logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2024
45m 31s

Natalie Holloway: Co-Founder of Bala and...

SECOND LIFE
About this episode

Natalie Holloway and her husband, Max, had their aha moment during a yoga class in Indonesia. As the class was more meditative than sweat-inducing, they wondered, Why isn’t anyone making chic wrist or ankle weights that could turn up the resistance on everyday exercises? They immediately began brainstorming their idea on a napkin, and after returning to the United States, the two created prototypes of what would eventually become the best-selling Bala Bangle. With the help of a Kickstarter campaign and a successful Shark Tank debut, Bala has grown to include a range of fitness equipment sold in retailers including Goop, Saks, and Target, as well as a digital fitness instruction platform called Balacize. But what led Natalie and Max to Indonesia in the first place? The two met while working at global advertising agency 72 and Sunny, where they thrived but ultimately felt burnt out. They decided to take a sabbatical to travel, and a year later, returned ready to use their branding expertise to give the ’80s-era fitness equipment a fashion-forward makeover.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
The Who What Wear Podcast: Go Sports! Athlete Stylists Brittany Hampton and Manny Jay on Dressing WNBA It Girls, and Why It's More Than Picking Out Clothes
In this episode, Senior Fashion Editor Eliza Huber—Who What Wear’s resident expert on the intersection of sports and fashion—is sitting down with two stylists behind some of the best tunnel fashion we’ve seen in recent months. Brittany Hampton is a seasoned athlete stylist whose ... Show More
36m 10s
Jul 7
Denise Woodard: Founder and CEO of Partake Foods
Denise Woodard is the founder and CEO of Partake, an allergy-friendly food company. Woodard started her career in pound-the-pavement sales roles at Philip Morris and FedEx, gaining robust experience in winning business by providing genuine solutions to her clients. She then spent ... Show More
56m 24s
Jul 2
The Who What Wear Podcast: Rhode Cosmetic Chemist and BeautyStat Founder Ron Robinson on Crafting Cult Favorite Products and the Buzzy Ingredient That’s Not Worth the Hype
Ron Robinson is the founder of BeautyStat and the cosmetic chemist behind Hailey Bieber’s skincare line, Rhode. Robinson began his career at Clinique in the ’90s and, over the past two decades, has worked on products for industry giants like Revlon, Avon, L’Oréal, and Lancôme. He ... Show More
19m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
How Bala was Built x Bala Co- Founder Natalie Holloway
In this episode, Jodi engages in a conversation with Natalie Holloway, the Co-Founder of Bala, who delves into the origins of their brand. The concept for Bala was born during a rather casual yoga session with her then-boyfriend, now-husband, Max. This lightbulb moment was captur ... Show More
46m 52s
Apr 2020
Natalie Holloway and Max Kislevitz: Bala
Bala is a Los Angeles based movement company founded in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Natalie Holloway and Maximilian Kislevitz. During a sabbatical in Southeast Asia, Natalie and Max realized that old school wrist and ankle weights were in desperate need of innovation and decide ... Show More
38m 59s
Apr 2023
Orangetheory Fitness: Ellen Latham
Ellen Latham would probably have been happy teaching classes at her popular fitness studio in south Florida until she turned ninety. After being fired from her dream job as a spa director, she’d found stability with her own small business, and began developing a workout program t ... Show More
1h 5m
May 2021
68: MegaBabe Personified with Katie Sturino
Katie Sturino is a true powerhouse and the ultimate advocate for women! Whilst her start in luxury PR sounded like a dream job, life at Chanel and Dolce and Gabbana was far from a fairytale. By 25 Katie realized that going it alone was the power move she needed to play and to do ... Show More
45m 15s
Jan 2019
SoulCycle: Julie Rice & Elizabeth Cutler
Before Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice met, they shared a common belief: New York City gyms didn't have the kind of exercise classes they craved, and each of them wanted to change that. A fitness instructor introduced them over lunch in 2005, and before the meal was done they wer ... Show More
56m 3s
Jan 2024
Ashley Tisdale on transitioning from actress to wellness brand founder
After working in Hollywood for over two decades, Ashley Tisdale has now set her sights on the wellness space. In 2020, she launched an online community platform called Frenshe with the goal of making wellness and wellness-focused goals a bit more accessible to all. Two years late ... Show More
36m 22s
Feb 2020
Lululemon Athletica: Chip Wilson (2018)
After noticing more and more people sign up for yoga in the late 1990s, Chip Wilson bet everything on an athletic apparel company aimed toward young professional women. What started as a small pop-up store in Vancouver eventually became the multibillion-dollar brand Lululemon Ath ... Show More
54m 12s
Feb 2024
Coco and Eve’s Balinese Tropical Story with Founder Emily Hamilton
Founded in 2018 after being inspired by a recent trip to Bali, Emily Hamilton set out to capture the magic of the island with her beauty products. Combining tropical ingredients with advanced science and innovation, it’s no surprise Coco & Eve's now has multi-award-winning hair, ... Show More
47m 36s
Feb 2023
#72 Krissy Cela on Building a $60m Fitness Empire In Her 20's
This week I sit down with Krissy Cela. Krissy first started posting fitness videos on Instagram and YouTube in 2017 while studying for a law degree and has now built a multi million dollar health and fitness empire with the mission to empower women across the world. Throughout th ... Show More
43m 27s
Jun 2023
Kim Chi of KimChi Chic Beauty: ‘I want this to be a staple in a lot of people's lives’
When Kim Chi made the finals on season 8 of "RuPaul’s Drag Race" back in 2016, fans were captivated by her stunning makeup artistry. Not long after, she became the CEO and founder of her own makeup brand, KimChi Chic Beauty. Launched in 2019 under Bespoke Beauty Brands, the incub ... Show More
42m 24s