Reality TV probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about building a better business mindset, am I right? I never planned on competing on a reality TV show, but thanks to some late-night scrolling, a glass of wine, and a gut feeling, I ended up on Season 17 of The Blox—and it was one of the wildest and most unexpectedly empowering experiences of my life. 

This wasn’t just a “get exposure” gimmick—The Blox is a week-long entrepreneurial bootcamp for the boldest business brains across the country. I didn’t walk away with a trophy, but I did walk away with something way more valuable: game-changing perspective, inspiring community, and a kick in the butt to get oh so crystal clear on my own branding strategy.

In this post, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it was really like to be part of The Blox: how I got cast, what went down behind the scenes, and the powerful lessons I learned along the way.

If you’re looking for a raw, unfiltered look at what happens when 97 entrepreneurs are thrown together with cameras, caffeine, and pure ambition—this one's for you.

What is The Blox?

How I Got Cast in The Blox Season 17

You ever doom-scroll Facebook with a glass of wine and end up applying for a reality TV show? Because…same… That’s exactly how this whole adventure started. I stumbled across an ad for The Blox and remembered a childhood friend who had posted behind-the-scenes content from a previous season. She wasn’t a contestant—just a plus-one—but her post must’ve stuck with me. A few weeks (and another glass of wine) later, I hit “apply.” 

What they don’t tell you is that getting cast on The Blox is basically a crash course in patience. I stumbled onto the application in January 2024 and didn’t get my final acceptance text until late February. The process was layered: fill out the application, get a soft greenlight, receive a surprise text telling me my video was “exactly what they were looking for,” and schedule a phone interview while still wondering if this was real life. 

I did the call, crossed my fingers, and waited. And waited. Eventually, I wrote it off (definitely thought I had been soft dumped). . . until the magic text came in: “You’ve made the final cast!” Immediate tears! Contracts hit my inbox. I signed. I danced. I poured another glass. We were doing this. The whole thing felt surreal—but also like a total universe nudge to go all in.

What It Looks Like to Film The Blox

My season of The Blox was filmed in July 2024 at the Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and let me tell you—it was a vibe. My CFO, Jess, came with me (because duh, if I was going to go toe-to-toe with some of the country's most ambitious entrepreneurs, I needed someone close to keep me grounded). We are both huge fans of The Challenge (and definitely never had any crushes on the infamous redhead), so seeing Wes Bergmann in entrepreneur mode was a whole new level of cool. Our season had 97 entrepreneurs from all walks of life. And the judges? All seasoned founders, past winners, and people who’ve built multi-7 figure businesses. No pressure.

What does a typical Blox day look like? We’d start with breakfast and a full training session from Wes. After lunch, we’d get that day’s pitch prompt—a question tied to the key business concept from that day’s lesson. We’d have just 15 minutes to find our pod filming room and prep a solid 3-minute pitch. That alone was enough to fry your brain. But then you’d go right into a 15-minute consultation with the judges—seasoned entrepreneurs who did NOT sugarcoat their feedback. Every night ended with a “Blox-Off,” a head-to-head showdown where the day’s top performers from each pod hit the stage to compete for the daily crown. 

Business Lessons I Learned from The Blox

Before we dive into the specific lessons, let me just say this: The Blox was more than just a week of filming—it was a crash course in mindset, clarity, and growth (both personally and professionally).

It’s wild what you learn when you’re outside your comfort zone, surrounded by other hardworking entrepreneurs, and forced to pitch on the fly with cameras rolling.

I walked away with more than just cool footage—I experienced a reset in how I think about business, storytelling, and what it really means to lead.

Set Intentions & Stay Grounded

Before filming even started, Jess and I made a pact: we weren’t going there to win. We were going to learn, to grow, and to soak up as much value as possible. But once you’re in the thick of it, your inner competitor kicks in. On finance day, I pressured Jess to pitch. I was like “MONEY DAY—all you babe.” She called me out: “I’m not saying I won’t do it—but let me ask you this. Are you here to win or to learn??” Her words snapped me back into focus, and I ended up delivering the pitch—awkward, vulnerable, but 100% aligned with why I showed up. I asked for a million dollars while making $800 million per year. Yeah, I totally nailed the venture capital day. . . 

Everyone Learns Differently

One of the most powerful things about The Blox format is how it forces you to absorb information in multiple ways. Isn’t it crazy how different people can interpret the same topics differently? We weren’t just being taught business concepts. We had to pitch, hear others pitch from the same prompt, and then reflect during a consultation. Seeing other people wrestle (differently!) with the same prompt helped me grasp things I might’ve missed on my own and proved how powerful shared learning can be.

Perspective is Everything

My number 1 takeaway from this experience: realizing that perspective is my obsession. (I literally have a “perspective is everything” tattoo that looks like a camera when I’m shooting. Punny, I know! *hairflip*) At The Blox, I saw how crucial it is to see from multiple angles. Some days I thought I nailed the prompt, then I watched someone else's approach and realized I missed an entire angle. And honestly, this concept applies to your business every day: no matter how good your branding is, it won’t connect unless you’re seeing things from your audience’s perspective.

We Can Do Hard Things

Confession: I almost burned everything down three weeks before we left to film The Blox. I was done. Exhausted. Over it.

But being there—with zero time to overthink and no space to doubt—forced me into action. This experience forced me to show up scared. To do it anyway. And guess what? I lived. I remembered that I’m capable of way more than I give myself credit for. I may have flubbed a pitch or two, but I did the damn thing—and came home more grounded than ever. And the hard decisions waiting for me at home? Faced them with confidence.

You’re Never Truly Alone in Entrepreneurship

If there’s one thing all of us contestants had in common, it was fear. Most of us knew no one. Every single person there was terrified. But that shared fear built instant connection. I’m so grateful Jess was by my side—but even if she hadn’t been, I’d have found support. The people I met on The Blox have become collaborators, clients, and cheerleaders, and good friends. You’re never truly alone in this journey—and damn, that realization was everything.

The True Power of Storytelling

The Blox showed me that storytelling isn’t optional—it’s essential. The people who crushed it on stage weren’t the loudest or most polished. They were the ones who knew their story—every scar, every triumph, every transformation. They connected because they weren’t just selling, they were sharing. They told stories that made you believe they were the only solution. And honestly? That’s the kind of energy we all need to bring to our brands.

Customer Experience is Queen

While most people were stressing over their pitches, I was also laser-focused on the behind-the-scenes. I couldn’t help it—I was watching everything. From how the production crew moved to how the green screen was set up. As a customer experience nerd, I took notes. LOTS of notes. And those observations? They gave me a dozen ideas to bring back to my own client experiences.

Plant Seeds & You’ll Bloom When the Time Is Right

Not every win is immediate. Some of the biggest ROI from The Blox came after the cameras stopped rolling. Connections turned into client work. Conversations sparked future collabs. One of their partner brands even tapped me for website work. The key? Never underestimate the power of planting a seed and putting in the effort to nurture it.

The Importance of Energy

Energy matters. Being in a space with ambitious, heart-led business owners reminded me why I started this whole thing in the first place. That kind of energy? It’s contagious. And it’s clarifying. For those few days in Tulsa, I was completely immersed in a space where everyone believed in something bigger.

If you’re feeling stuck or disconnected from your work, check your environment. Sometimes it’s not a strategy problem—it’s an energy problem. Get in rooms that make you feel a little uncomfortable and light you the hell up. That’s where the magic happens.

How Reality TV Naturally Evolved by Business Strategy

Reality TV changed the way I think about business. Not because of the cameras or competition—but because of what I learned about myself. The Blox cracked me open in the best way. I learned to trust my voice, own my story, and show up even when I didn’t feel “ready.” If this reality TV rollercoaster taught me anything, it’s that business isn’t just about strategy. It’s about mindset, community, and relentless authenticity.

Let this be your reminder: you don’t need to be perfect to make an impact with your business. You don’t have to have the highest revenue or the most polished pitch to change your life for the better. You just have to know who you are, why it matters, and how to say it with heart. That’s branding. That’s storytelling. That’s the secret sauce.

Want even more behind-the-scenes on my time at The Blox? Click here to browse ALL of my Blox content—daily recap blogs, podcast episodes, and more!