We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ariel Brinkley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ariel, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Mentally A Badass was born out of our (Justine Rodes and I) deeply personal journey. For me, when I first started school, I experienced anxiety for the first time. It wasn’t something I had a name for at the time and I went undiagnosed throughout much of my life. People around me dismissed it as shyness, reassuring me that I’d “grow out of it.” But the reality was much more than that. No one showed me how to navigate the overwhelming feelings I faced and those feelings only grew.

Living with undiagnosed anxiety in a school setting was isolating and exhausting. It began to take a toll on my mental health. I fell into periods of depression and often disassociated just to make it through the day. I felt alone, misunderstood, and unsure of how to cope with what I was going through.

That’s why Mentally A Badass is so meaningful to me. It’s the resource I wish I’d had growing up. We created this brand to ensure that no one else feels as isolated and misunderstood as we did. Through our apparel, we encourage people to embrace their vulnerability rather than hide it. We believe that being open about your struggles isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength. Our motto, “Being vulnerable is pretty badass,” reflects this belief.

Beyond clothing, our podcast creates a space for mental health conversations. It’s a platform for people to share their stories and experiences, which in turn helps others feel seen, heard, and less alone. By normalizing these conversations, we’re breaking the stigma around mental health one step at a time.

For us, it’s not just about selling clothes or creating content—it’s about building a community that uplifts one another and fosters real, meaningful conversations about mental health.

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

I’m Ariel Brinkley, co-founder of Mentally A Badass, a mental health focused brand on a mission to normalize vulnerability and create space for honest conversations about mental health. I’m also a writer, digital artist, and advocate for using creativity as a tool to express emotions and navigate mental health challenges.

My journey into the mental health space is deeply personal. Growing up, I struggled with anxiety and depression, often feeling isolated and misunderstood. These experiences fueled my passion for creating something that could help others feel less alone in their struggles. My fellow co-founder, Justine Rodes, and I share this similar sentiment and that’s how Mentally A Badass was born—a brand with the goal to destigmatize mental health.

At Mentally A Badass, we provide a variety of mental health focused products and services. Our apparel features thoughtful, relatable designs that encourage people to wear their vulnerability proudly and highlights the strength in embracing your flaws. We also have inspirational mugs and stickers and we’re working on digital tools like mood and trigger trackers to support mental wellness.

Beyond products, our podcast creates a platform for people to share their stories and experiences with mental health. These stories not only empower the storytellers but also help listeners feel validated and seen.

As a writer, I explore themes of resilience, personal growth, and human connection—drawing inspiration from my own journey and the stories shared within our community. I’m also working on an indie anime series, Archenemy, and my debut sci-fi fantasy series, Train to You. Both projects reflect my love for storytelling and my belief that art can inspire and bring people together.

My artwork—both for Mentally A Badass and my personal projects—often features themes of mental health, blending a playful and relatable aesthetic with messages of hope and understanding. I love creating cute and whimsical designs to convey uplifting messages.

What sets Mentally A Badass apart is our focus on community and conversation. We’re not just a mental health clothing brand—we’re a movement to embrace vulnerability and destigmatize mental health. I’m most proud of the connections we’ve built through our work. Hearing how our designs, podcast episodes, or messages have helped someone feel seen is the greatest reward.

For anyone reading this, I want you to know that you’re not alone in your struggles. Through Mentally A Badass, we aim to remind everyone that being vulnerable is a sign of strength. Whether it’s through our apparel, podcast, or other creative works, we hope to inspire people to embrace who they are—flaws and all—and celebrate the courage it takes to show up authentically every day.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is the belief that being a perfectionist is something to strive for. Growing up, I was often praised for being “perfect” and getting things right the first time. Whether it was in school, creative projects, or other areas of life, I learned to equate my worth with being flawless. It felt like there was no room for mistakes, and any failure—no matter how small—was something to fear.

As I got older, I started to see just how toxic and impossible that mindset was. The constant pressure to be perfect all the time was debilitating. It kept me from taking risks and pursuing opportunities because I was so afraid of failing. In my creative work, whether it’s writing, art, or designing for Mentally A Badass, perfectionism often left me stuck, unable to move forward because something wasn’t “good enough.”

I’m still unlearning that misbelief, but I’ve made a lot of progress. I’ve realized that growth and success don’t come from doing everything perfectly—they come from showing up, trying, failing, and learning. Each year, I feel more confident in my ability to embrace imperfections and go after my passions, even if I stumble along the way.

For example, launching Mentally A Badass wasn’t perfect—it was a learning curve, full of trial and error. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It’s taught me that vulnerability, authenticity, and even failure are far more powerful than chasing an impossible ideal of perfection.

Now, I focus on progress over perfection. It’s a mindset I’m still working on, but it’s also something I hope to inspire in others through my work, whether it’s through our mental health designs, podcast, or creative projects.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building our audience on social media has been an evolving journey, one rooted in authenticity and connection. When we started Mentally A Badass, we didn’t focus on numbers, we focused on people. Our goal was to create a space where conversations about mental health could thrive and where even one person could feel less alone because of our content.

We started by sharing content that aligned with our mission: normalizing vulnerability and encouraging people to embrace their emotions. This included relatable posts, mental health tips, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into our process. Over time, we realized that the posts that resonated most weren’t the ones that were perfectly curated or “viral-worthy.” They were the ones that felt real and personal—the ones that reflected our own struggles and victories.

One of the most impactful strategies we’ve used is engaging directly with our community. It’s not just about posting—it’s about replying to comments, having conversations in DMs, and genuinely caring about the people who interact with our brand. Knowing that even one person found value in our content has always been more meaningful than hitting a specific follower count.

For anyone starting to build a social media presence, here’s my advice:

1. Stay true to your mission. Social media is constantly changing, but your mission is your anchor. Knowing why you’re showing up will keep you grounded, no matter what trends or algorithms come and go.

2. Focus on quality connections over quantity. Numbers can be deceiving. A smaller, engaged audience that cares about your message is far more valuable than thousands of disengaged followers.

3. Be consistent but flexible. Post regularly, but don’t stress about being perfect. Social media isn’t static, and it’s okay to experiment with different types of content to see what resonates.

4. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. People connect with authenticity. Share your journey, your wins, and even your struggles. Vulnerability creates trust and relatability.

5. Engage, engage, engage. Social media is a two way street. Reply to comments, thank people for their support, and start conversations.

Remember, success on social media isn’t just about metrics, it’s about impact. For us, hearing that our content made someone feel understood or helped them open up about their mental health is worth more than any number of likes or followers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mentallyabadass.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyabadass/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6904076716293461
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-brinkley-1448b422b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mentallyabadasspodcast
• Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/56NquFQSpjngMjNt7cPqZs?si=875ac4f95b4e467e
  Apple Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-a-badass/id1547028994
  Apparel Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mab.tees/