Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Kuklin.
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For the last 15 years i’ve owned my own food businesses but had to close down my bakery in June of 2024. It was a tough decision but a necessary one. Why should I keep going deeper and deeper into debt just to appease a few loyal customers? It was stressing me out and killing me slowly. Being Madame Shugah was my identity and I had no idea what my next move was, all I knew it was time for a change. 2024 was a tough year, my father passed away, my best friend kitty of 17 years passed away, my cousin who I grew up with like a sister passed away, my best friends husband passed away, my oldest friend lost her father, it was a year of death and I knew it was time for a rebirth in 2025.
In 2025 I became a substitute teacher and I also started my online confidence coaching business. My background is in psychology and it’s such a blessing how many people confide in me and tell me their most intimate thoughts and not fear judgement from me. That’s a gift and I had to do something with it. I can’t call myself a therapist because I’m not one, but I’ve noticed that at the very base of so many peoples problems, is lack of confidence and I decided it was time to help with that. I’ve spent years and years working on myself, my confidence, and my self worth. It was time to share my knowledge with others to help them achieve the confidence and happiness they deserve. I do online on one one coaching and when I’m not in school teaching this summer, my plan is to have workshops for small groups of women. I prefer working with women since I am one and the lady brain is far different than the dude brain. It’s so rewarding to hear feedback from my clients about the progress they’ve made and continue helping them to be their best and happiest selves.
I still bake, sometimes, but to be honest, I’m very burned out. Baking is my passion, i’ve done it since I was a teenager, but I would never want to start another food business. I say that as I started meal prepping for a select group of friends who reached out to me asking if I would be down to help them. Since I can’t work for a two full months during summer break, I have to take that into consideration and hustle as much as I can now to cover my costs in the summer. It’s stressful but I’m a proactive gal, I’ll make it work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Sometimes the road is smooth but most of the time it’s full of bumps and potholes. I’m thankful for each and every experience though, good and bad. Its really built my character and confidence. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a situation I can’t handle. My first few days at a substitute teacher I got thrown into South Central middle school and I handled it find, people didn’t know how I did it and i’m like, “Yo, trust me, i’ve experienced worse, but I can’t discuss those experience in a school setting, lol!” I’ve been to jail in another country, i’ve been deported from another country, i’ve been robbed at gunpoint by 5 dudes in my house, I had to make the call to take my mother off life support, trust me, I can handle South Central middle school. How you handle every situation just boils down to your mindset and perspective. I’m a positive person and try to see the lesson in everything good and bad. I’m thankful for each situation, life is for living!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At the end of 2021 I decided to get into powerlifting. I’ve always been a gym bro but I wanted to focus on the squat, bench, and deadlift. I started following the Barbell Brigade instagram account and I saw this dude, Stanley Murkland on there. I’m like, wait a minute, STANLEY MURKLAND FROM 24 HOUR FITNESS!!?!?! I remember him from years ago, he had a basketball player body but when I saw him on the BB page he was swole af!!! I went to his instagram and saw he was a powerlifting coach now. I emailed him and told him my situation and he took me on as an in person client. We worked together in person for a year and a half. I told him I never wanted to compete but he’s like, “Yo, you’re really strong, you should think about competing, it’ll be an interesting experience.” I’m glad I took his advice. The first federation I competed in I took the CA state records for squats, deadlifts, and the total. I then changed federations and did the exact same thing, so now I have the state records in two federations. Maybe I was meant to do this. I qualified for Nationals last year and took the National deadlift record and am ranked 3rd in the nation for my division. I thought that was pretty sweet. I’m also a referee in the federation I lift in. I really found my passion. The powerlifting community and Stanley Murkland saved my life. It was all I had during the most stressful and depressed time in my life, I honestly don’t want to think about what would’ve happened had I not had powerlifting. I plan on doing this for the rest of my life, it brings me such joy and happiness and the community at Barbell Brigade can’t be beat. I also started announcing at powerlifting meets and it’s such a blast! I love bringing the vibes and hype!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I mostly just read for entertainment but my favorite podcasts are the Slumflower Hour, Absolute Strength podcast, and the Late Braking F1 podcast since i’m really into formula one. My toxic trait is thinking i’d be a great race car driver, lol!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @madamesbd
