In this episode we go over:

What happens when the business is thriving… but your body, health, and identity are falling apart?

In my latest podcast feature with Christine Hakkola, we dig into a raw and honest chapter of my life — the one most people never see behind the highlight reel. Before becoming a wellness coach and founder of THOR: The House of Rose, I built a 40-person digital agency, pushed myself past every limit, and ultimately hit rock bottom at 37.

Two ER visits, daily panic attacks, and 80 pounds of weight gain later, I finally faced the truth:

Success built the wrong way will cost you everything.

This episode explores what happened next — and how I rebuilt my health, my mindset, and my business from the ground up.

What We Cover in This Conversation

• Burnout as a wake-up call
My panic attacks weren’t random. They were the result of years of running out of alignment with my values, my wiring, and my capacity.

• The real cost of scaling for the wrong reasons
The problem was never the size of my business. It was that I didn’t want the problems that came with it.

• Rebuilding a business that actually fits your life
I went from a 40-person team to a tightly aligned group of 8 with clear roles, strong boundaries, and a company that finally supports the life I want, not the life I was trying to outrun.

• Why midlife changes everything
Health, hormones, stress, and emotional patterns all collide in midlife. We talk about how that shift forced me to redesign everything: my habits, my identity, and my definition of success.

• Creating a life aligned with who you are now
This isn’t just a story about losing 80 pounds. It’s about learning to listen to your body, respect your limits, and build a career that supports your well-being instead of draining it

Links:

Episode on Spotify

Episode on Youtube

Episode on Apple

HostChristine Hakkola from FoundHer Rising

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Episode Description

This week’s episode features a raw, real, and powerful conversation with Terry Tateoussian — an entrepreneur, startup founder, and now a passionate advocate for health and wellness.

Terry’s story begins in Eastern Europe under a Communist regime. At just 11 years old, she defected with her parents, spent two years in a refugee camp, and eventually made it to the U.S. to start a new life.

She went on to build a thriving career in tech and media — raising two children, living in a beautiful home — on the outside, it looked like she had it all.
But behind the scenes, Terry was silently battling burnout, which was showing itself with food addiction, alcohol dependency.

Her health was spiraling. Her energy was depleted. And her sense of self? Nearly lost.

💥 But Terry didn’t give up.

In her late 30s, she made a radical shift — facing her addictions head-on, and ultimately losing over 80 lbs. But it wasn’t just about the weight. It was about healing from the inside out — emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

That transformation inspired her to found THOR, a holistic wellness center in the Smoky Mountains, where she now helps midlife women reclaim their health, energy, and confidence.

💬 In this episode, we explore:

  • Her courageous journey from refugee to tech founder
  • The hidden battle with food and alcohol that nearly broke her
  • The tools she used to heal and rebuild her life
  • How she empowers peri- and post-menopausal women to thrive
  • What it really means to reinvent yourself in midlife

🎧 Whether you’re facing burnout, struggling with your health, or simply looking for inspiration — this episode is for you.

Links:

Episode on Spotify

Episode on Apple

HostHeather Danby from Sharing Out Loud