The Activated Entrepreneur Podcast

Ep 55: The Power of Real Connection: Jordan Vaz on Building Community, Energy, and Overcoming Brain Surgery

In this episode, Colorado entrepreneur Jordan Vaz shares the inspiring origin story of the Friendship Mixer, a movement born from a viral TikTok moment that transformed a simple social experiment into a thriving full-time business. Jordan discusses her transition from working in her family’s hair salon to creating curated, intentional spaces for strangers to connect in an increasingly lonely world. She also dives into the logistics of her business model, explaining how she transitioned from donation-based meetups to a successful tiered ticketing system that prioritizes accessibility and community value. The conversation takes a profound turn as Jordan opens up about her recent health journey, documenting the symptoms that led to the discovery of a 7.5mm brain tumor. She recounts the importance of self-advocacy in the healthcare system and the spiritual peace she found while preparing for microscopic brain surgery. Now in recovery, Jordan reflects on the "forced slow down" that has shifted her perspective on life and work, offering powerful advice for anyone waiting for the "right time" to pursue their calling. Connect with Jordan: Website: www.thefriendshipmixer.com [https://thefriendshipmixer.com/]  Instagram: @!thefriendshipmixer [https://www.instagram.com/thefriendshipmixer] | @thejordanvaz [https://www.instagram.com/thejordanvaz] TikTok: thejordanvaz [https://www.tiktok.com/@thejordanvaz] Connect with Brooke: Website: www.brookeberndt.com [https://www.brookeberndt.com]  Instagram: @brookeberndt.businesscoach [https://www.instagram.com/brookeberndt.businesscoach/] Facebook: Brooke Berndt [https://www.facebook.com/brooke.berndt.5] Stand Store: www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach [https://www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach]  Shop: www.virtuebeautyco.com [https://www.virtuebeautyco.com]

Ep 54: From Handmade Gift to 7-Figure Brand: How Karen Bonnici Built Super Blanky

In this episode of The Activated Entrepreneur, Karen Binnici shares her remarkable journey of transforming a handmade Christmas gift into Super Blanky, a patented, seven-figure brand. Karen discusses how she transitioned from a 28-year career as a children's entertainer to a successful inventor, navigating major life hurdles including a difficult divorce, financial bankruptcy, and a courageous battle with breast cancer. Her "living forward" philosophy serves as a powerful testament to resilience, proving that it is possible to rebuild and thrive even when starting from scratch later in life. The conversation dives into the strategic side of product innovation, covering the importance of utility patents and the benefits of a licensing model that placed her products in Target stores nationwide. Karen offers invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on conducting market research, using provisional patents to test ideas, and leveraging the massive built-in audiences of platforms like Amazon and TikTok Shop. From hand-sewing the first 500 blankets to managing a remote team and scaling to a million-dollar business, Karen provides a masterclass in persistence and business evolution. Connect with Karen: Website: www.superblanky.com [https://superblanky.com/]  LinkedIn: Karen Bonnici [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenabonnici/] Instagram: @mysuperblanky [https://www.instagram.com/mysuperblanky] Connect with Brooke: Website: www.brookeberndt.com [https://www.brookeberndt.com]  Instagram: @brookeberndt.businesscoach [https://www.instagram.com/brookeberndt.businesscoach/] Facebook: Brooke Berndt [https://www.facebook.com/brooke.berndt.5] Stand Store: www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach [https://www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach]  Shop: www.virtuebeautyco.com [https://www.virtuebeautyco.com]

Ep 53: Taking Over and Scaling Darren & Phillip | Brian & Cris on Entrepreneurship and Brand Ownership

In this episode of the Activated Entrepreneur podcast, Brian and Chris share the story behind acquiring and expanding Darren and Phillip, a lifestyle apparel brand designed for dog lovers who want to celebrate the bond they share with their pets. Rather than starting another company from scratch, the entrepreneurial couple chose to take over an existing brand with strong community roots and a growing global audience. They discuss the thoughtful transition process, including honoring the brand’s history, maintaining trust with loyal customers, and gradually introducing their vision to expand the company in the U.S. market with premium products that go beyond matching pajamas. Brian and Chris also dive into the realities of running a business after acquisition, from navigating tariffs and supply chain disruptions to managing product launches and customer expectations. At the core of the brand is a deep commitment to giving back—Darren and Phillip has donated more than $1.2 million to dog rescues worldwide and helped thousands of dogs find loving homes. As they continue to scale the company, their vision includes expanding product categories, strengthening partnerships with rescue organizations, and growing into new retail and hospitality spaces while maintaining the brand’s mission of celebrating life with dogs. Connect with Brian and Chris: Website: www.darrenandphillip.com [https://darrenandphillip.com/]  LinkedIn: Darren & Phillip [https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-and-phillip] Instagram: @darrenandphillip [https://www.instagram.com/darrenandphillip/] Facebook: Darren & Phillip [https://www.facebook.com/darrenandphillip] TikTok: Darren & Phillip [https://www.tiktok.com/@darrenandphillip] Connect with Brooke: Website: www.brookeberndt.com [https://www.brookeberndt.com]  Instagram: @brookeberndt.businesscoach [https://www.instagram.com/brookeberndt.businesscoach/] Facebook: Brooke Berndt [https://www.facebook.com/brooke.berndt.5] Stand Store: www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach [https://www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach]  Shop: www.virtuebeautyco.com [https://www.virtuebeautyco.com]

Ep 52: From Cancer Diagnosis to Purpose: Robbin’s Journey Building a Nonprofit & the Mamapreneur Movement

In this powerful episode of the Activated Entrepreneur Podcast, Robbin Kelton—founder of MamaPrenuer Enterprises and Team Robbin’s Divas Cancer Foundation—shares the deeply personal story of how a routine doctor’s visit led to a life-changing diagnosis of stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She opens up about the emotional shock of the diagnosis, the realities of chemotherapy and radiation, and how the unwavering support of community, faith, and family carried her through one of the most uncertain seasons of her life. Robbin also reflects on the mental, spiritual, and financial challenges that can come with navigating serious illness while continuing to show up for life, business, and motherhood. Robbin also shares how her cancer journey ultimately ignited a new mission: launching Team Robbin’s Divas Cancer Foundation to provide care packages, resources, and support for women currently undergoing cancer treatment. Alongside her nonprofit work, she continues to build her entrepreneurial platform through the MamaPreneur Podcast and Podcasting Academy, spotlighting women-owned businesses and creating spaces for connection and collaboration. This inspiring conversation is a reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, purpose can emerge, community can heal, and our stories can become the very thing that opens doors for others. Connect with Alison: Website: www.mamapreneurpodcast.com [https://mamapreneurpodcast.com/]  Instagram: @mamapreneurpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/mamapreneurpodcast] | @mamapreneurpodcastingacademy [https://www.instagram.com/mamapreneurpodcast] YouTube: The Mamapreneur Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MamapreneurPodcast] Connect with Brooke: Website: www.brookeberndt.com [https://www.brookeberndt.com]  Instagram: @brookeberndt.businesscoach [https://www.instagram.com/brookeberndt.businesscoach/] Facebook: Brooke Berndt [https://www.facebook.com/brooke.berndt.5] Stand Store: www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach [https://www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach]  Shop: www.virtuebeautyco.com [https://www.virtuebeautyco.com]

Ep 51: From FBI to Founder: Alison Bosworth on Strength, Confidence & Building Strong Is Beautiful

In this episode of The Activated Entrepreneur Podcast, the conversation explores Alison Bosworth’s powerful journey from the FBI and the cannabis startup world to creating Strong Is Beautiful—a movement redefining what strength looks like for women and girls. The episode unpacks how lived experiences, personal healing, and years of teaching martial arts revealed a gap in how women are taught about safety, leading to the creation of a brand rooted in both physical readiness and inner resilience. Alison shares how listening to intuition, following the inner nudge, and allowing the vision to evolve helped Strong Is Beautiful grow from a simple idea into meaningful, community-based work. The discussion also goes deeper into women’s empowerment through internal safety, boundaries, voice, intuition, and the integration of both masculine action and feminine trust. Alison opens up about how family dynamics, conditioning, and cultural expectations shape how women show up in their bodies, relationships, and work—and how her workshops now help women and young girls build confidence, emotional intelligence, and real-world readiness together. This episode is a reminder that true strength isn’t just about aesthetics or performance—it’s about learning to feel safe within yourself, trust your instincts, and take empowered action in life and business. Connect with Alison: Website: www.strong-is-beautiful.com [https://www.strong-is-beautiful.com/] | stan.store/strongisbeautiful  [https://stan.store/strongisbeautiful] Instagram: @strongisbeautifulsd [https://www.instagram.com/strongisbeautifulsd/] Connect with Brooke: Website: www.brookeberndt.com [https://www.brookeberndt.com]  Instagram: @brookeberndt.businesscoach [https://www.instagram.com/brookeberndt.businesscoach/] Facebook: Brooke Berndt [https://www.facebook.com/brooke.berndt.5] Stand Store: www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach [https://www.stan.store/brookeberndtbusinesscoach]  Shop: www.virtuebeautyco.com [https://www.virtuebeautyco.com]