Hersh Rephun: From Stand-Up Comedy to Holistic Brand Therapy with a Side of Sneaker Marketing
What happens when a screenwriter-turned-comedian loses his sneaker marketing agency during a global pandemic? If you’re Hersh Rephun, you turn the chaos into clarity. This episode of Direct Or Detour dives into Hersh’s wild, winding journey—from the comedy clubs of New York and LA to becoming a Holistic Brand Therapist who helps conscious entrepreneurs align their brand with their truth.
Through setbacks, pivots, and deep personal transformation, Hersh found a way to alchemize life’s detours into a thriving new direction—one that fuses creativity, authenticity, and strategy. His story is a blueprint for anyone who’s ever asked, “What now?” after a career shake-up.
From Laughter to Legacy: The Evolution of Hersh Rephun
In this episode, Hersh opens up about how his multi-passionate path eventually narrowed into something more powerful: helping others tell their stories in a way that feels true and aligned.
He shares how early pursuits in screenwriting and stand-up comedy fed his creative fire but didn’t provide the fulfillment—or financial stability—he needed. Later, he launched a successful PR firm and sneaker marketing agency. But it was the collapse of that business during COVID that forced him to pause and reevaluate everything.
Instead of rushing back into the same cycle, Hersh embarked on a five-year journey of personal development. Meditation, quantum consciousness, and peak performance coaching weren’t just buzzwords—they were tools that helped him uncover what he truly wanted: to help others find their voice and tell their truth.
Now, as a Holistic Brand Therapist, Hersh guides entrepreneurs, creators, and consultants through the same kind of transformation—combining brand strategy with deep introspection and a whole lot of humor.
“If I hadn’t lost the agency during COVID, I probably would’ve gone all-in on the wrong thing,” Hersh says. “Instead, I created the 360-degree version of me.”
Key Takeaways from Hersh Rephun’s Journey
- 🎭 Passion ≠ Purpose – Loving comedy didn’t mean Hersh wanted to live on the road forever.
- 🎯 Redundancy Isn’t Security – Juggling multiple roles (agency owner, comedian, creative) felt smart—until COVID wiped out all of them.
- 🧠 Internal Work Leads to External Clarity – Meditation and personal development unlocked Hersh’s next-level career path.
- 🔥 Burnout Can Be a Signpost – Feeling unfulfilled in past success helped Hersh build a business aligned with who he is, not just what he does.
- 📚 Truth Tastes Funny (and Sells) – His upcoming book Selling the Truth encapsulates his method: package your passions, talents, and pain into an authentic, high-value personal brand.
- 🤝 Done-for-You, But With You – Hersh’s brand therapy process doesn’t pile more homework on entrepreneurs—it’s collaborative, actionable, and results-focused.
Why You Should Listen
If you’re a solopreneur, coach, or creative who’s tired of trying to “fit the mold” , this episode is for you. Hersh doesn’t just talk about branding—he shows you how to make it real, human, and meaningful.
Whether you’re in the middle of a pivot, wrestling with burnout, or just trying to figure out what your voice really sounds like, Hersh’s story offers clarity, encouragement, and a whole lot of laughs along the way.
Listen to the Full Episode
Podcast Episode: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2bfc69dc-ffa0-4aea-a13e-a4f7ef65f1e7
🔗 Connect with Hersh Rephun
- Website: https://yesbrandbuilders.com
- Alternate site: http://www.hershrephun.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershrephun
Interested in being a guest on Direct Or Detour?
👉 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/directordetour
🔖 #DirectOrDetour #Podcast #Blog #HershRephun #PersonalBranding #Entrepreneurship #CareerPivot #HolisticBrandTherapist
