How to Rebrand Your Life with Jamie Hess

How do powerful women turn pain into purpose—and gratitude into their greatest strength?

In this episode of The Art of Badassery podcast, Jenn Cassetta, sits down with Jamie Hess — TEDx and keynote speaker, media personality, and lifestyle expert — for a raw and inspiring conversation. Jamie opens up about her powerful journey from addiction to 20+ years of sobriety, sharing how fitness and gratitude became the foundation for her transformation.

We dive into what it really takes to reinvent yourself, build a personal brand rooted in authenticity, and step boldly into a purpose-driven life.

Tune in to learn how to rebrand yourself, rise stronger, and live a life filled with fulfillment and gratitude.

Listen to the episode here

Watch the episode here

Introduction

In this episode, Jenn Cassetta invites us into an intriguing conversation with the multifaceted Jamie Hess. Known for her dynamic background as a TEDx and keynote speaker, media personality, and entrepreneur, Jamie is not only the host of the Gratitudeology podcast but also a lifestyle expert and social media creator. Her robust career has inspired countless individuals, and today, she delves deep into the experiences and insights that shaped her journey.

A Journey from Partying to Purpose

The story Jamie shares is one of transformation and resilience. She provides a heartfelt narration about her upbringing, highlighting the significant influence of her mother, Joan Lunden, a pioneer in television journalism. Despite a loving start, Jamie found herself immersed in a life of drugs and alcohol at a very young age. Her candid account of battling addiction while managing to uphold a life of success showcases the duality often present in high-functioning addicts.

Her narrative reveals the immense struggle and eventual victory over her addiction, crediting much of her survival to the discovery of fitness and the transformative power of gratitude. A fitness enthusiast, Jamie describes how the rhythm and community she discovered on the floors of Barry’s Bootcamp mirrored the camaraderie she had sought on nightclub dance floors.

The Road to Redemption

Jamie’s recovery introduced her to the power of fitness and wellness, embedding them into her daily routine as a substitute for her past addictions. Discovering gratitude as a practice became a cornerstone of her healing, a lesson passed down through rooms of recovery and therapy.

Her transformation didn’t end there. After years in public relations and marketing, Jamie made a bold transition into the role of an influencer, leveraging her knowledge and skills to build a personal brand. Her decision to leave a corporate job and dive into content creation turned into a flourishing career, proving that living life aligned with one’s passion can herald a new path to success.

Mastering Your Own Narrative

Today, Jamie runs a course called Brand Ninja, teaching others to monetize their personal brand. However, her insights extend beyond brand building. Jamie educates people on how to reframe their personal narrative to evoke positive change and attract good energy.

What emerges from this conversation is a powerful reminder that everyone, regardless of their aspirations, can benefit from understanding and defining their personal brand. As Jamie articulates, living life with gratitude and stepping into one’s true self is a daily practice that opens doors not just professionally, but personally as well.

Final Insights

Before wrapping up, Jamie emphasizes the importance of connection, encouraging listeners to share gratitude with others. Her insights, combined with actionable advice on personal branding and embracing life’s challenges with a positive outlook, make this episode an inspiring listen.

3 Key Takeaways from the Episode:

  1. Gratitude is Transformative: Embracing gratitude as a practice can profoundly change one’s life perspective, providing a sense of purpose and aligning one’s actions with their values.
  2. Authenticity in Personal Branding: Building a personal brand is not solely for influencers. By intentionally presenting oneself, aligning with core values, and consistently projecting that identity, anyone can enhance their personal and professional life.
  3. Connection and Communication: The importance of maintaining open, honest communication with loved ones cannot be overstated. Sharing gratitude and seeking help when needed strengthen relationships and enable personal growth.

Important Links

About Jamie Hess

Jamie Hess is a wellness entrepreneur, mindset coach, media personality, and a former public relations executive. She is also the daughter of former Good Morning America host Joan Lunden. After overcoming a struggle with addiction in her twenties, she co-created the popular fitness and wellness platform @NYCfitfam with her husband, George Hess.

Learn more at https://meetjamiehess.com/

Shameless Leadership: Taking Up Space With Sara Dean 

What does it take to lead shamelessly and unapologetically? 

Sara Dean—executive coach, keynote speaker, and host of the Shameless Leadership Podcast—joins Jenn Cassetta to share how women can take up space, stand in their power, and lead with confidence. Sara shares her journey from fitness coaching to becoming a top women’s leadership expert, revealing how shameless leadership, core values, and vulnerability create stronger, more connected leaders. She also teaches women how to take up space, stand in their power, and lead without apology. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to overcome self-doubt, reframe negative self-talk, and unlock your full potential as a strong woman leader.

Listen to the episode here

Watch the episode here

Shameless Leadership: Taking Up Space With Sara Dean

Introduction

Welcome to a powerful episode of The Art of Badassery podcast. In this session, Jenn Cassetta, our Chief Badassery Officer, converses with the dynamic Sara Dean. As a keynote speaker, certified facilitator, and executive coach, Sara has spent over two decades revolutionizing women’s leadership and personal growth methodologies. Her rebranding journey from the Shameless Mom Academy to Shameless Leadership is a testament to embracing evolution and authenticity.

Background

Sara’s journey began in the fitness industry, where she recognized the dissonance between her work goals and personal values. Her accidental rise as an entrepreneur in the fitness industry led to an awakening—aligning her core values with her professional mission was essential. A pivotal moment came when she realized her impact was more about reducing women’s space rather than empowering them to occupy it. This realization birthed the Shameless Leadership Podcast.

Journey of Transformation

Sara reflected on her core values through an exercise involving narrowing a list of values down to five guiding principles. This process reinforced her decisions and directional shifts. Key values such as kindness, love, and compassion became the guiding lights in her career transitions. This conscious alignment facilitated her shift from purely fitness coaching to advocating for women’s empowerment and leadership.

Breaking Through Challenges

The path to leadership coaching was not linear. Sara shared her struggles, such as confronting infertility while managing her business. These moments of vulnerability revealed the necessity of supporting others who silently carry their burdens. This experience amplified her commitment to fostering environments where women can candidly express challenges and triumphs.

Leadership Insights

Sara’s Shameless Leadership Pathway helps women harness the power of internal dialogue to foster external influence. She emphasizes overcoming inner criticism to enhance self-advocacy and effectively communicate leadership. This transformative approach encourages women to mentor others, cultivating leadership in a way that benefits broader communities.

Conclusion

Sara Dean’s journey illustrates that true leadership lies in vulnerability, authenticity, and redefining success through shared empowerment. Her story is a beacon for those aspiring to transcend personal and professional boundaries, helping others rise in the process.

Takeaways from the Episode

  1. Align Your Core Values with Your Mission: Understanding and consciously aligning your core values with your professional endeavors can pave the way for more authentic and impactful work.
  2. Embrace Your Vulnerability: Vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a channel for genuine connection and growth. It’s through sharing our challenges that we invite support and community.
  3. Cultivate Leadership Through Empowerment: Leadership isn’t about individual success—it’s about raising others alongside you, fostering environments where collective growth is prioritized.

By integrating these principles into your life, not only do you become a catalyst for change, but also a model of resilience and authenticity in leadership. Tune into The Art of Badassery podcast for more inspiring stories and actionable insights on how to lead with strength and heart.

Important Links

About Sara Dean

Sara Dean is a Seattle-based keynote speaker, mindset and leadership coach, business coach, and trainer to leaders and teams.With a passion for working with women in leadership who want to become more courageous in their thoughts, actions, and conversations, Sara helps her clients deeply understand that their voices have value.

For the past 22 years, she’s led women through growth and transformation, walking women more fully into leadership. She helps them get out of their own way, retrain culturally ingrained negative thought patterns, and cultivate a deeper sense of intuition and self-trust.

Learn more at https://saradean.com/