From Addiction to CEO in a Male Industry

Summary

Living Your Legacy — Episode Summary

Episode Title: From Addiction to CEO in a Male Industry
Host: Rudy Mawer
Guest: Rachel Blatt, Founder & CEO of Royalty Logistics
Date: May 21, 2026

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Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into the journey of Rachel Blatt, a dynamic entrepreneur who rose from personal adversity to become a CEO in the traditionally male-dominated trucking industry. Through candid storytelling, Rachel opens up about her Detroit roots, lessons learned in resilience, her love for art and fashion, and the realities of scaling a modern logistics company. The conversation unpacks both the emotional and practical elements of business leadership and underscores the importance of authenticity, human touch, and embracing one’s full self—even in “gritty” industries.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Personal Side of Business for Women

• Rachel emphasizes that women often internalize business events, feeling that challenges are personal setbacks.
  • Quote: “If you are a woman in business, it's personal, right? Somebody leaves your company, it's personal...It's not. It's just the nature of business.” (A, 00:00)

2. The Detroit Mindset: Grit, Resurgence, and Community

• Rachel shares her pride in Detroit’s resilience, tying her own journey and company momentum to the city’s cultural revival.
  • Quote: “Detroit is all about its grit, its passion...it's our moment. It's Detroit's moment. It's our moment. It's my moment. It's the company's moment.” (A, 02:27)

3. Trucking, Human Connection, & Technology

• Rachel dispels the notion of a fully automated future in trucking, emphasizing the irreplaceable human element.
  • Quote: “The problem isn’t the robot. It's the human being that's interacting with the robot...If you lose that...it's the people around you that you get to experience it with.” (A, 04:21)
• The host and guest discuss the physical and emotional demands truckers face and the industry’s dependence on trust and communication.

4. Women Thriving in a Male-Dominated Industry — Rachel’s Authenticity

• Rachel openly discusses balancing her strong leadership with her femininity and individuality.
  • Quote: “I've got to put on this very masculine energy...and I swear...but I don't want to look like a man. I want to look like a woman because that's what I am, right? Beauty and the brains.” (A, 05:48–06:09)
• She draws parallels between her experiences and observing women in politics who often feel pressured to emulate men.

5. Art, Fashion, and Finding Tribe

• Rachel’s background in art influences both her approach to business and personal style.
  • Quote: “I love art. I love collecting art. I appreciate it. I went to art school in San Francisco.” (A, 06:51)
• The conversation touches on how finding like-minded individuals—or "tribes"—is critical for personal and professional growth.

6. Rachel’s Unique Presence in Trucking

• Rachel's alter ego “Transport Hottie” (her radio call sign) symbolizes confidence and humor in an industry that often lacks both.
  • Quote: “What's your call sign on the radio? ... Transport Hottie.” (A, 09:31–09:32)

7. Leadership, Scaling, & Entrepreneurship Advice

• Rachel runs a separate podcast sharing practical tips on scaling businesses, HR, and giving back to the community.
  • Quote: “I pick a topic in business, like HR or commission plans or, you know, giving back to charity, and I talk about how I’m implementing that...to help other business owners.” (A, 10:13)
• She reinforces the normalcy of business hardships and the importance of transparency and support, especially for women.
  • Quote: “Nobody will tell you that all this stuff that you go through is normal. Nobody says this. Especially if you're a woman in business.” (A, 10:13)

8. The Business of Feeding Families

• Rachel highlights the real-world impact of her work, emphasizing the role entrepreneurs play in supporting families and communities.

9. Fashion and Self-Expression as a CEO

• Rachel embraces fashion as both art and armor, using presentation as a means to break the monotony and assert individuality, even in the logistics world.
  • Quote: “I love fashion. I always have. I think it's an art and I appreciate art...that's our culture, right? That's what makes us human beings.” (A, 12:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'm not afraid of the truth.” (A, 02:20)
• “You can see it. I essentially feel it. It's like a coat of armor. Like, oh, I did my time, my decade in the West Coast.” (B, 06:58)
• “Planes, trains and automobiles. I think that's what it is.” (A, 09:10)
• “Transport Hottie is your radio call sign? Hell yes, it is.” (A & B, 09:32–09:36)
• “It takes a real divine energy to understand divine energy. I really mean this.” (B, 12:17)
• “At the heart of art, that's our culture, right? That's what makes us human beings. That's the best part of us.” (A, 12:44)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Rachel discusses the personal nature of business for women.
• 02:27 – The Detroit spirit and how it shapes Rachel’s mindset.
• 04:21 – The necessity of human touch in logistics and technology’s limits.
• 05:48–06:09 – Rachel on maintaining femininity in a male-dominated business.
• 09:31–09:36 – “Transport Hottie” radio call sign and industry persona.
• 10:13 – Rachel’s podcast on scaling businesses and sharing authentic lessons.
• 12:44 – On the intersection of fashion, art, and leadership.

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How to Connect with Rachel & Royalty Logistics

• Social Media: @royaltyships (not “chips” — “ships” as in ships passing in the night)
• Company: Royalty Logistics (the company with the purple crown, as opposed to the Miami-based blue crown)

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Closing Thoughts

Rachel Blatt’s story exemplifies resilience, authenticity, and creative leadership. She shatters stereotypes—embracing art, fashion, and humor—while commanding success in an industry known for grit and masculinity. Her advice: don’t take business setbacks personally, lean into your individuality, and value the human connections that fuel both trucking and entrepreneurship.

Host’s closing words:
“Well, you’ve definitely brought your unique energy to our studios this morning, and I thank you for that profusely. You’re the best.” (B, 13:19)

Transcript

[A]

Nobody says this. If you are a woman in business, it's personal, right? Somebody leaves your company, it's personal. You're not making money for whatever reason, it's personal. A customer leaves, it's personal. And it's not. It's just the nature of business. And when you're growing and scaling a company, you feel like crap sometimes, but really, it's all normal.

[B]

Rachel Blatt is a resilient, trailblazing entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Royalty Logistics. Drawing from her journey of overcoming adversity and rebuilding through entrepreneurship, she is breaking barriers in the auto logistics industry while empowering others to lead with grit, integrity, and compassion. You're in the trucking industry, which is very male dominated, but you're also into art. You're very flashy, you're very in your face, as they say.

[A]

I come from this very, you know, gritty, kind of dirty, grungy, you know, masculine world. And you watch some women in politics, right, and they're still trying to look like the man. And I don't want to look like a man. I want to look like a woman because that's what I am.

[B]

It spans the globe like a super high is called Internet. Elvis Preston. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win the Living your legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has been. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago. With the lead, you central is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream. Welcome back to another episode of the Living your legacy podcast, the women in power edition. Stop looking at me, Rachel.

[A]

I always look at. Where do you want me to look? Right here at this.

[B]

Main camera.

[A]

My way. Here we go. We're going at the main camera.

[B]

Inside success. We are. Ray Gutierrez. Rachel Blatt. You are our latest anomaly of a powerful woman. But you're beyond just a woman. We have learned much about you the last several hours, haven't we?

[A]

Yes. We have gone into my deep childhood issues, my demons. We have learned quite a bit, and I've had to sort of divulge the truth. And I think that's what makes me very powerful.

[B]

Right on.

[A]

I'm not afraid of the truth.

[B]

Not afraid of the truth. Let's talk about why that is first. Detroit, Michigan. Yeah, start there.

[A]

The beautiful thing about being a woman in power is I think women are coming into their renaissance. Right.

[B]

For sure.

[A]

And Detroit is all about its grit, its passion. I mean, we've had a losing football team for A really long time until last year. And we just turned it on. And I just think it's our moment. It's Detroit's moment. It's our moment. It's my moment. It's the company's moment.

[B]

It's like when you think as a Detroiter, you look at Miami like, oh, I know what Miamians are like. But Detroit comes from, like, culture. It thrives in hip hop, it thrives in house music, it thrives in poetry, it thrives in books, thrives in Eminem, and it thrives through truckers, apparently, as well.

[A]

Yeah, well, listen, if you imagine everything needs to go on a truck, and I mean, everything, Everything. We were just. I was just watching this documentary about, like, how much stuff comes in on a boat. And then guess what? In order to get to where it's going, it's got to get on a truck. And that's sort of the. The area that I play in the most, you know, and it's a. It's a tough job. You know, I'm always. People don't understand, like, I'm in traffic for 10 minutes. Like, these guys are in traffic for days, you know, and it's a stress. And most people think they're professionals. Like, these are, like, really good, good guys taking care of their families. And it's a beautiful thing to be a part of, that's for sure.

[B]

So before we get to the stuff, stuff that matters, like families and feeding families and being essentially an entrepreneur that is feeding tons of families, especially through this culture, let's talk about being future casted. And I don't mean that in a positive way. I mean that as a negative. Like, it's the year 2025. These truck lines are essentially back and forth, back and forth. You'd think by now this would be all automated and it would be robots and it would be scanning this and that. Right, right, right.

[A]

Yes, of course there is. No.

[B]

There's a human touch this, but you

[A]

can't do it that way because at least not yet. Well, the problem is, isn't the robot. It's the human being that's interacting with the robot. Right. And we, you know, there's a lot of, like, intuitive conversation that we have right between our wavelengths. And the robot is not going well. They haven't figured out how to read our mind when they do. But I think that's what people are missing. People miss that human interaction, that human touch. I think we're a community of people trying to connect with each other. And I think if you lose that AI is great. Oh, my God. AI. It'll build your business so quickly, but it's the people around you that you get to experience it with. Right? The company isn't just a company, is its people. Right. And so what are we doing? How are we all working together? How do we move forward? How do we influence people to do it in an amazing way?

[B]

That's awesome. We need more of that energy, especially thought leaders, folks that are provoking change in a very, very eccentric but very flashy way. Let's talk about the very bizarre anomaly that you are, which is very powerful, but you're in the trucking industry, which is very male dominated, but you're also into art. You're very flashy. You're very in your face, as they say. Talk about this balance.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Well, I think that's what makes it very special. So I have, you know, I'm the boss and I've got to put on this very masculine energy, right? And then I've been trucking and I swear. And do you chew with your mouth open?

[B]

Just don't chew with your mouth open?

[A]

No, no, Maybe. I don't know. I think. Yeah, I don't. And it's been hard, right? I think, you know, you watch some women in politics, right, and they're still trying to look like the man. And I don't want to look like a man. I want to look like a woman because that's what I am, right? You know, beauty and the brains. And I just want to, you know, this is who I am, this is my fashion. And yeah, I love art. I love collecting art. I appreciate it. I went to art school in San Francisco. We talked about that.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

But you know, at the end of the day, it was like sort of cliche, right? Yeah, it was very cliche.

[B]

Well, not really. It's such a powerful thing to say that. Are you kidding me? Anything? San Francisco now in this day and age is like, Is a resume maker? Like, no, it's just like, oh, he came from that source. You came from that source. Like, things were different back then. And like now that we're out amongst other tribes, you can see it. I essentially feel it. It's like a coat of armor. Like, oh, I did my time, my decade in the West Coast.

[A]

Oh, I. I love me some Carl's Jr. Though. Give me. Oh, yeah, I. I miss Carl's Jr. So bad. Like, I still think I'm like, oh, Carl's Jr. So good. But yeah, no, I think it's. It's one of the, you're, you're right about finding your tribe though. I think when you find like minded people and wherever they are. Right. And, and that's the beautiful thing about my company is that like I'm here in Miami and we have, we have customers here and we have customers all over the country and it's getting to experience like the world. And I think that's a little bit what trucking, why it's appealing to some people. It's like they get to witness the beauty of our country. Right. And on its roads. And I think it's awesome.

[B]

So you're basically saying it really much still needs and it preserves a human touch. Like especially in trucking, because it's just the oldest way of like you're migrating assets from one location to the other through train, through trucks, through any means necessary.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

What role do you play in all that madness for folks that are still like, what does she do?

[A]

So my, my role really is to go out and procure the business. Right. So at the end of the day, like I go out and I, I get business and then I find companies that can facilitate that and then I sell it back out to them and that's ultimately what I do. So I'm coordinating it, I'm pricing it, I'm solving problems. I'm getting this, the meat and potatoes behind what it is that a company or a person is trying to do. And then I'm communicating all of that out to a truck driver. You know, does it need to go, you know, air? Was it planes, trains and automobiles? I think that's what it is.

[B]

I made that on the fly. That was like 30 seconds ago. Which in my reality is like 30 years ago now.

[A]

Well, shit.

[B]

Well, shit. What was I going to say though? What's your call sign on the radio? Because we've talked about your alter ego.

[A]

Raquel. No.

[B]

Is it Raquel?

[A]

Well, Raquel. Raquel. Raquel has her own personality. Yeah.

[B]

What's your call sign on the radio?

[A]

Oh, Transport Hottie.

[B]

What's that?

[A]

Transport Hottie.

[B]

Transport Hottie is your radio call sign?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Hell yes, it is.

[A]

And I don't drive right am like the. I'm in the office and I run a lot of people that are just doing that part. So I don't do the driving. Hi.

[B]

Anyways, how can people find more about you and learn more about you? Like, you're clearly like off on a new path here. You've got cameras in front of you. How did it feel filming your episode? Do you have this new sense of like, hey, I could do this on camera thing.

[A]

Well, I've been doing the. I have a podcast that I do live right now.

[B]

This.

[A]

It's really about, like, taking entrepreneurs and other business owners on my personal scaling. So I pick a topic in business, like HR or commission plans or, you know, giving back to charity, and I talk about how I'm implementing that in my business and. Or how I have. And so I do that in an effort to help other business owners who are like. Because nobody will tell you that all this stuff that you go through is normal. Nobody says this. Nobody says, like, you think. It's all you. Especially if you're a woman in business. If you are a woman in business, it's personal, right? Somebody leaves your company, it's personal. Somebody you're not making money for whatever reason, it's personal. A customer leaves, it's personal. And it's not. It's just the nature of business. And when you're growing and scaling a company, you feel like crap sometimes. But really, it's all normal. Yeah, it's all normal.

[B]

Yeah. Full transparency. We're experiencing this here. We're growing very quickly, and there's growing pains, and it's a lot of fun to kind of just bob and weave them. Like, welcome to business. Yeah, it's growing, it's working. It's alive. The organism is breathing.

[A]

We're making money. But then we're gonna lose it on hiring the wrong person. And why did we hire them? And then you scream terrible, and then

[B]

you scream into a microphone for 20 minutes. Call it a podcast.

[A]

Right? Well, I think as long as you are, everybody understands their role and has fun with it.

[B]

Okay, let's wrap this up.

[A]

Where were we?

[B]

How can people find you and learn more about you?

[A]

Okay, so all of our social media is at royalty ships. So I always say chips, but ships like ships passing in the night like you and I are. And it's royalty, not loyalty or royal. It's royalty logistics. And we have the purple crown. So there's another royalty here in Miami. They have the blue crown, and we're friends, and I have the purple crown.

[B]

Something that I wanted to touch upon when you talked about. We take things personally, but it's your outfit. Like, it takes a real divine energy to understand divine energy. I really mean this.

[A]

Hallelujah.

[B]

That matching your frames to your dress, it just encompasses the full package. And it's the way you present yourself. You're a vessel to the world. Isn't that important?

[A]

Yes. And sometimes I show up in Yoga pants.

[B]

Sure, that too.

[A]

You know, but you've come presentable, even to the friends.

[B]

Yeah, I love.

[A]

Listen, I love fashion. I always have. I think it's an art and I appreciate art. I love being in the studio and I'm like, ooh, that's so fashionable. Right? And I think as long as we continue to evolve, but that at the heart of art, and that's our culture, right? That's what makes us human beings. That's the best part of us, you know, So I come from this very, you know, gritty, kind of dirty, grungy, you know, masculine world, and then I just want to have a little bit of feminine, too. So I think that's important. For sure.

[B]

Well, you've definitely brought your unique energy to our studios this morning, and I thank you for that profusely. You're the best. So are you, hun. With that, Rach. That concludes another episode of the women in power podcast, AKA the living your legacy podcast.

[A]

Thank you so much for having me. I'm very grateful to be here.

[B]

Oh, no, thank you for. For. For being here and being. For existing with that. I'm Ray Gutierrez, and she is not. Good night.