Back in 2008, I was hustling at a dog sledding kennel in Breckenridge, Colorado. I was stacking experience so I could land my dream job mushing dogs in Alaska (which I did—because manifesting + grit is real).
Our sled dogs? About 100 Siberian Huskies.
Gorgeous, thick-furred beasts—totally different from the lean Alaskan Huskies we ran in races, but perfect for tours, and born to run.
Now, if you’ve never been in a dog yard before, let me paint the picture:
- Dogs howling with excitement
- Snow-packed trails with icy ruts
- A wood stove–heated “guide shack” lined with PBR cans on the floor
- And me, showing up in my well-worn Carhartts with my sidekick pup Quita
Ya, I know, dog mushing is not glamorous, but it was my dream, and I loved it.
It’s gritty, raw, and humbling. There’s always dog poop on your boots and greasy food reminents on your gloves. Your gear gets absolutely annihilated. But there’s something transcendent about it.
The second you leave the chaos of the dog yard and hear only the sound of paws on snow and your breath in the cold air?
Magic.
So when my boss said we were shutting down the kennel for a day because the Kardashians were coming to film, I was like… “You sure they want this?”
And I meant this:
- A scrappy dog yard filled with barking chaos.
- A beat-up guide shack with beer cans, wood smoke, and zero glam.
- Dogs that don’t care how famous you are—they just want to RUN.
I’d never seen the show (still haven’t), but I’m not convinced the Kardashians—or any of us guides—were thrilled about that choice.
And Then... the Kardashians Showed Up
Producers shut down the yard for a day to film. Apparently, they wanted “authentic Colorado dog sled vibes.” (Sure, Jan.)
We waited hours for the crew to get shots of Bruce (now Caitlyn) shaking hands with our boss.
Over and over. Same handshake. Same camera angle. No smiles, no spark.
We all just stood there awkwardly on ‘standby.’ eyeroll
I’m a giggler by nature—but I didn’t laugh once that day. The energy was flatter than a trampled pancake. The family? Silent. The vibes? Honestly, kinda mob-boss-meets-suburban-mall.
I kept thinking:
- “Do they even like fun?”
- And… how do people find this entertaining to watch?
We were surrounded by 100 howling sled dogs and fresh snow... and somehow it felt like a funeral. Hopefully, we all know that TV energy ≠ real energy, but it’s still quite interesting to experience the excruciating pain of it in person.
The Girls, the Sled, and the Snowbank
Kylie and Kendall were still teens at the time—pre-fame, pre-filler, and honestly, the only two who made any sort of eye contact. We didn’t talk much, but there was a sliver of normal girl energy behind the blank stares. I couldn’t help but like them.
Eventually, I took them out on one of our snow machine–guided runs. We used a sled with a guest driver and rider, while a snowmobile led the trail and acted as backup. It was a great way to give guests a taste of real mushing without putting them or the dogs at risk.
We hit a soft curve, and both Kylie and Kendall flew off the sled into a snowbank.
No one moved.
Not the parents. Not the camera crew.
Just awkward staring.
And then?
They looked at me.
Not their handlers. Not their mom.
Me.
They quietly told me they were scared because they were freezing—and honestly, my heart went out to them. They probably had no real say in being there, weren’t dressed for the conditions, and clearly had no idea what they were walking into.
I helped them climb out of the snow bank, handed them pocket handwarmers, reassured them we were only out for an hour, and promised we’d be back soon.
They nodded, trusted me, and climbed back into the sled.
And in that moment, they didn’t need a director, a glam squad, or a publicist.
They needed a guide.
I wasn’t the loudest. I wasn’t the fanciest. And I’m definitely not an influencer with flawless makeup and a million followers.
But I was the one who showed up with warmth, experience, and a steady hand when it mattered.
Even now, when I see Kylie and Kendall on a magazine cover, I pause and hope they’re doing okay. That trust? It mattered then. And it still does.
That’s what I bring into branding.
Branding isn’t about filters or fame—it’s about who people trust when things get uncomfortable.
❌ You don’t lead a dog team by yelling.
❌ You don’t grow a brand by faking energy.
✅ You lead by being grounded, clear, and calm.
✅ You grow a brand by being real, magnetic, and trustworthy.
Because when it really counts—people don’t follow noise, they follow energy.
Want to Discover the Energy of your Brand?
Take my Brand Spirit Archetype Quiz
It’s not “What font are you?” fluff—it’s a deep dive into the energetic core of your brand.
Because once you understand your natural leadership style, you stop trying to copy what’s trending and start attracting what’s aligned.
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Your brand’s natural way of leading
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How to create connection without forcing it
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How to scale in a way that feels aligned, magnetic, and FUN (yes, fun still matters)
And the Kardashian episode?
THREE MINUTES.
A full day of filming… for three painful, overproduced minutes. Grab a sneak peek of the 3 minutes HERE, and I have to give the video crew credit, because they did make it look fun, despite the total lack of fun (gotta love reality TV, eh!)
I didn’t make the cut—but my dog did. 😂
But that’s ok, because I’m not here for TV drama, vanity metrics, or marketing BS. I’m here to guide bold brands toward real impact and long-term growth.
💥 No filter. No filler. No plastic surgery required.
Just magnetic energy, trusted leadership, and your brand built on something real.
Stay wild, stay grounded, and keep livin’ large,
P.S. Later this year, I just might spill the tea on that time I did acid with Seth Rogen—and a few other wild tales that made me a fan for life. …you’ll have to SUBSCRIBE to get access. 😉
