Behind Her Empire

As we get older, our brains change, and it’s common to feel like your memory or focus isn’t quite what it used to be. But the good news is, there are simple ways to keep your mind sharp and healthy. In today’s episode, neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki joins us to break down brain health and share easy tips on everything from boosting memory and focus to managing anxiety and staying mentally clear. No matter if you're in your 30s or 60s, this podcast is here to help you take charge of your brain health, now and for the long run.In this episode you’ll learn: * Basics for brain health as you age* Simple ways to improve memory* The impact of alcohol on the brain* How to fall asleep when you have anxiety* And more…Dr. Wendy A. Suzuki is the Dean of Arts and Sciences at New York University. She is also Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at the Center for Neural Science at New York University.She received her undergraduate degree in physiology and human anatomy at the University of California, Berkeley in 1987 studying with Prof. Marion C. Diamond, a leader in brain plasticity. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from U.C. San Diego in 1993 and completed apost-doctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health before accepting her faculty position at New York University in 1998.Her major research interest continues to be brain plasticity. She is best known for her extensive work studying areas in the brain critical for our ability to form and retain new long-term memories. More recently her work has focused on understanding how aerobic exercise can be used to improve learning, memory, and higher cognitive abilities in humans. Wendy is passionate about teaching (see her courses), about exercise (intenSati), and about supporting and mentoring up and coming scientists.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.comFollow Dr. Wendy: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendy.suzuki* Website: https://www.wendysuzuki.com

In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes with Cassandra Thurswell, the founder of KITSCH, a global brand that creates eco-friendly hair care and beauty accessories for women. Cassandra came from a small town in Wisconsin to Los Angeles with the hopes of creating something meaningful in her life. But before launching her own business, she did whatever it took to make ends meet from working at a cupcake shop to crafting jewelry and babysitting. After seven failed attempts at various businesses, the idea for Kitsch was born. She started by hand-making her first product which was a basic but innovative knotted hair-tie in her tiny LA apartment. She was making cold calls, doing door to door sales, and whatever she could to get the brand out there all without any outside funding. Fast forward to today, the company has evolved into a multi-million dollar brand that’s sold in over 27 countries and across 20,000 retail locations worldwide. You can find them at Ulta, Sephora, Whole Foods, Urban Outfitters, to name a few.In this week’s episode, Cassandra walks us through how following her gut over the years has truly been the key to her success – from couch-surfing to saving money for her business to working different jobs to learn the industry. She also talks about how every single job she’s had in the past has helped her become a stronger business person and was the "mini MBA" she needed. She then dives into the challenges of the early days of fulfilling orders in her one-bedroom apartment and the creative tactics she used to get into retailers without any connections. We also talk about the biggest learnings she's had over 14 years of running Kitsch, the power of micro-intentions and micro-habits when creating your dream life, & so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Cassandra about:* Her thoughts on manifestation and its role in creating success. [05:42]* The power of visualization. [13:43]* Moving to Los Angeles, being broke, living on people’s couches & hustling in life. [17:49] * Kitsch creation journey and inspiration. [30:05]* Having various jobs to make ends meet and how she self-funded Kitsch. [33:54]* Retailer entry without connections. [37:44]* Getting her first large purchase order. [40:08]* The power of vision boards and future journaling. [44:07]* Her unique partnership approach [51:41]* Experiencing postpartum anxiety. [59:12]* Establishing boundaries and leaning into change & personal growth. [01:01:35]* Definition of success and how it changed over the years. [01:04:37]* Daily routine and micro intentions. [01:09:14]* The messy truth in launching a business. [01:14:15]This episode is brought to you by beeya: * Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. * Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Cassandra: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandrathurswell/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mykitsch/* Website: https://www.mykitsch.com/

Allison McNamara is the founder of MARA, a skincare brand known for its luxurious, algae-infused formulas.Before founding MARA in 2018, Allison had an impressive career as a journalist, producer, and TV host. A trip to Turkey in 2015 reignited her passion for skincare, inspiring her to create a brand rooted in marine-powered ingredients. When the idea hit her, Allison started working on MARA as a side project while balancing her full-time job in media. With no outside investors and no formal background in product development, she took a leap of faith, spending years researching and collaborating with labs to create the perfect formulas. Her dedication paid off—today, MARA is a cult-favorite beauty brand, celebrated by celebrities and skincare enthusiasts for its clean, effective products.In this week’s episode, Allison shares her journey from journalist to beauty entrepreneur, opening up about the challenges of self-funding a brand and the power of storytelling in building a business. Allison dives into how she started the business as a side project, how she chose to focus on her first product, and the many mistakes and learnings she had along the way. She also talks about the impact of celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Hailey Bieber, how the products got into their hands, and why building relationships with influencers has been key to brand visibility. Allison emphasizes how listening to her community has helped refine her products and drive innovation. She also gets real about imposter syndrome and how learning to trust herself and be her own biggest cheerleader has been key to her success.In this episode, we’ll talk to Allison about:* The importance of storytelling in branding and marketing. [07:49]* Transitioning careers can be a gradual process. [11:50]* Tara’s early product development process. [18:34]* The significance of understanding the market and consumer needs. [23:24]* Experience in a corporate environment can be beneficial for entrepreneurs. [25:28]* Allison’s early mistakes in product development. [27:55]* Success often comes from a combination of timing, preparation, and perseverance. [34:00]* Celebrity impact: Chrissy Teigen and Hailey Bieber. [37:58]* Building relationships with influencers is key to brand visibility. [42:10]* Staying self-funded allows for creative control and strategic growth. [46:07]* Imposter syndrome is common, even among successful entrepreneurs. [51:12]* Education and practice build confidence in business. [53:07]Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri* Website: https://www.behindherempire.comFollow Allison: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonmcnamara* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarabeauty* Website: https://themarabeauty.com

Ever feel overwhelmed by headlines like “Stanley cups have lead” or the latest scare about microplastics? In today’s episode, Dr. Yvonne Burkart, a toxicologist and expert in low-tox living, breaks down how small, easy swaps can help you reduce toxic exposure without the overwhelm.In this episode you’ll learn: * How to start your low-tox journey* Are Stanley cups as bad as we think?* The truth about synthetic fragrances* Makeup ingredients to avoid* Tips for a healthier kitchen* How to choose the best menstrual products* And more...Dr. Yvonne Burkart, PhD, DABT, is a Board-Certified Toxicologist, Coach, and Corporate Consultant with over 22 years of experience in toxicology. She specializes in reproductive toxicity, with a focus on endocrine disruption, infertility, cancer, and glutathione homeostasis. Dr. Burkart has also served as a Senior Toxicologist in the flavor and fragrance chemical industry, where she worked to ensure the safety of flavor ingredients. After witnessing firsthand the power of a low tox lifestyle, Dr. Yvonne began a mission to help consumers slash their toxic exposure with confidence and ease. She is especially passionate about helping parents protect their children from toxic exposure.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.comFollow Dr. Yvonne: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dryvonneburkart* Website: https://dryvonneburkart.com

Tara Bosch is 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.In this episode, we’ll talk to Tara about:* Challenging upbringing & her drive for independence. [03:05]* First business in college and the biggest lessons learned. [08:00]* Tara's vision for SmartSweets. [14:32]* Dropping out of college and starting SmartSweets. [18:51]* Overcoming self-doubt in her entrepreneurial journey. [21:01]* Scrappiness in the early stages of building SmartSweets. [23:11]* Mindset plays a significant role in entrepreneurship. [29:20]* Finding a manufacturer in the candy industry. [31:04]* Turning to debt financing to launch the product. [35:38]* Building brand awareness in the early stage. [38:44]* The journey of going into retail. [40:17]* Scaling and manufacturing challenges. [45:46]* Deciding to sell and transitioning leadership. [55:31]* Operating in fight or flight mode isn’t sustainable. [59:21]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.comFollow Tara: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarabosch* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartsweets* Website: https://smartsweets.com

Keren Eldad is 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.In this episode, we’ll talk to Keren about:* High achievers often struggle with perfectionism. [03:19]* Recognizing the red flags of unfulfillment. [04:44]* Playing to lose and not to win. [10:39]* Mistakes are not life sentences; they are opportunities for growth. [18:06]* Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. [22:31]* How to have happiness and true success.[23:54]* Keren’s life story: the journey of transformation often begins at rock bottom. [25:32]* Challenges are a gift for personal growth. [30:07]* The anger can be a driving force but must be managed for happiness. [31:52]* Shifting from scarcity to abundance mindset. [36:42]* Fulfillment is satisfaction for what is and eagerness for more. [43:43]* Importance of self-compassion and acceptance. [46:44]* Purpose is found in how we do things, not just what we do. [54:11]* Understanding your why. [57:53]* Healthy relationships stem from self-love and acceptance. [59:41]* Know and own who you really are. [01:01:57]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.comFollow Keren: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkeren* Website: https://www.kereneldad.com/