In this episode of Inspired to Lead, host Talia Mashiach sits down with Ruth Zukerman — co-founder of SoulCycle and founder of Flywheel Sports — for a raw and powerful conversation about building two iconic fitness brands, being pushed out of the company she created, and finding the strength to start over at 52.

Ruth shares how she went from aspiring dancer to accidental fitness pioneer, how a painful divorce led her to discover spin, and the devastating partnership betrayal that cost her everything she built — while her former partners walked away with $90 million each. She also opens up about the personal growth, therapy, and resilience that carried her through each reinvention.

Timestamps:

1:22 – Meet Ruth Zukerman

2:24 – Ruth's early dream of becoming a professional dancer

4:37 – Getting married and putting career aside

8:42 – Divorce and discovering spin at the Reebok Club

11:49 – Becoming a spin instructor and building a following

13:08 – Innovating with music and personal recognition

15:53 – The idea to open a standalone spin studio

17:57 – The three co-founders come together

20:48 – Choosing partners: lessons on friendship vs. business

24:19 – Opening SoulCycle: the hole-in-the-wall on 72nd Street

27:07 – Business explodes — the Hamptons barn

30:10 – Word of mouth, no advertising, no signage

33:08 – Scaling to the Upper East Side

36:07 – No operating agreement: a costly mistake

38:24 – The partnership unravels — Ruth is pushed out

42:20 – Going back to teach at SoulCycle as an employee

44:40 – The birth of Flywheel Sports at age 52

46:55 – What Ruth did differently the second time

49:58 – Flywheel grows to 42 locations and gets acquired

51:31 – SoulCycle sells — each partner makes $90 million

53:58 – The emotional toll and how Ruth processed the loss

55:18 – Resilience, reinvention & life's biggest lessons

59:37 – Advice on partnerships, contracts & knowing yourself

1:15:37 – Closing thoughts & sponsor message

Guest Description:

Ruth Zukerman is an entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker best known as a co-founder of SoulCycle and the founder of Flywheel Sports. A former dancer turned fitness industry pioneer, Ruth helped create the boutique fitness movement and grew Flywheel to 42 locations before its acquisition. She is the author of a memoir and business book sharing the life lessons behind her journey. Ruth is the keynote speaker at the upcoming JWE (Jewish Women Entrepreneurs) conference.

Come meet Ruth live at the JWE Powered by HER Conference and in person on April 27, 2026 in Newark NJ. Spots are limited. By your ticket today at thejwe.com/conference and use code PODCAST to save $10 off your ticket .

This episode is sponsored by Roth and Co., innovators in accounting and business advisory.

In this inspiring conversation, international matchmaker Rivkah Fox joins Talia Mashiach to discuss revolutionizing the traditional matchmaking model in the Jewish community. Rivkah shares her journey from volunteer matchmaker to professional entrepreneur, setting up nearly 50 couples since 2019 while building a sustainable business model. The discussion explores the challenges of monetizing a mitzvah, the importance of setting boundaries, and why the community needs both volunteer and professional matchmakers. Rivkah opens up about her creative approaches to dating—from anonymous bio posts to spontaneous blind dates—and how she's making matchmaking more accessible and fun for the next generation.

[1:48] How Rivka set up Talia's daughter

[5:00] Rivka's husband's role as Penn campus rabbi & their kiruv mission

[14:15] Rivka's family background & father's ba'al teshuva story

[21:45] The volunteer vs. professional matchmaker distinction

[28:20] Why women struggle with monetizing chesed work

[35:40] The moment Rivka decided to go professional

[41:20] Pushback & the discomfort of charging for mitzvos

[53:30] The transformative conversation with the business coach

[1:03:20] How charging changed client dynamics

[1:10:00] Addressing the "only wealthy people get help" concern

[1:18:45] Building systems: assistants, databases & AI

[1:22:30] Creative matchmaking approaches (Instagram polls, blind dates, spontaneous connections)

[1:30:00] The painful phone call that changed everything

[1:45:00] Educating the community about shadchan gelt & hakaras hatov

[2:00:45] Advice for singles: Be the person you're looking for

[2:03:20] The importance of Instagram in kiruv & staying connected

[2:05:15] Rivka's superpower & message to her younger self

Guest Summary

Rivkah Fox is an international professional matchmaker based in Philadelphia with nearly 50 successful matches since 2019 and a database of 4,000 singles. She holds a graduate degree in education with a focus in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Married to a Penn campus rabbi, Rivkah is a mother of four who has pioneered innovative matchmaking approaches including Instagram-based anonymous profiles, public voting on date pairings, and spontaneous video call setups. She's passionate about creating sustainable professional models for matchmakers while maintaining accessibility across all economic backgrounds. Her work spans eight countries and breaks traditional barriers in the Orthodox dating world through creativity, technology, and a fresh perspective on this mitzvah. This Episode is brought to you by Roth & Co. Innovators in accounting and business advisory. To learn more visit https://rothcocpa.com/ Early Bird tickets for the annual JWE Powered by Her Conference are now live! to purchase tickets visit Thejwe.com/conference. Use code PODCAST to save an additional $10 off your purchase.

Join host Talia Mashiach for an inspiring conversation with Jamie Geller, Chief Communications Officer and Global Spokesperson at Aish, as she shares her remarkable journey from Hollywood producer to cookbook author to nonprofit leader.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Introduction - Jamie's recognition and impact across different communities

[00:19] Early career dreams and the path to broadcast journalism at NYU

[07:40] Landing at CNN through networking and becoming an intern manager

[09:44] Graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 3 years while working almost full-time

[10:00] The importance of work ethic, confidence vs. arrogance, and hiring for culture fit

[15:16] Core values and the "I GROW" acronym at Aish

[22:50] Discovering observant Judaism and the life-changing decision to keep Shabbat

[24:21] Walking away from CNN and the "good luck finding another job" moment

[31:26] Navigating Hollywood as a religious woman at HBO

[37:00] The partnership model - balancing career and traditional home roles

[43:50] Missing the bat mitzvah play for a White House meeting

[46:40] Transitioning from HBO to the food industry and becoming "the bride who knew nothing"

[52:30] Building a digital food empire - 2 million followers, billion views, and burnout

[1:02:00] The evolution of social media and the pressure of constant authenticity

[1:23:30] The COVID pivot and joining Aish with a vision for digital Jewish education

[1:27:05] Growing Aish from 400K to 4 million followers and 2 million daily video views

[1:29:20] Fast Five: Superpower, best advice, leadership style, and final wisdom

Guest Description: Jamie Geller is a former HBO producer turned cookbook author and digital media pioneer who built a food empire with over 1 billion video views before joining Aish. She's the author of 8 cookbooks, including "Quick and Kosher: Recipes from the Bride Who Knew Nothing," and has grown Aish's social media presence from 400,000 to 4 million followers. Jamie lives in Jerusalem with her husband and six children.

This episode is brought to you by Roth and Co., innovators in accounting and business advisory.

In this powerful episode of Inspire to Lead, host Talia Mic sits down with Adina Kamkhatchi, founder of Adina Eden jewelry, for an intimate conversation about building a multimillion-dollar business from scratch, overcoming adversity, and staying true to your values. Adina shares her remarkable journey from being a bullied, overweight teenager with $100 in babysitting money to creating one of the most successful fine jewelry brands, now sold in Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Revolve. She opens up about her struggles with infertility, the sacrifices behind her success, and why she chose to publicly stand with Israel after October 7th—even at the risk of losing followers and customers. This is a story about resilience, faith, family business, and building a legacy that matters.

[1:49] - The origin story: Why jewelry? Overcoming childhood struggles with weight and bullying

[5:14] - First customer and starting on Instagram over a decade ago

[8:08] - The Madison Beer moment: When a celebrity post changed everything overnight

[11:06] - Scaling from handmade to factories: The challenges of rapid growth

[15:01] - Moving out of the parents' basement: Getting their first office with no credit history

[18:10] - Forbes 30 Under 30: Proving the doubters wrong

[21:50] - The voice that pushes through: Overcoming being the underdog

[24:26] - October 7th: Standing with Israel and the business decision to speak up publicly

[30:30] - Lessons learned: Quality hires over quantity, and trusting God's timing

[34:38] - Rock bottom: Three miscarriages and finding the strength to continue

[39:50] - COVID-19: The moment they thought it was over—and how it became a milestone

[40:02] - Sacrifices no one saw: Years of 2 AM bedtimes and reinvesting every penny

[41:02] - Advice to her younger self: "You're loved, and you're gonna make it"

[42:04] - Superpower: Staying calm in chaos and always finding solutions

[42:53] - Final advice: Start with nothing—you don't need money to begin

About the Guest:

Adina Kamkhatchi is the founder of Adina Eden, a fashion-forward fine jewelry brand she started at just 18 years old. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Adina built her business from nothing—starting by hand-making jewelry in her parents' basement and leveraging Instagram before it became a business platform. Today, Adina Eden is a multimillion-dollar company known for its dainty, personalized pieces and unwavering support for Israel. A first-generation college graduate from the Syrian-American community in Brooklyn, Adina is also a proud mother of twins and an advocate for infertility awareness. Sponsored by: Roth and Co., innovators in accounting and business advisory

In this powerful episode, Lizzy Savetsky shares her remarkable journey from fashion influencer to one of the most prominent Jewish activists on social media. Lizzy opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her path—from growing up in Fort Worth, Texas with dreams of being a singer, to building a successful fashion blogging career, to making the courageous decision to pivot to full-time Jewish advocacy in 2021. She discusses the personal and professional sacrifices she made, including being dropped by her management company, receiving death threats, and hitting rock bottom with alcoholism before finding sobriety. Lizzy's story is one of authenticity, resilience, and the power of living your truth out loud, even when it costs you everything.

• [1:22] Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas and early performing dreams
• [5:40] Meeting her husband and the journey to Orthodox Judaism
• [9:37] The decision to study in Israel at Neve Seminary
• [20:00] Breaking into fashion PR and starting her blog
• [27:50] Discovering Instagram and building a following
• [39:20] The turning point: May 2021 and pivoting to Jewish advocacy
• [53:00] Getting dropped by management and facing death threats
• [59:00] The importance of authenticity vs. performing your life
• [62:30] Hitting rock bottom with alcoholism and finding sobriety
• [66:45] Rumors of "Lizzy for Mayor" and potential political future
• [70:15] Fast Five: Biggest mistakes, sacrifices, and superpowers
• [70:00] Final message: Invest in yourself and find your purpose

Lizzy Savetsky is a Jewish activist, digital advocate, and social media influencer known for her unapologetic defense of Israel and the Jewish people. With a background in fashion PR and blogging, Lizzy made headlines when she pivoted from fashion content to full-time advocacy work in 2021, following attacks on Israel. Despite facing death threats and losing lucrative brand partnerships, she has built a powerful platform speaking at rallies, delivering speeches nationwide, and mobilizing the Jewish community online. A mother of four and wife to a plastic surgeon Ira Savetsky.

This episode is sponsored by Roth & Co innovators in accounting and business advisory. To learn more visit https://rothcocpa.com/

In this episode of Inspire to Lead, host Talia Mashiach sits down with Chayale Kaufman, founder of the Jewish Content Network and Consult Write Media. Chayale shares her remarkable journey from her early days in print media to becoming a trailblazer in digital marketing and nonprofit strategy. Discover how she built two thriving companies, the sacrifices and grit required for true success, and the unique challenges and triumphs of women in leadership.

• 01:30 – Chayale's Early Career and Founding Her Companies
• 06:00 – What Makes Consult Right Media Unique
• 10:00 – The Power of Personal Branding
• 14:00 – Marketing Strategies for Businesses and Nonprofits
• 20:00 – Lessons from 15 Years in Print and Digital Media
• 25:00 – The Role of Grit and Sacrifice in Success
• 30:00 – Women, Leadership, and the Value of Mentorship
• 36:00 – Navigating Partnerships and Financial Confidence
• 42:00 – The Impact of AI on Marketing
• 48:00 – Balancing Family, Business, and Personal Growth
• 54:00 – Overcoming Guilt and Embracing Support
• 1:00:00 – Chayale's Superpower: Tenacity and Moving Forward
• 1:05:00 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• 1:10:00 – Final Reflections and Takeaways

Guest Description:
Chayale Kaufman is the founder and CEO of the Jewish Content Network and Consult Write Media, two innovative agencies specializing in digital and print marketing, PR, and strategic communications for businesses and nonprofits. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Chayale is recognized for her expertise in campaign strategy, branding, and her deep commitment to helping organizations amplify their impact. She is a passionate leader, mentor, and advocate for women in business, known for her authenticity, creativity, and relentless drive to make a difference in the Jewish community and beyond.

In this episode, Melissa Bernstein shares her remarkable journey from a creative, "unsettled" child to the co-founder of Melissa & Doug. She opens up about channeling her internal chaos into creativity, the early struggles and scrappy beginnings of the company, and the mission-driven philosophy that guided their growth. Melissa discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of resilience, and the lessons learned from both setbacks and successes from building a business from her basement to selling the company for over a billion dollars. She also talks about balancing business and family, working with her husband, and her new venture, Lifelines, which focuses on well-being and helping others find meaning. Melissa's story is a testament to the power of creativity, grit, and staying true to one's mission.

Timestamps

• 03:45 – Channeling chaos into creativity: the start of Melissa & Doug
• 08:30 – Melissa's upbringing and search for meaning
• 13:00 – Quitting corporate jobs and the fateful weekend
• 16:30 – Early mission and building a company from scratch
• 22:00 – First product, "fuzzy puzzle," and manufacturing challenges
• 27:00 – Getting burned by a factory agent
• 32:00 – Serendipity, resilience, and finding the right factory
• 36:00 – Building the business from their home
• 41:00 – Balancing family, business, and self-funding
• 48:00 – Sales, rejection, and learning to overcome objections
• 55:00 – Expanding categories: puzzles, wooden toys, plush, costumes
• 1:05:00 – Entering mass market and the Amazon story
• 1:15:00 – Taking on investors and the eventual sale
• 1:25:00 – Leaving the company, starting Lifelines, and finding new meaning
• 1:33:00 – Advice for entrepreneurs, women, and parents
• 1:38:00 – Melissa's book and mentoring the next generation
• 1:45:00 – Final thoughts: creativity, meaning, and living authentically

Guest Description
Melissa Bernstein is the co-founder of Melissa & Doug, one of the world's leading toy companies, and a passionate entrepreneur, creator, and advocate for mental health and authentic living. Over 35 years, Melissa and her husband Doug built their company from scratch, focusing on sparking children's imaginations with high-quality, open-ended toys. After selling the company for over a billion dollars, Melissa launched Lifelines, a new venture dedicated to well-being tools for adults, and authored the book "The Heart of Entrepreneurship." Her journey is marked by creativity, resilience, and a mission-driven approach to business and life.