Tone It Up co-founder Karena Dawn has had her fair share of hurdles, both personally and professionally, evolving the popular workout brand and product line over the last 15 years. Through the highs and lows, she always comes back to one word: resilient. This week, I sit down with Karena and go deep into her upbringing, plus the chance encounter Tone It Up co-founder Katrina Scott at the gym, and how the duo evolved the company throughout the years. Plus: She talks openly about her experience navigating mental health struggles within her family, and how she hopes to impact others for the better moving forward.

Note: We discuss some sensitive topics in this episode, including suicide. Know that there are resources available below.

RESOURCES

The Big Silence

IN THIS EPISODE

How Karena is feeling about her move to Austin right before the pandemic (4:45)

Why she started The Big Silence Foundation and later wrote a memoir to share her story  (6:10)

What progress can look like when taking the step towards bettering your mental health (12:03)

The peaks and valleys of growing personally alongside a brand like Tone It Up (15:35)

What comes with starting something from ground zero, both the good and the hard (17:25)

How to deal with (unsolicited) feedback and embrace change in yourself  (23:30)

Turning to empathy amidst the hurdles that come with mental illness (29:05)

How Tone It Up changed come March 2020  (35:30)

How to create space for yourself and set smart boundaries (38:30)

What excites Karena right now (46:25)

Strategies for navigating grief and how to stay resilient when you feel incapable (48:20)

Karena’s word of the year (58:15)