After 15 years of working 12-hour days, seven days a week, Maria Menounos was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. The shocking discovery proved to be something of a reality check that forced the self-professed workaholic to start putting her health first.

Following a successful surgery to remove the tumor in 2017, Menounos launched her popular wellness podcast Better Together and became an advocate for health and wellness within her own company AfterBuzz TV, an online broadcast platform that specializes in after-show programming for popular television shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Real Housewives,” and “Game of Thrones.”

Here, the CEO, New York Times bestselling author and television and podcast host explains her approach for handling professional hurdles, her drive to help others attain success in the entertainment industry, and her #1 piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

CREATE & CULTIVATE: When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?

MARIA MENOUNOS: I was really blessed not to have hit a lot of hurdles in terms of opportunities. For me, the biggest challenge was dealing with a toxic workplace and culture, which I think is commonplace in most industries, but especially within entertainment. I’m sure I’m like a lot of people who didn’t really know how to navigate that. Rather than fight back, I just chose to work harder and provide more value for the companies I worked for in the hopes the toxicity would subside. It didn’t often work, but I felt it was the healthiest option. If I was publicly attacked, I did the same. I just kept working harder. I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. 

Today, things have changed for artists in these situations. I think social media has empowered them to be less beholden to anyone. For myself, in the past couple of years, I’ve really shifted gears and energies to focus more on personal growth, my health, and the health of others.  On the business side, I’ve invested more into my network, with the goal to not only produce great content but also to create a positive work environment that empowers and uplifts talent. I’ve also launched a wellness podcast and have become a voice for health and wellness in general. Reinvention is hard, as is making personal life changes to be more health-conscious, but I’ve had an easier time of it because I’m blessed to know so many world-class practitioners. 

Fortunately, pivoting my career focus has also been relatively straightforward because I invested in my own network over these past years and had a diverse skill set and resume to fall back on. Plus, I’ve never been known for doing just one thing. Taking on new adventures and goals seems natural, I think. 

How do you define an entrepreneur? How do you define your unique approach?

To me, an entrepreneur is someone with an independent and dreamer spirit who has the ability to recognize opportunities, along with the courage and wisdom to seize upon them. Because we are dreamers, sometimes outcasts, who often opt for the road less traveled, I’d like to believe we’re more empathetic to people’s needs and to social welfare than the traditional capitalist or business person. I know it’s true in my case but I’ve observed it in other entrepreneurs, as well. 

My approach may be more unique because I consciously factor empathy, people, and social welfare into my ventures. How will this business make a positive impact on consumers I’m targeting along with the people I’ll employ? Sounds corny and high handed but it actually applies to entertainment, food and beverage, services, and products of all kinds. These things bring people satisfaction, comfort, ease, relief, and happiness, and that’s super important to me. 

At AfterBuzz, we create a fun supportive work environment where we truly root for the success of our staff and hosts as much as for our own. In addition, we deliver great entertaining content to our fans worldwide who write us saying they can’t get through their days without us. Even the networks and showrunners receive huge benefits on our behalf. We promote their shows and keep the discussion about those shows going well after their episodes air. We have also become the go-to resource for showrunners who use our show and host breakdowns to vet storylines and character arcs. 

We receive dozens and dozens of thank you cards and flowers from showrunners who tell us how much AfterBuzz after-show programming has enhanced and improved their shows. Others may not factor all of the above into being an entrepreneur, but I think you’d be surprised how many do. For me, anyhow, it's not only what I enjoy, but it’s also logical. It’s good on the personal level but equally good on the business level.

One of the guiding principles of AfterBuzz TV is helping people at the start of their career and giving young hopefuls another way into the entertainment industry. Why is helping people so important to you? How has it changed the nature of your company?

It’s always been important to me. Growing up, I admired Oprah a great deal. For someone like me, a first-generation American who grew up poor, I developed a great deal of empathy for others in need. I loved that Oprah genuinely wanted to help people and that she had a thirst for knowledge. 

When my partner Keven Undergaro and I had the idea for AfterBuzz TV, in addition to reinventing the entertainment and pop-news model, I looked at the network as an opportunity to help young people in perhaps the most difficult industry in the world. To work in the entertainment industry, you need an agent. But you can’t get an agent without a reel, and you can’t get a reel without a job. It’s a real conundrum. Young people used to come up to me all the time and ask how they could do what I’m doing. But there wasn’t an easy answer back then. With AfterBuzz, there is. 

Our, equal, two-part mission to make great content and support talent is the first of its kind. For 100 years, Hollywood has treated talent horribly, and it never made sense to Keven or me. Talent is the reason we all tune in. Why would you abuse that or hold it back as producers and networks have for so long? Why would you not do everything in your power to honor, nurture and empower talent? 

Our mission is not only ethical; it also the most logical. Over the past 10 years, we’ve had over 100 success stories, people like Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown and WWE’s/Total Divas star, Daria Berenato (a.k.a. Sonya Deville). We’re so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and the careers we’ve helped launch. Now, people know that when they come to L.A., away from loved ones, they have a place that is safe and a staff of big brothers and sisters to guide them. We pride ourselves on being their second family, mentoring them in life and all aspects of the industry.

Honestly, our content is only better for it; and it’s also a lot more fun to come into work every day. We’re supposed to be in the business of making people smile. Why shouldn’t working behind the scenes be the same?

After a successful career as a television host what made you decide to start your own company? Why do you think it has resonated so much with audiences?

I started the business with Keven 10 years ago, so it was still early in my career. At the time, we noticed an explosion of great television. Unlike sports, which has post-game talk shows for a deeper discussion of the game, nothing existed for episodes of your favorite show. Our two favorite shows at the time were Breaking Bad and Jersey Shore—the perfect high-low combo. We were dying for a deeper discussion on them, but nothing existed save message boards. When we launched our first two shows, we experienced worldwide audience demand and knew we were onto something. 

I’ve always tried to diversify as much as possible, and I could see that digital was the wave of the future, so it seemed like a no-brainer to build an entire network. Being one of the first digital broadcast networks of our kind meant a ton of trial and error. Thankfully, as the daughter of immigrants, I was always used to figuring things out, as was Keven. I also desperately wanted to help fellow hosts and to prove that a positive work environment can be as profitable, if not more so, than a toxic one. As sole investors, we poured our heart and soul into this venture and thoroughly believed in the mission from day one.

One of the hardest parts of being an entrepreneur is learning how to mix creativity with business? What is your secret? How do you fuse art with science and think about profit?

I can’t say that we’ve always been profit-minded. In the beginning, we focused on building and creating infrastructure and technology. As I said, there was no other network or platform that could broadcast 150 hours a week of original video and audio programming. Once we had that flow down, we moved into red-carpet coverage, becoming a breaking news platform and programming beyond after-shows.

As fun and successful as it has been, you still have to pay the lighting bill, so to speak. The way we balance the two is through education. If part of our mission is to be teachers to our staff and hosts, what kind of teachers would we be if we did not educate them on the realities of business? We work hard to let our team know what it takes to run a network: What our bills are and how we must unite our brains and talents to figure out how to turn a profit. We have created an environment that allows them to be creative, but we would be remiss if we didn’t teach them that it all comes at a price. The great thing about millennials is that they really do get it. If you respect them enough to educate them on the issues while working hard to provide a supportive environment, they’ll rise to the occasion. I’m blown away weekly at our team’s innovations. 

The bottom line is that the only way we can continue to present the kind of opportunities we do is if the company is able to grow and flourish.

You founded AfterBuzz TV as "the ESPN of TV talk," how do you set your brand apart from other media outlets?

One is our sheer size. I believe you won’t find many digital broadcast networks, or any, producing 150-plus hours of video and audio content, in-house, from eight state-of-the-art studios on both coasts. Second, we’re the only network of our magnitude dedicated to TV after-shows, news, and discussion. Third, we cover every show, not just the top five as other news and pop culture platforms do. We recognize and respect niche audiences and serve them in a manner no other platform can. 

Fourth, practicing the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, to always be improving, we introduce ground-breaking innovations, literally on a weekly basis. We just produced the very first Spanish language after-show for Telemundo’s Salina and launched a Latino channel with four more after-shows catering to Spanish-speaking fans. We also launched an international channel for Foreign TV and Bollywood with a roster of multilingual hosts to cater even further to our large global fan base. We have a fast-growing news division serving niche audiences and have produced the very first Facebook Watch after-show—the unofficial reunion show for the hit MTV series "Are You the One."

Fifth, we are not in competition with other platforms. Our model is designed to root for them and their content. When that content becomes popular, we cover and promote it, allowing us to exist seamlessly in the future streaming and digital ecosystem. Lastly, we do it all under what we deem a New Hollywood Model, where talent is supported and promoted in the making of great content.

Being an entrepreneur is non-stop, how do you stay motivated? What inspires you even on the most challenging days?

What inspires me on a tough day is knowing that we’re helping people with big dreams. When I’m out in the Hollywood world, working on different projects, at times dealing with unnecessary close-mindedness and toxicity, I would come back to our studios and tell Keven, “We can’t allow that to happen here.” And we don’t. We believe in “collaboration over exploitation” and in our New Hollywood Model. Seeing our roster shine under this model motivates me. The idea that other networks and creators may see this New Hollywood Model and how much sense it makes inspires me. I believe many will adapt to this based on our success with it and couldn’t be more excited by the notion.

Our fans at AfterBuzz motivate me, too. They hail from all over the world and see us as a healthy way to blow off steam. We hear all the time how much watching and hearing our shows helps them get through their workdays, their commutes, their chores, their workouts, etc. I feel a special kinship with them. Back when I was struggling to save money while working multiple jobs and going to school, I would listen to Howard Stern on my commutes and during work shifts. TV and radio were the cheapest forms of entertainment and really got me through those tough days. AfterBuzz programming does the same for so many today. That’s not lost on me, either. Believe me.

You wear many hats: CEO of AfterBuzz TV, creator of your podcast "Better Together," a New York Times bestselling author, and a television host. How do you balance your many career ventures? How do you prioritize in order to get everything done?

It can get overwhelming. I’ve been juggling so much my entire life. But in the past two years, I’ve really reduced my workload. For my own sanity, I know I can’t take on everything. AfterBuzz comes first. In addition to that, I’ll take on two or three other projects that I find interesting. I don’t have as many issues now because I handle all the scheduling myself. I’ve really taken control and it’s freeing.

What do you wish people knew about being an entrepreneur?

The freedom you have as an entrepreneur comes at a price. I love the idea of being able to follow my own vision and execute things the way I want to. No one is going to shoot down your ideas or tell you to go back to your cubicle. It’s exciting; and if you’re a frustrated employee, it could be the right move. But you should be prepared for the downsides and taking on all the responsibilities, not just the creative roles: managing a lot of people, running a business, keeping it all together.

What is the best advice you’ve received? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

You don’t need to know everything. I’m the type of person who wants other people to think I’ve got everything figured out. But, it’s okay to admit that you don’t know something. That’s why you bring in people to support you.

What's a mistake you made and what did you learn from it? How did you turn it into an opportunity?

My biggest mistake was not being more mindful of my health and wellness. For 15 straight years, I worked roughly 6-7 days a week. Many of those days went well beyond 12 hours. I began experiencing blurred vision, extreme fatigue, and severe headaches. Still, I powered through and kept working. When I did, finally, get an MRI, I discovered I had a brain tumor.

The brain tumor created umpteen possibilities, ironically. I learned to put my health in the first position and found a new passion for wellness, healing and sharing treatment discoveries of all kinds with others in need. I also decided to lean in further, continuing to ensure that AfterBuzz remains a network that takes the wellbeing of its staff and hosts very seriously. Our network always carried an unofficial two-part mission to create great content and to nurture our staff and talent. As CEO, post brain tumor, I made this two-part mission official with signage displayed on each and every one of our studio doors. 

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs? How can they achieve the same success you've experienced?

Don’t be afraid of moving on when something’s expired. In relationships and partnerships, when something isn’t working and you’ve tried to fix it, you need to realize when it’s time to “pull teeth” rather than staying in it any longer. At the end of the day, in business and in life, people change; and you need to meet them where they are and do what you can or move on.

What is the #1 book you always recommend? Why?

This is tough. I can’t name just one, so here a few of my favorites: 

In business, Money: Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins, because it inspired me to make necessary financial changes and set me up for the rest of my life. 

In health, The Empath’s Survival Guide by Judith Orloff, M.D., because it helped me understand why I am the way I am. 

You Are the Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter by Dr. Joe Dispenza, which taught me how the brain can create its own apothecary.

Ask and it is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther and Jerry Hicks. I learned so much about energy and how to get what you want. 

Photographer: Jenna Peffley

Hair: Styled by OGXpert & Celebrity Hairstylist Jillian Halouska

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