Podcasts about read receipt

In this episode of Read Receipt, Sean sits down with Michelle Arnau, co-founder and co-CEO of Mimikai, the first plant-based insect repellent proven to match DEET and Picaridin without the toxic chemistry.Michelle traces an unlikely path to founder: Wells Fargo commercial real estate workouts, a Kellogg MBA, twelve years at Method scaling it from unprofitable startup to an SC Johnson acquisition, then co-founding the clean pet care brand Rowan before winding it down. When a college friend introduced her to Stephanie Watson, who had spent years fighting the EPA to register undecanone, a compound from wild tomato plants and the first new repellent active in twenty-five years, she got on a plane to Australia the next week.She gets into the launch strategy behind a category-first product: why they led with Credo and REI before chasing mass shelf space, how they used velocity and repeat over door count, why she turned down a major retailer this year, and what it looks like to build with investors who back the long game over short-term revenue.Tune in for an honest look at building a regulatory moat, knowing a category cold before entering it, and what it takes to finally change an aisle your dad used as a kid!

In this episode of Read Receipt, Sean sits down with John Scheer, co-founder and chief creative officer of Herman-Scheer, a strategic branding agency focused on healthcare, self-care, and wellbeing since 2010.John traces the 15-year arc from knocking on doors with a duct-taped WordPress site to a 21-person agency that doubled in a year. He gets into the breakthroughs that turned a scrappy shop into a real business: splitting roles with co-founder Chapin Herman, niching down into health and wellness, and bringing in a strategist, Allison, to back the creative work with real data.It's an honest look at getting your process dialed, doing the work before you know how, why you launch a brand to grow into rather than a single product, and giving yourself room to breathe while the business keeps growing.Tune in for a candid conversation on building a branding agency the slow, deliberate way.Chapters:00:00 - Cold open00:39 - Brand self-ID: what Herman-Scheer is01:00 - Moving to Northeast Ohio, going fully remote04:00 - Starting right out of college07:00 - The first video and knocking on doors in LA11:00 - The breakthrough: splitting roles with Chapin14:00 - Niching into health, self-care, and wellbeing17:00 - Adding data and insight, bringing in Allison22:00 - The shape of the team today28:00 - Account directors as the real differentiators33:00 - Clients that come back, and the case-study lag39:00 - The branding process, step by step45:00 - How AI fits into the work48:00 - The longer-term vision for the agency51:00 - Room to breathe while the business grows53:00 - Close

In this episode of Read Receipt, Sean checks back in with Katina Mountanos, founder and ceo of Kosterina, the greek olive oil and wellness brand betting the mediterranean diet belongs in every american pantry. two and a half years after her first appearance, she walks through how Kosterina grew from olive oil and vinegar into olive-oil shots, jarred olives, and a retail footprint across whole foods, target, walmart, sprouts and h-e-b. she gets into the walmart inbound that put their drinkable vinegars in 4,300 doors, why she runs the company on operational excellence, the brutal working-capital math of retail growth, and how she's building a founder brand on tiktok and substack. plus siete as her north star, the polyphenol case for early-harvest olive oil, and why a timeless brand also has to be timely.

In this episode of Read Receipt, Sean sits down with Cayla O'Connell Davis, co-founder and CEO of Subset, the organic cotton underwear brand rethinking what goes into your most-worn layer.Cayla bootstrapped Subset in one of the toughest categories to fund, buying inventory five to six months ahead and launching with just four styles. One of them, the high-rise brief, got written up by Vogue and became a cult favorite that carried the brand out of the gate.She gets into the scrappy, human side of growth: a first-of-its-kind program that takes back and recycles your old underwear, handing out free undies on the streets of New York, Galentine's Day roses with a buyback card, and why she markets an unseen product more like a perfume brand. Along the way she shares hard-won lessons on doing the unscalable things on purpose, and protecting time to stay creative several years in.Tune in for an honest look at building a mission-driven brand through organic cotton, grassroots marketing, and a refusal to grow the easy way!For 20% off Subset, use code READRECEIPT. Chapters:00:00 - Cold open00:36 - What Subset is01:00 - The family-run factory in India03:00 - Bootstrapping an expensive category04:24 - Launching with four styles and the Vogue high-rise brief07:26 - The first 16,000-unit order09:02 - Would she launch with PR today?10:40 - The take-back recycling program13:35 - Recycling as acquisition, then Trashie and SuperCircle16:40 - What's driving new growth now17:30 - Giving away underwear on the streets of New York18:00 - Cotton vs synthetics: the health case22:06 - The "ask me about my underwear" sign28:32 - Galentine's roses and being a fun brand31:30 - World-building for a product you can't see33:33 - Getting flagged as adult content in paid ads34:56 - New-media marketing: just be yourself39:14 - Protecting time to stay creative42:34 - Close

We're creating space for the brains behind the brands we love, and asking good questions along the way. The result is a deep dive into the how and why of brand-building, from blueprints to launch day, customers as community and the detours in between. big lessons, easy listening. In this episode of Read Receipt, Sean sits down with Stephanie Farsht, CEO and co-founder of Small Wonder, the luxury waterless hair care brand built on a powder-to-lather format that activates fresh in the shower. Stephanie's path to founder wasn't conventional. She spent 16 years at Target in innovation and strategy, then eight years teaching entrepreneurship at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, before teaming up with two co-founders to reinvent hair care around a simple idea: potent ingredients work best freshly activated, not sitting in water for months. She gets honest about the messy middle, the pre-dosed pod experiment that flopped with 100 testers, the bottle that clogged after two weeks, and why she still emails customers herself when they cancel. Along the way she shares hard-won lessons on product obsession, failing fast, raising on your own timeline, and building a mission-driven brand in a category most investors are walking away from. Tune in for an inside look at building a category-defining brand through relentless iteration, customer intimacy, and a refusal to ship anything less than the best product possible! Chapters: 00:00 - Cold open 01:38 - Target, then teaching at Kellogg 08:40 - The powder-to-lather idea 11:01 - Becoming a CEO she never planned to be 13:00 - Two years of R&D through COVID 16:43 - Self-funding, no fixed timeline 18:01 - The pod experiment that flopped 23:09 - Designing the patented Wonder Bottle 25:24 - Doubt, failure, and identity 31:57 - Why the founder still does customer service 39:46 - Revenue, raising, and the road to retail 46:45 - Time is what kills companies 48:05 - All or nothing: a billion-dollar mission

We're creating space for the brains behind the brands we love, and asking good questions along the way. The result is a deep dive into the how and why of brand-building, from blueprints to launch day, customers as community and the detours in between. big lessons, easy listening. In this episode of Read Receipt, Sean sits down with Nico Varano, CEO of SweatHouz, the contrast therapy franchise redefining recovery through private sauna, cold plunge, and vitamin C shower experiences. Nico's path to CEO wasn't conventional. After starting his career in finance and private equity, he discovered SweatHouz while training for a charity boxing match and became the brand's first franchisee. After rapidly scaling his own studios, he was tapped to lead the company as CEO. Today, SweatHouz operates more than 100 locations across 25 states and has become one of the fastest-growing wellness franchises in the country. Nico shares lessons on franchising, customer retention, operational excellence, hospitality, and why the future of recovery isn't about flashy experiences, it's about building habits people return to week after week. Tune in for an inside look at scaling a category-defining wellness brand while balancing leadership, fatherhood, and the pursuit of sustainable growth!   Chapters:  00:00 — Meet Nico Varano Nico shares his background in finance, private equity, and his family's restaurant business. 02:00 — Discovering SweatHouz How training for a charity boxing match led Nico to contrast therapy and ultimately franchise ownership. 03:36 — Becoming the First Franchisee Acquiring and growing the Assembly Row location in Boston. 04:28 — The SweatHouz Business Model Memberships, private suites, margins, and creating a scalable wellness business. 09:55 — Building a Habit, Not an Event The philosophy behind customer retention and long-term wellness behavior. 14:22 — Franchising at Scale How SweatHouz supports franchisees while maintaining brand consistency. 26:55 — What's Next for SweatHouz Loyalty programs, wearable integrations, and the company's future growth plans. 32:55 — Entrepreneurship, Fatherhood, & Leadership Nico reflects on balancing business growth with family life. 35:20 — Final Thoughts The future of recovery, hospitality, and building lasting businesses.   Takeaways: Nico transitioned from private equity to becoming SweatHouz's first franchisee before ultimately stepping into the CEO role. SweatHouz has grown from a single studio in 2019 to more than 100 locations across 25 states. The company focuses on building “a habit, not an event” through recurring wellness routines. Memberships drive nearly half of the company's revenue and are critical to long-term retention. SweatHouz's private suite model differentiates it from many group-based recovery concepts. Strong hospitality and customer experience remain central to the brand's growth strategy. Franchising can accelerate growth when operators are empowered and included in decision-making. Technology, loyalty programs, and habit tracking will play a major role in the company's next chapter. Scaling a business requires balancing operational excellence with maintaining the core customer experience. Entrepreneurship and parenthood both require intentionality, flexibility, and making time for what matters.

kathrin hamm, founder of bearaby, shares her transition from working at the world bank to creating a revolutionary weighted blanket company. she discusses the challenges of product development, bootstrapping, and scaling a business, as well as the rewards of entrepreneurship and the importance of maintaining a beginner's mindset even as the company grows. 

Need some fresh cherries, a bottle of wine and cheese that pairs perfectly? We know some girls who can hook you up. The Read Receipt girls are talking about Emily Henry's newest release, Funny Story and discussing everything from Mile's iconic movie tastes to where in the E.H. universe they'd want to live. Follow us for behind the scenes access! IG: @thereadreceiptspodcast TikTok: @thereadreceiptspodcast - Rate TheReadReceiptsPodcast and leave a review! -

Tino continues to battle a hoarse voice, Matt says your partner should ALWAYS have full access to your phone, Are You Smarter Than Nicasio, and Serina reveals her flexibility... 

The Read Receipt girls are now open for writing consultations- tune in for a sample of their upcoming work “Dirty Chai”- She doesn't like espresso but does like it dirty. Alongside brilliant book ideas, the girls are chatting about books with time travel witchy vibes, spooky contemporary magic, toilet kings and sprayed edges that missed the mark… again. Follow us for behind the scenes access! IG: @thereadreceiptspodcast TikTok: @thereadreceiptspodcast - Rate TheReadReceiptsPodcast and leave a review! -

 to research, education, and providing accessible 

today on read receipt, i have the pleasure of sitting down with the visionary karl shevick, the mastermind behind earth foam and sleep on latex. karl is dedicated to creating natural bedding essentials with sustainability at the forefront. join us as we delve into his entrepreneurial journey, his commitment to fair trade practices, his unwavering focus on customer satisfaction, and his insights into the future of the online mattress industry.

on this episode of read receipt, we're thrilled to chat with laura taylor. She transitioned from a bustling tech career to create mingle mocktails, revolutionizing social interactions with top-notch, alcohol-free beverages. we'll delve into her inspiring journey, unravel the decisions that sparked the brand's inception, and draw upon her valuable insights along the path. 

on read receipt today, join us as we converse with scott frohman of odyssey elixir. we'll journey through the creation of a mushroom-centric beverage brand, discuss its rise in the crowded market, and touch on the next big trends. ever wondered about the blend of mushrooms and energy drinks? stay with us!

on this week's episode, we sit down with mikey goldman, the brains behind quiet mind. fueled by his own struggle with adhd, mikey is shaking up the $21b stress management market with a game-changing weighted pillow. we'll chat about his personal journey, the science behind the pillow, and how he caught the attention of industry legends like gopro's nick woodman and youtube's chad hurley. get ready for an inspiring convo that touches on tackling mental health creatively.

on this week's episode, i'm excited to sit down with jill scalamandre, the powerhouse ceo of beekman 1802. from a farm in rural new york to the cutting edge of prestige skincare, beekman 1802 has had quite the journey, and jill's leading the charge into its next chapter. we're talking goat milk magic, crazy sales growth, and what it really means to be clinically kind®. plus, we'll get the inside scoop on the brand's innovative research and focus on sustainability. trust me, you won't want to miss this.

on this week's episode, i'm delighted to welcome young chang, ceo and co-founder of a-sha foods usa. from a small market in california to international fame, young's brand a-sha noodles has revolutionized the noodle scene. our chat will cover his dedication to preserving a century-old noodle recipe, the importance of believing in your product, and the impact of savvy collaborations. get ready for a deep-dive into the world of a-sha noodles!

on this week's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome courtney somer, the innovative founder, and ceo of lake & skye. courtney's wellness journey has taken her places she never imagined, from her start at vogue to launching a line of pure essential oil-based fragrances. we'll explore her unique brand-building experiences, discuss her launch's unexpected success, and learn about her creative strategies for building a business that truly works for her. join us for an enlightening conversation that blends entrepreneurship, wellness, and style. 

on this week's episode, we're thrilled to sit down with chris salgardo, the skincare expert and founder & ceo of atwater skin. as the former president of kiehl's, chris brings a wealth of knowledge to the beauty & skincare industry. we'll discuss his rapid rise, his leap into entrepreneurship, and the fantastic advice he has for aspiring founders. so, sit back and join us for an engaging conversation with the mastermind behind these groundbreaking skincare brands!

this week on the podcast, I'm joined by the founder of tom's perfect 10, tom bannister. tom took a granola taste-test review series on instagram and turned it into a booming business with a waitlist of 17,000! listen in to learn how he created a huge demand for the launch of his brand, what it's like to build in public, learn a new skill, and ask your audience to review your work publicly...as always, thanks for tuning in, and we hope you enjoy the show.

we sat down with joseph and alex, the co-founders of the modern home appliance brand, airsign. after designing and working for many of the biggest household brands, they were inspired to bring clean design and a truly elevated experience to the vacuum category. listen in to learn how they found an obsession with perfecting the details, building a technical product from the ground up, and launching a startup in an unconventional space. as always, thanks for tuning in and we hope you enjoy the show. 

today on the pod i'm joined by nate mell, founder and ceo of ceramic design and manufacturing studio, felt + fat, where we talk about how he discovered his passion in the fusion of art and food. founded in 2014, nate began his philadelphia-based operation after spending years traveling the world in search of his own artistic style, turning to street art and, eventually, ceramics. tune in as we dive deeper into his journey to ceramicist turned ceo, and the unconventional path he took to get there.   

on this week's episode of read receipt, lashify founder and creator, sahara lotti, takes us through her journey from screenwriter to beauty entrepreneur. through a mindset disruption and innovation, she crafted the 'a b c's' of lash extensions and found a way to represent each unique eye shape in their product line. join us as we discuss the out-of-the-box thinking that brought lashes out of the dated world of mascara only and reshaped the beauty industry. 

today on the pod, i'm joined by michael wieder and greg davidson, two dads who were left feeling confused by the baby and toddler industry and without any alternate options. as they both became new dads, they decided to create an innovative product that would disrupt the industry and co-founded lalo, a line of beautifully made baby and toddler products with award winning customer feedback. tune in to hear more about how their adult-led model changed the way parents shop and why they keep coming back to lalo.

this week on the pod, we're joined by new york city based entrepreneur, vladimir vukicevic. already with two self started businesses under his belt, he founded better & better with the intention of bringing key nutrients to those who need it most through eco-friendly oral care. tune in as we break down the moments that inspired him and why he decided that an all natural toothpaste was going to be the next big thing!

this week on the pod, we're joined by sustainable, to-go kitchenware brand, stojo to talk about growing a business the right way. we're sitting down with stojo cmo, meghan holzhauer, and founder & ceo, jurrien swarts, as they break down what it took to leave their fields in search of starting something meaningful. tune in and discover the joys of ditching disposable culture for good!

She's a faerie queen, the phantom's beloved Christine, an icon on booktok- She's Mandy aka mandysreads. Mandy is joining the Read Receipt girls this week as we enter our midnights era. Join them while they answer the hard hitting questions like do you listen to Audiobook smut in the car and chapter 54 or 55? Pour yourself a glass and join this girls night chat- it's about to get seriously bookish.  Where you can find Mandy: Insta: @mandys.readsTikTok: @mandysreadsWant the actual annotated book with all the receipts? We give away every book on instagram! Follow us for behind the scenes access! IG: @thereadreceiptspodcast TikTok: @thereadreceiptspodcast - Rate TheReadReceiptsPodcast and leave a review! -

this week on the pod, we're talking about the thong that did a thing. not sure what we're talking about? listen in, as we sit down with brenda berger and discuss her hanky panky journey from sales to ceo! 

as a pioneer in the athleisurewear market, year of ours is creating fully functional pieces for the woman on the go. founder, eleanor haycock, used her background in fashion textiles to design high level performance pieces that don't limit you to the gym. listen in as we connect with the talented woman behind this female-owned and opporated brand!

great things come in sustainable packages - or at least that's what uni ceo, alexandra keating, believes. made with reusable and recyclable aluminum, uni is zero-waste bodycare that is on a mission to be the new standard in packaging. this week on the pod, we'll discuss her journey from tech to beauty while avoiding greenwashing and how these beautiful products can help save the ocean!

ever wondered what it takes to have sephora wanting to carry your brand before you've even launched the product?today, i'm joined by eadem co-founders marie kouadio and alice lin, to talk about their journey from tech to beauty and how their emphasis on building a community founded on shared experiences and learning led them to success.listen in and discover how they navigated an increasingly crowded and competitive space to create clean, clinically-tested skincare for women of color.  

do you believe in magic? this week's read receipt guest does!i'm sitting down with danny winer, the ceo of michelin star chef recommended cookware brand, hexclad, to discuss his journey to creating the most innovative cookware on the market that works like magic.we explore how science, art, and a desire to disrupt the industry came together to capture the attention of top chefs like gordon ramsey!

wood spoon herbs founder, lauren haynes, wanted to inspire and empower her community to take self-care into their own hands. this small-batch herbal apothecary was crafted as seasonal medicine and connection, not only to others but to the earth and power of plants. this week on the pod, we'll dig into the intentional practices behind the brand and how they stay close to their roots.

think babies and art don't go together? think again!on this week's episode of read receipt, i talk with freestyle ceo, mike constantiner, about baby care for modern baby makers and how he created a solution to uncomfy, unsustainable diapers founded by parents, designed by artists.tune in and find out why more parents are caring for their young ones the freestyle way!

biom knows that when it comes to sustainability, less is more!this week on the pod, we're getting into the dirty details with biom co-founder, will gahagan; diving into eliminating single-use plastic and creating a biodegradable product that looks as good as it feels.tune in and discover the benefits of cleaning with clean products! 

today on the show we sit down with raphael peck, the ceo of brixton, the classic headwear brand originally built from a garage in oceanside california. today, the brand has expanded into an extensive line of apparel while building dedicated retail stores to feature the brand as a whole.raphael talks about how he got his start working weekends in his dads south african textile factory, making the jump to come to the us, and ultimately working with some of the biggest names in athletic wear.this is a fun conversation about the wild ride of working with true innovators, learning to provide value, and trusting your gut along the way.

She's a booktok legend. She's got the book recs. She's Maggie Siciliano aka MaggieMaeBeReading, aka owner of momentsNmayhem, aka our ICONIC friend. Maggie is joining the Read Receipt girls in the chat room this week to talk about some hard hitting topics. From what's the plan if they're stuck in a Barnes & Nobles during the apocalypse, to being the official spokeswoman for the renowned Bone Carver- Maggie is answering the questions we all have been wondering. Where you can find Maggie:IG: @Maggie_Siciliano Tiktok: @MaggieMaeBeReading Website: momentsNmayhem.comWant the actual annotated book with all the receipts? We give away every book on instagram! Follow us for behind the scenes access! IG: @thereadreceiptspodcastTikTok: @thereadreceiptspodcastRate TheReadReceiptsPodcast and leave a review! 

what do a chef de partie, wal-mart, and subpar s'mores all have in common? today's read receipt guest, michael tierney.the founder and ceo of health food brand, mikey's, and confectionery brand, stuffed puffs, to discuss his journey from fine dining to product innovation to manufacturing to meeting world-famous DJs (no, seriously).we'll explore how the self-proclaimed "tinkerer" worked through adversity and, with a foundation of overarching optimism, proved everyone wrong.   

today on read receipt i'm talking with jennifer ross, the co-founder & ceo of swoon, a zero-calorie all-natural drinks. after trying every sugar-free drink on the market, jennifer realized just how bad sugar is even for people without diabetes and decided to create a sweet alternative.we explore using grants for funding, partnering with the right retailers, and keeping a remote team motivated.

today on read receipt i'm talking with laura xiao, the founder of henné organics, a natural and effective beauty line. after launching a design and development business, laura branched out to design the clean beauty items she wanted to see out in the world.we explore talking directly with customers, following natural inclinations, and learning to not be so hard on yourself when launching a business. 

today on read receipt i'm talking with michelle ranavat, the founder of ranavat, a cutting-edge, clinically tested beauty line that invites you to claim your crown. after growing up in wisconsin as a first-generation indian american, michelle began to craft her scientifically-backed formulas when she reconnected with her ancestral roots.we explore being your best customer,  setting aside the idea of perfection, and looking at results in context.

today on read receipt i'm talking with dr. sarah rahal, MD, the founder of armra, a bovine colostrum supplement company that is revitalizing foundational wellness for modern living.  after realizing the extent that western medicine lacked in foundational health, molly set out to create a supplement that distills over 200+ bioactives to give our immune barrier the support it needs. we explore bootstrapping a science-backed biz, throwing yourself into unknowns, and learning as you go. 

today on read receipt i'm talking with andrew benin, the co-founder & ceo of graza, a brooklyn-based dtc brand reimagining extra-virgin olive oil with a handsomely designed squeeze bottle. after helping to launch superstar brands such as magic spoon, andrew began to harvest the powers of olive oil after making the move to spain.we explore not trying to be the most lux in the market, scraping together funding and side-stepping paid media.

today on read receipt i'm talking with katie tyson, co-founder & chief commercial officer of hive brands, a grocery store & box subscription service that is fostering conscious consumption. after growing her marketing skills in the advertising world and her leadership skills in personal coaching, katie went on to co-found a marketplace that gives sustainable start-ups an equal playing field.we explore grappling with your inner critic, selecting over 200 vendors, and making biz decisions through data.

today on read receipt i'm talking with abigail cook stone, the founder of otherland, a candle brand that allows you to burn bliss on a budget. after a childhood of dog walking and making bracelets, michelle took her business sensibility and channeled her moderately healthy obsession with candles. we explore the joy of the exploratory stage, launching errors, and building a support system as a founder.

today on read receipt i'm talking with jayme jenkins, the co-founder & chief brand officer of everist, a hair & body concentrate company that says "no" to watered-down products. after spending over a decade in the beauty industry, jayme connected with her university friend to launch a brand that has eco-consciousness distilled in every tube.we explore the anxiety of doing sustainability perfectly, maintaining a flexible start-up mentality, and how to learn from your current customers.

today on read receipt i'm talking with kyle cooke, the founder and ceo of loverboy, a groovy line of sparkling hard teas and canned cocktails. after building a platform on the bravo show summer house, kyle blended his love of nutrition and fun to create a summer sipper you can feel good about. we explore the explosion of the hard seltzer category, building a business as an influencer, and finding the perfect work-life balance.

today on read receipt i'm talking with jason lavalla, the founder and ceo of casamara, a botanical soda line for a refreshing, non-alcoholic sip. after making the move to detroit, jason began experimenting with bitters to create leisure sodas for a new type of happy hour. we explore boom of the mocktail industry, scaling during covid, and the importance of interacting with your customers as a founder. 

today on read receipt i'm talking with ryan babenzien and arjan singh the founders and ceos of jolie, a showerhead company that is revolutionizing beauty with clean water. after leaving behind careers in footwear marketing and consulting, this duo came together to launch a product that promises to be your essential beauty tool.we chat about being nimble with your brand vision, launching an e-commerce business in the pandemic, and consumer groupthink. 

today on read receipt i'm talking with maura cannon dick the chief marketing officer of heritage store, the skincare line that has been in the business of self care before it was a buzzword. after getting her feet wet in advertising, she went on to spend 10 years with estee lauder before landing at heritage. we explore the benefits of always acting like a start-up, hybrid remote work, and maintaining long-term goals while balancing day-to-day stress.