The Hard Launch

Natasha Yuhjtman
  • 5.0 (4)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Where founder life meets the chaos, joy, and drama of weddings, relationships, and real life. Hosted by Natasha Yuhjtman — a founder, mom, and entrepreneur — The Hard Launch is a podcast that explores what it really takes to build something from scratch: a business, a brand, a marriage, or even your dream wedding. Each week, Natasha sits down with startup founders, wedding industry experts, and creative entrepreneurs for candid conversations about the messy, beautiful, and often hilarious process of launching and scaling anything worth building. Together, they unpack the behind-the-scenes realities of entrepreneurship, love, and personal growth — from navigating founder burnout and creative pivots to rethinking relationship dynamics and startup-style wedding planning. Whether it's AI-powered wedding tools, female founders redefining success, or love lessons learned the hard way, The Hard Launch is your go-to podcast for discovering how to balance ambition, relationships, and real life — and still find joy in the process. For founders, creatives, dreamers, and anyone juggling big ideas, big love, and even bigger goals.

  1. FEB 12

    How serial founders build, rebuild, and leverage Every Lesson

    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 product-market fit. and why "good" isn't good enough if no one is obsessed. He opens up about luck, timing, knowing when a business model doesn't work, and why staying alive long enough is sometimes the only strategy. Morgan brings the wedding industry perspective, revealing the communication gaps planners face daily and what it takes to introduce new tech into a fragmented, relationship driven space. Together, they dive into selling innovation before the market fully understands it, simplifying AI so it feels invisible, and why building for intensity, not volume, changes everything. This episode is for founders chasing product market fit  and wedding pros thinking about the future of events.   Learn more abourt WedPings at Wedping.com Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube Timestamps: 05:13 – Traction vs. Obsession 08:01 – The Audacious Hypothesis Test 10:16 – Great Product, Bad Business 28:38 – The 2-Minute Demo Rule 36:03 – Stay Alive Long Enough 38:16 – When to Quit vs. When to Pivot 47:16 – AI as an Ingredient, Not the Dish 50:26 – Founder + Parent Perspective 57:25 – Advice for Non-Technical Founders

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 5

    Sarah Klingman On Building With Conviction, The Realities of Zero to One, & Reframing Pivots

    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 it takes to build a company without burning out. This episode is a must-listen for founders, creators, and working parents navigating early-stage startups, motherhood, and modern entrepreneurship. More about Mostest Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube   Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro + casual banter before diving in 01:15 – Sarah Klingman's background and founding story of Mostest 03:54 – Why corporate event planning at Adidas exposed a massive market gap 09:30 – The "full-body sweat" birthday party moment that changed everything 14:55 – Why founders must stay close to the work (and actually plan events) 22:38 – The first version of Mostest and what went wrong with hourly pricing 27:38 – Why "pivoting" is often just learning (and why Sarah hates the word) 48:21 – Building a startup while raising three kids: the real zero-to-one reality

    1h 6m

  3. FEB 2

    From Side Hustle to Wedding Powerhouse to Tech Founder ft. Annie Lee

    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 anticipate shifts in wedding trends. Annie discusses why weddings are uniquely recession proof, how planners can stand out in an oversaturated luxury market, and what it takes to build lasting credibility through media, relationships, and visibility. They also dive into the creation of Plannie and unpack how technology, AI, and changing consumer behavior are reshaping the future of weddings. This episode is a must listen for planners, creatives, and founders looking to evolve beyond traditional models and build sustainable businesses.  More about plannie More about Daughter of Design Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube Episode Timestamps  00:00 –  Annie's path into weddings, early career, and design background 05:31 – Design, history, and how wedding trends evolve over time 15:21 –  Recession-proof weddings, market saturation, and industry shifts 27:01 – Building Daughter of Design, media credibility, and standing out 39:31 – Why Plani was created & the rise of hourly, fractional planning 50:31 – Technology, AI, and the future of event planning 01:00:46 Advice for planners, defining success, and what's next

    1h 3m

  4. JAN 22

    Weather Witchcraft, Climate Chaos & Six-Figure Weddings: How Andrew Levitt Turned Event Disasters Into a Luxury Concierge Forecasting Empire

    #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 flopped, and how redefining success as a "mom and pop" business helped him avoid burnout while still serving top planners around the world.​ They dive into bootstrapping on credit cards, building credibility in a small, tight-knit industry, setting boundaries with the wrong clients, and what it really looks like to offer human-led, high-touch services in the age of AI. Andrew also breaks down the rise of Etsy "weather witches," how most $12 spells miss the mark, and the story behind co-creating a New Orleans voodoo-inspired blessing offering that blends ritual with real meteorology. If you're an entrepreneur navigating pivots, pressure, or the temptation to "go big" just because everyone says you should, this conversation will hit home. More about Ironic Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube Timestamps: 00:01 – Andrew's unconventional path into weather, events, and weddings 05:06 – The entrepreneurial itch: finding "what's not there" 08:15 – Why Andrew's first tech product failed (and what it taught him) 10:45 – Startup vs small business: choosing sustainability over hype 15:55 – Burnout, failure, and why you have to get it wrong first 23:32 – Finding the right clients (and why not everyone is your customer) 27:35 – How Andrew built credibility in a tight-knit wedding industry 35:41 – "Pay to play": getting into the right rooms and building relationships 41:09 – The truth about Etsy witches and wedding weather 01:11:50 – Practical weather planning advice every couple should know

    1h 15m

  5. JAN 15

    Zvi Goffer on Why Perfect Plans Kill Great Businesses and the Accidental Pivot That Proved It

    #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 listening (not planning) unlocked his biggest pivot, and what it takes to earn trust in relationship-driven industries like luxury weddings. This conversation explores entrepreneurship, intuition, emotional product-market fit, and building something so impactful people don't just buy it—they feel it.   More about Reloom Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube   Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Zvi's entrepreneurial mindset 03:15 – Choosing entrepreneurship over traditional employment 07:20 – How Zvi thinks about risk as a founder 12:05 – The origin of Campus VR and early market research 18:40 – The emotional moment that sparked the Reloom pivot 23:05 – First wedding in VR and realizing the impact 30:20 – What Reloom is and how "moment-specific time travel" works 35:25 – Scaling a hardware-based business across cities 44:45 – Breaking into the luxury wedding industry and earning trust 01:03:55 – Advice for founders entering industries they don't come from

    1h 7m

  6. JAN 9

    Ali Carbone on Wedding Planning, Motherhood, and Building a Community-First Business

    #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 transitions in parallel, from launching a company to marriage and stepping into motherhood. This episode is for anyone rethinking their career path, building something from scratch, or learning how to grow a business while evolving as a person.   More about What Do I Do Bride Follow Ali Carbone on Instagram Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome + Ali's background in journalism and red carpet reporting   03:10 – The shift in media, influencer culture, and losing the traditional journalism path   08:30 – Leaving Hollywood Life & searching for what came next   10:00 – Wedding planning frustration & the idea for What Do I Do Brides   14:00 – Building a wedding-centric community from personal pain points   17:45 – Hosting the first community dinner & creating industry relationships   22:45 – Turning community questions into podcasts and resources   27:45 – Advice for brides: values, budgets, and setting boundaries early   35:55 – Why bride-first community is the real differentiator   41:15 – Scaling the brand, motherhood, and building something bigger than yourself

    1h 2m

  7. 12/19/2025

    From 20 Jobs to Seven-Figure Celebrations with Chris Weinberg

    #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, rewrote her pricing model, and scaled from solo planner to producing multi-day, six-figure celebrations. They talk pricing strategy, luxury client psychology, avoiding costly budget surprises, why founders need tunnel vision, and what the future of weddings looks like in a world of AI and immersive tech.   Follow about Chris Weinberg Events on Instagram  Work with Chris Weinberg Events here Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube   Timestamps:  00:00 – Intro & Welcome 02:30 – Chris's Career Before Weddings 05:55 – The Moment That Changed Everything 08:45 – Guest Experience as the Core Philosophy 12:00 – Fear, Risk & Entrepreneurship 15:00 – Investing in Education & Finding Her Tribe 18:55 – Pricing Mistakes & Tripling Her Rates 22:00 – Building a Team & Scaling 25:45 – Choosing the Right Luxury Clients 29:45 – Multi-Day Luxury Events Explained 32:15 – Budgeting Transparency (Minimum + Percentage) 36:00 – Why She Created The Event Summit 41:45 – Motherhood, Legacy & Business 47:55 – Tech, AI & the Future of Events 54:00 – Rapid Fire + Wild Event Story 58:30 – Final Advice & Where to Find Chris

    1h 7m

  8. 12/11/2025

    The Unfiltered Founder Experience and What it Really Takes to Build a Business While Building a Life with Kathleen Sheppard

    #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 engagement, planning a destination wedding in Menorca, and how she and her partner balance both being founders, fiancés, and future family-builders. A grounded, honest conversation about love, leadership, and the milestones that shape us as entrepreneurs. More about  Tote Follow The Hard Launch on Instagram Follow Natasha on Instagram Watch the full episode on YouTube Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome + introducing Kathleen 01:00 – Kathleen's path to becoming a 3x founder 04:00 – Lessons from past startups & finding real customer pain points 09:00 – Product-market fit, prototyping, and team dynamics 13:30 – Kathleen's Bora Bora engagement 16:00 – Wedding planning while building a company 20:00 – Balancing two founder schedules + boundaries 24:00 – Vendor challenges + destination wedding logistics 30:00 – How relationship dynamics influence startup life 34:00 – Emotional support, resilience, and future planning 41:00 – Advice for founders juggling life milestones 48:00 – What Kathleen has learned about herself 52:00 – Co-founder dynamics & how they met

    57 min
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About

Where founder life meets the chaos, joy, and drama of weddings, relationships, and real life. Hosted by Natasha Yuhjtman — a founder, mom, and entrepreneur — The Hard Launch is a podcast that explores what it really takes to build something from scratch: a business, a brand, a marriage, or even your dream wedding. Each week, Natasha sits down with startup founders, wedding industry experts, and creative entrepreneurs for candid conversations about the messy, beautiful, and often hilarious process of launching and scaling anything worth building. Together, they unpack the behind-the-scenes realities of entrepreneurship, love, and personal growth — from navigating founder burnout and creative pivots to rethinking relationship dynamics and startup-style wedding planning. Whether it's AI-powered wedding tools, female founders redefining success, or love lessons learned the hard way, The Hard Launch is your go-to podcast for discovering how to balance ambition, relationships, and real life — and still find joy in the process. For founders, creatives, dreamers, and anyone juggling big ideas, big love, and even bigger goals.

Information

  • Creator
    Natasha Yuhjtman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Hard Launch