Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged – Episode Featuring Rachel Cohen

Podcast Information:

• Title: Mick Unplugged
• Host: Mick Hunt
• Description: "Mick Unplugged" challenges listeners to transition from asking 'Why' to embracing 'Because,' focusing on Modern Leadership principles. Hosted by Mick Hunt, it’s tailored for leaders and aspiring individuals aiming to create meaningful personal and professional impacts.

Episode Overview:

• Episode Title: Rachel Cohen | Overcoming Life’s Obstacles: From Personal Struggles to Entrepreneurial Success
• Guest: Rachel Cohen, creative problem solver and entrepreneur known for her viral food hacks and anti-bullying initiatives.

1. Introduction to Rachel Cohen and Her Viral Success

Mick Hunt opens the episode by introducing Rachel Cohen as a creative entrepreneur whose innovative food hacks captured widespread attention, including recognition from celebrated chef Gordon Ramsay.

• Notable Quote: "I'm very driven by kindness, positivity and I live each day with gratitude, motivation, inspiration and manifestation." — Rachel Cohen [00:26]

Rachel recounts how a simple idea to make bananas more appealing to her child inadvertently led to her first viral TikTok video, garnering over a million views within a week. This success spurred her to create more content, resulting in her first ten videos amassing over 100 million views combined.

2. The Journey from Homeschooling to Viral Sensation

Rachel details how homeschooling her three daughters post-quarantine inspired her to innovate food solutions. Her attempts to make nutritious snacks appealing led to the creation of unique food combinations that resonated with a wide audience.

• Notable Quote: "I love editing, and I just had fun editing the video and I kind of doused it in chocolate. And I decided, let me just throw this up on TikTok thinking like, okay, this is just a fun little treat for kids, nothing of it." — Rachel Cohen [03:07]

Her natural flair for creativity and technical skills in video editing played a crucial role in her content going viral, attracting attention from major influencers and media outlets.

3. Overcoming Personal Struggles and Embracing Kindness

Rachel shares her profound personal journey, highlighting the challenges she faced growing up, an early marriage at 21, and enduring various forms of abuse over 15 years. Despite these hardships, she found her greatest fulfillment in her three daughters and a desire to help others.

• Notable Quote: "Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. Money comes and goes. The ultimate fulfillment for me is what." — Rachel Cohen [00:59]

She emphasizes the importance of viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, adopting a mindset that transforms obstacles into stepping stones for personal and communal betterment.

4. Principles of Fulfillment and Joy

Rachel discusses her philosophy that true success is intertwined with joy and fulfillment rather than mere financial gain. She advocates for a minimalist approach, valuing love, happiness, and quality of life over material possessions.

• Notable Quote: "I want to be able to turn around and be like, I filled my days and my life with joy and happiness." — Rachel Cohen [13:59]

Mick Hunt echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of joy and fulfillment in achieving lasting success.

5. Anti-Bullying Initiatives and Kindness Campaigns

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Rachel’s dedication to combating bullying. Motivated by her daughter's experiences with bullying, she launched a kindness initiative featuring bracelets inscribed with "Kindness Matters." Her goal is to foster empathy and create safe spaces in schools where both victims and perpetrators of bullying can find understanding and support.

• Notable Quote: "I want to be able to create a safe space for everybody, to be able to speak, you know, their truth and have a level of understanding." — Rachel Cohen [18:50]

Rachel emphasizes the ripple effect of kindness, asserting that even small changes can significantly impact both children and adults, promoting a more compassionate society.

6. Entrepreneurship: The Birth of Zip Towels

Transitioning to her entrepreneurial ventures, Rachel introduces Zip Towels, a practical solution born from daily frustrations of managing household towels. Her product features zippers that secure towels to rods, preventing them from falling and creating unnecessary laundry hassles.

• Notable Quote: "It has to be safe for kids. It has to be washer and dryer safe, be able to withstand the heat of the dryer." — Rachel Cohen [23:13]

Rachel chronicles the journey from ideation to product launch, highlighting the challenges of manufacturing, patenting, and marketing. Her perseverance paid off with a successful soft launch and availability on Amazon, marking a significant milestone in her entrepreneurial path.

• Notable Quote: "I'm going to make it happen." — Rachel Cohen [25:10]

Mick Hunt praises the ingenuity of Zip Towels, recognizing its practical value for both children and adults alike.

7. Rapid-Fire Questions: Personal Insights

In a light-hearted segment, Mick engages Rachel in rapid-fire questions to uncover her personal preferences and habits.

• Favorite Basketball Players:

  • Rachel: "Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Caitlin Clark." [28:26]

• Food Hacks Eaten Personally:

  • Rachel: "3 – the pizza hack, the water hack, and the spaghetti hack." [28:56]

• Upcoming Food Hacks:

  • Rachel: "Some holiday hacks, maybe Christmas and Thanksgiving ideas." [29:10]

• Favorite Influencers:

  • Rachel: "Les Brown, myself (Rachel Cohen), and Mick Hunt." [29:36]

• Go-To Dish for Guests:

  • Rachel: "Breaded chicken with honey mustard dip, rice, roasted veggies, and salads." [30:35]

• Time Spent Editing Basketball Videos:

  • Rachel: "Zero. The only thing I edit is me running to get the ball and shooting." [31:00]

8. Advice for Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Self-Love

Rachel imparts valuable advice for listeners facing personal or professional hurdles. She emphasizes the importance of self-belief, trusting the process, and taking incremental steps toward improvement.

• Notable Quote: "Believe in yourself, trust the process, and don’t rush it. You have to build up a level of confidence for yourself." — Rachel Cohen [32:02]

She advocates for daily self-love practices, gratitude, vision boards, and resilience against negativity, highlighting that enduring success is built on unwavering self-confidence and persistent effort.

9. Connecting with Rachel Cohen

Rachel provides details on how listeners can follow and support her endeavors across various social media platforms:

• Instagram: @RachelCohenHair
• TikTok: @3rocky4
• Facebook: Rachel Cohen

She also mentions her certification as a hairstylist, which was the foundation of her initial social media presence before pivoting to food hacks.

Conclusion

Mick Hunt wraps up the episode by expressing admiration for Rachel’s journey, her commitment to kindness, and her entrepreneurial spirit. He reinforces the podcast’s core message: embracing one's 'because' as a driving force for purpose and leadership.

• Notable Quote: "Your because is your superpower. Go unleash it." — Mick Hunt [34:16]

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to "Mick Unplugged" to continue exploring transformative conversations and actionable insights for personal and professional growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience and Positivity: Rachel’s journey underscores the power of maintaining a positive mindset and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
• Creativity in Everyday Life: Her viral food hacks exemplify how simple, creative solutions can resonate widely and inspire others.
• Empowerment through Kindness: Rachel's anti-bullying initiatives highlight the significance of empathy and creating supportive communities.
• Entrepreneurial Perseverance: The development and launch of Zip Towels demonstrate the importance of perseverance, innovation, and believing in one’s ideas.
• Self-Reflection and Growth: Regular introspection and self-love practices are essential for continuous personal and professional development.

This episode serves as an inspiring narrative for anyone striving to overcome obstacles, lead with kindness, and pursue entrepreneurial dreams with unwavering determination.