I think we all wish heartbreak looked like it does in the movies. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
Read More
In this episode of The Failure Factor, Megan interviews Michael Cammarata: serial entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder and CEO of Schmidt's Naturals – one of the worlds fastest-growing wellness brands. Despite being told he'd "never amount to anything" after being diagnosed with dyslexia, Michael had made his first million by thirteen years old. Listen in to hear why Michael can't stand "Five Year Plans," the mistake he believes entrepreneurs make that holds them back from opportunities, and the question he urges founders to ask themselves from day one.
Read More
I have a sterilized version of this story, where I say I’ve just always been fascinated with psychology and helping. I remember a clear conversation with my dad at about seven or eight years old, where I decided I would be a psychologist (after he killed my dreams of being a singer songwriter, artist, and journalist, respectively *sigh*). This version is not untrue, but like most therapists the full story is that my curiosity about the human condition grew out of personal experience with pain.
Read More
I didn't realize I had insomnia until I was in college, when a friend told me he'd "woke[n] up in the middle of the night" – and that was his whole story. I remember feeling confused – didn't everyone take hours to fall asleep, then wake up in the middle of the night six, seven, thirteen times like I did?
Read More
During a recent emotional rough patch, I found myself craving dance. I've spent years optimizing my mental health and have learned dance is one of the most reliable ways of shifting my mood – particularly when its positive effects aren't negated shortly thereafter with a hangover (because historically for me they've gone hand-in-hand). So knowing 3am tequila shots and a regrettable makeout would probably cancel out the therapeutic benefits of a night of clubbing, I shot a text to a couple of friends asking if they had any recommendations for accessible (daytime, sober) dance workouts in the city. Both returned with the same answer: 305 Fitness.
Read More
In this episode of The Failure Factor, Megan talks resilience, sexism, and changing the world with Julie Smolyansky. Julie became the youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm when she took over Lifeway Foods at the age of 27 in 2002 after the tragic death of her father. Even through her grief, she managed to send the company’s growth trajectory and revenues soaring, while considerably expanding distribution.
Read More
In this special episode, Megan sits down with her good friend and sociopolitical expert Sari Rosenberg to clarify myths around feminism and how it relates to sexual assault, dating, body image and eating disorders, and more. If you want to participate in the conversation but feel under-resourced, are curious or skeptical about the movement, or want to know how not to be a “white feminist,” this is a great place for listeners of all genders to start.
Read More
Megan sheds light on how to strengthen our relationships and support our loved ones that are undergoing mental health concerns. She shares best practice tips on establishing a healthy work environment. Tune in now!
Read More
Y’all are not gonna want to miss episode with badass therapist, coach, author, and host of Failure Factor podcast, Megan Bruneau. We talk relationships, body image, parenting (and NON-parenting), privilege, and a lot more. Get your notebook and pen ready for this one!
Read More
Earlier this year, a New York Times’ article summarized recent findings that acne can increase the risk for depression. Responses to the article ranged from “Well obviously!” to heartbreaking comments like “Acne destroyed my life [because of] relentless bullying, mockery, and humiliation.” Walter Faulstroh, founder and CEO of HUM Nutrition, knows the physical and emotional pain of acne well, struggling for years to find a sustainable solution for his breakouts.
LEARN MORE
As someone who chooses not to medicate their ADHD, I’ve accepted I’ll always require multiple sets of apartment keys and will keep replacing my credit cards monthly until I finally muster the focus to sign up for Apple Pay. But my distractibility and disorganization are well worth the tradeoff for the creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and intuition that have been integral in my success. Yet another strength of the “entrepreneurial superpower” is an affinity for multitasking – I love dividing my energy between coaching, writing, speaking, podcasting, creating digital content, and managing team members (who are much better at the administrative and production tasks on which I have trouble focusing)
Read More
You should never mix business and pleasure, right? Dismissing the adage, millions of couples choose to start companies together. In 2000, it was estimated that 3 million of the 22 million US small business were couple-owned, and that number has likely risen. As a therapist and executive coach, I’m often privy to the challenges (and sometimes colossal disasters) that can emerge when romantic partners start businesses – or when business partners start romances. Help-seeking selection effect aside, most partnerships can agree there are inevitable strains placed on both the relationship and the business. Thus, I’m always curious to learn from the cofounder couples who are doing it right. Lara and Ben Mead, founders of Varley women’s activewear and lifestyle brand, are an example.
Read More
To call Lana Pozhidaeva “dynamic” is an understatement. The Russian-born entrepreneur and activist arrived in the United States as a model, before founding a nonprofit foundation that provides scholarships to minority students. Her latest venture, WE Talks, is a monthly event series for women entrepreneurs and professionals – an idea Pozhidaeva came up with after attending “a very intimidating, big-time networking event.” Pozhidaeva mustered the courage to ask a question into the microphone, yet was cut abruptly cut off by the host in what she describes as a “horrible” experience. Pozhidaeva turned her anger into action, recruiting the help of a friend in experiential marketing with the goal of creating events that feel truly empowering for women.
Read More
I often (half) joke that dating is great training for entrepreneurship. Lack of predictability and control is common to both, and the discomfort of anxiety, rejection, disappointment, frustration, anger, powerlessness, and so on are inevitable. If we want to grow our businesses, we have to learn how to navigate the entrepreneurial emotional roller coaster – and dating in 2018 is excellent practice in said proverbial emotional roller coaster (especially in New York City).
Read More
It’s been quite the summer for me, networking-wise. I kicked off the adventure by accidentally attending a cryptocurrency conference at a castle north of Paris; shortly thereafter I returned to France to join 70 professional singles on a boat-cruise along the Seine; and most recently, I spent three nights at Fireside Conference: an annual technology-free event hosted at kids’ summer camp in rural Ontario – in the company of 399 full-grown entrepreneurs, investors, and influencers.
Read More
As a therapist and executive coach, part of my job is helping my clients get to know themselves really well – and learn what contributes to their optimal mental health and success. While one person might thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy environment, another might feel overstimulated and suffocated. Nikisha Riley, social media influencer, model, and skincare line entrepreneur was the latter. Raised in Brooklyn, the Folie Apothecary founder knew she needed an environment more conducive to mental health when she began having panic attacks, heart palpitations, and couldn’t leave the house unless a friend was with her. Unable to cope in the city, Riley moved to Austin, Texas, where she was later diagnosed with anxiety, mild depression, and ADHD.
Read More