Behind Her Empire

We're sitting down with celebrity nutritionist Kelly LeVeque—best known for her blood sugar-focused approach, and working with stars like Halle Berry and Jessica Alba—to talk all things wellness and nutrition. Whether you're looking to upgrade your diet or better understand how your body works, this episode is full of practical, science-backed tips to support your health journey.In this episode you’ll learn: * The method behind her famous Fab 4 smoothie* How to handle sugar cravings* The best protein options for vegetarians* Her go-to strategies for lasting behavior change* How blood sugar impacts the brain* And more…Kelly is a certified functional nutritionist, wellness expert, and best-selling author living in Southern California with her husband and three young boys. Before starting Be Well By Kelly, she worked in the medical field for Fortune 500 companies like J&J, then moved into personalized medicine, offering tumor gene mapping and molecular subtyping to oncologists, before striking out on her own to start her business. Kelly received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and completed postgraduate studies in clinical nutrition through UCLA and UC Berkeley. She has found her work as a holistic nutritionist to be the most rewarding of her career.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 Kelly: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewellbykelly/* Website: https://bewellbykelly.com/

Justine Tiu is the co-founder of The Woobles, a company that makes beginner-friendly crochet kits designed to help anyone confidently create their first plush.Before launching The Woobles in 2020, Justine was thriving at Google, where she rose from UX designer to one of the youngest leaders on her team. But behind the success, she was quietly battling burnout, imposter syndrome, and a sense that something was missing. In search of happiness, she picked up crocheting—and it quickly became her creative escape. What started as a personal outlet soon sparked the idea for something bigger. She left corporate life behind to launch The Woobles from their garage.In this episode, Justine shares how she went from feeling unfulfilled in her corporate job to testing out multiple business ideas—none of which quite stuck—before stumbling upon a creative outlet that changed everything. What began as a simple Etsy shop eventually grew into a multi-million dollar business. Justine and her husband both quit their jobs to eventually go all-in on The Woobles, navigating everything from learning how to manufacture physical products to handling customer support themselves in the early days. She opens up about the steep learning curve, the mental health challenges of building a brand from scratch, and how customer feedback became their guiding compass. We also dive into the real story behind their Shark Tank experience, the importance of product-market fit over polished branding, the power of a strong support system, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Justine about:* How childhood creativity shaped Justine’s career path. [03:10]* How corporate experience helped her start her own business. [05:59]* Justine’s experience with fear and impostor syndrome. [08:55]* The mental health benefits of hobbies outside work. [09:36]* Turning a personal hobby into a business. [11:46]* Justine’s experience working in Google. [13:25]* Burnout and the search for true happiness. [16:00]* Quitting their fulltime job and starting an Etsy shop. [17:38]* Early business ideas before launching The Woobles. [19:19]* Why owning your brand and online presence matters. [23:32]* The challenges of quality control in physical products. [25:22]* Mental health struggles and the role of family support. [26:27]* How running a business differs from a corporate job. [28:31]* The importance of focusing on what you can control. [29:32]* Experience on Shark Tank and its impact. [31:14]* Embracing uncertainty can lead to unexpected growth. [35:57]* Product-market fit comes before branding. [44:32]* Why a strong support system is key to balancing life and business. [48:36]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 Justine: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dilly.ofapickle/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewoobles/* Website: https://thewoobles.com/

Katie Wilson is the co-founder of BelliWelli, a wellness brand transforming the digestive health space with delicious bars and easy-to-take fiber supplements.​Katie didn’t set out to start a wellness brand—especially not from her kitchen. But after years of struggling with gut issues and finding zero snack options that were both effective and actually enjoyable to eat, she decided to take matters into her own hands. At the time, Katie had built a successful career as the Chief Dating Expert at Match, helping people find love for a living. But in 2020, she and her husband Nick started experimenting with fiber-packed recipes in their own home, driven by Katie’s personal journey and frustration with the lack of gut-friendly foods on the market. What started as a scrappy kitchen project turned into BelliWell. Today, their products are available in over 6,300 stores nationwide, including major retailers like Target and Walmart.In this week’s episode, Katie opens up about her very unexpected journey from professional matchmaker to becoming the founder of a gut-friendly snack company. Katie talks about the shamelessness, self-belief, and resilience that is needed to succeed, and how her corporate experience equipped her with the skills she needed to take eventually take the leap. Katie opens up about the early scrappy days—from acquiring Facebook groups to grow a community, to launching her first product and fundraising during a pandemic—all while managing life as a new mom. She also dives into the power of co-founders with complementary skills, the lessons learned from manufacturing challenges, why constant product improvement and staying close to the customer are key to building a lasting brand, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Katie about:* Katie's early passion for matchmaking. [03:07]* Shamelessness is a key trait for entrepreneurs. [07:13]* Developing confidence during the early stage of her career. [08:41]* Moving to Dallas and working in Match. [14:31]* Corporate experience can provide valuable skills for startups. [17:05]* Katie's gut health issues sparked her entrepreneurial journey. [17:42]* Building a community and acquiring Facebook groups. [20:34]* Having co-founders with complementary skills is essential. [25:58]* The inspiration behind BelliWelli’s first product. [27:32]* The early days of entrepreneurship. [30:42]* Believing in the possibility of success. [31:44]* Managing motherhood and business. [34:09]* Katie’s first steps in fundraising. [35:36]* Product launch and manufacturing challenges. [39:24]* Continuous improvement should be a core business goal. [46:18]* Insights from engaging with customers. [48:19]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 Katie: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiebostonwilson/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belliwellihealth/* Website: https://belliwelli.com/

Ready to level up your health, longevity, and maybe even fertility? Well, buckle up—today’s guest is about to drop some serious knowledge. Today, we’re joined by the incredible Kayla Barnes, a global leader in advancing female health through preventive and regenerative approaches. In fact, Kayla might just be the most measured woman in the world—her labs are publicly shared and meticulously tracked. Grab a pen—you’ll want to take notes on this one!In this episode you’ll learn: * How to optimize your routine for sleep* The truth about cold plunges for women* How to sync your workouts with your cycle* Stress hacks for busy women* Tips for sustainable weight loss* And more…Kayla is the Owner of LYV The Wellness Space, one of the country’s most innovative precision medicine and biology upgrading clinics. Kayla is also the creator and host of the Longevity Optimization Podcast and co-founder of the Health Optimization Fund. Kayla also just launched the world’s first female longevity membership. She has dedicated herself to the pursuit of preventive and regenerative methodologies aimed at optimizing female human health. Kayla has shared her labs publicly and is one of, if not the most measured women in the world.Her endeavors have garnered international recognition from notable publications and she has been named a top longevity leader globally. Kayla has been featured in: Fortune, Forbes, Business Insider, The New York Post, MSN, Yahoo, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Guardian and more.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 Kayla: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes* Website: https://www.kaylabarnes.com

In this week’s episode, we’re re-airing one of our top episodes with Amanda Chantal Bacon, the CEO and founder of Moon Juice, a wellness company that sells plant-based products, including adaptogenic supplements, skincare, and foods.Moon Juice was born in 2011 from Amanda's experience when she put her autoimmune condition into remission after being told it wasn’t possible from multiple doctors. Through her healing process, she met with experts and educated herself on diet, lifestyle, spirit, and traditional wisdom. Amanda saw radical changes in her blood and hormone panels and believed that simple daily practices were crucial to her transformation. What began in her kitchen and a small shop in Venice has now grown into a company that’s a leader in the wellness industry and a global source for supplements and skincare. In this week’s episode, we chat with Amanda about her unique childhood and her winding journey through different countries and careers which eventually lead her to finding her passion and purpose. She shares stories about her past business ventures, why they didn’t work out, and what she learned from them. Amanda talks about why she started Moon Juice without partners and how it grew from a juice shop to a full-fledged brand. She reflects on the challenges of being a founder and CEO for over a decade, her evolving leadership style, and her vision for Moon Juice. Amanda also tells us how she created her first product, built awareness, achieved organic growth, and what keeps her motivated through all the stages of the business, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Amanda about:* Amanda’s relationship with control over the years. [03:16]* What Amanda does when she feels out of control. [07:33]* Amanda’s upbringing: having a businesswoman mom and a musician dad. [12:00]* Exploring various interests across the world and discovering her passion. [13:42]* Amanda’s entrepreneurial ventures prior to Moon Juice. [19:33]* Running Moon Juice without a business partner. [21:51]* Where Amanda finds support during tough times in business. [23:01]* The challenges of being a founder and CEO for 13 years. [25:12]* Amanda’s leadership journey over the years. [32:05]* Amanda’s vision for Moon Juice and how it’s evolved over the years. [33:45]* Creating the first product and how Amanda achieved organic growth. [38:14]* Amanda’s source of inspiration and what keeps her going. [42:58] 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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Amanda:* Website: https://moonjuice.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonjuice/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandachantalbacon/

Ty Hiss is the co-founder of Fresh Sends, a lifestyle gifting brand that’s completely reimagining how we celebrate the people we love.Ty’s path to entrepreneurship was anything but traditional. With no floral background, she took a leap of faith and turned a one-time wedding project into a nationwide brand—all out of a 900-square-foot Denver duplex. Fresh Sends started with its now-iconic “Send” bouquet (which went viral on TikTok) and has since expanded into curated gift sets like the Birthday Send, the Pasta Night Send with Graza olive oil, and the Fresh Set, filled with self-care and beauty essentials. Through thoughtful branding, creative partnerships with Tower 28, Amazon Prime, and more—and a deep focus on community—Ty has built a company that’s redefining modern gifting and making people feel seen, known, and loved.In today’s episode, Ty takes us behind the scenes of building Fresh Sends from the ground up—and she doesn’t hold back. We talk about launching a business without experience, the scrappy early days, and the mindset shifts that helped her push through uncertainty. She shares how her upbringing instilled a belief in chasing big dreams, the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, and the importance of staying anchored in your “why.” We also get into branding, word-of-mouth marketing, imposter syndrome, hiring, pivoting through challenges, and why waiting for perfection can hold you back. If you're building something from the ground up—or dreaming about starting—this episode is full of gems you won’t want to miss.In this episode, we’ll talk to Ty about:* Ty’s relationship with Impostor Syndrome. [03:35]* Ty's upbringing fostered a belief in achieving dreams. [05:43]* The roots of Ty’s hustle and drive. [07:58]* Starting a business without experience is possible. [10:09]* The early vision and business plan behind Fresh Sends. [15:33]* The impact of branding on business success. [16:50]* Why shipping logistics are crucial in the floral industry. [18:48]* Pivoting can lead to new opportunities. [19:49]* The financial risks and realities of entrepreneurship. [20:46]* Embracing challenges as part of the journey. [26:23]* Having a strong 'why' is crucial for motivation. [29:55]* Customer connections can drive your business forward. [32:48]* The power of word-of-mouth marketing. [34:42]* Navigating demand and supply challenges while scaling. [37:42]* Ty’s hiring lessons and the importance of team building. [43:20]* Persistence and patience are key to long-term success. [45:40]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 Ty: * Instagram: https://freshsends.com* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tygerhiss* Website: https://www.instagram.com/freshsends