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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