Behind My Founder Journey: Reinvention, Failure & Starting From Scratch

To celebrate our 400th Brave Table episode, I’m going all in with you. This isn’t your average highlight reel. It’s the real story of what it took to build my latest company — from scratch — while navigating motherhood, business pivots, product failures, and a whole lot of late-night decision-making (with chai in hand, of course).

In this raw and real solocast, I’m walking you through the exact breakdown behind the scenes of launching Chai Tonics, my new wellness CPG brand. You’ll hear how I fired 4 formulators, got rejected 27 times before landing a dream book deal, and what I’ve actually learned from 400 episodes of this show.

This episode is for every woman with a vision, especially if you’re building something new, wondering if it’s all worth it, or navigating the tension between ambition, motherhood, and identity.

Key Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
02:45 – The messy start to Chai Tonics (and why I almost didn’t launch it)
06:50 – 27 rejections, 1 baby, and a dream book deal
12:30 – The truth about building a CPG brand vs. coaching
17:30 – Saying “no” to shiny objects (and distractions)
21:00 – Subtracting to grow: what I’m letting go of in 2026
29:30 – What season are YOU in? Why your timeline is perfect

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This Episode is Sponsored by Chai Tonics
Starting the year without pressure? Same. I’m choosing ritual over resolution with Chai Tonics — a calming chai ritual for focus, gentle energy, and nervous-system support when January feels loud. Try it at https://bit.ly/chaitonics and use code BRAVETABLE for 15% off.
🌿 Which chai blend matches your vibe? Take my FREE quiz now:⁠ https://chaitonics.com/pages/chai-quiz

Breathe better with JASPR
As a mama healing from mold toxicity, air quality has become deeply personal for me. JASPR removes 97.1% of mold in just 1 hour. Use code BRAVE for $400 OFF: https://jaspr.co/brave

Support your body with REJŪV
My go-to science-backed red light therapy for faster recovery, reduced soreness, and deeper repair. Try it today with code BRAVETABLE: Https://werejuv.com/?ref=NEETABHUSHAN

Follow along for more tips, community, and resources to brave a better you!
IG /   / neetabhushan  
IG /   / thebravetable  
TIKTOK / http://www.tiktok.com/neeta.bhushan
WEB / https://neetabhushan.com

Dr. Neeta Bhushan is a 5x award-winning author, emotional health advocate, and host of The Brave Table podcast. CEO of Highest Self Institute and author of That Sucked, Now What, she’s been featured in Forbes, ABC, and more. A former dentist turned global speaker, Neeta’s work blends psychology, ancient wisdom, and resilience from her own life experiences. She's also a mom, wellness lover, and chai enthusiast.