Summary In this episode, host Talia Mashiach sits down with Bracha Banayan, family nurse practitioner and founder & CEO of IV Drips and Hello Dose, for a deep and inspiring conversation. They explore the science behind GLP-1 medications, why weight loss has never just been about willpower, and how hormonal health is transforming medicine and longevity. Bracha also opens up about her entrepreneurial journey — bootstrapping two companies from scratch — and shares candid reflections on dating, heartbreak, egg freezing, and learning to surrender to life's process.

Timestamps

1:40 – Bracha introduces herself: nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, New York City
2:16 – The founding of IV Drips: on-demand IV infusions at home
3:46 – Bootstrapping with $20K, faking different voices, first hires
5:10 – Launching on Yom Kippur & breaking into the Jewish community
9:35 – Scaling during COVID: overnight demand surge
10:30 – Expanding to New Jersey, Florida, Louisiana & beyond
11:36 – Shifting to Hello Dose: the weight loss journey that changed everything
13:20 – Why weight loss is biology, not willpower
14:15 – How Ozempic changed the conversation around obesity & shame
16:15 – GLP-1 vs. tirzepatide vs. retatrutide — what's the difference?
19:03 – Ozempic for addiction, binge eating, alcohol & smoking
20:45 – The next drug: retatrutide & muscle loss concerns
23:19 – How GLP-1s rewire the brain's reward system
24:42 – Hormonal imbalance, PCOS, perimenopause & fertility
26:29 – Microdosing for longevity: why Bracha thinks everyone over 50 should be on GLP-1s
27:18 – The cardiometabolic & anti-inflammatory benefits beyond weight loss
28:40 – Removing the shame from Ozempic
32:14 – Side effects: when they happen and why they're user-dependent
35:33 – Microdosing forever as a longevity strategy
35:48 – GLP-1s and pregnancy: what you need to know
38:25 – Hello Dose today: 22 states, telehealth, holistic care
40:57 – Growing up in Monsey, family, and the road to medicine
42:00 – Dating journey, egg freezing, and going public about it
43:43 – Embracing challenges: caterpillar to butterfly
46:40 – Surrendering to reality vs. fighting life
50:34 – Comparison, confidence & the people you surround yourself with
53:03 – 10-year vision: sell both companies, impact metabolic health, start a family
59:26 – Fast Five Q&A
1:01:32 – Final advice: build muscle, hydrate, sleep, get on a GLP-1, live with curiosity

About the Guest

Bracha Banayan is a 36-year-old family nurse practitioner based in New York City with nearly a decade of clinical experience. She is the founder and CEO of IV Drips, a concierge IV infusion company operating across more than 20 U.S. cities, and Hello Dose, a telehealth platform helping patients optimize their metabolic health through GLP-1 medications, HRT, and peptide therapy. A passionate advocate for longevity medicine and precision care, Bracha is also a forthcoming author of a book on GLP-1 medications and debunking weight loss myths. Known for her sense of urgency, boldness, and deep belief that every challenge is a catalyst for growth, Bracha Banayan is on a mission to help people live longer, stronger, and healthier lives.

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