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.
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/
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📱 IG: http://instagram.com/robbiebent/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiebent/
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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
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Ig: https://www.instagram.com/sashaplavsic
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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
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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:
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
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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:
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:
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
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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 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:
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
Naveen Jain is a serial entrepreneur and self-made billionaire whose latest venture, Viome, is revolutionizing personalized health and longevity. Jain rose to success as the founder and CEO of InfoSpace, previously one of the largest internet companies in the Northwest, and has since inspired millions to go after their most audacious goals as the founder of Moon Express – the only company permitted to harvest resources from the moon. In this episode, he shares his story of going from being an immigrant with five dollars in his pocket – to having a worth of 6 billion dollars and living on a private island. Listen in to hear how he thinks technology has democratized entrepreneurship; and why he believes passion, naivete, and viewing entrepreneurship as "research" is the secret to persevering through a goal that's "so big, people think you're crazy."
Carly Stein Kremer is the founder of Beekeeper’s Naturals, a collection of natural remedies and immune support products she developed after years of living with a chronically suppressed immune system. She was recognized on the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list and has raised nearly 20 million dollars to date. In this episode, she tells the story of how she left Goldman Sachs to pursue her dream of developing a line of bee propolis-based products. Listen in to hear her advice for staying confident when taking a risk, convincing the person across the table of the upside, modeling healthy emotional expression at work, and the importance of celebrating wins.
Payton Nyquvest is the founder and CEO of Numinus, a mental health company at the forefront of the psychedelic-assisted therapy movement. He's raised over $80 million for the startup, which currently offers psychedelic-assisted therapy, traditional talk therapy, and practitioner training--and conducts research trials. In this episode, Payton shares with Megan how psychedelics saved his life and the challenges of marketing and scaling while maintaining clinical ethics and integrity.
Serial entrepreneur Tara Simich launched Mermade Hair's hero product, the Mermade Waver, right before the pandemic hit. The brand became an overnight success, blowing up on Instagram to the point at which she and her team couldn't keep up with supply. The supply chain issues were wildly exacerbated by the pandemic, and she was soon faced with unhappy customers calling the product a sham – which, given the main marketing platform was Instagram, threatened to bring down the brand. Listen in to hear how Tara managed the stress of the supply issues and trolling customers, how she mitigates "mom guilt," and the growth mindset she brings to entrepreneurship that's been at the root of her success.
Nicci Levy is the founder and CEO of Alchemy 43, a DryBar-meets-Botox-and-fillers concept transforming the experience of cosmetic injectables. In this episode, she shares the story behind Alchemy43; how she and her team almost had to close their doors because they ran out of money; and the empowering wisdom for taking risks and persevering through challenges that she learned along the way.
In this episode of The Failure Factor, Megan sits down with Bluemercury co-founder and Marla Beck. The CEO of the rapidly-growing luxury beauty retailer shares how the initially Ecommerce company almost ran out of money, sparking the inaugural pivot "from clicks to bricks." Thanks to Beck's perseverance, in 2015 Bluemercury was acquired by Macy's for $210 million. You won't want to miss Beck's advice on authoritative leadership, secrets to employee retention, why she doesn't endorse "productivity," and the growth-inspiring way she responds to failures and mistakes – both personally and in managing others.
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.
In this special episode, Megan sits down with her good friend: writer, American History teacher and feminist 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.
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. She has been named to Fortune Business ‘40 under 40,’ Fortune’s 55 Most Influential Women on Twitter and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 1000. Listen in as she and Megan talk about the challenges she has faced, the strength she has acquired, and the world she hopes to build for her two daughters as well as women everywhere.
Simon "Thor" Damborg is a former competitive CrossFit athlete, small business consultant, and the owner of Raincity Athletics and the Functional Fitness League in Vancouver, Canada. In this episode, which isn't your typical TFF conversation, Simon opens up about the challenges of building his businesses, dating in a culture of toxic masculinity, his "privileged guilt," the pain, isolation and shame of creating a “macho” personal brand, and how to make room for failure as an entrepreneur.
Amy Briant and Lisa DeLarco Bonoff are the founders of Lumion, a skincare product line revolutionizing skin health technology. In this episode, Amy shares the story of her painful split from a co-founder in her former venture, and what she learned the hard way. Tune into hear her advice on protecting yourself legally, setting boundaries, mitigating conflict, and optimizing co-founder relationships.
At 25 years old, Jessie Andrews is the founder and CEO of four successful businesses. Formerly an adult-film star and international DJ/Producer, she's now also a globally sought-after photographer, in-demand brand builder, and successful model and designer. In this episode, brought to you by Discover LMS, Jessie shares her unconventional journey from dropping out of high school to becoming one of the few adult actress to break through to mainstream. Listen in for her wisdom and grit-filled story, plus how to prevent the past from defining you, plus her advice in starting up and owning who you are.