You are going to love this week’s episode of the Follow Your Joy Podcast—it’s an inspiring, full-circle moment with someone I’ve had the honor of walking alongside for over 17 years as a dear friend and client: Brianne Cohen, a Los Angeles based certified sommelier, event producer, writer, and wine industry trailblazer.

Brianne and I met in 2007 when we were both navigating reinvention. Since then, she’s built a remarkable career that blends creativity, entrepreneurship, strategy—and of course, a deep love of wine.

In our conversation, we explore:
+How she scaled her online wine education business during the pandemic to serve over 10,000+ people
+The exact way she uses her intuition to evaluate opportunities and protect her time
+Her international wine writing career with features in Decanter, Edible, and Business Insider
+ Her commitment to spotlighting diverse-owned wines (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women-owned)

And we are celebrating her newest accomplishments as Lead Sommelier at Montauk restaurant in Redondo Beach and her role as President of the LA Chapter of Women for WineSense

From galas and capital campaigns to curated wine tastings for corporate teams and ERGs, Brianne has redefined success on her own terms—and she’s still evolving.

She’s also gifting you her fan-favorite guide: “Answers to the 5 Most Commonly Asked Wine Questions” Grab it here: marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Resources + Links:
Instagram: @Sommspirations
FB & LI: Brianne Pergola Cohen
www.briannecohen.com

Marla’s favorite mentoring – Helping ambitious women redefine and integrate new success metrics that honor their feminine arts & wisdom blended with masculine principles creating a new identity, next chapter and new relationship with money.

Her next 90-day Soul-Led Next Level Portal begins in late January 2026. Curious? Book your Soul-Led-Next-Chapter Call: https://tinyurl.com/soul-led-call