Behind Her Empire

Gabby Reece is a volleyball legend, host of The Gabby Reece Show podcast which ranks No. 1 in the mental health category, New York Times bestselling author, and serial entrepreneur. Together with her husband, big-wave surf pioneer and entrepreneur Laird Hamilton, they run the plant-based food company Laird Superfood along with many other businesses in the health and wellness category, including Laird Apparel and XPT.  In our episode together, we talk to Gabby about one theme in her life that stands out: being an outsider and how it’s shaped every single life and career move she’s had. She shares her experiences of not fitting into conventional family structures, being a tall athlete in a non-traditional sport, and feeling like an island in her personal and professional life. Gabby emphasizes the importance of embracing who you are and finding the lessons and skills needed to navigate your unique path. We also talk about her journey building Laird Superfood with her husband and a behind the scenes look into what it takes to create a wellness brand with high-quality products. Gabby shares tips for embracing discomfort and seeing challenges as part of the journey, why we should all trust the universe, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Gabby about:* Why being an outsider has been a recurring theme in Gabby's life. [02:04]* Managing the urge to fit in during her teenage years. [05:24]* Gabby’s strong survival patterns throughout her life. [07:35]* How Gabby manages motherhood and business. [11:32]* The unfolding of Gabby's wellness journey. [16:58]* Mindset similarities between sports and business. [19:07]* Adaptability and resilience in life. [22:27]* The origin of the idea for Laird Superfood. [26:01]* Gabby's other entrepreneurial ventures.[30:33]* The philosophy behind Laird Superfood. [33:40]* Gabby's transition from professional athlete to entrepreneur. [34:57]* The importance of having a clear why and purpose. [27:22]* What keeps Gabby motivated and inspired. [41:37]* How Gabby and her husband handle scrutiny. [43:14]* Managing investors and stocks. [45:32]* The most important do's and don'ts when starting a business with your partner. [48:07]* Balancing feminine and masculine perspectives. [51:50]* Advice on trusting oneself. [55:50]* Why women shouldn't overcompensate by doing things like men. [58:51]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 Gabby:* Website: https://gabriellereece.com/* Website: https://lairdsuperfood.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lairdsuperfood/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/

Ever experience constipation or anxiety? Many women can relate… Get ready to dive into the complex connections between the gut-brain axis, mental health, and hormones with returning guest Dr. Mary Pardee, a leading expert in gut health. We debunk myths, highlight the latest research, and provide actionable strategies to nurture both gut health and mental well-being.In this episode you’ll learn: * What to implement today for better gut health* How mental health impacts amenorrhea * What to do if your digestion gives you anxiety* If probiotics are really worth it* How fasting can impact constipation* And more…Dr. Mary Pardee became a Functional Medicine specialist focusing on gut-brain health to fill the void left by her own journey, longing for a doctor who would truly listen, empathize and uncover the root causes of her health challenges. From childhood through early adulthood, she battled chronic stomach issues including constipation, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and reflux. Traditional medical treatments provided temporary relief through medications, but failed to address the underlying issues. Driven by her own struggles, Dr. Pardee returned to school with a mission to heal herself and others. Today, she is grateful to have overcome gastrointestinal symptoms and regained her quality of life, no longer constrained by dietary restrictions. Her focus has since shifted to longevity and preventative medicine, where she helps individuals extend both their lifespan and health span.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 Dr. Mary:* Website: https://www.modrnmed.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.marypardee/

Katie Rosen Kitchens is the co-founder and editor in chief of FabFitFun, a beauty and lifestyle subscription box company. Back in 2010, Katie and her co-founders saw a chance to create a brand that felt like your best friend who knew everything about fashion and beauty. They started FabFitFun as an editorial brand, built a cult following, and then launched their subscription boxes. They were one of the first to offer full-sized products at a fraction of the cost. They've sold over 38 million subscriptions and have become the go-to destination for discovering and indulging in the latest trends. Katie has led the company’s evolution from a female-focused media brand to a dynamic force at the intersection of content, community, and commerce. In this week's episode, Katie shares the importance of chasing dreams over money, the power of storytelling for brands, her biggest learnings from her TV and writing career, and how FabFitFun grew from a side hustle to a full-time business. Katie walks us through their mission to deliver happiness to their customers and build trust every step of the way, which has been crucial to their success. She discusses the transition from running a media company to a subscription consumer goods company, curating the first box despite many rejections, and the many mistakes she faced while scaling the brand. Katie also shares insights on her relationship with her co-founders, how letting go of anxiety and perfection will help achieve goals, why you should always start before you’re ready, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Katie about:Strategies for confronting the uncertainties in life. [03:29]Happy accidents that led to the founding of FabFitFun. [04:38]Katie's upbringing and lessons on freedom and happiness. [08:12]Blogging and connecting with her co-founders. [11:06]How the subscription model idea came in the early days. [13:50]Testing products and learning from failures. [17:06]Handling rejection and her sources of motivation. [21:13]Overcoming logistical challenges in shipping subscription boxes. [24:27]Katie's crisis management strategies. [27:52]Maintaining an open communication with customers. [31:16]Qualities of an effective storyteller. [31:58]Key factors that contributed to the growth of FabFitFun. [35:55]Balancing the launch of subscription boxes with motherhood. [42:02]Relationship with her co-founders. [48:03]Division of responsibilities among Katie and her co-founders. [50:33]Embracing imperfection and taking the leap. [53:34]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 Katie:* Website: https://fabfitfun.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabfitfun/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieakitchens/

Emily Hikade is the founder and CEO of Petite Plume, a luxury sleepwear brand made with the highest quality fabrics.For over a decade, Emily worked for the CIA, serving overseas in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. During this time, she was also a mother to four young boys, none of whom knew about her career. Everything changed when she was on a mission and the plane she was in nearly crashed, almost taking her life. The thought of her children growing up without their mother was unbearable, and she knew she had to make a drastic change in her lifestyle. In 2015, while still living and working abroad, she bootstrapped and launched Petite Plume. Since its launch, Emily has grown the business into one of the most well-known luxury pajama brands, with a cult following and celebrity fans like Jimmy Fallon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Hart, and Prince George, to name a few. This self-funded brand has doubled year over year since its inception and has been profitable since its first year.In this week’s episode, Emily takes us through her journey from growing up in Wisconsin, where her fascination with travel and passion for languages began, to her remarkable career as a CIA officer, navigating war zones and negotiating with affiliates of terrorist organizations. She shares about starting Petite Plume as a side hustle in East Africa and navigating challenges like horrible Wi-Fi on location, self-funding the business, and creating awareness with no connections in the retail space. Emily also talks about her strategic approach to business, emphasizing the importance of slow, organic, year-over-year growth, and how she avoids burnout while leading a growing business and being a mother of four. She discusses the biggest lessons she has learned running Petite Plume for nearly a decade, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Emily about:* Emily’s childhood and her fascination for travel. [02:54]* Working in the White House and starting a career with the CIA. [03:05]* Emily’s pivotal experiences as a CIA Officer. [05:36]* The origin of the idea for Petite Plume. [15:46]* Building Petite Plume as a side hustle in a foreign country. [18:42]* Getting into 200 stores during the first year. [21:13]* Being self-funded over the past nine years. [23:37]* Prince Charles wearing their flagship product, the pajamas. [27:44]* Emily’s transferable skills as a CIA Officer to entrepreneur. [33:48]* How Emily prevents burnout. [35:70]* Perspective on stress as a CIA Officer and entrepreneur. [42:10]* The surprising aspects of building Petite Plume. [47:26]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 Emily:* Website: https://www.petite-plume.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petiteplume/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyhikade/

Ever wonder if biohacking is for you? It's not uncommon for women to fall into the trap of keeping up with wellness trends that are tailored to men's bodies, only to end up feeling depleted and even disrupting their hormones. Today's guest went on her own journey into hacking her biology, specifically as a woman, so she can feel like her strongest, most energetic self by working with her body---not against it.In this episode you’ll learn: * What women need to know about biohacking* How to bridge ancient wisdom with modern science* What actually helps women actually thrive* The quickest ways to make shifts in your body* How your period can be your superpower* And more…Aggie Lal is a renowned public figure, best-selling author, certified nutrition and health coach, podcast host, TV personality, and TEDx speaker. With more than 1.5 million social media followers and a vast audience across multiple channels, Aggie has become highly influential in the areas of health, biohacking, personal development, entrepreneurship, travel and lifestyle. Her most recent book, Biohack Like a Woman, delves into the world of biohacking from a uniquely female perspective by providing invaluable insights for optimizing health and well-being in routines and practices optimized for women’s bodies. With her dedication to holistic well-being, Aggie is at the forefront of empowering women to optimize their health and thrive in all areas of life.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 Aggie:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aggie/* Listen to Aggie’s book: https://www.audible.com/pd/Biohack-Like-a-Woman-Audiobook/B0CX281MJ3?qid=1709598596&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=5A8YKWHAZTGN6BGGM9YY&pageLoadId=cyi1zpzjojk7CqjU&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c

Amanda Chantal Bacon is 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. [02:46]* What Amanda does when she feels out of control. [07:03]* Amanda’s upbringing: having a businesswoman mom and a musician dad. [11:30]* Exploring various interests across the world and discovering her passion. [13:12]* Amanda’s entrepreneurial ventures prior to Moon Juice. [19:03]* Running Moon Juice without a business partner. [21:21]* Where Amanda finds support during tough times in business. [22:31]* The challenges of being a founder and CEO for 13 years. [24:42]* Amanda’s leadership journey over the years. [31:35]* Amanda’s vision for Moon Juice and how it’s evolved over the years. [33:15]* Creating the first product and how Amanda achieved organic growth. [37:44]* Amanda’s source of inspiration and what keeps her going. [42:28] 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/

Katlin Smith is the founder and CEO of Simple Mills, a healthy food company that only uses simple whole food ingredients.Katlin founded Simple Mills after cleaning up her own diet and seeing incredible results. In 2012, Katlin was working as a management consultant, traveling often, and relying on convenient packaged foods to suit her on-the-go lifestyle. She wasn’t feeling her best and decided to switch to a primarily whole foods-based diet to see if her food choices were to blame. After witnessing her own transformation and then feeling restless in her job, she began experimenting in her kitchen with grain-free, paleo-friendly muffin recipes to create healthy alternatives to sugar-packed treats. A buyer at a nearby Whole Foods agreed to sell Katlin's muffin mixes and placed an order for twelve bags. Initially, Katlin hand-mixed ingredients in food-grade barrels due to a lack of funds for a mixer. She demoed her mixes in three Whole Foods stores and, seeing the demand, quit her day job to focus on Simple Mills. Over a decade later, Simple Mills leads in the cracker, cookie, and baking mix categories, selling in over 30,000 stores.In this week’s episode, Katlin emphasizes the importance of self-belief and shares advice on building the courage needed to take significant leaps. She discusses the challenges of creating her first product without a baking background, perfecting the taste, and getting Simple Mills into retailers while working full-time. Katlin shares her corporate experience and the realities of running her business on the side, including dropping out of business school, early funding strategies, and dealing with difficult conversations with misaligned investors. She also provides insights on avoiding burnout, common misconceptions about starting a business, her evolving leadership style, and more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Katlin about:* The importance of self-belief in Katlin’s journey. [03:10]* What helped Katlin during times of uncertainty. [06:06]* Katlin’s childhood and upbringing. [08:26]* Katlin’s early entrepreneurial spirit. [11:47]* Creating the first product in her kitchen despite having no background in baking. [18:16]* Hurdles in perfecting the food taste. [21:06]* Getting the product into retailers while having a full-time job. [22:37]* The origin of the name Simple Mills. [29:40]* The impact an influencer had early on in her business. [31:39]* Funding the business and the fall-out of their first potential investor. [34:23]* Getting $200,000 from her parents and going all in. [40:24]* How Katlin avoids burnout and stays grounded. [44:22]* Misconceptions about starting a business. [47:50]* Lessons learned in the Simple Mills journey. [49:36]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 Katlin:* Website: https://www.simplemills.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplemills/

It's true, women need more sleep than men, and hormonal changes throughout our lives can make it challenging to get the deep sleep we need. In today's episode, we dive into sleep and other ways we can optimize our brain health, emotional resilience and overall longevity through our daily habits.In this episode you’ll learn: * Why women need to pay attention to brain health* The best sleep aids that benefit the whole body* How many hours of sleep we actually need* The truth about alcohol, sleep and brain health* What to consider before taking melatonin* How to exercise for better cognition * And more…Neurophysiologist and human performance coach, Louisa Nicola is the founder and head performance advisor of Neuro Athletics - a consulting firm that boasts the best athletes in the world. By using science driven data from EEG scans, labs tests and cognitive assessments, Louisa has a first class ticket inside the brain of elite NBA and MLB stars. Louisa graduated from the University of Sydney medical school with a master of medicine in neurophysiology and is currently completing her doctorate under the guidance of Dr. Tommy Wood at UW, studying the effects of resistance exercise on the brain.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 Louisa Nicola:* Website: https://www.neuroathletics.com.au/hybridcoachingprogram* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/

Michelle Wahler is the co-founder and former CEO of Beyond Yoga, a company that’s on a mission to give every body the luxury-level comfort they deserve from activewear.Coming from the fashion world, Michelle realized the need for a body positive brand with pieces that flatter a wide range of women’s bodies. After creating her own line which started as a side hustle, she met and then partnered with Jodi to build Beyond Yoga in 2005. Michelle has built the product and brand from the ground up and served as its CEO for nearly 20 years. What started as a mere concept led to a global wholesale business, ecommerce site and opening of six retail stores, selling tens of millions of units around the world. She also led the negotiations and her team through the brand’s acquisition to Levi Strauss & Co in 2021 for a reported $400 million dollars.  In this week’s episode, we talk to Michelle about how the idea for Beyond Yoga started, the initial challenges and investments involved in getting it off the ground, and the importance of staying profitable and reinvesting in the company for long-term success. Michelle shares insights into the early strategies that led to incredible success, including the introduction of their popular space dye fabric, and the lessons learned from partnerships they pursued. She walks us through how Beyond Yoga lost over six million dollars in revenue in one week and how she navigated the business through such challenging times. Michelle also offers valuable advice on avoiding burnout, how they ended up selling to Levi’s despite never wanting to sell the business, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Michelle about:* The importance of giving yourself grace. [03:42]* Sustainable and profitable growth of Beyond Yoga. [05:15]* Michelle's upbringing and her relationship with her parents. [07:40]* Initial work experiences and starting her first venture, Unsweetened. [09:50]* Meeting her business partner, Jodi. [11:05]* Biggest learnings from Unsweetened. [16:54]* Funding the business and finding the right contractors locally. [20:14]* A major inflection point: Introducing space dye fabric. [29:16]* Hiring her husband as the COO/CFO. [31:31]* Michelle’s learnings as a leader. [36:19]* Michelle’s experience of motherhood. [39:15]* Saving Beyond Yoga during COVID and millions in lost revenue.[46:03]* Selling Beyond Yoga to Levi Strauss & Co for $400 million. [54:03]* Re-investing and her first experience with investors. [59:39]* Advice she would give her younger self. [01:02:26]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 Michelle:* Website: https://beyondyoga.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondyoga/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.wahler/