In this episode of Wellness Marketing 101, I’m joined by Chalise Saunders— a Bikram yoga teacher, wellness advocate, and an amazing individual altogether. Chalise shares her incredible journey of starting yoga at age 12 to manage scoliosis, and how it ultimately became her path to physical, mental, and emotional healing.

We talk about:

• How yoga helped her overcome chronic pain and manage mental health
• What makes Bikram yoga uniquely transformative
• Her approach to teaching more “advanced” yoga postures in an accessible way
• The role of nutrition, discipline, and self-care in a sustainable wellness lifestyle
• Why coachability, not flexibility, is the key to progress

In this episode, I sit down with Michelle Niedzela, a neuroscientist turned consumer behavior researcher and founder of Nerdoscientist. With over a decade of experience bridging neuroscience, psychology, and marketing, Michelle shares her fascinating journey from academia to industry and eventually entrepreneurship.

What You'll Learn:

• Michelle’s path from a double PhD program to launching her own consulting business
• Why she moved from clinical psychology to neuroscience, and later into the world of product development
• The role of behavioral science in shaping how consumers experience products
• How internal (biological) and external (environmental) factors influence decision-making
• Why she is NOT a fan of the term "neuromarketing" and the myths behind the "buy button in the brain"
• How small businesses can apply behavioral science tools ethically and affordably
• The value of being an external advocate or "subject matter expert" when making research-based decisions

Key Takeaway:

Even with limited resources, entrepreneurs can apply behavioral science by focusing on thoughtful, ethical design choices and validated research tools that respect consumer autonomy.

Ethics in Neuroscience & Marketing:

Michelle highlights the importance of transparency and validation in research methods. She challenges the hype around neuromarketing and advocates for using neuroscience to inform—not manipulate—consumer decisions.

Here are two ways to connect with Michelle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-niedziela-phd-b581a712/

Visit her website: https://www.nerdoscientist.com/

Michelle is also on the executive board of Bescy Philly chapter (https://www.bescy.org/) in case you would like to stay up to date with behavioral science workshops and events organized by your local Bescy chapter. You can also follow the organization on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bescy/).

In this episode, I tackle an often overlooked but crucial topic: the difference between internal and external branding—and why both are essential for solopreneurs and growing teams alike.

What You’ll Learn:

• What internal branding actually means and how it influences the customer experience
• Why training employees in brand values prevents future crises
• How to build a consistent brand reputation from the inside out
• Real-world brand backlash examples (like United Airlines) and what small businesses can learn from them
• How solopreneurs can prepare now to scale with integrity and brand alignment

Key Takeaways:

• Internal branding = culture and training. It ensures your team delivers experiences aligned with your values.
• A poorly trained employee can cause massive brand damage—even outside of work hours.
• Proactive internal branding helps avoid costly mistakes and builds long-term trust with customers.
• Even if you're a team of one now, set the foundation early for consistent brand delivery as you grow.