Art of the App

Michelle Cherian

In each episode of Art of the App, I talk with trailblazing founders, investors and other top minds to discuss their journey and role as agents of change. We dig into the frameworks, thought processes and values that help guide them from early ideas to the stand-out products and brands that people love and trust. Plus, what routines and philosophies do they live by and who are they learning from right now?

  1. 11/30/2021

    Jessica Bledsoe on Intentional Productivity with Pav*r

    Finding balance as an entrepreneur isn’t always easy. It can be difficult for us as business owners to find productivity tools and schedules that actually work for our personalities. Paper is not going to be for everyone and a productivity app won’t be for everyone. It’s about finding out what works best for you.  In episode 28 of Art of the App Podcast, Jessica Bledsoe and I discuss the importance of not being “busy” and pushing but instead letting things come easily to us. We also dig into how we reconcile wanting to make an impact and do our best work in the world but not wanting to be constantly busy.  Jessica Bledsoe is a serial entrepreneur, dog mom, part-time van lifer, and the co-founder of pav*r, a time management app that integrates with your Google Calendar. Jessica is passionate about helping business owners and busy people reclaim their time so they can live more and work less. Some of the things Jessica Bledsoe and I discuss:  Transitioning from a local service business model to creating a global tech productivity tool.Jessica’s journey as she found a productivity schedule that worked best for her.How to decide what you say “yes” or “no” to a potential opportunity and the distinction between saying “no” or “not right now”.We all have something that we think is out of reach that isn't actually out of reach. It's about just being intentional about what we want and saying "no" to the things that don't align with those goals and intentions.Using market research and customer feedback to improve the product.The easiest productivity change that a busy person can make.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH JESSICA BLEDSOE: Website  Linkedin

  2. 11/23/2021

    Tamar Blue on Creating a Mental Health Toolkit with MentalHappy

    With the increasingly visible mental health crisis that is impacting our world, it’s important that people find support no matter where they live. Creating a mental health toolkit and finding a community that understands what you’re struggling with can be especially beneficial. In episode 27 of Art of the App Podcast, Tamar Blue and I discuss the importance of mental health support. We also dig into how there are benefits to having a support group along with professional help.  Tamar Blue is the founder and CEO of MentalHappy, an online mental health platform on a mission to make mental health care accessible, affordable and stigma-free for everyone. After selling her first company—an online staffing platform— in 2013, Tamar decided to pursue her passion in the mental health technology space. Today, MentalHappy helps people around the world overcome challenging life events and improve their daily lives through positive, peer support, including free, low cost and anonymous support groups, as well as self-help toolkits. Having suffered from panic attacks most of her life, Tamar personally understands the difficulty people face in finding the emotional support they need to lead happier, healthier lives. Tamar was recently recognized as a "Forbes Next 1000" honoree and just closed her first seed round of $1.1Million dollars for MentalHappy. Some of the things Tamar Blue and I discuss:  Some strategies that worked for Tamar before she started MentalHappy which has included gratitude, meditation, and communicating with others who are experiencing the same thing.How positive language can create resilience. Sometimes the language used around mental health can hold us back from managing it in a functional way.The thought process behind the market research, and monetization framework that went into creating MentalHappy.The evolution and pivots that have happened as MentalHappy moved from a startup to a company. Some of the marketing strategies used to grow the community of professional leaders and supported members.The direction MentalHappy is headed in the coming months and years.Thank you for listening! Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH TAMAR BLUE: MentalHappy Linkedin Instagram

  3. 11/16/2021

    Rachel Soper Sanders on The Importance of Personalized Nutrition with Rootine

    With 90% of the United States not getting an adequate daily intake of vitamins and minerals, it’s no surprise that the lack of micronutrients is causing issues like fatigue, stress, mood imbalance, and even chronic illness. It’s hard to get the nutrients you need everyday from your food alone. When you layer on genetics that adds another complication.  In episode 26 of Art of the App Podcast, Rachel Soper Sanders and I discuss the importance of micronutrients and its role in a person’s overall health. We also dig into the four key pillars of how people stay healthy: nutrition, sleep, movement, and mental health. All these pillars play into each other and they all matter for each other. Rachel Soper Sanders, CEO and co-founder of Rootine, spent her career in high-stress roles that required her to maximize the time she had — first as an investment banker and now as a startup founder and first-time mom. For her, that means doing everything she can to stay healthy and ensuring she is performing at her best both mentally and physically throughout the day. Early on in her career she was suffering from burnout, fatigue, stress, and brain fog which hampered her ability to give her best everyday. As she had done in the past when looking to solve health concerns, she turned to nutrition and fitness as a way to get more from her day when sleep wasn’t always an option - constantly iterating on products, exercises, and ways to fuel her body to add performance gains throughout the day. Through this, she learned that what she puts into her body everyday matters when it comes to her work, fitness gains, and the type of parent and partner she is able to be. She also learned that investing in self-care matters; the more you invest in taking care of yourself the better output you will have and investing early and often could help tremendously in the long term. Some of the things Rachel Soper Sanders and I discuss:  Behind the scenes of building a business in the medical field and creating partnerships.The aspects of a person’s daily life that play into our health and wellbeing and the way that Rootine is working to help the whole person.The importance of understanding your personal data and using a solution that’s built for it because a one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t work for the majority of people.When we should start addressing our nutrients and how it changes as we grow or age.Health optimization is not just for the standard biohacker of the world. The more you know about your body, the better choices you can make. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH RACHEL SANDERS: Rootine Linkedin Instagram Twitter RESOURCES: The Tell-Tale Brain by V.S. Ramachandran

  4. 11/02/2021

    Tatiana Figueiredo on Building a Thriving Community

    After many years in the industry, Tatiana Figueiredo has learned a lot of lessons, one of which is that you cannot replace the power and presence of a loyal and engaged community. She’s worked with community founders in a variety of industries to build profitable businesses that reflect them as people. In episode 25 of Art of the App Podcast, Tatiana Figueiredo and I discuss how to build sustainable communities. We also dig into how you can build a thriving community based on your own core values.  Tatiana Figaredo is a community strategist and coach for community founders who are facing product, community, or growth challenges. The work she does now is the culmination of her experience in marketing and sales for small businesses, managing technology teams and projects and building and running her own businesses in tech, e-commerce and events. Some of the things Tatiana and I discuss:  The three levels of community interaction; between the individual and the whole community, the individual in small groups and the 1:1 interaction among individuals.The differences between building a free and paid community, where people tend to be more committed because they’ve invested.How having a bit of friction that asks a commitment of the individual, even in free groups, helps the community member to be more engaged and participate.The importance of building a community that reflects your values and personality.  The biggest mistakes community leaders are making in their community dynamics.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH Tatiana Figueiredo: Website  Linkedin Instagram RESOURCES: Building Brand Communities Book

  5. 10/26/2021

    Brielle Cotterman on How to Effectively Share your Personal Story

    Sometimes we are afraid to publicly tell our personal stories because we think the conversation should happen only with close friends. Other times, we feel like we have a purpose and a passion, but not a “good” story to tell. In today’s episode we are changing the narrative - literally - to talk about the dangers of not sharing your story and how to be brave so you can make a bigger impact.  In episode 24 of Art of the App Podcast, Brielle Cotterman and I discuss the importance of sharing your whole story. We also dig into how you can feel confident sharing your story even when you don’t think it might be worth sharing.  Brielle Cotterman is a TEDx Speaker, Contributor at Entrepreneur, Activist Against Domestic Violence, Publicity Expert, and Celebrity-Maker. She has spent the last decade helping clients to craft and scale Dream careers to 7 figures and beyond by leveraging their personal stories and passions in order to create speaking tours, author award-winning books, procure media placements, and inspire the millions of people that need to hear their story. She is a survivor of attempted murder and domestic violence and an advocate for a world where intimate partner abuse is not tolerated and survivors are met with empathy.  Some of the things Brielle and I discuss:  The real danger in not sharing your story because even the difficult experiences are not uncommon. By sharing those, we allow others to feel less alone. Ways our culture has been impacted by the concept of only sharing what is shiny or pretty.The importance of sharing your story to grow your personal brand; because if you aren’t adding to the conversation, it is being developed without you.How to share your story even if you don’t think you have one worth sharing. You don't have to have a story that's filled with drama, trauma, or heartbreak in order to be influential and make a positive impact. Your impact doesn’t have to be for everyone. What’s important right now is not so much about being polished to perfection but instead creating connection by shining a light on who you are as a person.The three most important stories that you can have prepared when sharing about yourself: your breakthrough story, your business zone of genius, and your passion.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH Brielle Cotterman: Website Instagram

  6. 10/19/2021

    On Creating a Business with both Purpose and Profit with Kathy Varol

    There is a huge benefit to creating a purpose-led strategy for your business breathing it into every aspect of the company. In episode 23 of Art of the App Podcast, Kathy Varol and I discuss the importance of building purpose into your business model..  Kathy is an expert at driving profit with purpose. Kathy created the Global Purpose (corporate social responsibility) strategy for Adidas, a 22 billion dollar global company. Now Kathy helps her clients use purpose to stand out in a competitive environment, attract the best talent, gain consumer loyalty, and fully harness the innovative brainpower of their employees. She shares her deep knowledge and “how-to” with clients, so they can skip the hard lessons and go straight to strategies that work.         Kathy has 20 years of experience across brand marketing, strategy and impact, working at established brands like Adidas, MillerCoors and Microsoft.         Kathy is a sought-after speaker, Purpose Strategy Expert, and CSR & ESG consultant who has spoken and facilitated workshops around the globe.    Some of the things Kathy and I discuss:  The value of a purpose-driven business, and why it’s important to keep that purpose in mind through every part of your business.How hiring with your purpose in mind can make for better, more aligned employees.Why Kathy doesn’t like the term CSR (corporate social responsibility)Common mistakes people make when they first start creating and implementing their purpose-driven brand.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH KATHY VAROL: Website LinkedIn Instagram Podcast

  7. 10/12/2021

    Manage Stress by Managing your Mood with Erika Ferszt

    Have you ever been in a bad mood but wished you weren’t? The ability to control our thoughts and in turn control how we feel in the moment is super useful. Researchers have been able to help people quickly change their mood through something called mood induction.   Erika learned this through her post-graduate studies and wanted to create a tool that would help the average person quickly change their mood  - and she’s done just that with her app Moodally.  In episode 22 of the Art of the App Podcast, Erika Ferszt and I discuss the importance of stress management. We also dig into the tools you can use to change your mood in the moment. .  Moodally founder Erika Ferszt was raised in New York City, where she graduated from The Dalton School and New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. In her 20+ year career in advertising, she has won over 70 awards for her work, most notably in her role as the Global Advertising, Media & Digital Director at Ray-Ban.  Erika combined insights from these educational pursuits with her previous work as a high-ranking ad executive to create Moodally. Moodally offers extensively researched training courses that help employees combat workplace stress through the day-to-day management of their mood. Recently selected as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Harvard Ventures, she looks forward to sharing her vision with the world and helping organizations remove work-related stressors and effectively manage stress. Some of the things Erika and I discuss:  That stress manifests in the body and Erika’s personal story through burnout.Ways that scientists can change your mood through mood inductionHow Erika drew on her background in advertising to create the cinematic experiences that researchers were using in clinical studies and put that into an app format. .How companies are handling their employee’s mental health through various platforms.That the root of our stress is cognitive, and if you can control the thought and the reaction, you control the mood.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to inspire founders and investors who are shaping the future. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH Erika Ferszt: Website  Instagram LinkedIn

  8. 10/05/2021

    Erica Pattni on the Importance of Demographic Awareness

    While many different types of fitness experiences exist, Erica Pattni discovered the incredible balance of fitness and fun through her platform, ROWDY. While I’ve always loved how working out makes me feel since I was young, many Americans (75% to be exact) don’t enjoy goal-oriented fitness as much as the industry would seem to believe. This statistic helped inform how Erica Pattni is building her brand, ROWDY. In episode 21 of Art of the App Podcast, Erica Pattni and I discuss the importance of demographic awareness and marketing strategy.  Erica has spent many years in marketing from branding to market research. She was one of the first members of KIND, where she learned what it meant to roll up your sleeves and build something from the ground up. This started her passion for building brands. She created her own brand consulting business but eventually found that she was ready to create her own company, Rowdy. Some of the things Erica and I discuss:  Why 75% of Americans aren’t exercising the daily or weekly suggested amount, and how Rowdy aims to change that by being ‘deceptively challenging’.What makes fun fitness better than goal-oriented fitness for great, and why ROWDY will never focus on before and after pictures. How to do research to land on your brand positioning, and how Erica figured out to take KIND bars to wineries.Why your brand strategy is foundational and should be done at the start of building any company.  Erica has given listeners of Art of the App a coupon code. For $5 off a ROWDY plan use code: ART Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways! Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/  CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN: Linkedin Instagram Facebook Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore Work with Michelle Cherian  CONNECT WITH ERICA PATTNI: Website Linkedin Instagram Erica’s Consulting Practice RESOURCES Get $5 off a ROWDY Subscription with code ART

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About

In each episode of Art of the App, I talk with trailblazing founders, investors and other top minds to discuss their journey and role as agents of change. We dig into the frameworks, thought processes and values that help guide them from early ideas to the stand-out products and brands that people love and trust. Plus, what routines and philosophies do they live by and who are they learning from right now?

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Cherian
  • Years Active
    2021
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Art of the App
  • Show Website
    Art of the App