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Welcome back to Coffee with a Journalist! Today, we're joined by Chandler Plante, Assistant Editor of Health and Fitness at PopSugar, for a caffeine-fueled chat on media pitches, wellness trends, and how she manages a packed inbox. Chandler shares PopSugar's new editorial focus on women's wellness, what makes a pitch stand out (hint: be specific and authentic), and how social media shapes her content planning. Whether you're a publicist or just curious about life behind the scenes at a major digital outlet, this episode is full of sharp insights and practical tips. Pour a cup and tune in!
It could be argued that agents of capitalism have built the patriarchal system as a means to keep both men and women controlled and in line. But what if we broke free? What would happen to sex, love and freedom then? Dr. Kate Balesteri joins us to discuss what patriarchy actually is, how it hurts all genders, and how we (men, women and every gender) can take back our agency while heightening our authenticity and consciousness. You can find Dr. Kate Balestrieri at: https://www.modernintimacy.com/dr-kate-balestrieri-sex-therapist/ Facebook http://facebook.com/dr.katebalestrieri http://instagram.com/drkatebalestrieri Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@drkatebalestrieri Dr. Kate Balestrieri"s Bio: Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., CSAT-S, is a Licensed Psychologist (Clinical and Forensic) in CA, FL, NY and IL. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist – Supervisor, and PACT III trained couples' therapist. Dr. Balestrieri earned her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, and completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship though the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. In over 16 years of clinical experience, she has conducted clinical and forensic evaluations, provided expert witness testimony in court, and been a treatment provider in clinical, forensic, and correctional settings. The Founder of Modern Intimacy, Dr. Balestrieri is a passionate advocate for mental, relational and sexual health. Throughout her work, Dr. Balestrieri focuses on helping people build resilience and recovery from what ails them to move from a position of pain or discomfort to one of thriving, holistically in their lives. A sex positive provider and human, Dr. Balestrieri is dedicated to helping people have a more expansive and integrated relationship with sexuality. Dr. Balestrieri is a regular contributor for PopSugar, Poosh, YourTango, Psychology Today, House of Wise and has been featured in many other publications. She is also the host of the Get Naked with Dr. Kate podcast, on which she discusses mental health, sex and relationships. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or anywhere you get your podcasts! How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Book referenced: How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Book referenced: What Happened to My Sex Life?: A Sex Therapist's Guide to Reclaiming Lost Desire, Connection, and Pleasure by Dr. Kate Balestrieri Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
Is altering your state of mind the key to deeper connection and high performance? In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell talks with the “Father of Biohacking” and Founder of Bulletproof Coffee, Dave Asprey, about how meditation, biohacking, and consciousness boost personal growth and improve relationships. Drawing from his new book Heavily Meditated, Dave shares tools like the “reset process” to clear emotional triggers, and explores how sexual energy deepens intimacy. He also explains how brief moments of discomfort can boost motivation. This conversation is full of practical tips to help you heal, connect, and perform better (in the bedroom and in your life). Also in this episode: Biohacking & Mindfulness – How meditation and awareness boost your success and growth. Heavily Meditated – Dave Asprey's new book on using altered states for personal transformation. The Reset Process – A simple method to clear emotional triggers using gratitude and forgiveness. Sexual Energy & Intimacy – How desire and vulnerability deepen connection and expand consciousness. Short Bursts of Discomfort – The use of brief, intentional pain to boost motivation and mental strength. About The Guest: Dave Asprey is the founder of Bulletproof Coffee, The Bulletproof Diet, the entire biohacking movement, and is often referred to as “The Father of Biohacking.” Dave is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and author of the forthcoming book, Heavily Meditated: The Fast Path to Remove Your Triggers, Dissolve Stress, and Activate Inner Peace (Harper Collins, May 2025). He is the CEO of Upgrade Labs, and host of an award-winning top 100 podcast, The Human Upgrade (formerly Bulletproof Radio). A renowned leader in furthering the longevity movement, Dave's vision and collaborative work with renowned medical professionals, researchers, and innovative trailblazers has paved the way for groundbreaking ideas, techniques, and consumer products to improve mental and physical performance. Dave has been featured on hundreds of media outlets including: The New York Times, ABC/Nightline, Fox News, Real Simple, Inc., Fast Company, Vogue, PopSugar, Refinery29, New York Post, GQ, First for Women, Newsweek, Mashable, Financial Times, Forbes, AskMen, TODAY , CNN, Wired, Good Morning America, Bloomberg, and more. Get his book, Heavily Meditated here: https://amzn.to/4kRtii9 Learn More about Dave Asprey: https://daveasprey.com/ Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: Website | Linkedin | Instagram Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl Download the first chapter of Dr Alexandra's bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra's proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully: www.alignedhotmarriage.com Join Dr. Alexandra's email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights and opportunities to learn with her: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By: Simplified Impact
Is altering your state of mind the key to deeper connection and high performance? In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell talks with the “Father of Biohacking” and Founder of Bulletproof Coffee, Dave Asprey, about how meditation, biohacking, and consciousness boost personal growth and improve relationships. Drawing from his new book Heavily Meditated, Dave shares tools like the “reset process” to clear emotional triggers, and explores how sexual energy deepens intimacy. He also explains how brief moments of discomfort can boost motivation. This conversation is full of practical tips to help you heal, connect, and perform better (in the bedroom and in your life). Also in this episode: Biohacking & Mindfulness – How meditation and awareness boost your success and growth. Heavily Meditated – Dave Asprey's new book on using altered states for personal transformation. The Reset Process – A simple method to clear emotional triggers using gratitude and forgiveness. Sexual Energy & Intimacy – How desire and vulnerability deepen connection and expand consciousness. Short Bursts of Discomfort – The use of brief, intentional pain to boost motivation and mental strength. About The Guest: Dave Asprey is the founder of Bulletproof Coffee, The Bulletproof Diet, the entire biohacking movement, and is often referred to as “The Father of Biohacking.” Dave is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and author of the forthcoming book, Heavily Meditated: The Fast Path to Remove Your Triggers, Dissolve Stress, and Activate Inner Peace (Harper Collins, May 2025). He is the CEO of Upgrade Labs, and host of an award-winning top 100 podcast, The Human Upgrade (formerly Bulletproof Radio). A renowned leader in furthering the longevity movement, Dave's vision and collaborative work with renowned medical professionals, researchers, and innovative trailblazers has paved the way for groundbreaking ideas, techniques, and consumer products to improve mental and physical performance. Dave has been featured on hundreds of media outlets including: The New York Times, ABC/Nightline, Fox News, Real Simple, Inc., Fast Company, Vogue, PopSugar, Refinery29, New York Post, GQ, First for Women, Newsweek, Mashable, Financial Times, Forbes, AskMen, TODAY , CNN, Wired, Good Morning America, Bloomberg, and more. Get his book, Heavily Meditated here: https://amzn.to/4kRtii9 Learn More about Dave Asprey: https://daveasprey.com/ Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: Website | Linkedin | Instagram Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl Download the first chapter of Dr Alexandra's bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra's proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully: www.alignedhotmarriage.com Join Dr. Alexandra's email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights and opportunities to learn with her: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By: Simplified Impact
Aaron Nosbisch is the founder and CEO of BRĒZ, a cannabis social tonic beverage designed as an alcohol alternative that offers a euphoric, feel-good effect without the downsides of alcohol. He built his expertise in e-commerce from an early age, launching multiple internet brands and scaling previous ventures like MONQ (portable aromatherapy diffuser, 0 to $15 million in three years as CMO), and running Lucyd Media, the world's largest cannabis social advertising agency, which run 80% of meta ads for the cannabis space.In this episode, Aaron and Blaine explore how BRĒZ identified untapped demand, iterated their product to solve a genuine founder problem, and brought it to market with precision: leveraging lean startup methodology, subscription-first landing pages, micro-batch production, effective founder-led UGC creative, and meticulous customer service. They discuss cash flow realities, funding first runs, the role of retention in beverage DTC, and how direct-to-consumer momentum powers retail expansion and shelf velocity. Aaron also shares transparent insights on ad spend, internal ops, and the principles that fuel brand growth.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Pillars of a Successful DTC Brand2. Challenges of Scaling Beverages DTC3. Early Stage Funding and Resources Management4. Supply Chain Processes in Product Launches5. Team Building, Finding the Right Partners6. Pre-Launch and Launch Strategies7. Testing and Iterating Ad Campaigns8. Founder-Led Content in Advertising 9. Guerrilla Strategies for Audience and List Building10. Media Buying, Optimizing CAC, and Scaling Spend11. Building AOV, Subscription, and Retention12. Customer Feedback and Iteration Cycles13. Importance of Timing and Market ReadinessTimestamps00:00 Introducing Aaron and BRĒZ05:06 The “alcohol alternative” white space and product vision13:21 Launching a DTC beverage: initial capital and inventory20:32 Validating demand, managing resource constraints25:44 First ads and sales: founder content, guerilla tactics34:07 Early CACs, ad budgets, and optimizing for LTV38:22 E-commerce vs retail: channel mix and growth phases46:50 Key takeaways & where to follow Aaron and BRĒZShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokAaron Nosbisch - Founder and CEO of BRĒZBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Marin Ištvanić is a partner at Inspire Brands, a boutique agency focused on paid social ads, primarily on Facebook and Instagram. He has personally spent over $150 million on Facebook ads for clients and internal brands, successfully scaling Inspire's own brand to $30 million in revenue by their third year.In this episode of DTC Pod, Marin shares his insights on growing brands profitably through paid social. He discusses the importance of achieving product-market fit, crafting compelling offers, and understanding unit economics. Marin also details his agency's creative testing process and how to efficiently scale winning ad angles from static images to videos to landing pages.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Achieving Product-Market Fit2. Scaling Brands through Facebook Ads3. Product Differentiation4. How to Craft a Compelling Offer5. Subscription Products and Pricing Strategies6. Landing Pages for Facebook Ads7. Advertorials and Third-Party Content for Ads8. Whitelisting and Leveraging External Trust in Ads9. Ad Format Mix and Budget Allocation10. Advantage+ Campaigns and AI11. Scaling Ad Creative Production12. Testing Ad Variations and HooksTimestamps00:00 Marin's background and joining Inspire Brands 04:48 Importance of product-market fit and differentiation 06:50 Creating demand vs picking an established market10:34 What makes an effective offer and how to craft one12:41 Subscription models and free trial strategies16:59 $1K/day spend as indicator of product-market fit 18:36 Choosing the right landing page for your product 25:07 Whitelisting strategies and organic-looking content27:48 Typical budget allocation across ad formats30:29 Facebook's Advantage+ campaigns and AI features 33:23 Strategies for scaling ad creative24:44 Final tips: know your numbers and when to spendShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokMarin Ištvanić - Partner at Inspire BrandsBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
In this episode, Tina chats with Kim Shapira, a celebrity dietician and founder of the Kim Shapira Method. Kim shares her journey from being a sick child to a functional nutrition expert, emphasizing the importance of understanding emotional triggers related to food. She outlines her six simple rules for sustainable health, covering topics like mindful eating, appropriate food portions, hydration, and sleep. The conversation also dives into gut health, the pitfalls of crash dieting, and fostering a positive relationship with food and the scale. Here's what you'll learn: - Why food is more than fuel - 6 simple rules for better health - The most challenging rule and why people struggle with it - Why feeling safe matters for health and weight loss - The real meaning of "eat what you love" and how to find balance without food rules or restriction - The connection between undereating, bloating, and constipation - Rethinking and improving your relationship with the scale This Is What You're Really Hungry For: https://rstyle.me/+6q7mC-oO1C03_Mo--8IXwg Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake Pinterest: Carrots 'N' Cake Hormone Testing & Nutrition Coaching https://www.pinterest.com/carrotsncake/ About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N' Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Reed Davis: https://www.kimshapiramethod.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kim-shapira TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kimshapiramethod Facebook: facebook.com/kimshapiramethod Twitter: twitter.com/kimshapira Instagram: instagram.com/kimshapiramethod About Kim Shapira: Kim Shapira M.S., R.D. is a celebrity dietitian, nutritional therapist, and author, with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Tulane University and a Master's degree in Human Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition from Boston University. Kim has spent over 25 years helping people lose weight and keep it off (with a giant emphasis on keeping it off), both in her private Los Angeles practice, in hospitals, sports clinics, addiction centers, and universities. When she's not helping her clients take back their relationship with food, she is a wife and mother of three children and three pups. Kim often appears as a guest expert for Yahoo!, Just Jenny, Sky News, Vanity Fair, Pop Sugar, and Podcasts, and will be happy to pop in and be a guest speaker for your book clubs.
Justin Sherlock is the co-founder and CEO of Caspian, an AI-native duty drawback platform designed to help brands navigate complex global trade and tariff environments. Prior to Caspian, Justin gained deep experience in finance and logistics at Flexport, where he led Flexport Capital, and previously had several years experience in private equity.In this episode, Justin breaks down the rapidly changing landscape of tariffs, duties, and global supply chains—especially relevant amid recent policy moves and volatile trade relations. He explains what customs brokers, tariffs, and duty drawbacks are, why these concepts matter for brands importing and exporting goods, and how most businesses are missing out on significant duty refund opportunities. Justin also offers real-world insights for DTC operators facing escalating tariffs, discusses strategies for mitigating increased costs, and shares how AI is making advanced trade advisory accessible beyond just Fortune 500 companies.Join us as a Guest on DTC POD: SUBMIT GUEST FORM HEREApply to join our DTC Pod Slack.On this episode we coverRising tariffs and global trade dynamicsSupply chain challenges for DTC brandsRole and importance of customs brokersDuty drawback: process and benefitsImpact of US-China tariff escalationTechnology and AI in trade complianceStrategies for brands to navigate tariffsTimestamps03:59 From Flexport to Caspian09:31 Customs Compliance11:11 Understanding Tariff and Duty Classification15:54 Trump's Tariff Strategy: A Provocative Move18:26 Debate Over Section 321 Provision22:46 "Supply Chain Opportunities and Challenges"25:03 Reshoring Critical Industries Strategy28:04 10% Tariff Impact on US Businesses32:53 Optimizing Supply Chain and Vendor Management36:22 Trade Predictions: Japan, Taiwan, India, Vietnam37:52 Geopolitical Isolationism and China's Rise41:41 "Navigating Duty Drawback Challenges"45:07 International Pricing and Tax Strategies48:07 Future of Supply Chain OptimizationPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokJustin Sherlock - Founder of CaspianBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
I'm your host and coaching teammate, Shauna Griffiths, and I'm grateful to bring you another conversation with an impactful leader. This edition features my dynamic, incredible friend - Dilan Gomih - making the case for well-being in the workplace. Dilan is a keynote speaker, human performance expert, and the founder of Dilagence, a company that empowers workforces to leverage the power of well-being as a performance strategy. Her work has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Insider, Oprah Daily, PopSugar, and PureWow. Having transitioned from finance to fitness, including working in management with world-renowned brands like Barry's and CrossFit, she made it her mission to break the myth that well-being and hard work are incompatible. She built Dilagence with the belief that physical, mental, and emotional well-being unlocks longevity in and out of the workplace. In addition to her work with Dilagence, Dilan is a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, a ForbesWomen contributor, and serves as a strategic advisor to the Initiative on Workplace Inclusion at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. She also enjoys ninja training and competed on American Ninja Warrior. This episode will give you new perspectives on well-being in the workplace for yourself and the people in your care. Within minutes of listening, you'll understand why I felt compelled to draft her as a official 2025 #LeadershipAthlete. Tune-in to also hear about: - Peak performance at work - Flexible wellness: Celebrating small wins - Prioritizing impact and joy - Starting your day with your breath vs your phone - Multitasking: The human challenge - Mind-body connection for productivity - And more! We hope you enjoy this episode, and we look forward to hearing your feedback! LEADERSHIP IS A SPORT & IT'S GAMETIME.
Today I am joined by Lydia Menzies! Lydia is known for her swoon-worthy table settings and her ability to connect the people that gather around those tables. Lydia knows that styling a fabulous table is a creative gift hostesses often love to share with others - and the goal of hospitality is creating a sense of happiness and belonging among the guests. Lydia is the 2025 Contributing Editor for table styling for Southern Lady magazine, and creator of The Supper Club community. Lydia is the author of her new lifestyle book, The Supper Club with Lydia Menzies. It is a gorgeous coffee table book full of tablescape ideas for year-round hosting! Lydia has been featured in Southern Living, BuzzFeed, GoodHousekeeping, Pop Sugar, among many others and has been asked to style for brands such as Martha Stewart for Staples, Breyers Ice Cream, Square, Mattel, Body Armor, and Netflix star, Julie McAllister. The Supper Club is Lydia's community that combines her passion of creative party themes with helping businesses claim the recognition they deserve. Lydia takes great pride in seeing everyone enjoy the benefits of kindness and camaraderie through creativity. Lydia lives in Athens GA with her husband and 2 golden doodles. She has a daughter and a son at Furman University.In this episode, Lydia and I talked about how she started blogging, the many amazing parties she has planned + executed, her community The Supper Club, her new book, and so much more! Lydia's WebsiteLydia's InstagramGreenville Humane Society Samaritan's Purse
Trying to figure out what you need to do to make your small business more ADHD-friendly? In today's episode, I sit down with ambitious outlier, Evan Sargent to discuss how she built a business that allows her to thrive, stand out from the competition and honor her ADHD attributes and gifts. With a background in graphic design and advertising, Evan transitioned from a fast-paced agency environment to the entrepreneurial world. Her company, Leap_Year Branding creates brand strategy and design for disruptive, service-based businesses, employing hyperfocused sprint days to deliver projects efficiently and collaboratively. Her innovative approach has been featured in Forbes, Crunchbase, Pop Sugar and more. Episode Highlights:Embracing ADHD in Business (00:00:01): Evan and I discuss the initial challenges and realizations that led her to work with an ADHD coach, ultimately embracing her unique brain to improve her business approach.Journey from Employee to Entrepreneur (00:00:50): Evan shares her transition from a career in advertising to freelancing, then to starting her own business, and how this shift allowed her flexibility and helped avoid burnout.Vision and Strategy with ADHD (00:21:15): Evan explains her innovative business model based on sprint days, eliminating inefficiencies she faced in traditional settings and how this dynamic approach leverages her ADHD traits.Overcoming Challenges as an ADHD Entrepreneur (00:11:37): This part of our conversation covers the struggle for structure after leaving traditional employment and the importance of having processes and support systems in place.Balancing Personal and Professional Life (00:16:15): Evan candidly discusses working with her husband, managing a household with three kids, and the personal growth she and her partner experienced through therapy and self-awareness.Future Endeavors and Adaptation (00:38:40): Evan shares her plans for evolving her business offerings, emphasizing business development as a new avenue, particularly in response to changing economic conditions.Fun fact about today's guest: Evan Sargent co-authored a book for young people called “We the People: the US Constitution Explored and Explained.” How timely is THAT? Connect with Evan Sargent:LinkedIn - Website - Contact Want to be part of the movement to help girls get identified with ADHD in childhood, instead of struggling for years before getting a “late diagnosis?” Join me in a mission to #FindTheADHDGirls by clicking on this link. © 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.
Trying to figure out what you need to do to make your small business more ADHD-friendly? In today's episode, I sit down with ambitious outlier, Evan Sargent to discuss how she built a business that allows her to thrive, stand out from the competition and honor her ADHD attributes and gifts. With a background in graphic design and advertising, Evan transitioned from a fast-paced agency environment to the entrepreneurial world. Her company, Leap_Year Branding creates brand strategy and design for disruptive, service-based businesses, employing hyperfocused sprint days to deliver projects efficiently and collaboratively. Her innovative approach has been featured in Forbes, Crunchbase, Pop Sugar and more. Episode Highlights:Embracing ADHD in Business (00:00:01): Evan and I discuss the initial challenges and realizations that led her to work with an ADHD coach, ultimately embracing her unique brain to improve her business approach.Journey from Employee to Entrepreneur (00:00:50): Evan shares her transition from a career in advertising to freelancing, then to starting her own business, and how this shift allowed her flexibility and helped avoid burnout.Vision and Strategy with ADHD (00:21:15): Evan explains her innovative business model based on sprint days, eliminating inefficiencies she faced in traditional settings and how this dynamic approach leverages her ADHD traits.Overcoming Challenges as an ADHD Entrepreneur (00:11:37): This part of our conversation covers the struggle for structure after leaving traditional employment and the importance of having processes and support systems in place.Balancing Personal and Professional Life (00:16:15): Evan candidly discusses working with her husband, managing a household with three kids, and the personal growth she and her partner experienced through therapy and self-awareness.Future Endeavors and Adaptation (00:38:40): Evan shares her plans for evolving her business offerings, emphasizing business development as a new avenue, particularly in response to changing economic conditions.Fun fact about today's guest: Evan Sargent co-authored a book for young people called “We the People: the US Constitution Explored and Explained.” How timely is THAT? Connect with Evan Sargent:LinkedIn - Website - Contact Want to be part of the movement to help girls get identified with ADHD in childhood, instead of struggling for years before getting a “late diagnosis?” Join me in a mission to #FindTheADHDGirls by clicking on this link. © 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.
Welcome to Episode 218 of Pelo Buddy TV, an unofficial Peloton podcast & Peloton news show. This week we cover the following topics: Peloton has named a new COO & made other leadership changes. There is a new class type: Rolling Hills. Peloton is launching a new power zone training program later this month. There is a new “You Can Run: 5K” training program. The new “Now Playing” collection will highlight classes each week. Peloton highlighted some classes in “This Week at Peloton” An artist series with Dr. Dre took place this week There are new apparel collections designed by Susie Chan & Emma Lovewell. Peloton gave away some free in-person classes via a social media contest. Peloton had an outage this week impacting the ability to take classes. Camila Ramon has started a podcast. Kirsten Ferguson was featured in PopSugar. Susie Chan's book has been nominated for an award. Class Picks of the Week Enjoy the show? Become a Pelo Buddy TV Supporter! Find details here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ You can find links to full articles on each of these topics from the episode page here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/pelo-buddy-tv-episode-218/ The show is also available via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PeloBuddy This episode is hosted by Amanda Segal (#Seglo3) and John Prewitt (#Kenny_Bania).
I just landed my first ever TEDx talk. How did it happen? What now?In this short mini marketing episode you'll learn:How to get invited to speak on stagesThe crucial thing you must do to be a speakerEVERY FRIDAY 5-MINUTE MASTER CLASSES IN MARKETINGEvery Friday I drop a very short (less than 5 minute) video marketing tip to help you level up your business while sipping your coffee!Please FOLLOW The Exit Interview with Kim Rittberg podcast and spread the word to your friends in person and on social! Follow Kim on Social:InstagramLinkedin YouTubeGrab the Freebies!10 Secrets to Making Video That Makes You MoneyHow to Get Speaking Gigs Through Content Meet Kim: Kim Rittberg runs an award-winning company that helps real estate agents & business owners grow their leads, income and credibility with video and podcasts. Before that, Kim was a TV news producer for a decade and trained thousands of people to be calm, cool and collected for live TV interviews. She also launched the digital video unit for Us Weekly leading to its $100 million sale, and was a video marketing executive at Netflix & PopSugar. She's been featured in Forbes and Fast Company, and speaks on stages across the country. Kim ditched corporate once she found herself working in the hospital delivery room as she gave birth (seriously!) and now she is committed to helping business owners, coaches, agents & consultants find your own balanced path and build a thriving business!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the spotlight is Yasmin Angoe, the Anthony-nominated author of the critically acclaimed thriller Her Name Is Knight of the Nena Knight series, which has been optioned for a television series. Her Name Is Knight has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, OprahDaily.com, POPSUGAR, Nerd Daily, the Washington Independent Review of Books, The Guardian, and other platforms. Yasmin Angoe is a first-generation immigrant from Ghana, Africa, and in 2020 received the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from the organization Sisters in Crime. We discuss: >> Finding an agent >> Letting the story incubate >> The sustainability of a series character >> The psychographics of Nena Knight >> Life in Ghana, Africa >> Obligations of a black female author >> Etc. Learn more about Yasmin Angoe here: https://yasminangoe.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com
Peter Czepiga is the founder of Flighted, an agency that helps DTC brands profitably scale their advertising on platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Google. He also runs his own brand, Ando. Flighted has worked with some of the most popular DTC brands spending between $50-300k per month on ads.In this episode of DTC Pod, Peter shares his strategies for launching and scaling profitable ad campaigns on Meta for DTC brands. He covers how much to spend to prove out product-market fit, what types of creative work best, his approach to audience targeting, and how AI is impacting ad creative production. Peter also explains how DTC ad tactics can be applied to other business models like SaaS.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Proving Product-Market Fit2. Setting up Ad Accounts for New Brands3. Budget and Assets Needed to Test Ad Creative4. Creative Strategies for Successful Ads5. AI in Ad Creative Generation6. Applying DTC Ad Tactics to Other Business Models7. Flighted's Agency Model and Client EngagementsTimestamps00:00 Peter's background in ecommerce and growth 04:08 What is takes to prove product-market fit with ads 09:57 Scaling ad budget after initial traction 13:32 What is Meta Advantage+ campaigns and when to use it16:10 How to manage ad frequency and exclusions19:31 Creative mix: formats, messaging, placements24:36 Messaging frameworks that resonate in ads27:43 Tips for sourcing and creating ad creative 32:31 AI-generated ad creative: potential and limitations 38:28 Applying D2C ad tactics to SaaS and other businesses 43:23 How Flighted works with clients 45:32 Wrap up; how to connect with PeterShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokPeter Czepiga - Founder of FlightedBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
ATTENTION: If you listened to this episode, there's a gift for you toward the end...but you have to listen to the end to find out what it is! And it's goooood. You're welcome, babe. ___________________________________________________________Marissa is the founder / creator of WKS! She grew up and went to school in Northern VA. Her love for fitness started young (competitive gymnast + dance team member!) She moved to Charlotte in 2011, after making the Carolina Panthers TopCats and is a CPT and nutrition specialist through ACE. She focuses her fitness studies on cardio/interval training, resistance training, ballet barre, and Pilates. Marissa experimented with these different fitness genres and developed the signature trademarked and patent pending WKS methodology, incorporating cardio, strength training, and Pilates into one dynamic workout! She's been featured as a fitness expert in major publications such as Men's Health, Popsugar, and Cooking Light Magazine! Marissa was also named one of Charlotte Agenda's “Top 10 Small Business Owners” in 2019. She has gone live on Instagram via Shape Magazine and Hollywood Life, showcasing the unique WKS workout with Sports Illustrated model, Olivia Culpo. The WKS curated methodology is used by the Carolina Panthers' TopCats, Miss USA, Miss Universe, and other prominent influencers and athletes to maintain peak performance. As the CEO of WKS, Marissa works with the management team to make corporate decisions, evaluates operational protocol, and navigates the strategic direction of the company.WKS is also a sponsor for the Topcats, so make sure to stop by and take a class to get in tip top shape for auditions!____________________________________________________You can follow Marissa @westkeptsecret and @mrswestisinthebuildingVisit https://westkeptsecret.co/ to book a class!
Welcome back to Cosmic Compass - the leading astrocartography podcast with your host, Helena! ☀️Today we're going to talk about timing in astrology, specifically understanding Saturn transits in astrology and what Saturn is here to teach us and WHEN! Let's tune into the cosmos
In this raw and real episode of The Crazy Ex-Wives Club, I sit down with award-winning writer, author, and speaker Rachel Sobel to talk about navigating the chaos of divorce and coming out stronger on the other side. We dive deep into the emotions, fears, and surprising realities of ending a marriage—and why it doesn't just stop when the paperwork is signed.
Rachel Sobel is an award-winning writer, author, speaker, do-over wife, mom to two girls, short-order cook, laundress, lunch packer, boo-boo kisser and chauffeur. She was awarded Romper's 2020 People's Choice Award at Mom 2.0 and is a two-time finalist for Parenting Blogger of the Year in the South Florida Blogger Awards. She's the creator and cohost of the lifestyle podcast, Friends Without Benefits, with co-host Dale McLean, the in-arena host of the Miami Heat and host of their 2023 All Star Game. She has work published in two anthologies, including Jen Mann's New York Times Best Seller, I Just Want to Hang Out with You. Rachel has written for HuffPost, Romper, Today Show Parents, PopSugar, ScaryMommy, Filter Free Parents, MommyNearest, Insider, She's Got Issues and more. She has appeared on NPR, The Doctors, The Tamron Hall Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show.Connect with Rachel:Web: whineandcheezits.comIG: @whineandcheezitsFB: @whineandcheezitsYT: @rachelsobel1882
POPSUGAR is right!
Elisa Song, MD, joins Integrative Practitioner Content Specialist Avery St. Onge to discuss the connection between environmental toxins and chronic disease in children in a live interview at the 2025 Integrative Healthcare Symposium. About the Experts Dr. Elisa Song, MD is a Stanford-, NYU-, UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mom to 2 thriving children – and she is on a mission to revolutionize the future of children's health. Dr. Song is the author of the national bestseller Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience. Dr. Song created Healthy Kids Happy Kids (www.healthykidshappykids.com) as an online holistic pediatric resource to help practitioners and parents bridge the gap between conventional and integrative pediatrics with an evidence-based, pediatrician-backed, mom-approved approach. In her integrative pediatric practice, she's helped 1000s of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and empowered parents to help their children thrive by integrating conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. Dr. Song is chair of A4M's pediatric education and has lectured around the world at leading integrative and functional medicine conferences and premier parenting events. She has also been featured in hundreds of top podcasts, print and online media outlets, including the Wellness Mama podcast, BloomTV, Forbes, Healthline, MindBodyGreen, National Geographic, PopSugar, Parents, Motherly, Parade, Verywell Health, and New York Post.
In this episode, I sit down with George Lizos to discuss his amazing book Ancient Manifestation Secrets. Come join us for this amazing chat on how to manifest more into your life!Music is from Epidemic Sound. Books mentioned in the episode: *Some links below are affiliated links and help me continue producing content.* Ancient Manifestation Secrets: https://amzn.to/4iMUPPBSecrets of Greek Mysticism:Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cn1ux7More on George:George Lizos is a spiritual teacher, psychic healer, the host of The Lit Up Lightworker Podcast, and the #1 bestselling author of Be The Guru, Lightworkers Gotta Work, and Protect Your Light.He is the creator of Intuition Mastery School®, and his work has been featured in Goop, Mind Body Green, Popsugar, Soul & Spirit, Kindred Spirit, Spirit & Destiny, Watkin's Mind Body Spirit, Fate & Fortune, and The Numinous.George helps lightworkers to find their life purpose and work their light in real, palpable ways to create positive change in the world. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Metaphysical Sciences, Masters in Psychology and Business Management, and is an ordained priest to Hellenic Polytheism. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/georgelizos/https://lnk.bio/georgelizosThank you to my subscribers! Want to support the growth of Pagan's Witchy Corner? Become a Subscriber! Subscribers get access to bonus episodes only for them! Subscribe today at one of the links below! https://ko-fi.com/witchycornerproductionsIf you would prefer to listen to it in video format, you can listen to it here:https://youtu.be/zXNycx-s350For more homesteading articles, recipes, reviews, meditations, podcast episodes, and store: https://www.witchycornerproductions.comJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/9jRs5SgvQa Follow me on social media: https://linktr.ee/witchycornerproductions
Join Shannon and Katana as they discuss:How to embrace change as an opportunity.How to recognize transferable skills for your next act.How to design a roadmap from here to there.Shannon Russell is a Television Producer turned Entrepreneur and Career Transition/Business Coach. She is also an Exit Strategy Expert, YouMap® Coach, Author, Speaker, and Host of the Second Act Success Career Podcast and the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast. Shannon supports women who are unhappy with their 9-5 jobs as they pivot towards a "second act," building a business and being their own boss. She provides exit strategy guidance and helps her clients transition from employees to entrepreneurs.Shannon began her career by spending over 16 years as a television producer in New York City and Los Angeles, working for MTV, E!, Yahoo!, Pop Sugar, A&E, TLC, VH1, etc. She then pivoted to open her own business, running a Snapology franchise that teaches children STEM education so that she could be more present for her children.As a certified Career/Business Coach, Shannon supports women as they change careers, start businesses, and follow their passions to the fullest. Shannon's motto is "produce your best life!" Her company, Second Act Success®, allows her to share her journey and experience as a television executive turned business owner and mom with others.Shannon's mission is to motivate more women to make big life moves. She does so through her coaching practice, podcast, speaking engagements, and forthcoming book, Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life. To learn more about Shannon, visit www.secondactsuccess.co.
Tuck explains this year's Trans Day of Snack celebrations — which includes the opportunity to organize a Gender Reveal-funded gathering! — before chatting with Seattle Trans Joy's Jerika Che (they/them). Topics include: How do I organize a Trans Day of Snack event in my area? How do I choose a location? How can I spread the word? What safety measures might be helpful? Plus: Trans vegan donuts, potlucks, and emotional support cis? For more organizing tips and stories, listen to last year's episode with Jerika. Learn more about Trans Day of Snack via these PopSugar and Vice articles. (We also chatted with TDOS co-founder Lilith on Gender Conceal.) Organizing your own Trans Day of Snack event? Apply for a small grant at bit.ly/tdos2025. (Folks can send donations to @Tuck-Woodstock or PayPal.me/TWoodstock) CHICAGO! Gender Ordeal is coming to you! Tickets on sale now, please come hang out! ~ Senior Producer: Ozzy Llinas Goodman Logo: Ira M. LeighMusic: Breakmaster CylinderAdditional music: “Beignet” and “Palms Down” by Blue Dot Sessions
Revisiting the PopSugar reading challenge from 2024. I finally completed it for the first time!
Irene Chen and Matthew Grenby are the co-founders of Parker Thatch, a luxury handbag and accessories brand they bootstrapped to 8-figures over the course of 20 years. Matt's expertise spans tech, design, and marketing, while Irene brings deep fashion industry knowledge from working with powerhouse brands like Donna Karan and Calvin Klein.In this episode of DTC Pod, Matt and Irene share how they navigated the shift from an e-stationery startup to eventually finding product-market fit with their signature luxury bags. They discuss key lessons learned in bootstrapping—the importance of market timing, how to manage inventory risks, and why flexibility and systems are critical when growing a brand.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Founding and Evolution of Parker Thatch2. Initial Business Concepts and Pivots3. Strategies for Managing and Allocating Inventory4. Importance of Flexibility in Business Operations5. Bootstrapping and Capital Allocation6. Building Systems for Scalability7. Marketing and Demand Generation Strategies8. Community and Customer EngagementTimestamps00:00 Matt and Irene's backgrounds before Parker Thatch 06:55 Starting an e-stationery business in 200007:43 Pivoting to selling physical stationery and home goods 9:00 Lessons on market timing and pivoting when starting a business11:51 Changing company name from iomoi to Parker Thatch13:52 Creating Parker Thatch's debut handbag18:19 Bootstrapping, capital allocation, inventory decisions22:08 Why early business success depends on flexibility and testing25:53 Introducing leather bags and streamlining production29:10 Why small businesses fail without systems32:29 Shifting to systems thinking to enable business growth35:07 Marketing strategies to drive customer demand37:01 Building community and brand identity around "functional luxury"42:34 Relationship dynamics as husband and wife co-founders45:55 Key focuses for 2025 and beyond with PTTV 47:48 Where to find and connect with Parker ThatchShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Irene Chen and Matthew Grenby - Co-Founders of Parker ThatchBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ever feel stuck between your passion and your purpose? In this episode, we dive deep with Heather Parady, a powerhouse in storytelling, brand messaging, and creative leadership. From navigating career pivots to unlocking the secrets of authentic storytelling, Heather shares how she went from ministry to marketing, blending creativity with business strategy.Whether you're a coach, entrepreneur, or content creator, this episode with Heather is packed with game-changing insights on why your content may not convert and the tools to fix it.Meet Heather ParadyHeather Parady is a creative strategist, media entrepreneur, and former mental health therapist. She has hosted top-ranking podcasts, conducted over 1,000 interviews, and collaborated with brands like Old Navy. Featured in Forbes and PopSugar, Heather helps unconventional leaders amplify their voices through storytelling and digital strategy. With a background in psychology and a passion for media, she empowers others to scale their impact and make a difference. Follow Heather on Instagram Learn more about Heather on her website If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a comment on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser and Castbox about what you'd like us to talk about that will help you realize that at any moment, any day, you too can decide, it's your turn!
Caleb Alvarez is the founder of Shadow Light Studios, an agency specializing in high-converting paid and organic content. He has worked with major consumer brands like Monster Energy, Snapchat, and Samsung, as well as influencers like Tony Hawk, Logan Paul, Ice Cube, and many more.In this episode of DTC Pod, Caleb breaks down how founders can create better content, build and scale a content engine, and strike the right balance between organic and paid content. He unpacks everything from finding your USP and mapping out content pillars to establishing a sprint-based production process. Caleb also shares how he helped scale Nectar Hard Seltzer from $2M to $5M in revenue using only organic content.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Founder-Led Content Strategies2. Building a Content Engine: Key Roles and Process3. Systems for Creating and Managing Content4. Agile Workflow for Content Creation5. Social Media Content Types and Pillars6. Optimizing Content for Conversions7. Balancing Paid and Organic Marketing8. Balancing Virality and Conversion GoalsTimestamps00:00 Caleb's background and getting into content creation 05:22 How Shadow Light Studios works with brands 07:35 The power of founder-led content and storytelling 12:44 Who should create founder-led content 15:02 Key pillars for effective founder-led brand content18:55 Balancing content creation as a founder with limited time22:16 How to structure content teams and roles28:40 Paid ads vs. organic content—how they work together31:39 Building a content strategy and implementing a system36:18 Managing content sprints and pipeline43:01 Content that performs vs. content that converts49:01 Lead capture and conversion optimization techniques53:09 Wrap up and where to follow Caleb AlvarezShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Caleb Alvarez - Founder of Shadow Light StudiosBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Send us a textNikki Apostolou, known online as @recycledstardust, is a Native American model, beauty and skincare enthusiast, and a proud mom of three. Based in New York City, she shares her passion for beauty, skincare, fashion, and parenting across various platforms. On Instagram, she manages multiple accounts: @native_stardust, @recycledstardust focuses on beauty and skincare, while @fabulouslystardust highlights fashion, styling, family, and travel. On TikTok, under @recycldstardust, she shares content related to Native culture, body positivity, beauty, and skincare. Over the past 12 years, Nikki has provided reviews on beauty, fashion, and the New York City lifestyle. She has also graced the runways of New York Fashion Week and has been featured in publications such as PopSugar, Insider, CNN, The Strategist, and Yahoo. Join us as we go into Nikki's journey, exploring her experiences in the fashion industry, her role as a cultural ambassador, and her insights into beauty and self-expression.Nikki will be walking in New York Fashion Week 2025 for the designers Sky Eagle Collection and KwoselNightmares of the americas and the behill network are teaming up with the long hairs. These guys have amazing products and have spent the last 10 years building a strong positive community for men with long hair. Click on the link below and enter code "NIGHTMARES" at check out. https://thelonghairs.us/?dt_id=2267311&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabJB5dlPL-NcZi-o-2tRQDtsTRO8llxYt4qZ8m4u7raitbHK_qUexYIrb0_aem_noz8FSXZP2Ij6250h4po_QMerch store- https://indigenoustales.threadless.com/Email us at info@behillnetwork.com Also check out our Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/indigenous_tales/And our TikTok -https://www.tiktok.com/@indigenous_talesAmanda Bland Dallas area Bakeryinstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cupidsweetsbakes/Cupid Sweets- https://www.facebook.com/cupidsweets
New year, new POPSUGAR Reading Challenge! Join Caroline and Dannelle as they go over the new prompts for this year's challenge and share their initials thoughts on how they'll tackle the list!
Tamar's unique approach to nutrition care integrates lifestyle medicine, and behavioral modification pulled from her clinical nutrition, psychology, and coaching science training. As a Registered Dietitian, she has helped countless people transform their relationship with food to overcome various health conditions to improve their lives. As the co-founder of Culina Health and a woman of color, she's passionate about making personalized and sustainable nutrition care accessible to everyone. Tamar earned her Master's in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She completed her clinical training at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She has been recognized as one of the top holistic dietitians in New York City by Well + Good. She has been featured in The Huffington Post, Prevention, PopSugar, Women's Health, Shape, Insider, and The Tamron Hall Show.Learn More
It's a new year, so it's once again time for our annual special episode on depictions of the future! Join us as we take a look at 2019-as-imagined-in-1981's Blade Runner, with discussions of gas flares, Japanese influence on American culture, the resurgence of 1940s fashion, and more! Sources: Ryan Britt, "Blade Runner: How Its Problems Made It a Better Movie," Den of Geek, available at https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/blade-runner-making-of-history/ Roger Ebert Review: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blade-runner-directors-cut-1992 Ben Sherlock, "Like Tears in Rain," Screen Rant, available at https://screenrant.com/blade-runner-behind-scenes-facts-ridley-scott-harrison-ford-sci-fi-movie/ Daniel Gillespie, "Blade Runner Star Says He Ad-libbed the Movie's Most Iconic Line," Screen Rant, available at https://screenrant.com/blade-runner-edward-james-olmos-ad-lib-details/ Rachel Leishman, "The Blade Runner Discourse is Never-ending," Mary Sue, available at https://www.themarysue.com/blade-runner-discourse/ Hannah Huber, "The 2019 Fashion Trends You'll Still Be Wearing in 2020," Glamour https://www.glamour.com/gallery/best-fashion-trends-2019 Sarah Siegal, "These Were the Makeup Trends We Saw Everywhere This Year," PopSugar https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/makeup-trends-2019-45624809 https://poetryincostume.com/2018/03/15/how-blade-runners-rachael-encapsulated-a-moment-of-fashion-zeitgeist/ Avery Matera, "9 2019 Fashion Trends You'll See Everywhere," Teen Vogue (2019) https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/popular-fashion-trends-2019 https://www.sitelinesb.com/what-happened-to-the-gas-flame-on-highway-101/ https://youtu.be/mt-4ttjYSzg?si=TKwBXRWXJeiSSe3h "Gas flaring: What is it and why is it a problem?" BBC (2022) https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63051458 https://lamag.com/news/ask-chris-orange-hydrocarbon-fairy https://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/compliance/r1118/flare-operators https://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/air-quality/historical-data-by-year/2019-air-quality-data-tables.pdf?sfvrsn=8 https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/memory-manipulated Satan Wants You https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/this-book-plunged-the-world-into-a-terrifying-obsession-with-satanic-cults-in-the-1980s-1.7031992 "The Phenomenon of 'Japan Bashing' in US-Japanese Relations," Journal of American Studies, available at https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/225129904.pdf Lessons for Today from the US-Japan Trade War of the 1980s, NPR, available at https://www.npr.org/2019/05/20/725139664/lessons-for-today-from-the-u-s-japan-trade-war-of-the-1980s US Census Quick Facts, Demographics of Los Angeles: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/losangelescitycalifornia/PST045222 Terry Gross, "Hollywood Relies on China to Stay Afloat. What Does That Mean for Movies?" NPR, available at https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1081435029/china-hollywood-movies-censorship-erich-schwartzel James Tager, "Made in Hollywood, Censored by Beijing," PEN America, available at https://pen.org/report/made-in-hollywood-censored-by-beijing/#heading-14 Drew Dietsch, "The History of Anime's Journey to America," Fandom, available at https://www.fandom.com/articles/anime-history-america
2024 is over and so is the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2024! Join Caroline and Dannelle as they wrap up their reading lists for the year and see if they completed the challenge!
Ben Matthews is a general partner at Night Ventures, an early-stage consumer VC fund, focused on culture, community, and creators. They have partnered with some of the most famous people on the internet including Mr. Beast, Kai Cenat, and Hasan Piker.In this episode of DTC Pod, Ben and Blaine discuss:Lessons from incubating and investing in early-stage consumer companiesThe key elements of successful talent-driven brands, including audience fit and long-term commitmentChoosing the right business opportunities based on market potential and operational feasibilityStructuring effective partnerships between creators, operators, and investorsThe future of TikTok and emerging monetization avenues for content creatorsInteract with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Business Launch and Growth2. Talent-Driven Brands3. Challenges in Creator Partnerships4. Creator-Audience Relationship5. Employment Trends and AI Impact6. Content Commerce Trends7. TikTok's Future and Market Impact8. Elements of Business Success9. Incentive Structure in Partnerships10. Importance of Having an Audience11. Monetization Opportunities for CreatorsTimestamps00:00 Ben Matthew's background and Night Ventures06:05 Building business with talent: the case of Mr. Beast10:54 What works in creator-brand partnerships15:25 Picking the right talent to represent a brand19:42 Picking the right business and products23:01 Incubating early-stage consumer companies30:07 Investing in early-stage consumer companies33:03 Future trends in the creator-commerce space35:19 Future trends in the content creator landscapeShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Ben Matthews - General Partner at Night VenturesBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Happy New Year! As you resolve to market your business, how exactly you will implement your plan is crucial! Starting off the new year with time saving skills is the best way to keep from getting frustrated with your content creating tasks. Efficiency is the key to executing on all those ideas - and not taking so much time away from running your business! This week's bonus tips are here to help self-employed professionals effectively manage their time and increase productivity for the year 2025. As you start to organize - message me when you use these tips on Instagram or LinkedIn! In this quick bite-sized bonus solo episode you will learn: How to schedule specific time blocks for similar marketing tasks to enhance productivity and focus, such as batching video creation and caption writing. The importance of completing marketing tasks fully, from creating content to posting it, to ensure that efforts translate into visible results. How to utilize the "like with like" principle to streamline tasks, making it easier to maintain momentum and efficiency when working on similar activities. Kim Rittberg was a TV news producer for a decade and trained thousands of people to be calm, cool and collected for live TV interviews. She also launched the digital video unit for Us Weekly leading to its $100 million sale, and was a video marketing executive at Netflix & PopSugar. She ditched corporate once she found herself working in the hospital delivery room. She now runs an award-winning company that helps real estate agents & business owners grow their leads, income and credibility with video and podcast. Grab the freebies: Grab my Free Tips to Take Your Videos from Mediocre to Magnetic to Attract More Clients Connect with Kim Rittberg on Instagram
It's almost a new year - and don't forget about your content plans… but what do they ahve to do with your social media - everything? As you build out your resolutions - message me when you use these tips on Instagram or LinkedIn! In this quick bite-sized bonus solo episode you will learn: What to consider when making your professional New Year's Resolutions How business development and sales is connected to your social media How to connect your real world networking to your social media marketing Kim Rittberg was a TV news producer for a decade and trained thousands of people to be calm, cool and collected for live TV interviews. She also launched the digital video unit for Us Weekly leading to its $100 million sale, and was a video marketing executive at Netflix & PopSugar. She ditched corporate once she found herself working in the hospital delivery room. She now runs an award-winning company that helps real estate agents & business owners grow their leads, income and credibility with video and podcast. Grab the freebies: Grab my Free Tips to Take Your Videos from Mediocre to Magnetic to Attract More Clients Connect with Kim Rittberg on Instagram and apply on the link above!
Show notes: (1:31) Dr. Song's journey into holistic pediatrics (6:14) Understanding integrative pediatrics: Combining traditional and holistic medicine (10:05) The dangers of overprescribed antibiotics (15:04) How early gut health impacts immunity, allergies, and mental health (23:58) Signs of gut imbalance in kids and how to address it (33:36) Nutrition guidelines for kids (39:22) How kids can regulate their nervous systems with simple techniques (48:30) Where to learn more about Dr. Song and her book (51:46) Outro Who is Dr. Elisa Song? Dr. Elisa Song, MD is a Stanford-, NYU-, UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mom to 2 thriving children - and she is on a mission to revolutionize the future of children's health. Dr. Song is the author of the national bestseller Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience. Dr. Song created Healthy Kids Happy Kids as an online holistic pediatric resource to help practitioners and parents bridge the gap between conventional and integrative pediatrics with an evidence-based, pediatrician-backed, mom-approved approach. In her integrative pediatric practice, she's helped 1000s of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and empowered parents to help their children thrive by integrating conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. Dr. Song is chair of A4M's pediatric education and has lectured around the world at leading integrative and functional medicine conferences and premier parenting events. She has also been featured in hundreds of top podcasts, print and online media outlets, including the Wellness Mama podcast, BloomTV, Forbes, Healthline, MindBodyGreen, National Geographic, PopSugar, Parents, Motherly, Parade, Verywell Health, and New York Post. Connect with Dr. Song: Website: https://healthykidshappykids.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/healthykids_happykids/?hl=en FB: https://www.facebook.com/Healthy-Kids-Happy-Kids-214892652189868/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElisaSongMD Grab a copy: https://www.healthykidshappykids.com/book/ Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram
Isabel Mendez is the founder and design director at Antara Studio, an award-winning full-service design partner for purpose-driven brands. With a focus on brand, content, and design, Isabel and her team help companies create cohesive and emotionally resonant identities across all touchpoints.In this episode of DTC POD, Blaine and Isabel discuss:The three necessary phases for creating a brand identityWhat makes a good brand story and how brands can effectively communicate itHow brands can adapt to trends while remaining true to who they areInteract with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. DTC Brand Design Trends2. Stages of Brand Identity Building3. Characteristics of a Good Brand Story4. Consistency in Branding5. Branding as a Holistic ProcessTimestamps00:00 Starting the design studio Antara03:39 From freelancing to building a team05:10 The basics of building a great brand07:45 Branding as graphic communication10:21 Owning assets vs having a brand12:26 Phases of brand identity construction16:21 What makes a good brand story21:09 Brand case study: Star Fades International25:15 Establishing a design story for brands26:55 Brand application and consistency29:48 Design trends and timelessness33:33 What's next for AntaraShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Isabel Mendez - Founder and Design Director of Antara StudioBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
In a world where our lives may not look as we envisioned, finding joy can be both challenging and transformative. What does it mean to embrace the reality of our stories? How can vulnerability help us find resilience and purpose? In this episode, Larry Sprung interviews Rachel Marie Martin, founder of FindingJoy.net and bestselling author, about her journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Rachel shares how she built a thriving online community by encouraging authenticity, vulnerability, and connection, especially for women and mothers. The conversation explores her insights on building joy, leveraging media, and staying connected to purpose, even through challenges. Rachel discusses: Her entrepreneurial journey and the inception of FindingJoy.net Monetizing Facebook organically and building a thriving audience The power and necessity of maintaining authentic engagement in social media The viral impact of her quote and the universal appeal of its message The significance of embracing authenticity and vulnerability in storytelling Her latest book, "Get Your Spark Back," and its transformational insights And more! Resources: Mitlin Financial The JOY and Productivity Journal by Lawrence Sprung Connect with Larry Sprung: LinkedIn: Larry Sprung Instagram: Larry Sprung Facebook: Larry Sprung X (Twitter): Larry Sprung Connect with Rachel Marie Martin: LinkedIn: Rachel Marie Martin Website: Finding Joy Facebook: Finding Joy About our Guest: Rachel believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome, thrive, and find deep joy and because of that she pours out her heart via these platforms: she is the writer behind the site FindingJoy.net and author of Get Your Spark Back, Mom Enough and The Brave Art of Motherhood and a founding partner in Audience Industries – a company designed to train and equip entrepreneurs in their ventures. Her articles have been translated into over 25 languages, her site reaches millions of visitors per month and she has a robust, engaged Facebook community. Her content has been featured in The Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha, iVillage, Stuff New Zealand, John Tesh, PopSugar, Motherly, Parents, What to Expect, Star Tribune, Independent Journal Review, Dr. Greene, Power of Positivity, Her View From Home, and many more. She speaks worldwide encouraging others to live each day with purpose and drive. Beyond that, she's a mom to seven and calls Nashville, Tennessee, her home. Disclosure: Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest's content linked on this site.
Kelly Wright is the founder of YUNS. YUNS is a curated hardware store focused on nurturing confidence, community, and creativity. YUNS is based in Philly. You can find YUNS at the beloved Bok Building. YUNS has been featured in Architectural Digest, Curbed, and PopSugar. Tools, hardware, supplies. Korean American Woman Owned. YUNS tools fix all my problems. Please welcome Kelly Wright to Wear Many Hats. instagram.com/hello.yuns instagram.com/wearmanyhatswmh instagram.com/rashadrastam rashadrastam.com wearmanyhats.com
John Sampogna is the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, a modern advertising agency that specializes in brand storytelling, paid media, e-commerce, and digital experiences.In this episode of DTC Pod, John discusses brand storytelling strategies across all sorts of media channels. He shares insights on crafting impactful campaigns and tips for finding and leveraging undervalued marketing gems like connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts. We explore the importance of understanding target audiences, the 3-3-3 rule for keeping your messaging on point, and finding that sweet spot between top-of-funnel brand-building and lower-funnel performance tactics.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Brand Storytelling Strategies2. Buying and Crafting Campaigns3. Linear vs Connected TV4. Audience Understanding5. 333 Rule for Messaging6. Advertising Tactics and Budgeting7. Undervalued Marketing Channels8. Brand Story vs Product StoryTimestamps00:00 John Sampogna's background; Wondersauce vision03:54 Serving Fortune 1000 businesses and DTC startups06:05 Starting and scaling an advertising agency10:11 What is brand storytelling and how can brands get it right13:23 Media budgets and audiences in funnel strategy18:44 Connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts25:42 Strategizing for connected TV vs linear TV28:58 Steps for creating an effective brand or product story34:28 How Wondersauce onboard and work with clientsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok John Sampogna - CEO and Co-Founder of WondersauceBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
On zooming out to look at character interiority and having scene goals, as well as slowing down the hurry mode. Enjoy! Nicole Meier is an author and book coach living in the Pacific Northwest. Her debut novel, The House of Bradbury, was chosen as a Best Book of 2016 by Refinery29. Her second book, The Girl Made of Clay, was named a Top Book according to Bookbub readers. The Second Chance Supper Club, was named a Best New Book 2019 by Popsugar. Her fourth novel, City of Books, is out now. Nicole is the host of the Steps to Story podcast and a certified book coach and developmental editor working to help fiction writers bring their stories to life. Find her at nicolemeier.com or on Instagram @nicolemeierwrites
Haley Weidenbaum is the CEO and co-founder of Everhem, a DTC company specializing in custom window treatments, including shades and drapery. In this episode of DTC Pod, Haley discusses the strategies that have helped Everhem grow and differentiate itself in the market. She discusses the challenges of online shopping for custom products and how Everhem addresses them through thorough guides and customer support.Haley also shares insights on Everhem's dual business mode—how they serve both interior designers and regular consumers, and how they adapt their offerings to meet the unique needs of each customer segment.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Window Treatment Market Landscape2. Everhem's Niche and Positioning3. Interior Design Trends and Forecasting4. Challenges in Custom Window Treatments5. Business Operations and Customer Service6. Designer and Consumer Experience7. Initial Business Journey and Growth8. COVID-19 Impact and Market ResponseTimestamps00:00 Haley Weidenbaum's background in interior design4:00 From doing interior design to starting Everhem07:51 COVID and the home industry boom08:40 Importance of providing exceptional customer service13:45 Everhem as the one-stop shop for window treatment19:01 Catering to regular consumers and trade partners24:15 Prioritizing key markets, managing expectations strategically27:34 Window treatment industry and where Everhem fits34:19 Using trends to forecast supply chain & manufacturing37:42 Logistics, packaging, unboxing experience40:02 Next step for Everhem: building authentic relationshipsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Haley Weidenbaum - Co-Founder and CEO of EverhemBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
We've become obsessed with productivity, confusing it with busyness and setting unrealistic expectations to perform 24/7—leaving us feeling guilty when we're not “doing enough.” That's exactly why I'm excited to dive into the topic of toxic productivity with today's guest, Israa Nasir. Israa, a New York City-based psychotherapist, writer, and founder of WellGuide, brings deep expertise in mental health, identity formation, and healing, particularly for AAPI first- and second-generation immigrants. She has spoken at prestigious organizations like Google, Meta, and Yale University and serves on the Mental Health Advisory Board for PopSugar and August. Her new book, Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World That Always Demands More, offers strategies to break free from the hustle culture and reclaim what truly matters. Because at the end of the day, it won't be the hustle, emails, or to-do lists that define your life—it'll be the joy you shared, the impact you made, and the legacy you leave behind. So let's stop glorifying busyness and start embracing a life worth celebrating. Connect with Our Guest: Israa Nasir Website: https://www.israanasir.com/ Book: https://www.israanasir.com/toxic-productivity IG: https://www.instagram.com/well.guide/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@israajnasir LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/israanasir/ Related Podcast Episodes: A Better Way to Define Success with Stella Grizont 7 Keys to Unlock Your Dynamic Drive with Molly Fletcher Can't Get No Satisfaction with Dr. Julie Landry Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
Caitlin Copple and Holly Conti are the co-owners of Full Swing Public Relations, a fast-growing agency helping underrecognized leaders positively impact the world as entrepreneurs, authors, speakers and political candidates. Caitlin founded Full Swing in 2019, brought Holly in as Head of Digital Marketing, and together they've grown into a 7-figure company, with clients featured in Fast Company, Inc. Forbes, New York Times, Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, PopSugar, CNN, and many others. They've helped clients launch multi-six-figure courses and memberships, earn six-figure book deals,10x their email lists, and 100x their social following.
Ismail Salhi is the co-founder and CEO of Wildgrain, a fast-growing DTC subscription service that delivers artisanal breads, pastries, and pasta directly to customers' doorsteps. In this episode of DTC Pod, Ismail shares his journey of rapidly scaling Wildgrain to over 80,000 subscribers since launching during the pandemic in 2020. He shares the key strategies that have driven Wildgrain's success: focusing on product quality, customer experience, and efficient operations.Ismail discusses their decision to outsource baking to local bakeries—a move that positioned them as a larger buyer than Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in some markets.He also emphasizes the importance of investing in logistics tech to optimize product delivery and streamline processes. This focus on tech integration across all business areas has been crucial to their ability to scale effectively.We also explore Wildgrain's customer acquisition strategies, which involve education marketing, meta, and influencers.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Business Model and Sustainability2. Entrepreneurial Advice3. Logistics and Distribution4. Customer Support Tools and Efficiency5. Customer Acquisition and Retention6. Product Development and Market Introduction7. Tech and Operations Partnership8. Seasonal Growth and Marketing9. Consumer Behavior Dynamics10. Marketing and Product Differentiation11. Consumer Engagement and Customization12. Scalability and Operational Management13. Market Insights and Future PlansTimestamps00:00 Ismail Salhi's background; Wildgrain's founding story04:24 From starting a home bakery to outsourcing production07:23 Wildgrain's product and customer experience08:56 Working with partner bakeries and distribution centers10:08 Building tech for reliable, temperature-sensitive deliveries13:58 Automated system streamlines tasks across all departments15:47 Initial customer acquisition, education marketing, influencers20:06 Product mix and how it affects inventory 23:07 Creating different custom boxes to cater to different diets24:28 Optimizing product operations, automating, outsourcing27:06 Shipping carriers, tech for allocating orders28:42 Seasonal growth and effects on marketing spend31:50 Ismail Salhi on running the business with his wife33:41 Time and lifestyle management as a parent entrepreneur36:14 Ismail Salhi's advice for DTC foundersShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Ismail Salhi - Co-Founder and CEO of WildgrainBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Lacey Dunn is a functional medicine dietitian with a fiery passion for helping women feel and look their very best! People call her their “Hormone Fairy Godmother” as my one mission in life is to help women go from surviving to thriving. Dunn has an obsession for all things hormones, thyroid, gut, and metabolism. Aka - a nerd. Dunn says her job is to help people like you to reclaim their health, hormones, and become the master of their own bodies. I am committed to help my clients take their life back into their control. As a functional medicine dietitian, Dunn is passionate about helping women because she has been in the trenches of hormonal chaos herself. Before discovering functional medicine, she was burnt out. Her hypothyroidism and cortisol issues left her suffering with chronic fatigue, random weight gain, hair loss, anxiety, and depression. Dunn had primary ammennrohea until age 25 (aka no menstrual cycle), and was left frustrated and confused. Her years of bodybuilding and weight training were no longer showing in her physique and she felt like she was hit by a truck on a daily basis. Conventional doctors would not listen so Dunn listened to herself. Dunn found (and treated) her own hypothyroidism and got her period finally, naturally. She became my own health advocate. Lacey's best-selling book “The Women's Guide to Hormonal Harmony” which is available on Amazon gives women the knowledge, tools, and confidence to rebalance your hormones, master your metabolism, and become the boss of your own body. I am very thankful to have been featured in top media outlets, such as TIME magazine, Forbes, US News, Eat This Not That, Popsugar, Health, Well + Good, 30 seconds, Bodybuilding.com, and Paste Magazine! My goals as a dietitian are to give people like you the tools, confidence, and knowledge to take your health back into your own hands and be the master of your body and life! Work with RAPID Health Optimization Links: Lacey Dunn on Instagram Work With Lacey Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram
Weird Darkness is narrated by professional full-time voice actor Darren Marlar. No A.I. voices are ever used in the show. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/zr88fxv8IN THIS EPISODE: Why do clowns creep us out? We'll look at some of the reasons. We'll review real creepy clown sightings – it happens a lot more than you might think! Plus, we'll also look at some true cases of clowns committing crimes… and sometimes killing.SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…BOOK: “Bad Clowns” by Benjamin Radford: https://amzn.to/3On6ebh“The Tamarac Square Clown” posted at DarkStories.org: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yck74etk“Why So Serious About Clowns?” by Frank T. McAndrew for The Conversation: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9cd2hp; and Beth Forrester for Spirit Halloween:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8s8m3h“Creepy Clown Sightings” by Matthew Dessem for Slate.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5fdppc8j; Nina Young for Kidspot.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p852r3b“Clowns of Crime” by Lauren Tousignant for The New York Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8thetd; Maggie Panos at PopSugar.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p87t7hh; and from iHorror: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/7byrxnmv“John Wayne Gacy: Killer Clown” by Katie Serena for All That's Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc7465z8Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: August 04, 2023CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/clowns