Robbie Bent is the co-founder of Othership—a multi-million dollar wellness movement centered around sauna, breathwork, cold plunge, and emotional connection. After a devastating startup failure left him broke and struggling with addiction, what began as backyard ice bath experiments during COVID evolved into one of the most innovative wellness concepts today. In this raw conversation, Robbie shares how his darkest moments led to discovering somatic practices that not only saved his life but inspired a business helping thousands heal together.

Robbie and Megan explore why traditional therapy often falls short, how Othership became a "Trojan Horse" for emotional processing, and why the real transformation happens not in the sauna or ice bath—but in the vulnerable sharing that follows. Beyond the emotional insights, Robbie gets tactical about scaling brick-and-mortar businesses, dealing with copycats, founder mode versus delegation, and the profound loneliness of building something meaningful while trying to be a present father and husband.

This conversation reveals why the future of wellness isn't about optimizing alone; it's about witnessing each other's humanity—and healing in community.

Topics & Takeaways

• What Othership is and why it’s more than sauna and ice baths

• The emotional regulation crisis and the new wave of wellness

• How hot/cold contrast therapy is a Trojan horse for emotional healing

• The science behind breathwork, group sharing, and co-regulation

• Why Robbie believes emotional health is “where fitness was in 2009”

• The story behind Othership’s founders and their radically intentional space design

• Building emotional safety in a luxury-meets-humility environment

• From addiction and startup failure to healing and service

• How Robbie overcame shame, scarcity, and perfectionism

• The power of vulnerability and the healing force of group connection

• What makes Othership polarizing—and why that’s the point

• Cult-like brand love, social wellness, and the death of shame

• How Robbie manages competition, fear, and founder pressure

• Why success is about how deeply you impact someone, not how many

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor, and host of The Failure Factor. For more info, visit https://meganbruneau.com 

Follow Othership
🌐 https://www.othership.us
📱 IG: https://www.instagram.com/othership/ 

Follow Robbie
📱 IG: http://instagram.com/robbiebent/ 
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiebent/ 

Follow Megan
📱 IG: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com

Themes: entrepreneurship, emotional wellness, nervous system regulation, addiction recovery, startup failure, breathwork, cold plunge, sauna therapy, somatic healing, emotional health, mental health, loneliness epidemic, founder vulnerability, spirituality, conscious leadership, startup resilience, community building, trauma healing, modern rituals, behavioral change, boutique wellness, sharing circles, healing shame 

Sasha Plavsic, Founder of ILIA Beauty, the clean cosmetics brand known for redefining performance makeup, opens up about what it took to build a $100M business from a garage and a $25,000 line of credit.

In this raw and vulnerable conversation, Sasha shares how a deeply personal quest to heal her skin led to the creation of ILIA, a brand that went on to help define the "clean beauty" category alongside industry giants like Sephora. But behind the brand’s success story lies an untold reality of burnout, identity loss, and a literal health collapse that forced her to reckon with the cost of carrying it all.

From almost closing ILIA’s doors to hiring a CEO and eventually selling a majority stake to the Courtin-Clarins family, Sasha walks us through the most defining and difficult moments of her journey. 

Whether you’re bootstrapping your first venture or navigating scale, Sasha’s story is a powerful reminder that success should never come at the cost of your health or your joy.

Key Takeaways and Topics:

• How Sasha built ILIA Beauty from a garage with no outside funding for the first 7 years

• The personal skin struggles that led her to question conventional beauty products

• Why she rejected the “all natural” label and pioneered a hybrid formulation model

• Early setbacks, including being told labs couldn’t make the products she envisioned

• The pivotal moment she considered shutting ILIA down—and what saved it

• The decision to hire a CEO and why it was the best move for the brand and her health

• How ILIA scaled from $5M to $100M, eventually catching the eye of the Courtin-Clarins family

• The physical collapse that forced Sasha to finally slow down—her kidneys started shutting down

• How hustle culture and perfectionism nearly cost her life, and what she’s doing differently now

• The guilt and double standards faced by working mothers and women founders

• How Sasha protects her energy today: boundaries, executive coaching, and saying “no”

• Her advice to founders: trust your gut, delegate what drains you, and stop trying to do it all

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor, and host of The Failure Factor. For more info, visit https://meganbruneau.com 

Follow ILIA Beauty

Ig: https://www.instagram.com/iliabeauty 

Follow Sasha

Ig: https://www.instagram.com/sashaplavsic 

Follow Megan

Ig: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com

Themes: entrepreneurship, clean beauty, burnout, founder health, motherhood, bootstrapping, female founders, exit strategy, scaling a startup, sustainable success, executive coaching, mental health, delegating, work-life balance, hustle culture, investor-free growth, ILIA Beauty, women in leadership, resilience, skin care innovation, founder vulnerability

Olivia Landau, Co-Founder and CEO of The Clear Cut—the largest digitally native natural diamond jewelry company in the United States—shares how a side hustle selling engagement rings through Instagram DMs transformed into a company that's hitting $100M in revenue.

Despite being dismissed by venture capitalists and warned by her family not to become an entrepreneur, Olivia Landau chose to bet on herself. Alongside her then-boyfriend (now husband and co-founder), Kyle, she took a leap of faith, walking away from the safe path and rejecting startup “best practices” that didn’t feel aligned.

Instead of following the noise, she doubled down on what felt right: human connection, deep education, craftsmanship, and building slow and intentionally. Her voice is a powerful reminder of what can happen when you block out the noise, trust your gut, and build your way—even when everyone says you’re doing it wrong.

Key Takeaways and Topics:

• How The Clear Cut started as an educational blog and Instagram side hustle

• Olivia’s generational roots in the diamond industry and how that shaped her approach

• The myths around lab-grown vs. natural diamonds—and why she refuses to sell lab-created stones

• Fundraising rejection: Why no VCs would invest and how they raised $700K from angels and customers instead

• The Clear Cut’s breakthrough moment during the pandemic and how their custom-built tech scaled the business

• Why “unscalable” things are worth doing first

• The emotional toll and impostor syndrome that come with fundraising and startup leadership

• How Olivia navigates being a new mom, co-founder, and CEO

• Debunking ethical misconceptions about natural diamonds—and why the real story matters

• Why having a personal brand and showing your face on social media can be a competitive advantage

• Her advice to aspiring founders: Don’t wait for perfection, just take the first step

Disclaimer:

Olivia shares her view that natural diamonds can be more ethical than lab-grown alternatives. This is a nuanced topic; what is “ethical” depends on your values. Natural diamonds may support economies like Botswana’s, while lab-grown stones produced with renewable energy may appeal to those prioritizing environmental impact.

Some stats shared from memory have been clarified:

• Diamonds make up 25–30% of Botswana’s GDP, not 80% as mentioned (that figure refers to exports).

• Diamond revenues fund free primary education, subsidized secondary education, and universal healthcare in Botswana.

• While “stipends” aren’t standard, the government provides scholarships and financial support to students and select groups.

We’ve included these clarifications to support informed decision-making.

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor, and host of The Failure Factor. For more info, visit https://meganbruneau.com

Follow Olivia and The Clear Cut

Her Ig: https://www.instagram.com/olivialandau 
The Clear Cut: https://www.instagram.com/theclearcut 

Follow Megan
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau/
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com

Themes: entrepreneurship, diamond industry, The Clear Cut, venture capital, scaling a startup, personalized luxury, ethical sourcing, tech, jewelry, women founder, e-commerce, working with a partner, motherhood, impostor syndrome, custom jewelry, resilience, lab-grown diamonds, natural diamonds, storytelling, brand building

Join us for an unflinchingly honest conversation with Peter Rahal, founder of RXBAR (sold to Kellogg's for $600M) and David Protein. Once labeled "disabled" by the school system, Peter reveals how his dyslexia fueled his contrarian mindset, relentless hustle, and ability to spot market gaps others missed. Learn how childhood humiliation became his rocket fuel, why he refuses to celebrate wins, and how his "anti-authority" approach built two category-defining brands.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, neurodivergent thinkers, and anyone who’s been told they don’t fit the mold.

Key Takeaways and Topics:

• Peter Rahal's background in the food industry and how this influenced his entrepreneurial journey.
• The idea for RX Bar emerged from a gap in the market for paleo-friendly protein bars.
• Early partnerships can significantly impact the success of a startup.
• Scaling production requires understanding supply chains and manufacturing processes.
• Product market fit is crucial for the success of any consumer product.
• Rebranding helped RX Bar reach a broader audience and clarify the product's value proposition.
• Rahal's childhood experiences shaped his resilience and contrarian nature.
• The importance of teamwork and aligned values in partnerships cannot be overstated.
• His success in business came from organic growth and word-of-mouth marketing.
• Be very, very efficient with your time.
• Seek criticism, seek feedback.
• The positive feedback loop of being doing something you're good at is motivating.
• Your 20s are the time to go all in and take risks.

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor and host of The Failure Factor. For more info visit https://meganbruneau.com

Follow Peter and his ventures:

His Ig: https://www.instagram.com/peterrahal 
David Protein: https://www.instagram.com/davidprotein 

Follow Megan
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau/
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com

Themes: RX Bar, entrepreneurship, protein bars, startup culture, product market fit, rebranding, personal growth, childhood experiences, resilience, business challenges, David Protein, dyslexia, work ethic, fatherhood, humility, business lessons, nutrition, leadership

Gara Post—serial entrepreneur, franchise mogul, and self-proclaimed “hyper-emotional” leader—joins Megan Bruneau to unpack the realities of building The Now Massage and Bowie Barker. From her early days as a jewelry designer to franchising during a pandemic, Gara reveals how she balances perfectionism with scalability, why she leans into therapy, and the painful lessons she learned from business partnerships gone wrong.

Key Takeaways and Topics:

• Gara's journey in the corporate world before transitioning to entrepreneurship.
• Her jewelry design venture while working as an executive assistant.
• How the support from her husband was crucial in her entrepreneurial journey.
• The Now, born out of a need for affordable luxury wellness experiences.
• How Gara's family life influenced her business decisions and priorities.
• The Now has grown to 77 locations and continues to expand.
• Authenticity and passion are key to successful business ventures. 
• Franchising can be risky but offers opportunities for growth.
• Challenges often present opportunities for innovation.
• Quality control is essential in maintaining brand integrity.
• Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.
• How therapy has played a significant role in her personal and professional growth.
• Flexibility within a framework is key to managing a franchise.
• Empathy and compassion enhance leadership effectiveness.
• Understanding trauma can improve interpersonal relationships in business.
• Partnership dynamics can significantly impact business success.
• Hard conversations are essential in business.
• Compartmentalization is crucial for personal and professional balance.
• Integrity and authenticity are vital in navigating challenges.
• Surround yourself with supportive and honest people.
• Recognizing triggers can help manage emotional responses.
• It's important to take risks and move forward.
• Learning from past mistakes is key to growth.
• Finding passion and purpose drives success.

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor and host of The Failure Factor. For more info visit https://meganbruneau.com

Follow Gara and her ventures:

Ig: https://www.instagram.com/garadanielle
The Now: https://www.instagram.com/thenowmassage
Bowie Barker: https://www.instagram.com/bowiebarkerbath

Follow Megan
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau/
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com

Themes: entrepreneurship, wellness, business growth, investment, self-care, personal journey, franchising, business expansion, COVID challenges, emotional intelligence, leadership, therapy, quality control, wellness industry, partnership dynamics, business challenges, co-founding, communication, integrity, entrepreneurship, 

Scott Harrison is the founder and CEO of charity: water, a nonprofit that has funded over 171,000 projects to bring clean, safe, drinkable water to more than 20 million people across 29 countries.

Unfulfilled from a decade of living the fast-paced extravagance of a nightclub promoter, he decided to seek a more purposeful life. He parted toward West Africa to serve as a volunteer in a hospital, where he witnessed first hand the devastating impacts of dirty water on the health and lives of people in developing countries. Join us as we unravel Scott’s journey –how this experience began a profound transformation so he turned his life around and built an organization dedicated to providing drinking water to millions around the world.

We discuss the challenges faced in this transition, the global water crisis, the role of women in water collection, and the importance of education and sanitation. Scott also reflects on his childhood experiences and the pivotal moments that led him to seek true happiness beyond material success.

Scott is the author of the New York Times bestselling book "Thirst" and has been recognized in Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40 list, the Forbes Magazine Impact 30 list, and in Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business issue.

Listen to the story that will challenge you to think differently about giving and inspire you to create meaningful change in the world.

Key Takeaways and Topics:

• Scott Harrison’s transitioning from nightclub promoter to philanthropist.
• Charity Water's vision was to provide clean water to every person in the world.
• 703 million people currently drink contaminated water.
• 80% of those without water live in rural areas.
• Women and girls bear the burden of water collection.
• Lack of water and sanitation leads to girls dropping out of school.
• Scott's childhood shaped his caregiving role and independence.
• A moment of clarity led Scott to seek fulfillment beyond wealth.
• True happiness is found in purpose, not material possessions.
• The pivotal moment that led to a desire to serve others.
• Scott’s experiences in Liberia highlighted the dire need for clean water.
• Sharing stories helped build awareness and engagement.
• Art exhibitions became a means to raise funds for humanitarian efforts.
• Scott’s vision to reimagine charity with creativity and transparency.
• Promoting the right cause is crucial for impact.
• Visual storytelling can evoke stronger emotional responses.
• A clear solution to a problem can drive donations.
• Creating a business model that ensures transparency builds trust.
• Emotional experiences can motivate people to take action.
• The 100% model attracted donors who wanted to see direct impact.
• Financial crises can lead to innovative solutions and growth.
• Learning from failures is essential for organizational improvement.
• Effective risk management is key in charity work.
• Building strong relationships with donors can lead to long-term support.
• Failures can lead to significant growth and learning.
• Radical transparency is essential for restoring trust.
• The subscription model significantly increased revenue.
• Personal fulfillment often outweighs financial gain.
• Integrity is the most important value in leadership.
• Perseverance is key during challenging times.

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor and host of The Failure Factor. For more info visit https://meganbruneau.com

Learn more about Charity: Water: https://www.charitywater.org
Sponsor a water project: https://www.charitywater.org/donate
Buy the book: https://www.charitywater.org/thirst
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/charitywater
In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/charity-water

Follow Scott
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/scottharrison
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottharrison1

Follow Megan
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau/
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com

Themes: Charity Water, Scott Harrison, clean water, global philanthropy, water crisis, women empowerment, education, sanitation, personal journey, faith, personal growth, humanitarian work, clean water, charity, transformation, service, awareness, community, mission, charity, fundraising, storytelling, business model, emotional impact, nonprofit, marketing, visual communication, donor engagement, innovation, entrepreneurship, integrity, failure, purpose.

Alexandra Zatarain is the co-founder and VP of Brand and Marketing of Eight Sleep, the world's first sleep fitness company. With accolades like being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and Inc’s 100 female founders lists, Alexandra is the marketing genius that helped put Eight Sleep on the map. 

Starting Eight Sleep with minimal marketing experience, she managed to redefine their product category through a long process of trial and error. Alexandra shares her thoughts about the importance of feedback, effective communication, humility, and long-term planning while emphasizing the need to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and maintain a growth mindset.

Listen to her insights on navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in the tech space.

Key takeaways:

• The journey of entrepreneurship is often messy and filled with failures.
• Understanding customer needs is crucial for product development.
• Feedback from early users can guide product improvements.
• Positioning is critical for startup success.
• Growth comes from learning through challenges and failures.
• Embracing feedback as a learning opportunity can lead to growth.
• Humility is a key trait for effective leadership.
• Scaling a business introduces new complexities and challenges.
• Long-term planning is necessary for sustainable growth.
• Feedback should be immediate and constructive, not just negative.
• Assuming good intentions helps in receiving feedback positively.
• Continuous learning is vital in entrepreneurship.
• Building a supportive community can alleviate the fear of failure.

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com 

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor and host of The Failure Factor. For more info visit https://meganbruneau.com

Learn more about Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/eightsleep
In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eight--

Follow Alexandra
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/alexzatarainj
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrazatarain

Follow Megan 
Ig: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc 

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com 

Themes: entrepreneurship, sleep technology, Eight Sleep, failure, innovation, marketing, crowdfunding, product development, difficult conversations, leadership, entrepreneurship, feedback, leadership, scaling, business growth, humility, team dynamics

After more than a year of silence, Megan Bruneau returns with the Failure Factor to share a deeply personal episode about navigating one of the most challenging years of her life. In this raw and insightful conversation, Megan shares her journey through profound grief, major life transitions, and the lessons she discovered along the way. 

In this episode, she opens up about how the sudden loss of her mother transformed her understanding of grief, both as a therapist and as a daughter, and how emotional avoidance only compounds our suffering.

Episode highlights:

• Why compassion likely isn't what you think
• How understanding the evolutionary purpose of emotions changes everything
• Tools for processing emotional discomfort
• Megan's experience of death anxiety
• The connection Megan felt with her mom before she died
• A parable to returns to during times of struggle

Whether you're navigating grief, major life changes, or simply feeling stuck, this one’s for you. Megan's story provides compassionate guidance, actionable wisdom, and the reassurance that you're not alone.

The Failure Factor Podcast was brought to you by Off The Field Coaching. Explore working with one of our coaches at http://offthefieldcoaching.com

Hosted by Megan Bruneau: therapist, executive coach, speaker, Forbes contributor and host of The Failure Factor. For more info visit https://meganbruneau.com

Subscribe to the podcast newsletter at https://thefailurefactorpodcast.com

Follow Megan 

Ig: https://www.instagram.com/meganjbruneau
In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-j-bruneau-m-a-rcc

Themes: grief, compassion, emotional avoidance, emotional health, lessons, authenticity, therapy, ACT, resilience, personal growth, family dynamics, community