Wellness Marketing 101

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with business strategist Joanna Sapir to talk about one of the biggest challenges in the health and wellness industry: burnout. Joanna shares her journey from high school teacher to gym owner to business coach for holistic practitioners and explains why so many talented wellness professionals struggle financially despite delivering incredible results for their clients.
Together, they unpack why session-by-session models don’t serve clients or practitioners, how “hope-and-wish” marketing hurts yoga studios and wellness businesses, and what it really means to serve clients more powerfully through structured programs, intentional sales conversations, and long-term transformation.
If you’re a holistic practitioner, yoga studio owner, or wellness entrepreneur who wants a business that supports your life, not drains it, this episode is a must-listen.
Key Topics Covered
Why many wellness businesses burn out even with loyal clients
The difference between marketing and sales (and why both matter)
Why discounts and free trials don’t convert without a sales process
How session-by-session services limit client results
What it means to “serve clients more powerfully”
How structured programs create better outcomes and more income
Why listening, not pushing, is the foundation of effective selling
How to pre-qualify clients so you work with the right people
Memorable Quotes
“Busy is not a badge of honor.”
“Selling is really about listening.”
“You’re not selling sessions, you’re guiding transformation.”
“Hope is not a marketing strategy.”
Resources Mentioned
Joanna Sapir’s Website: https://joannasapir.com/
Free Resource for Listeners: https://joannasapir.com/lp/systems/(Includes system recipes for sales, structure, and sustainability)
"The One Shift That Took Practitioners From $4K Months to $12K, on Fewer Hours" FREE masterclass on 3/26: https://joannasapir.com/live-masterclass
Connect With Boryana
Instagram: @BlackSeaAMS
Website: https://www.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!

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with branding expert Corey Levin, co-founder of Truth & Consequences and CMO of Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC).
Corey shares real-world insights from building a nationally recognized branding agency and working with high-profile clients and breaks down what small businesses often get wrong when it comes to marketing.
If you’ve recently launched your wellness business and feel unsure where to invest your time and money, this episode will help you build a smarter, more strategic foundation.
We Discuss:
How Corey co-founded Truth & Consequences after a private equity exit
Why employee ownership builds stronger brands
The most common marketing mistakes small businesses make
Why a “one-channel” marketing strategy doesn’t work
The importance of investing in marketing (even with limited budgets)
The opportunity cost of doing your own marketing
How positioning creates a premium brand perception
Lessons from rebranding and elevating CFFC into a UFC talent pipeline
Key Takeaways for Wellness Entrepreneurs
✔ Marketing is a system, not a single tactic✔ Spending money strategically is different from wasting money✔ Your brand positioning influences who you attract✔ Alignment between client and agency matters✔ Visibility requires consistency and intentionality
Connect with Corey
Email: corey@welcometruth.comAgency: Truth & Consequences: https://welcometruth.com/
Follow Boryana for more marketing insights:Instagram: @BlackSeaAMS
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow wellness entrepreneur and please leave a review! It helps more small businesses find us.

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101,I sit down with Atanas Valev, founder of Trimona Yogurt, to explore the fascinating story behind authentic Bulgarian yogurt and why it is better for your gut than Greek yogurt.
Atanas shares how his journey from Bulgaria to the U.S. inspired him to recreate the traditional tangy taste of Bulgarian yogurt using time-honored fermentation methods and A2A2 milk, sourced from Jersey and Guernsey cows. Together, we dive into the science of gut health, lactose intolerance, fermentation, and the challenges of launching a food brand in a crowded market dominated by Greek yogurt.
 
Whether you’re a wellness entrepreneur, food founder, or health-conscious consumer, this episode is packed with insight, education, and inspiration.
 
Key Topics Covered:
What makes Bulgarian yogurt different from Greek yogurt
The truth about A2A2 milk and digestion
Why Bulgarian yogurt is considered the original yogurt
Lactobacillus bulgaricus and gut health
How Trimona went from a home recipe to Whole Foods & Costco
Entrepreneurial challenges in the food industry
Why fermentation time matters for probiotics
Using yogurt beyond breakfast (soups, savory dishes, baking)
 
Guest Bio:
 
Atanas Valev is the founder of Trimona Yogurt, a premium Bulgarian yogurt brand available at Whole Foods, Costco (select regions), and specialty markets across the U.S. Passionate about preserving authenticity, Atanas created Trimona to bring the traditional taste, health benefits, and culture of Bulgarian yogurt to American consumers.
 
Where to Find Trimona Yogurt:
Available at Whole Foods Market, Costco (Southeast region), and select independent & Eastern European grocery stores.
Website: https://trimonafoods.com/bulgarian-yogurt/
IG: @trimonayogurt
 
Enjoyed This Episode?
Share it with a fellow wellness entrepreneur
Leave a quick review! It helps small businesses grow
Follow @blackseaams on Instagram for marketing tips for wellness brands
Bulgarian meals you can make with Trimona: banitsa (fillo pastry); moussaka (with potatoes and ground beef); poached eggs; spinach, eggs and feta; green beans; crepes 

Burnout is often treated as the price of success but what if it’s actually a sign something is broken?
In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I speak with Tara Butler Floch, leadership coach and former executive, about why hustle culture is outdated and how entrepreneurs and leaders can achieve better results with less effort and more joy.
Drawing from her own experience with executive burnout, Tara introduces the concept of push energy vs. pull energy, explains why constant discipline and hustle drain performance, and shares practical ways leaders can design work and businesses that are sustainable long-term.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why burnout is not a personal failure, but a system failure
The difference between push energy and pull energy
Why discipline and hustle are outdated leadership tools
How entrepreneurs can stop being “always on”
Why doing nothing doesn’t actually restore your energy
How to redesign your workday to protect your energy
Why joyful work leads to 20% higher productivity
How leaders can build teams around strengths instead of job titles
Why social media isn’t mandatory for business success
How to lead with less effort and better results
Key Concepts Discussed
Burnout prevention for entrepreneurs
Energy management vs. time management
Sustainable leadership
Willpower fatigue
Strength-based leadership
Redefining success beyond hustle culture
About the Guest
Tara Butler Floch is the founder of Broadview Coaching and a leadership coach who works with executives, entrepreneurs, and other coaches to prevent burnout and create sustainable success. After experiencing burnout herself as an executive, Tara now helps leaders redesign how they work—for long-term impact and joy.
Connect with Tara
🌐 Website: Broadview Coaching📧 Email: tara@broadviewcoaching.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarabutler/
 
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!

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with Bo Zhao, founder of Baby Gear Group, to discuss how she turned a frustrating first-time motherhood experience into a powerful baby gear rental movement. Instead of encouraging parents to buy expensive baby items they’ll only use for a few months, Baby Gear Group offers a sustainable, community-centered alternative: renting high-quality baby gear when you need it and returning it when you don’t.
 
From saving parents money and reducing clutter to supporting families facing medical and emergency challenges, this conversation highlights how thoughtful entrepreneurship can create real impact.
 
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
 
Why buying baby gear often leads to wasted money and unused items
How Baby Gear Group’s baby gear rental library works
The difference between membership plans vs. à la carte rentals
Why trying baby gear at home matters more than online reviews
How Bo turned a “lightbulb moment” into a multi-state business
The biggest challenges of entrepreneurship (and why marketing is the hardest part)
Why sales and marketing are ongoing skills, not one-time tasks
How Baby Gear Group supports families through hospitals like CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
What Bo wishes more moms knew before starting a business
Why “overnight success” usually takes 10 years
 
Key Topics Discussed
Baby gear rental vs. buying new
Sustainable parenting and reducing waste
New parent overwhelm and decision fatigue
Community-based business models
Entrepreneurship, marketing, and resilience
Social impact and family support initiatives
 
Notable Quotes
“I wanted baby gear to be the last thing parents had to worry about.” – Bo Zhao
“Marketing is a forever topic. It’s never one and done.” – Bo Zhao
“Most overnight successes are actually 10-year success stories.” – Bo Zhao
 
About Baby Gear Group
Baby Gear Group is a baby gear rental library serving families with children ages 0–3+. With locations across multiple states, the company helps parents:
Save money
Reduce clutter
Live more sustainably
Access high-quality baby gear without long-term commitment
 
Through initiatives like the GEAR Access Program, Baby Gear Group also supports families facing medical emergencies, early deliveries, displacement, and extended hospital stays.
 
How to Connect with Baby Gear Group
🌐 Website: babygeargroup.com📧 Email: info@babygeargroup.com
 
Perfect For Listeners Who Are:
Expecting parents or new moms
Parents trying to save money on baby essentials
Interested in sustainable living
Thinking about starting a business or side hustle
Curious about community-based entrepreneurship
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!

In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I sit down with Robert Amar, founder and owner of Small World Seafood, to talk about food, community, and what it really means to build a relationship-driven business.
Robert shares his journey from fine dining and restaurant consulting to creating one of Philadelphia’s most beloved seafood businesses—born organically during the early days of COVID. What started as helping neighbors access fresh fish quickly turned into a hyper-local, trust-based model serving thousands of customers weekly.
 
This conversation is a masterclass in community marketing, authenticity, and wellness through food, and a reminder that the best businesses don’t scale by getting bigger—they grow by getting closer.
 
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
 
How Small World Seafood started during COVID—and why it worked
Why hyper-local businesses can outperform national brands
The three questions every food (and wellness) business must answer
How trust, transparency, and education build customer loyalty
Why people are intimidated by cooking fish—and how to remove that fear
The marketing power of personality, storytelling, and email communication
What wellness, food, and community truly have in common
 
Key Takeaways
 
Quality + trust > scale
Community-first marketing creates emotional loyalty
Education is one of the strongest marketing tools
People don’t just buy food—they buy relationships
Local businesses thrive when they feel human
 
Guest Bio
 
Robert Amar is the founder and owner of Small World Seafood, a Philadelphia-based seafood company known for its exceptional quality, transparency, and deeply personal customer relationships. With a background in fine dining and restaurant consulting, Robert brings chef-level seafood to home cooks while fostering a true sense of neighborhood and community.
 
How to Order from Small World Seafood
Join the email list to receive weekly availability —> https://www.smallworldseafood.com/
Place orders mid-week
Pick up at designated neighborhood locations in Philadelphia and surrounding areas
Seasonal, fresh, restaurant-quality seafood—without the grocery store guesswork
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!

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!

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!

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.

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/