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When you’ve invested years into building a career - degrees, certifications, long nights studying, walking away can feel irresponsible. In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101 , I sat down with my friend Yoana Vasileva to talk about what it really takes to pivot careers and build a business that aligns with who you are today, not who you were ten years ago. Yoana spent years working as a tax accountant, earned her CPA license (one of the hardest professional exams to pass)

Why Bulgarian Yogurt Is Different When most people think of yogurt, they think Greek yogurt . But few realize that Bulgarian yogurt is the original yogurt , and that the bacteria used to make yogurt worldwide was first discovered in Bulgaria. In a recent episode of the Wellness Marketing 101  podcast , I sat down with Atanas Valev , founder of Trimona Yogurt , to talk about the history, science, and entrepreneurial journey behind one of the most authentic yogurts available in

Burnout is often worn as a badge of honor—especially among entrepreneurs and leaders. Long hours, constant availability, and relentless hustle are still widely praised as the path to success. But what if burnout isn’t proof that you’re working hard enough? What if it’s proof that something is broken? In a recent episode of the Wellness Marketing 101 Podcast , I sat down with leadership coach Tara Butler Floch , owner of Broadview Coaching, to unpack why hustle culture is ou

Becoming a parent is one of the most exciting and overwhelming life transitions. Between baby registries, online reviews, and well-meaning advice from friends, it’s easy to feel like you need everything . But what if buying baby gear isn’t actually the smartest option? In a recent episode of the Wellness Marketing 101 Podcast , I sat down with Bo Zhao , founder of Baby Gear Group , to talk about a growing movement that’s changing how families approach baby gear: renting inste

When we talk about wellness, we often focus on movement, mindset, or nutrition—but rarely do we talk about where our food comes from and who we get it from . In this episode of the Wellness Marketing 101  podcast, I sat down with Robert Amar , founder of Small World Seafood , to explore how food, community, and trust intersect—and why local food truly tastes better. As both a marketer and  a customer of Small World Seafood, this conversation felt especially meaningful. From F

Building a successful product-based business is rarely a straight path and Maya Nazareth , founder of Alchemize Fightwear , is living proof of that. In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101 , host I sit down with Maya to discuss her journey from training Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a teenager to landing a $300,000 deal from three Sharks on Shark Tank , being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 , and building one of the most recognized women’s brands in combat sports. This is an episode a

Balancing motherhood, career goals, and personal well-being isn’t easy, especially in a world that glorifies being “busy.” In the latest episode of Wellness Marketing 101 , I sat down with Jess Koteles , a Canadian mompreneur and Arbonne business owner, to talk about what it really takes to build a flexible wellness business while raising a family. This conversation is a must-read (and listen) for moms who want more freedom, alignment, and control over their time without sacr

I don’t usually record or write episodes like this. This one is more personal than most, and for a while, I wasn’t sure I wanted to share it publicly. But 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—and the lessons from that pause felt too important to keep to myself. As a mom, entrepreneur, and professor, I’m used to juggling multiple roles at once. I’m used to moving quickly, planning ahead, and staying productive

Most wellness business owners rely heavily on Instagram to grow their audience. While social media can be effective, it’s also noisy, time-consuming, and unpredictable. In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101 , I sat down with Julia Bocchese , an SEO and Pinterest expert , to explore a more sustainable approach to visibility—one rooted in search, strategy, and evergreen content . We discussed how Pinterest functions as a search engine, how SEO supports long-term growth, and

In Episode 40 of Wellness Marketing 101 , I sat down with UFC athlete Bassil “The Habibi” Hafez  for one of the most honest and introspective conversations I’ve had on the podcast. This wasn’t just a story about fighting. It was a story about identity, discipline, grief, resilience—and how the hardest parts of life shape us into who we’re meant to be. Whether you’re a business owner, athlete, or someone navigating your own challenges, Bassil’s journey will show you what it me

Some of the fun we had during the end of summer craziness Hello, amazing entrepreneurs! I’m Boryana — marketing professor, mom of three, and founder of Black Sea Advanced Marketing Solutions , where we help health and wellness businesses build authentic, heart-centered marketing foundations. If you’ve ever tried to balance building a business and  raising a family, today’s post is the reminder you might need. The last week of summer break for my kids taught me a major lesso

Having fun in the pool Hello, amazing entrepreneurs! I'm Boryana  — marketing professor, mom of three, and passionate advocate for all things health and wellness. I'm also the founder of Black Sea Advanced Marketing Solutions , where we help small businesses connect deeply and authentically with their ideal customers. Welcome back to another episode of Wellness Marketing 101 .Today’s post is inspired by something surprisingly simple: watching little kids take a swim test  at

Hello, amazing entrepreneurs! Welcome back to Wellness Marketing 101 . I’m Boryana—marketing professor, mom of three, and founder of Black Sea Advanced Marketing Solutions , where we help health and wellness entrepreneurs build authentic, sustainable marketing foundations. Today, we’re diving into a topic that every business, big or small, needs: storytelling for leadership . And to guide us, we have an incredible guest: Andrés Oliveros , co-founder of Astrolab , a profession

Designing truly accessible products isn’t just for big brands like Lululemon—it’s something every wellness entrepreneur can start doing today. In episode 36 of the Wellness Marketing 101 podcast , we explore insights from Grace Ambroze , an occupational therapist and accessibility specialist who supported Lululemon’s collaboration with the Canadian Paralympic Team during the 2024 Paris Games. Grace offered powerful lessons for entrepreneurs who want to make their products and

Hello, amazing entrepreneurs! I’m Boryana—marketing professor, mom of three, advocate for all things health and wellness, and the founder of Black Sea Advanced Marketing Solutions. Welcome back to the Wellness Marketing 101 Podcast , where we keep things simple, actionable, and deeply aligned with your purpose as a business owner. Today, I’m excited to share an inspiring conversation with Renee Plyler , co-owner of Elevated Studios , a jiu-jitsu school in Delaware that she ru

What does it really take to create a brand that feels aligned, intentional, and true to your mission? In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101 , I sit down with creative director and Mango Marketing Co . co-founder, Natalie Contrera , to explore how entrepreneurs can build a brand that not only looks beautiful, but communicates purpose. Branding is so much more than logos, color palettes, and fonts. It’s the strategy underneath the why that determines whether your audience

In episode 33 of Wellness Marketing 101 , I had the pleasure of speaking with Alison Wehr , a Drexel University alumna with a Master of Science in Marketing. Alison’s career has spanned major brands like QVC and Aramark , where she has specialized in consumer insights and data analytics . Our conversation focused on one of the most important, yet often overlooked, foundations of marketing: understanding your ideal customer . If you don’t know who your ideal customer is, you

What does it really take to communicate strategically in the age of AI? In a world where emails, DMs, and marketing messages flood our inboxes every day, clarity and authenticity have never been more important. In episode 32 of Wellness Marketing 101 , I sit down with Terence Milstead, Head of User Experience Research at CODE PA and Lecturer at the Wharton School, to explore how entrepreneurs can use strategy and technology to communicate with more intention and less noise.

In episode 31 of the W ellness Marketing 101  podcast , I had a fascinating conversation with Kathryn Ambroze , a behavioral scientist and VP, UX Research Lead - Trust and Security at JPMorganChase . Kathryn’s journey from neuroscience to behavioral science  and now to leading user experience research for one of the world’s top financial institutions is filled with valuable lessons for entrepreneurs who want to understand their customers better and design smarter businesses.

In episode 30 of the Wellness Marketing 101  podcast , I had the joy of interviewing one of my students, Michael Golkow , a marketing major and entrepreneur who’s been on an inspiring and unconventional journey. Michael’s story is one of resilience, risk-taking, and reinvention . From exploring psychology and holistic health to launching creative brands, selling art, and training in MMA, he’s proof that there’s no single “right” path to success. From Psychology Student to Cre