From Stand-Up Comedian to Global Brand Therapist

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Most people expect their breakthrough to feel like fireworks.

For Hersh Rephun, it came slowly, like a fog lifting after years of walking in circles.

A comedian. A screenwriter. A creative director in advertising. A father of five.

On paper, his life looked creative—eclectic even.

But inside? He was drifting. Lost in roles. Trapped in stories that no longer fit.

“I used to dread being asked, ‘What do you do?’” Hersh told me.

“Because I didn’t know, I had no anchor.”

And then the pandemic hit. The world paused. The noise stopped. And for the first time in years, Hersh had to sit with that question

“Who the hell am I really…?”

By the end of this story, you’ll walk away with three powerful takeaways you can apply today to clarify your voice, your story, and your brand.

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The Identity Crisis

Before COVID, Hersh worked in advertising.

He had success. Clients. Campaigns. But a sense of fragmentation still haunted him deep down. He had spent years on stage as a comedian. He had written scripts, coached performers, and created content.

He was good at many things but felt fully committed to none.

And when the gigs dried up during lockdown, what was left?

An identity built on doing—but not on being

That’s when Hersh began to dig deeper.

Through meditation, peak performance training, and quantum consciousness work, he stopped searching outside—and looked within.

What he found wasn’t new.

“It had been there all along,” he said. “I help people find their voice.”

Watch the full podcast:

The Breakthrough

Hersh realized the golden thread that ran through everything he’d ever done: Helping others express themselves.

• As a comic, he coached fellow comedians.

• As a writer, he helped others shape their scripts.

• As a creative, he clarified brand messages.

That was the work that lit him up—regardless of the role or industry. So he leaned into it.

He became what he calls a “brand therapist," someone who helps founders, creators, and companies dig into the emotional core of their story and bring it to light.

And this time, for the first time, he was all in.

“All branding is personal,” he told me. If you don’t know who you are, your brand can’t either.”

Your story is your Brand

What I love about Hersh is that he doesn’t treat branding like a cosmetic exercise. He goes deep. He delves deeply into your personal history. Explore the aspects of your past that you would prefer to overlook.

Because the truth is, your brand isn’t built in the highlight reel.

It’s built in the moments you’d rather forget. The failed startup. The divorce. The betrayal.

In short: The rock-bottom moments

That’s where your voice comes from. And Hersh knows that most people spend years avoiding those moments. They shove them in the back of their mind, hoping they’ll just disappear.

But they don’t. They fester.

They weaken your story. Until you finally embrace them.

You Are the Edge

Hersh said something powerful near the end of the podcast:

“Your story isn’t a liability. It’s your edge.”

And that’s the truth. The dark chapters? The failures? The heartbreaks?

They’re not things to hide.

They’re the raw material that makes you unforgettable.

Your story is your differentiation.

If this resonated with you—and you want to get clarity on your voice, your story, or your brand—then you should definitely check out Hershs's website, yesbrandbuilders.com

3 Actionable Lessons from Hersh (That You Can Use Today)

1. Look at the last line in your bio — that one personal detail you think is irrelevant.

   Ask yourself: How does that reflect who I really am? And how might that connect to the value you offer?

2. Look at your most self-destructive pattern.

   Draw a connection between your pain and your purpose. There’s often a direct link between what hurt you… and what you’re here to help fix.

3. Revisit your proudest moment.

   It's not the one that made you money—it's the one that made you feel alive!

   That’s the kind of joy your audience wants to feel. Give them a path to it.

Until next Friday,

Roman

The Nomad CEO

Struggles? Good.

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