Reinventing a Health Movement: From Ketocon to Hack Your Health

Robin, it's such a pleasure to get some time with you because now we've known each other like 3 years or more, and I actually don't know your story. And I know— I do know though, it's a, it's a very interesting and beautiful story of healing, so I can't wait to share it. Um, Hack Your Health events, how did that start? I know when we first met it was called KetoCon, but how did you get into that?

Uh, okay. Well, I had struggled with my health and my weight for a really, really long time, and I discovered, uh, the Atkins diet and started down the path of low carb and eventually discovered the ketogenic diet. And, um, at the time I was a corporate banker And kind of burned out and looking for a way to kind of translate my skill set and use it in a different field. And I was in a ketogenic Facebook group. There was a post for a program manager in this group. I had no idea what it was for. I had no idea what that meant, or even if I had the skill set to do it. But I answered the post, and I met a gentleman named Brian Williamson who had. started a company called Keto Evangelist, and, um, we called it building a keto empire. And he told me what he had in mind, what he was trying to build, and 30 days later I jumped ship at corporate America.

Wow.

To work with Brian on building this keto empire, and I really didn't even know what that meant. So I had never been an entrepreneur. I had always worked for other people my whole life, and So Brian and I started conceptualizing what we could turn Keat Evangelist into. And one of the first things we had decided to do was a live event. And I had never designed or produced a live event, but I had been a speaker at many, like, treasury management conferences when I was a banker. I had been involved in these big elaborate setups when they were sponsored, the bank was a sponsor of these events. So I kind of used that experience to back into doing live events. But this was really, I mean, my, I struggled probably for at least 20 years with the symptoms from insulin resistance and metabolic problems. I always just thought I had a weight problem. So it wasn't until after the fact when after I had discovered low-carb eating, after I had discovered the ketogenic diet, that I started to turn all these things that I had that I was struggling with around— depression, severely food addicted, mainly sugar. And, you know, once I started turning these things around, I started feeling so much better. That's what kind of gave me the confidence to even consider that I could be doing something else with all these skills that I had developed over the years as a corporate banker. So anyway, Brian and I decided to do the first live event based on, you know, I built it based on my experience as a speaker and a vendor, and I knew what speakers and vendors expected from an event. So that's how we built the first KetoCon. That was in 2017. We had 39 exhibitors and 500-something attendees. And probably 30 speakers. And we were just so excited to, to be in an environment where we were around people that were all like-minded. Everybody was interested in what is all this with the ketogenic diet, and there's new research coming out, all these benefits of low-carb and keto-style eating. And so we right away signed up to do the event again, and So 2018 and 2019, each year we doubled in size. And so by 2020, we were getting ready to do KetoCon 2020, and now the event is KetoCon: The Science and Stories of Keto. We had grown to— 2020, we were scheduled to have 120 companies there, and we had close to 3,000 tickets sold. And then COVID happened. And so all of these different business lines and the event, everything that we had built came to a grinding halt. By that time, we had a, um, a, uh, a product that we sold online that was an MCT oil powder that was flavored but not sweetened, Ballistic Keto. We had a coaching division we had put together. We built a licensing site for keto food product manufacturers based on really strict keto guidelines. And so we had built a lot of different platforms and we were doing really well. But then COVID happened and everything came to a grinding halt. Brian said to me, we probably got 90 days and we're going to have to shut everything down. And I really didn't want to go back into banking. Brian had to— Brian had 2 kids to put through college. So he had to make a decision on doing something different. The problem is, is that, you know, the event was paid for. All these plans were in place. And it's January 2020. The event is scheduled for June.

Hmm.

So, like I said, I didn't want to go back into banking. I mean, I had no idea that we were going to be, you know, in lockdown for 2 years. Like, no, just the thought never even occurred to me. But Brian agreed to sell everything to me and I would take over and keep the company running while he went back to work. And, uh, so that's what we did. I very naively took everything over and tried to figure out, you know, what we would do to keep the things— keep things running, uh, until we could do our next live event. And that wasn't until 2022. So in 2022, we, um, we came back in 2022. I honored all of the exhibitors and ticket holders, everybody who had invested in the event. Unfortunately, that money— I never saw that money. That money was paid to Brian, paid to the company prior to the changeover of ownership. So I funded that comeback event with my 401.

Oh my gosh.

So yeah, that was a huge risk and probably not a very smart one. But it's just something that I've just— I've always felt really passionate about Helping people understand how important it is what you put in your mouth. Yeah, and I saw all the all the improvements in my own personal emotional and physical health, and I wanted to find a way to help other people find that to share that information. And everybody finds it from a different place, of course. So anyway, we came back in 2022, and you. You know, we were super excited about being back. Everybody that was there was very excited about being there. And if I recall, you were there in 2022, right? Yeah, because I remember the VIP dinner. You and I talked a lot during the VIP dinner. And when I got up to thank everybody, I like had an emotional breakdown. I was crying because I was just so relieved that I was able to pull it all off again. And so anyway, when we were there in 2022, it was really clear to me that if I was going to keep this going and growing, that I was going to have to make some changes. And, um, I, I didn't really know how to do it. I didn't have, I didn't have, you know, the budget for to hire a marketing company to help me conceptualize all this. But Ryan and I— Ryan's my son, you know Ryan, who runs the exhibitor sales and the expo hall during the event— Ryan and I were on a road trip from Florida to North Carolina trying to figure out a new name for the event. And we came— Ryan came up with Hack Your Health, and to me that just, that, that really encompassed everything. You know, we had— we were KetoCon: The Science and Stories of Keto. I wanted— I, in my head, was trying to come up with a name for the event and a tagline, but Hack Your Health just seemed the perfect fit. So I right away went on GoDaddy in the middle of the night driving down the highway and bought the URL. And that's literally how we decided on our new name. The first year we came back as KetoCon by Hack Your Health. I'm sorry, yeah, KetoCon Hack Your Health. And then it was Hack Your Health by KetoCon. And then we dropped KetoCon completely and came back as Hack Your Health. And the event has just transformed into much more than just an event that focuses on nutrition. We've been able to bring in all different types, all different types of experts in different fields and bring in all areas of health. I'm trying to bring in as much as I possibly can, fit so much into like a 3-day experience where people can learn all of the different areas where they can improve their health and how it will impact their lives. So that's a very short version of how we got to where we are and I mean, it's been since 2017, so eight years.

Yeah, that's incredible. You know, what made you originally choose Austin for the?

Because Brian, Brian lived in Austin.

Okay, because for anyone that doesn't know, it's now moved to Florida, but that's where you live. So you've been there. You've been in Florida the whole time. It's just you. Yeah, I. I said this to you after the first year, and it's still consistent. In talking to you right now in this way, it makes sense. Like, as I get to know you more, it really makes sense. But that first event when it was KetoCon, and still even now when it's Hack Your Health, there's so much heart to the event. There's the community, the people that are there that you curate. they, they just feel so, so— I remember just that first year feeling it was very heart-centered and it also felt very connected, like that there was a community there. It wasn't just an event trying to get people to buy things and, you know, here, flashy this, flashy that. It's like, no, there was a community, a caring community there. How Do you notice that? Do you feel that?

Well, I mean, I really try to— I really try to encourage that. So, you know, one of the things I remember from the first year, the very first event we did, I was amazed at how the exhibitors and sponsors were collaborating with each other. And I thought, this is so far removed from my experience in corporate America, where at an event like this, they would be competing against each other. And that was really the start of all this for me. I wanted the companies that were there to work together to support each other, and that kind of just overflows into the attendees as well. I mean, when you're starting a health journey, it's very intimidating. And as you know, coming to this event, you'll see people there who you can tell they've recently been diagnosed or they're just beginning their health journey, all the way to people who have been in it for many, many years and are just interested in optimizing what they've already established. So my goal is to— for people to feel supported while they're there, and when they leave, to have connections, new friends, people who they can reach out to and work that they can reference as when they go home and try to incorporate all these different things that they've learned into their actual lives.

Yeah, I think, I think sometimes events— I'm thinking specifically of some of those biohacker events— they can be so intimidating, not only because, um, it feels sometimes like the cool kids, uh, events, but also because of the gadgets, the tech. It's just, they're huge, they're expensive, they're flashy, you know, it could just be overwhelming. And I definitely have felt that with the events, uh, where in terms of what you're saying, where it feels like a community, it— the people attending feel like they're being heard and seen, right? Um, there's real connections that happen, and, and they're just in general that camaraderie, the kindness that you, you feel. You feel it. You feel it as a vendor. I'm assuming you feel it as an attendee. So I think, I mean, all to say is I think you've really done a fantastic job. And obviously you wanna keep growing this, you wanna keep expanding and making, diversifying as much as you can. To that end, you just finished '25, we're now in '26 as you plan for this year. What do you anticipate or what are you hoping for at this year's event? Are you, how are you looking to expand your vision and deepen in the event?

I'd really like to bring in more experiences. I feel that people get more when, like, when they're engaged, but when they're physically a part of something. So for instance, when people attend a cooking demo, I feel that people really get a lot of value out of that. They're seeing how they can apply something in their own lives at home. When you sit in a sauna rather than reading about the benefits of sauna, you can understand the benefits. When you jump on— I don't know if— did you see the core equipment this year where you get strapped into the machine and you can actually test how strong your core is? I thought that was really fascinating.

Really cool.

I'd like to bring DEXA scans back and things like that. I mean, I try to bring as much of that kind of stuff into the event as possible for people to experience. Um, I also reach out to the ticket holders from this event, you know, from current events and past events to ask them, what do you want to learn more about? What are you interested in hearing more about? What types of companies would you like to learn more about? That kind of stuff. So, you know, we spend a lot of time trying to figure out what's not, not what's the latest hot topic, but what's going to bring the most value to people, what's really going to educate them without overwhelming them.

Yeah.

And I mean, I still have a banned ingredient list from, you know, from food products. So, you know, we've every year it's been a little bit different, the number of food product manufacturers that come into this come into the space. We've turned away so many because just based on their ingredients. I would really like— I'd really like to understand how people can feel really part of this community. I realize that coming to a big event like this can feel intimidating. So my goal is just to always improve that experience.

Yeah, I think that's a really noble and just great aspiration. I mean, because that is really the key is how do you take these big events but make them feel small, right? And personal. I'm curious, when you were going through, I mean, the journey Towards leaving corporate practice, towards going down this path, getting derailed by this planetary crisis, and then going about it on your own, how did you manage kind of your food stuff? Like, how did you manage diet during that time? Because that's usually when people fall off the wagon. Yeah.

Right. Well, you know, I've gotten to the point now where I really feel the effects of what I eat. And if I eat poor quality food, if I eat things that don't necessarily align with what I normally do, I feel it physically.

Yeah.

So, I mean, it was more of that kind of— that experience kind of made me dig my heels in even deeper. I mean, there was a lot of stress during those times. And so I spent a lot of time looking inside to try and figure out what do I really believe? Is what I'm doing really making a difference? And if it is, then the right things will fall into place. And They have. So managing my food has kind of been—that's really become second nature to me at this point. I don't really—I don't really think about it that much anymore.

It's—it's just part of who I am now. Yeah, that's really powerful. And yet you—do you feel like you're still fine? Like—like what would if you were to say your mission? What—what—what would that be?

I'd like to know that at this point in my life, working this hard, that what I'm doing is helping people. And I am really a firm believer that nutrition is the foundation for wellness. So if I can help people find what works best for them, Then I'll feel like I've made a difference, and and all of this will have been worth it.

Yeah, yeah, it's it, and and I can see how live events play into that because that that's how you see if it's making differences by that one-on-one interaction, seeing it on people's faces, feeling it in their energy. Yeah, that's that's. That's beautiful, Robin. I really encourage you to just keep going with it. You know, I think I really sometimes believe, like, I know it's to a degree, like, conferences are cutthroat. You know, I know that some of them, sometimes there's inadvertent disasters in terms of, like, events get planned on the same weekend intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes there's copycatters and people trying to steal ideas and steal attendees, things like that. So I know it can be a bit cutthroat sometimes, but I, I want to believe, and I have to believe that those people, um, that are true, true to their heart, that are, that, that really want to help, that, that, that cream will rise to the top. And, um, and that by just staying in it, continuing to move forward, that eventually, uh, you become that, that event that everyone is going to because everyone keeps hearing about how great it is. And, and I really wish that for you, you and Ryan.

Um, thank you.

And I'm really grateful that you guys have continued to be sponsors of Organuary, and I'm really excited for who wins the tickets this year. Maybe you can talk about that, what, what they're going to win, but I'm really excited for them, and I hope that they really make an effort if they don't live in Florida to go To the event, because, uh, I'll tell you right now, I was there in Florida in '25, and I had such beautiful interactions. Um, I'm thinking of one in particular, Dr. Stephanie Rimko.

Mm-hmm.

She was there to speak, and we had known of each other for many years. We'd interacted virtually, but we had never met. And I had such a beautiful connection with her in person, and that would not have been possible Had you not had her as a speaker at that event and I had not been there as a vendor. So I feel very grateful to you for that because that connection just really inspired me.

Mm-hmm. Well, I'm really happy to hear that. Stephanie actually was not there as a speaker this year. She was there as a guest. But I mean, I'd love to have her speak in the future.

Well, that's great. That's good to know. For some reason, I thought she was a speaker, but that tells you right there, well, the event attracted attracted her and made her interested in coming. So that's great.

Right, right. I'm really happy to hear that. I mean, those kind of— those kinds of connections are what this type of an event is really all about.

Yeah, yeah. So can you just speak briefly on the— what— so I think you're, you're providing 2 tickets to the event, and will it be— can you share where, where it will be and the dates?

Sure. Um, Hack Your Health 2026 will be November 13th, 14th, and 15th. At the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. Yeah. And those tickets provide access to the entire event for all three days and the virtual replay package, which includes all of the recordings of all the speakers that they can watch after the event if they don't make it to one or two of them. Fantastic. If they want to rewatch them.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. And that's that's a that that is such a great reward because if you do get overwhelmed when you're at the event, you could just rewatch and like really. Take notes, get granular with it. So that's great. Revisit.

One of the things I wanted to share with you is that based on our experience this year with this new venue, we are moving the expo down to the first level. So we're taking over the first level of the venue. So the expo hall and the main stage and the breakout rooms will all be in the same general facility. So people won't have to go upstairs and downstairs. Um, it's gonna, it's going to create much better foot traffic for, for the expo hall. And, um, that space downstairs, the pre-function space, the hallways, it's huge. So we'll actually be able to put booths, expo booths or tables in that pre-function space as well. So there's just going to be a lot of activities.

That's great. That's gonna, that's gonna really be great because that is, that is, it's always hard in a new space and you have to figure out what works. And so I think that says a lot that you're hunkered down in one spot, you know where the event is, you're thinking about what works the best for the attendees and the vendors and creates that really positive, educational, heartfelt event. I mean—

Right.

Hopefully, I have to just share, I mean, that's rare. It's rare that someone is always looking to make it better. Some people just find their status quo and just stay right there. So I really admire that that's, That's your intention. And I just am very excited for you and Ryan. I'm excited for whoever wins these tickets. It's going to be a great event. It was last year. It will continue to be. And it sounds like it will be even better when it's all on the same floor too.

So yeah, I think it's going to— I think it's going to improve the experience a lot.

Yeah. And it was beautiful weather, beautiful area. Yeah, I have nothing, nothing else to say but just help positive things. So Well, thank you again for your time.

Of course.

It's lovely hearing your story and I really— I have to say, like, seeing you in person, if ever anyone wonders, does this really work? Do these diets— does it really matter what we eat? Like, seeing you in person, I never would have known you struggled with your weight. I never would have known you struggled with your health because you don't emit that at all. You physically look fantastic. You, you glow in person. And so I think it's just a testimony of all that you've done and the power of food. So I think you really are living and breathing the power of food and what it can do when we make those kind of conscious choices.

It makes a tremendous difference. It really does.

Yeah. Well, thank you again, Robyn, and thank you all for joining us. I hope you've enjoyed this segment. Of Hack Your Health events, learning about Robin and Ryan and what the event is and and what you can expect. Definitely go to their website. You wanted to share what that is? We'll put it in the show notes as well. It's hackyourhealth.com. Yep, there you go. All right, thank you again, Robin. Thank you.