Behind Her Empire (2025)

10/03/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Tara Bosch, the founder of SmartSweets, the brand that redefined the candy aisle with its low-sugar treats.

Tara’s journey wasn’t always sweet. At 21, she dropped out of college and moved into her grandmother’s basement with a bold vision: to create a global brand that would revolutionize candy. Armed with a gummy bear mold from Amazon and zero food science experience, she spent months perfecting a sugar-free recipe. But turning an idea into reality wasn’t easy—she faced failed ventures, skeptical investors, and major manufacturing roadblocks. Determined to make it work, she bet everything, taking out personal loans to launch SmartSweets in 2016. Just four years later, she scaled it into a $100+ million business before selling a majority stake for $360 million.

In this week’s episode, Tara shares how her challenging family background fueled her drive for independence and shaped her understanding of money. She opens up about how a personal connection to candy sparked the vision for SmartSweets and the scrappy tactics she used to get it off the ground, like leveraging debt, securing a loan with her car, and finding a manufacturer against the odds.

Tara takes us behind the scenes of the unexpected challenges of scaling fast and explains why resilience matters more than having all the answers. She reflects on how mindset was key to overcoming early failures and the serendipitous moment that got her in front of Whole Foods, a game-changing opportunity. We dive into the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, including the self-doubt, the tough decisions, and the reality of burnout. She also shares how she knew it was time to sell, the valuable lessons she’s taking into her next chapter, and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/tara-bosch

03/03/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Keren Eldad, an executive coach, speaker, author, and mentor to high achievers. She helps them break free from burnout, escape the perfectionism trap, and redefine success and true fulfillment on their own terms.

Keren’s journey began with her own wake-up call. Despite holding a prestigious C-suite role, being in a marriage that looked perfect on Instagram, and living what seemed like a dream life, she found herself deeply unfulfilled. Trapped in what she now calls a “gilded cage,” she realized that no amount of external success could fill an internal void. After years of personal transformation, she now helps others escape the relentless pursuit of more and build lives filled with purpose and joy. She’s been named a Top 10 Executive Coach by the International Coaching Federation and is the author of her most recent book, Gilded: Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More.

In this week's episode, we chat with Keren about the hidden struggles of high achievers, including perfectionism, self-judgment, and the pressure to always do more. Keren breaks down why overachievers often play not to lose instead of truly playing to win, how success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure, and why mistakes are never life sentences—they’re just delays. She also shares why self-compassion is key to real growth, how recognizing burnout and unfulfillment can be the first step to real change, and how shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset can open the door to more happiness and success. We also get into how fear holds us back, why gratitude and self-acceptance are game changers in creating a life that actually feels good, and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/keren-eldad-3

26/02/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Michelle Shapiro, an integrative Registered Dietitian based in New Jersey, specializing in histamine issues, anxiety reversal, healing chronic gut problems, and promoting weight loss with a body-neutral perspective.

It’s time we dive into the world of histamines and how they can impact women’s health. We’ll be unraveling the mystery behind those weird, often undiagnosed symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, digestive issues, skin rashes, brain fog, joint pain, unexplained anxiety, and even heart palpitations. These symptoms often get brushed off or mistaken for something else, making it tricky to connect the dots with histamine intolerance or MCAS. So, let’s dive in and start making sense of it all…

In this episode you’ll learn:
- How to navigate life with a highly sensitive body
- Why functional medicine isn’t always the answer
- How to detox without overwhelming your body
- Supplements to take for histamine balance
- The crucial role hormones play
- And more…

Michelle Shapiro is an integrative Registered Dietitian based in New Jersey, with over 8 years of experience and a proven track record of helping more than 1,000 clients, specializing in histamine issues, anxiety reversal, healing chronic gut problems, and promoting weight loss with a body-neutral perspective. In her virtual private practice, she works one-on-one with clients, using humor, compassion, and a nuanced approach to empower them with self-awareness and healing—even when functional medicine hasn’t provided the solution.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/michelle-shapiro-2

24/02/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Dianna Cohen, the founder of Crown Affair, a luxury clean haircare brand that’s changing the way we approach haircare by focusing on ritual, mindfulness, and self-care.

Dianna’s journey to creating Crown Affair started in 2018 with a simple Google Doc. What began as a way to help a few friends with their hair routines has evolved into a brand loved by many—and it all started with the power of consistency. Dianna’s career trajectory is anything but ordinary and traditional. She worked behind the scenes with startups like Away, The Wing, and Outdoor Voices, and in 2020, just as the world went into lockdown, she launched her own brand. Her entrepreneurial path is one of resilience, creativity, and taking bold risks.

In this week’s episode, Dianna opens up about the challenges she faced, such as fundraising in an ever-changing landscape and building a business from the ground up during a global pandemic. She discusses the emotional rollercoaster of being a first-time founder, navigating self-doubt, and the importance of self-love and compassion. She also dives into how the idea for Crown Affair started years before she took the leap and how she came up with the unique idea to really differentiate herself in a crowded beauty market. Dianna reflects on how she’s balanced masculine and feminine energies in her leadership style, how remote work has shaped her role as a founder, and the importance of creating a supportive, creative company culture. We talk about the moment she knew it was time to take the leap and launch Crown Affair, the lessons learned from trusting the process, and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/dianna-cohen

17/02/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Aliett Buttelman, the co-founder of Fazit, a beauty brand revolutionizing skincare and makeup with effortless, innovative patches.

Aliett’s journey wasn’t without its struggles. Before building Fazit, she faced rejection and setbacks that taught her invaluable lessons in resilience. From a career in modeling to consulting for beauty brands, she encountered her fair share of doubt. But in those moments of adversity, she found the strength to push forward. Alongside her co-founder, Nina, Aliett built Fazit from the ground up, creating products like acne patches and glitter freckles. Their breakthrough moment came when Taylor Swift was spotted wearing their Glitter Freckles—sending sales and web traffic skyrocketing by over 3,500% and generating seven figures in just 48 hours.

In this week’s episode, Aliett shares her entrepreneurial journey, reflecting on her path from fear and rejection to building Fazit. She discusses the lessons learned from her first skincare venture and the advantages of forging a non-traditional career path. Aliett opens up about the challenges of fundraising, the value of resourcefulness, and the sacrifices made to build a brand without a “formal” corporate background. She also highlights how manifestation and social media played a crucial role in scaling Fazit.

Aliett dives into the emotional experience of seeing Taylor Swift wear their Glitter Freckles, breaking down the exact steps they took to get their product into her hands—and how that moment changed everything. She also discusses the importance of community engagement, product development, and staying true to your vision, even when the road ahead feels uncertain—and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/aliett-buttelman

12/02/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Taryn Toomey, the Founder of The Class, a fitness method and “practice of self study” that incorporates cardio, meditation, and therapeutic yelling.

“The Class” is more than just a workout—it’s a powerful journey that goes beyond breaking a sweat to help you release blocks, tap into your true potential, and connect with yourself and others. In this interview, creator Taryn Toomey reveals why her renowned transformative experience has become a favorite among fitness enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and celebrities alike.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- What makes “The Class” different from other workouts
- How meditation enhances intuition
- The lasting effects of somatic therapy
- Techniques for releasing energetic blocks from the body
- The role of music in the healing process
- And more…

Taryn's approach combines elements of strength training, breathwork, and emotional expression to create a workout experience that not only reshapes the body but also frees the mind. With her extensive background in wellness, yoga, and emotional healing, Toomey is a true pioneer in the wellness space, empowering people to reconnect with their inner selves through movement.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/taryn-toomey

10/02/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Keida Dervishi, the co-founder of Soulmate Customs, a personalized gift brand that turns cherished memories into custom embroidered and engraved gifts.

Keida started Soulmate Customs in 2021 after creating a personalized embroidered sweatshirt for her mother’s birthday, which sparked the idea for a business centered on meaningful gifts. Before this, she had tried multiple side hustles—selling clothing, phone cases, swimsuits, and jewelry on platforms like Etsy and Depop—but none gained lasting success. Everything changed when she shifted her focus to custom embroidery and posted a TikTok video of her first order, which went viral with 3.7 million views and brought in over 1,400 orders in a month. In just 11 months, Soulmate Customs surpassed $1 million in sales. Today, the business is family-run and has reached over 1.3 billion people across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

In this week’s episode, we talk to Keida about her journey from being aspiring singer and actress to becoming an entrepreneur - a path she never thought she’d be on. She opens up about the struggles of her first Etsy business which took off but then closed down—an experience that taught her that having a great product isn’t enough without strong marketing. But instead of giving up, Keida took those lessons and doubled down on learning, eventually launching Soulmate Customs. She gets real about the hustle—teaching herself embroidery through YouTube, staying scrappy with her resources, and leaning on her family to help grow the business. She also breaks down the power of social media, explaining how consistency in content creation—not perfection—was key to her viral success. We dive into the pressures of scaling, adapting to social media trends, and the mindset shifts needed to push through challenges, and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/keida-dervishi

03/02/2025

In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes with Jamie O’Banion, the founder and CEO of BeautyBio, a clean skincare and tool brand that leads with transparency and efficacy.

Jamie’s passion for science came at a young age as she watched her father, a cosmetic chemist, in his lab developing products and eventually joined him after college. Ten years later, having witnessed brands using minimal concentrations of active ingredients to cut costs and make false clinical claims, Jamie knew she had to address this issue in the industry. That's when the idea for BeautyBio was born. The aim was to provide clients with what they were paying for and help them understand the ingredients behind the products.

She debuted on HSN that same year and sold out on the first day. Five years later, she launched one of the brand's flagship products, GloPRO, an at-home micro-needling device that generated $4 million in sales within its first 24 hours and has since surpassed the $100 million mark. Fast forward to 2023, BeautyBio is available in over 1,700 stores, including Ulta, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/jamie-obanion-2

29/01/2025

I’m so excited to share this week’s episode with you. My dear friend Kat Schneider, founder of Ritual, just launched a brand-new podcast with Dear Media called For The Real Body Builders, and I had the honor of being a guest on their very first episode alongside hormone expert Alisa Vitti. We discuss everything from seed cycling to the stigma surrounding periods, sharing practical tips that could transform your relationship with your body.

Don’t miss out on insights that could save you years of pain and discomfort. Trust us, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Hit play, get inspired, and be sure to subscribe to For The Real Bodybuilders for more health-forward discussions like this!

In this episode you’ll learn:
- Life-changing hacks for better periods
- What causes period pain
- How seed cycling can support you
- The truth about alcohol and caffeine
- And more…

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/kat-schneider-alisa-vitti-yasmin-nouri

27/01/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Rosa Li, the founder and CEO of wildwonder, a beverage brand revolutionizing gut health with the world’s first prebiotic and probiotic sparkling drink.

Growing up in Beijing, Rosa spent countless hours with her grandmother, learning about the healing power of traditional herbs and remedies. These early lessons in food as medicine planted the seeds for Rosa’s passion for wellness. However, it wasn’t until years later, while building a successful career in finance, that she realized the importance of prioritizing her own well-being. The high-pressure environment took a toll on her health, and she struggled with gut issues and fatigue. Determined to make a change, Rosa returned to her roots and began experimenting with herbal remedies in her kitchen and that’s when the first version wildwonder was born.

In this episode, Rosa shares her inspiring journey—from growing up in Beijing with her grandmother to moving to Indiana at 12 and navigating the cultural shocks of a new life in the U.S., which later then shaped her belief in the importance of representation in business. She reflects on her career transitions, from working in finance and startups to eventually launching Rosali Tea which she ended up pivoting to wildwonder. Rosa also opens up about her feelings of being lost in her career to how she ended up creating her first product in her kitchen. Rosa discusses how COVID forced her to completely rethink her business after losing all purchase orders and being stuck with a large amount a product – a challenge she calls the biggest blessing in helping her grow and rethink her business. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her Shark Tank experience, why she initially turned them down, and how it impacted her brand’s success, and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/rosa-li

20/01/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Laura Modi, the co-founder and CEO of Bobbie, the first woman-owned organic infant formula brand in the U.S.

Before starting Bobbie, Laura spent over a decade at Google and Airbnb, where she built a reputation for taking risks and thinking big. Growing up in Ireland, she was surrounded by entrepreneurship thanks to her family’s business, but it wasn’t until she became a mom herself that her passion truly clicked. After struggling to find a formula she felt confident feeding her daughter, Laura realized there was a massive gap in the U.S. market and decided to do something about it. While pregnant with her second child, she took the leap from her secure tech career to start Bobbie, launching the first FDA-approved organic, European-style infant formula in the U.S. Since its launch in January 2021, Bobbie has nourished more than 4.5% of babies born in the U.S. and is positioned to serve three times as many babies in the coming years.

In this week’s episode, we talk to Laura about her incredible journey—from growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Dublin to working at Google, moving her career to the U.S., and joining Airbnb in its earliest days. Laura shares the lessons she learned from working alongside the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, how she developed the courage to bet on herself, and the pivotal role motherhood played in inspiring her to create Bobbie. She sheds light on the stigma surrounding formula feeding in the U.S. and the emotionally taxing experience many mothers face when feeding doesn’t go as planned.

We also talk about the challenges of launching a product in a highly regulated industry without prior experience, including overcoming significant FDA roadblocks, rebounding after their pilot launch was shut down, and fundraising while visibly pregnant. She shares the value of vulnerability in leadership, the discipline required to succeed as an entrepreneur, and the importance of continuous learning and curiosity in growing as a CEO. Laura also discusses the misconceptions about entrepreneurship, the need for innovation in stagnant industries, the power of community and support systems in navigating the ups and downs of business, and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/laura-modi

15/01/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Jyoti Chand, a dynamic writer, comedian, and passionate advocate for self-care and maternal mental health.

This week, we sat down with a fellow mom, comedian, influencer, and OG beeya fan turned dear friend, Jyoti Chand, who opens up about how drinking to fit in during her younger years turned into a full-blown habit. After trying Dry January a few years ago, she realized she was more dependent on alcohol than she’d thought and decided to stay sober for good. Now, she fills her time with self-care, building her online community, exploring new hobbies and showing up as the best mom she can be. She shares the highs and lows of her sobriety journey, offering real talk on breaking old habits and finding fulfillment without the booze.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- Real talk about quitting alcohol for good
- How to navigate the social pressures of drinking
- The truth about how alcohol is normalized
- How to have more energy and focus by abstaining
- And more…

Jyoti Chand, known as across social platforms, is a dynamic writer, comedian, and passionate advocate for self-care and maternal mental health. With a foundation in stand-up comedy and improv, Jyoti captivates audiences through her highly engaging content across her social and digital platforms, offering an unfiltered look into the realities of motherhood. Her work inspires others to embrace joy and authenticity in their own lives. Represented by Haley Henning at YMU Social, Jyoti holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and is currently working on her second book, among other creative projects.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/jyoti-chand

13/01/2025

In this week’s episode, we’re doing something a little different! I’ve invited my co-founder at Beeya and sister-in-law, Kaya Purohit, to join me as we dive into our content strategy and discuss how we’ve leveraged the power of social media and email marketing to supercharge our growth at Beeya.

Not only will we be talking about our big-picture strategy, but we’re also going to cover:

- What most founders get wrong about their content strategy and social media
- Why it’s so important to leverage social media, especially if you are self-funded
- How to break free from the feeling of perfectionism, which holds so many founders back in their content strategy

I also have my incredible husband, Dhru Purohit, back on the podcast, and he’ll be acting as our host.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode and get your feedback! DM me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]—I’m always looking for ways to add value and help inspire you.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/yasmin-nouri-and-kaya-purohit-2

06/01/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Hilary Hoffman, the founder of SotoMethod, a fitness program that combines cardio and sculpting movements designed to maximize burn and efficiently deliver a full-body workout.

Hilary started out her career in wall street and built a successful career for herself in finance. However, the long hours spent at her desk made her realize that she didn’t feel good her body and the importance of prioritizing her health. This was a huge turning point for Hilary because she realized she needed to fuel and energize her body properly and in a way that fit with her schedule. In 2021, Hilary turned this vision into reality with the launch of SotoMethod. What started out as a grassroots, “word-of-mouth” business with classes hosted in Hilary’s backyard in LA under an Avocado tree, has now catapulted into one of today’s most successful fitness brands.

In this week's episode, we talk to Hilary about overcoming fear in entrepreneurship and the practical steps she took to face it early on. She shares insights into her upbringing, her time at Goldman Sachs, and the pivotal move to Los Angeles that shifted her career path. Hilary dives into the creation of the SotoMethod, which began as a personal project and side hustle during COVID, outlining the exact steps she took to get her idea off the ground, quit her job, and eventually run her now full-fledged fitness brand with digital and in-person platforms. She emphasizes the importance of being scrappy in the early days, not overthinking every little detail, and how early feedback was pivotal in refining her method before she went all in. Hilary reflects on the value of embracing fear as a tool for growth and courage, and her guiding principle to "control your controllables," emphasizing how prioritizing health provided stability through the ups and downs of her life—and so much more.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/hilary-hoffman

01/01/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Taz Bhatia, a Western-trained physician, transformed her approach to medicine after facing personal health challenges and finding conventional healthcare inadequate.

This week’s guest is Gwyneth Paltrow-approved! Drawing from her own healing journey, Dr. Taz offers a truly integrative perspective to help women heal their hormones and thrive through all stages of life. Her book, The Hormone Shift, is described by Gwyneth Paltrow as a "manual to help us understand how we can best care for, nourish, and show grace to ourselves”. Whether you're dealing with perimenopause, PCOS, hair loss, or just wanting to feel more in sync with your body, this conversation is for you.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- How to support progesterone naturally
- Where to start if you have hair loss
- How emotions impact hormones
- The best of eastern and western modalities
- And more…

Dr Taz turned to holistic practices such as nutrition, homeopathy, Eastern medicine (including Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and Ayurveda), and Integrative Medicine, which ultimately helped her heal herself. Inspired by these healing modalities, she founded CentreSpring MD in Atlanta in 2009, which grew into a multi-location practice with a global telehealth platform.

Dr. Taz has become a leading advocate for holistic health, appearing on major media outlets like The Today Show, Fox 5, The Dr. Oz Show, and CNN. Through her online platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts, she has built a community of over 1 million people, promoting a comprehensive approach to health that includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

An author and TEDx speaker, Dr. Taz's best-selling books include The 21 Day Belly Fix, SuperWoman RX, and The Hormone Shift, which have been internationally recognized. She is a sought-after speaker on women's health, metabolic health, aging, and longevity.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/taz-bhatia

30/12/2024

In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes with Lele Sadoughi, the founder of her namesake accessories brand, Lele Sadoughi. Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/lele-sadoughi-2

30/12/2024

In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes with Lele Sadoughi, the founder of her namesake accessories brand, Lele Sadoughi.

Lele had over a decade of experience in the fashion industry before beginning her entrepreneurial journey, allowing her to give us meaningful insight into how she has built her own successful brand. Breaking into the industry with few connections (well before the world of emailing CVs), Lele has had endless opportunities to discover her strengths and weaknesses, and build her skills in operations and sales: the revenue drivers in any business.

Lele explains where her confidence comes from, how she has found the inspiration to jump into new opportunities, and the impact of having faith in herself and her abilities. Looking at typical entrepreneurial traits, we see how Lele’s non-perfectionist personality has allowed her to be nothing other than successful.

Lele shares personal stories of her marriage, motherhood, and juggling it all while building a brand she was passionate about. You’ll hear about the changes in challenges throughout the last 10 years, the worth-it successes, and the different methods Lele uses to stay organized. Lele describes the sacrifices and triumphs, discusses managing realistic expectations, and tells stories of all her experiences in between!

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/lele-sadoughi-2

26/12/2024

Grateful for these December moments 🤍🤍🤍

Behind Her Empire

10/03/2025

03/03/2025

26/02/2025

24/02/2025

17/02/2025

12/02/2025

10/02/2025

03/02/2025

29/01/2025

27/01/2025

20/01/2025

15/01/2025

13/01/2025

06/01/2025

01/01/2025

30/12/2024

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