The Chris Voss Show - The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Innovation Is NOTHING Without Courage to Unleash It: Entrepreneurial Empowerment Strategies and Secrets for Success by Dr Marien J Zanyk

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

Innovation Is NOTHING Without Courage to Unleash It: Entrepreneurial Empowerment Strategies and Secrets for Success by Dr Marien J Zanyk https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-NOTHING-Without-Courage-Unleash/dp/196298768X Step into the extraordinary world of Dr. Zanyk – entrepreneur, orthopedic expert and innovator, – and discover the blueprint for entrepreneurial success. In Innovation is Nothing Without Courage to Unleash It, Dr. Zanyk reveals how perseverance, creativity and humor transformed her vision into a thriving venture. As the founder of ZANEEZ(R) She revolutionized orthopedic solutions with products AnkleSTONE(R) and BedROK(R). Her Journey is a testament to turning bold ideas into reality, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to reach their full potential.

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Some guests of the show may be advertising on the podcast, but it is not an endorsement or review of any kind. Today's featured author comes to us from books to lifemarketing.co.com. With expert publishing to strategic marketing, they help authors reach their audience and maximize their book success. We're talking about a number of things with her. One of her books will be featuring here, it is entitled, Innovation is Nothing Without Courage, to unleash it, entrepreneurial improvement. I'm sorry, let me cut that. Innovation is nothing without courage to unleash it, entrepreneurial empowerment strategies and secrets for success. Out by Dr. Marion Zanick on the show with us today. Out March 20 or March 19th, 2025, fighting the camera in front of my screen. We're going to be talking to her about her insights of her book, some of her stories of her life and

her journey, she is an orthopedic specialist, inventor and entrepreneur whose patent and devices are redefining how the world trains, recovers, and performs. She's the founder of Zanis Health. Her innovations like Anglestone and Bedrock are trusted by Olympic athletes, MBA professionals, elite trainers. She blends science, business, and bold vision, empowering others through her books and products. She lives in Connecticut and is a passionate about biomechanics, entrepreneurship, and mentoring the next wave of Fearless Founders. Welcome to the show. How are you, Dr?

Hey, Chris. It's a pleasure to be here. Thanks for having me. Thanks for coming. We certainly appreciate. Give us your dot-coms. Where do we find you on the interwebs? Well, we've got three main websites,

Anglestone.com for the product, and now zanese.com for an overview on the business, which encompasses four orthopedic products. And now, with reference to books, how exciting just yesterday, live, Dr. Zanick.com for all of our book offerings. So give us a 30,000 overview. What's inside this book?

It's a collection of a lot of years of growth and accomplishments and how to in the entrepreneurial empowerment and secrets for success. You know, it comes down to a lot of things and a lot of minor things. And you choose those minor empowerments that keep you going every day. and it is humor and it's perseverance and its resilience and it's a positive on outlook and it is just the ability to keep on going in executing your goals whatever it might be in business or in personal life keep on executing people you got to do it so give us a uh what will motivate you want to write this book when i first was invited health 2.0 out in los Vegas at

Caesars on stage to present the collection of my work. And then again, in Boston, at a group there, an entrepreneurial group, and I realized, oh, I need to put this into a summary. So I did so. At the same time, I dusted off one of my first children's book and did a self-publication. And since it has hit the world, it's been getting a lot of attention. Innovation is nothing is a really concise, informative, effective inspiration. to those who want to do things, but they're afraid to, they need to be able to knock out that

fear element and know how to do what they desire in life. The fear element is something I think holds a lot of people back, would you say? It is. And in modern days, we don't need it. You know, it used to be a survival skill. Throw that out. We don't need this. I like sometimes, I've been stopped, a few times I will use some mantra. For instance, if I have some hurdle, hesitant to do something, I think of out on the war field, the battlefield, slaying heads,

maybe have some awesome Renaissance leather, fur, outfit on for sure, but I am slaying heads on the battlefield. All I have to do is get a perspective check to say, here I am sitting in this white leather chair in this office with this digital platform at my hand and this is now easy and I you shame yourself into not doing it it becomes instant easy do it nothing becomes uncomfortable anymore in comparison keep yourself regulated that the modern life and the offerings that we have make anything possible just tell yourself I can do this or I have the right to do this or the energy around me says that I have this already.

And law that positive thinking goes a long way. A long way. And so tell us, how did you come up with this ankle stone? How did you discover this product and the needle? Well, I'm a biomedical scientist, a PhD in clinical pathology. I've gone from autopsies to electron microscopy to working with orthopedic. surgeons, neurosurgeons in their patients, in the recovery of patients with contractures. On the extreme side, it might be, oh, the motorcycle accident where they scraped them off the pavement,

helicopter them to the orthopedist, put them together again with plates and rivets and screws. Hey, get them back, moving again. Oh, and by the way, without pain. I know how to do that, and I know the plasticity of soft tissues. So if you give humans a tool that is lean, kind of think of the Swiss Army life of exercise, and you modernize the way that we approach muscular skeletal recovery, strengthening, stretching, and all kinds of medical recovery, give them the tool that works. So ankle stone for the feet and ankles is the lead product because it's the easiest, lightweight,

weighs as much as your phone and it simply is a device or designed to fit the contours of the foot you stand on it and it targets every joint in the foot and ankle up to the knee, hip, and

low back. And then we've also patented and developed the other products. Bedrock for the whole body with its affiliated the evolution of the yoga mat base rock as well willover works, which was the original upright, effective type of structure that allows you to move and progress

the body, stretch the tissue, and then progress into the incremental ways, and target the site of attachment of the bone to the soft tissue. That's where you need to get to. So instead of for the foot and ankle, the makeshift remedies such as tennis ball in which your foot is contracted the whole time, try to prevent it from rolling away, or the slant boards, which I think were on the Titanic, or something silly like that. Now we've got these units in with Yukon basketball, with the NBA, with a campaign with Howie Mandel. We are now the official foot and ankle conditioning device of USA Pickleball, NJCAAA, heading toward MPSF, the sports federation for the Olympians and USA swimming.

I mean, basically, got feet? You need a person only. So I've had an amazing time, but you know, this is not easy. You can't just have the innovation. You have to have the guts and the positive mindset, but it should come naturally to you. And again, I resort to the forest to nature and if I were to have any advice for people out there, go back to nature. Go back and think when you have the solitude, the quiet.

Maybe it's a park. Maybe it's a force. Maybe you have to put your earbuds in and you fake it. But the solitude to think and to make a solution, you can keep aspiring to your biggest dreams. Oh, wow. Well, we all have dreams. we want to inspire so aspire to so that's really important uh now this this ankle uh device you know one of my friends is older and and she has problems with uh charlie horses she gets real

charlie horse strains and her legs and feet uh is that something that can help if you're having charley horse issues absolutely in fact we got a nice survey from the sports across the country all the college trainers, the top complaint, was calf tightness and Achilles. Third on the list was plantar fasciitis, which, believe it or not, but here, you know, let me show it to you the ability of what we could do with this device, again, lightweight, yet rated to 800,000 pounds, but to stand on it into an position of Achilles tendon stretch and notice that being of the medical and science background, I knew to display the metatarsals.

So you're getting this incredible stretch starting there, and it goes all the way up into the knee, and I said to hip and low back. And then to go planter fascial stretch, being able to use the shape of it in the roll bar, and doing a biomechanical stretch on the fascia to actually change the length of the fascia, get a true stretch and analgesic pressure point onto the heel and then toe extension, left foot

and right foot. The grooves are there so your foot just naturally goes into position. And then for the ultimate sprain, eversion and inversion, it contours the foot so that all you need is body weight, your control, and this device supports you, cradles you so that you can make the gains that you need. to be fully recovered and then check this out we love man when you put your foot onto this rough finish and it feels so darn good in a deep tissue massage or planter or advanced hamstring so we're having fun with this we're and then we're advancing into the other three products similar

construct the bioscience of body mechanics clean devices that are engineered for the anatomy and you don't need heavy metal weights or time-consuming trips to the gym. You have your own independent use device. Wow. Wow. Walk us to your journey to take this from your idea to prototype to full-scale commercial products

and some of the obstacles you faced and how you kept going. Well, initially coming from one of my exercise routines in the forest using the rocks, the trees, the cliffs, because I happen to live in this dense forest, I injured my knee while skiing in Vermont. And I had to recover using what I knew and also of my athletic background and using the trees to give you gradual movement to recover. I restored this knee from crutches to light running in three weeks, and I realized, oh, this can be done if we were to design something. And so, of course, to mimic the resistance of the mountain laurel tree, which is what I used, which is the Connecticut State tree, but it has a certain pushback. It's like a bow and arrow.

Oh, really? Well, I had to duplicate that, which we did. Boat Builder in Connecticut with seven-layered bentward lamination. then advanced to Vermont Boat Builder and then to China for fiber-reinforced plastic shipping in this device. And we got proof of concept and sales and then recognized as Boston Audience Choice Award. And that's when I realized, okay, I'm not going to be medical device consultant anymore. I'm going this way. There is validation.

and the world, I found that in this entrepreneurial world, that the world will feed back on you. If you have a successful idea, it will feedback. And I always encourage you to step into the world and throw it to somebody, your ideas. Keep on pushing it. And it will tell you if it's good. It will tell you.

And you follow that. Keep going. And you can be smart about funding it. You can use your good credit. You can know that when you do an action, somehow the money will flow in. That seems to be my theory. I always do it. Yeah, the money does.

It flows in somehow. Somehow it does. It's a manifestation technique, absolutely. But it's the belief and the gratitude and the happy demeanor. And even when shit hits the fan that you laugh, I mean, it's always a funny story in there to tell your kids. Oh, yeah. There's something in there that makes it. But there is an amazing amount to be accomplished if you step into it, into the discomfort of things, and then tell yourself, I have a right to this.

And also knowing that knowledge, you've got to have the knowledge because knowledge and confidence are cumulative. But you can have a basic knowledge and step into it and it just keeps rolling. So don't be afraid of that, that, you know, trust in your ability. to act at the time. Ah, well, that's good to have. So let's see. With the products as you developed in the stuff, what were some of the things that your background

in orthopedic science helped shape the innovation strategy for it? Well, recognizing at a microscopic and a macroscopic level, the adaptations of the human cell, plasticity, that if you challenge it, if you put it into a position, and demand that it performs in that position then it will but you have to achieve that position and

therefore back to the shape of this or even that which is uh the bedrock for whole body with its therapeutic ramps and grooves and such it's the tool that allows that structure to be adapted so that you can recover full range of motion from your plantar fasciitis from your achilles tendon tightness from your toe immobility, post bunionectomy, surgery, anything, or if you've got turf toe. I mean, we keep expanding from multiple sports applications, every sport you can think of, to medical physical therapy as well. And it's about time we changed our method of muscular skeletal to recovery. It's so archaic now.

It's, you know, in many ways. went back to a natural lean design. So that's what this book is about just being able to take your idea. And there's some humor in there and perseverance lessons, of course, that makes you want to read it. I'm glad that it's a lightweight. You can grab it at an airport. You can read it on a weekend.

And I think that people will be inspired to pursue and trust in their positive a vibe to achieve what they want, because that truly is what brings it. You know, I'm sure you've felt that, you know that. Yeah, yeah, most definitely. I mean, that'll do it. Now, how do you balance your roles as a scientist, a CEO, an inventor, a mother? I don't even know. I just do.

Sometimes people ask me that, and I just like, I just chill. And, oh, funny stories, like, you know, talking to my CMO, who is who we're such good friends, Dick Belmont. He actually launched Fruit of the Loom. He's national dear to the country. And I'm in the summer having a float in my pool. And the phone rings. It's him.

And I'm sorry. I'm not in front of my computer right now. Just a moment. And then I think to myself, oh, note to self. You must mute when you're squeaking off the floating tool and all the splash of the pool as you're running to the computer and pretending to have just been a moment away. And of course, he knows the. story but we laugh but balancing put put in the stuff that makes you gives you

pleasure to balance out the other and almost in a way your mind will sort out the difficult culty if you take yourself away from it you know even in the development of my books taking your mind away from it I find that some of the best ideas have come to me when I'm running in the forest and I make myself go up and down this waterfall of rocks at six times. And as I'm doing that, you get into a zone and you just think things through. Yeah. It's a meditative form.

But whatever it is that works for you, take yourself away from the noise and focus on what it is that is important to you. And then just keep at that focus because that will take you to your goals. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you want to cover some of the other products that you have on the Zanny site? Yes. And you know what? I meant to, if I held something up, would that be worthwhile? Sure, yeah, yeah. Okay, and I meant to grab it. I said to myself, and I forgot to. I wonder if I can in this mess.

No, I don't think I can find it. No, shoot. No, it was the newest drawings that I just received the other day on the bedrock and bass rock. But if we can just imagine a device that is six pounds, the weight of your gym bag, but was made with ramp and very luxury foam on it and grooves and roll bars and handholds and ledges and finger grips and everything is lean. And the reason that the shape of it is so lean, it's like a rock climber that only uses their flexor digitorum, and yet they can grip within such strength. And that will stabilize a whole joint. You don't need a massive big.

So these devices are shaped. And our prototype is with Yukon, 10 units is with Yukon and distributed throughout different. But we're now ready to create our next commercial version of Bedrock. and its affiliated mat, which is, as I mentioned, the evolution of the yoga map in that it has handles that are conducive to the body. It's got some radial deviation and handles, and it's got kite borders, foot straps. So you can imagine as you're stretching and then you stop, you have nothing to grip, but if you, with our mat, you can keep on progressing and stabilize and progress and do beyond what you've ever experienced before.

They're simple devices. That's what we like about them. No, not a lot of moving parts and yet just conducive to everybody needs one. Wow. I mean, you've got a lot of really cool inventions you've taken and made there to help people. And it's fairly compact and expensive and and, and, uh, but it can be utilized in so many different ways. I see this willow works is just kind of interesting.

How does that work? like some kind of ski, I don't know. Yeah, that's one of the initial directions of this, recognizing that I could produce with seven layers of bentwood lamination. Imagine that. And then getting like a bow flex or like a bow and arrow and then reproduced that in fiber reinforced plastics, again, layers from China and brought it in. And now our necks, we work with a company Spark Design, and they get us ready for production.

And our CADs are ready. And all we need to do with Willow Works is reduce its size and make it move. The limbs will, it's going to be a whole different creature, much easier. But that will be year two or so when we're releasing. Okay, cool. Yeah. That should be pretty wonderful then. Let's see.

What else do we want to talk about? Anything else that we've missed? You want to take a plug on the show? I know we'll be talking about your children's book, I think, tomorrow on the show. We will. And, you know, I am so glad to have, when we first connected in July, and then I have accomplished so many things since then, now in December, with a website release and the production of four other books.

Yes, it's Emu on the Loose, the others, and they're in a very interesting position with executive producers and screenplays and things like that. So that will be fun to talk about. And the whole concept of them is being recognized and appreciated by just the adventure, the Mimi Adventure series and the lessons within each book, each different, in courage or positive thinking or, you know, using strategies, and so it's an authentic approach to a new way of life in a way, you know, instead of the dystopian cartoons that we see nowadays, you know. So interesting conversation tomorrow, I look forward to that too. And, yeah, yeah, getting, you know, this book out is a great thing and the story within and the products as they keep going.

Yeah, we're having a great time. That's awesome. order your device order your ankle stone fix your feet yeah today get a hold of that's right that's right uh people can find these on your website so as we go out give people find a pitch out to pick up the book and uh give people your dot coms and all that good stuff yeah come and get anklestone dot com is the provision for our device to fix your feet from all kinds of ailments and also visit visit Dr. Zanick.com, which is the author website, you can find our books there as well as on Amazon, and our audio books are available as well within the business book and the children's

book. And so we've got the Anglestone.com, Zanis.com, and Dr. Zanick.com. Well, very good. You're quite the entrepreneurial. What advice you have for people who want to be entrepreneurs and how to develop these sort of things? I'd say you've got an idea, throw it out to the world and get to have some feedback from people, from the world in a way, and then just keep formulating your plan every day that just the next step, it's not a big deal, it's just a step at a time, and keeping yourself with the proper positive mindset that enables you to keep going. so you learn to ignore any defeat kind of messages or anything that society tells you you cannot do this,

which will pop up and you learn to put a shield and you just keep encompassing your own energies toward your goal. Well, it's wonderful advice, very good advice, and on how to do great things with your work and how to help others as well. Thank you very much for coming the show, Doctor. We really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. And thanks to my honest for tuning in. Check out her book, wherever fine books are sold.

Innovation is nothing without the courage to unleash it, entrepreneurial empowerment strategies and success. I'm sorry, let me have you cut that. It's a Monday on a Thursday or Wednesday or whatever day. Innovation is nothing without courage to unleash it. Entrepreneurial empowerment strategies and secrets for success out March 19th, 2025. Thanks to me honest for tuning in. Go to Goodrease.com, Forteous, Christch, Christvast.

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