Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea & Brooke Herbert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Andrea & Brooke, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

As a company, both Brooke and I are committed to coaching and training with integrity. For us that means providing tips, resources, and movements that are sustainable over time. Most fitness influencers are aiming to show authority in this wellness space by claiming to have the “one secret recipe for weight loss” or “the diet that finally gave me results.” These claims are intended to gain followers, sell products that the influencer gets a financial kickback, or to hire the trainer because they have a “secret” that nobody else has. It’s false advertising.

At Gold Ivy Health Co., there are some common themes that we avoid, that most wellness companies do not:

– We do not post before and after pictures – we believe confidence comes from within and no body size is ideal.
– We do not promote a specific diet of any kind – we acknowledge bio individuality and avoid food rules and shaming.
– We do not endorse any products that we do not use on a regular basis or claim any results from supplements.
– We do not claim to be the expert of anyone’s mental or physical health needs. We believe everyone is their own expert.
– We have a podcast, Ivy Unleashed, that has 210+ impactful episodes that has stories of resilience and health + wellness tips, but we also advise to turn us off for mental health purposes to hear your own voice and needs.
– We do not focus on the scale. We believe that if you’re truly looking to create sustainable habits and maintain your health, the scale becomes irrelevant. It can discourage and disappoint people because it does not reflect the changes you’re making in real time. If the focus turns to the energy you’re creating, your internal health numbers improving, your confidence growing, your body toning and feeling stronger in place of an inaccurate number, everyone benefits.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Gold Ivy Health Co. was created because both Brooke and I knew there was something missing in the wellness space. As health coaches and personal trainers, we were ready to elevate the client successes we were a part of, create a platform on social media that makes health and wellness FUN, and speak through our podcast, Ivy Unleashed, how challenging it can be to care for both your physical and mental health.

Our company name, Gold Ivy Health Co. was created intentionally. To us, words are GOLD. Whether we’re speaking on the podcast, to a client, leading a workout, speaking on a stage, or cultivating lasting relationships in our personal lives, words are gold. And Ivy grows in hard places. We share stories of resilience on Ivy Unleashed and want to encourage everyone listening with tangible tips from our own stories and others to keep going, even when life is hard. With listeners in 96 countries (so far), we have heard that the authentic stories of resiliency through hardship are what resonate the most and it’s been a beautiful experience hearing how the Ivy Unleashed podcast is helping people worldwide.

We also have created a wellness platform called MOVE with Gold Ivy. The purpose behind MOVE is to have a one-stop-shop for wellness, whether it’s for an individual membership or for businesses to provide to their employees as a wellness benefit. The platform has an on-demand library of 50+ workouts, a library of interviews with health and wellness professionals called “Golden Hours,” mental health resources, a course and challenge that focuses on metabolism, and a community forum for support and accountability as our members imperfectly work towards their goals. We want every member to feel like they can find any resource, challenge, and support they’re looking for within MOVE.

Fully believing in the services you’re providing to the world is crucial as a business owner. As a wife and mother of 3 aiming to run a marathon in all 50 states, I want my professional time to be dedicated to something I am proud of and that makes people feel like they can live a full, vibrant life. The mind/body pairing of the Ivy Unleashed Podcast and MOVE with Gold Ivy is what helps both Brooke and I know that we’re making a difference with our time.

How did you build your audience on social media?

We post on social media 6 days a week. Sundays we rest. Showing up 6/7 days a week requires a consistency and authenticity that most cannot create in the social media world. After 3.5 years of consistently showing up, shifting strategies for the algorithm, hearing “experts” on social media growth, and having over a handful of Reels (4K+ followers) and TikToks (75K+ followers) go viral, we have a few lessons we’ve learned:

– Consistency is key.
– You never know what will take off with the algorithm so don’t overthink any post.
– Authenticity is what creates virality.
– Mindset is everything. If you’re not thinking of social media as an exciting avenue to share your value, it can and will deplete your energy.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Brooke and I met at her family Christmas in 2007 (she was 12 and I was 22). At the time, I was dating her cousin, Justin, who is now my husband. Her parents were the first in their extended family to get a divorce and I also come from a divorced family, so we bonded on the feelings of feeling like outcasts. Both of us grew up in small Wisconsin towns and wanted more opportunities professionally and for personal growth, landing us both in Minnesota a decade apart.

Through the years as I was creating a family of my own and Brooke was pursuing education and professional adventures, we kept leaning on each other with personal growth resources. Eventually we both landed in the same company as health coaches before deciding to create Gold Ivy Health Co. together in 2020.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://goldivyhealthco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldivyhealthco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063559599908
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/90496260
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@goldivyhealthco
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwxSfpYtI8H0Vo4Bj61tp

  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ivy-unleashed/id1540810300

Image Credits

Kate Morris Photography & Christina Asmus of Sassy Pants Photo