Podcast
Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun
Hosted by Hersh Rephun · EN
How do we stay sane and keep our sense of humor when the world won’t stop spinning?
Comedian and author Hersh talks with leaders, artists, and thinkers who turn chaos into clarity—finding serious insight in life’s funniest messes.
A companion to YES, BRAND, the show blends humor, heart, and perspective to explore how truth fuels resilience, creativity, and connection.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Steven Seidel on Storytelling, Men’s Groups, and Why Connection Beats Perfection
3w ago00:23:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Truth Tastes Funny, Hersh Rephun sits down with brand strategist, TEDx speaker, and media expert Steven Seidel for a conversation about connection, creativity, grief, identity, and the stories that help people survive hard seasons.Steven has spent years helping entrepreneurs, startups, and leaders clarify their message and communicate with impact. But behind the branding and business strategy is a much more personal story.Hersh’s conversation with Steven explores what happened during the pandemic, when caregiving, fatherhood, isolation, business pressure, and the loss of Steven’s mother all collided at once. Out of that chaos came a deeper understanding of community, vulnerability, and the need for spaces where people can actually tell the truth.They dive into:Why connection is the real currency in business and lifeHow storytelling helps people heal and relate to each otherThe creation of Gent’s Journey, Steven’s men’s collectiveWhat COVID revealed about isolation, identity, and relationshipsWhy brands fail when they skip the human storyAnd how authenticity creates trust faster than polished messaging ever willThe conversation moves fluidly between business strategy and real life, touching on branding, fatherhood, grief, creativity, purpose, and the strange ways adversity can clarify what actually matters.Funny, thoughtful, and deeply human, this episode is about learning to build connection in a world that often pushes people apart.Connect with Stephen:https:://www.StephenSeidel.comhttps://www.TheSeidelAgency.com@StephenSeidel + @TheSeidelAgency--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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Bar Tips' Neil Rogers: Sales, Service, and the Lost Art of Actually Showing Up
Apr 2800:41:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Truth Tastes Funny, Hersh Rephun shares some laughs with sales veteran and Bar Tips author Neil Rogers to unpack what really drives success in business and life.With more than 35 years in sales, marketing, and hospitality, Neil built his career not on flashy tactics, but on simple, repeatable principles learned the hard way, starting behind the bar. From reading customers to building trust, those early lessons became the foundation for a career rooted in discipline, service, and consistency.Hersh’s conversation with Neil explores how those same fundamentals still apply today, even in a world obsessed with shortcuts and scale. Together, they dive into the mindset behind Neil’s Positive Activity™ program, a system built on small, intentional actions that compound over time.They also get into:Why sales is really about relationships, not transactionsThe overlooked power of “showing up” and following throughHow hospitality principles translate into every businessWhy humility beats ego in the long runAnd how small daily habits create lasting successBlending humor, real-world stories, and hard-earned wisdom, Neil shares how a simple shift in mindset can change not just your results, but your entire trajectory.https://positiveactivity.net--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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The Business of Fear and the Fight for Truth with informed.now's Kira Shishkin
Apr 1400:26:42Tap to summarizeKira Shishkin joins Hersh Rephun to challenge how we consume news and what it’s doing to our thinking.As CEO of informed.now, Kira is building a radically simple solution to information overload: delivering fact-based news via text, stripped of bias, noise, and emotional manipulation. A four-time entrepreneur with a background spanning investment banking, corporate strategy, and private equity, Kira brings a systems-level perspective to a deeply human problem.In this episode, he breaks down the hidden structure of the news industry, from “retail” media to the wholesale layer where facts actually originate. He explains how outrage and fear became the business model, why most people are stuck in echo chambers, and how informed.now flips the script by prioritizing primary sources over commentary.The conversation explores truth, perception, and personal responsibility in a world where information is abundant but clarity is rare. The result is a fresh take on staying informed without losing your mind.Connect with Kira Shishkin:l.informed.now/kiraGet https://informed.nowRead Kira Shishkin's Bio: https://l.informed.now/kira--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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Heidi Johnson: When Loss Hands You a Card, Play It for Good
Mar 3000:25:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Truth Tastes Funny, Hersh Rephun sits down with Heidi Johnson, and from the first minute, it’s clear, this isn’t just another conversation. Heidi shows up with heart, perspective, and the kind of grounded wisdom you can’t fake. A truly wonderful guest in every sense.Heidi is a nonprofit founder, storyteller, and the force behind Charity Matters. She’s also the bestselling author of Change for Good. But titles aside, what makes her compelling is the way she’s lived her story.After a devastating family tragedy, Heidi was handed the kind of moment that changes everything. What she did next is what makes this conversation stick. Instead of staying in the loss, she turned toward service, co-founding the Spiritual Care Guild at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Today, it stands as a national model, proof that purpose isn’t theoretical, it’s built.Hersh and Heidi dig into that pivot. Not the polished version, the real one. The kind where pain doesn’t disappear, but it gets repurposed into something that helps other people breathe a little easier.They also get into what’s gone sideways in modern life. Too much surface, not enough substance. We’re “connected but not connected,” and paying the price for it. Heidi makes the case for going smaller, not bigger. Start local. Start human. Start with one person.Because the truth is simple, and a little inconvenient:If you want to feel better, help someone else.What they get into:The moment that changed Heidi’s life, and what she did with itTurning grief into something usefulWhy service isn’t selfless, it’s essentialThe illusion of connection in a hyper-connected worldRebuilding real community, one small act at a timeHow purpose shows up when you stop looking for it and start doingThe takeaway:Forget the overhaul. Forget the grand plan.Do one small, decent thing for someone else. Then do it again tomorrow.That’s how change actually happens.Find Heidi:Website: https://charity-matters.comInstagram: @CharityMatters and @HeidiJohnsonOfficalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharityMattersLALinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-mcniff-johnson-7758b225/Twitter: @Charity_MattersPodcast: Spotify for Podcast- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/charity-mattersYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharityMatters/featuredChange for Good Book: https://www.sherisesstudios.com/heidi-johnson--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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From Straight Razors to Tranquil Retreats: The Patrick Bryan Renaissance Experience
Mar 1800:27:58Tap to summarizeEvery once in a while, you meet someone and there’s no friction. No posturing. Just a clean, genuine connection.That’s what happened when Hersh met Patrick Bryan, thanks to a quick intro inside Kay Suthar’s Podroom community. (Shout out to Kay for creating spaces where this kind of thing actually happens.)Patrick and his wife Jane are the minds behind Casa Torreta Blanca, a retreat venue in Almería, Spain, a place that feels intentionally off the beaten path. Not overrun, not overhyped. Just right for the kind of deep, focused work most retreats promise but rarely deliver.What unfolds is more than just a conversation. It’s a look into how the right people build something real and how aligned partnerships tend to start simply by showing up as yourself.What We Cover:Patrick's winding road to owning a Spanish retreat and why it makes perfect sense now.Why Almería offers a completely different retreat experience than Spain’s usual hotspotsWhat makes Casa Torreta Blanca stand out as a venueHow Patrick and Jane help coaches create, market, and run profitable five-figure retreatsThe growing demand for retreats that actually deliver transformationWhat happens when expertise meets the right environmentAbout Patrick & Jane Bryan:Patrick Bryan and his wife Jane are the proprietors of Casa Torreta Blanca, a retreat venue in Almería, Spain. They specialize in helping coaches design, market, and run successful five-figure retreats, serving as trusted partners to the coaching community.Connect & Explore:www.casatorretablanca.comwww.janebryanbeautytraining.comwww.wetshavingacademy.com--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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Scaling Without Sacrifice: Sophie's Guide for Independent Professionals
Mar 1100:32:51Tap to summarizeSome marketers talk about strategy. Sophie Zollmann builds systems that actually work.With more than 25 years in digital marketing, Sophie has spent her career separating signal from noise. She is a best-selling author, speaker, and the founder of FMD Strategic Partners, where she helps independent businesses compete with corporate giants and win.But what makes Sophie especially interesting is not just her expertise. It is why she does this work.While large healthcare systems, law firms, and financial institutions often rely on enterprise marketing teams and massive budgets, Sophie is fiercely committed to helping independent, family-owned, and employee-owned practices stay independent. Instead of selling out to private equity or getting absorbed into corporate consolidation, her clients build the kind of marketing infrastructure that allows them to dominate their markets on their own terms.That mission led Sophie to pioneer the fractional marketing department model for 7- and 8-figure professional practices. Rather than forcing growing firms to assemble expensive in-house teams or juggle disconnected agencies, Sophie delivers enterprise-level strategy and execution through a cohesive marketing system that produces measurable growth.In this conversation, you will meet the real Sophie: the strategist who believes independence is worth fighting for, the operator who turns scattered marketing into focused momentum, and the truth-teller who insists that meaningful metrics matter far more than vanity numbers.At the heart of her work is a simple philosophy. Marketing should not be a pile of tactics. It should be a strategic engine that drives real business outcomes.If you are an independent practice owner who refuses to be outmatched by corporate competitors, this episode will feel less like a marketing conversation and more like a roadmap.In this episode, we explore:Why independent practices can absolutely compete with enterprise organizationsThe hidden marketing disadvantages smaller firms face and how to overcome themHow the fractional marketing department model gives growing businesses enterprise capability without enterprise overheadThe difference between vanity metrics and numbers that actually drive growthWhy strategy must always come before tacticsHow independent firms can dominate their markets while staying true to what makes them uniquefmdstrategicpartners.com--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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Your Difference Is Your Superpower: John Kippen on Resilience, Reinvention, and a Little Magic
Mar 400:43:46Tap to summarizeIn this open and enlightening conversation, Hersh sits down with entrepreneur, professional magician, speaker, resilience and empowerment coach, and author John Kippen to explore how life’s most disorienting setbacks can become the very thing that sets us apart.John’s story took a dramatic turn in 2002 when he was diagnosed with a large benign brain tumor. While the surgery to remove it was successful, it left him with permanent facial paralysis. The physical and emotional impact stopped his forward momentum and led him into more than a decade of hiding from the world.But rock bottom has a funny way of clarifying what matters.As John began rebuilding his life, he rediscovered something that had always lit him up as a kid: performing magic and telling stories. What began as a return to joy slowly transformed into a powerful shift in perspective. Instead of seeing his facial paralysis as something to hide, John realized it had become his greatest superpower.Today, John is a sought-after resilience and empowerment coach who combines storytelling, magic, and lived experience to help people break through their own self-imposed barriers. His work reminds audiences and clients alike that adversity can reveal strengths we never knew we had.In this conversation with Hersh, John shares how reframing difference can unlock courage, creativity, and purpose, and why the very thing you think holds you back may be the key to moving forward.Two guiding mottos shape John’s philosophy and his work:“Being Different is your Superpower!”“Feed your Heart with your Art.”This episode is a powerful reminder that authenticity, resilience, and a little bit of magic can change the story we tell ourselves about who we are and what we’re capable of becoming.You can learn more about John by visiting https://johnkippen.com Facebook • Instagram • LinkedinCheck out the ENTIRE EPISODE for John's free gift and it's one you will definitely appreciate!--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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Going Viral After 40: The Rise of John Wellington, "The Dadbod Veteran"
Feb 2500:45:55Tap to summarizeTruth Tastes Funny host Hersh Rephun sat down with Jon “The Dadbod Veteran" Wellington on the eve of The GenX Takeover Tour - a contagious comedy show that unites viral comedians in a nostalgia-fueled live show blending sharp generational humor and real-life storytelling, earning sold-out dates and enthusiastic local press praise.Jon's a Navy vet, proud father of five, and digital comedy breakout who’s living proof that it’s never too late to go viral. After a decade of military service and years of raising a full house, Jon found himself an empty nester in 2022... and accidentally launched a new career as a content creator.Today, with over 5 million followers and a hit nationwide comedy tour he’s telling raw, funny, and refreshingly real stories about parenting, midlife purpose, and the unexpected freedom of finding your voice on social media.https://genxtakeover.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0pVwZdzjVIUcaavNZKmiAhttps://www.instagram.com/thedadbodveteran/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/Dadbodveteran/https://www.tiktok.com/@thedadbodveteran?lang=en--Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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Exploring Consciousness: Leo Marrs on Truth, Breathwork, and Sacred Commerce
Feb 1700:34:30Tap to summarizeThis episode was sparked by several off-mic conversations between Hersh and Leo about creativity, consciousness, reinvention, and what it really means to build something meaningful in a world that feels increasingly artificial. The depth and energy of those exchanges made it clear this needed to be recorded.Leo Marrs is a writer, creative strategist, and former nightlife entrepreneur turned consciousness explorer. Born in the Alaskan wild, his life has been shaped by extremes, from bear encounters and raw nature to founding America’s first breathwork studio. His work now bridges ancient wisdom and future tech, helping creators navigate modern chaos with clarity, resilience, and creative power.Leo is currently writing The New Creator: Rise of the Mindful Artist in the New Meaning Economy, a book exploring how we reclaim purpose in a post-labor world where automation rises and meaning becomes the true currency.In this conversation, Hersh and Leo dive into reinvention, the intersection of spirituality and technology, the emerging meaning economy, and how creators can stay grounded while everything accelerates.As always on TRUTH TASTES FUNNY, the dialogue moves between sharp insight and real talk, because when truth leads, the funny follows.Connect with Leo:https://www.leomarrs.comhttps://instagram.com/theleomarrsHersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/
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From Loss to Light: Lindsay Mitcheson's Inspirational Story
Feb 1100:44:07Tap to summarizeLyndsay Mitcheson's journey is one of resilience, creativity, and transformation. After losing her leg to an MRSA infection, she set out to design a walking stick she could feel proud to use. What began in her kitchen became Neo Walk, a bold brand of stylish, colourful acrylic walking sticks that empower people living with disabilities to embrace their mobility with confidence and pride.Neo Walk now ships to over 28 countries and offers a wide range of designs- from sleek classics to light-up sticks- redefining what mobility aids can look and feel like. Lyndsay’s mission is simple but powerful: to make walking sticks that people actually want to use.In 2023, Neo Walk received both a National Diversity Award and a Women in Business Award, and its unique designs have even appeared on red carpets through collaborations with Hollywood stylists.Lyndsay’s story is a powerful reminder that personal challenges can spark meaningful change- and that mobility aids can be more than functional; they can be beautiful, bold, and proudly carried.IG: @neowalksticksFB: https://www.facebook.com/neowalk.neowalk/Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.Resources:60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz: https://getoffyourassets.scoreapp.com/60-second Personal Brand Quiz: https://bit.ly/QuizHR
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