TRENCHES with Milan Terez

What does it take to build a beauty tech app when you have no coding background, no outside funding, and nothing but a Google spreadsheet and a community who needed something better? In this episode of TRENCHES with MTN, host Milan Terez sits down with Lindsey Edh, founder of My Holy Grail, a community-driven beauty app redefining how people discover and recommend products. Lindsey breaks down the...

What if the best beauty product recommendations didn’t come from an algorithm but from a community of real people who actually use the products? In this Rapid Fire episode of TRENCHES with MTN, host Milan Terez sits down with Lindsey Edh, founder of My Holy Grail, for a quick but insight-packed look at how she thinks about product recommendations, what her decision-making process looks like as a s...

What does it take to build a jewelry brand from scratch — starting with nothing but Instagram DMs, a deep personal loss, and an unshakeable vision? In this episode of TRENCHES with Milan Terez, host Milan Terez sits down with Shenice Johnson, founder of Nine14 Jewelry, for an honest and tactical breakdown of what lean startup entrepreneurship actually looks like in the jewelry and accessories spac...

What happens when the life you planned looks nothing like the life you're actually meant to build? In this Rapid Fire episode of TRENCHES, host Milan Terez sits down with Shenice Johnson, founder of Nine14 Jewelry, for a quick but deeply personal look at the decisions, setbacks, and pivots that shaped her brand. Shenice gets into the meaning behind the Nine14 name, the costly sample mistakes t...

What does it take to leave a marketing career, bootstrap a non-alcoholic beverage brand, and get it in front of consumers at Coachella all while navigating FDA regulations, custom packaging costs, and influencer gifting gone wrong? In this episode of TRENCHES with Milan Terez, host Milan Terez sits down with Parker Papaccio, founder of SIPPL, for the full behind-the-scenes breakdown of building a...

What does it actually cost financially, mentally, and strategically to launch a functional beverage brand from scratch? In this episode of TRENCHES with Milan Terez, host Milan Terez sits down with Parker Papaccio, founder of SIPPL, to break down the real behind-the-scenes of building a drink startup. Parker gets into the full founder playbook: how she found and vetted manufacturing partners, the...

In this inspiring interview, Michelle Doan tells us what does two decades in the beauty industry actually teach you about building a brand that lasts? In this episode of TRENCHES host Milan Terez goes deep with Michelle Doan, founder of Emani Cosmetics, on what it takes to scale a clean beauty brand internationally in one of the most competitive markets in the world. Michelle breaks down the full...

In this episode of Beyond the Trenches Digging Deeper, What does it take to build a successful beauty brand when you started with nothing and we mean nothing? In this episode of TRENCHES, host Milan Terez sits down with Michelle Doan, founder of Emani Cosmetics, who shares her remarkable journey from surviving a Thai refugee camp to scaling a recognized beauty brand. Michelle gets real about what...

What happens when a marketing career in NYC leaves you craving real connection and you decide to build the solution yourself? In this episode of TRENCHES with MTN, host Milan Terez sits down with Sarah Dalley, founder of Bonding Over Books, a community-building conversation game designed to reduce loneliness and spark meaningful connection. Sarah breaks down the full founder journey: product devel...

What does it look like to build a community-focused product brand organically without a big budget, without outside funding, and without pretending it's easy? In this episode of TRENCHES with Milan Terez, host Milan Terez sits down with Sarah Dalley, founder of Bonding Over Books, a conversation game designed to bring people together through reading and real connection. Sarah opens up about th...

What does it take to get your product into Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie while still clocking in at a full-time job in the film industry? In this episode of TRENCHES with MTN, host Milan Terez sits down with Haley Fritz, founder of Breezy's Nasal Strips, to break down exactly how she did it. From finding a manufacturer and navigating the packaging design process, to landing major retail p...

In this episode of TRENCHES Rapid Fire question, we get to know Haley Fritz, founder of Breezy's Nasal Strips. We dig deeper into exploring her entrepreneurial journey, daily rituals, and insights into building a successful brand in the CPG space. Key Takeaways Entrepreneurial journey of Haley FritzReimagining clinical products into stylish brandsDaily rituals and self-care for foundersChallen...

How do you go from supply chain roles at Apple, Microsoft, and Peloton — to launching a shelf-stable organic meal brand for kids in just 60 days? In this episode of TRENCHES with MTN, host Milan Terez sits down with Roopa Annadatha, founder of Nomie, to break down exactly how she did it. From freeze-drying technology and R&D pilot testing to retail pricing strategy, certified organic certifica...

In this episode of TRENCHES Rapid Fire question, Roopa Annadatha, founder and CEO of Nomie, shares her journey as a mom and entrepreneur, discussing decision-making, mental health, and her vision for supporting women and moms through her innovative food brand. Key Takeaways Living without balance is normal for moms and entrepreneursChoosing the right co-packer is crucial for product qualityGuilt i...

What does it take to leave a stable finance career and build a fragrance brand from scratch without outside funding? In this episode of TRENCHES Rapid Fire, host Milan Terez sits down with Grace Howland, founder of Evoquer Fragrances, an experience-based fragrance brand redefining what scent can mean. Grace opens up about the real challenges of launching a consumer product brand, how she makes har...

What does it actually take to leave a career in private equity, build a fragrance brand from scratch, and pitch venture capital in 2026, all while bootstrapping and staying scrappy? In this episode of TRENCHES with MTN, host Milan Terez sits down with Grace Howland, founder of Evoquer, an experience-based fragrance brand built around scent memory and life's most memorable moments. Grace breaks...

In this episode of TRENCHES Rapid Fire, Gina Moore, founder of Pantry Gems, shares her journey from idea to product, discusses her favorite shows and podcasts, and offers insights into her decision-making process and daily routines. Discover her creative inspirations, challenges, and tips for aspiring entrepreneurs. Key Takeaways Gina Moore's entrepreneurial journey Innovations in the food ind...

This week Gina Moore, founder of Pantry Gems, shares her entrepreneurial journey from side hustles to launching an innovative tomato paste product. Discover her creative paths, challenges in product development, and tips for bootstrapping in the CPG space Key Takeaways Entrepreneurial journey of Gina Moore Challenges in product development and packaging Bootstrapping strategies for food startups S...

In this episode of TRENCHES we sat down with Kameron Monet the founder of Social Docket to hear all about her journey from lawyer to creator to now tech founder. Her business, Social Docket is revolutionizing the legal infrastructure for creators and the creator economy. She discusses her entrepreneurial mindset, the importance of industry education, and her vision for the future of the creator ec...

In this Digging Deeper episode of the TRENCHES podcast, Kameron Monet, Founder of Social Docket shares insights on balancing success, making tough decisions, and building a career in the creator economy. She discusses her journey as a lawyer, content creator, and tech founder, offering practical advice for entrepreneurs and creators. Episode Highlights: Balancing legal career and content creation...

In this Digging Deeper episode of the TRENCHES podcast, Diana Nino, CEO of Salsi, shares her journey of pivoting her brand from tequila to agave spirit, balancing a full-time job with entrepreneurship, and navigating the challenges of building a beverage brand inspired by Miami's vibrant culture. Episode Highlights:Pivot decisions should be guided by consumer insights and market research. Bala...

Join Milan Terez on this week's episode of TRENCHES with guest Diana Nino, CEO of Salsi, a Miami-born agave seltzer brand. Discover her journey from marketing in tech to launching a disruptive beverage, navigating regulations, and building a community-focused brand that celebrates Miami's vibrant culture. Episode TakeawaysDiana Nino's career transition from tech marketing to beverage e...

In this episode of TRENCHES, Milan shares personal insights on overcoming procrastination, building consistency, and taking actionable steps to pursue curiosity and growth. Learn practical strategies to audit your interests, enable curiosity, and share your journey effectively. Learn How To:1. Audit your recent interests can reveal your natural curiosities.2. Enable curiosity involves taking small...

In this week's episode of TRENCHES, we sit down with Kat Sheppard, a 2x founder who has dedicated her twenties to building innovative brands in the fashion space. In the midst of operating her first venture, she began to uncover the building blocks of what would become her second venture, Tote. Kat shares her journey from launching a personal shopping app to making the strategic decision to pi...

In this Digging Deeper episode of the TRENCHES podcast, host I get to know Lauren Olds, the founder of Leeva, a college-enriched herbal tea blend. We discuss Lauren's decision-making process, and the importance of self-care and emotional support. Lauren shares her daily rituals, non-negotiables, and future aspirations, including her dream of running a wine cafe. The conversation highlights the...