About Elle Russ

#1 Bestselling Author and Expert in Confidence and Thyroid Health

Elle is the #1 bestselling author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution and Confident As Fu*k, and the screenwriter of the award-winning documentary film Headhunt Revisited.

Her expertise has been featured in Entrepreneur, Success Magazine, Podcasting Magazine, HuffPost, Mind Body Green, and more.

 My life and career have been defined by reinvention—and an unrelenting commitment to turning obstacles into opportunities.

From Silicon Valley Corporate Professional to Creative Performer

Fresh out of college in my early 20s, I thrived as a top Silicon Valley technical recruiter during the tech boom, managing multiple Fortune 500 accounts and generating millions in revenue—until a repetitive strain injury left me with a permanent hand/arm disability. Overnight, I became “unemployable” in the conventional sense—so severe that California rated me as 40% disabled.

Rather than give up, I leaned into my voice and creativity, pivoting into voice-over, acting, and comedy. I trained at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater, performed at Chicago’s legendary Second City, and later became a mainstage performer at ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood. I wrote and performed sketch comedy, acted in TV and film, and penned the award-winning documentary Headhunt Revisited.

Author & Expert 

I got hit with another setback in 2004: severe hypothyroidism left me suffering with over 30 debilitating symptoms. Frustrated by ineffective mainstream treatments and being dismissed by doctors, I became my own health advocate—researching, self-testing, and ultimately healing myself without a doctor. That hard-won journey led me to write the #1 bestselling The Paleo Thyroid Solution in 2016, and later create The Ultimate Thyroid Course, the most comprehensive thyroid program of its kind - along with privately coaching clients around the globe.

A few years later, Confident As Fu*k was published and I created The Ultimate Confidence Course among other empowering resources for building self-esteem and gaining the confidence to pursue your dreams.

Coaching High Achievers & Thought Leadership 

In 2012, Mark Sisson invited me to join his company, The Primal Blueprint & Primal Kitchen, where for nearly a decade I helped shape the paleo health movement while coaching high-achievers on optimizing their health and confidence.

As a coach, I merge my diverse background—including a philosophy degree, health and mindset expertise, and 2,500+ coaching hours—to help clients reframe limitations, cultivate confidence, reclaim their health, and build resilient, joyful lives.

I also host The Elle Russ Show, publishing solo episodes and interviews with thought leaders on health, wealth, and wisdom.

 Life Outside of Work 

When I’m not working, you’ll find me hiking the Santa Monica Mountains, at the beach in Malibu, watching comedy, or hanging with my family (and doggie) in our Southern California home.