From Grief to Grit: How Erica Bazerkanian Turned Tragedy Into a Mission of Resilience. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Erica Bazerkanian, founder of Bold and Zeal, a family-run lifestyle brand built on a foundation of resilience, purpose, and giving back. What started as a way to honor her father's memory has grown into a movement — 8 marathons, nearly $225,000 raised for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and a thriving brand with a mission to uplift others. Erica shares her deeply personal story of losing her 71-year-old father to a rare spinal cord stroke in 2016, and how that heartbreak fueled her journey into marathon running, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. We also dive into the behind-the-scenes of running a true family business — where her husband leads design, her kids handle marketing, tech, social media, and photography, and every product carries a message of hope.🎯 In This Episode, We Cover: • The origin story of Bold and Zeal and how the name honors family legacy • Erica's father's battle with a rare spinal cord stroke and the lessons in resilience • How she went from "one and done" to running 8 marathons for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation • The power of purpose in navigating grief • Behind-the-scenes of building a family business with her husband and four kids • Sustainable fashion: using deadstock materials to reduce landfill waste • Marathon training tips — the run/walk method, strength training & injury prevention • Why creativity flows when you're running (and how to capture those ideas) • Nutrition, wellness, and retraining yourself back to healthy habits • The magic of connecting at Heather Mariannas Oscars Gifting Suite at Cameo Beverly Hills 💬 Memorable Quotes: "The only workout you will regret is the one that you don't do." "Opportunity lives in every step forward." "Rise Relentless. Live Bold."

🛍️ Shop Bold and Zeal: Boldandzeal.com

❤️ Support the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: https://www.christopherreeve.org/ 🤝 Special thanks to Heather Marianna & Raffi Bazerkanian for the connection that made this episode possible!

What happens when a Greek-American mathematician trades the classroom for the red carpet, the bodybuilding stage, and Hollywood's biggest reality shows? You get Athena Vas — and this conversation is proof that living in your "era" is a choice. In this episode, host Mike Cormier sits down with Athena Vas — six-time fit model champion, two-time bestselling author, winner of The Bachelor, star of Jimmy Kimmel's Hulu series Got To Get Out, founder of the Hollywood Diva clothing line, and now a first-time feature film producer. Athena opens up about becoming a full-time caretaker for her parents, chasing her dreams unapologetically after their passing, and why she believes helping people be happier is the antidote to a divided world.From cracking the code on fitness and nutrition, to why she juggles three and four jobs to fund her vision, to the raw truth about grief, discipline, mentorship, and self-belief — Athena delivers real talk backed by a lifetime of receipts.

📚 CONNECT WITH ATHENA VAS: • Instagram / Socials: @IAmAthenaVas (all platforms) • Books: Effort — When You Want a Better Life & This Is My Era — The Blueprint → Available at: Barnes & Noble (in-store & online), Amazon, and Book Soup (West Hollywood) • Watch her on Hulu: Got To Get Out (produced by Jimmy Kimmel) • Clothing Line: Hollywood Diva (1D) • Booking / Speaking: team@athenavas.com

Website: The Inner Circle On Air: https://www.theinnercircleonair.com

Instagram: @ThelnnerCircleOnAir

In this episode, I sit down with powerhouse publicist Ophelia Soumekh — the founder of Desire PR and publisher of Eyes on Hollywood — for a candid conversation about breaking into the entertainment industry, building meaningful relationships, and running a thriving PR business without a traditional playbook. Ophelia shares the incredible story of how one bold moment at a water cooler with daytime TV expert Kim Douglas launched her career, and how she went on to book hundreds of segments across Good Day LA, Access Hollywood, Ellen, The Doctors, and more. We talk about her work with clients like Sean Kanan and Michelle Khanan, her coverage of everything from Oscar de la Renta galas to Warner Brothers red carpets, and why she believes in producing PR — not just pitching it. We also dive into the softer side of success: family, balance, and the challenge of unplugging when your clients span Dubai, London, and Thailand. Ophelia opens up about being a boy mom of three, her weekly Shabbat traditions, and how her husband taught her the art of leaving work at the door.In this episode, we cover: • How Ophelia broke into PR with zero formal training • The difference between traditional PR and producing PR • Working with Sean Kanan, Michelle Khanan & the Bodyman premiere • Building Eyes on Hollywood as a launchpad for emerging talent • The truth about toxic vs. healthy energy on TV sets • Shark Tank success stories & taking brands from garage to Sephora • Influencer culture vs. credentialed experts — finding the balance • Wellness, biohacking, peptides & the power of blending worlds • Boy-mom life, date nights & the importance of girl trips • What's next: Eyes on Hollywood going to TV & Desire PR expanding to AustraliaConnect with Ophelia Soumekh:

🌐 Website: https://eyesonhollywood.com

📸 Instagram: @eyesonhollywood_official

📸 Instagram: @opheliapr ✉️ Email: ophelia@desirepr.com

🌐 Website: The Inner Circle On Air: https://www.theinnercircleonair.com

📸 Instagram: @ThelnnerCircleOnAir