Marina Khidekel, Entrepreneur & Inventor

Your New Life Blend

Has there ever been a better time to decide what our lives should look like? We are emerging from a once-in-a-century cataclysm where our lives were upended, our communities remade and our priorities readjusted. Now as the call to return to “normal” grows more insistent, we get to ask the question: what does “normal” look like? Did the old normal serve me? What do I want my new normal to be? And what will that mean for my career, my community, and my family? These are the fundamental questions to building our lives – and now, rebuilding them. As a therapist and coach, Shoshanna Hecht has been wrestling with these very questions in her practice – and now, on this podcast. With guests from all walks of life including media, culture, politics, tech, business & activism, Shoshanna examines the overlap of our goals, relationships, boundaries and priorities, and how we can navigate them all with self-awareness and intention. What do we want our lives to look like? Welcome to Your New Life Blend.

Marina Khidekel, Entrepreneur & Inventor

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Marina Khidekel had anxiety, and a fidget-spinner wasn’t going to cut it. She liked the feeling of a weighted blanket, but having it all over her body was way too much. So she came up with an ingenious solution: a weighted stuffed animal. In June 2022, she launched Hugimals World and its anchor product, the Hugimal, a 4.5-lb weighted stuffed animal in 4 varieties that feel like they are hugging you back. Let’s fast forward to 300 glowing press clips later: Hugimals is a multiple award-winning product, one of TIME’s Best Inventions, and available from Amazon to Nordstrom to QVC. It’s an incredible success story, but like all success stories, it didn’t happen overnight.

In this episode of “Your New Life Blend,” Marina speaks to host Shoshanna Hecht about making the leap to becoming a first-time founder, the path from idea to invention, and the people she’s hugged along the way (via many units of Hugimals, of course).

Here’s what some of the listeners have to say:

“Shoshanna asks the very best questions. While I’m off thinking of one thing, as a result of the interview discussion, she cuts through everything to get to the central, underlaying theme. I loved the first episode and so appreciate her sign off, reminding the listener to be gentle with oneself. Who doesn’t need that reminder?” ~mbr2014

“Love this podcast! The host is charming and insightful, the guests are fascinating and inspiring! I especially appreciate the timeliness and comforting message of the show – we have all been through so much in these last few years. It is time for a new look at our work and our lives, and what a great gift to have the chance to be guided by master coach Shoshanna Hecht and her brilliant guests.” ~GioiaDC