We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Bell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brian, we sincerely appreciate you joining us today and agreeing to talk about some very personal topics. So, to kick things off, let’s talk about a tough one – divorce. Can you talk to us about how you overcame divorce?
Well, first I recommend starting with the classics: denial, alcohol, and questionable rebound decisions.
In all seriousness, my divorce was the most painful and transformative event of my life, and I handled it about as gracefully as a wounded animal in a glass shop–lots of anger, drinking, blaming, and trying to distract myself with anything and anyone that wasn’t me.
At the time, I was doing everything I could to avoid looking inward. But eventually, after I’d burned through my pride, my home, my savings, and any sense of emotional stability, I was left sitting in the rubble with nothing but time to reflect. Ironically, that’s what finally pushed me to start my own business. I’d always wanted to, but never had the courage. Suddenly, with nothing left to lose, starting something new felt less risky than staying still.
Even after finding some success, though, I was still carrying around a lot of pain. I realized that it wasn’t just the divorce–I had been angry and unhappy for most of my life. Years of therapy helped me understand the roots of that pain, but I still didn’t feel like I had the tools to move forward. Eventually, I explored psychedelic therapy, which turned out to be a breakthrough for me. It helped me reconnect with myself and the world around me in a deeper way, and for the first time, I could see the patterns I’d been stuck in–and start to change them.
My divorce broke me open. But it also cracked open a door I’d been too afraid to walk through. It forced me to build something new, both professionally and personally. And while I wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone, I’m profoundly grateful for where it led me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I wear a couple hats, but they both serve a similar mission: helping people show up powerfully–whether it’s on camera or in their own bodies.
My first business is Rescue Media, a full-service video production company I founded in Alexandria, Virginia. We specialize in high-end storytelling–whether for brands, nonprofits, or national associations–and we pride ourselves on making our clients look polished, credible, and human. What sets us apart is our combination of big-picture strategy, authentic storytelling, and obsessively clean execution. From creative development to live-streamed productions to post-production polish, we handle the entire process in-house with a tight, talented team. And for every project we complete, we donate a portion to animal rescue foundations–a cause that’s deeply personal to me.
Most recently, I also co-launched Body Imperium, a next-generation fitness studio where world-class training meets advanced science and technology (think AI-powered resistance training and smart cardio). We’re not just trying to help people work out–we’re helping them reclaim strength, control, and sovereignty over their physical health, and it’s built for people who want maximum results in minimum time. It was born out of my own personal transformation and my partner’s decades of experience in fitness and body science. We’ve already seen it changing lives.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding both brands. For Rescue Media, we’re continuing to grow our creative partnerships and develop new offerings around livestreaming, branded content, and studio production. For Body Imperium, we’re rolling out self-guided training access, an educational content platform, and exclusive recovery tools. It’s a busy season–but a rewarding one.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three things have made the biggest difference in my life: resilience, storytelling, and the ability work work with people–not just manage them.
Resilience sounds like a buzzword, but it’s really about learning to sit with failure, uncertainty, and rejection without letting it crush you. I’ve had business go sideways, relationships fall apart, clients disappear, and projects flop. And still, the work continues. If you’re just starting out, don’t waste energy trying to avoid discomfort. Learn to embrace it, and you’ll outlast most of your competition.
Storytelling has been my superpower, both personally and professionally. Whether you’re pitching an idea, creating content, or explaining your brand, you have to know how to connect with people emotionally. That’s what moves people to truly listen and act. If you want to improve this, study great stories. Watch how they’re structured. Practice writing, speaking, and presenting your ideas clearly and with impact.
Lastly, working with people. Not just hiring, not just delegating–but really collaborating. Knowing how to read the room, support your team, build trust, and get people to believe in the vision with you. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about control–it’s about communication, emotional intelligence, and sometimes swallowing your ego. You can read all the books you want, but the best way to get better at this is by doing–put yourself in real situations and stay open to feedback.
Whatever you’re doing, the path forward isn’t linear. Learn how to hold your vision while staying flexible in the approach. And don’t forget–your mindset is more important than your plan.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
One book that really changed things for me was “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. It’s short, punchy, and absolutely brutal–in the best way. It forced me to take a hard look at how much of my life I was spending resisting the things I said I wanted to do.
The core idea is that there’s this invisible force–Pressfield calls it “Resistance”–that shows up every time you try to do something meaningful or creative. And your job, every single day, is to beat it. Not once, not forever, but daily. That concept hit me hard, especially during the early days of starting my business when I was waiting to “feel ready.” Spoiler: you never do.
One of the most powerful takeaways for me was: “Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate; it will seduce you. Resistance is always lying and always full of shit.” That line alone is worth the price of the book.
It helped me realize that action doesn’t follow motivation–motivation follows action. Show up, do the work, and let the clarity come later. I remind myself of that every time I’m tempted to procrastinate, overthink, or play small.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://therescuemedia.com/
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