Flashback: Booktok, Burnout & Building Businesses that last with Janet Gwen

From Viral Art to a $55M Haircare Brand: Liora Dudar on Self-Expression, Creative Leadership, and the Real Cost of Building Overtone

Liora Dudar’s career has never followed the rules. Before co-founding Overtone, the viral color-depositing conditioner brand that reshaped the beauty industry, she was a photographer creating bold feminist art — including hand-painted tampon murals and raw photo essays that challenged beauty standards. In this episode, host Kristin Taylor talks with Liora about the journey from art school to building a $55M brand, and the emotional weight that comes with turning creativity into a company. They get into the politics of self-expression, the pressure to “show up” online, and how guilt unexpectedly became a tool in Liora’s coaching style after leaving Overtone. You’ll hear about: * How a feminist photo project went viral and shaped her creative voice * Why at-home color should be about identity, not conformity * The early days of building Overtone from a kitchen in Tucson * What scaling a fast-moving beauty brand really takes * The physical and emotional toll of entrepreneurship * How she rebuilt her life after exiting the company * The surprising coaching framework she now teaches founders * What self-expression means in a world that constantly watches Liora’s story is for anyone navigating identity, creativity, leadership, or the complicated overlap of all three. It’s honest, artistic, and full of lessons for founders and creatives who want to build without losing themselves.

Painted Tampons x RBG

From Viral Art to a $55M Haircare Brand: Liora Dudar on Self-Expression, Creative Leadership, and the Real Cost of Building Overtone Liora Dudar’s career has never followed the rules. Before co-founding Overtone, the viral color-depositing conditioner brand that reshaped the beauty industry, she was a photographer creating bold feminist art — including hand-painted tampon murals and raw photo essays that challenged beauty standards.

Flashback: Booktok, Burnout & Building Businesses that last with Janet Gwen

🚀 From Viral Brands to Mental Burnout: What It Really Takes to Build a Business What happens when your product goes viral… and then gets knocked off three weeks later? What’s the real cost of chasing the hype—and what’s waiting on the other side of burnout?  In this episode of More Than the Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Janet Gwen, the founder and creative director behind Janet Gwen Designs, a Charlotte-based brand known for aesthetic tech accessories and dreamy home decor made for modern homebodies. Janet gets real about building a top-rated product empire from her high school bedroom, rebranding through multiple business phases, and ultimately choosing purpose over pressure. Now a performance marketer overseeing 20+ brands, she shares why she walked away from her company at its peak and what she's learned about creating with intention in the age of content chaos. ✨ What You’ll Learn: * Why going viral isn’t always the dream—and how it can destroy your brand * The truth about product-based businesses post-COVID (it’s not cute) * What performance marketing really means—and why creative is king * How BookTok resurrected Barnes & Noble and created a reading revolution * Why “just start” is bad advice if you’re in a regulated industry * The danger of chasing external validation (aka Forbes 30 Under 30 gone very wrong) 🔥 Resources & Mentions: * Atomic Habits by James Clear * Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo * Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap * BookTok trends & Kindle Unlimited * Midjourney – AI tool for creators * The downfall of meme coins like $HAWT and what creators need to know 📚 Books Worth the Hype (and Not): ✅ Everything is Figureoutable – a mantra AND a method ❌ Some of Joe Dispenza’s work – vibes alone don’t pay the rent 👉 Subscribe & Review: If this episode hit home for you, share it with your people and drop us a review. Your support means the world 💛 📲 Follow Kristin Taylor & More Than the Hype * Instagram: * LinkedIn: * Newsletter: * Instagram: * Facebook:  * Youtube:  🎙️ Connect with Janet Gwen * 🌐 Website: janetgwen.com * 🐾 Fun Fact: She’s a Ravenclaw, and a proud dog mom to Bonnie & Clyde

How I Built a Wine Brand: With Google and $100K

This week, our host Kristin Taylor flips the script and goes solo answering one of the most asked questions from her inbox: “How did you start Mom Juice?” What started as a last-minute guest cancellation turned into one of the most raw and transparent episodes we’ve ever dropped. Kristin shares the full journey  from blogging during college and planning galas at 20 in Charlotte,NC to building KT Winery and getting Mom Juice into Target, Total Wine, and Safeway. Whether you’re an early-stage founder, brand builder, or someone sitting on a big idea you haven’t acted on yet; you’re going to want to tune in  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: - How Kristin went from dreaming of writing romance novels (guess her pen name) to launching a wine company - The exact steps she took to start KT Winery and develop the Mom Juice brand - What it really costs to build a product-based business without outside funding - How she landed a pitch with Target and got Mom Juice on shelves - Why starting small but thinking big is the key to sustainable growth - What founders should know before white labeling or launching a CPG brand - The emotional toll of building and the gut-check moments that keep you going 🔥 Mic-Drop Moment: "It’s never not felt right;  even when I was crying on the closet floor." Who This Episode Is For: - Founders in the early stages of building - CPG entrepreneurs navigating retail and distribution - When everything is just so hard and so demanding - VCs looking to understand underdog founder journeys - Brand builders balancing creative vision with cash flow realities Links + Resources: - Follow Kristin on IG → @kristin.taylor - Follow the podcast → @morethanthehypepodcast - Learn more about Mom Juice → momjuicewine.com 🎧 Like what you hear? Make sure to: ✅ Rate + review the show ✅ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts ✅ Share this episode with a founder friend who needs to hear it More juice, less fluff. This is More Than the Hype. 🍷

The Truth About “Clean” Products and How to Live Non-Toxic with Jacyln Tracy from SISTAINv

In this episode of More Than the Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Jaclyn Tracy, founder and CEO of SISTAIN, to talk about building a values-driven, nontoxic home goods marketplace. From curating clean, design-forward products to fighting greenwashing and leading with education, Jaclyn shares the real challenges and wins of growing a mission-based business in a confusing wellness space. Whether you're a founder, CPG enthusiast, or curious consumer, this episode dives deep into consumer trust, product sourcing, sustainability strategy, and why nontoxic living matters more than ever. * How Jaclyn turned frustration with the wedding registry process into a business idea * The difference between greenwashing and real sustainability — and how to spot it * How SISTAIN verifies every product for safety, transparency, and ethics * Why cookware, cutting boards, and candles should be your first swaps * What it takes to scale a marketplace without a tech background * The science behind microplastics and why “fragrance” is a red flag Jaclyn Tracy is the founder and CEO of SISTAIN, a modern marketplace for nontoxic, sustainable home goods. With a background in marketing and a passion for conscious living, she created SISTAIN to make safer, ethically made products easier to access—without sacrificing style or performance. Jaclyn’s work is rooted in deep research, community care, and a belief that better choices at home can lead to a better world. Follow her work: Instagram: @jactracy Website: thesistain.com [https://thesistain.com] Email: Jaclyn.Tracy@thesistain.com Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to More Than the Hype wherever you listen. Share it with a founder friend, wellness-minded parent, or anyone ready to clean up their home without the overwhelm. Join our newsletter for the latest episodes, founder insights, and the best in modern CPG and clean living. What You’ll Learn:Guest Bio:Subscribe + ShareStay in the Loop