Wellness Marketing 101

Episode 44: From the Jiu-Jitsu Mat to Shark Tank: How Maya Nazareth Built Alchemize Fightwear

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with Maya Nazareth, founder of Alchemize Fightwear, Shark Tank deal recipient, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Maya shares how she turned a personal pain point in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into a global women’s fightwear brand starting with one rash guard and growing through persistence, learning, and resilience.
This conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship, product-market fit, failure, Shark Tank preparation, and what it truly takes to build a brand from scratch at a young age.
What We Cover
How Maya discovered Jiu-Jitsu and why it changed her life
The problem with women’s fightwear (“shrink it and pink it”)
How Alchemize Fightwear was born from a real unmet need
Building a product with no prior manufacturing experience
Early-stage struggles, slow growth, and costly mistakes
Getting robbed, manufacturing failures, and customer backlash
Preparing for Shark Tank and securing a deal with three sharks
Being named Forbes 30 Under 30
Lessons on resilience, persistence, and long-term thinking
Advice for young entrepreneurs and students
 
Key Takeaways
 
Great businesses often start from personal frustration
You don’t need experience — you need persistence
Transparency builds trust with customers
Entrepreneurship is a long game, not an overnight win
If you don’t quit, success becomes inevitable
 
About the Guest
Maya Nazareth is the founder of Alchemize Fightwear, a women-led combat sports apparel brand designed specifically for female athletes. Her company has been featured on Shark Tank, in Philadelphia Magazine, and she was named to Forbes 30 Under 30.
🔗 Website: alchemizefightwear.com📲 Instagram: @alchemizefightwear
 
If this episode has brought you any value, insight, or even just a moment of inspiration, I’d be so grateful if you could take a minute to leave a review. Your feedback not only helps others find the show but also keeps me motivated to keep creating. Thank you!

Episode 43: How Mompreneurs Can Build Flexible Wellness Businesses Without Burnout with Guest Jess Koteles

In this episode, I sit down with Jess Koteles, a mom of two and Arbonne business owner, to talk about entrepreneurship, flexibility, mindset, and what it really takes to build a business while raising a family. From redefining “busy” to prioritizing self-care and releasing control over others, this conversation is packed with honest insights for moms building businesses on their own terms.
 
What We Cover
 
Jess’s journey from lab technician to wellness entrepreneur
What Arbonne is and why its mission aligned with her values
Why “busy” doesn’t mean productive
How to build a business without being tied to a 9–5
The reality of team building and leadership in network marketing
Letting go of control and focusing on personal growth
Self-care, morning routines, and bookending your day
Gratitude, mindset, and setting daily priorities
Creating freedom, flexibility, and long-term vision as a mom
 
Key Takeaways
You don’t need more time, you need clearer priorities
Flexibility is created, not given
Leadership starts with personal responsibility
Self-care is not optional if you want sustainable success
You can build a business that fits your life
Connect with Jess
All social media platforms: @jesskoteles_
If this episode has brought you any value, insight, or even just a moment of inspiration, I’d be so grateful if you could take a minute to leave a review. Your feedback not only helps others find the show but also keeps me motivated to keep creating. Thank you!

Episode 42: Why Slowing Down Didn’t Break My Business as a Mom Entrepreneur

In this solo episode, I’m sharing something more personal than I usually do. Over the last month and a half of 2025, life forced me to slow down in a way I didn’t plan for or expect.
 
As a mom, entrepreneur, and professor, I’m used to juggling a lot, but this season reminded me that sometimes the only option is to surrender. In this episode, I talk honestly about what it looked like to step back from my business, why my podcast and content continued despite my absence, and what this experience taught me about rest, presence, and grace in entrepreneurship.
 
What I Talk About in This Episode:
 
 
How quickly my energy and health shifted because life happened
Having to cancel professional commitments I care deeply about
Why I wasn’t able to intentionally work on my business for over a month
How batching content ahead of time helped my podcast and blog continue
What I noticed when I wasn’t present on Instagram
Why slower seasons, especially around the holidays, are often necessary
How this pause gave me clarity around my messaging and direction
Letting go of guilt when life doesn’t go according to plan
 
Key Lessons I’m Taking Away:
 
Life will interrupt our plans and that doesn’t mean we’ve failed
Not every season is a growth season
Being “busy” isn’t the same as being effective
Presence matters more than consistency for consistency’s sake
Sometimes rest is forced because it’s needed
 
Why I Wanted to Share This:
I debated whether to record this episode because it’s personal. But after talking it through with another entrepreneur, I realized how many of us are setting goals and pushing forward without leaving space for life to happen.
 
If you’ve been knocked off track, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Taking a step back doesn’t erase the progress you’ve made. It’s often part of the process.

Episode 41: How Small Businesses Can Use Pinterest, SEO, and AI to Get Found Online With SEO & Pinterest Expert Julia Renee

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with Julia Bocchese, an SEO and Pinterest expert, to break down how small businesses can get discovered online without relying solely on Instagram.
 
We talk about why Pinterest is an underutilized search engine, how keyword strategy impacts both Pinterest and Google rankings, and what business owners should know about SEO in an AI-driven world. Julia also shares practical advice for solopreneurs and mompreneurs who are balancing content creation, client work, and family life.
 
If you’re creating content but struggling to turn visibility into website traffic and leads, this episode is a must-listen.
 
What You’ll Learn
 
Why Pinterest works more like Google than Instagram
How wellness and service-based businesses can use Pinterest to drive website traffic
Pinterest keyword research basics (titles, descriptions, boards, and images)
How Pinterest content can support your overall SEO strategy
Best practices for profile and board optimization
How often you need to pin—and how to do it without burnout
Website strategies to convert Pinterest traffic into leads
How SEO is evolving in an AI + ChatGPT search world
How to increase the chances of your business being recommended by AI tools
Honest insights on running a business while working from home with kids
 
Key Takeaways
 
Pinterest is a long-term, evergreen traffic source, not a trend-based platform
You don’t need to show up daily—scheduling + templates make it manageable
Keywords matter across Pinterest, Google, and AI tools
Driving traffic from Pinterest can actually support your Google rankings
Informational content builds trust and moves people into your funnel
AI tools reward clear website copy, brand mentions, and authority signals
 
Who This Episode Is For
 
Wellness practitioners and coaches
Service-based business owners
Podcasters and content creators
Solopreneurs and mompreneurs
Anyone tired of relying solely on Instagram for growth
 
Connect with Julia
 
Website: https://juliareneeconsulting.com/
IG and Pinterest: @juliareneeconsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bocchese/

Episode 40: A Fighter’s Mindset: How UFC Athlete Bassil “The Habibi” Hafez Built Discipline, Resilience, and Purpose Through Pain and Challenges

In one of the most powerful episodes of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with UFC fighter and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Bassil “The Habibi” Hafez to explore the realities behind a life built on grit, trauma, discipline, and second chances.
Bassil’s journey is far more than a highlight reel. It’s a story of extreme weight cuts, last-minute UFC opportunities, devastating injuries, personal loss, and the mental battles that happen long before an athlete ever steps into the octagon.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a wellness practitioner, or someone rebuilding your life, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how elite performers stay grounded, focused, and resilient—even when life hits harder than any opponent.
 
The Call That Changed Everything
Bassil’s entry into the UFC was anything but traditional.He got the call on a Monday and was fighting that Saturday.
He was out of shape.He was overweight.He was coming off an injury.
And still, he said yes.
Because sometimes the opportunity you’ve been waiting for doesn’t arrive when you feel “ready”—it arrives to test whether you’ve been preparing without knowing it.
 
The Brutal Reality of Weight Cutting
One of the most gripping parts of our conversation was Bassil’s detailed walk-through of his extreme weight cut:
Starting at 200 lbs and needing to reach 171 lbs in a few days
Spending hours in a sauna, pushing himself to the edge
Nearly losing consciousness mid-cut
Breaking not physically, but mentally—the true fight of weight cutting
Missing weight by 0.6 lbs, and what happened immediately after
Bassil explained that weight cutting isn’t just dehydration or hunger—it’s a “spiritual battle” against your own limits.
This part of the story is a masterclass in endurance, mindset, and the psychology of pressure.
 
Fear, Nerves, and the Fighter’s Mindset
Contrary to what people believe, professional fighters don’t walk out fearless.They walk out prepared.
 
Bassil shared:
Why the mental game is harder than any physical training
How fighters deal with nerves—especially in a main event
The difference between athletes who “want a way out” and those who push until the end
Why every fighter hits a breaking point, and how champions move past it
Entrepreneurs and wellness leaders face similar battles:imposter syndrome, self-doubt, public pressure, and the temptation to quit when things get hard.
 
Injuries, Setbacks, and the Quiet Work of Resilience
Bassil’s career has been shaped by injuries that could have—and often almost did—end everything:
Three knee surgeries before getting into the UFC
Two more in the past year
A motorcycle accident just before getting signed
Mental health struggles during long recovery windows
The stress of only getting paid when you fight
Yet he kept going.
His strategies for staying mentally locked in are powerful and practical:
Let yourself feel the emotions, but don’t live in them
Visualize your comeback
Create structure even when your body can’t work
Rewatch stories of resilience (“Go watch Rocky 1–5 again”)
Focus on what you can control
This is a blueprint for anyone navigating a setback.
 
Grief, Loss, and the Turning Points That Built Him
Bassil’s emotional story of losing both parents is one of the most impactful parts of the episode.
 
Losing His Mother at 18
He wasn’t fighting professionally yet—just drifting, street fighting, and acting out.Her passing broke him.It sent him spiraling into anger, rebellion, and eventually an arrest after a fight.
Seeing his father in court—disappointed, stressed, and hurting—snapped him awake.He didn’t want to waste his life.He didn’t want to break the people who loved him.
That moment was a pivot toward discipline, purpose, and martial arts.
 
The Cigarette Story
At 265 lbs, smoking heavily, eating fast food, and living recklessly, a quiet moment in the car with his father changed everything.
His dad lit a cigarette.Instead of lecturing him, he simply handed him the lighter.
That silence hurt more than any punishment.He quit smoking cold turkey.
A cousin later challenged him:“If you’re not addicted, then why are you doing it?”
Bassil threw the cigarette out of the window mid-smoke.Never touched one again.
 
His Mother’s Strength
His mother worked 12-hour shifts at the family pizza shop while going through chemo and radiation.Her discipline—her refusal to quit—fuels him every day.
He said:“I hope the mother of my future children is even 1/10th the woman she was.”
 
His Father’s Illness
After rebuilding their relationship, Bassil’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed eight months later.
Bassil’s message for listeners:Repair your relationship with your parents while you can.They won’t be here forever.And many did the best they could with the emotional tools they had.
 
The Fighter’s Philosophy on Health and Longevity
 
Bassil is very honest:Your choices matter more than your genetics.
He emphasizes:
Only ~5% of cancer is genetic
Young people think they’re invincible
Lifestyle habits form the foundation of your 40s, 50s, and 60s
It’s not about perfection—it’s about direction.
 
Purpose, Integrity, and Living Intentionally
Bassil lives by a verse tattooed on his body:“Your actions are judged by your intentions.”
His shirts always feature:
Half breast cancer ribbon (for his mom)
Half lung cancer ribbon (for his dad)
Quotes he wrote himself
He plans to relaunch the line soon as a way to honor them both.
 
Why This Episode Matters
You’ll connect with this story if you’ve ever:
struggled with discipline
battled addiction
lost a parent
faced injuries or setbacks
needed a wake-up call
felt stuck or directionless
questioned your purpose
This episode is a reminder that resilience is built, not born—and that even the strongest fighters are shaped by pain, love, loss, and the choices they make every day.
 
🔥 Key Takeaways
Opportunities won’t arrive when you feel ready—you must say yes anyway.
The mental battle is the real battle.
Every challenge has a breaking point.
Champions push past it.
Success is about consistent habits, not heroic moments.
Discipline, humility, and resilience carry over into every area of life.
 
🎧 Listen to Learn:
What high-performance athletes do differently
The truth about extreme weight cutting
How to manage fear and pressure
How fighters cultivate discipline and resilience
How to apply the fighter’s mindset to business, wellness, and everyday life
Connect with Bassil:
IG: @bassil_badre

Episode 39: Parenting and Entrepreneurship: How to Run a Business with Grace and Adaptability

In this solo episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I share a behind-the-scenes look at the juggling act of being a mom, entrepreneur, and professor during a particularly chaotic week. From last-minute schedule changes to the challenge of working with kids at home, this episode is a candid reminder that success isn’t about perfection, it’s about adaptability, asking for help, and giving yourself grace.
Whether you’re a parent, a business owner, or simply navigating a busy season, this episode will encourage you to pause, breathe, and trust the process.
 
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why adaptability is one of the most valuable skills as an entrepreneur and parent
How to shift your mindset when plans fall apart
The importance of asking for help and leaning on your support system
Why self-care time is non-negotiable during busy seasons
How to embrace “good enough” weeks without guilt
 
Connect with me:
Follow me on Instagram: @blackseaams
Email me: Boryana@blackseaams.com
 
If this episode has brought you any value, insight, or even just a moment of inspiration, I’d be so grateful if you could take a minute to leave a review. Your feedback not only helps others find the show but also keeps me motivated to keep creating. Thank you!

Episode 38: Why You Must Set Your Own Limits (and Not Let Others Decide for You)

In this solo episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I share important life and business lessons inspired by a simple event: watching my kids and their friends take swim tests at the community pool. What started as a summer memory turned into a reminder that other people’s opinions, judgments, and imposed limits don’t define what we’re capable of.
I also reflect on my own experiences as a young basketball player, a first-generation entrepreneur, and a mom building a business while raising a family. This episode is a heartfelt call to trust yourself, find the right mentors, and keep pushing toward your goals, even when others doubt you.
 
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
 
How children’s determination and resilience can inspire adults
Why we should be mindful of how authority figures shape confidence
How to stay focused when others doubt your abilities or vision
The importance of finding mentors and coaches who truly get you
Why investing in yourself early can help you build a rock-solid foundation for your business
 
Connect with me:
Follow me on Instagram: @blackseaams
Email me: Boryana@blackseaams.com
 
If this episode has brought you any value, insight, or even just a moment of inspiration, I’d be so grateful if you could take a minute to leave a review. Your feedback not only helps others find the show but also keeps me motivated to keep creating. Thank you!

Episode 37: The Power of Storytelling in Leadership: How Andrés Oliveros Helps Teams Communicate with Clarity and Purpose

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with Andrés Oliveros, co-founder of Astrolab, a professional development training firm that helps leaders and teams become more clear, memorable, and inspiring through the power of storytelling.
 
Originally from Mexico and now based in Philadelphia, Andrés shares his journey from corporate lawyer to behavioral science expert and storytelling strategist. He opens up about the challenges and opportunities of growing a business in a new country, why communication is much more complex than most leaders realize, and how storytelling can bridge organizational gaps, rom the C-suite to the front lines.
 
If you’ve ever struggled to make your message resonate, align your team, or build trust in your brand, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
 
What We Cover:
The origin story of Astrolab – How Andrés turned a corporate communication problem into a thriving business.
Why storytelling matters in leadership – Moving beyond facts and figures to connect with people on an emotional level.
Bridging the communication gap – Aligning executives, middle managers, and frontline teams to deliver consistent customer experiences.
The immigrant entrepreneur experience – Navigating challenges, building community, and raising a family in a new country.
Behavioral science meets communication – How biases, trust, and storytelling shape how ideas are received and acted on.
AI vs. human connection – Why technology can’t replace storytelling, relationships, and meaning in communication.
The future of leadership communication – How influence, clarity, and authenticity remain key in the age of automation.
 
Connect with Andrés
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andres-oliveros/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andresoliverosg/
Website: astrolab.us
Blog: https://mondoli.substack.com/

Episode 36: How Inclusive Product Design Drives Innovation with Grace Ambroze

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, host I welcome back Grace Ambroze (first featured in Episode 25) for a deeper dive into accessibility, this time focusing on physical product design. Grace shares powerful insights from her work with Lululemon and the Canadian Paralympic Team during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where inclusive innovation shaped everything from uniforms to user experience.
Together, we explore how thoughtful design choices not only empower people with disabilities but also create better, more user-friendly products for everyone.
 
You will find out:
How Lululemon co-created adaptive apparel with Paralympic athletes — from higher waistlines and magnetic zippers to catheter-friendly designs and reimagined pocket placement.
Why “nothing about us without us” is the golden rule of accessibility and how to apply it to your product development process.
The importance of designing beyond the product,  including accessible changing spaces, pathways, and brand experiences.
Real-world examples of inclusive design innovations - from baby clothes with magnetic closures to ergonomic beauty packaging and chemo-friendly apparel.
Practical, low-cost ways entrepreneurs can start designing more inclusively, even without big-company resources.
The role of ergonomics in product design and how simple tweaks can make everyday products more intuitive and accessible.
Connect with Grace:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceambroze/
 
If this episode has brought you any value, insight, or even just a moment of inspiration, I’d be so grateful if you could take a minute to leave a review. Your feedback not only helps others find the show but also keeps me motivated to keep creating. Thank you!

Episode 35: From Teacher to Jiu-Jitsu Entrepreneur: How Renee Plyler Built a Thriving Family Business with Purpose

In this inspiring episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with Renee Plyler, co-owner of Elevated Studios, a jiu-jitsu school in Wilmington, Delaware that she runs with her husband. Renee’s journey is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship often starts with passion, pivots, and a willingness to grow beyond your comfort zone.
Once an elementary school teacher with no athletic background, Renee never imagined herself owning a martial arts studio. But driven by her husband’s vision, her own creativity, and a desire for more freedom, she transitioned from education to entrepreneurship, building a thriving family business along the way.
Renee shares openly about the realities of running a business with your spouse, why they chose to homeschool their kids, and how the entrepreneurial path transformed not just their careers but their entire lifestyle.
 
In This Episode, We Discuss:
How Renee left teaching and embraced entrepreneurship
How Renee in love with jiu-jitsu, even when it felt “weird” at first
Running a family business and managing both marriage and entrepreneurship
Why Renee and her husband chose homeschooling and how it shapes their family values
The difference between “have to” learning and “want to” learning
Hitting a business growth ceiling and how they broke through it
The power of mentorship, community, and surrounding yourself with like-minded business owners
Navigating social media for business without getting stuck in the scroll cycle
 
Connect with Renee:
📸 Instagram: @elevatedstudios🌐 Website: https://elevatedstudiosmartialarts.com/
 
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with another entrepreneur building a purpose-driven business and don’t forget to leave a quick review to help more wellness businesses find the show!