Waterless Haircare & Disrupting an Industry with Stephanie Farsht of Small Wonder

Waterless Haircare & Disrupting an Industry with Stephanie Farsht of Small Wonder

EP 53. Do we need water in our haircare? Stephanie Farsht, co-founder and CEO of Small Wonder, had that question in mind as she and her team launched the world's first powder-based haircare line. We chat about the future of haircare, the advantages of going waterless, and the lessons Stephanie and her team  learned from disrupting an entire category. We also get into what it takes to actually change consumer behavior, the importance of sustainability, how to fail fast, the skills needed for entrepreneurship, and why "normal" isn't always optimal. In this episode: * The surprising reason your shampoo and conditioner may be delivering less than the label promises * How questioning "normal" led to the creation of Small Wonder * The advantages of waterless formats for haircare and other categories * The early product failures that helped shape Small Wonder's current format  * What needs to happen for consumers to actually change their behavior * The three entrepreneurial skills Stephanie says matter more than any business school curriculum Resources * Small Wonder website: www.smallwonder.world [https://smallwonder.world/] * Follow Small Wonder on Instagram: @smallwonder.world [https://www.instagram.com/smallwonder.world/] Guest Bio Stephanie Farsht is the Co-Founder and CEO of Small Wonder, a professional-grade, powder-to-lather haircare brand designed around freshly activated formulas, maximizing the potency of active ingredients at the moment of use -- where every ingredient earns its spot and nothing is diluted. She helped develop the patented refillable Wonder Bottle, engineered to keep powder dry while delivering an effortless dispensing experience. Before founding Small Wonder, Farsht spent over 15 years at Target Corporation and served for eight years as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, teaching entrepreneurship and innovation. She holds a BA in Economics and French from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438892/support] JOIN MY EMAIL LIST [https://katvong.store/newsletter] Liked this episode? Share with a friend or leave a comment or review! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/] Follow me, your host: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/] Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email: kat@thewelldonepod.com [kat@thewelldonepod.com]

Skincare Myths: The Truth About Moisturizers, Vitamin C and Trendy Ingredients with Ben Fuchs

EP 52. That $50 serum with the trendy ingredient you just bought? It may be doing nothing for your skin. In this episode, I am joined by Ben Fuchs — pharmacist, skincare chemist, and founder of Truth Treatment Systems — to completely dismantle the way we think about skin. Ben challenges the beauty industry’s obsession with trends (snail mucin and salmon PDRN, anyone?), moisturizers, and even "skin types," and instead explains why healthy skin starts with understanding the body, the gut, the blood, and the skin as a living organ. We get into the connection between nutrition and skin health, the skincare ingredients he believes actually matter, and why beauty is ultimately a reflection of health.  In this Episode: * How the modern skincare industry was built on story, not science * What sensitive skin may really be signaling beneath the surface  *  The connection between gut health, blood toxicity, inflammation, and chronic skin issues  * Why “moisturizer” could be one of the most misunderstood words in skincare  * The problem with trendy skincare ingredients like snail mucin, salmon DNA, and beef tallow  * The “big four” skincare ingredients that are actually important and why *  How to start thinking of skin as a living, intelligent, self-repairing organ—not just a surface to treat  Resources from episode * Learn more about Ben's work: www.truthtreatmentsystems.com [https://www.truthtreatments.com/] * Follow Ben on Instagram: @truthtreatmentsystems [https://www.instagram.com/truth.treatments/] Guest Bio Benjamin Knight Fuchs, R.Ph., is a pharmacist and skincare chemist with over 40 years of experience formulating products for dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and aestheticians. He got his start in the Blistex research lab, and went on to pioneer the use of topical nutritional supplements in skincare. Today, Ben is the founder of Truth Treatment Systems and the host of The Rogue Pharmacist, where he challenges the conventional wisdom of both skincare and healthcare. His philosophy is simple: beauty is a function of health, and the skin is a window into everything happening beneath the surface. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438892/support] JOIN MY EMAIL LIST [https://katvong.store/newsletter] Liked this episode? Share with a friend or leave a comment or review! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/] Follow me, your host: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/] Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email: kat@thewelldonepod.com [kat@thewelldonepod.com]

Manifestation Blocks: Why Your Mindset Work Isn’t Working with Dr. Victoria Rader

EP 51. You've been journaling, meditating, visualizing, repeating affirmations, and yet your manifestations aren't coming. Sound familiar? I am joined by Dr. Victoria Rader, PhD in Metaphysical Science, founder of Yu2Shine, and a pioneer behind  Quantum Personal Development, to break down why manifestation stalls and what could be happening under the surface that blocks us from getting what we want. Victoria unpacks why most people are unknowingly trying to manifest things they don't actually want, and how self-worth is the silent force either fueling or sabotaging everything you're trying to create. Whether you're stuck in a loop, craving a deeper sense of groundedness, or ready to stop chasing external validation and finally feel worthy from the inside out, this conversation is for you. In this Episode: * The real reason your manifestations aren't working  * A 4-part system for getting radically clear on what you actually want  * How grounding and gratitude work together when you’re trying to create change * A simple grounding practice you can use when you feel anxious or emotionally overloaded  * Why limiting beliefs are not “blocks,” but clues that can lead to deeper healing  * The famous self-help quote almost everyone gets wrong, and how fixing it changes the way you manifest * A practical way to shift your beliefs before your subconscious rejects them * The 3 laws of self-worth and why this is the foundation to true expansion Resources: * Victoria's website: Yu2Shine [https://yu2shine.com/] * Victoria's recent TedX Talk on the Laws of Self-Worth [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEdvmt4N_mE] * Worthy mE Journal [https://www.amazon.com/Worthy-mE-Journal-Freeing-Infinite/dp/B0FF34VQG5] * Empower-mE App [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/empower-me-heal-align-thrive/id1495559535] * Zero Limits Movie  [https://zerolimitsmovie.com/] * Follow Victoria on Instagram: @vica_rader [https://www.instagram.com/vica_rader/] Guest Bio: Dr. Victoria Rader is the founder of YU2SHINE, a transformational speaker, bestselling author, and pioneer in Quantum Personal Development. Born in Ukraine, Victoria immigrated to the United States and went on to become a top 1% real estate agent before building her work around universal laws, subconscious healing, self-worth, prosperity, and spiritual alignment. She holds a Ph.D. in Metaphysical Studies and has created books, journals, apps, and coaching tools designed to help people move from limitation into freedom, peace, prosperity, and purpose. Her work includes Prosper mE, the mE Journal Series, Worthy ME, and the Empower-mE app. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438892/support] JOIN MY EMAIL LIST [https://katvong.store/newsletter] Liked this episode? Share with a friend or leave a comment or review! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/] Follow me, your host: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/] Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email: kat@thewelldonepod.com [kat@thewelldonepod.com]

The Traits That Make You Successful Are Also Making You Sick

EP 50. Are you the woman everyone relies on—the one who keeps pushing, performing, caregiving, and holding it all together, even when your body is begging for rest? In this solo episode, I'm exploring the connection between chronic stress, inflammation, autoimmune disease, and the high-achieving woman pattern.  I talk about why autoimmune conditions disproportionately affect women, how stress impacts the immune system through cortisol and the HPA axis, and why traits like people-pleasing, perfectionism, emotional labor, and caregiving can quietly become health risks. This episode is a deeply personal and science-backed look at what happens when ambitious women normalize stress, and how to start noticing the signs before the body forces us to listen. In this episode: * The surprising stat around autoimmune disease and women * The difference in stress response between men and women and how that shapes the way we handle pressure and manage relationships *  The high-achieving woman pattern that can make burnout feel “normal”  *  The role emotional labor and the invisible mental load can play in women’s stress levels  *  Why ambitious women often push through warning signs instead of slowing down  *  A simple framework for identifying symptoms, stressors, and nervous system patterns  Resources: * Symptom Tracking App: Bearable [https://bearable.app/] Research articles: * How women are more likely to develop autoimmune disease [https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/1003241] * How chronic stress dysregulates immune function [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11546738/] * How women may be more susceptible to stress-related immune changes [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5559342/] * Dr. Shelly Taylor's paper on behavioral responses to stress in females [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10941275/] * Parental burnout and invisible labor among caregivers [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6230657/] * The emotional labor burden on ambitious women in the workplace [https://www.stkate.edu/academics/women-in-leadership-degrees/empowering-women/emotional-labor-in-the-workplace] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438892/support] JOIN MY EMAIL LIST [https://katvong.store/newsletter] Liked this episode? Share with a friend or leave a comment or review! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/] Follow me, your host: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/] Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email: kat@thewelldonepod.com [kat@thewelldonepod.com]

Skin Aging: The Science Behind Skin Longevity with Dr. Lily Shapiro of ATIKA

EP 49. Are you taking collagen, layering on hyaluronic acid, and investing in skincare—but still wondering what actually supports long-term skin health? In this episode, I am joined by Lily Shapiro, PharmD, founder of ATIKA, a science-backed nutritional skin supplement, to talk about skin longevity, beauty supplements, and what it really means to support your skin from the inside out. Dr. Shapiro brings a unique perspective as a pharmacist, former Wall Street professional, and founder of a supplement brand built around the science of skin aging. We get into the truth about collagen supplements, the skin barrier, how oxidative stress impacts aging, and what consumers should look for before trusting any supplement label. In this episode: * The four-pillar framework for understanding what's actually driving your skin to age * What most people get wrong about collagen supplements * Why calling hyaluronic acid "hydrating" is technically incorrect and what it actually does for your skin * The one antioxidant Dr. Shapiro says she'd take if she could only choose one supplement for the rest of her life * How sun exposure, pollution, stress, alcohol, and sleep deprivation impact skin  * Why supplement dose, form, and third-party testing matter  * Red flags to look for when shopping for beauty and wellness supplements Resources: * Learn more about ATIKA: https://www.atikawellness.com [https://www.atikawellness.com/] * Follow @atika.wellness [https://www.instagram.com/atika.wellness/] on Instagram * Read Lily's blog articles on astaxanthin, glutathione, and ceramides vs. hyaluronic acid at www.atikawellness.com [https://www.atikawellness.com/blogs/atika-journal] * Third-party supplement testing: ConsumerLab.com [https://www.consumerlab.com/] Guest Bio Lily Shapiro, PharmD, is the founder of ATIKA, a supplement brand focused on skin longevity and inside-out beauty. She holds a doctorate in pharmacy and spent years working on Wall Street before creating ATIKA. After entering her 40s and noticing changes in her own skin, Dr. Shapiro began researching the biological drivers of skin aging and developed a comprehensive approach centered on a 4-part framework: collagen integrity, antioxidant balance, lipid barrier support, and mitochondrial function. Today, she is helping consumers think beyond quick fixes and hero ingredients by bringing a more research-driven, systems-based approach to skin health. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438892/support] JOIN MY EMAIL LIST [https://katvong.store/newsletter] Liked this episode? Share with a friend or leave a comment or review! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/thewelldonepod/] Follow me, your host: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamkatvong/] Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email: kat@thewelldonepod.com [kat@thewelldonepod.com]