The Cassandra Podcast

Today, on our latest episode of the Cassandra Podcast, Cassandra welcomes Kate Miller, the founder and CEO of Miss Grass. In this conversation, we talk about Gen Z's attitude around cannabis culture, how the industry is evolving as more states move to legalization, and other highlights from Cassandra's cannabis report, released today.

Today, on our latest episode of the Cassandra Podcast, Cassandra welcomes Eniola Kolawole, the Gen Z founder of EniThingIWant, an artist collective and creative agency. In this conversation, Eniola talks about the concept of “intuitive creation,” how to listen to your inner voice, and the importance of not settling when it comes to careers. Tune in for this chat that will inspire you to reimagine the future.

Today, on our latest episode of the Cassandra Podcast, Cassandra welcomes Naomi Shah, the founder and CEO of Meet Cute, a media company that produces modern, scripted rom-coms. What started as an audio series —  think “Sleepless in Seattle” reimagined for Gen Z and in podcast form — has recently expanded into video and written stories as well. Naomi talks with us about the value of feel-good storytelling, the importance of nuanced storylines, and the shift towards happily-for-nows rather than happily-ever-afters. She also touches on how her startup learned to build trust with their listeners through an emphasis on relatable characters and an inclusivity of all kinds of love. And with February 14 just a few weeks away, our discussion covers trends we're seeing for the upcoming Valentine's Day.

Today, on our latest episode of the Cassandra Podcast, Cassandra welcomes back Emily Albright Miller, Senior Vice President of Big Red Rooster. Listen in to gain inside knowledge on what's currently happening in the retail and QSR space, as well as some predictions and guidance for brands going into the holiday season. Miller shares some recent insights about how vital the human component is to a positive brand experience. In her research, Miller spoke to both consumers as well as workers about current labor shortages, brand expectations and the consumer journey. With assumptions that tech can fill some of these gaps, Miller explains why this may not be the right long-term strategy. This week, we're making a case for the human element as we guide listeners through the ripple effect these gaps can have. Big Red Rooster, a JLL company, is a multidimensional brand experience firm creating transformative human experiences that get results.

In today's Cassandra Podcast, we spoke with Jackie Hernandez and Oswald Mendez, co-founders of New Majority Ready about some of the biggest headlines and implications that are coming out of the 2020 US Census. The huge increase in the number of people that are multiracial and the fact that over 90% of the new generation of Hispanics is US-born, are two areas that we explore. As it is National Hispanic Heritage Month, we also discussed the concepts of heritage and identity, and what they mean for Gen Zs today. Lastly, Jackie and Oswald shared some examples of brands (including Vault by Vans x Frida Kahlo, Ulta, Fenty Beauty & Crocs) that are leading in this space. New Majority Ready's mission is to help companies realize the impact America's current Cultural Transformation has on their business and create a path that will lead to new sources of growth through the lens of the New Majority, through designing audience strategies that drive growth, developing content and storytelling for marketers to deliver brand messaging and helping evolve companies' culture and go-to-market strategies. More info about New Majority Ready is available here.  And see more of their perspectives on the 2020 Census here. To see the presentation that Cassandra and New Majority Ready shared at the recent Insights Association IDEA Forum, please visit  https://vimeo.com/580011727

On our newest episode of the Cassandra Podcast, Cassandra spoke with Todd Anderman, President, and Matthew Stanton, Head of Marketing, of Doing Things Media. Doing Things Media owns and operates 25 of the most meme famous handles across social media such as @animalsdoingthings, @middleclassfancy and more. With clever content aligning to top trends, their accounts have amassed roughly 60 million followers. Listen in as we go “behind the meme,” discussing the definition of a meme, the evolution of memes into new industries, and the future of meme culture. We'll also learn how brands can craft share-worthy imagery to Millennial and Gen Z audiences, content that not only makes them feel understood, but happier and more connected with their friends.

On this week's episode, Maryam Ahmed, President & CEO of Maryam + Company, joins Cassandra's Kathy Sheehan and Michael Corti to discuss commitment to equity and diversity in the wine and food industry.

On this week's episode, Kathy Sheehan and Michael Corti of Cassandra are joined by Sharon Kevil, Founder + CEO of Forti Goods and Tekisha Harvey, Co-founder of CannaCurious. 

Featuring Kathy Sheehan, Chanon Cook, and Michael Corti on why segmentation is important. Cassandra's segments uncover the unique personalities and perspectives contained within each generation, because when brands understand the key consumer archetypes within these groups, they can more effectively create for, communicate, and engage with each of them. Cassandra has divided the populations of Gen Zs into parts, or as we refer to them—segments, which are definable, accessible, and most importantly, actionable.

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Chanon Cook, Cassandra's Vice President. Chanon and Nina unpack Cassandra's latest report on Gen Z segmentation and get to explore some of these segments individually.  Cassandra's segments uncover the unique personalities and perspectives contained within each generation, because when brands understand the key consumer archetypes within these groups, they can more effectively create for, communicate, and engage with each of them. Cassandra has divided the populations of Gen Zs into parts, or as we refer to them—segments, which are definable, accessible, and most importantly, actionable.

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by David Stroud, Founder and President of Pivot Coldbrew, which was featured in this Thursday's Cassandra Daily on new adaptogenic and nootropic coffee drinks. David gives us his insight into the brand's "chillbrew" coffee beverage, which encompasses a precision-crafted blend of cold brew, adaptogens, and nootropics with clinically proven benefits. The result is smart, stable energy with no jitters or caffeine crash, and it's packaged in a handy, ready-to-drink format.

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp recaps fintech initiatives geared toward increasing Gen Z's financial literacy, innovative fragrance tech, an update on sports amid the ongoing pandemic, and qualitative data around young people's entertainment habits. 

On this week's episode (the first of the new year!), our host Nina Rupp is joined by Russell Barnett, the Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer of My/Mochi Ice Cream. Russell and Nina explore all aspects of the My/Mochi brand, which is currently America's fastest-growing frozen novelty that owns 80% of the mochi ice cream category in retailers and 98% of the category in convenience stores. In three years on the market, My/Mochi products are available in over 30,000 retailers including 7-Eleven, Wegmans, Walmart, Target, Kroger and Publix, and the company is doing around $175 million in retail sales annually, which is projected to double in the next two years. 

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Brad Marks, the CMO of Som Sleep. Som is a sleep drink that's engineered to help consumers fall asleep faster and sleep better throughout the night, and Brad and Nina talk all about the beverage, why sleep hygiene is absolutely essential, and even unpack some Cassandra research around health and sleep that further supports Som's market positioning.

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Emily Albright Miller, Vice President of Strategy & Insights at Big Red Rooster, a JLL company. Emily shares some truly can't-miss insights around consumer behavior as it relates to retail and shopping in light of the pandemic, and Nina and Emily outline three major areas of trend acceleration happening in this vertical. Big Red Rooster, a JLL company, is a multidimensional brand experience firm creating transformative human experiences that get results.

Our host Nina Rupp recaps this week's Cassandra Dailies, covering innovative healthcare models that are growing amid the Covid-19 pandemic, better-for-you baking mixes, next-gen interconnected fitness platforms, and content collectives known as TikTok houses. 

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Michael Corti, Cassandra's VP of Business Development. Michael shares insights around the polarization affecting today's Gen Zs (captured in this Cassandra Daily article on how modern young adults feel about last week's presidential election) and Cassandra's quant-based segmentation.

Our host Nina Rupp recaps this week's Cassandra Dailies, which include exciting agtech innovations that will redefine the future of farming, new diversity and equity training programs, the rise of virtual floral arranging classes, and brands' Halloween initiatives, which celebrate "Spooky Season" amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Christopher Skinner, Founder and Principal at School House. Chris and Nina take a deep dive into the topic of what crowdsourced beauty looks like and means today (spoiler alert: it looks a lot more like emotional and purpose-driven brand conversations). Chris possesses a wealth of knowledge around the topic, and he lends us valuable insights from his experience and his multi-disciplinary background.  School House is an NYC-based beauty branding agency that specializes in cut-through strategy, engaging creative and immersive environments for the world's most in-demand beauty brands.

Our host Nina Rupp recaps buzzy cross-industry shoe collabs, language learning apps, Gen Z-led social media networks, and what our Cassandra Collective members say about the modern day voting process. 

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Kathy Sheehan, Cassandra's Senior Vice President. Kathy and Nina explore Cassandra's two latest reports, The Race & Activism Report and The Everyday Equality Report, surfacing and discussing key insights within both.

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Keith Eshelman, the co-founder and CEO of Parks Project. Keith recorded his segment from a yurt in his backyard (seriously... how cool is that?) and he and Nina explore everything about the standout for-profit business, which was created solely to give back to our national parks. Parks Project was featured in the Cassandra Daily Newsletter in a roundup of cause-oriented merch, and just hit a milestone of giving $1 million back to national parks back in August. Not only does each collection of Parks Project apparel help fund any number of projects in our national parks—including vital wildlife conservation efforts, trail restorations, visitor education and more—but the merch is dope: it's vintage-inspired (there's tons of 70's and 80's inspired graphics and details), taps into 2020's tie-dye craze, and is perfect for wearing around the house between those socially-distant outdoor adventures.

On this week's episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Jia Yee Ni, Director of Production and Design at Kordal, a sustainable womenswear brand that's based in Brooklyn. Jia Yee and Nina take a deep dive into what it truly means to be a sustainable brand, how that looks during the pandemic, and shifting consumer attitudes and behaviors around ethical consumption.

Our host Nina Rupp is joined by Ari Bloom, Founder and CEO of A-Frame Brands. A-Frame's first brand, Keeper, was featured in a Cassandra Daily roundup of refillable and sustainable personal care brands that were selected for their innovative approach to mitigating single-use plastic and water waste. Ari and Nina discuss the larger whitespace for brands to address these pressing issues and outline exactly how Keeper and A-Frame are doing just that. Ari has a noteworthy background in fashion, tech, and even food, and his insights as they relate to multiple verticals as well as the topic at hand are not to be missed.

Our host Nina Rupp recaps smart cycling accessories, at-home photoshoots from major fashion brands, and new avocado treats. 

Our host Nina Rupp recaps chicken nugget news you didn't know you needed, home hygiene products, wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles, and creative outdoor workout classes. 

We have a very profound episode this week: our host Nina Rupp is joined by CJ Wallace, son of The Notorious B.I.G., and Willie Mack, two of the cofounders of Think BIG. Think BIG is a social impact company that advocates for cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and the reinvestment in communities most affected by the over-policing of marijuana. CJ and Willie discuss these critical endeavors while also giving insight into how brands can join them in the fight for human rights and social justice during this pivotal time.

Our host Nina Rupp is joined by Muhammad Saigol and Erik Rauterkus, the co-founders of July. July is a direct-to-consumer (DTC) air conditioner brand that Fast Company described as “the Warby Parker of air conditioners.” This label is pretty on-the-nose, for July offers an air conditioner that is designed around both the user experience of installing and using a window AC and a more modern, appealing aesthetic. July was featured in Cassandra Daily a few weeks back, and Nina, Muhammad, and Erik discuss all facets of this exciting and disruptive brand.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by Ferrell McDonald, the Chief Marketing Officer of GoldieBlox. GoldieBlox is an award-winning, mission-driven company fighting to close the gender gap in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) by equipping girls with tools—including awesome toys, games, and entertainment—to build their confidence and pursue their dreams. GoldieBlox's Curiosity Camp was recently featured in Cassandra Daily, and Nina and Ferrell fully explore this exciting initiative.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by Cassandra's designer, Teena Homes. Teena is such an integral part of Cassandra Daily, and she lends her lovely personality and interesting insights to the Daily topics of the week, which include data-driven weight loss gadgets, brands launching virtual summer camps for kids, the rise of hand masking, and some creative craft beer initiatives in the era of Covid-19.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by the inimitable Meika Hollender, founder and president of Sustain. Meika tells us all about the brand, which offers consumers shame-free and natural products for periods & sex, and highlights Sustain's latest initiative to redefine modern sex education, which you can learn more about at www.sexpectmore.com. 

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp recaps the three Dailies from this short holiday week: cross-industry brands offering shade-inclusive products, cacao fruit-flavored beverages, and restaurants using creative isolation techniques to protect patrons during the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information on this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by Kade Hall, Cassandra's Director of Insights and Research. Kade and Nina unpack quantitative and qualitative research around youth and Pride Month, which was featured in Thursday's Cassandra Daily.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by the dazzling Marcia Kilgore, serial entrepreneur and founder of Bliss Spa, Fit Flop footwear, and most recently, Beauty Pie, for an in-depth conversation about the disruptor beauty brand and why consumers so readily turn to beauty in times of crisis. 

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by the brilliant Kadie Yale, Design Historian and Theorist. Kadie and Nina unpack the future of work and the future of the workplace itself, a topic that we explored in The Education, Work & Success Perspective, Cassandra's latest report in our Life Interrupted: Cassandra Special Edition series. Listeners who want to reach out to Kadie can find her at www.designologyco-op.com, and those who are interested in Cassandra membership can email Michael.Corti@cassandra.co.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp recaps the three Dailies from this short holiday week: telemedicine startups servicing women's contraceptive needs, wellness-oriented hard seltzers, and denim brands tackling water conservation initiatives. For more information on this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by the brilliant Lesley Eccles, the founder and CEO of relationship training app Relish. Lesley and Nina discuss all aspects of the app and why it's so important to prioritize sustained relationship maintenance, especially right now in the era of Covid-19. Cassandra has further explored this topic in depth in our Relationship & Community Perspective report as part of our Life Interrupted: Cassandra Special Edition series, which covers youth attitudes and behaviors under Covid-19.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by two of the creatives behind the 'Indoor Fashion' quarantine merch featured in Tuesday's Daily, titled Stay In, In Style: Antoine, who is one of the founders of multi-disciplinary French creative studio Services Généraux, and Gautier, who brought the creative vision behind the merch to life.  

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by Melanie Shreffler, Vice President at Cassandra. They discuss Life Interrupted, Cassandra's new series of biweekly special edition reports that dispense insights, current trends, and future implications for brands and marketers in the Covid-19 era based on Cassandra's ongoing research among Millennials and Gen Z. For more information on becoming a Cassandra member and accessing these reports, please email Michael.Corti@cassandra.co.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp recaps three Dailies from the week: brands hosting live proms, graduations, and weddings, skincare products that protect against overexposure to blue light, and new, crispy 'skin snacks.' For more information on becoming a Cassandra member and learning more about what's explored in this podcast, please email Michael.Corti@cassandra.co.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp recaps three Dailies from the week: TikTok trends in an era of quarantine, artisanal chocolate bars made with extra virgin olive oil, and brands helping our healthcare heroes, who are fighting Covid-19 on the front lines. For more information on becoming a Cassandra member and learning more about what's explored in this podcast, please email Michael.Corti@cassandra.co.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp recaps a lighter topic—CBD ice cream—before she's joined by Josh Weichhand, the Managing Director of Marketing for Chaco. Nina and Josh chat about Chaco's Covid-19 Crisis Response, as the brand has pivoted to producing protective masks to mitigate the shortage of PPE. For more information on becoming a Cassandra member and learning more about what's explored in this podcast, please email Michael.Corti@cassandra.co.

For our season 6 kickoff, Nina Rupp hosts two very special guests in an episode that is packed with information surrounding various Covid-19 reporting and insights. First, Nina catches up with Tessa Clark, a Project Runway alum who also designs her own brand, Grind and Glaze, which she sells at Idlewild, Tessa's exquisite, multi-brand boutique. Tessa and Nina delve into Christian Siriano's PPE initiative (Siriano mentored Tessa on Project Runway) and discuss all things fashion in the time of Covid-19. Next, Nina is joined by David Albert, Managing Director of Engine Insights, who shares intergenerational insights from CARAVAN® omnibus surveys, which quickly capture insights from thousands of people around the globe. For more information on becoming a Cassandra member and learning more about what's explored in this podcast, please email Michael.Corti@cassandra.co.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is once again joined by Danielle Hemsley, Cassandra's Director of Research Strategy. The two discuss Cassandra's latest qualitative insights around Covid-19. Nina also introduces Cassandra's latest report, The Purpose & Polarization Report, which launched yesterday. For more information on becoming a Cassandra member and accessing our syndicated reports, please email Michael.Corti@cassandra.co.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by Danielle Hemsley, Cassandra's Director of Research Strategy, who shares qualitative insights around Covid-19. As the podcast pivots to incorporate Cassandra's research on the cultural effects and shifts brought on by this pandemic, let us know what you want to hear and learn about by emailing us at info@cassandra.co.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast, our host Nina Rupp recaps shoppable ad experiences, oat milk chocolate bars, museum-inspired brand experiences, and brands launching initiatives that help consumers get off their devices and get outside. For more information on the rest of this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast, our host Nina Rupp recaps new social media platforms, some seriously foodie footwear (including KFC's fried chicken Crocs!), automakers debuting electric trucks and SUVs, and a quick rundown of Thursday's Daily, where we asked youth in the Cassandra Collective what they thought about brands getting behind #IWD. For more information on the rest of this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Rachel Tipograph, founder and CEO of MikMak, an e-commerce platform for multichannel brands (which we recapped in Thursday's Daily). Rachel drops some serious insight: we get into how she started MikMak, pivoted MikMak's model from consumer- to -business-facing, and the challenges brands face when playing in this space today—and how MikMak is addressing these very pain points. For more information on the rest of this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast, our host Nina Rupp recaps new at-home workout tech, the proliferation of travel planning apps, and social media influencer incubators. For more information on this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.

On this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Colleen Wachob, the co-founder of mindbodygreen. Mindbodygreen is a wellness media company that was included in Monday's Daily on brands launching beauty- and wellness-focused supplements. Nina and Colleen chat about supplements+, mindbodygreen's new line of supplements, and the wellness space in general. For more information on the rest of this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.

For the first birthday of the podcast, as well as our 50th (!) episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by the original co-founder and co-host of The Cassandra Daily Podcast: Meredith Hirt. They recap ear piercing and tattoo startups, this past Sunday's Super Bowl ads, fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes, and new discreet smart tech that debuted at CES 2020. For more information on this week's topics, visit https://www.cassandra.co/daily.