeling of being mothered . What began as small, grassroots acts of kindness blossomed into Maman (the Farsi word for "Mom"), a rapidly growing organization powered by over 500 active volunteers .

Kimberly connects with Sara to explore the raw journey of losing a parent , the spiritual power of everyday giving , and how a dedicated network of mothers managed to coordinate massive humanitarian relief efforts overnight —including filling a private plane with two tons of critical medical supplies . From uniting local high schools to bridging divides between inter-faith communities, Sarah's story is a beautiful testament to the global ripple effect of a mother's love.

Chapter Timestamps:

[01:10] – Tragic Loss & The Birth of Maman

[02:15] – "Mothering the Community" Through Action

[03:45] – Unpacking Grief & The North Star Connection

[05:40] – Discovering a Mother's Secret Generosity

[06:45] – Scaling Maman's Network of Volunteers

[07:40] – Kabbalah & The Spiritual Physics of Giving

[09:25] – Addressing Misconceptions Around Kabbalah

[10:35] – Teaching Kids the Energy of Flow & The "Pause"

[12:35] – Campus Chapters & The Breast Cancer Initiative

[13:50] – Supporting Hospitalized Kids with Mobile Play Carts

[15:10] – Funding Mental Health & Therapy for Survivors

[16:50] – Healing Your Own Sadness by Helping Others

[18:40] – Providing a Platform for New Charitable Ideas

[20:15] – Uniting Inter-Faith Communities to Bridge Divides

[22:00] – What is Prayer? Connecting to the Source

[23:00] – Logistics of Sending 2 Tons of Aid via Floyd Mayweather's Plane

[25:05] – Providing Year-Long Therapy to the Druze Community

[26:15] – How to Support the Maman Movement & Outro

Connect with or donate to Maman: https://mamannonprofit.com/

Follow Maman: https://www.instagram.com/mamannonprofit/

Follow Kimberly: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce MSG Wedding Rumors, Zuckerberg's New Gamble, & The Levi's Stadium Scandal Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Kimberly is joined by Jaephy (stepping in for Kyra) and our resident intern Giana to unpack a whirlwind week of power moves, viral blockbusters, and decentralization trends rewriting the industry playbook. In this episode, we unpack the explosive online rumors surrounding a potential Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding at Madison Square Garden, investigate Mark Zuckerberg's massive play into the $130 billion prediction space with Meta's new platform Arena, and analyze how a totally unpredictable NBA Draft signals a massive shift toward cheap rookie talent over bloated veteran contracts. We also look at the decentralization of traditional Hollywood star power—from audiences rejecting A-list casting in Disney's live-action Moana to industry titan Martin Scorsese and indie powerhouse A24 making strategic, sneaky pivots into generative AI tech. Finally, Giana takes the mic for an epic deep dive into a viral ambush marketing masterclass, breaking down how Levi's completely trolled the World Cup by turning a forced stadium logo cover-up into a massive Gen Z sales win.

Chapter Timestamps:

0:28 – Meta Arena: Zuck's $130B Prediction Gamble

1:45 – NBA Draft Shock: Rookies Over Veterans

2:44 – The Death of the A-List Star & Moana Casting

3:48 – The Decentralization of Hollywood Fame 5:59 – Martin Scorsese & Hollywood's Sneaky AI Pivot

8:10 – Google DeepMind's $75M Investment Into A24

9:28 – Deep Dive: Levi's Trolls the World Cup Logo Ban

12:47 – Outro: What to Watch Next Week (Wimbledon, NASCAR, & More)

Join the ICONIC Community: https://www.youtube.com/@iconicnationmedia

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

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

From Hollywood Love Story to Baking Empire with Audrey Dunham Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 211 - Kimberly is joined by lifestyle entrepreneur, author, and fitness expert Audrey Dunham for an intimate, hilarious, and inspiring conversation about motherhood, marriage, and the realities of building a business from the ground up. Audrey reveals the quintessential Hollywood story of how she met her husband, famed comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, while working at a restaurant in Studio City—and how she ended up touring the world as his fitness trainer for seven years. And she opens up about her whirlwind IVF journey and the surprise of naturally delivering her fraternal twin boys, Jack and James, 5 weeks early. She shares the raw (and exhausting) reality of navigating the first two years of raising twins all while building her business: Autumn Sons Baking Co.

Chapter Timestamps:

01:04 – IVF, Natural Twin Birth, and Surviving the Early Years

04:39 – Hollywood Meet-Cute: Meeting Jeff Dunham

06:04 – Touring Logistics with a Celebrity Husband

08:18 – Pivoting into the Allergen-Free Food Industry

11:24 – Rebranding Peanut's Bake Shop to Autumn Suns

14:52 – Sourcing, Tariffs, and Scaling across the Border

16:47 – The Manufacturing Nightmare: 7,000 Defective Cookie Mixes

18:59 – Overcoming the Seasonal Hurdles of Baking

19:35 – Writing Cookbooks during COVID

21:05 – Future Ventures: Mug Muffins & Outro

Follow Audrey: https://www.instagram.com/audreydunham/

Follow Autumn Sons Baking Co.: https://www.instagram.com/autumnsonsbaking/

Purchase Product!: https://autumnsonsbaking.com/?utm_campaign=button_list_Visitourwebsite&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio

Follow Kimberly: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Subscribe: @iconicnationmedia

High-Maintenance Mom Disasters: Fake Hair, Bad Tans & Hotel Icks Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 210 - After a long string of interview-heavy episodes, Kimberly is finally flying solo to get cozy with her listeners, pull back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes world of building Iconic Nation Media, and give a highly anticipated update on Summer 2026. In this episode, Kimberly recaps her very first mother-son trip to Indian Wells with her 10-year-old son, Carter. From a high-maintenance tennis tan emergency to navigating the complexities of trying to stay "hot and cute" around young kids, she shares all the hilarious highs and lows of the getaway. Kimberly also drops an exciting teaser about the upcoming launch of her podcasting course dropping at the end of June/beginning of July, offering a lower-cost way to get all of her insider digital-media knowledge

Chapter Timestamps:

00:45 – Behind the Scenes: Balancing a Personal Brand vs. Iconic Nation Media

02:05 – Course Launch Announcement: How to Start a Podcast

02:54 – Summer 2026: The First-Ever Mother-Son Getaway with Carter

03:34 – High-Maintenance Emergencies: How Tennis Ruined My Tan

04:37 – Indian Wells Bound: Grand Hyatt Villa Review & Getting the "Ick"

06:26 – Road Trip Mom Hacks: Soccer Audiobooks & EV Vehicle Drama

07:53 – Meeting at El Paseo: The Tommy Bahama Food Journey

10:06 – Cabana Living & The Middle-Aged Lazy River Tutorial

11:35 – High-Maintenance Hair Strategy & Screen-Free Dining Games

13:00 – Water Slide Racing: Trying (and Failing) to Beat 10-Year-Olds

15:45 – Poolside Mahjong Triumphs & Sunscreen Milestones

17:12 – The Escalade Uber Blunder & Sunset Sea Bass at the Golf Resort

19:22 – Family Travel Wardrobe Dilemmas: The Red Versace Two-Piece

21:01 – The Noise Complaint Saga: Surviving

11:15 PM Gummy Realities 23:22 – Hotel Accountability: Demanding a $100 Resort Credit

24:08 – Early 40s Truths: Pajamas, Probiotics, and Mahjong at the Bar

25:01 – The Strict 2-Night Rule: Leaving the Vacation at Its Peak

27:31 – The Sleepaway Camp Debate: Overbearing Jewish Mother or Valid Concern?

28:50 – Wrap Up: Check Out the Blowout on YouTube & Connect on Socials

Follow Kimberly: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlylovi/

Join the ICONIC Community: https://www.youtube.com/@iconicnationmedia

Demystifying CTV Ads with Matt McLeggon from Magnite Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Ep. 209 - Ever felt like television advertising was a "black box" reserved only for massive corporations with six-figure budgets? Think again. The digital landscape has shifted dramatically, and the reality is that no company is too small for TV anymore. In this episode of In Studio, host Kimberly Lovi sits down with Matt "Legs" McLeggon, a 6'9" streaming TV expert from Magnite. Together, they pull back the curtain on Connected TV (CTV) and streaming advertising to prove how accessible, affordable, and incredibly powerful it is for creators, small businesses, and large brands alike. Matt breaks down complex ad technology into simple terms, using a brilliant "StubHub" analogy to explain how advertising space is bought and sold today. If you've ever wanted to see your business on the big screen but didn't know where to start, this episode is your ultimate guide. Special Thanks to Melody Yazdenyar from PHYND for making the connection!

Chapter Timestamps:

[00:00] - Welcome & Meet "Legs"

[01:14] - Demystifying Magnite: The StubHub Analogy

[02:18] - Streaming vs. Connected TV (CTV)

[02:44] - The Evolution of TV Advertising

[04:41] - Hyper-Granular Data & Targeting Capabilities

[05:53] - Programmatic Ads & The Death of Minimum Budgets

[07:44] - AI Built-In Advisors & Self-Service Tools

[09:44] - Smashing the Creative Barrier with Generative AI

[11:38] - Budget Realities & Mid-Funnel Strategy

[13:50] - Technical Specs & Human Ad Review

[14:50] - Campaign Horizons & Content Strategy