Behind Her Empire (2025)

17/11/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Allison Evans, the co-founder of Branch Basics, a wellness brand dedicated to creating non-toxic cleaning products held to the highest standards of safety and transparency.

Allison Evans’ journey began when her period disappeared in middle school. She was later diagnosed with PCOS, told she’d never get pregnant naturally, and prescribed birth control to “fix” it. Years later, she proved the opposite—healing her hormones and restoring her fertility through food, lifestyle changes, and a radical shift in how she viewed “clean.”

In this conversation, we explore the power of removing toxins from our homes and our minds, and how choosing a toxin-free lifestyle isn’t about fear—it’s about empowerment.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- How to detox your life without fear
- The power of mindset in healing
- What to know about non-stick pans and other household items
- The truth about synthetic fragrances
- What makes a home truly clean
- And more…

After overcoming her own health challenges, Allison has become a trusted voice in the wellness space, helping people rethink what “clean” really means and empowering others to create healthier homes and lives.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/allison-evans-2

03/11/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Missy Tannen, the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Boll & Branch, the luxury bedding brand that made organic, ethically made sheets a household staple.

Missy’s journey to entrepreneurship started far from the business world. She spent eight years as a third-grade teacher before stepping away to raise her three daughters, never imagining she’d one day build one of the most successful bedding brands in the country. It all started with something simple: a search for better sheets. That curiosity turned into a deep dive into an industry full of hidden practices and little transparency. Together with her husband and co-founder, Scott, they decided to figure it out themselves, learning everything about cotton, weaving, and supply chains completely from scratch. In 2014, they launched Boll & Branch with a simple mission: to create beautiful, responsibly made bedding at an honest price. What started at their kitchen table has grown into a $200 million brand, sold at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, with stores now expanding across the country.

In this week’s episode, Missy opens up about her transformation from teacher to entrepreneur, the pivotal moments that shaped Boll & Branch’s early years, and how one unexpected newspaper story changed everything for the brand. We get into the scrappy stuff: wiring all of their savings overseas to a factory they’d never visited, making “tech packs” in PowerPoint, washing fabric samples 20 times in her laundry room, and missing a holiday launch because of a disaster that happened with their first real production run. We talk about how they built their supply chain from the ground up, handled zero-sales days after the initial excitement faded, and then suddenly sold out overnight when the press caught on. Missy shares how she’s battled perfectionism, and how she juggled growth, motherhood, and self-doubt while building a brand rooted in purpose. This conversation is your reminder that you don’t need experience or a roadmap to build something extraordinary—just grit, heart, and the courage to keep going.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/missy-tannen

27/10/2025

In this week's episode, my co-founder Kaya and her sister sit down with Dr. Mariza Snyder for an open and honest conversation about perimenopause. Perimenopause is something nearly every woman will experience, yet many don’t recognize what’s happening until symptoms begin to disrupt daily life.

Together, they bring personal experience and curiosity to the discussion, unpacking what’s really happening in the body during this stage and how women can navigate it with more ease and support.

Dr. Mariza explains the first signs of perimenopause, which can vary widely and affect the entire body well beyond the breasts and ovaries. She breaks down what happens inside the body during this transition, how it can lead to surprising changes in daily life, and the key tests that can help women navigate this phase while protecting their brain and metabolic health. Dr. Mariza also shares why stress management, community, and movement are essential tools for empowering ourselves through this time.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/mariza-snyder-2

20/10/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Kim Vaccarella, the founder and CEO of Bogg Bag, the durable, washable, and colorful tote designed to carry it all with ease, from beach days to everyday adventures.

Kim’s journey to building Bogg Bag was anything but linear. A mom of two with a full-time job, she sketched the idea for a sturdier beach tote after one too many sandy, soggy days at the shore. Turning that sketch into reality meant dipping into her children’s college savings, navigating failed prototypes, and surviving a shipment disaster that nearly sank the company. She pitched the concept to investors, auditioned for Shark Tank four times, and kept going even when the odds looked impossible. For nearly a decade, Kim built Bogg slowly and steadily on the side, determined to protect her vision and move at her own pace. That persistence paid off. Today, Bogg Bag is a thriving $100 million brand carried in major retailers like Nordstrom, Target, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, with millions of bags in the hands of customers across the country.

In this week’s episode, Kim gets super detailed about the many ups and downs on bringing this business to life - from the risks she took to place her first big order, the moments she nearly walked away, and the lessons she learned about patience, resilience, and staying true to her path. We talk about the turning points that defined her journey—from manufacturing challenges and early rejections to grassroots growth and viral moments, and the leap of faith she took when she left her 26-year career to focus on Bogg full time. Kim also shares why she ultimately turned down a massive nine figure acquisition offer and what it means to build a business on your own timeline. If you’ve ever doubted your pace or questioned your path, Kim’s story proves that slow growth can be just as powerful.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/kim-vaccarella

13/10/2025

In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes with Stacy Sims, MSC, PhD, a forward-thinking international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist who aims to revolutionize exercise nutrition and performance for women.

Have you ever wondered why one week you feel like you’re crushing it in the gym, and the next you just don’t have the energy? Newsflash: women are NOT small men. Our hormones fluctuate throughout the month, which has subtle (and sometimes obvious) impacts on every area of our lives—including exercise.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- Exercise myths that need to be busted
- If women really need to cycle sync their workouts
- What women need to know about cold therapy
- How to know if you’re eating enough
- Why creatine isn’t just for gym bros
- And more…

Dr. Stacy has directed research programs at Stanford, AUT University, and the University of Waikato, focusing on female athlete health and performance and pushing the dogma to improve research on all women. She has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers, several books and is a regularly featured speaker at professional and academic conferences, including those by USOC and USA Cycling.

With the unique opportunities, Silicon Valley has to offer, during her tenure at Stanford, she had the opportunity to translate earlier research into consumer products and a science-based layperson's book, Roar, written to explain s*x differences in training and nutrition across the lifespan. Both the consumer products and the book challenged the existing dogma for women in exercise, nutrition, and health. This paradigm shift is the focus of her famous "Women Are Not Small Men” TEDx talk.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/stacy-sims-2

06/10/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Jennifer Meyer, the founder and creative director of Jennifer Meyer Jewelry, a fine jewelry brand handmade in Los Angeles.

Jennifer’s story starts early. At six, she was discovering her love for jewelry while creating pieces with her grandmother. Fast forward: she hustled her way into getting a job at Glamour magazine, then worked in fashion and PR with Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani. In 2005, she finally followed her passion she felt for years and launched her brand at her kitchen table, teaching herself everything from molds to pricing. Her big break came when Jennifer Aniston wore the leaf necklace in The Break-Up, and suddenly her pieces were on the shelves at Barneys and Net-a-Porter. Nearly two decades later, Jennifer Meyer Jewelry has become a Hollywood staple, worn by everyone from Reese Witherspoon and Taylor Swift to Selena Gomez and so many more.

In today’s episode, Jennifer gets real about what it took to build from zero. We talk about how her upbringing & working at a young age shaped her resilience, the scrappy hustle that got her first big break at Glamour, and the leap from side passion to a real business. She shares the chaos of those early orders, the moment Jennifer Aniston put her work on the map, and what it was like to scale while raising her daughter. We dig into money lessons from her dad, why she chose slow and steady growth, and how to bet on yourself when there’s no roadmap. Jennifer also opens up about navigating comparison, leaning into social and how it’s impacted her business, and redefining what success means to her over the years. If you’ve ever felt “not enough,” this conversation will remind you that passion, persistence, and kindness can take you farther than you think.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/jennifer-meyer

29/09/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Sarah E. Hill, Ph.D., an award-winning researcher, consultant, writer, scientist, communicator, and professor.

Why do mood shifts, cravings, and PMS happen before your period? Dr. Sarah Hill, author of “This is Your Brain on Birth Control” and “The Period Brain”, breaks down the latest science on hormones, the luteal phase, and how progesterone affects the brain and body.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- How to survive and thrive in the luteal phase
- Why PMS exists (and its functional purpose)
- How progesterone impacts mood and stress
- The connection between birth control and attraction
- What contributes to postpartum depression
- And more…

With almost 25 years of research experience, she's authored 100+ research publications, and two books that have changed the conversation about hormones and birth control for women. She earned her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin with Dr. David Buss and has called Texas home since moving here for graduate school in 2000. She has used the latest science on the dynamic changes in women’s hormonal states to write her newest book, "The Period Brain" with the goal of helping people feel seen, heard, and understood.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/sarah-hill-2

22/09/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Joan Nguyen, the co-founder and CEO of Bumo, a platform revolutionizing childcare with flexible, on-demand options for families.

Raised by Vietnamese refugee parents who taught her that education was both a privilege and a pathway, Joan’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 20 years old when she founded MeriEducation with $3,000 in savings, eventually growing it into an Inc. 5000 company. Years later, as a working mother, she teamed up with Chriselle Lim to launch Bumo in 2019. From pitching over 200 investors with repeated rejections, to losing her home in the LA wildfires, to pivoting the company into a virtual school in just eleven days during the pandemic, Joan has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Today, Bumo has raised over $10 million and built a nationwide marketplace connecting families with thousands of licensed childcare providers.

In this week’s episode, Joan opens up about the pivots that shaped her journey. She shares what it was like navigating survival mode versus thriving mode as a founder, building a supportive community, and finally breaking through with investors. We talk about the challenges of fundraising and adapting quickly during the pandemic to save her business. Joan also shares the lessons she’s learned about resilience, setting boundaries as a parent and leader, and the power of asking for help. If you’ve ever faced setbacks that felt impossible to overcome, this conversation is proof that your hardest seasons can set the stage for your biggest breakthroughs.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/joan-nguyen

15/09/2025

In this week’s episode, we’re doing a solo episode. I’ve invited my co-founder at beeya wellness and sister-in-law, Kaya Purohit, to join me for a candid conversation where we dive into the top questions from our community.

From wellness routines to business strategy, we’re getting real on how we actually live, work, and build behind the scenes. We get into things like:

- The wellness fads we tried (and why they left us drained)
- The daily rituals that keep us grounded while running a fast-paced startup
- The best business advice we’ve ever received—and how it keeps us sane
- The marketing lesson that completely changed the way we grow beeya
- The messy truth of building a brand, from product development headaches to customer wins

We’re keeping it honest, a little messy, and hopefully super helpful - we hope you enjoy this one!

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/yasmin-nouri-and-kaya-purohit-4

08/09/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Melinda Maria Spigel, the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Melinda Maria Jewelry, a leading e-commerce jewelry brand.

From a young age, Melinda was drawn to creativity and jewelry, spending hours sketching and experimenting with designs. What began as a childhood passion quickly evolved into something bigger when, at 23, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams. She started selling her handmade pieces out of a Starbucks, sometimes making $1,000 a day, until her bold, statement designs began catching the eyes of stylists and celebrities. That early momentum would eventually grow into a namesake brand worn by icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift, and featured in major retailers around the world.

In this week’s episode, Melinda opens up about the real journey behind the brand: how she overcame fear of judgment, why authenticity is her biggest competitive edge, and what it really took to build a company from scratch while raising three kids. We talk about the hustle of her early days, the grassroots strategies that got her into celebrity hands, the lessons she learned navigating challenges during key growth stages, and how passion continues to fuel her resilience and long-term success. Melinda’s story is a masterclass in resilience, resourcefulness, and creativity, and a reminder that true success isn’t about a perfect path but about showing up with courage, again and again.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/melinda-maria-spigel

01/09/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Amy Killen, the founder of the Human Optimization Project and co-founder/Chief Medical Officer of Humanaut Health, while also pioneering advanced stem cell procedures in her Utah-based practice.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sea of conflicting advice on hormones, aging, and how to truly take care of your body, you’re not alone. From social media trends to quick-fix solutions, it can be hard to know what actually works and what’s just noise. In this conversation, Dr. Amy Killen breaks down complex science into clear, actionable insights. You’ll walk away not only with knowledge, but also with a sense of empowerment to make decisions that support your long-term vitality, energy, and confidence as hormones shift throughout life.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- Misconceptions about estrogen
- How to navigate hormone shifts in midlife
- The latest science on HRT
- When hormone testing really matters
- The truth about creatine, red light & collagen
- When women age the fastest
- And more…

Dr. Amy Killen is a longevity and regenerative physician, entrepreneur, and international speaker. A former ER doctor, she now helps people look and feel their best through lifestyle medicine, hormones, peptides, and cutting-edge regenerative therapies.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/amy-killen

25/08/2025

In this week's episode, we're joined by Ty Haney, the founder of Outdoor Voices, the brand that made moving your body feel cool, inclusive, and fun again. She’s also the founder of Joggy, a natural energy brand, and TYB (“Try Your Best”), a fast-growing platform helping brands build stronger communities through its community commerce model.

Ty started Outdoor Voices as a college project, and it ended up becoming one of the most recognizable names in activewear. She had this fresh take on movement and community that made the brand stand out and quickly grow into a national success. At its peak, Outdoor Voices was bringing in over $160 million in revenue under her leadership and became a playbook for how community can drive real growth. After stepping away, Ty didn’t slow down - she launched Joggy and later TYB, which now powers over 200 companies like Rare Beauty, Poppi, and Urban Outfitters.

In today’s episode, Ty gets real about the full arc of Outdoor Voices from its scrappy beginnings to becoming a national brand, and then the tough moments that led her to step away. She opens up about the challenges behind the scenes, what it felt like to walk away from something she built, and why she’s now coming back to the company with a fresh perspective. We also dive into what she’s learned launching Joggy from scratch, building TYB with powerhouse brands, and how she rebuilt her confidence through it all. Ty shares the lessons she wishes more founders talked about - why ownership equals control, how to manage your time and energy, and why trusting yourself is everything. This one’s for anyone who’s building, rebuilding, or just figuring it out as they go, Ty’s story is packed with honesty, grit, and the kind of inspiration we all need to hear.

Full episode available here: https://www.behindherempire.com/episode/ty-haney

Behind Her Empire

17/11/2025

03/11/2025

27/10/2025

20/10/2025

13/10/2025

06/10/2025

29/09/2025

22/09/2025

15/09/2025

08/09/2025

01/09/2025

25/08/2025

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