Your Unhinged Is My Success — CEO of Lifeway, Julie Smolyansky

Julie Smolyansky is the immigrant founder and CEO of Lifeway Kefir, who turned a family business into a category-defining wellness brand—and did a some truly unhinged things along the way to make it work. In this episode, we talk about our shared Russian-speaking Jewish heritage, grit, raising kids while scaling a company, and how Julie thinks about Jewish leadership and antisemitism today. Follow Julie Smolyansky on Instagram @juliesmolyansky and check out Lifeway Kefir wherever you buy your groceries! Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda02:49 Immigrating to America & creation of Lifeway 15:14 Unhinged things Julie did to grow business & what she's learned31:06 What are Julie's kids up to? 35:00 On antisemitism 37:20 How did Julie find her mentors? 39:32 Julie's message to Jewish people44:08 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination