The Hard Launch

In this episode, Natasha sits down with Kathryn Stice, founder of Intrusted Company, to talk about the power of human connection, belonging and creating meaningful experiences. Kathryn shares her journey from floral design to building networking experiences for wedding professionals, including the difficult decision to close a business she had spent a decade building in order to pursue a new path....

In this episode of The Hard Launch , Natasha sits down with Becca Wenning, founder of Dressit, to talk about betting on yourself, navigating change and building a business through some incredibly challenging seasons. Becca shares the story of leaving her first career behind, building a bridal business, nearly quitting multiple times, and eventually taking the leap into technology and AI. She also...

This week, Natasha sits down with Maggie Lord, founder and CEO of Rustic Wedding Chic from 2008 - 2020, and co-founder of The Whisper Group, to explore what it really takes to build a business with long-term value. From growing one of the internet's biggest wedding media brands and selling it to David's Bridal, to helping women founders prepare their businesses for successful exits, Maggie shares...

In this episode of The Hard Launch , Natasha sits down with Shafonne Myers, founder of Pretty Pear Bride, to explore how she built a media brand dedicated to serving an audience that had long been overlooked. What began as a mission to better support plus-size brides has grown into a trusted platform, with Shafonne sharing the lessons she's learned about entrepreneurship, representation, and build...

This week Natasha sits down with Amanda Luu, founder of Studio Mondine, to explore the art of designing with intention. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese practice of Ikebana, Amanda shares how slowing down, embracing simplicity, and finding meaning in every detail has shaped both her creative philosophy and her approach to floral design. Together, they discuss the power of storytelling through...

In this episode, Natasha sits down with Virginia Frischkorn, founder of Partytrick, to explore the power of human connection and why building a business that brings people together has become her mission. Inspired by growing up in an entrepreneurial family and the lasting impact of her father, Virginia shares how purpose, community, and legacy have shaped both her life and the company she's buildi...

In this episode of The Hard Launch , Natasha sits down with Rumaiza, co-founder of Wedy, to explore what it really means to start again. After making the difficult decision to close one business, Rumaiza took a leap of faith and went all in on a new venture—betting on herself, her vision, and a problem she believed was worth solving. Together, they discuss the realities of early-stage entrepreneur...

This week, Natasha sits down with Julie Novack, founder and CEO of PartySlate, to explore the journey from dreaming up a bold idea to building one of the world's leading event discovery platforms. Julie shares what gave her the confidence to leave a successful corporate career, why founders shouldn't be afraid to dream out loud, and how that leap of faith led to creating a category-defining busine...

In this episode of The Hard Launch , Natasha sits down with Michelle Elaine, luxury wedding planner and founder of Michelle Elaine Events, to explore a career built on resilience, reinvention, and taking chances. From training under industry icons David Tutera and Robert Verdi to navigating the pandemic, joining the startup world, and returning to weddings with a fresh perspective, Michelle shares...

In this episode of The Hard Launch, Natasha sits down with Hannah Roze to explore the realities of building a startup through life's biggest transitions. After leaving a high-growth unicorn startup, Hannah set out to solve a problem she experienced firsthand while planning her own wedding—transforming a personal frustration into a business opportunity. Together, they discuss the emotional highs an...

Nora Sheils built her first company at just 22 years old after winning a college business plan competition—and she's been building ever since. In this episode, Nora sits down with Natasha to share the journey from founding Bridal Bliss, one of the Pacific Northwest's leading wedding planning companies, to co-founding Rock Paper Coin, a software platform transforming how wedding and event professio...

In this episode of The Hard Launch , Natasha sits down with Elizabeth Wexler, a hospitality veteran and the founder of Emlan Events , a bespoke wedding and event planning agency, and Spennie , a curated wedding registry platform connecting couples with independent boutique retailers. Drawing on more than 15 years in the events industry, Elizabeth shares how she turned her experience into two thriv...

Join Natasha Yuhjtman for another episode of The Hard Launch as she sits down with Luciano Barajas, co-founder of His & Hers Events. In this episode, Luciano shares the story behind building one of the most immersive luxury event brands. From growing up in a traditional immigrant household to leaving a secure corporate role and launching during COVID, Luciano opens up about risk, identity, and bet...

In this episode of The Hard Launch, Natasha sits down with Dylan Petro, founder of WedPing, and Morgan Kennedy, the newest member of the WedPing team, to unpack what building from zero to one actually looks like in an underserved industry. Dylan shares his journey from launching a real-life dating app in NYC to building wedding tech, breaking down the hard distinction between traction and true pro...

Sarah Klingman, founder and CEO of Mostest, joins the show to share what building from zero to one really looks like. She breaks down the early-stage reality founders don't talk about, why "pivoting" is often misunderstood, and how reframing change can unlock better decisions and long-term growth. Sarah talks about conviction over noise, following the breadcrumbs instead of a rigid plan, and what...

In this episode, Natasha sits down with legendary wedding planner and entrepreneur Annie Lee, founder of Daughter of Design and Plannie, to explore what it really takes to build longevity, relevance, and innovation in the wedding industry. Annie shares how she accidentally entered weddings, how growing up in a family of interior designers shaped her creative eye, and why studying history helps her...

#12 In this episode of The Hard Launch, Natasha sits down with Andrew Levitt, founder of Ironic, to unpack how he built a niche, profitable company at the intersection of weddings, weather, and event safety—without chasing the traditional startup playbook. Andrew shares how he went from DJ-ing and touring in live music to concierge meteorology for ultra high-end events, why his first tech product...

#11 What started as a VR campus tour turned into something far more powerful. In this episode of The Hard Launch, Natasha Yuhjtman sits down with Zvi Goffer, founder of Reloom, to unpack how an accidental moment led to a breakthrough business—one that allows people to relive their most meaningful life moments through immersive VR. Zvi shares why overanalyzing risk can kill great ideas, how listeni...

#10 Ali Carbone joins  The Hard Launch to share her journey from on camera journalism and red carpet reporting to founding What Do I Do Brides, a modern bridal community born from her own wedding planning frustrations. Ali and Natasha dive into what it really looks like to pivot careers and build community. They talk candidly about entrepreneurship, personal branding, and navigating massive life t...

#8 She worked 20+ jobs before accidentally discovering the business that would change her life. Chris Weinberg never set out to be a wedding planner, but one chaotic event taught her the most important lesson in luxury: experience is everything. In this episode of The Hard Launch, Natasha sits down with the founder of Chris Weinberg Events to break down the moment she stopped undercharging, rewrot...

#7 In this episode of The Hard Launch, Natasha sits down with Kathleen Sheppard—three-time founder and co-creator of Tote—to talk about building a startup while building a life. Kathleen shares the personal growth, resilience, and alignment required to navigate foundership and the lessons that come from betting on yourself and creating a life that truly fits. She also opens up about her Bora Bora...

This week, Natasha sits down with Alina Krupenina and Daria Neretina, the co-founders of WedVibes, one of the fastest-growing wedding media companies in the world. One a planner and the other a consumer marketer, both immigrants that came together in the most unexpected way to build a global brand and scale their team across continents.  Alina and Daria dive into their co-founder dynamic, how they...

In this episode, Natasha Yuhjtman sits down with Stephanie from Cole Drake Events, one of Napa's top luxury wedding planners, to unpack the real stories behind high-end weddings — the wild requests, family politics, design decisions, and day-of chaos no one talks about. Stephanie shares unforgettable moments, from a bride having her mom walk down the aisle to "WAP" to a full wedding-day rain disas...

In this episode of The Hard Launch, Natasha sits down with luxury wedding planner and founder of Emily Coyne Events, Emily Coyne, for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to design unforgettable, high-end events. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, hospitality-driven approach, and signature "no roadblocks" philosophy, Emily shares stories from her most unforgettable w...

In this episode of The Hard Launch, host Natasha Yuhjtman sits down with Julian Leaver, luxury event designer and founder of Julian Leaver Events. Known for his signature blend of hospitality and high design, Julian shares how his background with Rosewood Hotel and Resorts inspired a decade-long career creating some of the world's most extraordinary weddings and events. Julian opens up about build...